Fashion 500

Transitional Fashion: How To "Season" Your Wardrobe Winter-To-Spring

Laura Tomase — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 06:26:00 -0500

The runways are tempting with delicious candied shades of pink, yellow, and green, soft floral mini-dresses, and playful wedge sandals and all the while snow flitters about the windy streets and tree branches are still bowing with excess weight.

It's still March, but here in Chicago it feels (and looks) more like January. So, when exactly should you pull out the spring and summer items and put away the winter clothes?

As a general rule, I follow the "no white SHOES" after Labor Day rule, but I do wear white year 'round as it is becoming less of a "rule" and more acceptable in the fashion world. Something about a black fitted turtleneck, snow white sateen pencil skirt, and black boots is very chic during the winter months and I would never put that skirt away once Labor Day rolls around.

So, what can you wear and when? I would say any white bottoms are okay in fall and winter as long as they are not in a summer-y fabric such as linen, chambray, denim, and lightweight cotton. Once it starts to warm up and look like spring is on the horizon, you can begin the transitional phase.

A lot of people seem to have problems with this and are confused as to what to where, so here are some guidelines to follow when "seasoning" your wardrobe...

Come spring, put away the following:

Heavy-weight sweaters
Winter coats
Anything with fur or suede accents
Heavy wool wraps (invest in a satin or lightweight wool one for spring-time)
Anything velvet (as a general rule, though, try and keep the amount of velvet at bay in your wardrobe--it very rarely works on anyone and tends to look dated)
Wide-wale corduroy
Wool-blend pants
Heavier-weight tweed separates
Boots

As it gets warmer, gradually bring the following pieces INTO your closet:

Lightweight sweaters in pretty, spring-y colors (for the transitional period these work well and keep them throughout the summer as well in case you need to throw on something extra on those chillier nights)
Cotton-blend skirts (can be paired with sweaters or a tank and cardigan on warmer days)
Any top with floral, spring-y prints (these will not look out-of-place when paired with jeans or pants on a sunny day--add a cardigan or great jacket if it's still kind of chilly)
Any skirt with floral, spring-y prints (again, this will not look out of place when balanced with a lightweight spring sweater)
Anything pastel that's in a heavier fabric (I have a great pair of very thin-wale corduroy trouser-styled pants in a mauve pink that I wear with a black thin turtleneck and black sling-backs during transitional periods and while it hints at spring, it still is functional and keeps me warm)

Jewelry can also make or break the look--I have a brown sleeveless top with a little tie at the bust that I hate to say goodbye to every fall, but I recently wore it on one of our few sunny days here in Chicago with a khaki-colored jacket, a bright red beaded necklace, chocolate, white, and red printed skirt, and chocolate brown leather boots and it worked great. It was warm when paired with the jacket, was fun and colorful, and was a good transitional look.

Overall, you will be fine if you pair one lightweight item on top with a heavier item on the bottom (like a pair of jeans). On the flip side, you can make the top portion the heavier item (like a tweed jacket) and pair it with a satin or lightweight cotton skirt.

Play around with what you have--just because something is sleeveless or cotton doesn't mean you have to wear it *only* during the summer months. It is all in how you mix and match what you have--just have fun!

Happy spring! (if it ever gets here) Oh and feel free to comment (below) if you have more ideas or questions on transitioning your wardrobe between seasons!

Nanette Lepore: "Little Gypsy" to Top Designer

Laura Tomase — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 07:32:00 -0500

One of my favorite fashion designers hails from somewhere quite unusual... not fashion capitol Milan; nor the city of lights better know as Paris; not even New York City. Better yet, this designer hails from the Midwest – Youngstown, Ohio to be specific.

Source: Patrick McMullan via NYmag.com

Nanette Lepore was born circa 1958 to a tres chic mother and a painter father who encouraged her creativity and independence knowing it was in the family blood. She was prone to 4AM sewing stints and late-night sketches. At age nine, she draped a gypsy bedspread/dashiki around a neighborhood friend, added a beaded choker around her neck, and painted sunflowers on her face as the girl stood in the front yard with a cardboard sign that read "Lepore". Already a little businesswoman advertising her brand, this was only a hint of what was to come.

After earning her degree at Youngstown University, Lepore followed her heart and left for New York City to study design at FIT. She soon married painter, Robert Savage, and struggled at finding jobs. Her husband consistently encouraged her to start her own company. With hard work, an entrepreneurial streak, plus a $5000 loan from her father, she opened her first boutique in New York's NoLita district. More stores opened soon after in Tokyo, London, Boston, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. Her line was snatched up immediately by famous retailer, Barney's Co-op, and can be found today at Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and select Anthropologie stores.

Nanette Lepore says that road trips down California's Route 66 with her parents made her feel like a gypsy, and was later a clear inspiration for many of her clothing items, known for their impeccable lines, bright colors, feminine accents, and chic prints.

She recently extended her brand to include two fragrance lines, "Nanette Lepore" (inspired by her daughter, Violet, age nine), "Shanghai Butterfly" (inspired by Thailand, and brief stopovers in Russia and China), and special edition "Love Bird". Lepore's first shoe collection debuted in the fall of 2006 and in 2007 she collaborated with popular brand Keds to do a collection.

Today, her collection attracts celebrity devotees like Jessica Simpson, Drew Barrymore, Uma Thurman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Hilary Swank, and many more. Television and film stylists feature Nanette's pieces regularly, most recently on Jennifer Garner in "13 Going on 30," Reese Witherspoon in "Legally Blonde 2," and Sarah Jessica Parker in "Sex and the City".

Nanette Lepore sale at eDressme.com

Her latest boutique opened November 1st, 2007 in Chicago's Bucktown shopping district. "What's exciting about Chicago is that most of my shops are in warmer climates," Lepore says. "So, Chicago will be a fun, more winter-y business." Go see for yourself and watch your inner whimsy shine through – after all, in Nanette Lepore clothes, transformation is imminent (just bring a cold compress and try not to faint).

Visit Nanette's website at NanetteLepore.com

Hunter Wellies

Madison — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 10:46:00 -0500

With these classic women's waterproof rubber boots by Hunter you can trudge through the garden, snow, rain, or mud with a playful flash of color and style.

A full fifteen-and-a-half inches in height, they're tall enough to keep out not only the wet, but from the rainy day blues, too. Super comfy and fashionable rainwear in a palette of sassy colors: purple, pink, chocolate, green (lime or dark), navy, pumpkin, red, yellow, and black. Made of 100% natural rubber from the tropics!

Juicy Couture Velour Drawstring Pants

Madison — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:37:00 -0500

Sexy velour drawstring pants from Juicy, available in a wide assortment of snazzy Colors and laid-back Neutrals.

So comfortable and versatile you’ll wonder if you’ll ever wear anything else!

Vince Sleeveless Sweater Dress

Madison — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:51:00 -0500

The Bubble Dress - Soft and sleeveless sweater dress by Vince. Rounded ultra-sexy scoop neckline and fitted elastic hem make the bubble dress fabulous and flirty.

Hanii Y Ruffle Neckline Sequin Dress

Madison — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:24:00 -0500

Sparkle and shimmer this season in shiny black sequins and chiffon. A dazzling Hanii Y featuring a frilled neckline with pretty rose-shaped details. Perfect for parties with a secret, hidden zipper in back. Heat up the holidays with sexy, slinky, metallic glow.