Clockwise from left: Marc Jacobs silk sequin skirt $1400 Net-a-Porter, Fendi silk chiffon ruffle top $1280 Net-a-Porter, Giambattista Valli bow belt $390 Kirna Zabete, Chloe bow-embellished suede pumps $1290 Net-a-Porter, Lanvin metal ribbon choker $1175 Kirna Zabete, Lanvin mini satin shoulder bag $1238, Fendi bow-printed tee shirt $305 Net-a-Porter.
Who says ladylike ruffles and bows have to be sweet? We prefer a slight edge with our frothy looks and gravitate towards ready-to-wear and accessories that mix innocence with a heavy dose of tough chic—think pearls paired with gold hardware, trompe l'oeil bows, and raw-edged chiffon.
In addition to our favorites from the recent bridal shows, we've selected the 50 best unofficial wedding dresses from the spring collections in New York, London, Milan and Paris. From a strapless Stella McCartney jumpsuit to Azzaro's floor length column dresses and Chloé's haute hippie looks, the spring shows offered something for every type of bride-to-be.
For cruise, Hannah MacGibbon channeled "forties-flavored sportswear — seen through the prism of the Seventies". MacGibbon is all about loose, retro clothing and this midseason offering is nothing new in that regard. Styled together, the collection might look a bit too loose or too retro but Chloé's devoted fans know how to style these individual pieces so that they stand out. That said, we can't wait to see what MacGibbon cooks up for Spring 2010.
We're sure that come September, over-the-knee boot options will be plentiful. There's no reason why any footwear brand wouldn't produce at least one pair, given that it was one of the biggest trends of the Fall 2009 season. That said, we have to give Chloé props for being one of the first designer brands to put out a pair. Although Chloé showed over-the-knee boots as part of the Fall 2009 runway show, these are not from that collection nor are they from Pre-Fall 2009 or Spring 2009 either. Presumably the folks at Chloé simply know that women are already on the hunt for this look--even in June. These black over-the-knee suede boots are available on Net-a-Porter and retail for $1,245.
You could say it became a trend by way of DKNY's sneaker pumps (above) and perhaps Ann Demeulemeester's lace-up wedges. Now that spring footwear is hitting shelves it seems there are plenty of lace-up sneaker heights to choose from. This trend might be loathed by some and loved by others but, regardless, we're just happy that there's some padding in this season's sky-high numbers. A few strips of PVC and a wooden five-inch platform shouldn't be our only option for fabulous super-tall footwear.
Today's new arrivals at Topshop included two appropriated versions of some of the most eponymous footwear of the century--Chloe's Fall 2008 studded ankle boots and Yves Saint Laurent's Spring 2009 cage boots. Although Topshop's versions are undeniably derivative, to us, they shouldn't be seen as knock offs. In the case of the cage sandal, the overall shape and heel are completely different than that of YSL and in the case of the studded ankle boot, it's now a full year later, and so it seems more like recycled fashion than copyright infringement. Still, you can never really beat the real thing, can you?
From left: Derek Lam Aja ribbon sandals $650 @ Net-a-Porter, Rush Tie Up Sandal $70 @ Topshop, Chloe Leather Lopp Strap sandals $700 @ Farfetch.com.
In making our round-up of 100 Shoes From Paris Fashion Week, we fell in love all over again with the chiffon-tied pumps at Balenciaga. Surely, there's a DIY aficionado out there who will take full advantage of this look and, for the rest of us, there are also great current season thick-tie sandals that are similar in style. Although we love the nude color of those by Chloe and Derek Lam, we can't resist the low price of the Topshop version. If we chose that style, we might just have enough left over for the real thing.
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