Six Clothing Finds at MAGIC Market Week

You may have seen my previous post on six footwear and accessories finds from MAGIC Market Week. Here I'll focus on six clothing brands whose booths I browsed during my time on the trade show floor. As much as I adore shoes and jewelry, I also enjoy looking at the clothing trends and getting a peek at what will soon be in stores. 

First up is BCBGeneration, where I was able to visit the skybox for a unique bird's eye view of the trade show floor. The hospitable ladies in the skybox lounge kindly made me a personalized name bracelet. (I considered doing The Key To Chic on the bracelet, but thought it would be too long.) As I wandered around the booth, I noted that sporty looks with color blocking, graphic stripes, and relaxed silhouettes predominated, as did mixed material footwear. 



At POOLTRADESHOW, I stopped by the BlueBird booth, where I met friendly and free-spirited designer Anna Friss. She showed me her youthful spring 2013 pieces in a soft palette of mint and gray, in addition to bright mesh tops, skin-baring blouses, and fun shorts with appliqué details.  It's safe to write that the refreshing color combination of mint and gray is now one of my spring favorites. If you follow me on Vine (@thekeytochic), you may have seen a closer look inside the booth.



At ENK, the modern digital prints by Funktional caught my attention. Since colorful prints and bold graphics are on my style radar for spring, I was especially drawn to the galaxy print moto jacket on the lower right. 



A trip to MAGIC would not be complete without a visit to the Gypsy Junkies booth, which is always a feast for the eyes.  When I wasn't distracted by the selection of florals, printed baseball jackets, acid brights, velvet, and sheer fabrics, I gazed at the wide selection of bohemian chic jewelry. How charming are these beaded necklaces and personalized pendants? Yup, I want it all.



As I walked through the Emerging Designer Showcase, the plaid bustier dress by Brooklyn-based line Misile NYC stopped me dead in my tracks. Its mix of feminine shape with a masculine fabric intrigued me. As I browsed the collection, the ultra soft flannel, jersey, and lace pieces with their silk linings made me take note. I spoke to designer Rhonda Puccini, who told me that she was inspired by the grunge looks of the '90s. Having just attended a trend seminar where "Glam Grunge" was featured as a 2014 trend, these pieces really resonated with me. What further impressed me about Misile NYC was the quality of the craftsmanship and the use of luxurious, tactile fabrics. I can easily imagine any of these pieces in the pages of Elle or Lucky.



At the booth of Los Angeles-based brand Very J, I discovered a fun mix of embellished vests, chiffon tops, and floral prints for Juniors in a palette of soft pastels with some bright yellow items catching my attention. On the topic of prints, since black and white is a key trend this spring, I thought the striped pants (below on the left) were a flattering take on the trend. 



I hope you find something that inspires you. What stands out to you? Let me know in the comments.

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Six Footwear and Accessories Finds at MAGIC Market Week

For me, the biannual WWDMAGIC trade shows in Las Vegas are as much about discovering new brands and reconnecting with old favorites as they are about attending trend seminars and gathering fashion forecasting information. Another reason why I'm drawn to WWDMAGIC (which has been newly renamed MAGIC Market Week) is that it's inspiring to see a wide variety of merchandise in such a short period of time, and I'm always up for spotting trends and meeting new people on the trade show floor. At the end of each day in Vegas, I just want to go shopping at the Fashion Show Mall or become a footwear buyer because the overwhelming array of things that I've seen all day sparks my passion for shopping and trends.

Given the sheer volume of photos that I took at MAGIC Market Week, I'm organizing them into small, easy-to-digest posts that I'll split up between The Key To Chic and my other blog, Fashion Trend Guide. First up are notable finds at six footwear and accessory brands whose booths I was able to browse. 



Above, the spring collection by footwear brand and Shopbop favorite Matt Bernson showed colorblocked flats, updated ankle boots, and printed flats in a new, pointy silhouette. Can you guess which style is my favorite? 



A visit to the Luichiny/Diba/Bronx booth at FNPlatform revealed a few new items to add to my wish list. The Luichiny floral cork platform and studded pumps (above on the right) really stood out to me, and all of the buckled ankle boots by Bronx with studs and stitching are new must-haves for me. The selection of shoes at the booth was mind boggling, with everything from studded and jeweled vertiginous platforms by Luichiny to casual Diba boots and Western styles that I found hard to resist by Bronx. 



Southern California brand Volatile USA has several lines that always nail the trends. Volatile Kicks, Sbicca, Grazie Footwear, and Very Volatile offer up a variety of options from camouflage sneakers and cap toe oxfords to embellished boots and platform sandals that are ideal for spring and summer. My top picks? The flag print and fringe boots, as they'd integrate seamlessly into my collection of skinny jeans and floral dresses. I've been known to wear boots year round, and the fringe pair not only fits in well with all of the Western-themed shoes that are currently on trend, but they also speak to my personal style.



Fashion blogger favorite Vanessa Mooney creates edgy jewelry that makes it clear why her line is so beloved. Her bohemian-tinged necklaces, headpieces, and earrings look distinctly bold, and their rock 'n' roll vibe perfectly juxtaposes the soft chiffon blouses and floral dresses that I imagine wearing them with.



Melie Bianco's booth would have won the award for most colorful and cute if there was such a contest at MAGIC Market Week. Once I looked past the cupcakes, candy, and flowers, the boldly striped and dotted handbags made my basic black tote look understated and uninspired. Not only are stripes, dots and color blocking on trend for spring, there's also a strong movement toward mod 1960s-inspired black and white prints. Melie Bianco's collection made the trends look both playful and easily wearable. I had too many favorites to choose from.



Last but not least, Mali Sabatasso's gleaming, ocean-hued jewelry (which I discovered at the Cash & Carry section of POOLTradeshow) really spoke to me. The steely blue and aqua-hued stone rings and bracelets are just what I've been looking for to add some nature-made color to my spring wardrobe. The gorgeous blue ring (above, center) almost came home with me.

Anything catch your eye? Let me know what your favorites are in the comments!

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Spring Summer 2014 Trend Forecast

It's that time of year again when thousands of fashion industry professionals, students, and bloggers convene in Las Vegas for MAGIC Market Week. One of the highlights of my time there is attending the Fashion Snoops trend forecasting seminars and going to their trend galleries in the Sourcing area. It's always a great source of fashion inspiration and it never fails to spark my enthusiasm for shopping now that I can zero in on what's going to be trending for 2014. I've just returned from a few busy days at the trade shows, and I will be sharing trend forecasts, store window photos, and favorite trade show finds in the coming days. First up is the Fashion Snoops trend forecast for spring summer 2014.

For spring summer 2014, they are promoting four trends: Spice Trail, Provincial Picnic, Mod World, and Glam Grunge. I'll briefly summarize the key points of each trend, and you can hop on over to Fashion Trend Guide (my other blog) for a fall 2013 and 2014 footwear and accessories trend forecast, and you can follow my Pinterest and Instagram accounts for more photos and trend forecasting information.



Spice Trail is an ethnic conversation with a mix of embellishment, embroidery, and metallics.  For women, it has Indian and Moroccan influences with handwork and a color palette of nudes and brights. Important materials for this trend include: silk, jacquard, lamé, metallics, and sequins. Patterns are tribal and Indian (see this cozy knit as an example), with photoreal prints (such as this fun top) and dye effects also key to the trend. Important pieces are: metallic pants, embellished halter dresses, midi dresses (love this one), sarouel pants, embellished pencil skirts (like this printed one), patterned jackets, Asian-influenced origami wrap dresses, sheer pants, and embroidered bomber jackets (such as this one). 

See more of the Spice Trail trend:

Provincial Picnic is a clean, simple "American Sweetheart" update on nautical with florals, stripes, fruit prints, soft plaids, eyelet, and ginghams prints (such as on this shirt). Red is a key color, while minty blue, banana yellow, nude, and soft pink are also prominent to this trend. Materials include: raw denim, cotton poplin, checked chiffon, suede, raffia, cotton voile, eyelet, ticking stripes, white linen, and chambray. Patterns are: gingham checks, stripes, patchwork quilting, cherries/fruit prints, Western-inspired patterns as appliqué, wallpaper prints, toile, and stripes. Important items are: the A-line mini skirt, overalls (love these), shortalls, the shirtdress, the white shirt, boxy camp shirts, cutout halter dresses, relaxed jumpsuits, tiered maxi ruffle dresses, off-the-shoulder peasant blouses, and full skirts with eyelet trim.

See more of the Provincial Picnic trend:

Mod World is an expression of retro 1960s influences with simple shapes. In Mod World there are two color stories. The first color story features bright multi-colored pieces driven by simple shapes, and the second focuses on a strong palette of black and white with a mix of prints such as dots, stripes, and checks. Fabrications include: 3-D, eyelet, metallics, floral lace, PVC, sequins, openwork, leather, sateen, organza, and shine as an all-over conversation. Key patterns are: garden blossoms, geometrics, colorblocking, cabana stripes (done interestingly on this skirt), harlequin diamonds, optical illusions, and pop hearts. Important items are: the mod coat (like this one), cropped pants, matched sets, boxy tops, the A-line shift dress (this one is chic), and contrast trim playsuits.

See more of the Mod World trend:

The final trend, Glam Grunge, which is fast becoming my favorite, is an updated take on 1990s grunge with a relaxed mix of sheer plaids and moody florals in a muted color palette. It's a soft and flowy look with a blend of contrasting elements and lots of denim and layering. Mixed media pieces figure prominently with the modified/embellished sweatshirt (such as this one) and biker jacket as important items. Colors are: steel blue, grays with a blue and green cast, minty blue, and wine shades. Fabrics include: organza, cotton voile, leather, crochet (for layering), twill, fleece, sheer printed chiffon, and stonewashed denim. Glam Grunge patterns are: camouflage, moody florals, leopard, patterned text, ditsy florals, and plaid. Key items are: the peplum top (I am eyeing this sleek version), midi skirt (check out this printed skirt), plaid pants (these are on my wish list), modified biker jackets, crop tops, peg leg pants in satin, pajama silhouettes, parkas, jean jackets, and the chiffon maxi dress.

See more of the Glam Grunge trend: 

I'm especially looking forward to incorporating elements of each trend into my current wardrobe, and I love the casual vibe of Glam Grunge, as well as the preppy undercurrent and playful prints of the Provincial Picnic trend. Do you have a favorite trend? What are you looking forward to seeing and wearing next spring?

Quick reminder - for more photos of each trend, follow along on my Spring Summer 2014 Trends board on Pinterest, where I'll be posting detailed photos of colors, key items, materials, etc. 

* For winter 2014 trends and shopping inspiration, see my holiday gift guide under $50, my gift guide for the beauty junkie, my gift guide for the glam girl, or my gift guide for stocking stuffers.

** Please note that all photos are protected by copyright and text published on www.thekeytochic.com may not be republished in any medium without written permission from the author. © 2013 thekeytochic.com

See more trend ideas here:

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Prabal Gurung for Target Review

As an avid fan of both Prabal Gurung's feminine dresses and eye-catching prints, I was eager to wake up early this morning and shop the Prabal Gurung for Target collection, try on some pieces in the fitting room, and share my thoughts in this review.

Fortunately, there was only one other shopper at Target's doors eagerly awaiting the 8am store opening, and unfortunately, we wore the same size in both clothing and footwear. The store carried almost all the clothing, except for the pleated skirt in yellow, the leather jacket, and the red ruffled dress. 

You may have seen my photos and videos if you follow me on Twitter, Instagram or Vine (@thekeytochic). 

Here's what the collection looked like as I approached the perfectly merchandised racks.








Shopping tip: all of the heels and wedges that I tried on ran one full size big, so size down! The heels are pretty comfortable, and the lace-up ones are really easy to walk in due to the adjustable ankle support. The lace-up styles also have a back zip which can be tricky at times. The ankle strap heels are slightly less comfortable and have a pull-through style strap which looks really sporty in person.



I narrowed down my selection of favorites and headed to the empty fitting rooms for a closer look. 

First up, the peplum top in Floral Crush print runs true to size, has a side zip, and was comfortable. I am wearing a size 4 and I found the waist-defining silhouette to be both flattering and irresistible, not to mention the ultra feminine floral print.


The Floral Crush long-sleeved tee was a surprise hit. I avoided ordering it online because I wanted to check the fabric in person. It runs big (with a generous length) and I'm wearing a small tucked into my jeans. The cotton/modal blend is soft and lightweight, and ideal for layering until the weather warms up.



One of my most anticipated pieces was the blazer in Floral Crush. I'm wearing a small. The sleeves were a bit long because I'm petite, and the waist had more than enough room when buttoned. The fabric was lighter than expected, and I'll wear it with the sleeves pushed up for a casual feel. For winter, I'll wear it over a sweater/turtleneck, and with a tank top underneath for spring/summer.



Here are the Floral Crush shorts along with the blazer and long-sleeved T-shirt. I sized up with the shorts (the other shopper grabbed a size 4, so I got a 6). They have on-seam pockets and a black contrast waistband. Since they are lightweight, I'll wear the shorts with black tights and ankle boots for now, and bare legs/sandals for summer. I advise sizing up if you have hips or are curvy, or going with your regular Target size if you are narrow in the hips or less curvy.



The pullover drop waist dress in First date print looked hard to pull off on the hanger, and I was right. The print can accentuate curves, and its trumpet hem draws attention to the hips and thighs. The fabric is soft and lightweight, but not so lightweight or sheer that you'd need to layer a slip underneath. It runs true to size, and I'm wearing a size small with my own stretchy belt to define the waist.



The sleeveless blouse in First Date print runs big. I'm wearing a small, and found it to have large armholes and plenty of room in the hips. It's a piece I might wear tucked into a skirt or jeans for a more polished look, or untucked under a moto jacket for a relaxed and casual look. The fabric is a very soft and silky polyester with a somewhat tricky button-front placket.



The black panel dress in First Date print ran a little small in the waist and chest, and had a flattering tailored waistband. I was pleasantly surprised by the printed panel in back, as I was expecting it to be solid black. I'm wearing a size 4, and I recommend sizing up on this one. The polyester fabric is more dressy than the other pieces I tried on, making it a more elegant option and giving it a more expensive feel than its $39.99 price tag.



Lastly, there's my favorite piece in the collection. It's casual, comfortable, and fun. The sweatshirt in First Date print is the piece that I'll get the most use out of. It fits my casual and active lifestyle, and works just as well with skirts and heels as it does with jeans and ankle boots.  I'm wearing a small, and it runs true to size. The cotton/polyester blend fabric gives it some structure while also keeping it soft, and the black ribbed trim makes it somewhat sporty. No surprise that it's selling out quickly online.



Having reviewed these collections since 2007, when Target didn't produce large pop-up shops and parties during New York Fashion Week, national TV commercials, or even have a Tumblr/Instagram/Vine account, I think this is their best designer collaboration to date. Forgetting about all the social media/marketing buzz and the Sunday morning shopping frenzies, the gorgeous clothing and accessories (ahem, shoes!) speak for themselves. Based on the collection's online performance with many items already sold out, it shows that shoppers want to scoop up the bright colors, feminine pieces, and sleek heels. Fortunately, Prabal Gurung came through with a collaboration abundant in florals, digital prints, color blocking, and neon hues that are perfectly on-trend and well made with fun details. While love was his inspiration for the collection, it's also the main emotion that I'll be experiencing when wearing my beloved new purchases. #ThankYouTargetStyle

See more from Target:

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