Closet Lust... December

The holidays are just next week and oh, how I wish I were getting the items I'm posting below. Oh, well. Someday. Anyway, it's four items today and each is as beautiful as the next. They come from Nordstrom, Zara, and Zappos and are offered at a luxury price.

$149 - Zara Wool Coat with Hood

Zara's high quality clothes are really divine and this coat is no exception. The soft blue hue is comforting and as the weather finally begins to chill, this coat will become a must-have for the people most susceptible to the cold. And it doesn't hurt to mention that I really love hoods, so that's always a plus.

$170 - Nordstrom Adrianna Papelle Lace Chiffon Dress

The perfect dress for holiday parties, weddings, special events, or anything, really. Personally, I don't do a lot of pink. I think it looks a bit childish in some cases, however, this shade is deep and vibrant and just what I like. This dress in particular is a classic design with lace and chiffon and I'd encourage anyone to add it to their wardrobe.

$1,595 - Zappos Giuseppe Zanotti Winged Sandal

If the Greek god Hermes had been a woman, I'd imagine these as the winged shoes she would wear as she flew around the world. They are fit for the gods as is nearly every other creation from the genius minds behind the Giuseppe Zanotti brand. But these shoes in particular, in their gold hue, quality construction, and winged embellishments are really striking to me. Worth every penny, I'm sure.

 $1,900 - Nordstrom Fendi 'Petite 2Jours Elite' Leather Shopper

Fendi can do no wrong. This bag is no exception. Nordstrom offers this bag in a variety of colors but I particularly love this shade of green, not because of the holidays but because I think this shade of green they offer is really gorgeous and can transition well from Winter to Spring.

Sorry I haven't posted much this month, but with finals and Christmas shopping I haven't had any time whatsoever. I really hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and gets all that they desired for the holidays this year.

XO

~Renee Brown

Day 3 of Fashion Week

I have to say, after watching the Lacoste, the Mara Hoffman, and the Herve Leger by Max Azria Fashion Shows, I think I can say that Spring will be defined by an assortment of geometric prints along with florals and solid, bright colors.

The Mara Hoffman Spring 2013 Collection certainly had an assortment of that. Instantly, you can tell her collection is not so much for spring but for the tropical dry season and as a fan of her design, I have to say that the collection was very well done. The clothes were light and airy and infused with the rich tribal print that we first saw in her swimwear fashion show as well as colors that tickled the eye of wanna be world travelers. The video of her fashion show can be seen here.

Now, if you've read my previous on Day 1 about the BCBG Max Azria collection, you'll know that I disliked the collection completely. With that said, I actually liked the Herve Leger by Max Azria collection. I hated the first show because of the geometric, leather cutouts used along with the hodgepodge of materials just slapped together in very unstructured way. The Herve Leger collection on the other hand, was very tailored and the cutouts that I had hated actually became flattering when they were not done in leather. The use of leather in the BCBG looks is still something that I am still confused about and although it was used again the Herve Leger collection, it was used mostly as a belt. The fashion show can be seen here. I think you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

The Lacoste Spring 2013 Fashion Show consisted of very sporty looks for both men and women. I think my favorite part of the show was when I realized that one of the prints used in the collection was actually the repeated image of a man's folded white shirt, similar to how it would look in a department store on the shelf. I had to laugh at the subtle humor. The Lacoste collection certainly did a great job with their clothes. There are some items that I can see myself and others buying and I believe that is really what is most important. The Lacoste Collection can be seen here.

~Renee

Day 2 of Fashion Week

I saw three colorful fashion shows yesterday via Youtube's live broadcasts. Not too many people get the opportunity to actually go to New York for Fashion Week so it's a great way to be a part of the fashion biggest event of the year without the high cost.

As I said earlier, I saw three fashion shows the other day which were Rebecca Minkoff, Charlotte Ronson, and Nicole Miller and out of all of them I have to say Rebecca Minkoff was my least favorite. Overall, the collection carried a look that was sporty and androgynous, which is something I can appreciate. But toward the end of the collection, something seemed to go wrong. Spring prints such as florals were significant themes for all three collections but, in my opinion, the Rebecca Minkoff collection used it the worst way. It seemed like adding florals was an afterthought in the way the prints were used in the construction of certain ensembles. It became overkill after a while and I have to say, I was a bit disappointed. See the Rebecca Minkoff Spring 2013 Collection.

The Nicole Miller and the Charlotte Ronson collection were both very lovely collections. Nicole Miller used a floral print and a black/white geometric print in the clothes along with several other prints. To some, the collection could be perceived as overdone and confusion but to me, I completely understood it and I loved it. Certainly, some looks could have been axed but in all, the clothes were divine and when those floral and the geometric prints were combine, it created such a great balance.I particularly loved how those two prints were cut into ribbons and wrapped around the solid black dress, which you can see in the link. Overall, it was a good show and I enjoyed Nicole Miller's sense of style. See the Nicole Miller Spring 2013 Collection.

The same goes for Charlotte Ronson. Her collection used a few floral prints but it was mostly composed of pale greens, yellows, corals, and blues. I actually was surprised to see plastic being implemented into the collection in the pink, green, and blue plastic jackets, cuffs, and belts. Combined with the pale colors and the simplicity of the clothes, the plastic added a touch of whimsy that I could not help but love. The collection also featured handbags were very well done. In particular, it was a yellow tote that caught my eye. See the Charlotte Ronson Spring 2013 Collection.

Overall, yesterday was a great day for me as I watched these clothes make it down the runway.

~Renee

Day 1 of Fashion Week

Yesterday was the official start of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2013 but there were no schedules fashion shows, so it doesn't really count. Today, I am going to review the four shows I saw today by Nicholas K, BCBG Max Azria, Richard Chai, and Tadashi Shoji. The links to all the collection are posted after every review.

I have to say, my favorite show was Tadashi Shoji with Nicholas K being a close second. Tadashi's ethereal designs were brilliantly done in lace and chiffon. The colors were beautiful and lush blues, creams, pink, and greens. The only problem I had with the collection were the last two finale dresses. The bottoms of the dresses were done in ruffles which I did not like. See the Spring 2013 Tadashi Shoji Collection.

The Nicholas K show was equally amazing with fashions that I felt were futuristic but not over the top. In the beginning of the show, I immediately felt that the designer was inspired by an urban desert sort of place because the colors were brown and orange with flashes of white accesories. Over the course of the show, the urban style shifted from that of a desert city to New York City and then to an ocean city. I adored this collection because the outfits were baggy and loose while also keeping a flattering silhouette. See the Spring 2013 Nicholas K collection.

BCBG Max Azria was a nice collection but it was too much. You had lace, leather, cutouts, sheer fabric. It was just a very busy collection. Overall, the collection used a lot of black and white with only a few pieces having a lovely coral color added to them. I think for spring, the designers could have done something a little more colorful and little more toned down. I did love the last two piece that were shown. They were beautiful in the white fabric. See the Spring 2013 BCBG Max Aria Collection.

But not. of course, as disappointed as I was when I watched Richard Chai's LOVE fashion show. I swear I have seen all these styles before as well as all the colors. The fashions were nice but typical. There was honestly nothing adventurous about it and I have forgotten the majority of that particular collection. I had to laugh, however, when I found this particular critique of the collection online. See the Spring 2013 Richard Chai LOVE Collection.

Anyway, tomorrow we have a lot of great designers and I will be sure to post after all the shows are over. Let me know what you guys thought of today's fashion shows.
~Renee

Mara Hoffman 2013 Swimwear Collection

The Mara Hoffman 2013 Swimwear collection as seen in Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. I have to say, the geometric designs on most of the outfits are really lovely; especially when they're combined with the bold and playful colors.

Help I'm Alive by Metric

High Fashion Spolight: Nordstrom

For my second fashion spotlight, I've chosen Nordstrom. Just like Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom is home to some amazing luxury items that any woman would die to have. Below are just a few items that I found while perusing the online store.

Undercover Martyn by Two Door Cinema Club

$448 Kate Spade New York Bond Street Satchel

$395 Tory Burch Roslyn Stripe Satchel

 $198 Steve by Steve Madden France Leather Satchel

$945 Manolo Blahnik Hangis Jeweled Pump

(Featured in Sex and the City Movie!!!)

$650 Jimmy Choo Wheel Slipper

 

$1,430 Fendi Fendista Tall Boot

 $470 Oliver Peoples Aviator Sunglasses

 $365 Jimmy Choo Metal Shield Sunglasses

$290 Prada Rimless Sunglasses

$945 Lana Jewelry Flat Double Diamond Shape Earrings

$2,060 Marco Bicego 'Africa Gold' Triple Drop Earrings

 $4,995 Bony Levy Princess Cut Diamond Stud Earrings

 $330 Emilio Pucci Print Linen & Cotton Scarf

 $165 Diane von Furstenberg 'Whisper' Silk Scarf

$110 Ted Baker London 'Shanti Crystallized' Scarf