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Posts Tagged ‘Leather’

Do They Dress Differently There?

November 30th, 2009

Back from a week in Paris where I spent a good deal of time just people watching and looking at what the Parisians were wearing. I enjoy street fashion more than runway fashion because it varies from region to region. The people in a particular area put their own spin on what designers are producing. I think it’s an expression of the mood of people.

Here’s what stood out for me this past week in Paris as different from what I see daily in the US:

Catherine Malandrino at Shopbop

1. Coats with belts that didn’t look like the belt came with the coat. In some cases, it couldn’t possibly. I even saw a few down-feather coats (ala North Face) belted. Sometimes it looked great, sometimes not so much. Some women chose to match their belt to the rest of the outfit, making the coat look like it was paired with the outfit.
2. Speaking of matching the accessories, there was a serious matchy-matchy thing going on in Paris. The hats matched the coats, or the shoes matched the bag, etc. It looked like they were headed to a time past when your grandmother’s rules applied.
3. As far as boots went, there was a noticeable absence of over-the-knee boots. Most of the boots were the riding style – low heel, tall boots. Functional and ready for the serious walking done in the city.
4. So on to functionality. Everything seemed to be more practical these days. Gone were stilettos and large handheld designer bags. Returning were flat shoes or low heels, shoulder bags or messenger bags and – gasp – the backpack (note: I do not like the back pack look on anyone that is not a full-time student).

Black Patent Furla Bag with Tan Accents

5. The colors were interesting, nothing bright but not too much black either. Most accessories were brown – sandal or saddle. The browns were blended with grays and blacks. There didn’t seem to be any concern of mixing the neutrals with the primaries.
6. The biggest surprise was the amount of leather I saw being worn in the daytime. Leather pants and leather leggings. And on everyday people. I even saw a few men in leather pants and these were businessmen not hipsters.

So which of these trends will take hold in the US?
Will we start to accessorize outerwear with our own accessories or stick to the belt that came with the coat? Will we return to matching our hats, shoes, and gloves? Will we become more comfortable blending browns with blacks? Will Americans grab on to the leather trend? I have seen a few women in the US look fabulous in leather, but it still usually reserved for the very fashionable.
We are already onboard with riding boots and we are warming up to the messenger bag. As for the others, some trends translate and some don’t – they are like expressions that way. It’s up to us to determine.
But that’s what makes us unique, non?

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Posted in Accessories, Fashion, Handbags, Jewelry, Leather, Shoes, gloves

Tags: Accessories Belts Boots gloves hats Leather over-the-knee boots Paris Street Fashion

Opposites Attract

November 2nd, 2009

One of the most challenging parts about dressing is creating the “outfit.” That complete look, that once achieved, can make you feel fabulous. This fall opposites attract, and it looks great. This season’s “Look” is pairing contrasting pieces to create a sense of balance. Whether it is in the textures, silhouettes, colors or the yin and yang, the looks that contrast this year are taking hold.

Ruffled jacket paired with leggings

Silhouettes –
Leggings are everywhere- I personally love them and I am eternally grateful for whoever invented them- but I’m also excited about the possibilities they have now. Paired with an oversized sweater or fur vest the lean look of the legging and the volume of the top flatters so many women.

Masculine, feminine-
Leather pieces worn with ruffles or studded accents paired with pearls are being seen now too. A nice little push for this look started with Sex and the City, whose style always influences many fashion lovers. Sarah Jessica Parker wore many of these looks, creating the feminine / masculine contrast and hitting the spot every time. One thing I love about this look is that it’s nice not to have to go all-out girly, or to be a tomboy, but to strike a happy medium. All year and looking to next we see these contrasts and it’s a very cool look, but with this a little bit goes a long way.

Feminine Shirt with Masculine Belt

Contrasts create interest in an outfit, which, for most fashionistas is the reason we love fashion so much to begin with. Not everything works for everyone- If you are a little nervous to wear it its probably ok…if you are real nervous, get some input first. Trend talk is a perfect place to throw out an idea and see what others think to help you tweak it before you debut it.

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Posted in Fashion, Silhouettes, Trend Talk

Tags: colors fur lace Leather leggings pearls Sarah Jessica Parker Silhouettes sweaters textures Trend Talk vest

Bye-bye Labels, Individuality is In

October 26th, 2009

Like any great idea, Laudi Vidni (www.laudividni.com) was born out of necessity.
It’s no coincidence that Laudi Vidni is Individual spelled backwards. This line is all about individual expression. And it may be the best thing to happen to handbags since the shoulder strap.

A few Options from Laudi Vidni

The two women behind Laudi Vidni are Laura Kofoid and Grace Tsao-Wu. I met with Laura a few weeks ago and when she walked in, I didn’t initially know that it was one of the Laudi Vidni ladies. But I thought, “wow, that woman has a fantastic bag.” The leather was gorgeous and the bag was incredibly well made. I adored the bag right away. Then Laura and I started talking, and I knew that I liked her right away when she asked, “Why is fashion so snarky?” That pretty much sums up the approach of Laudi Vidni. Why should women be so concerned about a label instead of quality, practicality, and their own interpretation of fashion?

Hmmm, good question. And spending time on their website, you can see that these two women tried to remove the attitude and just give you freedom. The essence of Laudi Vidni is that you design the bag that is right for you, as an individual.

Blue Croc Satchel

First, be yourself. What silhouette suits your life and your style? Look at the 8 options available. Once you’ve chosen your silhouette, pick your leather/color combination. There are 40 choices here. After the leather, select your hardware. Are you a gold gal and tired of years of silver hardware? Or do you finally love bag only to find out its limited to gold hardware and it clashes with your engagement ring? Not going to be a problem here. Then you get to pick your own interior lining (6 choices). All in all, there are 10,000 options possible.

The best part is that you get to watch it being built on the website. If something doesn’t look amazing to you, scrap it and start over. Play around with all different options until you find the one that suits your style. Do you think fuchsia printed snake on a structured bag is a good idea? You get to see it before you commit. Better yet, you get to see it on a model. Have her hold it or throw it over her shoulder – however you would normally wear your bag.

Once you complete your personal design, it takes 3 weeks for your bag to be custom made for you in Chicago. Oh, and if you become overwhelmed by choices, there are pre-designed bags to suit that need too.