Trendspotting; Bow-Back

There is a thing about trends- If is it trend before you put an eye on, becomes surround system, if it isn't you become a craftsman.
I remember the time when I was obsessed with the bows on the back. In that period I probably collected the most of satin ribbons I have (now they are multitask shoe straps)
Lately, bow-back has been introduced on Yves Saint Laurent Spring 09 zipped dress and it had three bows on the back. This year Topshop did the two bows on the back version and I already seized myself one nude, Lycra tee/dress. Motel last year had one bow on their always charming vintage look-alike prints. For spring '10 Motel made three bows on the back and entitled it Bowtastic. Isn't that just fantastic name for spring key item?
Welcome aboard festival-chic!






Take a look at Motel Spring 2010 collection lookbook on fashionising

Photos below from their shop

Pursuit of sweater

When we talk about seasonal types, weather and favorites I must say winter is certainly not one of mine prefers. I like to consider myself as early spring (autumn) type, and that might be just because I don’t know how to dress appropriate in winter. Every time I go out of “warm baby its cold outside” inside,I return very frozen and with headache. Is really the term of fashionista statement for a victim?
Or maybe is true what some are tattling around- that people that live inside of fashion don't know how to dress proper?
The case of my closet is one season,In not meaning of throwing away after one season (oh gosh that is harsh), more of inability of distinguishing summer from winter clothes (that is way too cruel if you ask me. That is what makes my mother style very different from one I have, but in the same time is creating those frozen moments of which she if sees me would suffer hearth-don’t try to save me this time-attack. But I sincerely, don’t have much of idea how to match fur coat or heavy winter coat on boots. That’s why canvas on fur, ballerina flops or oxfords on coats, is what I wear the most. I can hardly imagine wearing boots in winter (only person that comes to my mind looking gracious in combination is Carine Roitfeld), or not buying summer dresses in winter.
Last week in my obsessive compulsive behavior inspired by Margot when I was smoking while having a bath or doing my nails, I wore long plaid dresses on faux fur coat. This week I am not feeling The Royal Tenenbaums any more, I just want to feel warm. But I am not finding any of that kind of items in my doors to Narnia.
All of my knitted vests are cardigans, long, cut or oversized, and they are not woolen but cottoned. Woolen dresses are all short sleeved, and they match silk blouses and white cotton shirts. There is sign of warm woolen sweaters in my backup places, but since they are very itching factor, I doubt they’ll ever look up the daylight. It’s normal that in inspirations-less moments in layered clothing behavior, girl at least needs three decent warm pieces of clothes. Not three layers of spring shirts. And on fall runaway, seems that it was only Marc Jacobs ( Missoni is exception) that didn’t want for us to catch a cold.

“Definitely I need more warm clothes”, announces she and thinks thrilled about Monday when she will finally go shopping. And this year in pursuit of sweater she will forget about fair, isle patterns and Marc Darcy’s Christmas sweater as inspiration and won’t get carried away with festive spirit, she is determined. Rather something very fine and bonnie. And wearable after Christmas.
So she makes her To Decide List
Phillip Lim gray cardigan, is not real sweater, but with peach ribbons is like first crush, not woolen but combination of cotton and polyester seems to have bit richer knit. Little disadvantage is dry cleaning. Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony leopard unisex pullover except of softness by woven angora seems wearable on boots (never know)
Knitted cardigan with the look of real sweater in cobalt color with black polka dots as celebration (once again) of Minnie, is a little shorter but black chemise would take care of that.(80s purple)
Flowers in winter are heart melting. Floral cardigan is absolute favorite but sweater also, especially if is like this one with flower apps from nasty gal (who would say Roseanne and other 80-90s sitcoms stars would become icons?). One more angora lovely is coming from vintage nasty gal, this time in ivory very snow flake look with floral patch in front. Luella’s cashmere is always very hardly irresistible with its luxury glance so also ends up on thinking list (cashmere is not just warm cause of word cash in it). Of course topshop's charming sweaters are on audition.



But today, she will wear high wasted skirt on tights with over-knee socks. Black all over. On top she transforms topshop dress with flower applications into short sleeved top. She chooses cardigan and sandy-beige cape over the fur. "Its cold out there, would I go for boots (maybe lace-up) rather", she asks the mirror? "No, its casual weekend getaway", she says and puts beloved black canvas on her feet. Except they are totally cozy, they are transparent- and reminder of her luck in sale catches. “Snow storm is not totally big as I thought”, she utters while enters car. And her friends are once again totally tripping with annoying “who wears skirt on snow “exposition. When will they stop grumbling?!

first photo via totally addicting TURNED OUT

Oh So cover me with chic blanket

Since the beginning of the year, knitwear certainly made ascend on the scale of trends. Runaway announced comeback of it, from basics to lurex (think of Marni), items embroidered with sequins or knitted laces (think of Missoni)
It’s pretty handsome to see all of the 80’s sparkly, glamazon crave which often implies marvelous fur, while on the other side warm fall glance is more cozier, with more of neutral or warm colors including all of the goodies as tweed or woolen jackets and trousers, knitted vests and scarves. But if looking back in the time, there is no way that 80’s style elides knitting. If you don’t remember just think how Marc Jacobs adorably connected both. With layers of fine knitted items, afraid for freezing is diminished. But with more of colder days, the hedonistic side of our hearts is growing so often chocolate or tea, movie or book and the blanket inside your private paradise(meaning warm) is preferable than strutting on the streets.
Oh how we love blankets.
Who was the person that left the warm inside wrapped in the blanket, we don’t know. Maybe someone greedy for productivity and too cold, but she/he did the fashion forward for blankets as outwear. Since then we realized that outwear with blanket lookalike makes us balmy in our hearts even on the streets. That is why we are saying; Oh so cover me!
HOW TO WEAR
For knitted outwear, capes, wide scarves in-blanket –glance, oversized is essential.
Pattern or color to choose is matter of personal style. If you are more common with bohemian you’ll choose isle or DIY patterns. Overlay it over basic clothing, cotton dresses, knitted tunic tops on tights or jeans. It matches perfectly with canvas. But also with heels.
WHERE TO BUY: There is very possibility that your grandma has it in closet or visit nearest vintage shop.
Coats 1. Missoni from matches, 2.Henrik Vibskov from farfetch,4.knitted coat at mytheresa Scarves 3. Asos, 4. Topshop
Alison Mosshart of The Kills

5 YYYES for lace up boots

1. They raze the statement ˝boots are for summer, flops are for winter˝
You know how it feels in the winter when you have layers of outwear and you still need to wear giant shoes. Lace up boots, for some reason adhere on leg more naturally than most of the boots, and laces are making the effect of detail so you don’t have to do additional effort.
2. Feel of the model off the duty style
Long before Ann Demeulemeester or even when this trend of lace up started, the girls that walk the runaway had sense for motorcycle style.

Hana Soukupova, Joy Bryant wearing lace up boots

Alexa Chung, Hanne Gaby Odiele, Flo Gennaro in lace up boots
3. Heels or flats
Just choose which makes you feel more comfy daily because even flats lace up boots are very wearable for the night, parties (giving your outfit strong, confident glance)

Abbey Lee Kershaw in Ruby Leather Lace up boots from Urban Outfitters, Eniko Mihalik
4. Findable from 1000 $ to 50$ depending on what brand you will choose. From flats my favorites are models with tradition like Martens, Timberland’s or Justin’s (vintage Justin lace up boots are like melody for my heart)

Combat oak boots, Mentor lace up boots, Zeha Berlin boots, Jeffrey Campbell navy lace up boots, Timberland lace up boots
5. Working for the in- a- minute chic
Just think of white long tees and stockings or even nude legs when it’s little warmer. Think of all the high wasted skirts and ripped jean.

first photo; Grace Small for I LOVE FAKE #13 by Viktor Vauthier
Photos via flickr, style.com, modelinia

Vest trends for fall and winter

For centuries waistcoat was a part of men's formal attire and usually double breasted to stretch the belly.
Waistcoat or popularly vest (fr gilet) is a part of wardrobe that doesn’t go out of style lately and whoever came up with this trend is fashion friend.
First we started wearing the simple vests and craving those cottoned or suit waistcoats, but soon moved forward to lot of details on our gilets( think of studs)
Vests usually can ˝pimp˝ the plainest outfits. What is more rock'n'royal than a basic black cotton dress with denim vest. And if it is done in DIY manner from a old Levi’s jacket and studs you did real fashion forward.
Runaway collections from those that wear screaming grunge to those ladylike, showed lot loving for the vests. Fur, leather, tuxedo long vests, embroidered, even those leopards were stars of the season. One can certainly add trendy vests to his wardrobe but still not to forget to wear the old ones because the vest is always vest and we really detest throwing away our clothes, especially when it comes to good key pieces. And vest proved for seasons it is.
What to choose, what to add, where to buy, who wears it...
1. Fur vest
If vest was star of the runaways, fur vest was lodestar; from Philip Lim, Vandervost, Lagerfeld, Kane, Mendel, Marni, Lang. Some even said that the fur coat died when fur vest was borne. We wouldn’t go that far because it certainly cannot warm you up like coat but is very trendy and very practical to pair. Very popular is still Mongolian black fur but not less desirable those made of faux fur or the different types of real fur

Erin Wasson and Mary- Kate Olsen wearing fur vests

Elizabeth and James fur vest from netaporter, faux fur from H&M
2. Leather vest
Biker style left impact and brought the certain splendor, which refers on all of the leather items or boots. The leather vest is this year little longer or cropped with layered collar or with the fur. Another superb from motorcycle style, even if you were never punker is kutte (studs, badges and band logos in DIY manner)

Kate Young and Byrdie Bell wearing leather vests

Erin Wasson X RVCA Hard Loser Waistcoat from La Garconne, Alexander Wang Leather motorcycle vest from netaporter
3. Knitted vest
Not that from the runaway, as is the contributor of warm fall and winter look especially for the fans of layered clothing. Lots of patterns, like isle or different knitted versions make knitted vest city to ski chic option. Go for it.

Charlotte Ronson wearing knitted vest, Shop items; Patterned Knit Vest from YESSTYLE,Twenty8Twelve isle pattern waistcoat at mywardrobe,Retro Waistcoat from Wendy Keith Designs
Photos via style.com, nymag.com, elle.com

Leopard print

There where times when we used to connect leopard prints with Vegas or matched with the cross on the chain in Sopranos vision of mistress. And last years first we started with printed leopard scarves and then we end up wrapped all in leo’s print. How rapid we can transform our opinions...That's why I am not ever judging on someone’s taste.
Maybe leopard pandemia started in September with when we were applauding Albert Elbaz on one shoulder dress wore by Sessilee Lopez on Lanvin's printemps/ete show or models in backstage that were matching leopard in rock & edgy manner. We absolutely adore Lily Donalson as one of the initiators of animal rock prints. Chanel Iman wore leopard dress on Met's MaM and we found her very irresistible.
If you didn't heart leopard print by now its time to start your wildness affection because it is very companion of effortless look and can be very valuable even in those days when you are not in dressing mood. It s not so common so gives you a clean look, even color leopard print works for the days of bad hair.

Simply it goes with everything; Cardigans are very wearable with pants, those classic black pair of skinnies or 80s high-waisted. Or simple nonchalant just over simple tunic dress, and leo print tops even with colors will match great your high waisted skirts.

cropped overdyed leopard wide silk tank from oak , pink leopard print top from forever21 , leopard print tee from opening ceremony ,Tank Torn by Ronny Kobo at shopbop

Leopard sweater jacket at Urban Outfitters , leopard cardigan at dELIA's, Black leopard print cardigan Star by Julien Macdonald at Debenhams , Karen Walker leopard dress at Urban Outfitters
in evening version one needs to be very careful when takes dress with leopard print, cause its kind of trend that can look shameful or refined. No middle path. I think shoes are the key to the image;as long as you keep them double platforms or booties or everything little urban look like, there’s no place for mistake.

Lanvin dress at Matches, Vintage 80s Black Leopard Dress from The Dress Form reminds of prom dresses, still is very rockable,Christian Louboutin Miss Fortune Lace-up Sandals at mytheresa, YSL stilettos at Matches
Photos of Lily Donaldson from Lily D facebook gruop