Colors and Prints, Oh My !!! Spring 2013 Pants at The Gap Are a Sight to See.

I have never wanted so many pants at the same time from one store, until now.  The Gap is bringing it for Spring 2013.  The selection is endless.  You just better hope they have your size because I have a feeling they will be selling fast.  

For Spring 2013, you can choose brights and/or prints from four lines of pants:  two lines are jeans and the other two are khakis.  You can choose from jeans of the skinny leg variety --  the Always Skinny Jeans and the Legging Jeans.  If you prefer casual khakis, there are two fits for you -- the Skinny Mini Khaki or the Broken-In Straight Khaki (brought over from last Spring's successful collection.)



My favorite fit are the Gap 1969 Legging Jeans.  I fit in the size 16, the largest size available in-store.  Sizes 18 up to 20 are available Online at Gap.com for most fits.  I love its stretchiness, and it fits my plus-size frame.  The Always Skinny Jeans run a little smaller, and I'm probably a size 18 or 20 in those (I haven't found one in-store to try on.)  The khakis are similar to the Always Skinny Jean as far as sizing.  The rise for these pants are low-rise, but designed higher in the back to prevent your bum from peaking out.  I hate showing crack!  Just say "NO" to crack!!!  Prices range from $49.95 to $69.95, a far cry for some of the other premium denim brands that run $175 and above.

The following are just some of the ones I am hankering for:  

1969 Legging Skimmer Jeans

in Citrus Green $69.95

in Floral $69.95

in San Clemente Blue $69.95

in Blue Dot $69.95

Skinny Mini Skimmer Khakis

in Neon Lemon Yellow $49.95

1969 Always Skinny Skimmer Jeans

in Camo $69.95

 

Today's Fashion Flashback -- GRUNGE

Spring 2013 brings us designers with obvious grunge inspiration. Exactly 20 years after Marc Jacobs brought us the S/S Collection for Perry Ellis that got him canned.  Yes it was the infamous grunge Perry Ellis Collection.

Other designers that featured grunge as an inspiration during Spring/Summer 1993 were Anna Sui and Christian Francis Roth, but hardly anyone remembers that they too brought grunge to the runway that year.

Here is a look back to when fashion was first inspired by the grunge movement, which was beyond music, it was a lifestyle for those living in Seattle Washington.  It was never meant to be glamorous.  Grunge was a music scene whose revelers were mostly in poverty.  Grunge was even dubbed anti-fashion by some.  Blogger Ali Basye sums up the grunge influence with her blog: 

The Day that Grunge Became Glam

I was ecstatic to find some fashion footage of the time when grunge hit the runways.  This one features the infamous collections that first brought grunge to the runway.  (Just ignore the Oscar de la Renta collection which was not grunge-inspired.)



The following gem of a video from CNN's Style with Elsa Klensch features the Anna Sui Spring 1993 Collection.




Those collections reportedly did not sell well, hence Marc Jacobs being fired from Perry Ellis, but it left an indomitable mark on fashion, as evidenced through the years and by some of the S/S 2013 collections.  

Some of the designers bringing grunge back to high-end for Spring 2013 are:

Check out the entire Spring 2013 collections from Style.com for 3.1 Phillip Lim, Dries Van Noten, and Julien David.  (Just click on the names and you will be linked.)

This Up & Coming Jewelry Designer is a Gem: LILY CLASPE JEWELRY

The Website liliclaspe.com is beyond unique.  The designs offered in it are either one-of-a kind or small-production runs.  Purchase of one of the pieces will guarantee you something special.  What I like most about this site is that it is very affordable, and I love affordable luxuries.

Check the site often, as the founder and designer, Stephanie Tchamanian, updates the site with her latest designs.  Her designs have a touch of ethereal and touch of warrior. 

I love her story too -- it's heart-warming, and I wish her much success.  (I just hope she keeps the prices down when she makes it big.)  Stephanie Tchamanian named her jewelry line after her sister Lisa, who passed away in 2004.  That same year, her father passed away.  At only 17, Stephanie had to " grow up quickly and learn to live on my own."  She worked in accounting, until she decided to attend FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising) in 2008.  After her education, she went to work at Nordstrom as a Stylist.  Unable to afford the beautiful accessories she wanted to style her outfits with, she decided to create her own, and ended up selling her designs from the trunk of her car after her shifts.  From there, Staphanie states, "LILI CLASPE was born."  

I find her story so amazing and inspiring!!!

The following are some of her designs.

RINGS:

BRACELETS & CUFFS:

NECKLACES:

LILY CLASPE JEWELRY is truely one to watch out for.  I hope Stephanie Tchamanian's wildest dreams come true.

Prabal Gurung Collaborates With Target

Fashionistas and maxxinistas rejoice!  Coming our way in February is another fabulous Target collaboration.  This time around, it's with New York sensation Prabal Gurung.  Once again, I am at the edge of my seat, and I can't wait for the goods to appear in-store.  Thank you Target for these amazing collaborations, which allow gals on a budget, like me, an opportunity to own something from the hottest designers.



 
The following looks are my favorites from the Prabal Gurung for Target Look Book:

Prabal Gurung's collection for Target will hit the stores on February 10th.  Prices will range from $12.99 to $199.99 and features almost 80 items.  There will be separates, dresses, shoes and accessories.  I predict this will be another sold-out event, much like the Missoni collaboration, where items sold out the day it launched.  Oh, I will be counting the sleepless nights!!!  Until then, be sure to take advantage of the Neiman Marcus collaboration with Target which is still available Online and is 70% OFF.

Oh, and here is a look at Prabal Gurung's own Spring 2013 Collection from Style.com:

Catch This: 70% OFF Target+Neiman Marcus Collection

If you're fast, you might get some great deals from Target.com now that the collaboration with designers and Neiman Marcus is a whopping 70% OFF !!!  On New Year's day, I personally got the Marc Jacobs gold-metallic clutch for $20.99 in-store.  It was originally $69.99 before Christmas!

Now $20.99.  Originally $69.99.  Marc Jacobs Pouch Gold for Neiman Marcus + Target

 

When I first heard of the collaboration between Neiman Marcus and Target for the holidays, I was shocked at the unlikely pairing of high-end and discount retailers and had to see this for myself.  I immediately rushed to my neighborhood Target.  The home goods were especially nice, but I found the clothing and accessories lacking in quality for the price.  But now that it is 70% OFF, the clothing and accessories are now priced appropriately for the quality.  The home goods are forget about it, a definite steal!

Here are some of my picks:

Now $23.99.  Originally $79.99.  Prabal Gurung Cape for Neiman Marcus + Target

Now $11.99.  Originally $39.99.  Proenza Schouler iPad Sleeve for Neiman Marcus + Target.

Now $14.99.  Originally $49.99.  Set of 4 Altuzarra Double Old Fashioned Glasses for Neiman Marcus + Target

 

Now $5.99.  Originally $19.99.  Set of 4 rag & bone Shot Glasses for Neiman Marcus + Target

Right this minute, there are a lot more items, such as Alice + Olivia luggage and bike, Robert Rodriguez dress, Derek Lam slippers in a leopard print, Dian von Furstenberg jewelry box, Philip Crangi picture frame, and more.  So get to it, and grab some of these deals!  HAVE FUN, but don't get anything you won't actually use or gift (for the future.)

New Obsession: Anne Hathaway and her Pixie Haircut

Watching the movie "Les Miserables" this past Friday gave me a whole new respect for Anne Hathaway.  No longer did I see her as the princess of her earliest films, "The Princess Diaries" and "Ella Enchanted."  I see now someone with some real acting chops, in the same league as Meryl Streep.  And boy, can she sing !!!  Who knew?  I certainly didn't.  As Fantine in "Les Miserables," she moved me to tears over and over again, along with all the other wonderful performances.



As a new fan of Fantine and Anne Hathaway, I dedicate my last post of the year to her.  As I plan to trim my hair today, I look to how Anne has been wearing her new short do.  I love her look with a pixie cut.  She has never looked so stylish.  I mean she has always been stylish;  her stylist is, after all, Rachel Zoe.  However, with the pixie cut, she has an edgier, fresher, and all-together more fashion-forward look.  With short hair, she can wear a potato sack and still look fashion-forward.

Here are my favorite looks with her short hair:

I am sure she is going to knock it out of the park this upcoming awards season.  I am looking forward to seeing her on the red carpet some more.  With this role, she deserves all the awards she has already received and will receive.

Today's Fashion Flashback -- ANNIE HALL

 

With seeing so many menswear influences for Fall 2012, I can't help but dedicate today's fashion flashback to the genius in film and in style of Annie Hall, as portrayed by Diane Keaton.  Diane Keaton, herself, embodies menswear chic until today, but what we know of her style goes back to the Woody Allen film "Annie Hall" from 1977.  

If you haven't seen this film, you must see it !  It is a classic, and one of Woody Allen's best films.  It won 4 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress in a Leading Role for Diane Keaton.  "Annie Hall" is also considered one of the best comedies in academic circles. 

The character of Annie Hall broke through fashion in the late 70's, introducing to the world that wearing men's clothing can be sexy and quirkyly remain feminine.  Sure, other style icons in the past wore menswear inspired clothing like Marlene Dietrich and Katherine Hepburn, but none is more fun to emulate than Annie Hall's style.  Yes, the style is quirky.  Yes, the style is fun.  And yes, the style is definitely iconic.

I haven't seen the film in a while, maybe 9 or 10 years, but with Fall around the corner, I want to watch it again.  Not only for the fashion but also the rapid-fire, witty dialogue between the characters of Annie Hall and Alvy Singer, a comedian in love with Annie, played by Woody Allen.

If you want to emulate the look, there are two key looks that stand out from the film.  The one pictured above and this one.  Both are easy to copy and/or play with.  What you may need are:

1.)  Button-down shirt.

2.)  Black tailored vest.

3.)  Men's tie.

4.)  Wide-leg khakis (or any khakis really)

5.)  Tweed blazer.

Optional items:

1.)  Bowler's hat

2.)  Prairie dress or skirt

3.)  Cowboy boots

I recommend you shop your closet and see how many items you may already have.  You'll be surprised.  If you don't have a men's tie, shop your local thrift store or Marshalls, TJ Maxx or other discount retailers.  That way, you won't spend an arm and a leg for a silk tie.  Trust me, there are bargains to be had.  Stick with solid colors or more feminine prints like paisley, florals or large prints.  Not only are they more feminine, they are more edgy.  If you find a solid black, silk tie, YOU HAVE STRUCK GOLD !   Not only will it be versatile, it will be something to keep in your closet for a long time, for whenever you want to do the tie thing.  Don't bother buying one specifically made for a woman.  One, it will probably cost an arm and a leg.  Two, it might probably be made of cheap polyester or flimsy rayon.  Three, it's just not as cool as the real thing.

This is going to be fun to mix and play with.  Make the look your own by adding your own touches.  I'm going to add a broach strategically placed on the tie and give it my signature bling -- those that know me, know that I love sparkle and bling !!!  Maybe, instead of the bowler hat, wear a fedora.  Just make sure you look in the mirror before you leave your place, since an accessory like a hat can make or bReak an outfit.

I've done the first look so many times before (my favorite look in the late 90's to early 2000's) that I think this time around I am going to try the even more renegade second look.  I do love my cowboy boots, ahem...  I won't do the hat though, since I don't have a "hat face."

Whether you try this look or not, chances are you'll probably be wearing some menswear at some point this Fall.  I would even put money on that.  I've seen many menswear inspired looks for Pre-Fall and Fall, so expect to see more posts on menswear.