Archive for June, 2010
Now that we’re approaching summer, hats are no longer a fashion statement - they’re a necessity to protect your head and face when you’re out and about. Gary asked about advice on men’s hats for summer, which inspired this roundup of the five hats you need to know about for summer:
The Drivers Cap
Pictured: Chambray Driver Cap | $24 at Urban Outfitters
A Drivers cap is a rounded, flat cap with a small, stiff brim. It’s a popular style amongst older men - but younger generations are picking up the style as well.
The Trilby
Pictured: Straw Trilby Hat | $40 at J Crew
The Trilby hat is a narrow brimmed, soft mens hat with a deep indentation in the crown. Traditionally made of felt, it’s now found in all kinds of fabrics, including the ever popular straw this summer. It’s a smart casual hat that was popular from the 1920s through the middle of the 1960s - and again today.
The Baseball Cap
Pictured: Ebbets Field Flannels Ball Cap | $40 at J Crew
Classic American fashion is taking hold globally, so it’s no wonder that this piece of Americana has become a trend in and of itself. We love Ebbets Field Flannels’ hats (available via J Crew) because of their faithful reproductions of vintage classics.
The Fedora
Pictured: Bad Boy Fedora | $70 at Goorin Brothers
The Fedora hat is a felt hat that’s distinguished by its lengthwise crease down the crown and pinched look in the front. Traditionally a women’s hat, Fedoras became popular as menswear in the 1920s. It’s a traditional looking hat that fell out of favor in the 1960s - but is seeing a resurgence today. The hat pictured is an evergreen one that works for cooler seasons; for summer, you may want a lighter color or fabric.
The Panama Hat
Pictured: Panama Hat | $59 (sale) at Orvis
Perfect for summer, the Panama hat is a wide brimmed straw hat of Ecuadorian origin. The feel of this hat is very old school, but the Panama hat has withstood the test of time and has now established itself as a classic. What we love about the Panama hat is its lightweight, breathable construction, which makes it functional as well as fashionable for warm weather.
What kind(s) of hats will you be wearing this summer? Share your style with us in the comments!
June 16th, 2010
What do you get at the intersection of sundresses and sophistication? This aptly named Sacrebleu dress, gorgeously finished with an ombre wash.
$63.99 at Modcloth.
June 14th, 2010
We asked: Would you wear Crochet?
You said: Yes to Crochet, with a 58% to 42% vote.
Style tip? Crochet is sweet, it’s innocent, and it’s one of the key trends for Spring/Summer 2010. How to wear crochet? Contrast its inherent sweetness with accessories with a harder edge. Pair a crochet dress, for example, with ankle boots and rocker shades. Or juxtapose a sweet crochet top against a polished, slicked updo.
Next question: Oversized sunglasses are a classic sunglasses style - and they’re a celebrity favorite for good reason. But their statement silhouette isn’t for everybody. What do you think? Tell us, would you wear oversized sunglasses? Cast your vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Knitted Crochet Shoulder Dress | $80 at Topshop.
June 13th, 2010
With fashion’s love affair with vintage Americana, denim on denim never looked so good. Wearing denim on denim may sound like a poor idea, or at least one that’s difficult to pull off in style, but it’s surprisingly wearable. So how do you wear denim on denim without loking like you’re wearing a "canadian suit"? The key is to provide visual interest by varying something about your denim pieces. Here’s three ways to keep things interesting when wearing denim on denim:
(1) Vary the types of garments. Denim doesn’t just come in the form of jeans and jackets. Try a denim vest, skirt, hat, or blouse.
(2) Vary the weight and drape of the fabrics. A drapey chambray on denim jeans look fresh, especially finished off with a chocolatey brown belt for contrast.
(3) Vary the wash of the fabric. Try Try a lighter wash paired with a medium wash, for example, or a medium wash with a dark wash. The best execution I’ve seen of a denim jacket on jeans contrasted a light/medium jacket with deep, dark denim jeans.
Here’s seven denim pieces worth a look:
1. Selvedge Chambray Shirt | $78 at J Crew
2. Badge Denim Sleeveless Gilet | $80 at Topshop
3. Skinny Denim Bermuda Shorts | $39.50 at American Eagle
4. Chambray Schoolboy Blazer | $99.99 at J Crew
5. Denim Mesh Shoulder Sweat | $44 at Topshop
6. Indigo Skinny Baxter Jeans | $80 at Topshop
7. Sailing Romper by Dear Creatures | $118 at Ruche
How will you wear denim on denim? Share your style with us in the comments!
June 11th, 2010
Ever since Balmain declared the resurgence of the Strong Shoulder, we’ve been pining after pieces with inventive shoulder detailing. The black fall/winter version of this cardigan (dubbed the “Michael Jackson” cardigan) has been in heavy wardrobe rotation - so we’re pleased to see a seasonally appropriate one in a cool, fresh mint color.
$80 at Topshop.
June 10th, 2010
Pictured: Slim Fit Linen Solid Shirt | $59.50 at Banana Republic, Lightweight Chino Club Short in Dark Graphite | $39.99 at J Crew, and Puma Tekkies Brites Sneaker | $39.95 at Nordstrom.
It’s true that women have much more liberty in choosing colors than do men. But this doesn’t mean that guys need to fill their closets with chromophobic neutrals and basic blues. Ready to wear color? Here’s five things men should know about wearing color when they’re building out their wardrobe:
(1) Use color to draw attention to your best features. Color attracts attention, so direct that focus in a strategic way. If you want to draw attention to your face, for example, wear a colorful shirt and/or tie.
(2) Stick with solids when you’re playing with loud colors. A bright color and a busy pattern may be too loud together, unless you’re feeling especially daring.
(3) Find a signature color. You don’t have to outfit yourself in a whole rainbow of shades, if you don’t want to. You can up your style by simply adding a signature color to your wardrobe. What color to pick? It’s up to you. But for inspiration, we recommend looking to traditionally color-savvy brands like Paul Smith.
(4) Colors feature both warm and cool shades. Try on lots of color to see whether the warmer or cooler shades fit you better. Additionally, don’t discount a color just because a certain shade doesn’t suit you. Spring green may not work on your skin tone, for example, but hunter green might just do the trick.
(5) Summer’s the perfect time to wear color. A wider variety of colorful clothes are at your shopping fingertips, which makes it easy to experiment with colors to see what works. Plus, the warm weather just feels right for something bright.
How will you wear color? Share your style with us in the comments!
June 8th, 2010
Although we love indulging our feminine side with ruffles, this particular style detail has the potential to transport us back to childhood. This Moonlight Sonata dress eschews this issue, thanks to a sophisticated cut and chic navy blue color. We love its blend of youthful elegance - especially when paired with bright heels and an envelope clutch.
$64.99 at Ruche.
June 7th, 2010
We asked: Would you wear Headscarves?
You said: Yes to Headscarves, with a 63% to 37% vote.
Style tip? Headscarves are the epitome of sophisticated, breezy chic. Think Grace Kelly riding in a convertible car. Or Blair Waldorf as the picture of young Upper East Side sophistication. On a practical level, the headscarf keeps your hair out of your eyes, but they so much more than that sartorially. We love how the headscarf adds a sophisticated touch to a young woman’s look - and conversely brings an air of youthfulness to more mature women. In that way, the headscarf is the great equalizer when it comes to hair accessories.
What to wear with your headscarf? The sophisticated-yet-playful headscarf works well paired with a breezy summer dress - but it also works to dress up more casual outfits, like a tank and shorts. You can play the headscarf against more utilitiarian looks - but it always looks lovely against feminine blouses, skirts, and dresses.
Next question: Crochet is no longer just for table runners and delicate doilies. Thanks to Chanel and Issey Miyake, crochet has spun itself from craft fair to chic. But what do you think? Tell us, would you wear crochet? Cast your vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Headscarf | $18 at Urban Outfitters.
June 6th, 2010
It’s no secret that we’re smitten with Blair Waldorf’s refined sense of style. But while we adore her headband wardrobe, crafted from the likes of Susan Daniels, Jennifer Behr, and Valentino, we’d rather opt for styles without the Upper East Side price tag. Luckily, Forever 21 is having a headband moment with an assortment that would make even Blair smile. Here’s nine headbands (well under $10) that will take you through summer and beyond:
1. Chiffon Flower Headband | $4.80 at Forever 21
2. Elegant Feather Headband | $5.80 at Forever 21
3. Maritime Rope Headband | $3.80 at Forever 21
4. Sequin Trimmed Headband | $3.80 at Forever 21
5. Satin Bow Headband | $3.80 at Forever 21
6. Pretty Posy Headband | $3.80 at Forever 21
7. Satin Corsage Headband | $3.80 at Forever 21
8. Metallic Shine Headwrap | $4.80 at Forever 21
9. Satin Rosette Headwrap | $5.80 at Forever 21
June 4th, 2010
Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean that you don’t need to maintain your coat wardrobe. Switch out your Spring rain slicker and splurge on this sophisticated belted trench. What do we love about it? The perfectly on trend neutral color, the waist-defining self belt, and the gorgeous ruffled detailing on the “rose” collar.
$145 at Topshop.
June 3rd, 2010
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