Calvin Klein does the LBD

Minimal design and maximal taste.

Michael Kors: Confidence with a side of caution

If you're looking for a daring designer, Michael Kors is not your man. His designs are not envelope pushing, avant garde, or particularly inspired. He's safe. But at his recent Spring ’11 runway show, Kors proved that airing on the side of caution isn’t always such a bad thing.

Something has to be said for those willing to show restraint during the design process. It seems as if some designers use each season as an opportunity to show off their creative genius with overly self-indulgent clothes that are impossible to wear just for the sake of it. Michael Kors', however, refreshingly does the opposite. Rather than design clothes that speak as a testament to his creative genius, he confidently controls his talent and has become on of the most successful people in the industry as a result. He makes clothes that are meant to be lived in and not just gazed upon and his recent runway show was no exception. It is a solid and cohesive collection with pieces that could fit into any wardrobe. His bold color pallet is unexpectedly versatile and all of his looks embody the American classicism that Kors is known for. With his show being one of the most praised of the season, Michael Kors proves that wearable fashion doesn’t have to be an oxymoron.

Spotted at the Spotted Pig

New York Fashion Week is in full swing and with that comes celebrity spotting. And last night at the Spotted Pig was no exception. It was there that I spied one of my current fashion favorites, Alexa Chung.

Alexa Chung is The Moment's fashion darling. Her ability to use her innate Tom Boy awkwardness to her advantage and pull off an ironically girly charm is something worthy of imitation and envy. In fact, Alexa's unexpected style juxtaposition of masculine/feminine is so inspiring that Mulberry even has an Alexa bag to honor this muse.

However, Miss Chung lends more than just her name to her collection for Madewell. Boasting high-cropped shorts and blouses that are sure to attract a lustful gaze, her designs prove that this style savant is more than just a pretty face with a quirky wardrobe and a British accent, but also a well rounded addition to the Indie style scene.

Help Wanted in the Fashion Department

Here's an old post from when I first got to the City and landed my first real job. Even though I had my dream position, I wasn't quite sure I had the clothes to match. Read on...

In true New York fashion, my life has changed more dramatically in the past three days than it has in the entire four weeks since I’ve been here. Here’s the breakdown: on Tuesday I interviewed for a job, got it on Thursday, and start on Monday. To say my life has been a whirlwind the past few days would be quite the understatement.

The transition from student to intern to professional is pretty daunting, especially when factoring in the wardrobe. Being taken seriously in your career is obviously important, but at what style-cost?

Lately I've been wondering if one must sacrifice their fashion sense in order to obtain success in the workplace. For instance, must I be forced to set aside the Vogue, put down the Shu Uemura eyelash curler, and deny all knowledge of anything having the least bit to do with fashion if I want my new colleagues at a New York City literary agency to respect me? Let’s hope not.

One thing is for sure, I know that a complete fashion makeover is out of the question. No matter how badly I want to succeed in the literary world, everything has its limits.

Luckily, there are tons of great finds out there that can let you have your fashion cake and eat it, too. For example, this Helmut Lang would be perfect for the office. The avant-garde print juxtaposes the traditional cut brilliantly, making it a piece that can easily go from work to drinks with a few extra swipes of mascara and an added clutch. And these Lanvin pumps have longevity, which completely justifies the spending splurge.

And once I’ve proven myself enough, these daring harem trousers are definitely going to have their moment. Paired with a blazer, white tank, and amazing heels, this Topshop find screams SUCCESSFUL AND CONFIDENT IN BOTH FASHION AND BUSINESS!

Office style doesn’t have to be an oxymoron, and with a little restraint and strategic shopping, I’m sure I’ll be able to keep my love for fashion without losing my job, even though I may have to leave my Vogue-reading for at home and not while I'm at my desk.

East Meets West (Coast)

Another from my time at SheerLuxe...

Hailing from Los Angeles, I’ve always admired the chic sophistication of the East Coast and, more specifically, New York. Even though the cities share a country, when it comes to style, the similarities stop there. Each destination offers their own take on fashion and style, largely determined by the industry that dominates in each.

In LA, to work in “The Industry” means to work in entertainment: the struggling actress complete with her predictable Juicy Couture tracksuit and Venti iced skinny latte from Starbucks (with two Splendas), the artsy film maker who prowls the vintage shops of Melrose to increase his indie-cred, the director who favours classic Calvin Klein tailoring in order to impress potential producers.

The key to style in Los Angeles is to dress to impress as many people as possible, because just like a movie needs to be liked by a large and diverse audience in order to be popular, so do the people making it.

Location and climate also play a big part in expanding the divide between East and West fashion, a fact that can easily be witnessed while rummaging the wardrobe closets of two guilty TV pleasures: The OC vs. Gossip Girl. In The OC, midriffs and flip flops were the staple, while the high-maintenance characters in their East coast equivalent would never be caught dead in either.

But don’t let the appearance of the effortless style in California beguile you. Both the LA girl and NY doll put in comparable amounts of time into getting ready, it’s just that the New Yorker is proud to flaunt her effort and the Los Angeles local tries to hide it.

Both the effortless look of the West and the deliberateness of the East can be traced back to the influences of their industries: walk into Vogue looking like you just rolled out of bed, no effort whatsoever, and you’ll end up on the streets, walk into a movie casting doing the same and be praised for your low-maintenance tendencies and unpretentious nature.

If it’s the flair of Manhattan that piques your interest and you want a polished look that would impress even Anna Wintour, pair this statement making skirt from Preen (or the more affordable Francois skirt courtesy of Reiss) with a blazer in either black or navy (a new neutral), tailored white blouse, and these Alaia booties, which add something tough to the look. Now all that’s needed is a chignon and some attitude and you’ve got yourself one impressive ensemble.

Looking for something less planned and more relaxed? Then the style of the West coast definitely more closely aligns with your fashion ideology. Try the carefree look of the Love Story J Brand in this subtly distressed wash matched with a bright white hippie inspired blouse, like this smock top from See by Chloe, to make you the envy of all the Kate Hudsons out there. Leave your hair loose and imperfect, ready for a day of shopping in Santa Monica or a dip in the Pacific.

While I may be an LA girl by birth, I’m a New Yorker by nature. Something about the energy of Manhattan is much more alluring to me than the beaches of Malibu. And even though I’ll give accolades to anyone who can spend hours getting ready only to look like they just fell out of their shabby chic quilt and actually pull it off, for this Cali girl, it’s the style of New York that triumphs in this fashion war.

Saving Lace

Lace: once reserved for Victorians and those hoping to channel Madonna circa 1985, has made a comeback. Romantic lace, sexy lace, gothic lace... it seems like being holy this season is in and that the rigid structures of seasons past is out! However, some might need a divine intervention in order to get this trend spot on.

One of the things I love about lace is also what makes it difficult to master: its versatility. Punk-rock, angelic, sexy, demure... it's like fashion Mad Libs. Unfortunately, with the limitless options comes the limitless potential to screw it up royally. One accessory too many and you'll look like you fell out of a Cyndi Lauper music video. One accessory too few and you'll look like you're running late for ballet practice. To sum it up- this soft fabric is pretty hard to pull off. But with the proper guidance and the right amount of self control, this look has the potential to charm even the coldest of cynics.

The most important thing about lace is to pick a style and then commit. None of this "ballerina meets Avril Levine plus a bit of Billy Idol". Decisiveness is key. For instance, let’s say you choose a romantic incarnation. Limit yourself to just a few pieces that will allude to the lace rather than yell it from across the room. The subtlety of this Phillip Lim 3.1 is brilliant (http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/80125). Even though it is drenched the delicate fabric, the silk allows for it to add texture rather than cloy. I’d pair it with some nude heels to keep the pallet light and a cropped blazer to complete the look.

If you’re more daring or have a special occasion, you’ll fall head over heels for the dresses from Kate Moss for TopShop. She offers her devotees long tulle options that make it clear why we all wonder What Would Kate Wear. Or if you want something a little less conspicuous, TopShop also offers tons of adorable crop lace tops to pair with your high-waisted jeans for an easy weekend look.

The Goth Lace Look is probably the hardest to master without looking cliché, so pick one standout piece and work around it. I’d love to wear this LBD (http://www.my-wardrobe.com/sara-berman/black-lace-dress-by-sara-berman) with heels and long pearls to add some graceful accents to this edgy choice. But buyer beware: too many accessories will make you look like a Lady of the Night, instead of the chic Girl About Town that we would all love to incarnate.

Lace is a beautiful thing. Feminine, soft, delicate, it is the ultimate luxury fabric. And while it is not necessarily an easy look to master, if able to resist the urge to over-indulge, the rewards of a well thought out lace ensemble will definitely make it worth the effort.

"I die"

Phillip Lim 3.1

Enough said.

An Ode to the WASP

WASP- (n.) an acronym for White Anglo-Saxon Protestant

I had been familiar with the term before I moved to New York, but hadn't really grasped its full meaning until officially arriving on the East Coast. Prior to, I had just assumed that it was a fancy way of saying "Caucasian." It wasn't until I walked among them that I fully realized the error of my ways.

The best way to describe the WASP phenomenon would be "Old Money." To the WASP, tradition, breeding and lineage are what matters. Pastel Locaste polos are worn to particularly boozy Sunday brunches at their Hamptons estate where they play tennis, speak with a hint of a British accent (the Motherland), and frown upon the vulgarity of "New Money.". In London, the closest equivalent would be the Public School boys who graduate from Cambridge, party more glamorously than any American I know (or at least with a bit more sophistication), all before succumbing to their fate of working in the City and inhabiting a flat off of Sloane Square.

Los Angeles does not believe is WASPS, which I suppose explains my fascination. We would rather embrace a less stuffy and more superficial show of money, a la the Entertainment Industry. As a result, coming from the West Coast mindset of "If you've got it, flaunt it," which is usually personified through expensive cars and flashy shopping trips to Robertson Blvd., has made this snobby Ivy League state of mind completely foreign, and consequentially, intruiging to me.

I've recently been turning (pun intended) to books in order to better understand this obscure lifestyle. The Great Gatsby, obviously, is the quintessential example of the WASP culture, with Gatsby himself embodying the ostentation that WASPS, like Daisy and Jack, hate. However, the distinction between old and new has not diminished much since the roaring 20's and can be experienced in a myriad of ways. Cheerful Money and Too Much Money are just a few of the enlightening works available that offer a glimpse into the world of the WASP, for those with breeding that would otherwise prohibit it.

I am well aware that my LA background makes it impossible for me to ever fully enter the WASP's inner sanctum, however, that doesn't mean I can't at least attempt to capture some of the essence of their being. Thanks to stores like J. Crew, GAP, and Banana Republic after the age of 40 when the WASP switches for Coco to Number 5, and the WASP's style Bible, Take Ivy, the preppy look is just a VISA swipe away, in spite of my "New Money" heritage.

Because, after all, who doesn't love a good Polo?