February 13, 2015
by Julia DiNardo
Day 1 of New York Fashion Week was a balmy 34 degrees at its height, which meant outdoor photos and some open jackets for styling purposes here and there were okay/tolerable. Going forward, with snow on the way and single digits temps predicted for the next few days, let me give you a full disclosure: I will be wearing TWO pairs of pants, and prioritizing being inside quite a bit! I’m going to dip inside to take as many photos as possible, so apologies in advance for eschewing an idyllic Lincoln Center backdrop so that my fingers and nose don’t turn a ghastly shade of red or translucent white! Other than that, the next week will certainly be a test in dressing stylishly in extreme weather, and fingers crossed for optimal health and warmth over the next seven days!
In this look for Day 1, I heavily played up one of my favorite color schemes, graphic black and white, for a flash of print and color without going overboard. Not surprisingly, layering is a key component to surviving the winter, so when purchasing this dress, I made sure that thick tights and a turtleneck could rest comfortable underneath. And of special note, I have to point out the black faceted ring on my right hand (pictured below), as it reminds me of the phrase “technology at your fingertips,” which can be revised to “technology on your fingers!”
The Ringly Stargaze Tech Ring in Black Onyx which came my way from Shopbop to test out during New York Fashion Week syncs with your phone via Bluetooth and an app, in which you can designate different colors and the amount of flashes that will project from the ring when you receive a call, email, text, and calendar notifications. You can specify the details, along your contacts, for example making your ring flash blue when your mom is calling. Pretty cool, right?
Please click through for more pics and links to shop the garments and accessories that I’m wearing!
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September 19, 2014
by Julia DiNardo
[Images via Style.com]
There are few moments in fashion when a uniform awe and revery in the beauty of a designer’s collection is actually palpable throughout the audience, which was certainly the case at Bibhu Mohapatra during his spring/summer 2015 collection.
Each look was virtually exclusive unto itself yet cohesive in the styling and circular pattern that pervaded the lineup in a graph-like formation. Digitized and adorned with crystal embroidery, floral prints have never felt more avant garde, with an ode to the inspiration via some 40s styling to allude to the writer, activist, and shipping heiress Nancy Cunard. Highly wearable ans sure to be sought after come spring, the color palette felt both fresh and practical, utilizing hues and combinations of them in shades described as onyx, bleached, ivory, rosewater, blush, peony, and cloud.
The collection veered slightly in a sportswear direction with some separates and bouncy knit options, however what Mohapatra does best is evening wear, with a well-edited selection of the breath taking gowns concluding the show that surely did not disappoint.
September 17, 2014
by fashion pulse contributor
By Molly Donnellon
Throwing practicality to the wind, sleeveless outerwear is making a comeback for Spring ’15, as shown in various collections presented at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. However, this isn’t your average tough-chick-with-frayed-edges look. Designers have focused on tailored outerwear pieces that just happen to be sans sleeves (and perfect for layering).
Zimmermann does its take on the classic tan trench, giving it an extra laid back quality when paired with an airy floor length dress underneath. At the Academy of Art‘s presentation of graduate collections, designer Wei Bei completely a head-to-toe summer white look with a sleeveless tuxedo style jacket that falls to the knee. Panels hanging over the shoulders and pockets at the waist provide some unexpected details that really add some originality to the trend.
The most classic representation of arm-less outerwear is presented in Zang Toi‘s American Dream themed 25th anniversary collection. The show’s opening look featured a shiny moto style jacket over black and white layered tees. Its below-the-waist length takes the piece away from vest territory and more toward what one may constitute as being simply a sleeveless jacket.
It very well may be that this trend will be extremely successful come spring. Arm-less jackets work well for layering pieces on top of one another, which would be especially useful in the early months of March and April when the bitter New York winter might just be starting to let up. As far as practicality is concerned, I doubt that Zimmermann‘s sleeveless trench will keep you dry in the rain, but you may just have to invest in an umbrella instead. This emerging trend will promote versatility in its wearer and would be effective in calm neutrals as well as found in wild prints, which we will likely see produced by fast fashion retailers sooner than we expect.
September 17, 2014
by fashion pulse contributor
Its all about the fabric for Spring 2015; this year designers have taken to their materials and fused together various fabrics and textures to reflect their themes and inspiration.
Sheer fabrics took the stage at Katie Gallagher’s S/S 2015 presentation. In the collection, which she titled Fantasm, the looks embodied the idea of inconsistent nature and the concept of things that exist in perception only. Opening the show with a series of all-black looks that then faded into shades of grey, white and nude tones the mesh material, that was not only so dominant in the show but also draped around several of the models faces, brought about the impermanent concept that Gallagher was striving for.
Using a lot of blended denim, chevron, lace and quilted sequin in his S/S 2015 collection Electric West, Jay Godfrey combined fabrics to juxtapose the raw yet feminine aspects of his looks. Following his inspiration of 60’s and 70’s rock ’n’ rollers, Godfrey used the combination of fabric’s to represent a signature blend of country with classic rock.
Meskita brought silk chiffon and neoprene to the runway in the S/S 2015 collection, inspired by Egyptian goddesses and warriors. Meskita kept the pieces feminine with pleats and light and flowing materials while using a gold-tinged palette and paneling simmering fabric making each piece able to stand alone.
With the idea of streamlining and stripping away, inspired by her theme spring cleaning, Sally La Pointe kept her looks and palette simple, with great attention to fabric and shape. Laying the materials in a perfect draping position, La Pointe gave a modern impression to her collection while also keeping it eternally fresh.
Inspired by her travels in Morocco, Ulla Johnson brought volume to her S/S 2015 collection with hand knotted and embroidered pieces that give a background and story to every piece, as well as detailed layering and tassels on the shoes which keep in line with the airy Moroccan feel.
