D'Orsay Flats and Friends

I'm in the market for a new pair of flats.  A favorite pair of black ones bit the dust, and I begrudgingly tossed them yesterday.  Their demise was mostly my fault, not just a result of the tough love that I tend to give my footwear.  Suede, soaked pavement, and long walks to the Metro do not mix, guys.  As if you needed reminding. :) 

Good thing for me, and for you, if you are also in the market for new flats, there are tons of gorgeous options out there right now.  Lots of styles embody both sass and sophistication, thus offering day-to-night and work-to-play versatility.  The cut-out d'Orsay style is still enjoying its moment, but other pointed-toe varieties are notable, too.

The top image shows these strappy d'Orsay flats.  The image just above shows the following pointy pairs, clockwise, from top left: metallic cut-out slippers, black d'Orsay flats, snake-embossed ballet flats, striped snake d'Orsay flats, and pointed flats with Mary Jane detail.

What do you think?  Have you worn the d'Orsay style, or would you? 

Have a Happy Weekend!

Hi, friends.  What will you be up to this weekend?  I am taking the opportunity to enjoy a little staycation, relaxing at home and maybe enjoying a dinner with friends.  Hope that you have a lovely few days ahead.  xox

* * *

I walked by Barcelona, a new tapas restaurant on 14th Street, last weekend.  It is gorgeous.  Like, I might want to move in.  Strong Yelp reviews, too.

Alternatively, if you are in Madrid (Some of you are!), you may like to check out Marta Argüelles's exhibit at La Portegna's store in el Barrio de Salamanca next Thursday.  Find details on La Portegna's Facebook page.

Not Martha's hilariously suspenseful Kinder Egg A Day series.

Products to keep your winter boots and shoes looking new.

What to expect from Game of Thrones's fourth season.  Gulp.

I have been listening to this throwback on repeat since hearing Alison Krauss's CMAs performance the other night.

The robin's egg color of this sweater is refreshing. 

Why isn't there a filtering water pitcher (Looking at you, Brita.) as pretty as this carafe?

I'll play my Native Southerner card and say that D.C. still needs good barbecue.  Here's hoping that DCity Smokehouse delivers.

A whole lot of delicious uses for cinnamon.

(Image is Urbano 12 by Marta Argüelles.)

Isabel Marant for H&M

Isabel Marant's collaboration with H&M launches next week amid murmurs of approval.  (Find U.S. and Canada stores offering the collection here.)  Isabel tends to produce clothing that is a bit edgier than my typical fare, but this collection combines straight-forward staples with items that would give some pizzazz to less punky wardrobes.  Standouts are the pieces (of which there are many) with abstract, neutral prints.

It's not clear to what extent natural fibers will feature in the collection, but hopefully we'll see plenty of longer-lasting cotton and silk blends, rather than H&M's go-to polyester, viscose, and rayon.  This may be wishful thinking on my part, but a girl can dream.

See the best of the bunch after the jump. . . .

Have a Lovely Weekend!

Hi, friends.  I'm waiting for some big news, and my nerves are at about a 22, on a scale of 1 to 10.  Needless to say, I am looking forward to the weekend and unwinding a little.  Tomorrow, I'm having dinner at a French place that I haven't been to in a while, which should be nice.  Otherwise, I'm expecting a pretty quiet weekend.  Will you be working through your Halloween treats, or maybe you've got something special lined up for Saturday, too?  Whatever this first weekend in November brings you, I hope it's good.  xox

* * *

Banksy just wrapped up a month-long "residency" in New York with a graffiti-like tag, made from Mylar balloons and installed on the side of a warehouse.  See all of the recent NYC pieces here.

Uniqlo may be coming to D.C.  Fingers firmly crossed.

This clip of a dad lip-syncing his daughter's tantrum had me in stitches.

Beauty bloggers have been buzzing about this pressed powder, which gives you a glow as if you were in the most flattering light.

A nice interview with one of the men who you likely will see behind you bar if you stop into Off the Record any time soon.

Classic pieces for a fool-proof fall outfit.  (I'd say that combining neutral pieces made from natural fibers is a fool-proof approach to dressing year-round. :)

If you're looking for a sweet weekend project, this brown butter apple pie looks like a delectable option.

(Lip-sync video via Little White Lion.)

Happy Halloween!

For a few years, Frida Kahlo has been on my mind as Halloween costume inspiration.  I decided to take the plunge this year, when portraying Frida turned out to be the easiest of my choices!  The only things that I bought to complete the costume were red lipstick and false eye lashes. 

Click through for instructions and a more complete look at the costume. . . .

Everyday Ballerina

Lots of pretty, everyday tulle skirts popped up on Pinterest over the weekend.  I found the tutu-like skirts to be unexpected, elegant, and subtly theatrical.  A multi-layered tulle skirt may not the best choice for a day at the office,* but it could be just right for dinner out or a party.  Here in D.C., we still have a few weeks of moderate temperatures that will allow shorter skirts to be a not-completely-crazy wardrobe option, especially when worn with a blazer or denim jacket. 

This is actually a two-piece ensemble.  The top is a matte silk shell.  Heavenly. 

The military-inspired olive coat adds nice contrast to the super-feminine blouse and skirt. 

Water-colored tulle from Anthropologie. 

More cable-knit with creamy tulle, which appears wrapped around the waist, rather than gathered into pleats. 

A lacy, more formal version from Anthropologie.

And here's an embroidered, beaded version in black.  Great for an evening out or a holiday occasion later in the season.  Oh, my. 

What are your thoughts?  Would you wear a tulle skirt for work or play?  What top and accessories would you add to the look to make it work for you?

* Or it may be!  And, if it is, then let's talk.

(Images, from top to bottom, via The Sartorialist; Fanfaronada; To Wander and Marvel -- and an apparently phantom Etsy store, sorry; Anthropologie; Pamela Koenig; Anthropologie; Anthropologie.)

Highlights from Bridal Market Fall 2014: The Long-sleeved Gowns

It's time to take a look at our last group of beauties from Bridal Market: the long-sleeved gowns.  (I'm using "long-sleeved" loosely.  For our purposes, "long-sleeved" means anything longer than short-sleeved, so elbow-length, and beyond.)  I mentioned one princess yesterday, and I'll mention another today: Kate Middleton.  Kate brought the concept of long-sleeved bridal gowns, a constant favorite of European royal brides, into the mainstream mindset.  Since Kate wore her bespoke gown, by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, we've seen other celebrity and royal brides make similar sartorial choices.  Recent examples are the Luxembourger royal brides, who both wore long-sleeved Elie Saab gowns on their wedding days: Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie in 2012, and Princess Claire just last month.

Given the impact of Kate's gown and the elegance inherent to this style, I was disappointed not to see more long-sleeved offerings in Bridal Market.  Hence today's short post.  Not all of the major designers show at Bridal Market, though, so we may see more awe-inspiring long-sleeved looks as additional Fall 2014 collections roll out.  Which may inspire an update from yours truly.  We'll see.  :)

Our first gown, above, by Monique Lhuiller, is a beautifully-executed take on a relatively standard long-sleeved look.  I say "standard" because this isn't an uncommon approach to the long-sleeved bridal gown, but it is really hard to go wrong if this is your standard.  You'll note clear similarities between this gown and the gowns of Stéphanie and Claire, mentioned above: closely tailored bodice (though the one above seems more structured), full skirt, delicate mesh lace sleeves, and impeccable detailing.  Further, when a dress fits like this, you win all around.

Next is a gown that you may remember from Monday's post.  (That was a bit of a teaser, no?  Were you waiting to see this one again? :)  This darling from Naeem Khan's collection is a twenty-first century bridal update of an early 1900s European peasant dress.  And the bead work on the bodice bears notable resemblance to the Danish Princess Alexandra's tiara.  I could say more, but you might prefer to judge for yourself:

Nicole Miller showed a nice long-sleeved option, below.  This gown doesn't try to do too much.  It is a straight-forward, slightly Bohemian style that delivers a heavy dose of romance.  Noteworthy details are the shape of the v-neck and the pool of lace at the hem.  Personally, I'd shorten the sleeves to just above the wrist or, perhaps, to the mid-forearm. 

We close our discussion of long-sleeved gowns with this one from Reem Acra.  Lace appliqué is placed over a beige-colored bodice and  layers of sheer tulle.  The color of the lining and the sheerness of the skirt lend a buoyant, alluring fragility.

What are your thoughts on the long-sleeved gowns?  Is this a look that you'd choose for yourself? 

There you have our review of Bridal Market Fall 2014.  I hope that you enjoyed these highlights as much as (or more than!) I did.  

And, if you're just tuning in, check out our reviews of the strapless, sleeveless, and short-sleeved gowns! 

Highlights from Bridal Market Fall 2014: The Short-sleeved Gowns

Welcome back to our round-up of best looks from Bridal Market!  Today, we review the short-sleeved and cap-sleeved gowns, which made for quite a lovely collection.  Short sleeves have not been a terribly popular choice for brides in recent years, but they offer a simple primness for a look that tends to be more pretty and romantic than it is sophisticated or glamorous.  See the wedding gown of Princess Madeleine of Sweden, designed by Valentino Garavani -- Yes, that Valentino -- as a notable example.  If the pretty-oriented, short-sleeved wedding gown becomes a phenomenon, then we may have Madde to thank. 

Moving on.  Our opening pick above, by Reem Acra, stood out among the short-sleeved offerings.  It is one of the more sophisticated designs we'll see today, with generous jewel embellishment around the ballet neckline and a broad A-line skirt.  It's shown here with a sparkly belt, but substituting a narrow band of matching white fabric or ribbon may serve to nip in the waist without interrupting the flow of color from bodice to hem.  My two cents.

A few of the short-sleeved looks went far in the "pretty" direction.  The platinum-hued gown below, from Naeem Khan, has an off-the-shoulder cap-sleeved blouson and is tied with a bit of ribbon at the waist.  It's a peasant-like look for the Bohemian bride. 

Marchesa gave us another belted gown with a ballet neckline.  Beautifully gathered and draped chiffon fans out into an elegant train.  The star, though, is the beaded and embroidered mesh bodice, characteristic of Marchesa's eye for ornate detail. 

Here we have quite a powerful look from Naeem Khan.  It feels fit for Athena; silver-clad, yet feminine.  I could see Michelle Obama, a fan of Khan's, wearing this gown or a more pigmented version of it.

This is a stunner from Monique Lhuillier.  Lace flower capped sleeves appear rooted in the structured, bow-shaped bodice, but they actually are affixed to a barely visible illusion panel that covers the décolletage.  What a graceful, interesting look, and one that likely would flatter various body types.

Monique Lhuillier also presented a more playful gown, below.  The combination of floral lace with gridded embroidery lends a patchwork quality to the piece.  Notice, too, how the placement of the grid pattern creates an hourglass shape, enhancing the middle.

Reem Acra contributed two all-lace gowns.  They use the same sheer lace material, layered over nude lining, and are virtually identical from the waist down (No complaints here.).  The first gown features a deep, wide v-neck, and a capped sleeve that lays a bit like a petal over the edge of the shoulder. 

The second all-lace Acra gown has a high bateau neck, and therefore a more substantial sleeve.  It's finished with a chain-link motif jeweled belt.  (I have to comment on the marabou headpieces, which drive me crazy and may distract from Ms. Acra's brilliant work, especially the more daring looks, in the eyes of some consumers.  Even from a different angle, they're just a bit odd.) 

 

What was that about Reem Acra's daring looks?  Here's another one for you.  (And, again, lining would sort out the bare navel situation in a jiff. :)  This woman appears to have emerged from the tides, bringing sea foam and star dust as she comes.  The gown is the most glamorous of the short-sleeved selection, by a long shot, and I would not be surprised to see it, probably in color, on a Hollywood starlet once awards season arrives. 

What do you think?  Would you say "yes" to one of these short-sleeved dresses? 

Tomorrow, our final (!) installment of Bridal Market reviews: the long(er)-sleeved gowns.  See you then!

Highlights from Bridal Market Fall 2014: The Sleeveless and Tank-style Gowns

 

In today's installment of our week-long re-cap of Bridal Fashion Week, we'll look at sleeveless and tank-style gowns.  This style is probably the least "on-trend" of the styles we'll review this week.  Sleeveless bridal gowns are something that you just don't see too often.  From my eye, this makes sleeveless gowns feel the freshest of the lot.  Especially the gowns with true tanks -- those with inch- to two-inch-wide straps and scooped or squared necks.  The true tank-style bodice is a rarity in bridal, but, as we see here, it can hit "effortless and chic" right on the nose.

The stand-out Monique Lhuillier sheath gown below, featured earlier this week, attests perfectly to this. The smooth, unfettered curve of the neckline is a design element that's reminiscent of a casual knit top, but, applied in bridal, it reflects sophistication and restraint, on the parts of both the designer and the wearer, perhaps.

The next two gowns interpret square-necked tanks.  The Reem Acra gown below, which would be lined, obviously, for normal wear, takes my breath away.  The feathered accessories distract from the well-balanced pairing of the ethereal, filigreed top with the banded, flowing skirt.

This look from Monique Lhuillier offers whisper-thin pleats of chiffon, layered over sparkly beading and sequins.  It's a clever riff on last season's floor-length sequined number.

Another textbook tank-style gown is the bias-cut, charmeuse gown.  A rather uncommon look these days, but a classic, if not entirely easy to wear, style that would be nice to see more of.  This one is from Elizabeth Fillmore.

 

Two selections from Monique Lhuillier are especially gracefully executed renditions of the sleeveless, v-neck, lace gown, which is such a romantic look and understandably popular.  Here, layered lace and embroidery, with the tiniest hint of beading, create visual depth.  

This one has a barely visible illusion panel covering the deep v-neck and an unexpected tulle train. 

A few boat-necked styles appeared on the runways last week.  Nicole Miller gave us another successful take on the mermaid silhouette.  First, the key design elements are all quite beautiful on their own.  Second, the beaded top balances the outgoing mermaid shape (tail?).  It works because, while the tail is wide, it's a continuation of the fabric used in the body of the dress.  There is no awkward change of fabric at the knee.  The result is a very red carpet-ready dress that would befit a bride aiming for a high glam factor.

This Christos gown is so pretty, with a sort of no-fuss feel that seems suited for spring or summer (even though this was Fall 2014 Fashion Week, I know.).  Ruched point d'esprit is layered over an uncomplicated whale-boned bustier and gathered into a gently voluminous skirt.

Naeem Khan brought us two crew-necked, sleeveless pieces, adorned with his characteristically thoughtful embellishment.  This one, slightly Grecian, with bejeweled geometric detailing, may be another for our Art Nouveau bride.

Head-to-toe embroidery is classic Khan.  The motifs here are similar to those found in Indian embroidery, while also strongly referencing patterns common to Islamic art.

We'll close with this look from Theia.  The dress does not thrill, despite its pretty shape.  I'd like to bring attention to the look, as a whole, however, and, specifically, to the divine impact that a floor-length veil can achieve.  It's like something from the Enchanted Forest, come to life, which is a less-than-ridiculous vision for a bridal look, if you ask me.  

There you have our round-up of sleeveless and tank-style gowns from Bridal Market.  Which is your favorite?

Tomorrow, we'll review the short-sleeved looks!

Highlights from Bridal Market Fall 2014: The Strapless Gowns

In our series of highlights from Fall 2014 Bridal Fashion Week, we'll start with the style that has been the bread and butter of wedding gowns since the late 1990s, at least: the strapless gown.  Strapless necklines flatter most body types, offering a glamorous display of décolletage.  But it almost seems as though, since the style's spike in popularity, a strapless neckline has been viewed as quintessentially "bridal."  It's just what's done.

I appreciate that strapless gowns are demurely bare, that they emphasize the graceful lines of shoulder and neck.  But I tend to feel turned off by their ubiquity.  Here, I've found a group of strapless gowns that improve upon (sometimes quite gloriously) the convention of their forebears.  These gowns nod reverently to tradition, and then strike out boldly on their own.  Complex, sometimes layered, textures and meticulous detail blaze the path forward.

We'll begin with the strapless sheath gowns.  The gown above is our first (well, really, second) featured gown from Naeem Khan's inaugural bridal collection.  If you have followed Khan's couture collections, filled with exemplars of monochrome genius, namely, the highly-textured tonal masterpieces that are his trademark, then the bridal collection will come as an unsurprising delight.

The gown below, from Monique Lhuillier, gives a boost of several notches to the the not-uncommon strapless-with-all-over-beading concept.  It showcases impossibly fine, precise beading (note how the beading around the middle creates an hourglass illusion, nipping in the waist) with layers of gossamer tulle at the bottom.

The look below, another from Naeem Khan, brings the hugely popular nude gown trend to bridal.  White sequins offer sheen without overt iridescence.

Below, another look from Naeem Khan.  The bodice here seems both solid and fluid, like woven river grasses. 

This gown from Kenneth Pool carries metallic beading into the fitted, dropped-waist bodice, through length of the dress.  We've seen dropped waists before, but the seaming and the swishing skirt here remind me a bit of Kate Middleton's black lace Temperley gown.

Another beauty from Naeem Khan.  This one is for the Art Nouveau-inspired bride.

Now for the mermaids.  First, we have another of Naeem Khan's confections, in which the designer has created rich texture using ribbons and ruffles.  With such a simply-shaped gown, a very modest take on the mermaid, the textural  movement does not overwhelm. 

Below, is another of Ms. Lhuillier's looks.  Again, the all-over motif (lace, this time) is one of the more traditional styles in our line-up.  But the scallop peeking up above the soft sweetheart neckline and the flawless fit put this one over the top.  The floor-length veil doesn't hurt, either.

This Kenneth Pool gown, with stellar metallics, would be lovely for a winter wedding. 

 

Now, onto the fuller-skirted sisters.  You may notice from this selection that I appreciate a bustier combined with a high-waisted, A-line skirt.  This is today's ball gown.  First, we have tip-to-toe lace from Monique Lhuillier. 

The bodice of this gorgeous Naeem Khan gown reminds me of pearl-studded armor.

This pretty belted version from Romona Keveza features youthful point d'esprit.    

  

Finally, the line of this Christos gown wasn't quite straight enough for the Sheath category, but the slightly sharper cut of its sweetheart, paired with that little bit of lace overlay, won it a spot on our list, anyhow. 

What do you think of strapless wedding gowns?  Would the ones here merit mention in your favorites from Fashion Week? 

Stay tuned for the next installment of our series on Fall 2014 Bridal Fashion Week!  Tomorrow, we'll look at sleeveless, tank-style gowns.