Catch the BUS: July 2008

(In no particular order)

10) Belle Curve

This fall majority of designers wanted to stay within the bell curve. As in, the bell-curve skirt, or Belle skirt. This easy-wear skirt was ubiquitous on the season's runway. Mid-thigh or knee-length, they're equally flattering on all body shapes. They do a great job of concealing a little tummy pooch or thicker thighs. They can also mask wider-set hips and certain brands can really whittle your waist. These skirts are appropriate for work or play--think office meetings then happy hour with colleagues.

Emporio Armani, Cynthia Rowley, Fendi (photos courtesy of style.com)

This skirt is from Bebe. There's one at Easton Town Center. It's $98 and it's polyester/rayon blend. Sizes are XS-L.

Here's a printed Belle skirt from J.Crew for $98. Sizes are 0 through 12. The nearest J.Crew is at Easton. Also: note the ensemble of the model about. The stylist at J.Crew nailed this look. Duplicate this sure-fire look with your own items.

9) Fringe benefits

Without fail, every fall, there are inklings of bohemianisms and hippie culture. This year is no different, though it's not overkill. Fringe can take the form of booties, long-strapped satchel purses, t-strap, flat sandals a la Jeffrey Campbell, or on the edge of a cocktail dress. All you have to do is incorporate small touches to your daily ensemble. I will say, though, that this look tends to add an air of casualness, so it's best to keep it to the weekends or after work.

Anna Sui, Betsey Johnson, John Galliano (photos courtesy of style.com)

This is a cute take on the fringe in the form of a dress. It's very 1920s flapper girl, but with a 1960s vibe. It's from edressme.com and it's $72 in sizes S-L.

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Moccasins are back again, and I don't mind one bit. This time, it's not about the little flats, it's about the Minnetonka mid-calf boots and tons of fringe. You can buy these at Nordstrom's (located at Easton) and they're $89.95, in black or brown like those above. Some have lace-ups and some are short booties that look like something Peter Pan would wear, but all are a must for fall. Celebs like Nicole Richie, Kate Moss and Lindsey Lohan are already wearing them.

8) Blow the bag pipe for red Scottish tartan

This red plaid was everywhere on the catwalk for fall. Well, obviously, plaids in general are very fitting for the autumn and winter months, and they tend to be done in heavier fabrics like wool, so they work well for keeping people warm. But for some reason, it was this eye-catching red tartan that designers across the board, and world for that matter, couldn't get enough of. You can make an entire outfit of it, if you dare, like we saw on the D&G runway, or you can use it as the sole statement piece the way Balmain did.

D&G, Balmain, Dsquared (photos courtesy of style.com)

Alloy's Plaid Skinny pants for only $34.50 at alloy.com. They come in juniors sizes and are 32'' inseam. They're stretch cotton.

Here's a sexy 3/4 sleeve blouse from Bebe for $79. You can find Bebe at Easton.

7) Minimally Fashionable

Simplicity is refreshing to me for this time of year. Typically, you see lots of fabric layers, outerwear, accessories, and yes, those are all well and good for the colder months, and such things are usually necessary--but by keeping things simple, you appear chic, mysterious and well put-together. With minimalism you can be in fashion, while being comfortable, warm, sophisticated and give off a rich vibe. And by rich I don't necessarily mean monetarily. With minimalism, you don't have to try so hard, and when you keep things streamlined by wearing all one color, for example, the focus of your outfit becomes more about the details, cut and architecture of the garments. Less is definitely more in this case, and I plan on embracing this look often come fall. Heck, I may just start now!

Prada, Lanvin, Narciso Rodriguez (photos courtesy of style.com)

Head to Saks 5th Ave at Polaris Fashion Place for this black sheath dress by Nanette Lepore (one of my favorite designers!) for $350. This is the right way to do minimalism.

6) Talley-Ho: English Countryside

This is a typical fall ensemble. Lots of layers, European-inspired, print-on-print equestrian outfits that scream old money and old-fashioned. But designers re-invent this look every fall/winter with touches that aren't so old-fashioned but are very now. Notice the feathered Fedora hat like Carolina Herrera did, or the country-western/American shirt that D&G utilized. A knit beanie surely throws the Englishman look for a loop. As I said before, just mix in odd-ball items to make sure you don't look like you just stepped off of a British movie set. Make it your own. Also, DON'T BE AFRAID to put plaid on plaid or prints together, just make sure they're in the same color scheme. It's not a good idea to do the same plaids on top of each other.

Dolce & Gabbana, Carolina Herrera, Ralph Lauren (photos courtesy of style.com)

Here's a much more modern and practical version of this look. Notice the layers, thin belt and color scheme. Just add jeans. You can take it a step further and add a scarf or ascot, a "cabbie" hat or leather driving gloves. This ensemble you can find at J.Crew. The jacket is $198. Not sure about the rest of the items. The jacket is Donegal tweed and comes in three other fabulous colors. Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Michael Kors are other designers who specialize in the English-country, equestrian, spot-of-tea theme clothing.

5) French Made

The proverbial "French maid" outfit (think scandalous Halloween costumes) was all over the runway this season. While some designers like Zac Posen and Behnaz Sarafpour took the theme literally, others did so in a much more figurative way, like Balenciaga. Either way, ensembles of white on top, black on the bottom in the form of dresses or skirt/blouse combos were prevalent. This look can be very very feminine, dare I say prudish at times, so to soften the look or to keep the idea from becoming too dowdy or demure, add some accessories to off-set the femininity. For example, in my opinion, it would be best to pair the outfit with shoes that are something other than Mary-Janes (even though some of the designers put the models in such shoes). You need something unexpected or harsh even; think patent leather rocker-style booties or something along those lines. You want to contrast the ultra-femme. And remember where you are going to where this. You don't want to look like the typical overly-sexualized maid when you are at the office or going to church.

Chanel, Balenciaga, Behnaz Sarafpour (photos courtesy of style.com)

This is a great interpretation of the French-maid look and you can find this Tibi "Kensington" knit dress for $350 at Saks Fifth Ave. The Saks is at Polaris Fashion Place. It's equal parts modern, demure, edgy and work-place appropriate.

And Forever 21 (at Easton Town Center, Polaris Fashion Place or Tuttle Mall) has a bunch of options that are terribly affordable. The first two above are $22.80 and the third is $27.80. They come in sizes XS-L.

4) Shoulder Pads and Tapered Pants? Oh, geez

I hate to say it, but this idea of late 80s, early 90s fashioning is back already. I am mourning this fact. I refuse to wear clothes like these, and you should too. There are some fashions that belong on the runway, and no where else. My mom wore all kinds of clothes just like these, when I was little. She even did the huge, fringed, floral scarf slung over her power suit like the picture below demonstrates. Honestly, I don't even know if I can find any items in the stores right now that resemble clothes like this. Typically, people who still have such items keep them stuffed in the backs of their closets or have long since donated them to Goodwill. Well, going to a thrift store or raiding your aunts closet may be the only way to get your hands on some of these items--unless of course you go directly to the source: a Marc Jacobs boutique. But be ready to shell out thousands of dollars for garments that aren't even figure flattering. Who ever said super-sized shoulders, baggy, tapered pants, overly-long suit jackets and belted winter coats were attractive?

3.1 Phillip Lim, Marc Jacobs, Bill Blass (photos courtesy of style.com)

3) Be a Walking Disco Ball: Sequins

Razzle-dazzle and all that jazz. Tons of the designers this season incorporated sequins in their lines, especially black ones. Though many designers, like Robert Cavalli and Derek Lam made sequins into something more sophisticated this season. So we're not really talking reds, purples and turquoises, we're talking blacks, silvers, grays and golds. Keep everything else simple. Allow the sequins to stand out all by themselves; you can even use sparkle to separate a solid outfit, for example black on black with a black sequined garment in between. Sequins then become like a pop of color.

Derek Lam, Yves Saint Laurent, Calvin Klein (photos courtesy of style.com)

This sequined racerback tunic-dress for $108 can be found at Arden B (at Easton Town Center). This is sure to get you some looks.

This cute bloussant sequin top is from Old Navy and it's only $24.50.

2) Punk to the Next Level

Punk has become a mainstay of the 21st Century as far as fashion is concerned. You can find touches of punk and rock styling just about everywhere. When places like the Gap and J Crew are adding elements of punk to their lines, then you know this trend has permeated the entire fashion industry. Some designers simply add touches of leather and zippers to their lines, while others, like the designers below, center their entire line around this theme. The inspiration for this trend came from Vivienne Westwood and her debut line from decades ago wherein she brought the idea of British punk to the world. Victor and Rolf did something amazing when they made garments with seams that are actually stapled together using industrial staples (as you can see). Those items are price upon request, meaning, they cost A LOT of money, because of all the work that went into making them.

Viktor & Rolf, Betsey Johnson, Vivienne Westwood Red Label (photos courtesy of style.com)

Hot Topic is the best place to go and get items that are punk, and as always, you can mix in ultra-street looks with some of the more sophisticated items you may have in your closet to get the perfect mix i.e. a sleek, black ribbed turtleneck Bonus points if you add some 80s-punk styling to your ensemble.

These purple zebra pants from Hot Topic are only $39 and they have solids as wells as other animal prints in other colors. Pants like this were a staple of Balmain's runway collection. They come in 31" inseam and juniors sizing. There's a Hot Topic at Easton Town Center.

1) Lamé Looking

Lamé, which was a disco-era staple, is back--and in many forms. Again, the same rules apply to the sequin one. When the material goes multicolor, you begin to cheapen the look. Stay within the gold-silver-bronze-pewter-black colors. Lamé has a very distinctive shine and drape. It's perfect for dresses like the one below. Marc Jacobs may be solely responsible for bringing this fabric back into fashion.

Diane Von Furstenburg, Versace, Monique Lhuillier (photos courtesy of style.com)

Here's a great Vera Wang champagne-colored lamé peplum jacket with black flower detail for $210 at bluefly.com. Super chic for work or play. Sizes 0-12.

This is a hot pair of lamé leggings that you can get at American Apparel in just about any color your heart desires. They're $42 and they come in sizes XS-L. But be aware, AA's clothes run really really small. There's an American Apparel in the Short North on the corner of 5th and High Street.

Accessories:

Headbands, Architecture-inspired pieces, capes and caplets, super-tall platforms and wedges (we're talking 5'' and higher) and finally school-marm purses.