The Gilded Age

Fashion is decadent this season colored feathers and sequins.
Bright vibrant color in brilliant hues.
These are the items that will take you season to season seamlessly.
Add some fur feathers and sequined pieces in glorious color but hold on to these.......

Invest in a statement coat.
Invest in a statement bag.
Invest in a LBD but pair it with one of this season's fabulous necklaces.
Invest in a statement skirt and pair this with a slim fitting cashmere top in a bright hue.
Invest in a classic tux and pair this with a glittering clutch.
Invest in a knee high boot but pair this with a below the knee skirt and peasant blouse.
Invest in a white blouse and pair it with bright trousers.
Invest in a tailored jacket and pair it with a black leather skirt.

Adding glittering sequined and bright bold colored accessories will carry you through this season.

Ralph Lauren does the Great Gatsby

Ralph Lauren Women Spring Summer 2012

pamella roland

A great American designer.
Feminine and powerful.

pamella roland fall 2011

Gwyneth Does Elle

I love her sense of style and her strength.
(click on title to see her Elle photo shoot)

Voluptuous Women of Italian Vogue

It was refreshing to see "not your average" body types in a high profile magazine such as Italian Vogue.
A slightly different perspective on sexy.
Beauty is not defined by waist size.
It's about confidence.
Bravo!
Bellissima!

(Caution: Not for young viewers)

Belle Vere Vogue Italia

Runway Looks Fall/Winter 2011

LV Spring 2012 Menswear showed big bold plaids, neutrals and nudes, trench coats and suits with skinny ankle length pants.

Calvin is the epitome of American sportswear.
Prada featured patterns in geometric prints. Color was everywhere!

Missoni's ombred pastels are delicious.

DSquared (one of my personal favorites) showed "True Grit" inspired clothing..I adore this.

Emporio Armani was one of the very few designers doing all-in-black.
Donna Karan pleased with icy-cool neutrals that are drapey and feminine in chiffon and jersey.
Donna Karan Runway Show
Love Philosophy's 60's freshness and colors. A "Babydoll" feel.

Chanel went "Wow", with Byzantine era jewels and fabrics.

Rock N Roll Baby

Alexander McQueen Men's Spring 2012
Izia
The Hottest Thing Right Now
Izia~Back In Town

The World of Hermes

Ive got to have the bowler hats!
(click on the title above)

A Designers Dream

Design Inspirations Around The World

 Chinadoll
Beijing

  

Coquine
London

Kettners,
London

 Kettners,
London

Larq,
Paris

Larq,
Paris

Sounds
Phuket, Thailand

Sounds
Phuket Thailand

Cavalli Boho-chic

Linen

BE LINEN MOVIE from Benoit MILLOT on Vimeo.

Ruth Hogben, film maker, a Nick Knight protege for Gareth Pugh

Gareth Pugh S/S 2011 Collection - Director: Ruth Hogben from SHOWstudio on Vimeo.

Bleu de Chanel

Town & Country

Lesson Primer For Gentlemen

Taking notes on my observations.
I have been busy taking pictures and writing for what seems like days on end.
I spent time at a mall asking myself, "Did they even look in the mirror before leaving the house?" Coco Chanel once said, "Before leaving the house remove one item from your body."
In most cases, the people I observed should have ditched the whole outfit and started from scratch.
Classic always trumps trendy.
It's alright to add a trendy piece here and there but this is daytime reality fashion, folks.

Modern Day Tips For The Gentleman

*Do take a break from using anything digital from time to time. You'll rediscover the beauty of obtaining information in old-fashioned ways.

*Don't lose your patience when waiting for a lady to be ready. Not only do you risk stressing out but you've got to remember-she's doing this for you as much as herself.

*Don't take up an entire bench if seated alone. You never know what fine specimen in need of rest may happen to sit next to you.

*Do ensure your posture is just as powerful as your suit. Stand up straight, strong and handsome and they will follow.

*Do incorporate some unexpected color into your wardrobe. It will always brighten you and your mood a bit.

*Do remember as a final lesson...that there is no such thing as overdressed. You can always remove your jacket and loosen your collar, if needed.

Vintage Fashion Therapy for Bettys

A Master Primer In Shopping

My rule is to shop for a whole body shape-not just one body part.
Most fall into one of three categories:

Type A
Bodies that are shaped smaller or narrow on top than on the bottom.
You want to draw the eye upward.
No busy prints on the lower body and no jackets that cut across the widest part of the hip.
Go with Empire-cut dresses and boatneck shirts.
Try vintage clothes from the 70s (think A-line dresses and skirts)

Type B
Bodies that are the same width at the shoulders and hips with a smaller waist.
You want a style that skims your hourglass shape.
An oval necked shirt, wide legged pants, and body skimming dresses flatter this figure.
Look for styles from the 50s .

Type C
Broad shoulders with a straight waistline.
C shaped women often look best in tailored shirts with most any pant silhouette (except pleated styles-which in my opinion look terrible on most everyone).
60s era dresses flatter.

American Style

Take Ivy  (the precise source for traditional American Style) which I originally thought was more urban myth due to it's scarcity, will be reprinted for the first time in 45 years with an English language text.
Drool.

My Rules To Make Your Pad Beautiful

• Do not use more than two pairs of anything in a room.
• Do not decorate with an item if you are afraid of sitting on it, touching it, or breaking it~just get rid of it.
• Always group things in odd numbers (there are very few exceptions).
• You never really know the visual impact of a mirror until you actually hang it.
• Beige is beautiful in sunlight but dies in the dark or night lightscape.
• Never paint a whole room until you have lived with a big sample board of at least three paint choices for 24 hours.
• Pick your paint colors last.

U.S. Hotels Architects & Designers: architecturaldigest.com

Summer Fashion