Dries Van Noten?

I am obsessed with Dries Van Noten for his risk taking and beautiful prints. He is a true innovator. However, his spring RTW collection strays far from his usual design tactics. He says of his collection, "These are simple clothes,” he said, “really clothes to wear. Not a big extravagant statement.” I was very surprised and slightly disappointed when I opened WWD in anticipation of seeing his new collection. However, it may be a step ahead for the designer to enter the main stream. He did mix it up a bit with a splash of color, shear garments, as well as sequined sparkles, however his color palette was somewhat monochromatic. He also did experiment a bit with prints, but they were all reminiscent of Chinese flower paintings. Delicate, yes, typical Dries? No. Regardless, his clothes are still very well made, elegant fabrics and fit, and truly a gem. 

Favorite Fall Trend: Everything Lacey

I love the lace trend, I love how it looks amazing paired in a balance of harsh and feminine. Pair it with something rocker like tights and booties or skinny jeans, with statement red lipstick, and it looks graceful and interesting. I am seeing this lace trend everywhere, from affordable Forever 21 and one of my favorite "best kept secrets", Victoria's Secret's clothing line, to designer labels. Alexander McQueen's lace tights are quite interesting. Celebrities are also wearing this look, through tights, such as Taylor Momsen and Megan Fox, and Lauren Conrad, pictured below, in Marchesa. I am dying over her dress, it is perfection.

Bottega Veneta Spring 2011 RTW

I am loving Bottega Veneta's Spring 2011 collection, the catwalk flow works perfectly with the rhythmic music.

Die for Dolce

One of my favorite up and coming trends and a returning trend is lace clothing. Dolce pulled the lace trend for Spring 2011 flawlessly. Each outfit is so delicate and feminine. I would die to wear any of these dresses. They are so beautiful, elegant, and well crafted. 

Favorite Fall Trend: The Tucked in Look

High waists and tucked in shirts! I am loving this look, especially belted. Very 70's. It is simple, clean, and elegant. No longer will we suffer from the unwanted fear of our pants dipping down too low to reveal things that should not be seen! Waists are rising higher this fall. Say goodbye to the low rise pant. I am loving the higher waistline and the roomier fit to these pants. I love tucked in shirts as well, because I have grown tired of the long shirts look. I recently purchased a pair of high waisted skinny jeans and am loving their look and feel. They are so comfortable! I am so excited to welcome this trend. Zara's collection which is in stores now is all high waisted. I love what they are doing for women, and the collection looks expensive without breaking the bank. All fall's trends can be paired with the high waisted look.

Flannel Fever

Flannel Flannel Everywhere! Flannel is everywhere. Although it is a trend that has been around for a long time, it is literally invading every store. It is the trend that will not go away, and seems to be coming back bigger and better every fall. I love flannel because of its comfort. It reminds me of shacking up on a cold fall day next to the fire. However, I think it's fun because it's like wearing my pajamas in public. I love the laid back style and the way wearing plaid makes me feel. It it a cute and effortless style. It can be glammed up or dressed down. It is also fun because it can be found in every store. Whether it's in the cheaper stores like Old Navy or in the more trendy stores like J.Crew, everyone can wear and follow this trend. I also love that flannel is a unisex trend, and something that looks really great on men and not just women this fall.

Favorite Fall Trend: Cozy Knits

Among my favorite trends for this fall is the sweater trend. Big knits are back in. I love that it is okay for women to cover up and to be comfortable. This fall, sweaters are a major staple for women's wardrobes. The chunkier the better. It is all about that 70's look of thick materials and quality fabrics. This trend is being warn by celebrities, and is something that can be found now in every store. Sweaters look cute worn baggy by themselves or belted. Sweaters are also fun to layer with flannel or military jackets. Knitwear is warm, protective, and stylish. Here are some images from Zara, a retailer that is following the sweater trend full speed ahead.

Fall Trend: OTK Boots

A trend that is not new this fall, but is continuing to flourish is the OTK or over-the-knee boot. I especially love black leather ones. Last winter, although I purchased a pair, I was too afraid to wear them because I did not feel that the mainstream was ready for this trend. However, this fall, I am absolutely loving them. Although the weather has not been cool enough to indulge in this trend, I cannot wait to wear them with cute leggings and an oversized sweater. I love the look of the black on black, black boots with black leggings. I also have gray suede ones from Free People that I love. They are very cute and comfy. I love this look on Hilary Duff pictured below. She looks chic and casual, but stylish at the same time.

Felicity Brown

I casually opened WWD today and saw these fantastic creations by Felicity Brown. I had never heard of her, but was immediately in love with her flowery but edgy dresses for Spring 2011. Felicity, a London designer, brings art to fashion in her structured dresses. I loved the contrast between the soft colors with the strappy heels on the models. Her designs are pleasing to the eye and very detail oriented. I wouldn't be surprised to see her dresses on a red carpet in the next awards season.  

Favorite Look of the Day: Rachel Bilson Does It Again!

I love love love Rachel Bilson's relaxed style. For those cooler fall days, I love the addition of a light scarf. I especially love Rachel's scarf because it is fun and flirty. It is girly with a pink hue and navy polka dots and a nice contrast from her gorgeous black jacket. I love her boyfriend denim, casually rolled up, which are Paige jeans, jeans that I am a huge fan of because of the fit and washes of the brand. I am obsessed with her lace up wedge heels, which blend two trends together, a lace up boot with a wedge heel for height and added interest. I also love the effortless style to her hair, wavy, and the trend of having dark roots and highlighted ends. It is the grown out look that many girls are sporting. Rachel keeps rocking the wayfarers, which still add a sense of style to the outfit. Each piece of the ensemble complements the other. Well done.

Fall Uniformity

Is it just me or do all clothing brands seem to be blending together this fall? I, normally the eager shopper, am hesitant to buy anything this fall because I know that if I find something I like, I can find the exact twin at another store, and probably for a lot cheaper. It is no longer about the brand name, because all brands look the same. I find myself hunting more for quality, look and feel in the clothing, than the traditional brands I have been searching for year after year. One brand that I had seemed to abandon, but am returning to is Urban Outfitters. Although clothes are a bit more expensive than they are at Forever 21, there is a large difference in the quality of the clothing. For a while, the clothing quality was comparable to those of the likes of H&M and Forever 21. After stepping into the store on a brief whim today, I found myself wanting to purchase every item that jumped in front of me on the racks and on the shelves. I am loving these looks and I will definitely take a pause and consider purchasing a couple of these fall must have items from Urban, because they seem to be stylish yet practical, and of nice quality...