November 9, 2016
by Rachael Comeau
Velvet clothing and accessories have long been reserved for fall and winter formal occasions or the holiday season, but it has recently proven itself to be a fall staple for casual, everyday use. Fall 2016 fashion week’s designers and brands such as Baja East, Etro, H&M Studio, and Jill Stuart showcased velvet pieces in casual looks that can be worn at any time, for any occasion. The inspiration behind these collections ranged from streetwear and graphic designs to dark glamour and rock and roll, all of which set the tone for more mass retailers to get on board with this trend.
At this point in the fall season, almost every popular retailer, of both fast fashion and luxury genres are carrying velvet pieces that slash the concept of reserving the soft, opulent stuff for just formal settings. Products encompassed in this trend include clothing, accessories, and footwear, in fabrics that slightly switch up the pile and plushness via velvet, velveteen, and crushed velvet. From ankle boots to subtle cross body bags to leggings and quilted bomber jackets, there is an abundance of choices for everyone this fall. Be sure to check out M Missoni‘s extra-versatile ankle boots, as well as Rag & Bone’s edgy flared velvet jeans, both perfect for the ideal fall day. Pair Forever 21‘s taupe velvet skater dress with over-the-knee boots and statement jewelry, or dress down Talbot‘s velveteen blazer with a crisp white button-down and jeans.
Click through the slideshow above to see our other top picks for casual velvet pieces this fall season.
November 7, 2016
by Julia DiNardo
Last week at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) the only indicators that fall was in the air was the abundance of pumpkins and a slightly crisp feel in the air. This week a burst of varied, radiant color could be seen on the ground and in the trees, as the leaves began to edge toward the end of their cycle for the year. The paths and trails became quite an idyllic setting, enjoyed even more as it is known that this moment was fleeting, and wouldn’t be quite the same tomorrow or the following week. Before visiting again this week, I had been a bit forlorn, thinking that I pretty much blew it by not going to the NYBG during the summer, but little did I know that the best was yet to come. It just reinforces an adage that a 6th grade history professor reinforced over and over again: “assume nothing.”
This weekend my inclination was to dress rather casually, as there’s not nearly enough time for cozy sneakers and flannel Monday-Friday. Hopefully you are also enjoying this delightful fall weather, taking in the change of seasons with some new fall wardrobe staples in tow!
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October 31, 2016
by Julia DiNardo
The main reason why I can’t leave New York City is really due in major part to its fantastic cultural institutions. The only problem is, when you work as much as I do, exploring them often gets compromised for the routine and responsibilities of adulthood, and before I knew it, 10 years had gone by since my last visit to one of the most majestic of them all, the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). One of my closest friends, who knows that I am obsessed with all things Japanese these days brought to my attention the “Kiku: The Art of the Japanese Garden” show, and of course it became a top priority for me to check out!
I’ve been fascinated with ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arranging, and the current fall flower display of kiku, or known in English as chrysanthemum, which works to train different species of the flower over months to grow in a certain direction, and hail from a centralized stem system. A closeup look at its roots will leave you awestruck, but then again, so does the New York Botanical Garden’s 250-acres of over a million living plants and collections, now in its 125th year. Long story short, I left the garden a newly minted member, which means I will be back in no time to take in the breathtaking and tranquil grounds and shows, and I am so glad to support this special place in the city.
It was an exceptionally comfortable fall day, temperature-wise, and I couldn’t help but wear some of my favorite new fall pieces to the NYBG. Always thinking practically, layers were a must, with an extra scarf and hat in the bag just in case the weather took a gusty turn. At the start of the season it’s always so exciting to wear and pair the new pieces with old favorites, but I think there’s more new than old in this particular look, which is just a-okay by me!
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October 27, 2016
by Julia DiNardo
According to the article, “Pantone’s Top 10 Colors for Fall 2016” in WWD, 8-23% of designer collections surveyed by the institute incorporated these top six colors of Riverside, Airy Blue, Sharkskin, Aurora Red, Warm Taupe, and Dusty Cedar into looks for this fall 2016 season. Four more colors are in the mix that you may also expect to see for fall, ranging from a dusty pink to dusty clay, and a pop of Ziggy Stardust-inspired purple. So what does this all means in the scheme of fashion and what you should wear? Stick to this color palette and your completely on-trend! Looking at color similarities and trends is quite interesting to gauge and examine, and I’ve created some runway matchups below so that you can see examples of what the colors look like in apparel, and what to pair them with this season:
[BCBG Max Azria; image via Vogue.com]
[Marc Jacobs; image via WWD]
[Prabal Gurung; image via WWD]
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