For the unveiling of the 2nd annual Gap Design Editions, a limited edition collection specially designed for the Gap by the winners of the annual Fashion Fund competition.

That means cutting edge designs from the likes of 3.1 Phillip Lim, band of outsiders, Micheal Bastian, Threeasfour and a coordinating black and white jewelry line from Phillip Crangi – all at Gap friendly prices!

Don’t you just love when high fashion and affordable retail collide- it’s all good!

Plus, it’s fun to see how and why the designers choose to rework this classic gap product… here’s some talk from the designers themselves that I found from the Gap’s press release:

3.1 Phillip Lim— rising asian talent and CFDA Swarovski Award winner
“I’ve always been a fan of the classics and I love everything iconic. My motto is when in doubt just choose good style and Gap to me is synonymous with that. Gap represents American iconic dressing and just to have the chance to design three white shirts and having my take on it was so fun.”
Created… a tie-neck shirt, a bell-sleeve ruched shirt and a layered sleeve top, all at $78.

Band of Outsiders— an LA label founded by Scott Sternberg
“I think the Gap for me growing up was this sort of depot of great jeans, great sweaters; just the best basics that were out there so I was just trying to create something that felt very easy but fresh and modern.”
Created… a patchwork tunic for $88.

Michael Bastian— recently appointed as creative director of Bill Blass menswear
“I’m so proud to be able to do this with Gap — to be the first Men’s designer to do a shirt for men, as well as being able to design my first piece ever for women, is amazing!”
created… an epaulet and a Western shirt for men, both at $78.

Threeasfour— founded by three young designers Gabi, Adi and Ange
“We were looking to find a balance of the three major elements involved: white poplin, Gap and Threeasfour. We chose to do an easy summer dress and a little asymmetric top that translate our signature seaming and vision [for] a wider audience.”
created… a camisole for $78 and a cutaway dress for $88.

I’m already loving the Threeasfour white “shirt dress”, can’t wait to try it on next week!

Let me know which one of these great white creations has caught your eye!

The Spring/Summer 2008 collection called ‘Purple of Mogador’, is inspired by an African legend about the black alchemist Amogador, who as legend goes, discovered how to create the color purple.

Mogador is also the ancient name of a Morroccan city, which today is a creolised urban meeting point for traditional Africa and the urbanised West.

The collection is describesd as, “Informed by the process of creolisation – whereby two different cultures meet and blend to create a new culture that is unique, yet displays traits of both backgrounds – Carin Wester’s summer ‘08 collection blurs boundaries, juxtaposes influences against each other, and resists definition.”

I’m not familiar with the legend of Amogador and a quick search on the Internet hasn’t left me any better informed. It looks like I’ll have to pay a visit to my favorite research librarian unless one of our readers can point me to an online source.

While I run off to do more research you can enjoy a slide show of Carin Wester’s Spring ‘08 line. Enjoy!

Lucky for them they are already properly dressed for the celebration. Their style is right on track with my next favorite spring trend.

Prints, prints and more prints- from bold florals to graphic patterns to floaty, fluid garments that appear to have been dipped in or splash by a bath of wild color.

Over the past few seasons we have been seeing florals and stripes creeping back into favor at some of out favorite fashion houses, though for me last Spring was ultimately most about refreshing color combinations ( I still get a thrill at the rediscovery of pairing yellow and gray!)

Who could forget Spring 2007’s most memorable trends- ladylike florals at Carolina Hererra, a metallic trench at Celine, jewel-toned satin at Prada and bright yellow paired with gray at 3.1 Phillip Lim

This Spring- all bets are off and no surface is safe… patterns and movement seem to be exploding everywhere you look.

Bold patterns on the runways of Balmain, Christian Lacroix, Diane Von Furstenberg, Dolce and Gabanna, Alexander McQueen and Carolina Hererra grabbed everyone’s attention this past fall as the stage was set for a trendy bouquet of colorful looks this Spring

Worn alone these prints make a fashion statement, creatively paired together the trend will speak volumes. In fact, wearing two or more of these fabulous prints at the same time is where the trend really gets exciting.

Dries Van Noten Spring 2008 collection epitomizes the trend of thoughtfully mixed prints. His fifties inspired florals mixed with modern day colors mixed with spring motif fabrics create a “perfect storm” of patterns.

But we all know mixing fabrics can be scary…to make sure your blended ensemble looks”forward” not “confused” there are a few color and pattern rules to remember:

1. It’s a good idea to keep the movement of the patterns similar and allow for one piece to be much louder than the other, like in this look from Dolce and Gabanna.

2. Florals can be blended together, just allow for them to have at least one color in common- like the pale gray flowers that appear in both prints in this Dries Van Noten ensemble.

3. Or simply take a cue from the stylist at Prada and keep the two patterns the same, just mix up the size of the motif and blend together two complimentary colors ( in this case red and green) for added “oomph”!

I realize that for most- wearing prints, especially loud ones mixed together, may have some shaking in their lace and bone Balenciagia boots- after all haven’t we all just gotten used to the idea of throwing in a neon or metallic tone to our neutral wardrobe for excitement?!!!!

Don’t worry there are plenty of beautiful solid looks on the horizon for Fall 2008, so why not throw caution to the warmer wind and rejoice in the Springtime by adding at least one or or two fabulous prints to you repertoire.

Intermix.com is a great place to find inspiration!

The quick fix…. one great patterned dress, a dip dyed blouse, a floral bag or a show stopping pair of print shoes. Whether you wear patterns this Spring on their own or mixed together- you’ll be right on trend!

Let me know if you have a favorite print for spring! Or send me a photo of your best “mixed” ensemble and I’ll post it on our site!

runway images from Style.com

“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

Like Jane, your story begins in an ensemble of lovely light khaki in a modern twist on safari…

…and ends with you in a caftan of ikat, a huge statement necklace around your neck, drinking yerba mate tea, at one with the beauty of the nature and respectful of the new culture that surrounds you.

The Expressive Explorer

World travelers like Jane will find inspiration this spring from the runways of (from top to bottom) D.V.F., Behanz Sarafpour, Bottega Veneta, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Rag&Bone, Proenzs Schouler, 3.1 Phillip Lim

The smart traveler always packs stylishly light, with well chosen pieces in a refined palette that easily coordinate. Great accessories are always key…Marc Jacobs, Globetrotters, Dolce & Gabanna, Zac Posen and Christian Loubitan

Neutral texture adds subtle interest and personality to an otherwise monochromatic ensemble

The makeup is equally refined…like on the lovely Proenza Schouler model shown here, mineral makeup from Laura Mercier and Lip color from the new CK makeup line complete the look.

The Nouveau Native

Next thing you know you’re dressed as the newest member of the tribe….(top to bottom) D.V.F., Emilo Pucci, Matthew Williamson, Duro Olowu, Marni, Alexander McQueen, Just Cavalli, D&G, Oscar de la Renta, Etro

Everything about this look, from shoes to bags to jewelery makes a statement….walk on the wild side in shoes from Proenza Schouler, Dries Von Norten and Balenciaga. Bags from Bally, Fendi, Moschino, Coach and Prada appear as if you stitched them together yourself, while larger than life necklaces from Louis Vuitton and Emilo Pucci complete the attitude.

Beaded, braided and wrapped… the details look like they are styled by the local markets

There is nothing subtle here, your spirit is strong and so is the make-up. Almost cat-like at Christian Dior and surreal at Alexander McQueen, the artist at Creative Nail Design even give your manicure something tribal to aspire to.

The best part of your adventure- you return home with a new global outlook and some great exotic souvenirs that will have your friends asking each other “when did she get so worldly?”

Even if an adventure this big is pure fantasy… it’s easy to add a little intrigue and worldliness to your home- these accessories from Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, Oly Studio, Target and Global Table.com are great places to start.

So which Jane do find most inspirational for Spring? Will you be the wide-eyed explorer dreaming of adventure or the uninhibited native dancing to the beat of your own drummer?

Photo credits: Runway photos from style.com and accessory photos from elle.com

If you are equally smitten as I am with this gem of a show, you probably remember it as the “outdated trends” episode.

Jillian diligently working in her overalls- she shouldn’t have felt too ashamed though, as it appears Karl Lagerfeld is on her side of this “one minute your in, the next minute you are out” dilemma.

If you’ve never watched… a quick run down.

Nine designers, each assigned with a popular fashion trend from the last two decades, or so … trends that seem to warrant giggles, snickers and even some personal embarrassment for designer Jillian who discovers she is wearing one of these taboo outdated looks herself- denim overalls.

The designers are asked to divide themselves into teams of three ( each with a team leader) and reconfigure these “dated” once popular fashion trends into a cohesive collection of “looks” fit for a modern-day woman.

The first two times I watched the episode I was too caught up in the drama of the sewing room to really give the trends any thought but the third time around, as the designers were pleading their cases in front of the judges ( which this week included guest judge Donna Karan), I was taken aback by how many of these “dead” trends I had recently spotted while clicking through photos of the Spring 2008 collections on Style.com.

In or Out?

In the minds of the judges, Team Jillian took denim overalls to a whole new level and won the challenge…

…and for Spring 2008 Karl Lagerfeld put the “Chanel” spin on his own version of this “outdated” trend

Team Christan attempted to bring zoot suits and menswear as woman’s wear back…

…and Haider Ackermann seems to have had the same agenda.

Team Ricky was given the trends neon colors, cut-outs and underwear as outerwear- three trends I’ve just recently been writing about…

…in fact, I think Anna Sui could have been the fourth designer on their team.

And poor Chris March, his team was on the bottom this particular week and his personal attempt at breathing life back into the trend of larger than life “shoulder pad” sent him home…

…ironically Nicolas Ghesquiere’s vision of bringing fashion focus back on “shoulders” for Balenciaga has got to be the most talked about silhouette of the season.

So the questions is– “Who’s to say if a trend is in or out?” Are there any trends that you wish would stay “out” rather than come back “in”?

Resources:

Project Runway gallery photos from Bravo.com

All Spring 2008 collection photos from Style.com

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.

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.)

See the colors here…

Download a copy of the report here…

See descriptions of the color palettes for this trend forecast…