10th Nov. '08 • Category: Creativity & Craft , Category: Fashion & Beauty • Tags: bedazzled, embellished, jeweled, trends
Authored by April Clark
I grew up in the age of the Bedazzler and worked my fingers bloody trying to get rhinestones on everything I owned. The 80s afforded me the opportunity to live in a shining, glittering world, not unlike Miss America’s gleaming crown (and 2008 winner’s dress) .
14th Mar. '08 • Category: Fashion & Beauty , Category: Home & Garden • Tags: cork, shoes, trends
Authored by April Clark
This newest trend has me ‘popping my cork’ with delight. Once designers parade out their new cork accessories, I know warm and sunny days are in the not so distant future.
Cork soled shoes have been popular since Carmen Miranda starting shaking her fruity hat but designers have updated the style by adding interesting patterns, metallics, and used cork as material on vamps (not just soles). Finally, a stylish shoe that is inherently comfy. Christian Louboutin offers a pair of heel, while Chadwick’s offers a d’Orsay pump.
T (more…)
28th Feb. '08 • Category: Fashion & Beauty • Tags: accessories, animal print, fashion, handbags, menswear, nature, shoes, trends
Authored by April Clark
One of this year’s trends is the resurgence of animal prints and skins, in both fashion and home. These luxuries are not for everyone , however ; either for ethical or financial reasons. But, alas, we all have an opportunity to participate in this trend. “It takes a village to raise a trend. ”
Alligator and crocodile have always been considered luxuries (there are only a few differences b/w the two including their snout shape and what water they live in) . Expensive bags and accessories are readily available. The red Coach crocodile bag is rich looking , even in pictures (this will take a $7000 bite out of you). I am absolutely coveting the Zagalini puffy croc satchel. If I win the lottery this week (because I don’t have an extra $11,800) - this bag is mine. (more…)
4th Feb. '08 • Category: Fashion & Beauty , Category: Home & Garden • Tags: accessories, Africa, jewelry, trends, womenswear
Authored by Julie Hoylen
Remember those black & white Tarzan and Jane movies from the 1930’s and 40’s?
“Our gal Jane”- civilized explorer
They all began with a beautiful Jane dressed to a tee in full on adventure apparel- usually a stylish khaki pant suit paired with a cute little matching explorer hat. She was the “smart girl” stylishly camouflaged in a foreign land…
Jane-just a few days later… My how she’s changed!
…and then by the end of the movie she’s swinging on a vine, swathed in animal skins, bone necklace around her neck- at one with the jungle and animals around her!
That’s how I can best describe the next trend coming our way this Spring–
Explorer Turned Native
24th Jan. '08 • Category: Home & Garden • Tags: designers, furniture, maison&objet, style-icons, trends
Authored by Kate Smith
I had planned to be in Paris this week for Maison&Objet but decided to skip this trip when the opportunity arose for me to go India for the first time in just a few short weeks.
The business woman in me thinks it was a smart decision, and the mom in me is happy to not be feeling quilty about being away yet again but the creative soul in me doesn’t want to hear from those two…she just wants to at the show absorbing every ounce of insight and inspiration.
So rather than miss it completely I decided to sneak a peak into what was going on at the show, get inspired from afar and and share a highlight of the day.
“An encounter with designer Pierre Paulin”
For sixty years Pierre Paulin has been creating world renowned furniture, products, and interiors and even if you don’t recognize his name you’d recognize his work whether from the screen of a James Bond movie, a display at the Museum of Modern Art or in seating area at the Louvre.
The Mushroom chair is a part of the permanent collection of MOMA
The Mushroom chair was the first design Paulin constructed using covered foam over a wire frame and its unique form was considered revolutionary at the time.
The shape and colors of the Tongue chair instantly make me smile
This chair was just the first of many sculptural chairs designed by Pierre Paulin in the 60s and the one that I instantly associate with his name is the Tongue chair.
Paulin is one of the most significant French designers of the 20th century that came to notarity in the U.S. in the mid-60s.
The New York Times first reviewed this marriage of cutting-edge design and material innovation in 1967. It was love at first sight for critic Rita Reif when she wrote, “the wedding of the sinuous, brilliantly colored prints with the sculptured furniture is so successful that it is hard to imagine one without the other” (New York Times, December 6, 1967). **
This brought back thoughts of design icon Jack Lenor Larsen (who’s work I have loved since college) because many of Paulin’s pieces were covered in funky fabrics which he designed. Larsen’s collection of innovative, stretch-woven upholstery fabrics were designed to work on the curvilinear designsand set a new standard in textile design.
Artifort re-introduced Le Chat, with a slight modification in JLL’s fabric “Momentum“
These two were quite the force in the 60s and I think Artifort sums it up best, “
ust thinking about them has inspired me to get back to a little creative design project of my own but I’ll be back tomorrow to give you another glimpse into my inspiration from Maison&Objet.
Resources:
More about Pierre Paulin and Jack Lenor Larsen at Artifort
From “Happy Birthday Pierre Paulin” at frenchculture.org**
See furniture at Surroundings and Architonic
18th Jan. '08 • Category: Fashion & Beauty , Category: Home & Garden • Tags: color, color-combinations, color-forecast, color-names, color-schemes, color-trends, colour, fashion, trends
Authored by Julie Hoylen
Baby it’s cold outside… but my mailbox is a hot bed of color talk, color trends and color advice… as another colorful, exciting year begins!
So cozy up with me by taking a quick, colorful peek into a few of my favorites issues….
“Soft hues of Gray and Beige are making a comeback this season”…notice how Harper’s Bazaar used these “new neutrals” for their cover shoot of Uma.
Lucky has a really great spread about mixing “rich, bright colors into your winter wardrobe”…”a peek of baby pink sweetens the vibrant tomato red of this jacket; gray pants an a cream turtleneck make everything that much more refined.” I absolutely love tomato red… I never would have thought about combining it with a soft pink… I will definitely be trying this!
Wouldn’t Elsa Schraparelli be proud “They Went Magenta-Way”. According to InStyle all you lilting-lilac girls, antique-rose sweeties, blush babies and cotton candy cuties get-outta-da-way because here comes a powerhouse pink that takes on all comers when it’s a match and takes no prisoners when it’s not. You’re either meant for magenta or your not.
House Beautiful asked top designers: Which paint color do you always come back to?…Keith Irvine listed Benjamin Moore’s Dark Royal Blue 2065-20 “I’m mad about this dark inky blue, as it gives great vibrancy and depth to a wall- especially if you put a topcoat of good varnish over it. That’s what we did in Rex Harrison’s Manhattan apartment in this fabulous little dining alcove.” Read more….
In a really fun issue O at Home showcases talented readers/decorators… “Winter White…It may be cold outside, but the design climate right now is warmer than ever-welcoming a slew of styles, from modern to rustic to downright baroque. So how to tie last year’s woodland craze into this season’s rococo revivial? A unifying dose of the ultimate neutral.”
Hmm, Elle Decor was on a similar wave-length… “Winter White…As crisp as a fresh snowfall, the color of the moment strikes an elegant pose, from an alabaster lamp to plush fabrics to a wintry ensemble.”
The “Color you need to now” according to Southern Accents… “peacock blue... One of those old-school colors that makes you think of grand hotels and beautifully appointed dining cars, peacock blue covers the wall of libraries, butler’s pantries and other spaces where intimacy and a little intensity seem appropriate.”
Metropolitan Home looks to brighter side with a “colorways” report on “Unmellow Yellow…. The color forecast this winter calls for a bright sunshine with a twist of lemon” I love those little stoneware hot/cold drinking cups!… they would brighten up my daily teatime, for sure.
Home’s latest is chock full of great color knowledge and ideas… This was a spread on a East Hampton house by designer Jamie Drake. I love Jamie Drake so much that whatever color advice he’s giving… I’m listening! “Drakes recipe: first choose a main color you love, then add a complementary shade, and finish with two dollops of an accent color. Voila!
New kid on the block, Vogue Living’s winter issue, featured these cool colorful rugs by Miami designer Gene Meyer. “I’ve been able to lose myself in color,” enthuses Meyer, : I’ve always loved it. I am a child of the sixties. Color then wasn’t the exotic thing it has become today.”
The cover of Martha Stewart Living features cool, sunshine yellow kitchen accents, but it was this article about houseplants that caught my eye… “The upright, linear effect of the snake plant, is emphasized by tall windows, while planters echo their verdigris colors.” I love what a color statement a common house plants can make in the right planter.
Coastal Living’s “Island Hopping… to chase away the winter chill, head somewhere tropical. Dress the part with accessories in warm tones of faux tortoiseshell and shades of golden sunshine.”… good idea, let’s pack our bags right now!!!
Read any fun color advice or discovered a new color trend you love this month?…. Let me know!
15th Jan. '08 • Category: Fashion & Beauty • Tags: color-trends, fashion, hair-color, home-accessories, jewelry, make-up, trends, womenswear
Authored by Julie Hoylen
Calling someone’s style transparent used to be an insult, this season though it might just be taken as a compliment.
That’s because the trend of transparency, in the form of see-through layers, sheer fabrics, frosted glass, clear pvc and lucite will be making waves in the world of fashion and home design for Spring 2008.
Unlike the fashion “see-through” trends of days gone by (think Madonna circa 1990), today’s transparencies are not about being overtly sensual, but instead about adding a layer of mystery to an already interesting ensemble. A sheer top layer can be a viewed as either a peek at what lays beneath or a thin shield from what lays ahead. It all depends on the attitude of the wearer.
Marc Jacob’s infamous sheer plastic dressed nurses first appeared on the catwalk in Paris and then later reappeared at the Guggenheim Museum for the launch of Louis Vuitton’s collaboration with artist Richard Prince. .
At Jil Sanders designer Raf Simone enveloped a bevy of his runway models in a cocoon-like poncho made of sheer organza.
Prada, always sure to surprise, showcased a collection of sheer chiffon pieces covered in whimsical drawings and finished with bold piping.
While Adidas by Stella McCartney showed that a transparent silhouette isn’t just a high fashion statement but can add an interesting layer to the way we dress in everyday life.
A translucent glow seemed to come across the faces at both Givency’s Fall 2007 show and Zac Posen’s Spring 2008 runway showing. Style.com takes a backstage look at why the designers decided to forgo color for sheer textures.
House Beautiful named this Umbra clock as one of the most exciting products in their January issue. The clock which measures 2 feet wide is made of frosted glass and in their words “fogs the Victorian style hands and conjures up the mist of time”.
Elle Decor’s “What’s Hot” for Jan/Feb 2008, features these clear plastic side tables from White Webb inspired by Chinese garden stools and Indian architecture.
Metropolitan Home was so inspired by the sheer and cut-out trend in today’s newest home fabrics- it featured them on their Jan/Feb 2008 cover.
Bringing the trend home
White shoes tend to get a bad rap, but how can you not love any pair of Christian Louboutins! The peep-toes are very “of the moment”…. I can just image how sexy the sheer shoe would look on the right foot.
The lucite- inspired Micheal Kors sandals are to me the perfect choice for a tropical getaway- they’re super chic , could be worn from poolside to party and would absolutely “go” with everything you packed.
Everything feels retro about Tom Ford’s Chase sunglasses from their vintage shape to their cool black and white illustrated ad. You would definitely be channeling old Hollywood glamour when wearing these- a time when lucite first came into fashion.
Phillip Stark designed the Louis Ghost chair for Kartell in 2002 and it became an instant classic. Loved by designers and hip homeowners alike, it’s the perfect piece to update any decor.
My friends and family are probably ready to shake me and say “enough zebra motifs in your house, already!”, but I’m obsessed. When I saw these Zebra print burnout sheers in the new West Elm catalog it was love at first sight!
If you want to add a little boost to your hair color without fear of roots, Clairol’s Natural Instinct’s “Shine Happy” promises to add a clear sheen of coverage to give your hair super shine… my stylist told me it may also help blend in those pesky little grays.
Fellow Color Maven Picks (I just had to ask)
Kimberlin Brown spotted this Marina and Sussana Sent’s Bubble Necklace at a recent visit to the MoMA and thinks the translucent piece would look great paired with one of Spring’s super bright colors.
Kate Smith said she’s been dying to try Ralph Lauren’s Candlelight top coat. Said to cast a warm “candlelight effect” over your walls- she thinks this translucent treatment would work wonders in a dining room.
April Clark, my handbag connection and world traveler extraordinaire, brought this little Chanel gem to my attention…. sure we might not be able to afford to purchase it, but maybe we might be able to split the rent on it for a month at Bag, Borrow and Steal.
Found a great way to bring “sheer style” into your life?… Let me know.
30th Dec. '07 • Category: Fashion & Beauty • Tags: color-trends, fashion, gold, holidays, metallics, trends, womenswear
Authored by Julie Hoylen
Last week I took a look at the trend of the color gold being used in holiday advertising… this week in honor of the countdown to the new year…. I can’t help but notice gold is having it’s moment-so to speak- in the spotlight of women’s fashion, as well.
A Valentino runway stunner - Fall 2007 couture from Style.com
In fact I would say it’s been the month- and perhaps even the holiday weekend- of the LGD ( little gold dress ). From starlets to fashion spreads to fashion opinions, the little gold dress it seems, is the trendiest sheath of the season.
So if your looking to add a little timely sparkle to your year end/beginning traditions, perhaps a little gold number is all you need…
In Style’s website suggest two different LGDs as the perfect party dress for the holidays.
Vogue gave gold dresses an entire spread in it’s December issue.
Baazar spotlighted gold sequined and embellished dresses in their December and January issues.
Both December covers of Lucky and Bazaar feature starlets in a LGDs.
Elle.com choose a photo of Kate Moss in a one of a kind Top Shop LGD for their look at the 25 best dressed of 2007.
Coincidentally Style.com choose the same pix of Kate Moss for there look at what to wear this New Year’s Eve. Wow, fashionistas sure love Miss Moss in this dress!
Today’s “Fashion Faceoff” on People.com just happens to feature Carrie Underwood and Kim Kardashian wearing the same Jovani gold sequin dress.
While Us magazine picked this metallic gold Alexander Wang Dress to as their “Who Wore It Best?“ for this holiday weekend.
People.com takes a look at the trend with images of Eve, Hilary Duff and Vanessa Hudgens all wearing LGDs on the red carpet.
And what will I be wearing this New Year’s Eve?… Will I partake in this trend…
Well- no doubt I’d love to show up wearing this 3.1 Phillip Lim dress on Monday night, but with a $625 price tag ( and a very tired post-holiday credit card ), this little gold number from Forever 21 is more of a reality!…. I love the idea of pairing it with dark grayish/blue tights…. I may just try this look at home ( minus the hair crimping, of course.)
Trendstop.com is a fashion trend forecasting book available exclusively online. (more…)
