Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Sweater Dressing
Below are examples of some of the trendiest styles for fall; the classic boyfriend, the over sized shawl and a great intarsia patterned grandpa style. Each piece can be styled differently to work for career wear or weekend wear. The addition of a belt creates a feminine hourglass silhouette and will prevent the wearer from being overwhelmed. I have seen some great, affordable cardigans at J. Crew, Gap and Banana Republic. Any questions on how to wear this trend, just ask and I'll be happy to help. :)
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Fall Trend: High Waisted Pants
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Fall Skirts that Flatter
If you're a petite fashionista try a short skirt with nude legs, which will extend your silhouette.
Oval shaped gals should don a high waisted a-line skirt to enhance their figure.
A full knee length skirt is the look of choice for a triangle shape girl.

Tubular and Rectangular body shapes should look for a fitted calf length skirt to create the illusion of curves. Adding a belt to this outfit will enhance the look even more.
Never fear if your body shape wasn't mentioned :). You can always email me for suggestions!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Trends from the Streets of Milan Fall 2008


Leggings continue to be a huge trend in Milan. Women are wearing tunics or dresses paired with leggings, often time with a chunky belt around the waist and worn with shin high slouchy boots.
It is definitely a season all about the gams. Women are continuing to wear short skirts and even shorts into the fall sometimes worn with leggings or tights and predominantly paired with boots.


Short and unstructured is the dress silhouette of the moment. It’s a very feminine and sweet look.


As far as pants are concerned the skinny still rules. Though, some women are starting to don a wider leg pant. This trend will most likely be adopted further into the season as new arrivals of this billowy silhouette dominate the selling floor in stores.
The most popular colors of the season are purple, black and grey along with a color palette of chocolate brown and yellow.
Overall you could say the predominant silhouette is one that is loose and sometimes voluminous on top with a focus on a narrow leg. Whether it is a skinny pant that creates this line or a pair of leggings or tights finished off with a beautiful pair of slouchy boots.
Hope you enjoyed the trend report from Milan, ciao!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Fall/Winter 09/10 Trends from Milano Unica
Four trend presentation areas summarized the latest trends in fashion, color, innovation and trims as demonstrated by the exhibitors. A video presentation of the Fall/Winter 09/10 trends by Moda In, Ideacomo and Prato Expo further encapsulated the physical display of fashion trends. The four main themes proposed for the season were Soft Seduction, Restrained Glam, 3D Animation and Chromo Divirtissement. Within each category there were sub-themes depicted by fabrics with similar characteristics. Unfortunately, pictures were not allowed in the show so you will have to let your imagination run wild.
Soft Seduction:
• Vaporous Comfort: puffy swelling with minimal weight, voluminous techniques in a duvet style, prints simulating fox and lynx fur, dense embroidery on swan feathers, quilting
• Pajama Party: precious silk and wool, camel velour, silk chenille, arabesque patterns, silk satin paired with cashmere tulle
• Antique Softness: mohair, baby alpaca, cashmere blends, workmanship resembling dreadlocks, fur, ribbons resembling disheveled shaded fur, strings and tapes interwoven with loose knits
• Fabrics: jacquard, lace, embroidery, paisley, raised textures, rouching, velvet
• Colors:
o Burgundy, fuchsia paired with dark brown and taupe, cherry reds
o Blush colors like pinkish nude
o Gold paired with burgundy reds and cherry
o Raspberry reds paired with blushes and soft neutrals
Restrained Glam:
• Pictorial Shading: Painterly strokes, abstract florals, watercolors
• Working Class: Functional elegance, menswear inspired fabrics including
houndstooth, herringbone, tweeds, suiting, saville row
• Daily Luminosity: metallic threads interwoven in wool fabrics, rouching, surface texture
• Colors:
o Berries
o Purple paired with dark taupe
o Shades of blue including navy, teal and aqua
o Camels and taupe paired with burgundy
o Bronze
o Grey
3D Animation:
• Thin Graphics: Burnout, flock embroidery, spider web embroidery, tucks, pleats, stitching
• Geometric Evolution: Checks, stripes, glen plaid, tartan, argyle, geometric shapes, houndstooth
• Optical Illusions: architectural elements, development of the honeycomb structure which is imitated by quilting, embossed cellular structure, symmetric gathering, ribbons overlapping organ pipe pleats
• Colors:
o Black
o Silver Metallics
o Grey
o Yellow
o Teal
Chromo Divertissement:
• Green Ideas: Bark effects, techno nature
• Juvenile Nostalgia: Freedom and optimism in a movement of green and pink; velvet, embroidered prints, color blocks on plush fabrics, looking to cheer up the adult world
• Virtual Exuberance: Eco-fantasy, inspired by natural surrealism, folk & pop art, video games, pixilated eastern folklore, kaleidoscope
• Fabrics: ethnic, embroidery, ikat, animal prints, juvenile florals possibly inspired by Japanese anime, large florals
• Colors:
o shades of green including olives, forest, and yellows
o cherry reds and berries, bright pink
o combination of reds and blues in plaids
o oranges mixed with brown
o aqua
In summary the most predominant textile trends for Fall/Winter 09/10 is surface treatment, in the form of embroidery, rouching, pleats and gathers, as well as textured fabrics such as lace, velvet and fur. The dominant colors are purple, berry tones, black, blues from navy to aqua and shades of green from olive to yellow tones. Overall it is a season of opposites, on one spectrum there is focus on antiquity and vintage elements however there is also a heavy influence of future technology, graphics and animation. The common ground is a focus on protecting the earth, whether it is by preserving what we have or through research and development of new technology that will lessen our impact on the environment.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
On The Stylist
The first video features a sweet, feminine ruffled blouse and shows how you can create many different looks from bohemian to cocktail chic just by changing a few details. The second video also by Kate Young demonstrates how to wear an lbd (little black dress) to work or on the weekend around town. Kate gives great tips and the pieces she shows are completely affordable, how great is that!!
If the video doesn't play when you click the link just choose the videos you want to watch from the panel at the bottom of the screen. :)
Monday, September 15, 2008
Fall Fashions from Italy
In this photo note of course the color which is all black. Secondly, you can see the shape is more voluminous on top and skinny on bottom. The Italians are still in love with their cigarette pant. This works on most of them because they are usually very thin. However, many Americans have a different shape so be careful when donning the skinny pant. Though, it can be worn with a vouminous top that ends just below the largest part of the thighs. Also note the fabulous slouchy boots on the left.
Black again, but this time with a shot of kelly green belted at the waist. This is a great classic coat with a slightly oversized collar. Here again are a great pair of slightly slouchy boots that hit just below the knee.
In the photo above I want to point out most of all the lace leggings worn by the mannequin on the right which I love!! It's a great update to leggings which I have grown kind of tired of. These are worn with a cozy sweater dress that is...belted, the season's most important accessory.
Here is a shot of the menswear inspired shoes that have become the rage this season in the U.S. However, I haven't seen any similar to the flats on the left. I am now confirming a trend spotted that the lace up jazz shoe will replace the ballerina flat that has been the chic city shoe of choice.
In this shot notice still that the focus is volume on top with a skinnier leg. You see the loose dress worn with leggings on the mannequin in the middle and the flowing paisley top here on the left worn with a slightly bootcut jean.
You can see here this young woman is wearing a look similar to the one shown on the middle mannequin, a voluminous top/dress over leggings paired with a slouchy boot.
In the photo above note the colors, purple combined with a dark mustard for a striking effect. Once again you see volume on top and the addition of a belt to create shape.
All in all the fashions are not extremely different from those in the U.S. In the states there is more of a focus on berry colors and we are not yet so taken with black. With the poor economy in the U.S. it may be retailers attempt to provide a real reason to buy. Black is not necessarily a color that invokes excitement. The main trend in silhouette is a voluminous look on top paired with leggings or a skinny pant and slouchy boots attempting to balance the shape.