Milan Fashion Week 2019: MENSWEAR vs WOMENswear silhouettes

comparisons from MILAN FASHION WEEK

Given that menswear elements are continuing to grace womenswear designs, we thought it would be visually interesting to highlight how they were reflected on the runways of Milan Fashion Week.

(Left to Right) Gucci, Max Mara, Alberta Ferretti, Fendi, Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani

Blazers and Jackets : This year, Milan’s top designers presented a slew of must have blazers and jackets. We love that these layering pieces are so versatile and that they can be styled in many different ways beyond the office. For those who prefer a stronger more masculine look we recommend sticking with darker colors and oversized silhouettes. And for those who prefer a softer more feminine look try brighter hues in fabrics that drape and move with you.

(Left to Right) Moschino, No.21, Alberta Ferretti, Gucci, Marni and Sportmax

Dresses and Skirts: The same can be said for skirts and dresses in regards to strong and masculine versus soft and feminine… Layering them with blazers and jackets is always a fashionable choice where you can manipulate the mood of your look through colors, shapes and textures.

(Left to Right) Tod’s, Salvatore Ferragamo, Bottega Veneta, Arthur Arbesser, Iceberg and No.21

Pants and Jumpsuits: It will be a sad day when jumpsuits are no longer in style so we are pleased that designers are still moving forward with these super comfortable and chic styles. Here, leather pants accentuate the strength of women, while, conversely, the softer materials highlight the beauty and softness of women.

London Fashion Week 2019: Style in our everyday wardrobe

THE BEST DAILY LOOKS OF LONDON FASHION WEEK

London Fashion Week presented elegant styles that are wearable in your everyday wardrobe. Below are some highlights from Roland Mouret, Burberry and Vivienne Westwood.

These are our top picks from Roland Mouret’s collection. The dynamic patterns and colors of this ultrachic long coat will brighten up any look while adding an element of elegance from denim to evening wear. While Roland Mouret is finally delving into menswear (we’ve been waiting for this moment!) the black long coat is a great unisex addition to anyone’s closet, especially in this age of oversized man-tailored womenswear. Lastly, this stunning jacket will catch everyone’s eye. The beautifully classic combination of red and black coupled with impeccable draping never ceases to create a fresh look each season.

Burberry has always presented classically elegant designs in their collections and these two examples showcase the timeless and daily wearability of the brand. Their classic double breasted trench coat is a basic “must have” and is fresh season-after-season with cool design elements such as iridescent luxe fabrics. The incorporation of texturized pastel fabrics in an always sexy pencil skirt will light up any wardrobe.

Vivienne Westwood did not disappoint this season with staple pinstripes and plaid patterns adorning oversized and double breasted jackets as seen here. Not only do all of these elements work together to keep this brand on trend, they do so while maintaining a level of maturity and luxury - with a true Vivienne Westwood edge.

New York Fashion Week 2019 Day-5: Maxi Dresses

Beautiful Maxi Dresses Continue to Stun

Colorful maxi dresses by Carolina Herrera and Zimmerman were the highlight of Day 5 shows. Models caught everyone’s attention as they walked the runway in these elegantly flowing gowns. These dresses are first on my list for clients!

New York Fashion Week 2019 Day-4: Prabal Gurung

An outstanding collection by Prabal Gurung

Prabal Gurung incorporated various outwear textiles throughout his 70's Asian inspired 2019 F/W collection. From evening gowns to voluminous layers there was a unifying explosion of colors, textures and lavish materials flowing down the runway.

Best Dressed for Grammys 2018

There were so many beautifully texturized dresses at the 2018 Grammys.  Here are some of my top choices this year.  

Katie Holmes - Zac Posen |  Ashanti - Yas Couture 

Janelle Monáe - Dolce Gabbana | Chrissy Teigen - Yanin Couture

Miley Cyrus - Jean Paul Gaultier | Lady Gaga - Giorgio Armani

Yellow: Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

Women: 

Enhance your go-to outfit with a pop of color by 

accessorizing with these tassel earrings that continue to be on-trend.

Cha Cha Cha Turquoise & Yellow Tassel Earrings  ckbradley.com                                                         $90

These slipper like slides are guaranteed to put a little spring in your step in the city, country or beach side.

Aquazurra Wild Thing Slide Flat                          aquazzura.com                                                       $475

Brighten your neutral handbag collection and carry your essentials in a refreshing yellow bag this summer!

Chanel Flap Bag                                                     chanel.com                                                              $3,000

Ditch the overrated LBD and highlight your closet with a golden sheath dress instead. 

Givenchy Sleeveless Lace-Hem Sheath Dress       neimanmarcus.com                                                $1,945.00

Butterscotch leather flairs are edgy, yet professional - and an excellent departure from your typical work pants. 

Derek Lam Leather Trouser                                    dereklam.com                                                          $1,180

Cool off in this wrap one-piece swimsuit or pair it with high waisted jeans and kitten heels for a chic city look.

Stella McCartney Timeless Wrap One-Piece Suit  modesens.com                                                        $255

Girls: 

Your little one can romp around in this adorable dress at the beach, playground or even on the first day of school.

MSGM Girls Yellow Embroidered Dress                 childrensalon.com                                                 $113

These cropped trouser's are a combination of

fashion and function making them ideal for any occasion.

Fendi Girls Yellow Cropped Trousers                    childrensalon.com                                                   $335

Perfect for any outfit, these sandals are especially fun for the lemonade stand.

Dolce & Gabbana Girls Yellow Brocade Lemon Print Sandals                                                          childrensalon.com                                                  $347

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Men:

These swim shorts are cool in more ways then one. Rock them pool side or at the beach to complete your summer wardrobe.

Capricode printed swim shorts                               farfetch.com                                                          $126

Pair this tie with your favorite business-professional ensemble to refresh and brighten your day-to-day look.

Ermenegildo Zegna Neat 3D Diamond           Printed Silk Tie                           bergdorfgoodman.com                                           $195

Look your best in these cheeful shorts while grilling up those burgers and dogs at your next BBQ. 

J. Crew 9" short in garment-dyed cotton                 jcrew.com                                                       $29.99                      

Shake things up by replacing a pair of chinos with this light and bright pair of textured trousers.

PT01 San Blas Wool-Blend Trousers
barneys.com                                                          $189

Swap out your everyday loafers with mustard wingtip oxfords for a bold look.

Kevin Faux Wingtip in Mustard           Nordstrom.com                                                   $425

Boys:

Your little rascal will look cool in this graphic and festive tee throughout the summer.

Pepe Jeans graphic t-shirt                                 melijoe.com                                                           $22.40

Good thing it's summer break since your little one would be too cool for school in these super stylish cuffed shorts. 

Paul Smith Junior Boys Yellow Cotton Shorts
childrensalon.com                                                   $61

Be sure to shade their eyes from the sun with these ultra cool sunglasses. 

Zoobug Yellow Square Sunglasses childrensalon.com                                                      $78

Rei Kawakubo / Comme des Garçons

The final countdown for the Met Gala begins as designers and attendees are in preparation for the long awaited red carpet benefit. Japanese designer, Rei Kawakubo will be the first living designer since 1983 to be the sole subject of this year's annual Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute's fashion exhibit.

The Japanese label Comme des Garçons translates to the French line "like some boys". The theatrical designs present an avant-garde approach to fashion. Past Kawakubo runway highlights include the 2001 Spring collection's use of camouflage, bubble wrap and packing tape and the carnival-inspired 1994 Spring collection called “Kaleidoscope". 

Challenging the conventional, the Spring 2017 ready-to-wear show resembled a sculpture exhibit rather than a runway. With the inspiration behind the collection left for interpretation, Kawakubo created wearable 3-dimensional structures with overwhelming capes, oversized collars and ornamental headdresses.

Bridal Fashion Week

Designers brought something new and something old to the 2018 Bridal Fashion Week runway. The collections of Oscar de la Renta, Lela Rose, Marchesa and Sachin & Babi aired elegance and romance for both the traditional and modern bride. 

Co-designers Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim paid tribute to the late Oscar de la Renta and his love for his gardens. The Spring 2018 collection featured floral-inspired prints created with lace, tulle, beading and embroidery. Among the timeless gowns was a feminine jumpsuit with a floral printed bustier.

The Lela Rose theme "Love is Love" brought a collection of strapless gowns, modern pantsuits, and conservative shawls. Designing beyond the traditional bride, designer Lela Rose said, "It's part of the changing rules of bridal".

The Marchesa collection brought something new adding hints of black detailing to the all-white collection: including a black velvet belt, hair bow, intricate chandelier earrings and a trailing ribbon choker that ran into the train of the gown.

The Sachin & Babi collection combined old elegance with modern sophistication. “It's a little Twiggy and a little mod, but there is a method to the madness", said designer Babi when discussing the duo's inspiration.

A Pastel Palette

Warmer days bring lighter hues. Hermès, Burberry, Valentino, Céline and  Chanel  Spring collections are bringing personality and calm color to our personal runways.

Cable-knit sweaters, laced frocks and trench coat dresses walked the Spring Burberry runway. The collection's color palette of sky blues and stone grays came from British sculptor, Henry Moore, known for his abstract monumental sculptures.

Inspired by the 80's silhouette, designer Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski expanded on the over-sized shoulders and high waisted pants and skirts. The Spring Hermès collection reflected pastel tones of pinks, greens and yellows. 

Fascinated by the romance of medieval art, creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli of Valentino produced a fairy tail collection of delicately embroidered daywear. Piccioli's Spring 2017 palette featured blush pinks, canary yellows and the signature Valentino red. 

The Spring 2017 Céline runway was filled with boxy tailored jackets, flared pants, and bold accessories. Designer Phoebe Philo produced monochromatic looks in white, black, brown, and red to create a vision of contemporary minimalism.

Designer, Karl Lagerfeld called the Spring Chanel show "a mad linguistic paradox". The collection featured 86 ensembles playing on pastels, neons and neutrals.

Dressing for Spring With a Winter Breeze

Chilly mornings and lingering winds seem to not have coordinated well with the calendar's seasonal changes. Thankfully the Spring 2017 collections of Burberry, Oscar de la Renta, Valentino, Céline and Stella McCartney have given us inspiration and hope for these cooler days.

Take Advantage of Sweater Weather: Designer Christopher Bailey of Burberry reimagined the traditional cable knit sweater by transforming it into a layered one-shoulder shawl. Bailey’s vision translated into a flattering silhouette despite the unconventional lines of this architectural look.

Love the Jumper: One of many essentials for early Spring weather, Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia of Oscar de la Renta share their love for cocktail tunics and day-to-night jumpers in their Spring 2017 collection.

Layer Up: There's no ignoring the low evening temperatures and blowing winds. The Valentino Spring 2017 collection featured a variety of floor-length trench coats to play on designer Pierpaolo Piccioli's romantic vision of complimenting lengthy gowns and flowing skirts.

Embrace a Lighter Color Palette: The Spring 2017 Céline runway was filled with earth-toned hues of white, blue, black, and brown. A soundtrack of city traffic and children’s voices played through the venue to emphasize the collection's transparency of a day in the wearer's life.

Relax in Looser Fits: Designer Stella McCartney took to light fabrics and relaxed fits with oversized jumpers, tops and trousers. A combination of full-coverage in light fabrics helps our Spring mentality embrace the last of this Winter weather.

Goodbye Cold, Hello Spring

With the arrival of Spring, we celebrate our favorite floral-inspired looks from the Spring 2017 collections of Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Marchesa, Fendi and Adam Selman.

Designer, Demna Gvasalia, brought bold patterns and fabrics to the Balenciaga runway. Models walked in oversized silhouette jackets and brightly colored spandex heels that transformed into full coverage pants. 

Designer, Sarah Burton flew with her studio team to Shetland Isles, Scotland with the hope to gain inspiration for the Spring 2017 Alexander McQueen collection. Scotish scenery, wild flowers and deserted beaches carried through to floral embroidered jeans, flounce covered skirts and wool knitted dresses.

Inspired by the changing stages of the sky, the Marchesa 2017 Spring runway was a palette of lilac, light blue and blush hues. These evening gowns fell into a realm of feminine fantasy with the use of layered organza, intricate beading and floral-printed embroidery.

Utilitarian stripes, athletic sock-like boots and silk lingerie-inspired pieces filled the Fendi Spring 2017 runway. Designers Karl Lagerfeld and Silvia Venturini Fendi mixed elements of sporty and floral to produce a unique novelty collection.

Adam Selman's collection is a combination of looks inspired by the disco era and illustrations from American Denim: A New Folk Art by Peter S. Beagle. The overlaying 70's themes resonate through the collection's full denim jumpsuits, wide-leg trousers and use of funky floral prints and D-ring belts.

Zac Posen Fall/Winter 2017 Collection

Last Wednesday night, I was invited to preview the brilliantly gifted Zac Posen's Fall/Winter 2017 collection. A combination of fantasy and sophistication, the collection featured A-line gowns, modernized pantsuits, floral prints, and leather-inspired fabrics.

Known to be inspired by the traditional woman , Posen shared, “This season I married my signature structures with the paradox of fluidity. Referencing the mid-1940’s, I wanted to give a message of elegance and hope".

Luxe fabrics flowed in deeply saturated tones including midnight blues, deep wines, and dark burgundies. Attention to detail is seen through Posen's use of velvet ribbons, flounce and beading to create structured, yet feminine, three dimensional silhouettes. Here are a few of my favorite pieces from the Fall/Winter 2017 collection.

London Fashion Week: Hues of Blue

Shades of blue drowned the London Fashion Week runway. Burberry and Roland Mouret were two favorite designers integrating the crisp hue into their seasonal color palette. 

Inspired by a British sculptor Henry Moore, chief creative officer Christopher Bailey designed Burberry's guest invitations to be written on light stones to enhance the aesthetic of the Spring 2017 collection. Signature looks included navy stripes, white lace and a twist on classic sophistication. Burberry's first see-now, buy-now show allowed guests to shop looks in all stores immediately after viewing the collection on the runway.

The Fall 2017 Roland Mouret collection extended past the traditional feminine silhouette to embrace the variety of women's body types. Designer Roland Mouret incorporated a variation of fabrics to create a sense of diversity. The combination of knits, fabrics, hues, patchwork and detailing left guests eager to pre-order looks straight from the runway. 

NYFW Spring 2017 - Day 3

Texture is the new accessory whether it be appliqués, fringe, knits or lace. These textures need no assistance in making a statement and regardless of the season, texture is a versatile way to add a twist to any outfit.  These four looks from Novis, Jason Wu, Akris and Tanya Taylor are my Day 3 runway favorites!

Style Tip: Be sure to keep accessories to a subtle minimum to avoid competing elements -- and looking over styled.

NYFW Spring 2017 - Day 2

MIDI'S

During day 2 of NYFW, printed midi's owned the runway. Midi’s are a great staple piece for any occasion, they are so effortless, yet have the ability to give off a clean polished look.  I love these four midi's in particular, by Supima Design, Brock, Ulla Johnson and Marissa WebB -- the airy fabrics and soft prints evoke feelings of vintage femininity.

Style Tip: Take these midi's from day to night by layering on jewels that are as light in weight as they are in color so as to create a tone on tone shimmer.

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Images from Vogue and Fashion GPS Radar