Once the people have gone home, and the tents are taken down, what are we left with? When its all said and done, how do we interpret the impact of Fashion Week? Basically, the shows are an indication of where we are headed as far as trends and style go. This year the message was clear, it’s a return to flowing feminine style. Each collection had a fluid element that danced down the runway. The pieces grazed the body, making it mysterious and quite sensual. The skin-tight, super fitted look was missing from the collections with exception of Herve Leger. We also took notice of the shoes throughout the week, and they did not disappoint! This summer’s hit, the gladiator, will return for Spring 2009. The difference: it will be a “must have” in nude patent leather, which is like a beautiful extension of the foot with added texture. We also saw a lot of wedge heels, and strappy ankle platforms. There’s nothing delicate about the shoes for Spring, they are eye-catching and make a statement. The prediction on color is bold like the vibrant colors found in a beautiful floral landscape. There were also muted colors like grey used as a backdrop with a pop of color peeking out, as we saw in the BCBG show. We also saw a nice mixture of color and pattern, which DVF’s show portrayed beautifully. Overall, we think you should be excited for Spring 2009. There are no crazy surprises, and no uncomfortable fashion trends headed your way. It was all easy, relaxed, wearable pieces that will flatter the female physique.

Tibi was high on my list of shows that I really wanted to see. I’m always interested in seeing how designer Amy Smilovic uses fabrics, textures, and patterns. There is always something bold about how she mixes elements of design, either in the fabric she chooses or the cut and style of the garment. The collection Tibi presented for Spring ‘09 was clearly Asian inspired. The fabrics were silky, and had beautiful movement while still maintaining structure. The dresses I saw looked really wearable, and would easily work for any number of women.

As with any collection, while there were pieces that looked great on the runway, they will not work for the average woman. Tibi showed ballon-like riding pants that are probably not going to be as flattering on most of us as they are on the models. I will be surprised if they make their way into retail stores.. but who knows I could be completely wrong.

tibi’s pre-fall collection is perfectly suited for those in-between months. Before you know it August will quickly turn into September. And while you may have Fall on the brain, you may still be sweating like it’s July. The pieces in this collection are filled with rich fall colors and the fabrics are light, airy, and free. It’s the kind of collection that can make you feel updated for fall, as well as comfortable and functional. This is the perfect time of year to wear open toe booties. They will make a tibi dress look funky for fall. Don’t be afraid to walk some extra miles in your gladiators through September. Gladiators paired with dark denim and a rich red tibi top is pure perfection. So, before you find yourself in the middle of September with nothing to wear, check out what tibi has to offer.

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Summer can be the hardest time of year to camouflage the areas of our body that we don’t particularly like. A common body part that we hear women complain about is their arms. During the hot months when everything seems to be sleeveless, how can a woman who hates her arms dress? Well, we have a few tips for you. If you’re very sensitive about your arms, you can go for tops that have 3/4 sleeves. That way, you can cover the part of the arm that you probably object to the most. You don’t have to completely cover up, simply transition from top to arm gracefully. For example, the DVF yellow top has an open flutter sleeve that the arm extends from beautifully. The orange DVF dress has a similar sleeve that will showcase the part of your arm that you feel more confident about. You don’t have to completely sacrifice sleeveless items. If you come across a sleeveless dress, like the Milly maxi dress, that you can’t live without … simply throw a cropped cardigan with 3/4 sleeves over it. You can conceal your upper arm without compromising the effect of the dress. Another way to cover your arm without looking too covered up, is to choose a top or dress with a sheer sleeve. It’s covered while still giving a glimpse of skin. When all else fails, self-tanner can serve as a smoke screen to any perceived problem areas. There’s nothing wrong with a little smoke and mirror magic during the horrific summer months. Good luck Girls!

A special shout out to Trish Ginter, Founder of Smashing Darling for suggesting this post topic. We’d like to do more posts on topics you care about most. Send you ideas to: suggestions@giftgirl.com

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This isn’t exactly ancient Rome, although sometimes our lives can seem like a battle in the gladiatorial games. Lucky for us, this season we can actually dress for it. As you may already know, gladiator sandals are a big trend this season. Like a lot of things lately, the ancient sandal has been modernized. It now comes in all shapes and sizes, and is accessible to more women. Gladiator sandals can be tricky for some. The question “what would I wear them with?” is on the minds of a lot of women. We have picked a few of our favorite styles and put together some outfit ideas. For instance, a simple gold gladiator can take a gold shimmery evening dress from ultra formal to ultra fabulous. It’s a look that can easily be worn to a cocktail party on the beach. The classic brown leather gladiator looks great with a white cotton summer dress. It’s a “bohemian meets roman goddess” look that is perfect for running around on a hot summer day. The snakeskin gladiator is another style that we love. This one is perfect for casual chic days, or casual fridays at work. It’s a more sophisticated gladiator, and can easily be dressed up or down. You can pair it with white jeans, slacks, or shorts. Finally, the high leg gladiator. Keep it simple on top with this style. Let the sandal be the focus. We’ve paired it with a basic black summer dress, which works for day or night. The high leg gladiator sandal is the riskiest of the styles we’ve selected. It makes more of a statement than the other styles. Hopefully, this will help you pull your gladiator together. What makes women crazier than Russell Crowe portraying a sweaty, muscular, man of honor? Well, shoes of course.

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On Tuesday, February 5 at 9AM the tibi fashion show must go on. We are anxiously awaiting the unveiling of tibi’s fall collection. What we like most about tibi, is how well it works for the everyday woman. Each piece functions as an outfit in and of itself, or can easily be paired with items you already have in your wardrobe. There’s usually a little something for everyone in the collections. From funky vibrant fabrics, to classic clean lines. It works well, it wears well, and we can’t wait to see what tibi has to offer for fall ‘08.