New York fashion week never misses. Each year, as we see the Fall looks paraded down each respective runway, we know to expect a mix of glamour, comfort, innovation and above all, style that surpasses some of our wildest imaginations.
Fall 2014 is about fun, it’s about casual comfort, and it’s about mixing and matching great basics. The designers this year put forth a sophisticated collection of luxuriously warm layers upon layers, just in time for the Fall chill to start nipping at our noses. It is refreshing to see many of the classic silhouettes coming back. Lady-like skirts are more demure than some of the past seasons options, with nipped waists and full, rounded skirts that hit just above the knee. Badgley Mischka presented some gorgeous options in a dark palette of smoky charcoal, black and plaids. When paired with sumptuous coats, and practical ballet flats, it paints the perfect daydream of walking for hours in Central park, sipping a hot coffee, scone or croissant in hand. In addition to the modest skirt designs, we saw dresses paired with slim trousers and cigarette pants. Another retro nod, designers Céline, Balenciaga, Kenzo, and Giorgio Armani took this look and ran with it, making it easy for women to wear a dress from the cab to the rooftop soiree without catching a chill. The possibilities with this look are endless as we saw silk Asian-inspired suits worn with lime bell skirts, military style dresses with a more basic silhouette worn with straight, pleated trousers, and wrap dresses paired with skinny denim. This is a versatile look that can be styled into ways you can wear at the office, to a museum opening, or at home in front of a cozy fire. Also keeping with the trend of comfortable separates, cozy knits were prevalent all throughout the week. Marc Jacobs and Céline presented us with many pretty pants in soft knit fabrics, tossing aside last year’s tights-heavy collections. Stella McCartney and Haider Ackermann also utilized sweater-inspired fabrics and looks from head to toe. When worn with a small belt, a crisp button up, and ankle booties, sweater-soft trousers can become more posh than pajama. A popular look that spanned across not only a multitude of runways in New York, but across the ocean as well, were robe coats. In every length and color, robe coats were worn over both separates and dresses. This laid-back casual style, favored by Moschino, Max Mara, Leonard, Marques'Almeida, and Céline, makes the statement that Friday’s are going to be extremely casual, and that it is ok to wear your bathrobe out to get your morning bagel. Just do not forget to remove your slippers. Fur was prevalent, a trend that is popular season after season, year after year. This year it has been re-worked into head wraps and as subtle accents on eveningwear. Cynthia Rowley created hats and wraps from rich caramel-hued fur to compliment her bold colored, leather separates. Ralph Lauren opted for lavender and blush-dyed vests and coats to add glamour to his Gatsby-era inspired silk dresses. A highlight was the stark contrast of Zang Toi’s dark and beautiful black satin evening gowns that were intensified by the use of emerald green fur. If you aren’t into fur and seek a friendlier option, faux fur is used by many designers worldwide and can present that same level of glam. If coat robes and faux-fur wraps aren’t your cup of tea, Phillip Lim, Oscar De La Renta, and Thakoon, presented gorgeous options in oversized-turtlenecks. Easy to accessorize, you can pair these with a nice pair of jeans and boots, a neutral leather mini or the aforementioned bell skirt. And, as an added bonus, your neck will stay nice and toasty warm, a plus if you are scheduled to belt out tunes on Broadway all season long. Or if you are just popping in to meet friends at the local pub for some karaoke. It’s always ok to dream. Holding on to the sweet days of summer were Altuzarra, BCBG Max Azria, and Moncler Gamme Rouge with their fun usage of electrifying neon. Geometric slices of every color from highlighter yellow to hot pink were seen on black and white ensembles throughout the week, assuring us that though summer is behind us, it’s not too far away.
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by Mandi Pimental
How often have you dreamt about owning a designer wardrobe? How often have you attended a fashion show or trunk show, wishing you could purchase a swoon-worthy, head-to-toe completed look instead of just choosing a single piece? If you are like me, that answer could very well be, daily. Or at the very least, a few times each season. You find yourself coveting a gown that would be perfect for a dinner you’ve RSVP’d to. Or a casual coat that you could wear all winter, one that you know would go perfectly with your favorite fall boots. Well, Runway is making it easy to obtain hot off the Runway looks for much, much less. While we should all agree that classic, designer pieces are a necessity and every girl should have at least one great bauble, wrap or pair of heels, you needn’t stock your entire closet with pricey pieces. You can just look like you do. Below are eight looks taken straight off the fall 2014 runways that you can re-create for a fraction of the cost. Taking you from runway to reality, one fabulous outfit at a time. Antonio Grimaldi presented some cool, throwback looks for fall this season. Psychedelic print dresses and retro Lois Lane vintage-inspired trenches were among the highlights. To get this look for less, pair Mango’s tan trench with this colorful dress by River Island. Add a stylish pair of Cordani Wayland clogs, and accessorize with an animal-friendly Harvey faux fur clutch and false lashes by Benefit. Product Info: Trench - Mango, $100, Dress – River Island, $45, Clogs – Cordani Wayland $150, Clutch – Harvey $225 & Lashes by Benefit. For a look that is simple and sweet, go head to toe in a single hue. When worn correctly, wearing one shade looks sophisticated, instead of bland. BluMarine used varying fabrics and textures to liven up this look. We started with the softest cotton white turtleneck by Mango and paired it with a tapered blush trouser by Phillip Lim. Adding a leather and fur jacket by Patrizia Pepe gives us the texture, while the Steve Madden pointed pump adds subtle glam. Product Info: Coat – Loiza by Patrizia Pepe, $160, Trousers – Phillip Lim, $375, Turtleneck – Mango, $20, Pumps – Steve Madden Intrude in Blush, $79 The classic palette of black and white was seen time and time again, in solids, color blocks and patterns. A favorite was the use of chevron and stripes, as it adds depth and character to a simpler ensemble. To achieve this look, pair Mio’s chevron cardigan with classic black skinny denim by 7 For All Mankind. ASOS patent leather boots give the outfit added edge. Play up your makeup with a rusty orange shadow by Ulta and an ultra-glossy nude lip by YSL. Product Info: Cardigan – Mio, $83, Jeans – 7 For All Mankind, $168, Boots – ASOS F-Troupe Patent Leather Boots, $149, Makeup – YSL Nude Gloss, $23 and ULTA eye shadow in Mimosa, $6 Louis Vuitton’s fall collection included alpine inspired sweaters and jackets. Emblazoned with patterns that would befit a ski lodge, Vuitton mixed in bright fun leather separates and accessories. To modernize this look, try a Charter School Navy Cardigan by Modcloth, accented with a Finding the Fun Scarf, and Motel’s vintage leather skirt. Top it off with sweet Mark and Spencer Patent Leather Dolly Court Shoes and a Rag and Bone Jet Belt. Product Info: Skirt – Motel, $100, Cardigan – Mod Cloth, $34,99, Shoes – Mark and Spencer Leather Dolly’s $48, Scarf – Finding The Fun, $39.99, Belt – Rag & Bone, $150 Dolce & Gabbana used a delicious palette of cherry red and deep plum in their collection of feminine separates. This sophisticated look would be fitting for the office or for a girl’s night gathering for drinks. Pair a textured tunic dress, like this lovely one by White Stuff, with basic leggings, such as LNA’s Olivia Cotton Basics. Add a signature vintage brooch, like this vintage Chanel Coin, and sparkling Joe Jean’s ballet flats. And a girl can’t be without a fabulous handbag, try this doctor bag by Debenham’s as a finishing touch. Product Info: Tunic Dress – White Stuff Lorelai Broderie Tunic Dress, $60, Leggings – LNA Olivia Cotton Basics, $53, Purse – Debenham’s Doctors Bag - $85, Shoes – Joe Jeans Sparkle Ballet Flats, $69, Brooch – Vintage Chanel If “rugged-girl-next-door” sums up your favored style then Isabel Marant’s fall collection is the one to emulate this season. This outfit is all about woodsy tones and natural elements. Start by pairing a deep green or brown sweater, such as this hunter green option by Mango, with a brown leather mini. We are loving the cross zip Sugar Maple leather mini by Bailey. Top with a Vintage Pendleton wool flannel to add warmth, and finish off with fur-lined Sorel boots and Dinny Hall’s Gold Three Leaf Pendant Necklace as a nod to nature. Product Info: Flannel – Vintage Pendleton Pure Wool Flannel, $45, Sweater – Mango, $45, Skirt – Bailey Sugar Maple Leather Skirt, $267, Boots – Sorel Joan Of Arc Ankle Boots, $220, Necklace – Dinny Hall Gold Vermeil Three Leaf Pendant Necklace, $195 Design houses Altuzarra and Gareth Pugh, among others, went for wintery white on white. This choice is a perfect head-to-toe ensemble to pick up in the fall and wear until spring thaw. It also presents many mix and match options for the rest of your wardrobe. To obtain this crisp style you will need quality white basics such as a Theory Boatneck Tee and a pair of Top Shop’s white Cigarette Trousers. Complete the look with Mango’s Funnel Neck Coat and a basic sandal in an off-white shade for diversity, such as the Spurr Basic Crystal. Product Info: Coat – Mango Funnel Neck Coat, $129, Trousers – Top Shop Cigarette Trouser, $80, Top – Theory Boatneck Tee, $85, Shoes – Spurr Basic Crystal - $28 This youthful look by H&M is a favorite this season for its simplicity. Effortlessly chic, you can achieve this look by pairing a sparkle-embellished mini-dress or sweater dress, such as Nelly’s Body dress, with a striking pair of knee high leather boots. Nine West boots are comfortable and have a little heel that adds femininity. Accessorize with a single sparkling JC Penney cuff and darken eyes with NARS Lola Shimmer shadow. To complete the look swipe on YSL Gloss in Corain Trapeze and you are ready to take on the night. Product Info: Dress – Nelly Body Dress, $120, Boots – Nine West Inga Boots, $199, Cuff – JC Penney, $10, Makeup – NARS Lola Shimmer shadow, $25 and Gloss – YSL in Corain Trapeze, $32 by Mandi Pimental
I believe hats get the short end of the stick. Written off as a secondary accessory, the hat is sometimes an afterthought, just an inanimate object we use to cover up a bad hair day, or a rogue pimple. However, this season we are turning that all around. Top designers dug deep into their style arsenals and gave us looks that can only be described as a “must-have”. No longer an accessory to throw into the back of your closet, once you turn your peepers to some of the top styles for fall 2014, you’ll want to display them front and center, and you’ll wear them proudly, even if your hair looks ravishing, and your forehead is flawless. Not only does headwear spice up any ensemble, it also keeps you warm. As we say goodbye summer, and hello chillier temps, a hat is a good idea when you’ll be headed outdoors. We take a look at six styles and highlight the pro’s that each style has to offer this season. First off, the universal knitted beanie and pom-pom knits. Ralph Lauren, Tak Ori, and Tommy Hilfiger showed an array of options. Comfy and casual, the beanie is number one when it comes to keeping your head and ears toasty warm. Available in an array of colors, patterns and sizes, the beanie is a versatile knitwear piece that works best with sweaters, jackets and for outdoor sporting events. The beanie is also a great option for women that have rounder face shapes. Next, the classic beret presents a European aesthetic that is so charming. John Galliano and Rodarte showed the beret in bright, fun colors, adding a pop of artistry to a more neutral ensemble. Perfect with dressier looks, and cocktail attire, look for berets in mustard, plum or crimson for added depth in this sweet style. You can also opt for a beret that features subtle sparkle or a brooch. A trend that has taken over runways from head to toe is fur and faux fur. The ultimate in comfort and warmth, fur headwraps, hoods, and traditional fur caps are surely a winner. Daks and Fendi presented beautiful options that were luxurious and feminine. Head wrap styles also compliment a wide range of face shapes. Also in the glam category is a more couture look, and that is the chador. The traditional and ornate pieces were seen on the Dolce and Gabbana runway, as well as a few other fashion houses, making us all wonder, just exactly where would we wear such an exquisite piece? Holiday parties are fast approaching, and the idea of being adorned with jewels and beads sounds fitting. Right? In contrast, there were casual options seen on the runways as well. The traditional cap got a makeover by AF Vandevorst who created them from ultra-soft felt, rounding the top and fitting it below the brow line. Sportier, brighter cap options were presented by DKNY and DSquared while Moncler Gamme Rouge gave us pure femininity. Last but not least, we bring you the traditional “Classic”. Though varying in style, the classic collections ranged from vintage bowlers by Armani to Asian-inspired looks by Christian Siriano with their exaggerated brims. Tibi delivered Amish style hats while Ralph Lauren presented classic fedoras. The beauty in all of this is the love designers are showing for the hat this season. It’s giving us more options than ever. From the runway to store shelves, there truly will be an option for everyone. A hat for every face shape, every outfit, and every occasion, from the ski slopes to high tea. And that is something to tip your hat to. by Mandi Pimental
CURRENT/ELLIOTT - These Current/Elliot zip stiletto “Soho” jeans would pair perfectly with a cropped top and fitted fall coat. They feature a five-pocket style, slanted zippers and are hem cropped above the ankle to show off stylish ankle booties or sparkling flats. $248 Frame - Frame’s ripped skinny jean is a favorite of Khloe Kardashian. Pictured in white, shredded holes give a distressed look to these on-trend skinnies. Pair with a colorful, chunky sweater or with a white top and metallic accessories for a more refined look. $200 Isabel Marant - This Valone Girlfriend Jean is the perfect patchwork denim piece for fall. Grey and beige cotton patches accent this loose fitting jean, making it a great choice to pair with your comfy oversized knit sweaters. $660 Junya Watanabe - Denim gets a glamorous upgrade on Junya Watanabe’s five-pocket skinny. They feature a velour seat and pair well with a simple long sleeve neutral top and basic black flat, allowing the pants to be the star. $1,100. Rag & Bone - Rag & Bone crafted this destroyed skinny with an ultra-comfortable cotton-denim blend. This jean is deconstructed with strategically placed rips and then re-constructed with fall’s trending plaid flannel patches. $396 Saint Laurent - This black cotton-blend denim skinny by Saint Laurent features rips and subtle fading and would pair well with this seasons trend of electric neon separates and accessories. $89 By Mandi Pimental
When you mix a passion for fine automobiles with the love for luxury, beautiful things can materialize. And, when stars have the means to drive lavish transportation, we see that sometimes they let their imaginations run wild. Others, however, opt for more sensible and environmentally friendly options. Below we have chosen our favorite car enthusiasts in fashion, movies and music. Gisele Bundchen – Supermodel Gisele Bundchen opts for sleekness and sophistication in her vehicles. As an owner of a Rolls Royce Ghost, BMW X5, Audi S8 and a Black Audi A8, she has choices when it comes time to tote little Vivan and Benjamin around Brentwood or head to a fitting. Most often seen in her Audi A8, we’ve chosen it in particular to spotlight. The car is equipped with a 3.0 V6 engine and exhibits seamless performance when on the road. Its plush interior makes it a great choice for a family car that is still luxurious and stylishly classic. Would you expect anything less from one of the world’s most successful supermodels? Leonardo DiCaprio – “Wolf of Wallstreet” star Leonardo Dicaprio drives the king of hybrids. Owner of a Fisker Karma hybrid sports car, a highly impressive and rare vehicle, Dicaprio has been spotted driving this car around Los Angeles. Reaching 60 miles per hour in just under six seconds, with a max speed of 125 miles per hour, this car has the ability to put on a good show and still be a better choice for the environment than your average sports car. Also keeping with the eco-friendly theme, no animal products were used in the interior design of the car. So, if you are looking for not only your lunch to be vegan, but your vehicle as well, talk to Leo. For a cool $100,000, he can hook you up. George Clooney – George Clooney is not only one of the hottest bachelors to reside in Hollywood; he is also an avid classic car fan and car-racing aficionado. On sunny California days, the Studio City resident can be seen riding casually around town in his 1958 Chevrolet Corvette V8 C1 convertible. This style in particular was considered a style icon in the 50’s with its chrome finished, trendy appearance and double headlamps. A seasonal resident of Italy, Clooney also had the interior refinished in fine Italian leather. Fantastico! Jessica Alba – Actress, philanthropist and owner of health conscious cleaning and product company, Honest, Alba tops our list as the most sensible car owner. Her silver Prius shows us that she cares for her environment by not only using clean, earth friendly products in her home, but by driving a car that is cleaner for Mother Earth. We respect the down-to-earth actress, and fashion week front-row spectator, for her choices for not only herself and her family, but for those around her. Lauren Conrad – The Paper Crown designer shows us, through her ride of choice, that she has moved on from “The Hills” days and onto the finer things in life. A fashionable statement piece itself, her Bentley Continental Flying Spur is both luxurious and pricey. With a price tag starting at $186,000, Conrad cruises around L.A. in the metallic black Bentley that can reach a speed of 62 MPH in just 4.9 seconds. The car, maxing out at an impressive 200 MPH, is not only beautiful, but also high performance in its own right. An added bonus feature: its four-zone climate control system for ultimate comfort. Kendall Jenner – Though Ms. Jenner is the owner of a blacked out Range Rover that she received for her birthday, she is also a lover of dirt bikes and racecars. So, we thought we would feature her love for fast rides and spotlight her experience driving a Bugatti Veyron Vitesse at the North American Lamborghini Blacpain Super Trofeo races. It is currently one of the fastest street-legal vehicles on the market today, developed by the Volkswagen group, and reaches a top speed of just over 267 miles per hour. Kendall drove it at modest speeds, with her father in the passenger seat, but said it was “still a cool experience”. She has had better luck with automobiles than younger sister Kylie, who just after 2 short weeks of receiving her driver’s license crashed her $125,000 Mercedes. Ouch! That’s got to be a hard thing to live down with all those siblings. Miley Cyrus – It is no surprise that the controversial starlet would own a car that practically screams, “living on the edge.” Cyrus’ metallic gray McLaren Mp4 is a super sports car that starts at a steep $200,000. Reaching speeds of over 120 MPH in just under 10 seconds, it is practically a racecar itself. The aerodynamic design is sleek, and the interior is spacious and features the highest quality leather throughout. Mila Kunis – The gorgeous and talented Mila Kunis opted for safety and security when she chose her Range Rover Overfinch. Though a trendy option in Hollywood, it is a great choice for a star as visible as Kunis. Equipped with a gun cabinet and ammunition, as well as a champagne fridge and a console that holds tumblers and champagne flutes, it is not only a safe vehicle, it is also decadent and luxurious. Powered by a V8 Corvette engine, the Overfinch is a powerful vehicle that can handle most driving situations with ease. An added bonus, it has plush carpeting throughout the interior! Rihanna – The Barbados native drives a Porsche 997 turbo with an enhanced performance engine. Rihanna shows she can handle a stick, as this car has a six-speed manual transmission and a top speed of over 120 MPH. The Porsche 997 is a fitting ride for a girl who likes to live a little dangerously. Ralph Lauren – Fashion great Ralph Lauren may be most popularly known for his exquisite designs in men and women’s clothing, among many other branches including his fragrances and accessories, but few know that he is an avid car collector and tops our list of car aficionados. Owning his own Ferrari museum and car garage, the extent of his automobile knowledge and love for all things auto is endless. Included in his vast collection you will find: a 1929 Bentley Blower, 2010 Lamborghini Murcielago Super Veloce, 2006 Bugatti Veyron, 1996 McLaren F1 LM, 1965 Ferrari P2/3 and Ferrari 250 GTO just to name a few. Lauren also owns one of the most valuable and rare Ferraris ever produced. |