Yesterday was my birthday and I am about ready to start shopping these wish lists I keep making! Here is my want, need, have list from Nordstrom’s new arrivals. No matter how hard I try, I always seem to gravitate toward whites and neutral-hued items. However, that Free People breezy white dress will be perfect for hot summer days!
Imagine every possible fabric, print or texture all in one collection and it’s 99% likely that you are thinking of the Chanel Resort 2015 collection. Karl Lagerfeld really outdid himself this time with over 80 looks (yes, you read that right) sent down the runway in Dubai.
Layers upon layers tweed, chiffon and lamé were piled on to models. There were structured jackets, flowing skirts, dresses and loose-fitting pants that were cinched at the ankle. Short sleeves were accompanied by a sheer longer sleeve underneath. And it looks as though the pants-underneath-dresses/skirts trend is here to stay for a bit longer.
The beadwork and embroidery was intricate yet exploded on the clothing. Oh, and no one has stopped talking about the accessories – a gas can bag, anyone? While this may all seem a bit over-board, and maybe it was, Lagerfeld has kept us on our toes these last couple of collections (who could forget the western Texas/Paris collection?). Maybe this is the world of Chanel changing from traditional to over-the-top wow-factor collections that become immediate trending topics on social media.
One of my favorite bloggers along with one of my favorite stores have teamed up to create an exclusive collection together – coincidence? I think not!
Emily Schuman of Cupcakes & Cashmere has created a capsule collection with Club Monaco, mixing girly with simplicity and sophistication. These pieces can be worn any where from the office to a Saturday stroll around the city to a nice dinner-date night. Pastels rule this collection with leather thrown in not to rough up the pieces but to make them even more clean and structured. My favorites from the collection are the Georgia dress and the Delaine Moto Jacket (because who WOULDN’T want a pale pink leather jacket?). See the full collection here.
The recent show of Christian Dior Resort 2015 took place in a very unlikely and un-resorty place – Brooklyn! Yes, the huge fashion house chose to surprise everyone when Raf Simons showed his latest collection in hipster heaven. Alright, enough about the location and on to the fashion!
The Resort 2015 was all about the scarf. Scarves as dresses, skirts and tops, even tied up around feet as sandals. Although this may not sound appealing, all of the artsy prints and breezy pieces truly came together with the addition of more traditional, structured black and white staples.
Beauty was very simplistic with straight hair parted down the middle and tucked behind the models’ ears. An updated cat-eye was used with a line from the top lid and an additional extended black line on the lower lashes. Then mascara. Lots of mascara. Lips were kept very basic and bare with nude lipstick.
What did you think of the collection?
So, I have a problem. It’s called a shopping addiction. The bigger problem? I refuse to stop! The only thing that could make a shopaholic more excited than a major sale is… living 5 minutes from the Outlets. And that, I do. Woe is me. HOWEVER I have devised a plan that will (hopefully) keep my shopping and wallet in check. I am going to scout out exactly what will be available and what to buy. No more of this walking in to a store, wanting everything and leaving with nothing but a very sad looking bank account. Here are my picks one of the outlet stores by me:
J. Crew Factory is probably one of my biggest weaknesses. All the bright colors, the sparkly statement necklace wall and everything is just so neat and tidy. But no, not this time. I am going in looking for some cute pieces for warmer nights out and casual weekend wear.
FACTORY PRINTED CRINKLE TUNIC // FACTORY PONTE PEPLUM TOP // FACTORY LONG-SLEEVE BOATNECK TEE // FACTORY PRINTED MAXIDRESS // FACTORY SHINY-STRIPE MINI // FACTORY DENIM CUTOFF SHORTS // FACTORY PRINTED SKIMMER PANT // FACTORY TANK (SWIM) // FACTORY CRYSTAL BROOCH NECKLACE // FACTORY RIBBON FEDORA // FACTORY MILO SANDALS
This year’s Met Gala was jam-packed (and I mean that! Did you see the size of some of those gowns?!) with glitz, glam, a little skin and a whole lot of tulle! The theme was “White Tie and Diamonds” and the event honored designer, Charles James with an exhibit “Beyond Fashion.” Charles James is known for ballroom gowns and has come to be recognized as the first designer to dabble in couture fashion.
Many of the women who attended this year’s Met Gala took Charles James’ inspiration quite literally and looked like they stepped right out of the 1950s with their ensembles. Others well, they took on their own approach to the theme. Here are some of the trending styles that appeared on the red-carpet with my absolute favorites at the end. ENJOY!
Over-The-Top Embellishment: Beyonce in Givenchy, Kristen Stewart in Chanel Lupita Nyong’o in Prada and Leighton Meester in Emilio Pucci.
Cream of the Crop Top : Emma Stone in Thakoon, Anne Hathaway in Calvin Klein, Rihanna in Stella McCartney and Gabrielle Union in Prada
Good Ole Black & White : Charlize Theron in Dior, Jessica Pare in Michael Kors, Hailee Steinfeld in Prabal Gurung, Zoe Saldana in Michael Kors and Anna Kendrick in J. Mendel
Pretty in Pastels : Rachel McAdams in Ralph Lauren, Elizabeth Olsen in Miu Miu, Rashida Jones in Tory Burch, Kate Bosworth in Stella McCartney and Taylor Swift in Oscar de la Renta
Shine On Metallic : Lea Michele in Altuzarra, Amy Adams in Oscar de la Renta, Diane Kruger in Hugo Boss, Chrissy Teigen in Ralph Lauren, Lily Aldridge in Michael Kors and Karlie Kloss in Oscar de la Renta
Fabulous Floral : Hayden Panettiere in Dennis Basso, Emmy Rossum in Carolina Herrera, Karolina Kurkova in Marchesa, Lena Dunham in Giambattista Valli and Florence Welsh in Valentino
Pardon My Pants : Kristen Wiig in Balenciaga and Cara Delevingne in Stella McCartney
My Picks:
3rd Place: Suki Waterhouse in Butberry
2nd Place: Blake Lively in Gucci
andddd 1ST PLACE : THE QUEEN OF THE MET GALA: SARAH JESSICA PARKER in Oscar de la Renta
This is what my night consists of. Reading up on a little Elie Saab, sipping on white wine and stalking waiting patiently for photos from the much-anticipated Met Gala to appear on my Twitter feed. I’m feeling deprived of my beloved red-carpet interviews thanks to the end of awards season. Sad face.
Enjoy your night!
Alexander Wang bag // Altuzarra tank // Sarah Magid necklace // J. Crew Collection skirt // Marc Jacobs sandals
There are some things you associate with spring like florals, pastels and breezy clothing. Metallics, though? For Spring 2014, designers including Altuzarra(above), Diane von Furstenberg, Zimmerman, Kate Spade and Emilio Pucci, just to name a few, sent shiny golds and silvers down the runway to surprise us all. While donning a shimmery gold or silver number for New Years seems all too predictable, change it up this year by inserting some jolts of shine into your warmer-weather wardrobe. If your outlook on metallics is still a bit conservative, try incorporating metallic accessories (those Marc Jacobs slides? “Ugly” and metallic = perfection).
It seems these days that literally EVERYTHING revolves around fashion. White House event, you say? What was everyone wearing? I’ve read/seen more about how absolutely STUNNING Jessica Simpson looked in that black and white floral number than what Obama had to say. And so, I will join in! Here are my favorite looks:
Olivia Munn
Sofia Vergara
Anna Kendrick
Jessica Simpson (holy tiny!)
OPI – Big Apple Red // Tom Ford Black Orchid // Ray Ban Aviators // Michael Kors Watch
As the weekend approaches, everyone breathes a sigh of relief. The weekend means time to unwind, relax and bask in the feeling of peace.
Above are some of my daily must-haves. Loving this book about Diana Vreeland.
With that I’ll leave you with a quote by Ms. Empress of Fashion herself : “There’s only one very good life and that’s the life you know you want and you make it yourself.”
Happy Weekend everyone!
Always Fashionably Kate 