It’s the last day of New York Fashion Week and I’m in a bit of a daze. Going to shows is fun, but the ordeal of waiting in line to check in, waiting in line to get into the venue, squeezing your way to your seat, and then dealing with the 20-45 minutes the typical show runs late, is quite draining! It’s also a little known fact, but most writers and editors don’t get chauffeured around in Town cars or take cabs everywhere as films like The Devil Wears Prada might have people think; the subway is in fact the method of transportation of choice for most! Luckily, this sleeveless wrap vest from Calvin Klein that I found at Macys makes for both a comfortable find as well as an on-trend summer-to-fall transition piece given all the chunky knits that designers like Alexander Wang have favored.
Layering is another major trend for the Fall and the vest is a perfect vehicle to do just that – again this doubles as a convenient touch because it looks like it might get cold later today. There may have been a time when there was nothing more uncool than a sweater vest, but with its shawl collar, buckle front closure, ribbed trim, and front wrap design, this one definitely goes against the grain. Plus, if you’re not into the shirt-dresses we’ve been seeing on the Spring 2012 runways, but want something that has a similar effect, a vest like this one is a good way to go.
When I spotted these mustard shoes at Macy’s I finally understood why Jessica Simpson is inching herself towards a billion dollar fashion empire. Wholly affordable at less than $100, the particular shade of yellow used for this pump is not one usually seen in more affordable shoe lines (you tend to see bright, rather than muted shades). The jewel tone looks utterly luxe given that it’s fashioned out of suede and the style is perfect for this time of year. I knew I’d want to wear these pumps at some point during the week so I based this entire outfit around the shoes.
To that end, I picked up this chic dolman sleeve sweater from Calvin Klein. It’s cut on the bias so it’s super flattering and the roominess of it allows me to eat as many Pop Chips, Le Pain Quotidien on-the-go buys, and hors d’oeuvres – the typical New York Fashion Week diet – as I want! The V-neckline is also key because you tend to be packed in like sardines at most fashion shows and this neckline cut allows for some breathing room, as does the side slit.
We all need great fall staple pieces that we could just as easily wear out shopping as we could to work and this sweater is one of those pieces for me. Similarly, while you wouldn’t think the mustard Simpson pumps would go with anything aside from black or neutral top/pant, they work wonderfully when paired with a complementary color like crimson red, just make sure the non-neutral color you’re opting to pair the yellow with is a solid and is either limited to your bottom or your top.
I usually think of Ellen Tracy as somewhat of a snooze brand, so it would probably rank among the ones I’d think I would be least likely to wear when going to cover the backstage scene at Marchesa. The brand’s presentations are always a highlight of my Fashion Weeks and this season they’re staging their first ever runway show at The Plaza Hotel. Also on my schedule today is The Rodnik Bands’ presentation taking place at Mister H, the recently opened lounge in the Mondrian Hotel (a must-see if you’re in the New York City area!) Rodnik’s looks stand out as well, but in quite a different respect than those designed by Marchesa, just take a look at some images from their Fall 2011 collection to see what I mean! Needless to say, there will be no way to compete with the fashions on display at either of these two shows so I’m happy with my decision to play it safe with this nautical inspired top.
The tie in the front and the contrasting prints work well together and with the texture of my day bag there’s enough visual interest to make this look feel fresh. There was also a major dot trend on the Fall 2011 runways and the Ellen Tracy top I found at Macy's does a nice job at working it in discreetly.
P.S. I overheard someone say this the other day and given how sunny it is this morning I think it must be true — Anna Wintour clearly spoke to the weather gods this fashion week!
I was backstage at Rachel Zoe’s presentation earlier this afternoon so when I was getting dressed I knew some glitz was in order. I opted for a sequin embellished tank from Vince Camuto – my first buy from the brand at Macy's and I have to say I’m impressed at how much look you get from this top without it appearing tacky. I paired the glimmering gold top with a black maxi skirt to offset all of the details of the top.
My favorite thing about this look is that when you’re busy you tend to want your outfit to be as comfortable as possible and even though it doesn’t look like it would be, at least not to the same extent as baggy pants and a tank top, this look is just that. Day-to-day I tend gravitate towards loose fitting clothes (the last thing I want to do is sausage myself into a piece of clothing) and this one fits the mold without being overly casual. Even better, you could easily transition this daytime outfit into a nighttime going-out-and-having-a-good-time one by taking off the maxi skirt, putting on a pair of fitted black trousers, and layering up on cocktail rings or bracelets.
It’s been on and off wind and shine here in New York City so it’s lucky that I have a small balcony on which I can assess the weather conditions! Here I am perched over to make sure I won’t ruin the bottom of the black maxi when I’m walking in between shows later today!
On a side note, Zoe opted to go for a loose fitting black bottom as well, though she went the wide-leg jumper route, which she accessorized with a surprisingly limited amount of gold and diamond jewelry.
I started off my Sunday with a power breakfast – 7 AM – my earliest Sunday power breakfast to date and now I’m getting pumped to start my day covering the backstage scene at Derek Lam. Estee Lauder’s Tom Pecheux will once again be leading the makeup team and he’s not only one of the sweetest beauty gurus, but he’s undeniably one of the most trend-setting and talented ones (did you guys see the beauty look he created at The Row? He used bronzer on cheeks! See picture below). My night is ending rather late with Timo Weiland’s show at 9 PM, but given that I bought nearly everything in their Spring 2011 collection, I anticipate it being well worth attending.
My excitement over the day rubbed off on today’s outfit choice – simple flared Calvin Klein pants that I haven’t had the chance to have hemmed yet (small price to pay given that they were only about $80 at Macy’s), paired with a white tank, and the most shagadelic-ly awesome vest from Michael Michael Kors (also from Macy's). I was a bit weary about it at first because there’s a thin line between eye-catching and original – and over-the-top and tacky, but given that I was shopping with a friend who works at J. Mendel (right under the designer himself no less….) and she eyes-wide-open gasped as hard as I did upon spotting it, I knew it was a must-have.
The great thing about the cream fringe knit vest is that all the crazy dreadlock-like texture is offset by crochet trim, the open front design, and the unobtrusive color makes it a wonderful summer-to-fall transition piece. Plus, with so much look it gives you an easy excuse to be completely unfussy with your accessories. The perfect piece to take me from brunch to backstage to late night shows at Lincoln Center!
Makeup at The Row by Tom Pecheux for Estee Lauder; nails by Deborah Lippman using Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer (Photos: Courtesy of Estee Lauder).
Maybe it’s because I live with someone who is fond of blasting the AC so high you’d think we lived in the depths of a desert, but I tend to be sensitive when it comes to cool weather. I'd rather sweat and be sticky over having the chills any day, which is exactly why I opted for this Elie Tahari chunky collared sweater. The combination of a cowl neck and a sleeveless cut gives it the perfect balance for this time of year when it can go from 80 and sunny to 60 and rainy in the same day. Plus, it’s super soft and cozy so if I get cold or tired I can just wrap myself in the collar!
Head-to-toe black is not only a staple in New York City (and per the most recent episode of The Rachel Zoe Project, some women’s uniform when they’re pregnant), but it’s also a safe bet during Fashion Week when you want to look put together but don’t necessarily have the time to devote to planning an intricately coordinated outfit. That said, all black can be a bit of a snooze, so despite the visual interest courtesy of the merino wool sweater’s cowl neck, I opted to layer a French Connection silk tank underneath it. Amazingly, I picked up this popping bright silk tank on sale at Macy’s for less than $30! It’s the perfect sunny layer to break up and brighten up a black ensemble.
My boyfriend snapped a picture of me as we were heading out, so here I am, after checking the mail, with a big smile on my face because not only do I not have anything in my inbox that needs my immediate attention, but among the shows/presentations I have lined up for the day is Fenton.
I love accessories and Fenton designer Dana Lorenz hosted an awesome event a little over a year ago where she invited bloggers to her downtown boutique and helped them design necklaces using Fenton and Fallon (the more affordable alternative to Fenton) materials. In the photo here, I’m wearing the necklace I made and I love how it looks against the white tee from Michael Michael Kors. Summer is my favorite season and I always find it hard this time of year coming to terms that it will be getting chilly soon. With that in mind I’m easing my way into it, at least sartorially, with these amazingly comfortable army green pants from Pure DKNY. The fold-over top makes them feel like cozy yoga pants, which is great because the leopard shoes are far from comfortable. That said, leopard is most certainly still having its moment as evidenced by the fact that it took quite a bit of digging to find chunky heeled leopard pumps that weren’t sold out in my size!
It’s pretty difficult to find a leopard print that’s cheap, but doesn’t look cheap, so when on a budget I like to opt for animal print accessories over ready-to-wear. These Steve Madden pumps from Macy's were a great faux pony find (and less than $60) and they add a pop of visual interest to my relatively toned down top and bottom – essential to take me from day to night as I’ll be at the opening party for Richard Hambleton: A Retrospective, tonight.
Images from the Spring 2012 Fenton presentation
It looks like it will be a bit gloomy of a day here in New York City, but I’ve been itching to wear this Fall 2011 DKNY dress since I first picked it up at Macy’s the other week and rain isn’t going to stop me! I’m not one to typically wear dresses unless it’s a cocktail party or fancy affair, but I remember thinking that Donna Karan did a fantastic job with her pleating and color-blocking at her last DKNY runway show and I was glad to see the looks translated well when they hit retailers.
I know that by now everyone is sick of hearing (and seeing!) color-blocking so I love that this dress works it in with the added visual interest of a pattern as one of the tiers and with pleating throughout. Pleating can feel very conservative, but the pop of blue and the clash with the pattern takes away from some of that and makes it a fun dress that will easily translate from my day of shows (kicking off with an always-favorite, BCBG!) and later tonight with Fashion’s Night Out festivities.
I paired the dress with some simple, black pumps because I figured that if it does rain, any damage will be less noticeable given the dark color and stiff material of the shoes. As a final touch I opted for a Coach satchel with very Miu Miu-esque quilted leather. It has room for my laptop and it isn’t heavy because it‘s light on hardware so it should stand up to a busy – and possible rainy – day!
