The Coolest Skirts Ever (Alice Temperley Spring 2013)

All images via style.com

I'm obsessed with these striped sheer skirts from Alice Temperley's Spring 2013 collection. They took my breath away when I first saw them! I love that something so light and precious can be pared with a sweater. It's a a great styling trend to take note of for spring. 

Erin Barr Spring 2013 Presentation

I'm always excited when a fashion presentation breaks the mold, and Erin Barr's presentation did just that. The set up: a retro house party with a little over a dozen incredibly chic attendees.

The models seemed to be playing fashion musical chairs; one would stand up, own the room as her runway, then pick up a book or rummage through a pile of vintage records. Then, that model would tap a friend on the shoulder, and the newly-chosen model stand up and take her walk around the room. It was refreshing to see models interacting, giggling and chatting with each other (it really helps you picture the clothes being worn in a real-life scenario). I can see myself on a dress worn by a happy girl much easier than one worn by a stone-faced statue!

The clothes themselves were wonderful, and it was easy to spot the Marilyn Monroe influcence without having it overwhelm the collection. The theme really brought 'bombshell' to the 21st century. The rigid stripes seen throughout the collection were a nice take on a classic idea- they looked as though they had been painted onto the garment by hand, rather than perfectly printed by a machine.

The collection felt like the wardrobe of a quiet, subdued girl (collared shirts in neutral tones, loose cardigans, long pencil skirts, and beautiful and wearable shirts and pants), but as soon as night falls, her rocker side comes out. Suddenly, those pretty cocktail dresses have cut-outs, and sheer material is everywhere. Although I love the rocker style, the amount of skin shown was just a bit too much for me. I guess I fall somewhere between the quiet library dweller and the rock princess.

Sheer fabric and slits here, there, and everywhere were very prominent in the collection, so the idea of combining the two concepts made perfect sense. Many skirts included a longer outside layer of sheer material slit down the front and back in the garment.

I've become a big fan of Erin's edgy style, and if she can make a coat as beautiful as the one she made for Spring 2013 (a white trench with great shape, three-quarter sleeves, and a leather panel with a zipper detail), I can only imagine the beautiful creations she'll whip up for fall.

 

 

Be sure to check out more of Erin's work at ErinBarr.com!

 

WHIT Spring 2013 Collection Review + Backstage Shots

I was lucky enough to go 'backstage' at the WHIT presentation during NYFW. Much like the clothes, the vibe was really laid-back. There was no violent rushing around or crowded spaces, and the models were happy to pose for pics. If only every presentation was on island time like this one! 

I love this photo. There's something really natural about it. 

 

How epic are the hats by Yestadt Millinery?!

Take note ladies, this is THE makeup cheat sheet for ss13. I saw this look over and over again during fashion week. Brown eye shadow, soft, pink-ish lips and cheeks. It's really beautiful.

 
 

 






 
 

The bright clothes in neon and yellow hues were a perfect contrast to the grey NYC sky that was threatening to rain out the presentation. I was a really big fan of the banana leaf print seen throughout- I think there's something really quirky about it! Being the die-hard oxford fan that I am, I flipped when I saw the banana print on the shoes as well. It really re-invented traditional pieces.
 The clothes were easy, fun, and young. Nothing was too uptight or snobby. There were several dresses that you could throw on in an instant- et voila- you'd be chic and ready to go. I really appreciated that the cuts were kept simple so that you could appreciate the loud prints and colors. I really loved the flowy blouses and dresses that came in the pink print and the blue leaf print. They'd be perfect for a thinner girl, but it's not exactly the fit that curvy girls like myself can wear well, unfortunately. I'd end up looking like a really chic pink cloud. Thank goodness there were other more form-fitting pieces in the collection. 
Everything was also very on trend for ss13- sea foam, neon, button down's, color blocking, mesh,  stripes, all-white looks, sportiness, lace, it was all there! Literally every single major trend was accounted for. 
For me, a big collection highlight were the bags. The shapes were inventive, and the colors were really wonderful! Whitney told me that if was their very first season doing handbags, and I'm excited to see what adorable arm candy she creates in the future!

 The designer, Whitney Pozgay. 

Thank you so much for letting me attend! You can check out WHIT on the web here. 

Also, I'd love it if you checked out my latest post for hvmag.com! I reviewed Kaelen SS13 collection for their blog, The Couture Report. Check it out!

Behind The Scenes At Tory Burch By Jamie Beck

via

 So stunning. I love it all! The details are incredible.