Banana Republic – Fall 2011 – RTW

Monday in New York City at the Bowery Hotel, Simon Kneen, Banana Republic’s creative director, shared with the audience a catwalk full of multi-textured pieces which had an almost classic early 20th century feel to them.  With fine light-weight turtlenecks, muted yellows and warm reds, cozy, oversized cowl-neck warmth mixed with herringbone jackets and skirts, the fashions stayed true to many of the trends seen on the runways a few months ago with hemlines just past the knee, trousers and classic feminine cuts. Take a look.  I already have my eye on a few and can’t wait for shopping late this summer as I prep my fall wardrobe as Banana Republic is one of my go-to stores for my work wardrobe. (To see the entire collection, as well as the men's, click here.)

All images via Style.com

Trust Your Style – Fall 2011 Feminine & Classic Apparel

One of the first bloggers I met when I began my blog in 2009 was the very kind and welcoming Mary Jo Matsumoto of Trust Your Style. Her thoughtful comments and genuine posts on style, life, art and anything that caught her eye quickly made her blog one I regularly enjoy.

It wasn’t before long that I learned of her eye for classic and impressive style, so when she announced that she would be revealing her fall 2011 collection this month during LA Fashion Week, I had a very good feeling that her designs would be beautiful, and they most certainly surpassed my expectations.

The first piece I saw as a sneak peek was her black chiffon obi wrap dress with black stretch charmeuse slip (second photo), and I must say I am now coveting it. Feminine, yet fun, stylish, yet simple. The dress’s adaptability for comfort and style is something that I personally love about it and know many women of so many different ages could work and, work well, into their wardrobes.

Well, officially the wait is over, as this week a special limited group of Artist Edition couture pieces will be launching on Thursday evening at Stephen Cohen Gallery during LA fashion week, and very soon images from Mary Jo Matsumoto’s complete Fall 2011 line will also be surfacing around the web and available for sale.

Below are eight images of her collection photographed by Dyan of blog Whimsy Being and modeled by Katie Osumi of blog Good Nite Irene.

Congratulations Mary Jo on a beautiful collection. Your work and your innate ability to create classic, yet absolutely feminine designs is deserving of great success.

Gray wool jacket + pants + pink charmeuse top + doctor's bag

Black chiffon obi wrap dress with black stretch charmeuse slip

Black silk velvet coat with pockets lined in black charmeuse; Charcoal charmeuse dress; Black sequin clutch; Akoya pearl strand with 18k gold angel

gray wool jacket lined in silk with taffeta portrait collar; gray wool skirt lined in silk

Gray/Pink reversible wool cape + bowling bag

Black silk velvet halter gown lined in black silk charmeuse

pink reversible wool cape + south sea starfish earrings

Pale pink melton flaired wool coat lined in leopard charmeuse silk

A Foggy Fashionable New York Editorial

New York City waiting for spring, but truthfully still in the grasp of winter with the nebulous fog wandering through the streets and under the bridges. Photo

Photographed by Gustavo Marx Sophie Lee models Brazilian Patachou’s Fall 2011 collection on the streets of  Manhattan.  Styled by Erika Frade for this “Chased” entitled photo shoot inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s film Rear Window, the images have an eerie cool tone, yet with whispers of romance and beauty.

All images via Fashion Gone Rogue

Moda Operandi – Runway At Your Fingertips

After Town & Country’s March 2011 issue with the sultry Lauren Santo Domingo on the cover, I took some time to read her interview and found more information about her one of a kind luxury shopping website – Moda Operandi.


The first of its kind, co-founders Lauren Santo Domingo, of Vogue, and Aslaug Magnusdottir, a former executive at Gilt Groupe, have created an online business that allows fashion connoisseurs to purchase the designs off the runway in a matter of days after the designer has revealed them to the public through their trunk shows that are only available to Moda Operandi members.

In hopes of helping the promotion of the designers by placing their wares in the consumer’s hands well before they get tweaked and shipped to various stores, Domingo and Magnusdottir believe this opportunity will be a fairly reliable forecaster of what consumers will want to see in stores, thus, aiding buyers in making decisions about what they should purchase.


Moda Operandi provides a front row vantage point to its members along with a handful of other perks, such as – recommendations from top stylists, access to a personal shopping assistant, and tools to review the looks from every angle.

While I won’t be able to purchase every dream piece that takes its turn on the runway, I like knowing if I want to and the funds are there, I can have a design that strikes my fancy. If you are interested in applying for membership, it’s simple. Just fill out and submit a membership request form and within a few days you will receive an email informing you of your pending acceptance.


The inaugural trunk show began with Prabal Gurung 2011 Fall Ready-to-Wear collection earlier in the month, followed closely with Alexander Wang’s. Both of these trunk shows will close this Friday, February 25th, but the amazing list of shows continues each day.  Vera Wang’s Fall 2011 RTW collection just began and will end March 1st. Carolina Herrera’s collection becomes available for purchase on Monday, February 28th.



If you decide to purchase a piece that catches your eye and would fit wonderfully with your wardrobe, you will be asked to pay 50% at the time of purchase and then the remaining 50% will be expected when the item ships (which is approximately 6 months later).

I don’t know about you, but I like to dream and as I said before, I may not be able to shop with abandon, but at least I have my foot in the door.  Happy shopping!!!

Images: All other images via of Moda Operandi (6) Town & Country

Burberry Prorsum – Fall 2011 RTW

Christopher Bailey, beneath softly falling snow (yes, real snow!), took the stage for a humble bow to the fashion elite who had gathered to take in his Burberry Prorsum Fall 2011 collection. Topped with newspaper boy hats, wrapped in wool coats of an array of colors, and slim pants, the models put on display some youthful, yet with a hint of classic details, that caught many an eye. (To view the video of the finale with all of the snow in its grandeur, click here.)

To view the entire 55 piece collection, click here.

All images via Style.com

Bridget Jones is Coming to the Stage

Mark your calendars!  The best selling novel by Helen Fielding, Bridget Jones’s Diary will soon become a musical and is scheduled to begin productions in fall of 2011.  While the star of the show has not been announced yet, the show will debut in the West End in London. The team of Lily Allen, Stephen Daldry and choreographer Peter Darling along with Julian Weber make up the creative team. You may recognize Daldry, Darling and Weber as being part Billy Elliot’s success of 4.5 million viewers and 10 Tony awards.  Fingers crossed that the success will carry over into a smashing success for Bridget Jones as well.

 

Images: (1) Source (2) Source (3) Source