Fashion Everyday

What will Felicity Jones wear to Oscars 2015?

2015-02-12T17:32:00.001+01:00

As we are counting down the days until the 87th Academy Awards, we all probably have one question in mind: "What will the big stars wear on the red carpet?"

To answer your question, here is my prediction about the English actress Felicity Jones.

What is Felicity Jones going to wear to this year's Academy Awards? If you ask me, it's going to be a dress designed by Raf Simons for Dior. Ms. Jones has been favoring the brand since the premiere of The Theory of Everything and has worn its designs to several big occasions, including the Golden Globes. For the big night she might choose a gown from the house's latest Haute Couture collection or wear something modified from the international Pre-Fall '15 show staged in Tokyo.

If Felicity's stylist, or the house of Dior, decides not to share the spotlight with French actress Marion Cotillard on the red carpet, Ms. Jones will most likely turn to her other favorite brands. One is Valentino, the other is London-based designer Erdem and the last one being the most popular British house, Alexander McQueen, mostly famous for its controversial founder and lately because of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress.

Which designer do you think Felicity Jones is going to wear to this year's Academy Awards?

Stay tuned as more outfit predictions for nominated stars like Reese Witherspoon are coming soon!

What will Julianne Moore wear to Oscars 2015?

2015-02-11T17:07:00.000+01:00

As we are counting down the days until the 87th Academy Awards, we all probably have one question in mind: "What will the big stars wear on the red carpet?"

To answer your question, here is my prediction about the gorgeous redhead Julianne Moore.

It never hurts having Tom Ford as a best friend, especially when he creates custom gowns for you to wear around. In my opinion Julianne Moore will definitely be wearing an outfit of the designer's to the Oscars, and while it is probably going to be specifically designed for the occasion, I took the liberty to choose something I would like to see her in. If there is anyone who can rock a sequined top with pants it's Ms. Moore, especially when it looks this good against her fiery red hair, but of course she would look equally charming in an achromatic printed dress from Ford's Resort '15 collection.

If, by any chance, she opts out of wearing Tom Ford, I believe she could end up in one of her three favorite brands. Julianne was once a Chanel girl so she could easily go back to her roots for the big night, or she could always wear a custom design from Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy or a dress made by Alexander Wang at the French brand Balenciaga.

Which designer do you think Julianne Moore is going to wear to this year's Academy Awards?

Stay tuned as more outfit predictions for nominated stars like Felicity Jones are coming soon!

What will Marion Cotillard wear to Oscars 2015?

2015-02-10T18:59:00.000+01:00

As we are counting down the days until the 87th Academy Awards, we all probably have one question in mind: "What will the big stars wear on the red carpet?"

To answer your question, here is my prediction about the beautiful Marion Cotillard.

When it comes to this year's Oscars, one thing is certain - Marion Cotillard is going to wear Christian Dior on the red carpet. The French actress has been wearing Dior almost exclusively for the past few years due to her contract with the brand to advertise their merchandise.

For the big night I believe she will go for a dress from Christian Dior's latest S/S '15 Haute Couture collection. The blue confection is an obvious choice as it is the girliest dress from the show, but the sporty dress with a yellow top and delicately sewn striped skirt, which could easily be transformed into a gown, sounds like a tempting alternative.

Which look do you think Marion Cotillard is going to wear to this year's Academy Awards?

Stay tuned as more outfit predictions for nominated stars like Julianne Moore are coming soon!

Scandal S04E08: Olivia Pope's outfits for less

2014-11-14T13:42:00.000+01:00

The best part of watching Scandal, besides wanting Olivia Pope's exciting life, is the fact that you can easily steal her style for less. Here are all the outfits from the eighth episode called "The Last Supper".

1. Elle straight leg trousers - $21.60 | 2. River Island check twist blouse - $68

1. Charles & Keith structured handbag - $86 | 2. Jigsaw knitted poncho - $125

1. Topshop silver wrap ring - $14 | 2. Topshop check suit blazer - $130

1. Mango circle pattern shirt - $47 | 2. Mango herringbone flecked coat - $269.99

As you can see, the trick to dressing like your favorite TV-show character for less is to recognize similar items in terms of shape and prints. Instead of buying an expensive peplum checkered top you can compensate with a cheaper shirt with such a pattern and instead of buying Olivia's Alexander McQueen coat for $4,000 you can get a herringbone alternative for ten times less. It is also important to sometimes improvise like throwing a poncho over a coat for a cape-like effect.

Would you buy anything?

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How to look professional in a T-shirt

2014-10-29T16:37:00.000+01:00

Few of my male friends have new-found jobs at companies which dictate a certain dress code for their employees and constantly ask me what they should wear. Being the semi-formal person that I am, I always tell them that there is a way to be comfortable but still look sharp for work.

I dislike shirts. I think they are restrictive (especially for people who excessively sweat)
and I personally prefer them around my waist than underneath a jacket, so I wear a lot of T-shirts. The thing is, on people with the right personality and the right accessories, T-shirts can look as sharp as shirts when worn with a suit and I am about to show you how.

First of all, make sure to always wear a fitted suit. Leaner men can easily get away with cigarette-cut pants and slim jackets and look very professional and sexy. In order to look influential buy suits in black, navy, different shades of gray or deep burgundy and avoid brown or khaki. Always pair your suit with sleek, shiny shoes in coordinating colors, a slim belt and an expensive watch.

Make sure the T-shirt is plain and only go for a pattern if you have an eye for 'mixing 'n' matching' or if your workplace allows a burst of personal style. The T-shirt should always be wrinkle-free just like you'd treat a shirt and be made out of high-quality fabrics such as soft cotton or cashmere. You should have several T-shirts in neutral colors such as white, black, gray or navy at your disposal, depending on the color and style of your suit.

My last piece of advice would be to be a savvy shopper. Your suit should be the most expensive part of your outfit as you need show off class and quality and there is no better place to shop for one than Paul Fredrick. Besides suits, the company offers a wide selection of dressy shoes and interesting belts. In order to have more T-shirts, buy ones from basic lines which are cheaper and yet very often maintain a high level of quality. Follow these rules and you are set to go!

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"What to wear today?" - Get Annalise Keating's look

2014-10-20T12:38:00.001+02:00

Today's get-the-look is inspired by another powerful woman - Viola Davis' character Annalise Keating from the new hit show How to get away with murder. Unlike Olivia and Claire she doesn't care much about minimalism, color coordination or looking appropriate. She has shown us that a little cleavage is always a good thing, especially when paired with sexy heels and a structured black bag like the Givenchy 'Antigona' shown below. What she does coordinate, though, is her jewelry.

1. Stella McCartney pencil dress - $1,290 | 2. Givenchy Antigona goat leather bag - $2,435 | 3. Aquazzura 'Matilde' suede pumps - $619 |

4. Maria Black gold plated earrings - $320 | 5. J.Crew gold-tone faux pearl necklace - $98

Would you steal Annalise Keating's How to get away with murder style?

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"What to wear today?" - Get Claire Underwood's look

2014-10-13T14:53:00.003+02:00

While we're waiting for the third House of Cards season which is expected to come out in February next year, let's take a minute to break down Claire Underwood's style. She is a powerful, independent businesswoman who has no time for layering or accessorizing. Her go-to-outfit is an appropriate pencil skirt, a fitted shirt or a turtleneck (Balenciaga's asymmetric piece from Resort is a must have this fall) paired with black Louboutins and a high quality designer handbag like the exquisite Givenchy one shown below. In order to be on time she always has a classic watch on her wrist.

1. Dai highwaisted pencil skirt - $290 | 2. Givenchy Antigona crocodile bag - $35,900 | 3. Balenciaga asymmetric turtleneck sweater - $1,695 |

4. Christian Louboutin 'So Kate' patent leather pumps - $675 | 5. Cartier diamond and steel watch - $6,900

Would you steal Claire Underwood's House of Cards style?

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"What to wear today?" - Get Olivia Pope's Scandal look

2014-10-06T14:08:00.000+02:00

All fans of the hit-show Scandal already know what I'm talking about - Olivia Pope's stellar style. Always perfectly dressed in neutrals, the main heroine knows how to grab everyone's attention and now you can too! Grab a statement coat, update your straight trousers, put on a pair of business heels and carry the right tote - preferably one from Victoria Beckham's much-praised line. Don't forget the gloves.

1. Jason Wu wide-leg pants - $1,164 | 2. Altuzarra wool-blend coat - $2,395 | 3. Gianvito Rossi suede pumps - $563 | 4. Victoria Beckham Liberty leather tote - $1,650 | 5. Balenciaga leather and suede gloves - $495

Would you steal Olivia Pope's Scandal style?

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PFW: No cracks in Vuitton's Fondation

2014-10-02T12:17:00.001+02:00

Louis Vuitton S/S '15; image source: style.com

If you're looking for another breakthrough collec-tion from Nicolas Ghesquière for Louis Vuitton then look away. What you will find instead is a "definition of his cool girl," as the designer put it
in words backstage after the show, which sticks
to the tried formula from last season but reintro-duces some of the clothes in a new, seventies vibe - and a new venue which also happens to
be the Fondation Louis Vuitton building.

Shape-wise, the collection was a mash up from Mr. Ghesquière's first and second collections for the brand. Newcomer Jean Campbell opened the show wearing a long sleeved mini dress in white which looked like your ordinary knit garment, but up close you realized that it was woven from tiny leather strips which intertwined into beautiful patterns. This technique was the star of the show having also appeared in the form of blouses, jackets and shirt dresses, though not always as successful as the front-running look.

According to Mr. Ghesquière, the focus here was on creating wearable clothes. And he mostly suc-ceeded, as all those timeless topstitched jeans from Resort (this time redesigned in a slightly wider Capri shape), clean-cut jackets and peplum dresses in quilted velvet or covered in micro-sequins will be flying off the shelves come February. At times, though, the thick patent leather pieces felt too stiff (case in point: a striped A-line dress which creased in all the wrong places) and several pairs of plush pants looked too referential to the era that seems to had been the inspiration for the designer.

In the end, though, what's important for a house like Louis Vuitton are the accessories - and they can be described as delicious at least. Almost all models carried a bag: some were a reworked version of the classic chain flap bag in alligator skin and candy-like colors, some were quilted and then spray-painted in red and blue, one bag's suede detailing nearly gave it superpowers and another bag's red colored monogram on a black base made it seem bad ass. There was far less fuss about the footwear which didn't look as tempting, but undeniably complimented the theme of the collection.

For more photos of the collections go to Style.com and don't forget to follow me on Twitter!

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Why I think Chanel's faux protest was tasteless

2014-10-01T17:29:00.001+02:00

Girls "protesting" during Chanel's S/S '15 show in
Paris; image source: marthafashiondiary.com

Typically during Fashion Week I would break down the newest collections and put them in context for you, but not today. Because of the way fashion media "ate up" the faux Chanel protest which took place at the Grand Palais in Paris yesterday morning without a single after-thought about its impact, I have decided to raise my voice and express what I truly think of it.

The case is simple: France's biggest and most powerful fashion brand Chanel staged a mockery of a protest at the end of its Spring/Summer 2015 show, apparently without an ulterior motive. The house's main designer Karl Lagerfeld (known for his lack of interest in politics) sent Chanel-clad models down the runway carrying signs that read all kinds of things, from feminist messages like "History is her story" and "Ladies first" to non-sense such as "Boys should get pregnant too".

All of that in order to create a mood which will complement his 70s inspired collection and at the same time make fun of protesting which seems to be a very French thing to do. What he doesn't seem to realize, though, is that protesting is a very serious (and often the only) way of making a change and shouldn't be exploited for attention.

The first problem I have with the faux protest is that it is highly insensitive and confirms the world's stereotypes that fashion people are brainless creatures who live "in their own bubble" and take every-thing as a joke. While attendees dressed in five thousand dollar tweed-jackets were recording the fauxtest with their newest iPhones to then quickly share it on social media as "THE EVENT OF THE SEASON", the citizens of Hong Kong were protesting for their democracy and the Ukrainians were pulling down a massive statue of Lenin. Pretty much the same, right?

The second problem is the feminist angle. Always looking for a way to be in vogue, magazine editors instantly recognized the opportunity of a hot topic and tweeted videos of the protest while describing it as 'feminist'. Now, let's slow down a minute. We have a large corporation whose goal is to make money out of telling women they'll be beautiful if they wear Chanel and highly-paid models who are given money to stage a march while holding pointless signs that someone else has created. Feels a little counterproductive to turn these feminism activists into puppets for your show, doesn't it?

"Tweed is better than tweet" reads one of the signs at Chanel's faux protest for S/S '15; image source: style.com

The question is, and bear in mind that Mr. Lagerfeld is a designer who likes to express sarcasm on his runways, this: When has the brand crossed the boundary called taste? Was it when it paid models to mock a protest while the rest of the world is protesting with a cause? Was it when it sent out signs that alluded to the feminist movement just to gather attention? And is the fashion media the key player that allowed this tasteless act to become mainstream? So many questions, and yet, so little answers.

For more photos of the collections go to Style.com and don't forget to follow me on Twitter!

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PFW: Céline and Givenchy change directions

2014-09-29T10:29:00.000+02:00

Céline S/S '15; image source: style.com

Phobe Philo has come a long way since her debut at Céline exactly five years ago. Her new-est collection for S/S '15 didn't have the usual addition of leather or wide belts; instead, it relied heavily on light knitwear and thin, almost neck-lace-like pendant belts which wrapped around the waist over a topstitched single-breasted coat or a structured V-neck jumpsuit in navy.

Let me be blunt from the beginning - not every-thing was equally successful. The body-hugging knit skirts with ruffled hems and slashed topcoats that opened the show get a pass as items which will define street-wear six months from now, as do the raw toilet paper-like tunics in black and white, but a geometric circle hole on one and over-embellished side cutouts on a different top felt unnecessary and gimmicky.

Backstage after the show, Ms. Philo said that she had a very easygoing approach regarding the design process and that there were very little ideas she turned down. That would further ex-plain why we saw T-shirts in navy and black more suited for a nurse and a banded krait inspired color-palette that was short on chic. The end of the show shed a light on floral dresses which are not news for the house of Céline (anyone remember the infamous Resort '12 collection copied to death by Zara?), but this time felt drab and very reminis-cent of Commes des Garcon's prints from around that same year. However, as polarizing as a Céline collection can be, one thing is for sure - it will sell like hot cakes come February.

That same evening a change took place at the house of Givenchy as well. The brand's creative director Riccardo Tisci, whose focus over the last few years has been on designing street-wear, decided to finally bring sexy back. Those of you who aren't familiar with Mr. Tisci's first five years of work for the brand should know that Givenchy was a lot more than dog-printed sweaters and Kim Kardashian endorsements - the collections were dark, romantic and sweetly perverted. Thankfully, the world has now a second chance to relive Mr. Tisci's heydays in a new, modernized context.

Givenchy S/S '15; image source: style.com

The collection might as well be the sexiest one we've seen so far all season. The opening outfit - a dark navy Lolita dress with gathered sides and a corset-like bustier paired with thigh-high leather boots set the tone for what came next, and what followed indeed lived up to the expectations. What's most excit-ing is probably the return of almost couture-like embellishments which found their way onto achromatic topcoats and tuxedo jackets, as well as the brilliant use of intricate lace as part of distressed skirts and gladiator dresses. The message couldn't be clearer: Givenchy as we once knew it (and loved it) is back.

For more photos of the collections go to Style.com and don't forget to follow me on Twitter!

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PFW: The two sides of the spectrum

2014-09-27T10:27:00.003+02:00

Loewe S/S '15; image source: style.com

Jonathan Anderson's debut at Loewe opened Paris Fashion Week's fourth day with a bang. Staged at the infamous Japanese Garden created by sculptor Isamu Noguchi, the show's easy-breezy mood lit up every attendee's face and brought a new strong contender to the luxury market, mind that the Spanish brand is actually owned by LVMH and there is no other way of unfolding the events.

So far the house has been focused on rather heavy leather pieces which were still present, but in a much lighter sense. A shapeless suede dress in ivory with attached panels looked one third of its weight; diagonally-slashed pants and upside bateu neck shirts made of cotton appeared as second skin; gathered harem pants could almost be mistaken as sweatpants, and immaculately finished knit tops gave out an even greater sense of comfort.

Not everything was as successful though. Case in point - the black cotton dress with colorful shreds shown on the left which I believe is the silliest piece of clothing I have seen in years. The list is completed with the addition of those flesh-colored latex T-shirts printed with iconic Loewe landscapes and the not-so-flattering mid-waist leather pants that were probably shown in every color imaginable. But then again, Mr. Anderson is a young designer with a lot more to learn and judging by the positive moments of the show, he is off to a great start.

On the other side of the spectrum was Christian Dior, a mega brand reinvented more than two years ago by Belgian designer Raf Simons which seems to be standing in one place. So much, that Mr. Si-mons decided to adapt his last couture show for the brand into a ready-to-wear collection. Excuse my repulsion but I am a firm believer in moving forward and no matter how beautiful the clothes, a col-lection should never be repeated. Especially not when it's a watered down version of its predecessor.

Christian Dior S/S '15; image source: mybestcv.co.il

Also, the clothes weren't that beautiful. There were some perfectly crafted basic pieces like the crisp white shirts and pants which opened the show and several leather trenches in gray and chocolate hues, but as soon as those balloon shaped flower skirts paired with jersey tanks hit the runway you knew there was a problem. As an experienced designer, Mr. Simons should know better than to showcase a failed experiment whose construction needs do not allow it to be part of a mass-produced collection. His bravery is to be admired, but some things need to stay right where they belong.

I remember back in 2012 when the designer got the gig at Dior he made a statement about wanting to put the French house on the same level with Chanel in terms of recognition. Well, congratulations to him, I guess, because he just staged the ultimate highly-produced, long and pointless show like his competitor that was short on intimacy on account of profitability. A real case of couture for the less rich.

For more photos of the collections go to Style.com and don't forget to follow me on Twitter!

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PFW: One man's reference is another man's copy

2014-09-26T11:11:00.000+02:00

Lanvin S/S '15; image source: style.com

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. That is a quote from Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities which perfectly describes what we saw yesterday in Paris over a span of ten hours. But, being the optimist that I am, I shall begin with the best of times: Lanvin's Alber Elbaz has, once again, presented a highly successful collection.

For the house's 125th anniversary, Mr. Elbaz put together a cast of models that looked - quite literally - like a dream. 80s supermodel Violetta Sanchez opened the show dressed in a one-sleeve jersey T-shirt dress that showed just enough nipple and stomach definition to make her appear even more attractive than she already is. Followed by icons Amber Valetta and Natasa Vojnovic wearing similar gowns with a matching sense of effortless-ness, it became clear to the audience that this was going to be a celebration of the classic.

The show continued in that direction - more light-weight jersey dresses provided room for move-ment, silk crepe minis in black and white hugged the girls' bodies, silver mesh tank tops evoked a certain perversion that Lanvin has been long due to show and delicate lace and floral-printed pieces that took stage towards the end of the show provi-ded a sigh of relief with the younger clientele who is into the type of luxury the house has been doing for the past couple of seasons. Another moment worth noting is the immaculate use of cobalt blue and shades of orange which undoubtedly point at Mr. Elbaz's iconic S/S '08 show for the brand.

But before Lanvin's 8 p.m. slot on the Paris Fashion Week schedule things weren't looking so bright. The day opened with Roland Mouret's show for his namesake brand which had its glory moments like the simple pieces in shamrock green styled with crisp white tops, but the rest came across as unneces-sarily complicated and unflattering. Another low was Peter Copping's story for Nina Ricci which was heavily influenced by Dior's double-faced fabric in pink and orange, houndstooth print and laser-cuts,
as well as Prada's S/S '09 show in terms of the crinkled satin duchesse and several silhouettes.

Balmain S/S '15; image source: uhzo.com

But the biggest flop of the day had to be Balmain's Las Vegas show. Backstage, the designer claimed that he was inspired by a paparazzi photo of Rihanna wearing one of his designs - however, the collection had Kim Kardashian's name written all over it, mind the fact that she was sitting in the front row surrounded by her whole family. Going into detail about separate pieces would be an additional morning headache so I am just going to note the circus stripes, cage dresses which revealed a lot more than they should have and the white pantsuit consisted of a side-slashed blazer with intertwined lapels which came straight off Alexander McQueen's debut show for Givenchy back in 1997.

For more photos of the collections go to Style.com and don't forget to follow me on Twitter!

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PFW: Moving forward? (Superpower)

2014-09-25T10:59:00.002+02:00

Balenciaga S/S '15; image source: style.com

Blahlenciaga. Boringciaga. Should I keep going or did you get the memo? Now, every writer (inclu-ding me) loves playing with words, especially when the designer gives you a reason strong enough to play and that is exactly what thirty year old 'wunderkind-of-the-twenty-first-century' Alexander Wang did at Balenciaga just last night.

Let's get something straight. I am a fan of Mr. Wang's work and have been ever since his breakthrough in the fashion industry. I like his diffusion line, I love his main line and I am abso-lutely in awe of his ability to mix street-wear with high fashion. I even liked the idea of the designer replacing Nicolas Ghesquière at Balenciaga because I believed in his talent and I supported him during the first two seasons.

But this is just not working.

For his seventh season at the helm of the French house, Mr. Wang found inspiration in Matrix. But what could have been a futuristic and innovative collection turned out to be an underwhelming look at the past even though the designer has been trying to distance himself from Ghesquière's legacy and focus on Christobal Balenciaga's early work. The most luxurious and edge-cutting pieces were indeed the ones inspired by F/W '11 and S/S '09 - net overlays embellished with bulge beads covering sporty leotards and structured tops from ruched tulle respectively, as well as several light-weight sheer skirts adorned with diamond-shaped crystals that injected a little more glamour into the collection. But aside from that, everything else was basic and failed to deliver the desired impact.

What could be the reason for Mr. Wang's constant failure to present a groundbreaking collection that would be meaningful in context? Well, for one, we all still miss Nicolas Ghesquière's vision which pushed the envelope and created magic for the brand. But the more probable cause for this problem is the designer's lack of experience in couture. I personally believe that his seven year old career that focuses solely on desirable street-style clothes and relies mostly on instinct makes it nearly impossible for him to succeed at a house where skills and technique come before everything else.

For more photos of the collections go to Style.com and don't forget to follow me on Twitter!

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NYFW: A uniformed closing at Jacobs and Klein

2014-09-13T21:26:00.002+02:00

Calvin Klein S/S '15; image source: style.com

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the end of New York fashion week this season also marked thirteen years since 9/11 (okay, it probably has a lot to do with it), but this Thursday designers showed us uniforms.

It first started with Ralph Lauren who presented safari-clad models parading in a juxtaposition of bold and earthy colors and four hours after that 10 o'clock presentation, Calvin Klein bravely dived into the navy. For Spring, Francisco Costa decided to ditch the knitwear that made his Fall show popular with the crowd and go back to what he used to do best - pure minimalism.

The show opened with super tall models dressed in layered navy outfits that came with an optical illusion. The girls weren't actually that tall, it was the slim and elongated silhouette that gave us the impression. To achieve that effect, Mr. Costa cre-ated body-conscious knee-length dresses were worn over skirts that reached the ankles and featured metal belts which gave models a higher waistline. And while successful, some of the outfits suffered because of the no-slit policy and created unwanted creases and false bellies, but the team has enough time to fix its mistake and alter the pieces before the collection hits the stores.

As per usual, Marc Jacobs was the one closing the week. Last season was the designer's first design-ing for his namesake label only in sixteen years, having parted ways with Louis Vuitton six months earlier. For Fall, he showed everyone that he is now again capable of creating an all-round collection that isn't short on design, fabrics or finishing touches but it seems like that was one lucky strike as things yesterday got back to 'normal'.

Marc Jacobs S/S '15; image source: nytimes.com

Everyone is already familiar with Mr. Jacobs' obsession with uniforms so his Spring show brought nothing new to the table. All fifty-five looks from the collection revolved around one with slight modifi-cations to the silhouette which was mostly oversize, sloppy and clinged around the waist with a satin sash. There was again embroidery but this time it was uninspired since it only featured half Pokemon-like eggs in navy blue, standard-issue green and khaki matching the actual clothes and besides puffy sleeves and balloon skirts we saw not much else.

The only exciting part? That bubble-gum pink house in the middle of the huge runway.

For more photos of the collections go to Style.com and don't forget to follow me on Twitter!

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NYFW: Reinvention of the classic

2014-09-11T18:53:00.000+02:00

Michael Kors S/S '15; image source: style.com

Yesterday was a fine day for American fashion. Just ask Michael Kors who once again unveiled
a successful collection filled with reinvented but wearable pieces that are sure to melt a ton of female hearts.

The show started on a lightweight note which kept on going until the very end with 90s supermodel Maggie Rizer (also making a comeback on Vogue Japan's September cover) fully-clad in a white outfit consisted of a plain T-shirt and a midi lace skirt. Besides white, the collection embraced colors such as bright yellow, different shades of navy, ice blue and mint and also featured beau-tiful embroidery of daffodils, geraniums and wisteria. Keyhole details on sundresses and lots of gingham and plaid finished off what looks to be one of Mr. Kors' most versatile collections so far.

Even though technically a German brand, Hugo Boss has been completely Americanized since the appointment of young designer Jason Wu at the helm of the house. Working his magic for a second season in a row, Mr. Wu ironically proved that he is a better fit at Boss than at his own brand by sending out an exquisitely designed
and well-rounded collection whose pieces will yet again fly off the boutique shelves around the world.

The show presented us everything the modern woman needs. Dresses were mostly sleeveless and clinged at the waist thus making the A-line skirts even more flirty; the jackets were sexed-up and featured a deep, but classy cut; snow white and ice blue shirts were crisp and had elongated short sleeves; some black dresses got a fun addition of techno-tulle fabric at the hem and the evening dresses that closed were embroidered with tiny silver pailettes that created the effect of lamé fabric.

Proenza Schouler S/S '15; image source: style.com

The third remarkable show of the day was Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez's for Proenza Schouler. However, not all was good there. The collection started off quite strong with an achromatic shirt-skirt combo that was classic Proenza, then quickly moved to Nicolas Ghesquière territory (parkas paired with straight-leg pants seem to be huge right now, though, so who can blame them) and got completely lost somewhere in the middle thanks to the patent leather and snakeskin overload, not to mention those horrid two tone Halloween-y pants.

The boys redeemed themselves towards the end after sending out hand-knitted polo T-shirts in blue, burgundy and gray paired with net skirts and got immense love for the five closing fringed looks, but someone needs to teach them editing as the best way to improve performance.

For more photos of the collections go to Style.com and don't forget to follow me on Twitter!

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NYFW: Rodarte and Rodriguez's importance of roots

2014-09-10T04:08:00.000+02:00

Rodarte S/S '15; image source: nowfashion.com

Kate and Laura Mulleavy, or as everyone likes to call them the Rodarte sisters, love experimenting with fashion. It was all fun and games, though, in their early days of glory as the brand started to lose love towards 2011 and took a turn for the worst two seasons ago after an overpriced hook-er collection was presented in New York City and was instantly shredded to pieces by fans.

Realizing it may be the only way to regain what has been lost, the duo went back to its roots.

This season Rodarte is all about fishing. The Mulleavys opened the show with legendary model Jamie Bochert dressed in an all-white suit, knee-length lace boots that covered the pants and a subtle hint of navy via a two-piece belt with a hook. The reference became even more evident later on thanks to the oversized four-pocket parkas, the asymmetrical macrame lace skirts which imitated sea animals and the complemen-tary fishing nets hanging from their hems. Also, silver paillettes and three-dimensional flower embroideries felt like a perfect way to round up what seems to be a successful re-positioning of the long lost Rodarte brand.

Unlike the Mulleavys, Narciso Rodriguez has never lost his true sense of style. There is even some-thing almost cult-like in the way the designer has been protecting minimalism ever since starting his namesake brand and today he delivered no less, although the question up for debate now is 'When does one's signature style become déjà vu?'

Narciso Rodriguez S/S '15; image source: nowfashion.com

There seems to be very little of 'interesting' in Rodriguez's latest clothes. No one can argue that the opening v-neck tops are impeccably done and very flattering on the models' chest or that his black pants will make every woman's 'to buy' list come this spring, but besides being a profit-generating business, fashion is supposed to be fun. There was something great about the silver embroidery on
the asymmetrical minis and the black lamé details that inspired Julianna Margulies's Emmy dress,
also by the designer, but sadly it wasn't enough to cover up for the lack of forward-moving direction.

For more photos of the collections go to Style.com and don't forget to follow me on Twitter!

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NYFW: Sporty meets lux at Beckham and Lam

2014-09-08T18:30:00.000+02:00

Victoria Beckham S/S '15; image source: nowfashion.com

Victoria Beckham is on top of her game right now and it has very little to do with the fact that she is still married to one of the world's hottest men. The collection she showed yesterday morning during New York fashion week is undeniably her best work so far, which really shouldn't come as a surprise given the fact that the designer has
been evolving fast with each passing season.

For spring, Beckham was thinking in a more mili-tary direction while still allowing the semi-rigid silhouettes to breathe. The impeccably tailored outerwear came with an asymmetrical twist and the light knitted sweaters got over-sized silk laces in matching colors that tied either in the front or down the sides. The striped midi skirts were a fun addition to the story but she should have stopped there as the pastel watercolor prints towards the end felt a bit too girly and not in sync with the rest of the story.

Derek Lam's collection was also an equal succ-ess. Following the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' motto, the designer continued cherishing his
love for color-blocking, leather and all things American. The 70s mood was determined right away with the opening outfit which consisted of a plum top and a tri-colored skirt, both made from high quality suede and adorned with orange top stitching. The rest of the color palette included beautiful shades of pink, aquamarine and purple which were neutralized with the addition of white and beige.

Derek Lam S/S 15; image source: buro247.ru

Towards the end things got a bit more rough (in a very positive context) as a parade of studded midi-dresses made their way onto the runway, only to end with four achromatic looks - two of them being a relaxed version of the peplum gown that is sure to find its way on the red carpet.

For more photos of the collections go to Style.com and don't forget to follow me on Twitter!

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NYFW: An all-American affair

2014-09-07T07:49:00.001+02:00

Altuzarra S/S '15; image source: nowfashion.com

Long gone are the days of experimental American fashion. What used to be a Saturday reserved for young innovators going by the names of Gurung, Wang and Altuzarra has now turned into a snooze-fest as all three designers showed coll-ections that appear to have been created just for the purpose of generating profit.

Just two years ago young designer Joseph Altuzarra had his breakthrough collection thanks to a 'gut' telling him to go where very few begi-nners have gone - an expensive route filled with high-quality astrakhan fur, exquisite tailoring and excessive embellishment. Today, possibly as a nod to his collaboration with Target, he chose to create an all-American collection that brought very little to the table.

The silhouettes were well-too-known - the show opened with a classic Altuzarra white suit con-sisted of a crisp jacket and a high-slit skirt, con-tinuing with an army of knee-length dress clad models, cigarette pants and distressed chiffon gowns. One has got to applaud the designer's successful decision, however, to include laser-
cut leather pieces in the form of skirts, dresses and vests that almost have a fence-like feel to them, thus serving also as some sort of shields.

There can't be said much about Prabal Gurung's latest show, mostly because it looked like a mash-up of everything the designer has done over the past few seasons. The skirts yet once again had chiffon extensions hanging from the sides; there was a lot of asymmetry and excessive complications regar-ding the cut of the clothes; the outfits were fairly repetitive, and the whole mess ended with a weak evening-wear part of three gowns that had shower curtains covering basic white underwear.

Alexander Wang's story is very much similar. Just recently I read New York Times' Vanessa Friedman's profile of the designer and him shuffling between two brands, and funnily he mentioned how he is afraid of succumbing to the pressure and creating the same items for both Balenciaga and his own brand. I assume his fear is coming true, because what we saw at his show last night barely had its own identity.

Alexander Wang S/S '15; image source: ehads.com

Yes, there were some classic Wang-moments like the three consecutive scuba diving mini-dresses in orange, green and blue; the relaxed maxi dresses with a color-blocking technique that relied on fabric rather than color and the white and mint Adidas-inspired tennis pieces, but most of it felt like a scaled-down Balenciaga show down to the structured tops and immaculately tailored black satin pants.

For more photos of the collections go to Style.com and don't forget to follow me on Twitter!

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NYFW: Gordon shines, Wu fails at normcore

2014-09-06T01:46:00.001+02:00

Jason Wu S/S '15; image source: nowfashion.com

With the start (and end) of Jason Wu's show we can say with a certainty that New York fashion week has begun. Unfortunately, Spring/Summer 2015 is not the designer's season.

I believe that the biggest issue Wu is facing is his lack of consistency. Not in terms of switching up themes or moods, which I fully support in a con-temporary designer, but in terms of style. Yes,
the American designer always maintains a cer-tain refined and polished look throughout - however, he often goes from rich to poor. Just last season he showed a very strong and lux-urious collection which played with panne velvet and fine silk and suddenly we get a harsh tran-sition into something basic, with very little color, only one print and not a variety of fabrics.

I did, however, enjoy those shiny draped pieces that at first glance look like lamѐ (a trend that is already proving to be the one to beat this sea-son), but are in fact made of almost couture-like beaded fabric. Factor in the two closing gowns, and that's all that stood-out from Wu today.

Young designer Wes Gordon was another story. He is lately proving to be the one to watch on the New York scene due to his light and relatable aes-thetic and the simplicity of his pieces - very little fuss or details, but enough innovation regarding shape and cut to make them special.

Wes Gordon S/S '15; image source: style.com

The collection is a breath of fresh air, partly because of the fluidity, and partly due to the positively sur-prising color-palette which introduced us to a beautiful shade of pastel green and burgundy lace. Of course ever present were the designer's lace-adorned dresses, this time only appearing three times, and some rather familiar chainmail dresses that I believe shouldn't have made a comeback in at least three more seasons, due to Stefano Pilati's not-so-distant departure at Saint Laurent.

For more photos of the collections go to Style.com and don't forget to follow me on Twitter!

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Cocktail party dressing for the suit-clad lady

2014-09-01T20:22:00.002+02:00

When it comes to business dressing, almost every article out there talks about what the professional woman should wear to work. Business cocktail parties, however, are largely neglected as it is widely believed that women ought to wear cocktail dresses to every event they get invited.

However, my experience has shown that there are a lot of women out there who just feel comfortable in a suit. They either have certain insecurities about their body - don't like showing off their legs or arms, or simply enjoy the addition of power over the crowd a suit gives them.

In the next few paragraphs I will show you how to wear a suit to a cocktail party or to any other formal event without feeling a bit under-dressed by choosing the right pieces and accessories.

The Blazer

1. Alexander McQueen crystal-embellished blazer - $2,935 | 2. Maison Martin Margiela cropped jacket - $3,985 | 3. Theyskens' Theory embellished silk-tulle jacket - $749 | 4. Saint Laurent metallic jacquard jacket - $1,910

I would say that choosing the right blazer is the most important part of looking great at a cocktail party. You must remember that your formal blazers should stray away from the ones you wear to work, be festive enough to charm the crowd, but yet feel event appropriate. If you don't like a lot of bling the perfect blazer for you would be the black Alexander McQueen with a satin bow and small embellishments or the Saint Laurent silver jacquard one; if you are considered a risk taker, however, absolutely go for the Maison Martin Margiela cropped jacket which is an absolute masterpiece.

The Pants

1. Jason Wu satin-trimmed pants - $1,075 | 2. Bouchra Jarrar cropped trousers - $1,215 | 3. The Row silk trousers - $1,390 | 4. Rochas metallic pleated chiffon skirt - $2,465 | 5. Givenchy paneled wide-leg pants - $1,710

If you decide to make your blazer the centerpiece of the outfit, keep the pants simple. There are no definite rules when it comes to choosing the right pants, but make sure the shape always looks flattering on your body and never pick a pant that is as tight as a legging. This season go for the wide-leg Jason Wu pants from the designer's latest collection, cropped versions from Bouchra Jarrar and The Row or these paneled Givenchy pants. Also, a pleated knee-length skirt is always a good choice.

The Top

1. J. W. Anderson satin silk draped top - $620 | 2. Gucci metallic vest top - $590 | 3. Lanvin twist-front top - $99- | 4. Alexander McQueen bow-embellished blouse - $1,345

Choosing a top is really the most simple task out of this "dressing challenge". A simple black top is always a great choice which goes with everything and this season get J. W. Anderson's satin spin-off on the classic item. Other choices include simple lamé or draped tops, as long as they don't compete with the blazer, as well as clean crisp blouses with a little detailing like the Alexander McQueen above.

The Shoes

1. Jimmy Choo patent trimmed leather pumps - $695 | 2. Gianvito Rossi silk pumps - $660 | 3. Burberry Prorsum velvet and satin sandals - $650 | 4. Charlotte Olympia Pisces suede slippers - $695

No outfit is ever complete without the complementary shoes. A lot of women make mistakes in the shoe department and often choose footwear that is appalling and inappropriate and therefore brings the whole outfit down, no matter the appeal of the items. A simple black patent pump works almost always, but if you feel like your outfit is too one-note choose a shoe in luxurious colors and fabrics like the blue silk Gianvitto Rossis or the burgundy velvet Burberry Prorsum sandals. If you are not a fan of heels, however, you can always wear a nice pair of embellished sleepers.

Bonus tips

Always make sure your hair looks washed, voluminous and shiny with a bun being the most appropriate hairstyle. Never pick a handbag that is too big for the occasion. Keep your make-up simple and choose between accenting either the eyes or the lips. Never wear excessive jewelry.

Do you have more styling tips? If yes, please leave a comment underneath and don't forget to follow Fashion Everyday on Twitter by clicking the button!

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Fashion Everyday twitter page

2014-08-27T17:58:00.001+02:00

Hello everyone! I have finally jumped on the social media band wagon and decided to create a Twitter profile for Fashion Everyday, aside from my personal account.

So click the button underneath and sign up for all the updates!

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Emmys 2014: A very red, red carpet

2014-08-26T19:10:00.000+02:00

Lena Dunham and boyfriend Jack Antonoff attend the 66th
Primetime Emmy Awards; photo credit: beimages

Alright, alright, alright. We all know that "Girls" star Lena Dunham ended up on al-most every worst dressed list regarding this year's Primetime Emmy Awards. But have you really stopped and asked yourself why?

I assume the comments would read some-thing like this: "Look at her, she's so fat, she should not be in a ball gown that makes her even wider" or "That dress looks like a wedd-ing cake exploded". For the record, yes, Lena Dunham is a big girl who is not ashamed of her body. She is a fearless actress who is not afraid to take risks on the red carpet and to constantly have fun with fashion. She also has a new hair-color and a gorgeous boyfriend.

What do you got?

Now that I got the Lena Dunham and her Giambattista Valli dress burden off my chest, we can move on to the rest of the night's risk-takers. Finding herself very high
on my best dressed list is Dunham's co-star Allison Will-iams who also chose to wear one of Valli's gowns from the designer's F/W '14 Haute Couture collection. The rest of the successfully clad actress-es who wore his designs included Michelle Monaghan and Amanda Peet.

The color of the night was definitely red. I have counted approximately thirteen red gowns - some more, some less successful, but all equally impactful. The list of women who wore the popular color is filled with names such as January Jones in Prabal Gurung, Claire Danes in Givenchy and winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a beautiful shade of coral, courtesy of Carolina Herrera.

From left: Claire Danes, Allison Williams, Kerry Washington & Lizzy Caplan; photo credit: Getty images

Furthermore, "Scandal" star Kerry Washington showed off her post-baby body in an electric orange Prada dress with a sparkling mini-skirt underneath and Lizzy Caplan shone in a backless black and white Donna Karan gown that literally took everyone's breath away. Some actresses, however, were less fortunate on the red carpet such as Debra Messing and Taylor Schilling in a beaded Zuhair Murad dress who bore with their choices.

Harper's Bazaar US: What is Natasha Poly thinking?

2014-08-13T20:23:00.002+02:00

Harper's Bazaar US' new editorial featuring model Natasha Poly came out today and while the images are strikingly beautiful, you can't help but think - what is Natasha actually thinking about?

Here is your answer.

Click on 'read more' to see all the images!

Natasha Poly by Dan Jackson for Harper's Bazaar US; image credit: weibo/Sohhez

Vogue US September 2014: Victoria Beckham

2014-08-10T13:12:00.001+02:00

Between her rocketing fashion empire and newest clothing auction which will benefit African mothers with AIDS, it is only appropriate that Victoria Beckham should find herself on the cover of the September issue of Vogue US. That is why I put myself in Anna Wintour's shoes and made a fake cover featuring the designer and star dressed in Gucci.

Victoria Beckham by Sebastian Kim; originally shot for Vanity Fair Italia

Do you also feel like Victoria Beckham should be Vogue's September cover girl?