Feb 04

Label Love: Kate Spade Has Us Craving Tweed And Polka Dots…Together.

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imageMy style usually wavers somewhere between ladylike and casual, but I rarely adhere completely to one over the other. Some days, that means yesterday’s hair, boyfriend jeans, and a swipe of red lipstick, only to be followed by an athletic tee over a silk dress and heels the next day. But when I saw the newest arrivals to Kate Spade’s clothing collection, all casual ideas went out the door and the lack of tweed and polka dots in my life became entirely too apparent. From candy-colored tweed jackets with bright pink piping to striped car coats and wool skirts, the latest offerings are undeniably classic, but with a youthful, carefree twist- as if Blair Waldorf, Glee’s Emma Pillsbury, and Holly Golightly curated the collection themselves (we can only dream.) The styling is as divine as the clothes themselves, with plenty of mixed prints, plus a hidden hoodie and pair of Converse for those who like to mix things up in a different way. Oh, and a pretzel too. Intrigued? Click on the slideshow to see my favorite new arrivals from Kate Spade!

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Jan 25

Label Love: Australia’s Ellery Is Racy Yet Restrained

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imageWhen I think of Australia, fashion isn’t one of the first thing that pops into my mind. Obviously there are people down under who are looking to change that mindset. Australian designer Kym Ellery may have launched her eponymous line in 2007, but she’s more than experienced in the world of fashion. In fact, she studied fashion illustration at the famed Central Saint Martins and was the Market Director for Australian fashion magazine RUSSH. Her latest collection, titled “A Tribute To Dr. Strange” sets the stage for a good girl gone bad look. Body baring pieces are tempered with structured jackets and neutral colors. The aggressively sexy yet glamorous looks are amplified with the use of ostrich feathers, sequins, and leather. Kym Ellery has been making waves in the Australian fashion scene and I won’t be surprised if she conquers the rest of the world too. Take a look at my slideshow to see her Fall 2010 collection.

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Jan 21

Label Love: Cardigan By Lynne Hiriak Brings Stars, Stripes & Sequins To Comfy Basics

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imageFor those of you who aren’t looking months ahead to Spring Break and are still scouring the racks for ways to bundle up and stay warm (let’s face it — we’re in the dead center of winter!), allow me to introduce you to Cardigan by Lynne Hiriak. Boasting a line of comfy wool basics from boyfriend cardigans (the name of the line is clearly no coincidence) to striped sweater dresses and tunics, Cardigan redefines cozy-chic in a way that makes you want to toss out all your tattered college sweatshirts. Whether it’s their signature Merino wool or the tried-and-true favorite fits, everything that comes from the Cardigan mold looks perfectly cohesive, yet still manages to provide plenty of variety — stripes, sequins, contrasting trim, you name it! The latest collection, L’Etoile, plays up that variety a step further with embroidered stars that add a more playful feel to otherwise plain preppy basics. Still craving cold-weather staples to keep you warm, or ready to start stocking up ahead of time? Check out L’Etoile and the rest of the Cardigan collection in the slideshow!

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Jan 18

Label Love: IRO Spring 2010 Has Chic Essentials Done Right

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imageIf you can imagine model Erin Wasson going on a military tour in the Middle East and then stopping in Paris on her way back, you might get an idea of what IRO’s Spring 2010 collection is like. Launched in 2004 by French brothers Laurent and Arik Britton, their initial concept was to establish a simple yet bold pieces that could easily transition from day to night. IRO is just one of those lines that can only be described as instantly, effortlessly chic. And I really don’t mean that in that overused cliched way. Come on, just look at the clothes! Whether it’s the distressed denim shorts or leather motorcycle jacket, all the essential basics are there and done totally right. The collection revolves around mostly separates so mixing and matching is easy. After amassing a cult following, IRO is now easier to find in the US and online. I haven’t seen the spring collection in stores or online yet, but Shopbop has a great selection of their Fall 2009 line right now. Take a look at my slideshow for a look at their upcoming collection.

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Jan 14

Label Love: Nanette Lepore Goes Edgy With OONAGH

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imageNanette Lepore is best known for her sweet, feminine styles with just a pinch or sex appeal thrown in. Now they’re introducing an edgier, more versatile line of interesting tees and layering pieces for those of us who love Nanette Lepore’s usual array of fitted, tailored and embellished designs, but find them just a little too sugary sweet to suit our tastes. Oonagh by Nanette Lepore features pieces that are draped or have cutouts that add a more daring vibe. Billowing fabric, longer hems and fun stripes really amp up these would be basics, making them unique must-have pieces. Layer one over a pair of faux leather leggings and ankle boots to add attitude, or pair it with a flared skirt and ballet flats for a laid back, hipster princess look. Though we wouldn’t exactly call them cheap, they are much more wallet-friendly on the usual Nanette Lepore offerings and are the perfect way to be comfortable while staying chic. Don’t just take our word for it though! Click on the slideshow to see some of my Oonagh by Nanette Lepore favorites! And if you have any idea how to pronounce “Oonagh,” we’d love to hear from you.

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Dec 16

Coquette Reveals A Lighted Wedding Dress!

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imageMy friend Alison of Switch made this lighted wedding dress for her friend Julia’s beachy wedding in Hawaii. I love how this feels like a true wedding dress of the future. After all, we are just weeks away from 2010, no? Alison writes: “It was decided that the dress should honor the metallic look but with a vintage inspired style. To do this, I focused on creating a soft and glowing design that played with the Victorian shape of the dress. The lighting design was intended to be simple with warm and cool whites.” She even made a Luminex shawl for Julia to wear for the beach bonfire! Click over to the Coquette blog for more details on the innovative glowing gown!
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Dec 09

Coquette Gives Us A Sneak Peek At Rodarte For Target!

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imageAnother high-end fashion line makes its move to Target, just in time for the holidays. The edgy-chic Rodarte for Target collection will launch in Target stores and online on December 20th. I am loving the mix of hard/edgy and soft/girly in the collection. From x-ray prints and leopard-print sequin frocks, to lace and tulle dresses with bow belts, the collection is really affordable with prices ranging from $9.99 – $79.99. The collection will be in stores from December 20 through January 31, so if that’s not motivation to brave the holiday shopping crowds, I don’t know what is! Check back with Coquette for more news in designer collections and trends!
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Dec 04

Couture In The City Designer Spotlight: Naeem Khan

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imageWe all know how benefiting it can be for a young designer (a la Jason Wu) when their creations get spotted on First Lady Michelle Obama. They can go from “Who are you?” to “We have Oprah on line 1 for you” with a snap of a picture. Seems when Mrs. Obama wore a beautiful gown designed by Indian-American designer Naeem Khan last week for the first State dinner at the White House, everyone started wondering who he is, how long he’s been around, and where they can get their hands on a creation. Naeem Khan is no rookie to the fashion game, having presented his first collection in 2005 at Olympus Fashion Week. Since then, he has been on a roll, garnering an impressive following in many of today’s top models, singers, actresses and most recently the First Lady. And let’s not forget designing all the costumes for the 2006 movie Dreamgirls. Since his induction into red carpet prime fashion royalty, he has teamed up with HSN to present his TIMELESS by Naeem Khan collection so regular folk like me and you can get dibs on his creations. To get the full story, click on over to our friends at Couture In The City!
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Nov 17

Dress Like A Rock Star With Denim Of Virtue

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imageInside all of us is a rock star waiting to get out — a leather jacket-toting, torn-up jeans-wearing, utterly fabulous rock star. Thanks to Denim of Virtue, the time has never been better to embrace this inner desire. This rock star image was the first thing that came to mind upon viewing the Denim of Virtue collection. An array of distressed jean selections, each one was more stage-worthy than the next. The denim even comes in varying levels of distressing, catering to a wide variety of consumers. There’s the subtle collection, boasting boyfriend, skinny and wide-leg jeans with only a hint of wear-and-tear. The second is the moderate collection, where skinny jeans show more tailored signs of distress. And finally, there is the extreme, where 90s punk rears its head in the form of carefully placed holes that decorate skinny jeans. When you’re done rockin’ out, be sure to check out WhatsWear for more notable new brands!
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Nov 13

Zachary Pryor’s Unique Jewelry Is Love At First Sight

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imageNew York artist Jesse Utt travels to various spaces to showcase a spunky and shameless collection of wall-hanging artwork — and makes jewelry-making look like child’s play. As attractive as his artwork is on canvas, it’s his Zachary Pryor accessories line that’s so beguiling, we’d never want to take off. His earrings and necklaces resemble a scrapbook collage of trunk collectibles that are a perfect way to add crafty edge to your style. Metal chains, color contrast and charms all lend a hand in shaping the tasteful trinkets that have found their way to the necks and wrists of art-loving A-listers like Mary-Kate Olsen and Avril Lavigne. Jesse, under the trade name Zachary Pryor (a name that covertly pays homage to his grandmother and plays off a name that he could’ve been donned at birth) has made wearing art — and making a statement — easy. While his past works feature canvas-mimicking illustrations, his most recent follow either a more industrial style that is loud and evocative, or a fierce, whimsical style with bright feathers. Catch some of the lust-worthy eye candy in this slideshow and fall in love with the originality of these essentially one-of-a-kind Zachary Pryor accessories!

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