Some people see Ann Taylor as a bit uptight and conservative, but they really have the trends down to a ‘T’ this season. Their Fall Runway selection includes all the top styles with the option to buy the complete outfit, so you don’t have to worry about going from store-to-store for each piece. There are two categories to choose from–Early Fall and Late fall–both had hot designs, but I thought the Late Fall was a bit more in tune with the top trends, except for the fitted white blouse with pencil skirt and patent leather peeptoe pumps, (total: $344) above. My favorite ensemble is the dark chocolate sweater dress with belt, long gold layered necklace, shiny croco weekender bag, platform booties and black tights (total: $818). It looks so incredibly chic and sexy–I would never have guessed it was from Ann Taylor.
Animal print lingerie is huge this fall, and what a cute and sexy trend to have! For a look at a top style, check out this YouTube video by Getting Underneath, the video blog for GraffitiPink.com. They review a leopard print bra and underwear set from Betsey Johnson. You can get the set yourself at HerRoom.com. The bra is $38, the cheekini bottoms are just $18, or get the low-rise thong for $16. Also check out this Betsey Johnson leopard print cami for $42. There’s nothing better than knowing how hot you look underneath your clothes!
I immediately fell in love with this Alexander McQueen “Elvie’ bag (left) when I saw it on sister-site thebaglady.tv. The sharp pleats in the brown patent leather and metal buckle are a strong, unusual look, a perfect bag to go with the looser menswear looks this fall. But at $1,495 at net-a-porter.com it’s not exactly in most people’s price range. If you’re looking for a cute bag for fall for under $100, try the EXROILIM satchel from Aldo at aldoshoes.com (right) for $50. A take on the doctor’s bag, the double straps, buckles, and brown leather would also go well with slouchy trousers and a vest.
Stacked wooden heels are high on the list (pun very much intended) this season to go with wide-leg trousers and other menswear inspired get-ups. Sister site Shoewawa.com reported on the fabulous pair from Yves Saint Laurent this season, a rounded pale wood heel paired nicely with a pointed patent leather toe, available at Barney’s and Barneys.com for $640. Christian Louboutin makes a fabulous wooden heel pump as well, sold at a rent-busting $735. If you’re not into sitting on a street corner holding a cardboard sign, try the J Shoes Oakley oxford pumps (right), available for $150 at shoes.com.
The term “puffy” might send you reeling for your covers, filling you with a desire to hide for the day. Puffy under eyes, puffy hair, well, most anything puffy is bad. Except for this season’s puffy coats. Say goodbye to the floor-length marshmallow coats you’d only find at sporting goods stores. This season, designers are showing how being warm doesn’t mean being dowdy. This Add Down puffer wrap jacket (left) is chic in this season’s in-color gray and sleek paired with its leather belt, available at Shopbop.com for $361. Or check out this Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent cropped puff jacket (right), for $210 at Bluefly.com.
There’s nothing sadder or more depressing than finding a dress or top you really like, but realizing you need the next size and the store doesn’t carry it. Whether you need a size 10 at 5-7-9, a size 16 at Express, or a size 26 at a department store, it’s a horrible sinking feeling. And, while it’s surely frustrating for size 2 and 0 girls to have difficulty finding their size, it’s just not the same mentally. Perhaps a size 0 might feel like because a store doesn’t carry her size there’s something wrong with her. But, she also knows she shares the problem with thousands of supermodels and actresses and that many women wish they could share the problem. And in fashion, there’s almost no such thing as too small. A size 0 can easily blame the retailer, it’s the store’s fault. But when you’re a larger size, the implication is that there’s something wrong with you. Well, not at b & lu.
With new brands popping up daily, I could certainly use a little push to buy one over the other. And with so much “green” talk these days maybe wearing more eco-friendly clothing is just the push I need! Panda Snack is just that: a combined vision started by Deborah Boria and Dearrick Knupp featuring garments made of bamboo. While traveling in China, they discovered the natural wonders of bamboo and its amazing eco qualities. Unlike other fabrics that have been treated with an anti-bacterial finish, which can often irritate the skin, bamboo fiber contains an agent that prevents the cultivation of bacteria, resulting in a garment that is odor free.
Even with the season’s slew of dark-dye leggings matched with minidresses and tunic tops, there’s still room for denim extravagances for a more formal look. These Dolce & Gabbana zip-detailed skinny jeans are a warmer addition to the skintight cotton and lycra bottoms that we’re coveting this season, with zip details and gold tone logo plate on the rear. The likes of Jessica Alba has already been spotted in a navy pair by Rich & Skinny, but D&G offers something a little more chic. Right in step with the grey hues this year, these are a quality pair to pull off with both long and short tops this fall.
We get our Topshop fix where we can here in the US, not to mention our Kate Moss fix. Luckily, Barney’s Co-Op supplies both with new Kate Moss for Topshop arrivals in a monochromatic black-white-gray color palette. I’m not quite as excited about these pieces as the original collection, I prefer a bit more color in my wardrobe, but Kate Moss acolytes will surely be pleased. The cropped leather biker jacket, $375, is clearly a standout piece. The scarf top, $55, and deep V dress, $160 are chic staples for any model wannabe.
I was blown away by Frida Giannini’s spring Gucci collection. It reminded me a lot of Gottex, with its fabulous designs and colors mostly in yellow, black and white with splashes of hot pink. Her ultra-mod ’50s-updated big skirt, jacket, and belt ensembles (left) almost had me drooling and instantly shriek–I want that! The evening gowns are just to die for, most with one-shoulder strap, but all in such intricate, elegant designs in fresh, urbane patterns that I can totally picture myself donning at a posh charity ball–(sigh) if only… Check out more on the show after the jump.
Those chilly fall days aren’t here, yet, (hey, I’m not complaining!) but they will be soon, so here are some great daytime sweaters to wear to the office, shopping, lunch with friends–anywhere not too fancy. This first pick is a BB Dakota cable-knit tunic (left) for just $36.90. It looks chic with jeans with or without a long-sleeve tee underneath, and can even be worn as a dress with black or charcoal tights.
With the season’s runway looks of basic black-and-white ensembles, masculine influences, and plenty of minidresses to demand that you stock up on cozy, textured tights–there’s no better way to capture the look than with a tuxedo–dress, that is. Diane von Furstenberg brings us yet another eye-catching collection of wrap dresses, jersey styles with longer sleeves, and even frock-style numbers such as this pretty taffeta dress for a little extra swing in your step.
The sweater dress is a great transitional piece moving from fall into winter. Paired with opaque tights and heels, the look can be described best as sexy-warm. Body-hugging while still being covered up, the sweater dress is good for work or a night out. The gray dress above, worn by a model at the Hamptons Magazine hosted party in Southampton, is from Celine’s fall/winter 2007 collection. For a cheaper, but just as stylish sweater-dress, continue reading.
The cape is huge this season, and a great fall must-have for all those chilly, but-not-yet-freezing days. So, I’ve come up with a selection of chic styles to keep you fashionably cozy. The first two, above, are lighter designs to wear now through mid-fall. The cape on the left, is a cute and comfy Echo buttoned-down chunky capelet for $98. I really like the big, bold buttons and the over-sized, folded-over turtleneck. On the right is the adorable Portolano ruffle-edge cape for $250. A bit more expensive, but the ruffles and horn-shaped toggle buttons are so sweet, I couldn’t resist. Check out more, warmer-styled capes at the jump.
If a $3,000 Chloe coat isn’t in your budget, maybe these $600-$1500 tops/dresses are? Maybe? Even if it’s just fantasy, perusing the new Chloe arrivals at Net-a-Porter proved enjoyable. These selections have the frothy, boho feel but with a more grown-up, fashion-forward sensibility, which is nice foreshadowing for spring. Both the vibrant colors and the soft gray are on trend and will enrich a wardrobe of basics. Click over the jump for details on each item.
I was blown away by Frida Giannini’s spring Gucci collection. It reminded me a lot of Gottex, with its fabulous designs and colors mostly in yellow, black and white with splashes of hot pink. Her ultra-mod ’50s-updated big skirt, jacket, and belt ensembles (left) almost had me drooling and instantly shriek–I want that! The evening gowns are just to die for, most with one-shoulder strap, but all in such intricate, elegant designs in fresh, urbane patterns that I can totally picture myself donning at a posh charity ball–(sigh) if only… Check out more on the show after the jump.
Those chilly fall days aren’t here, yet, (hey, I’m not complaining!) but they will be soon, so here are some great daytime sweaters to wear to the office, shopping, lunch with friends–anywhere not too fancy. This first pick is a 
The cape is huge this season, and a great fall must-have for all those chilly, but-not-yet-freezing days. So, I’ve come up with a selection of chic styles to keep you fashionably cozy. The first two, above, are lighter designs to wear now through mid-fall. The cape on the left, is a cute and comfy 
From:Gwen Stefani ranked most appealing female musician/designer