The Best of Fashion Week

New York Fashion Week has been well underway since last week and while it's not over just yet, I couldn't resist picking some favorites. 

Jason Wu

 Jason Wu

 

Carolina Herrera

 Zimmermann

 Zimmermann

 Lela Rose

 Lela Rose

 Lela Rose

 Wes Gordon

Wes Gordon

 Tory Burch 

 Tory Burch

 Tory Burch

 Tory Burch

Alice & Olivia 
 

 3.1 Phillip Lim

 3.1 Phillip Lim

 Such delicious eye candy! Do you have any early favorites?
Stay tuned next week for a little Spring 2015 trendspotting!

All images via Style.com

Wednesday's Look For Less: Striped Sweaters

I am a slack blogger and I know it. Thanks for still tuning in during these sporadic post times. My real world job has kept my full attention as of late and when I'm not at work, I'm pretty much worthless. For those reasons, the posts on S-F will not be any fluff pieces just to have a post for the day. They'll discuss topics that I actually feel are relevant, interesting and/or inspiring. Don't give up on me yet though! There are some good ones in the queue...just need the timing to be right. 

So enough with my chit-chat. Take a look at these two gems. Three cheers for sweater season! 

Both of these sweaters look so cute and cozy. The sweater on the left is from J.Crew and costs $98. Considering J.Crew runs a 25% off sale every other week, you should be able to score this piece for even less. The option on the right by 3.1 Phillip Lim rings up at a stifling $475. But if you liiiiiive in sweaters and take good care of them, then it might be worth the investment to you. It's not to me here at the 78-degree North Carolina coast but I might consider dropping some dough if I lived up North...and it was on sale!

Stay tuned for more. It's a quality not quantity situation around here these days...

Rise of the Phoenix

I think I'm in love. This Phillip Lim tee looks one part concert tee and one part feminine blouse. Because of that awesome dichotomy, it would be so fun and versatile for fall. I would wear it with black waxed denim and a nubby tweed jacket or a gray leather jacket and worn-in jeans everywhere from my casual, artsy office to a fun night out. These grand plans are all Nina Garcia's fault. She wore a similar top on Project Runway and it sent me on the prowl...

via Style Bistro

It's also her fault I ended up with another Phillip Lim top two years ago...Nina, you're killin' me!

via Tom and Lorenzo

But I like it!

Wednesday's Look For Less: Two-Tone Trouser

When the holidays roll around, who couldn't use a look for less?? Saving a little dough is sure to put you on Santa's Nice list so let Saint Nick do the splurging while you save.

Now I'm sure you've been looking for a two-tone pair of trousers, right? *wink wink 

But hear me out- a tonal trouser can be super duper flattering. This strategic colorblocking tricks the eye, camoflauging any lower body woes you might be facing, especially if you've had too much figgy pudding at the end of the year. 

So can you tell which pair costs less? The cropped pair on the right is the budget find from Zara, ringing up at $80. The fashion forward pair on the left comes straight off 3.1 Phillip Lim's runway and costs $475. Given that the Zara pair has the reverse shading with black on the back, a pear shape might prefer this budget find over a pair with a white rear.

Give your jeans a rest and pull on a two-tone pant with your favorite cozy sweater or wear this festive pair with a sparkly jacket, a great alternative for when it's just too darn cold to pull of a skirt...and maybe even keep a little jingle in your pocket

Film Premiere Prance

"Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" premieres nationwide today! I worked on this film last year and we built some INCREDIBLE sets. I am so looking forward to seeing how they turned out! 

Some of the scenes were filmed in Hawaii and some in North Carolina. Sadly, I did not get to work in Hawaii but I'll offer an "aloha" to The Rock anyway...

In my daydreams, we have a film premiere tonight with a Red Carpet and crew celebration. IF that was what I was doing tonight, this glitzy look would be my go-to.

Lauren Merkin Louise Clutch 

3.1 Phillip Lim Dress

Ippolita Small Teardrop Earrings

Manolo Blahnik Something Blue Satin Pump


Will you see "Journey 2"? Let me know if you do!


Hooray for Hollywood...via Hawaii and NC. 

Shelf Life

Have y'all heard about these little guys called Elf on a Shelf? I'm not really sure what they do or their purpose but I imagine that these frisky characters create Christmas cheer as a lead in to Santa Claus. They might eat your milk and cookies one night or leave a treat on your dresser while you're at school. (If you're young enough to still be in school, that is!)

Obviously, there's no elf on my twenty-something year old's shelf, but I wouldn't mind a shelf with a few of these on it...

Rebecca Minkoff bags via Starfish & Sundresses

The Rebecca Minkoff handbags on that bookshelf above are certainly lovely, but if my elf really wanted to know, this convertible attache by 3.1 Phillip Lim is what I'd want to be surprised with. (By the way, elf, I prefer it in iridescent green with navy, if you are wondering. Beanie + Cecil carries it.)

When it comes to bags, I rarely get too overly excited. Gasp! Something from the fashion world that doesn't knock me over with enthusiasm! But, in all seriousness, when I fall for a bag, I fall hard, and this little gem is worth falling for. Any girl on the go could use the bag as in the first picture to pack her wallet, planner and files for work. When 5 o'clock (or 7:30 in my world) rolls around and it's time to meet the girls for drinks, toss the planner in your passenger seat and fold that puppy in half (image 2). The shoulder strap detaches to give you one good looking clutch. Of course, a little lock and key pouch is always handy too...

Of course, when you buy a new bag, there's a bit of guilt that comes along with replacing your old bag. Minkoff might just have the solution! I can put my current everyday bag on my bookshelf, along with some special occasion bags, to display like art!

Botkier Trigger Bag

Hmmm...what other bags can I add to my bookshelf "art" collection. We'll have to consult the elf...

Love This Look

This 3.1 Phillip Lim (of course!) look is one of my favorites this year. I love the idea of a drapey dress cleverly camoflaged underneath a contrasting tuxedo jacket. It's a simple yet chic way to look polished and stylish.

3.1 Phillip Lim Runway Look

But if you don't always have the chance to run around life in drapey, glamorous gowns, this boyfriend-style blazer looks equally as chic with jeans and a top or as part of a suit.

3.1 Phillip Lim Boucle-Wool Tuxedo Jacket from Net-A-Porter

Vermillion Fall Fashion Show Look

At the Vermillion fashion show, the Phillip Lim jacket looked daytime appropriate with an AKA New York leopard print blouse, matching suit pants, Loeffler Randall patent heels and a Gabrielle Frantzen necklace.

But I could easily pair that jacket over this Alexander Wang top and a pair of leggings for a more playful vibe.

Alexander Wang Drape Jersey Top from Net-A-Porter

Or take it back to nighttime with the dress version in gold...

Alexander Wang Asymmetric Satin-Jersey Knit Dress from Net-A-Porter

Or black!

Dress in black at the Vermillion show with Subversive neckalce

Of course, a simpler tee shirt dress is a great alternative to sassy evenings-out frocks and business-appropriate suits.

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania New Drape Jersey Dress from Net-A-Porter

Now I'm officially on the hunt for killer tuxedo jackets! And maybe a drapey black dress or two...

Celebrity Doppelganger Day II

Today's look comes courtesy of Olivia Palermo's dog walking wardrobe. Of course, I'll be wearing her dog walking look to my public relations job, but no matter! (I'd never want to be photographed in my dog walking attire of Target workout shorts and oversized tee shirts!)

At any rate, here goes look number two!

I'm digging this Palermo look today. It's comfortable, functional and a tad bit empowering. I feel kind of authoritative in my military inspired jacket, sleek ponytail and black boots.

Anyway, what I'm wearing:

Old Navy military jacket (again, my sis's)

3.1 Phillip Lim floral tee from Vermillion in Raleigh

J. Crew patent leather belt

J. Brand black skinny jeans

Slouchy, flat boots from Sonny B. in Wilmington

Maybe I will TRY to walk Penny around the block in this outfit after all...