I'm excited to be collaborating with fellow bloggers Toni, Tori, and Blair for our Traveling Kimono project, in which we each styled Toni's gorgeous floral fringe kimono and sent it on to the next blogger to style and photograph. As you can see from the variety of ways in which we wore it, the piece is both versatile and functional with a down-to-earth, bohemian vibe that I always find appealing. As the ladies demonstrate, it works just as easily as a swim cover-up as it does with shorts or skinny jeans. (You might know from reading my blog that I have a hard time saying no to fringe and florals, so this kimono holds a special place in my heart.)
A big thank you to Toni for letting us all play dress-up with it!
My favorite floral jeans and a slouchy tee in neutral gray served as a canvas for layering the kimono, and my studded red ankle boots add a shot of color to the laid-back look.
American Apparel top, J brand Jeans, vintage bag, borrowed Staring at Stars velvet burnout kimono via Toni (similar), and Jeffrey Campbell boots (in black)
For more inspiration and to see in closer detail how we styled the kimono in all of our outfits, hop on over to the blogs of Tori, Toni, and Blair.
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Mossimo fox sweater, Rag & Bone jeans, Marni at H&M sequin collar, Aldo handbag, and Wet Seal booties (similar)
Fortunately, cool summer evenings afford me the opportunity to wear lightweight sweaters, and I'm getting a head start on the animal motif trend for fall with this quirky fox sweater, which you may have seen via my Instagram collage earlier this month. Perhaps I was onto the trend early this year when I wore this howling puppy knit in a previous post and paired it with floral denim. Full disclosure: I also bought the owl version and plan on wearing it with my go-to uniform of skinny jeans and ankle boots.
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Last week I attended an intimate event at Neiman Marcus in Topanga that merged two things I love - food and fashion. While munching on oatmeal crème brûlée and crab cake Benedict, I watched as a bevy of chicly-clad models sporting red lipstick and polished chignons paraded through the modern Neiman Marcus Cafe for a fall trend preview filled with sophisticated and luxurious looks. It was quite a treat to see the garments and accessories up close.
So what's trending for fall 2012 and what caught my eye? Well obviously, the cherry lip is a key beauty trend this season. As far as colors, rich shades of navy, green, and bordeaux are key for fall. Menswear influences take over in the form of pant suits, and prints ranging from graphic to digital to animal are paired with luxe outerwear and bold jewelry. Brooches are officially back as a new way to accessorize and update dresses and jackets. Velvety textures, mixed material jackets, and studded/crystal accessories all made a strong showing. (I'm still daydreaming about the Balenciaga jacket in the 4th photo down.) I can imagine a chic city girl wearing a lot of these pieces to work, to a business meeting, or out on the town to a glamorous party. New season, new trends. I highly anticipate incorporating some digital prints, embellished handbags, and mixed material outerwear into my closet over the next few months.
Gucci blouse and suit with Joie vest and Michael Kors bag
Valentino bag, Prada dress
Prada coat, A.L.C. blouse, Robert Rodriguez skirt
Balenciaga jacket, Theyskens Theory blouse, Prada skirt
Prada dress
Halston Heritage dress, Rachel Zoe jacket
Cluny dress, Balenciaga bag
Prada bag
Miu Miu studded heels
Free People vest, DvF blouse, Marni necklace
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If you know how much I adore shoes, then you can probably imagine how pleased I was to attend the inaugural Lazr Tradeshow last week. Approximately 75 brands set up shop at L.A. Live, where labels such as Michael Antonio and Irregular Choice had pop-up shops for shoe-hungry shoppers. Along with a host of other bloggers, I was there to meet with reps and designers, discuss footwear trends, Instagram my heart out, and obsess over my favorite pieces. So let's get down to business...what trends can you expect to see for fall 2012 and spring 2013 in Women's footwear? Here are the five that stood out.
1. The sneaker wedge. These are not your average sneakers. They're a sporty alternative to ankle boots, and are likely inspired by versions from Isabel Marant and See by Chloé. This fall we're seeing updated styles with neon trim, fun fabrics, and metallic finishes. The first two photos below are Sugar shoes, and the third photo shows Zigi sneakers.
2. Prints and patterns. Bold colors and prints will carry over to spring 2013. They take form in everything from stripes, plaids, and florals to tribal and patchwork fabrications. The first photo below is Michael Antonio, the striped wedges are by Very Volatile, and the plaid creepers are by T.U.K.
3. Bold and light colors vs. pastels and neons. The pastel and neon electric shades of this spring and summer are still influencing styles for spring 2013. I spotted candy color hues in lavender, pink, and mint green in several booths. Quite a few lines showed fluorescents, most notably in hot pink, neon yellow, and brilliant green. The oxfords are by Very Volatile, and the colorblock loafer heels are by Penny Loves Kenny.
4. Studs and spikes. The tough girl's embellishments of choice are strong trends for fall 2012. When it comes to spikes, designers are going all out with a bigger-is-better attitude.(Shoes as weapons, anyone?) The studded sculptural boots are by Irregular Choice, and the ankle boots are by Michael Antonio.
5. Boot barn. Western boots are having a moment, and with an array of mid-calf and knee-length styles landing for fall, there's more room for embellishments. Stitching, fabric panels, buckles, straps, and studs were all prominent details on boots that I spotted. In addition to the ubiquitous Cuban heel, the moto heel and block heel are other comfortable and practical options. The embroidered boots are by Penny Loves Kenny, and the knee boots are by Seychelles.
I'll be posting more 2013 trends that I spot at WWDMAGIC, so watch this space for more trend coverage!
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Mossimo tee from the Men's department (similar), Mossimo corduroy pants, vintage belt, Topshop boots, necklace c/o Crossroads Trading Co., and H&M bag (similar)
The tapestry boots may remind you of grandma's couch, but they quickly ended my search for the ideal pair of fall floral boots. This fall, I'm developing an obsession with fine wale corduroy, as I think it's the ideal summer-to-fall transitional fabric. Given the high temperatures we've had lately, I'm officially ready for fall so that I can start layering and incorporating new trends into my wardrobe. Speaking (or writing) of trends, expect to see some fall 2012 and spring 2013 footwear trend reports soon, as I attended Lazr Tradeshow this week. If you are a follower on Instagram, then you may have seen some sneak peeks from the trade show floor. If you love shoes as much as I do, and would like to share my obsession with fashion, footwear, and trends, you can follow me @thekeytochic.
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thrifted tweed blazer (chic alternative), Zara cat print top, Cheap Monday jeans, Marni at H&M bracelets, and floral Mary Janes via Poshmark (another floral pair I love)
These heels had been on my wish list for so long that I'd just about given up hope of finding them. Upon spotting them on Poshmark and seeing that they were my size, I wasted absolutely no time in making them mine. Every now and then, a girl's gotta give her expanding army of ankle boots a break.
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printed blouse, J Brand jeans, Princess Vera Wang boots, and vintage handbag (similar)
The Emma Cook-meets-1990s-Versace print of this blouse instantly intrigued me because it combines two things I can rarely deny - animal print plus floral. It's the best of both worlds in one very colorful blouse that in my opinion is best paired with neutral denim. See these glitter ankle boots? They are shaping up to be my all-time favorite purchase from Kohl's. They're just flashy enough to add some sparkle to my daytime looks, and the unexpectedly soft soles equate to comfort for long days on my feet.
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