Trends

November 16, 2011

Jack These Jackets! Runway to Real Way Fall/Winter 2011

[Topshop Leather Collar Wool Boyfriend Coat $340, Celine Image via Style.com]

What makes a great jacket? I found myself really asking this after we experienced a blustery blast of cold weather mixed in with some early fall flurries.

Runway presentations make the most of women’s outerwear in all colors from neutral to bright with fantastic detailing or subtle minimalism. However, when it comes down to it, a jacket needs to be functional. Maybe you demand a hood, large pockets, or a full-length zipper. Regardless of such basics, I am not willing to sacrifice style, and I doubt our readers are either.

This is why I’ve compiled my favorite “Runway to Real Way Jackets.” While extremely trendy, these jackets are still practical. There’s nothing unrealistic about incorporating any one of these into your wardrobe.

1. The Bright Jacket

Brighter shades have been popping up everywhere recently. Despite the opposing forces, bright hues work well for a fall/winter trench coat. Tip: Ground the rest of your outfit in black or other neutrals.

[Topshop Glossy Faux Fur Bomber Jacket $170, Alexander Wang Image via Style.com]

2. The Fur Bomber

Fur bombers are classic and luxe simultaneously. Again, fur took over the runways, seen everywhere from Alexander Wang to Rachel Zoe. You’ll be sure to turn heads in a glossy piece like this, but if you’re trying to be more subtle, try a faux-fur collar for starters.

[NastyGal Darcy Drape Jacket $78, Burberry Prorsum Image via Style.com]

3. The Camel Coat

Has this look ever done us wrong? I love both belted ones accentuating the waist, but I especially adore the robe-like vibe of NastyGal’s drape jacket (pictured above). Normally a structured trench, camel will always be timeless, regardless of what form it takes. It’s a celebrity must, a runway favorite, and an every day woman’s go-to. Tip: Pick the shade that best works with your skin tone.

[Topshop Collarless Boucle Blazer Jacket $140,Chanel Image via Style.com]

4. The Tweed

Chanel has always done tweed right. Now, it’s our turn to channel Karl Lagerfeld’s feminine vision and prove tweed is anything but stuffy. Topshop’s blue version of the fabrication is fun and funky, but boxy jackets like these are all about playing with proportion. Wear it open with jeans or alone with a skirt; just remember to keep everything sleek.

[Urban Outfitters Vasia by Ulla Johnson Camilla Vest $99.99,Tess Giberson Image via Style.com]

5. The Fur Vest

It’s still crazy cool, and I couldn’t be happier! I wasn’t ready to give up my fur vest just yet. Part edgy, part glam, this piece is all about attitude. Brown, black, white, grey, beige, it won’t be hard to find a vest you’ll love. Tip: Fur vests can add bulk if done incorrectly. Be aware of proper fit, watching for armhole size.

[Land’s End Women’s Essential Down Jacket $69.65, DKNY Image via Style.com]

6. The Puffer

Perhaps the most basic, but also the warmest, a puffy jacket is a winter must-have. DKNY reminds us that style and functionality can easily coexist. I LOVE the bright cherry red and quilted looks, (and especially love anything down-filled). This look will keep you warm and safe; no need to fear the elements in this one!

All that’s left to do is to pick your favorite, and stay warm!

-Alana Quagliariello

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November 15, 2011

Levi’s SS12 Collection Preview Calls for Sustainability Above All Else

by fashion pulse contributor

Levi’s Spring/Summer 2012 Water, Earth, and Wind Campaign harks back to classical elements, elements that all speak the same language.

At the collection preview, beyond the season’s latest clothing, we also received a message of sustainability and renewal. Levi’s continues to drive profit through solid principles; the brand alone has saved 156 million liters of water around the world, or 60 million days of drinking water for communities in need, simply by producing “Waterless” jeans.

Now back to the clothes:Denim at Levi’s for the new season was mainly skinny; a tapered straight leg, but there were still some flares on occasion. Beyond the denim (blue and colored) there were crafty, effortless dresses, vibrant shorts and cropped tops for the girls.

My favorite jean is the Curve ID (find your perfect fit here), a concept that celebrates fit by addressing a diverse range of body types. The fits include Slight, Demi, Bold, Supreme and Ankle Skinny. The final, Ankle Skinny, is the newest innovation in Curve ID with a hip shorter length.

-Alana Quagliariello

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November 14, 2011

Sneak Peek: Tucker for Spring/Summer 2012

by fashion pulse contributor

Rhythmical mixing-and-matching helps comprise the silky, vintage-inspired, and somewhat uncanny Spring 2012 collection created by Tucker. As stated by designer Gaby Basora, “the Tucker Spring 2012 collection is based on a South American woman who ran a vaudeville theater, the royal Tanenbaums, and traveling troupes of performers.”

A peek at the lookbook has me dreaming of travels to an strange land.; the clothes are breezy, with the company’s trademark silk crepe de chine and tailored staples. There is certainly no shortage of prints, patterns, or color either. I adore the delicate florals, crimson polkas, bright tribal ikats, and most of all, the emerald paisley (above).

“I want the clothes to feel mysteriously familiar, like a resurfacing memory you never want to forget.” (Gaby Basora)

For me, Tucker did exactly that for Spring 2012. There is something to this collection that demands musing over.

-Alana Quagliariello

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November 10, 2011

Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent: Ephemeral Ease for Spring 2012

by fashion pulse contributor

After previewing the SS12 lineup of Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, all I can think of is traveling. It’s that simple; the line allured me to a bohemian, distant land where maxi dresses, tunic blouses, and basic slips gracefully coexist and transition from an early stroll to an evening beach gathering around a fire pit.

The collection portrayed an ephemeral ease that can only be produced in such one-of-a-kind prints such as Ikat, Bow and Arrow, Peacock Floral, Powder Floral, Kaleidoscope, and Patchwork. Glorious color remains prominent for spring in shoes (ballet flats, cork platforms, and espadrilles), bags, and apparel alike. The palette of melon, chartreuse, hibiscus, teal, blush, black, and violet provides endless options to introduce new shades into your wardrobe.

I ‘m impressed with the convertible skirt (pictured above), which works as both a maxi dress and a maxi skirt. I also adore the mini dresses (summer knits and soft slips), great for a beach cover up or a night on the town. The collection left an impression in its effortless transitional capabilities, and with one piece, you have plenty of easy-to-wear chic options.