the jean jacket
Tuesday, February 21
Photo: Vanessa Jackman
The jean jacket is officially back, but this time it's essentially a layering tool, sharing an inextricably symbiotic relationship with your overcoat. The new way to wear this denim staple is buttoned to the top to ensure maximum warmth, with collars up, underneath a coat, thrown nonchalantly over the shoulders. Easy enough, right? Here's a good jean jacket from Rag & Bone, if you're in the market.
Photo: Tommy Ton
boucle biker jacket
Tuesday, February 21
A biker jacket rendered in boucle fabric is counter-intuitive--and totally amazing. Considering all the oversize jackets on the fall 2012 runways, I'd go one size up in this one. That way I can pack some serious layers underneath it and wear it into the ground.
1. Dorothy Perkin boucle biker jacket, $89, dorothyperkins.com
2. Tibi leather top, $575, netaporter.com
3. Proenza Schouler PS 1 tote bag, $1995, ssense.com
4. Chloe triple buckle bootie, $1235, mytheresa.com
5. Current/Elliot boyfriend jeans, $210, netaporter.com
Marni party
Monday, February 20
It was an event I had been looking forward to for weeks. The invite said it was going to be a "private dinner party" hosted by Sofia Coppola, Marni designer Consuelo Castiglioni and H&M’s creative director Margareta van den Bosch" to celebrate the pre-launch of the Marni for H&M collection. But last Friday, the day of the party, my husband threw his back out and both of my kids came down with a cold. I was beat. I debated going out. But I love Marni. And I love H&M. And I knew the party would be interesting, to say the least. So, I rallied and cobbled together an outfit--a Vince sequin blouse, with a metallic silver pleated H&M skirt, a gem-studded vintage belt, Lanvin heels, and red-beaded earrings that I got from a Lucky cover shoot years ago. At the party, I found myself completely star struck. Not by all the celebrities in attendance (among them, Milla Jovovich, pictured above with me). But by the collection, itself. It's out-and-out dazzling, filled with striking African print dresses, metallic tops and bottoms, geometric-patterned coats and skirts--all very signature Marni. The accessories also made me swoon, especially the palette collar necklaces, bold shell-like necklaces and silver leather and rope sandals. The party venue, the John Sowden House in Los Feliz, was appropriately glamorous. Built in 1926 by Lloyd Wright, the eldest son of Frank Lloyd Wright, it is also known as the “Jaws House,” because the facade resembles the gaping mouth of a great white shark. Bryan Ferry belted out the Sofia Coppola-directed campaign video's theme song in the house's central open-air courtyard. I watched from under a heat lamp, while Mel Gibson danced to my right and Sofia Coppola and her husband swilled champagne in front of me. It was a very fun LA night. Now, I am looking forward to March 8th, when the collection hits stores. Lucky has a preview of the entire collection here.
going with the flow
Monday, February 20
As reported last week, wide-legged pants ruled the New York fashion runways. It's a flattering (leg-lengthening) silhouette--and a total slam dunk when worn with something simple, like a button-down blouse or a t-shirt. This polka dot pair gets high marks for its spring-through-fall wearability. Wear them with...
1. Topshop silk blouse, $70, topshop.com
2. Proenza Schouler PS 1 leather and canvas bag, $2050, netaporter.com
3. Madewell platform sandals, $158, madewell.com
4. Navy polka dot pants, $47, riverisland.com
statement sunnies
Friday, February 17
Photo: Tommy Ton
Wildly colorful, tricked-out sunglasses were pervasive during New York Fashion Week (case in point, above). While I love my classic Ray-Ban Wayfarers, I could contemplate another pair more offbeat, something veering toward daring and interesting, without being crazy kooky. So, here are some options I've come up with. Which ones do you think are cool?
1. Selima sunglasses, $385, selimaoptique.com
2. Diane Von Furstenberg color-blocked sunglasses, $165, matchesfashion.com
3. Cutler and Gross cat-eye frames, $530, netaporter.com
4. Karen Walker black and gold frames, $250, revolveclothing.com
not your basic tee
Friday, February 17
The asymmetrical hem transforms this t-shirt into a statement-maker. Wear it with...
1. Reiss peplum t-shirt, $95, reissonline.com
2. Stella McCartney chain link python print clutch, $895, mytheresa.com
3. Alexander Wang ankle strap heels, $595, alexanderwang.com
4. T by Alexander Wang mini skirt, $140, shopbop.com
suit up
Thursday, February 16
Photo: Tommy Ton
The pant suit emerged as one of the most ubiquitous--and chicest--looks during New York Fashion Week. It's a good thing, because a suit makes getting dressed easy. All you need is a top and some flashy accessories. I love how this girl softened her sharp, formal black suit with a casual and unexpected plaid blouse. LA-based designer Jenni Kayne provides further inspiration with her Fall 2012 lineup. So good!
beat the blah's
Thursday, February 16
Madewell has been running a useful feature on its site about how to beat the winter blah's. Last week they featured my style tips. See them here.
bauble bag
Thursday, February 16
Prada's resort collection was chock full of of opulent-looking jewel-encrusted clutches. But that's not the only reason to love this blinged-out evening bag. It's candy-colored decadent, unabashedly feminine and really, really pretty. Wear it with...
1. O'2ND one-shoulder navy jumpsuit, $395, barneys.com
2. Tom Binns silver drop earrings, $135, nordstrom.com
3. River Island beaded clutch, $47, riverisland.com
4. Stella McCartney two-tone satin sandals, $1025, netaporter.com
j. crew fall 2012
Wednesday, February 15
Jenna Lyons adhered to her preppy-offbeat-colorful idiom with J. Crew's fall 2012 collection, presented yesterday in New York--and there's so much to love, from the spot-on styling to the vibrant prints to the fuchsia lipstick--and that fur coat! Here are my favorite looks. How I wish I could wear them now...
