Red is hot! It’s a symbol of power, prestige, and even danger. In many cultures the color red is thought to bring good luck. Do you need more reasons to carry a red bag? Ok, aside from what red means it’s also a great color for your wardrobe. If you’re like me, you don’t necessarily embrace red clothing. I’ve only had one or two red dresses in my life. However, I love a red handbag . It adds some spice to the basic black and charcoal. It makes jeans and a white t-shirt look classically refined. It’s a little more risky than the average bag, but it’s also a classic. So, what do you think? Do you want to get their attention? Do you want to exude confidence and strength? Can you see yourself carrying a red bag? Which one’s your favorite?

red power purses in this observation:

Pull out the plaid this Fall and Winter season. It’s no longer just a fabric to be worn only around the holidays. Right now… play with it! Plaid is classic, funky, and fun. We’re showing two ways to wear a fitted plaid dress.

Look #1

To wear it from the office to dinner, pair it with a feminine coat, some lace-up pumps, textured stockings, and a clutch. Pop on some pearls before you leave for dinner, and you went from day to night in seconds. It’s classic with refreshing & current pieces.

classic tartan pieces in Look #1:

Look #2

To play up the funky side of things, add rock and roll edge. Think Gwen Stefani. Gwen has embraced plaid for years, and has given us a new perspective on how to wear it. Truly, she could be the reason plaid has a funky side. Although, I’m sure there are a few on King’s Road in London who would say they started the trend, I’m giving the honor to Ms. Stefani - she brought the look to the masses. To get her playful punk meets rock look : The plaid dress should be the center piece, try not to overwhelm it too much. Start by wrapping a studded leather belt around the waist, a vintage denim jacket, unrefined leather boots, and some bold textured stockings. This outfit is fashion forward with downtown edge.

funky tartan in Look #2:

The Oxford shoe, once synonymous with conservative, traditional styles, is now open to a little sex appeal. While still preserving it’s tailored image, designers have opened the toe for a peek of skin. That bit of revealing flesh is what modernizes the shoe, and expands its accessibility. Think Catholic school-girl… all grown up! You’re wearing this shoe with everything from slacks to sexy dresses. It adds just the right amount of weight to the bare elements of an off the shoulder dress. You can wear them from now into Fall, and then into winter with a pair of opaque stockings. Price points are across the board on this one, so there’s bound to be one in your price range. It’s a style that is wide open to interpretation. You can wear them in a classic style, or go completely funky and pair them with the unexpected. To all the self proclaimed chameleons, like myself, they work as well with a pencil skirt as they do with a pair of skinny jeans, a silk top and a leather jacket. Let the creating begin!

Oxfords in this observation:

Let’s face it, Fall is all about finding the right pair of boots. The perfect pair, ideally, will make almost any outfit a hit. You know… the pair you can wear with jeans, a dress, and a skirt. Or, at least, that’s what we tell ourselves right before we shell a thousand bucks for a pair of boots!
Barbara Bui’s Fall collection is looking pretty close to perfect. She has certainly managed to create a classic boot with serious modern edge. The boots are sexy, and really wearable. Each style appeals to a certain type of girl, or lends itself to a particular mood. One pair’s a little bit country, another pair is all about urban, and the last pair bridges the gap. So, while it may be too early to commit to a Fall boot, keep Barbara Bui in your mind for consideration.

Barbara Bui items in this observation:

If you have it in you to brave the stores at sale time, there can be some great finds. However, you’re best bet for finding pieces that work right through Fall is on the web. You can easily pull together a look with designer pieces that will not break the bank. The key is to look for more classic pieces (not boring pieces), not ones that scream last year’s trend. The idea is to keep the dress simple yet sophisticated. The boots should be classy with modern detail. The bag should work with it all and accessories are the place to have fun. Go for it with a leather jacket in a color like red or tan. Pop on some bangles, earrings, and a playful hat. The look is sleek, with a vintage feel, sexy, with classic grounded pieces. The best part about it all, is that you’re left with articles of clothing that you can work into your wardrobe without hesitation. Happy hunting ladies!

sale items in this observation:

When Tiger Woods hit the scene, the game of golf had a complete facelift. It’s no longer considered the dowdy, boring game it used to be. Now it’s youthful, cool, and even sexy. Inevitably, the fashions on the course have gone through a slight transformation. Nothing too drastic, because it’s a conservative game with a lot of dress-code rules. However, we’re finally seeing designers like Stella McCartney offering fashionable alternatives. We’ve put together a couple of looks that are pulled together and sporty. The first, is a sleek modern take. We’ve selected slim black slacks paired with a white polo. The Kangol hat and the Stella McCartney shoes give the look a youthful feel. Don’t forget a sleek tote, like the Brontibay, for hitting the locker room after the round. The second look is a bit more classic-preppy. A pair of slim bermudas paired with a bright colored polo. All the pieces are in the same color family, and blend beautifully with the accessories. It’s an outfit you could easily wear into town after your round to do some errands. It’s feminine and sporty. To make your sport outfits work seemlessly, buy pieces that you can mix and match. Keep in mind your accessories, like your golf bag, tote, and golf shoes. That, way you will always look pulled together.

items in this observation:

sleek modern golf

classic preppy golf

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.

items in this observation (clockwise):

Gryphon tulip skirt jacket @ Nordstrom

Juicy Couture belted trench @ Net-a-Porter

Burberry Prorsum piped edge trench @ Net-a-Porter

Burberry Ivybridge cotton trench @ Net-a-Porter

Every spring we are reminded just how versatile and classic a trench coat can be. It’s probably one of the best wardrobe investments you will ever make, because it will never go out of fashion. If you currently have one from years past, you can easily update it by shortening it to the knee or slightly above.  If you happen to be in the market for a trench, there are two ways to go: 1. You could go for a trench in a bold color, which is very au courant. Or, 2. You can choose a classic black or tan trench. The latter may be the smarter buy if you don’t have a trench. However, if you already have a classic then you may want to consider punching your wardrobe up a little with a bold color. Or you can choose one with a modern take on the classic design like the Gryphon trench pictured above. It’s no loner about the rain, this coat goes anywhere, anytime, and with anything. It looks sassy and sophisticated with jeans and a tee. It also looks sexy and mysterious belted over a skirt or dress.  Either way, a trench is smart looking and makes any look polished and pulled together. It’s a must; ponder the purchase no more!

Pssst… Have you heard of The June Collection?  Picture a young, beautiful, smart, and talented young lady in her studio toiling away at her design table. June Webers’ collection has classic, feminine lines , with an eloquence from the past. Her designs take us back to a time when Jackie Kennedy was setting the tone for American elegance.  The pieces have an air of sophistication with a warm playful element. June’s youth and energy is what takes her designs from classic conservative to chic American style. In a time when underdressed celebrities run rampant on the red carpet, it’s refreshing to see a designer cultivate a graceful feminine style. The pieces in June’s collection are forever, and eternally elegant. They embrace the purity and simple beauty of women today. That’s what we love most about her designs, they are not overdone. They are built to shine light on the woman wearing it, the beauty of the dress becomes secondary. Now, that is a smart and truly talented designer! In the words of Coco Chanel “Fashion fades, only style remains the same.” The June Collection is all about creating great style. 

Diane Von Furstenberg took us on a journey when presenting her fall line. Her collection masterfully moved us from Berlin, on to Shanghai, landing us in New York. Her focus (as always) was on the independent modern woman, which is truly the essence of Diane. While her collections are usually driven by the dress, this one consisted mostly of separates. The line used rich colors, lots of layers, and feminine lines. She used a skinny leather belt to enhance the waist, which is a nod to the past. The entire show had a forties feel, a throw back to old world glamour when women took pride in being beautifully dressed. What we love about DVF is how well she dresses the female form. Her fashions are always ladylike, a bit sexy, and never vulgar. Her designs really are “ready to wear” and very easy for women to work with. We loved this collection and hope to see most of the pieces make it to the retail stores.