MILAN STREET STYLE

Street style from Milan
Photo: from The New York Times, Style

It is as much fun to look at the people outside the fashion shows during the slew of Fashion Weeks around the world as it is to see the runway creations.  This young lady caught my eye -- very little embellishment, just clean and stylish use of shape and color.

I think I will be wearing red today.

TRAVELING: WEEKEND STYLE

I'm off to LA this weekend.  I am so determined to just have carry-on!  You know how much space several pairs of shoes take in the roller case ...

Aside from the old trick of stuffing accessories into the shoes, I decided on using my day-to-night BCBG suede jacket.  It has some cool geometric accents.  Plus, I go crazy over anything with zippers.

BCBG faux suede jacket
from BCBG. com

BCBG faux suede jacket
from BCBG.com

It's sleek and fitted and goes marvelously with bright colors -- so yes, I get to use red, green, even purple with it.  I'll probably head to the airport in a red knit top plus denim skirt.  Also packing some spandex capris too for the weekend in red and black.

On the itinerary is the Rodarte exhibit at the Pacific Design Center.  Can't wait!

I'll see you all next week ...

DESIGUAL AND ART

The Museums in San Francisco have been so inspirational.  If you are in the area, not only should you catch the "Balenciaga and Spain" exhibit at the De Young.  The real must-see is Isabelle de Borchgrave's trompe l'oeil costume masterpieces for "Pulp Fashion" at the Legion of Honor.

Naturally, these exhibits attracted Art and Fashion students and other stylish admirers.  So I decked myself out in my colorful Desigual coat to blend in.  I was tickled pink (or rather rainbow!) to be stopped by several museum-goers complimenting me on my coat.  And it wasn't even the wildest print -- it was restrained by Desigual standards.

Desigual coat
from Desigual print ads
This isn't my exact coat but it's similar

The back of my coat is like this too
photo from allexpress.com

Detail of the coat
It's in a jacquard type fabric with embroidery and print
photo from allexpress.com

For more on Desigual, please refer to my old posts:

Barcelona Buzz

Desigual Meets Christian Lacroix

COLOR BLOCKED SPRING

Spring is in the air.  That is, here on the West Coast.  Our thoughts begin to turn to vibrant colors, or the perennial springtime combination, black-and-white.

A surprise trend that came off the Spring runways is Color Blocking.  Nothing new, mind you.  Back in 1965, Yves Saint Laurent drew from the Art world and blocked out the famous Mondrian dress:

Mondrian Dress
by Yves Saint Laurent, 1965
from the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Stefano Pilati built on YSL's heritage and put forth some graphic black-and-white color blocking for Spring 2011.

Yves Saint Laurent Spring 2011

But other designers, including the very young and fairly new Prabal Gurung, showed geometric color blocks.

Prabal Gurung Spring 2011

down to the shoes

Nicholas Kirkwood for Prabal Gurung, Spring 2011

Even the tried-and-true Christian Louboutin went color-wild (beyond the fire-engine red soles) in his Spring 2011 collection.

Christian Louboutin Spring 2011

For those used to monochrome looks, particularly of the black hue, this may be a stretch.  But you may be ready to infuse your winter wardrobe with color.  This is simpler than it seems.  In fact, it's much easier than introducing prints.

Hint: Contrast solids across your outfit (see Prada below) and there you can begin.

Prada Spring 2011
See the dyed green fur

TRAVEL: ANTIDOTE TO THE GREYS

I'm packing up for Thanksgiving Week in Seattle.  The capital that gave us Grunge also happens to be grey and damp at this time of year.  So I dig through my closet for the easiest antidote:  COLOR!  

The biggest impact comes from the overcoat.  Updating the old overcoat is a cinch.  Hint: it's all about accessories.  Pack several knit scarves.  Also, suede, clog boots with tassels feel just right in Seattle.

Knit scarf: frilly/multi-colored/multi-textured
Any scarf can update an old coat

Another option:  a vintage wool coat acquires Style with a fur collar.  To avoid the time warp feeling, mix it with hip boots.  Or, you could really update it with a wide, brown, leather belt.  Go waist-to-waist with Michelle Obama.

Vintage coat gets Style from the  collar

I showed this ladylike coat last Easter.  I plan to winterize it with a nearly-black fur collar.

Change the look on
this Easter coat by adding a
nearly black, fox fur collar

What do I pack to wear underneath the coat?  Most likely sweater dresses (great for wrinkle-free packing) with black, cable knit tights like the look from Anthropologie I posted last week Transition Weather Looks:

Anthropologie, October 2010 catalog

That about fills up my suitcase.  Now to work on my books and magazines ...

COLORFUL HALLOWEEN

If you are tired of the standard black, witch costume, it may be time to go wildly colorful for Halloween.  Two artist inspirations came to mind: Frida Kahlo and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

Kahlo, for her bold use of color especially on herself:

Frida Kahlo photo by Nickolas Muray

Frida Kahlo photo by Nickolas Muray

Toulouse-Lautrec for his subject matter -- the bohemian life of the Moulin Rouge with its "dangerous" women:

by Toulouse Lautrec 

by Toulouse Lautrec

Both use a color contrast to a black foil.  Kahlo's black hair, black eyebrows or black shawl stand out against the strong magenta flowers or a golden, yellow blouse.  Lautrec's ladies use more acid and garish colors.  We see a scarlet dress framed by details in a bile green or a blood orange can-can skirt.  Both offset black stockings or black hair.

Either way, there are no shy, pastel colors here.  We want vivid eye poppers.

So, enjoy playing with the Color Wheel.  For highest contrast, pick complementary colors at opposite ends of the Wheel.

from fuelyourcreativity.com

NEUTRAL TERRITORY

Celine Spring/Summer 2010

Some of the winning looks this spring were spare, minimal and in neutral hues.  Phoebe Philo for Celine characterized this less-is-more aesthetic in her beautiful collections.

Celine Spring/Summer 2010

What woman wouldn't look great and instantly put-together in these outfits?  You can mix and match anything!  These shapes are closet staples.  But due to the simplicity, perfect fit and quality fabrics are key.

Isabel Marant 2010

For those who like frills, I love how Isabel Marant makes neutrals so hip and chic! No wonder the Cool Crowd from Paris to NYC have been causing shortages despite Marant's hefty price tag.  (What ever happened to the Recessionista?!)   This look is more studied and defies matching:

• Neutral short, ruffly chiffon dress
• Camouflage fringe boots add heft to the short length
• Silver tie wound around neck adds edge
• Accessorize with non-neutral earrings

There are many ways to take Spring's Neutral look.  Which way would you choose?

MILITARY MANIA

Many spring fashion spreads showed the Military trend: Sgt. Pepper jackets and olive and khaki hues from top to bottom.

Cargo pants and flak jackets are a laid back interpretation.  If you want to go beyond that, here's a feminine twist on military mania:

Military Trend

• Keep to the olive or khaki color scheme
• Epaulets and brass buttons on the jacket keep with the theme; the belt defines the waist line
• The flared skirt is in contrast to the more fitted jacket.  This is a good camouflage trick for bottom-heavy ladies!
• The fur and brass detail on the halter top's neckline keeps the focus up on top.

Add color

If you are feeling too drab in olive, you can add a pop of color within the same family.  Here, I've shown a mustard-colored bag with gold closures and tassels.

Forward march!

EASTER CHARM

Easter-time always makes me think of ladies in wispy florals and pretty garden hats.  But what if you are not the type who "does" florals?  You can still look ladylike without frills by wearing spring colors instead.

• The princess coat shown here gets its ladylike charm from the bright color and the contrast ribbon.  
• Tiny, black bows make it more feminine without steering away from the straight lines of the design.
• The back collar detail also shows more of the contrast ribbon and bows - a visible detail in case you are wearing your hair up.

To avoid making it overly girly, skip the traditional pumps and opt for edgier booties instead.  Just ensure visual harmony by keeping your shoes in the same color as the contrast - that is, if you don't want to be mistaken for an Easter egg!