Men's Fashion Friday: Tip Your Hat

What's old is old :: Kanye West slitted glasses, painted-on skinny jeans for guys, and over-sized polos. On the contrary, what's old is also new again. The year of 2010 will reunite pastime vogue hats with forefront trends and hit the list of must-haves for men's accessories.  No matter what your walk of life is Fedora's, Newsboys and Kangol Caps toast to traditional with a revamp to modern swag.

I love this Goorin Brothers brand fedora because it skews from conventional fedora's with its houndstooth print. A contrasting gros-grain ribbon finishes the detailing along the brim for a runway touch.

 

If you like to pay tribute to tradition but still want to be modern-day, this fedora flaunts a sophisticated pin stripe with a contrasting geometric print for defiant pop with the season's best colors.  Also a Goorin Brothers style.

The oh-so-classic newsboy in knit. The ribbed look and five-piece outer construction of this style gives it texture and dimension. Great for casual gatherings and to finish of your layered look.

Kangol hats get their name from the "K" in silk and ANG from angora, a type of wool. Once made famous by soldiers and golfers, this type of hat leaked into athletic and ready-to-wear fashion.  Dip back into1938 tradition with a classic Kangol style like the one featured to the left from Nordstrom.  If you're a fashion go-getter, try the contempo style on the right available at Lids in a variety of different color combinations. 

Alice in Wonderland...in Paris!

Alice in Wonderland is not just hitting theaters on March 5, 2010. It's also hitting the masterminds of world famous designers like Alexander McQueen, Christopher Kane and Haider Ackerman. Printemps, a Parisian deparment store, has invited these, and many other, A-List designers to dream up a dress for leading lady, Alice. The creations will be on display in Printemps window-fronts, just in time for Paris Fashion Week and the much anticipated release of Burton's rendition of Alice in Wonderland. 

The designs will showcase from February 1 through March 13 and with the already whimsical escapism that Alice in Wonderland is known for, it's unimaginable what the design recruits will create with their artistic aptitude. The artistry is sure to be undeniably stimulating as these designers have the opportunity to walk off the runway and pay tribute to their inner most conceptive and visionary soul.

Furthermore, the fantasyland character is so strongly sought after for creative promotions that even Urban Decay has developed a book of eyeshadow's inspired by Alice. This palette was released at Urban Decay on Janurary 15th, however, you still have plenty of time to dream up a "hookah smoking" look before the flick is released. This collector's item kit comes with shadows, pencils and primers to do just about anything with.  Challenge yourself to be as creative as the swat team of designers who are vamping up ensembles inspired by the heroin. 

Jimmy Choo 24:7 to Launch in January

First, Choo tapped into H&M with a more affordable ready-to-wear line for the average consumer.  Next, comes Jimmy Choo 24:7, a collection of "investment shoes" that can comfortably bring you from day to night. Jimmy Choo founder, Tamara Mellon explains that Choo 24:7 is for the busy working woman with a full schedule who has no time to mess with fussy shoes.  24:7 encompasses a selection of 28 styles to bring you from work to play without skipping a beat but dodging the blisters.


Slide into your "perfect cut platforms" for work, your pumps for that lunch date with the girls and your sexy strappy shoes for cocktail hour. Then as the weekend hits, go comfortable in flats.  


The styles, including the trend "Private" (left),  were created keeping the busy, working mother in mind. It's supportive ankle cuff is balanced by a built-in platform to make the heel seem lower than it really is.  Designed to dance with you day to night with casual colors like nude and patent red to formal fabrics like black glitter and embossed crocodile in gold. 

Dabble in other trends such as "Quiet" which offer versatile peep toe pumps in colors that work with most of your wardrobe.  And if you fancy flats, Fiona and Findlay are two styles that offer everyday comfort and colors. 

The collection launches this month and will be available at top retailers like Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman and of course, Jimmy Choo Boutiques. Unfortunately, the collection still comes with a JC price tag, however, the upside is that these styles were created as "investment" pieces with colors and silhouettes being basic, everyday, year-round styles. So if you are one who can't find that "perfect cut" pump and catch yourself buying new black stiletto's every season that chew your feet up, it might be a thought to invest in a pair that is both comfortable and will grow with you as seasons quickly pass us by. 


Shop the collection available at Nordstrom for pre-ordering now by clicking here.  It's good to know that high end brands are offering products that won't fade as fast as the money in your wallet! 

Sunshine Style

Embrace the style of paradise without traveling to a tropical island or a faraway vacation spot. Instead, take a simple trip to Palm Beach, Florida for flirty and whimsical styles you can wear a variety of different ways!

 The Boca Necklace with Bee Brooch reaches nearly 60 inches in length so you can wrap it and wear it how ever you want! Glass coral beads are laced onto a hand-knotted silk thread which makes the details oh-so-charming! Interchange the Bee Brooch with a variety of brooch styles in Stella & Dot's collection, or opt to go with no brooch at all!

Same concept, different colorway. The Palm Necklace with Starfish is just as versatile as the Boca Necklace featured above. Mustard glass beads that glow a hint of green are hand knotted onto a turquoise silk thread for an extra splash of color.  Wear it with a variety of colors, like the photo above where it's paired with pink!

Go chunky but sleek with the Stella Vintage Link Bracelet. Vintage finished 14k gold coats this bracelet for an everyday look!


Update your charm collection for spring with the new Palm Beach Charms. This collection of whimsical charms includes a hornet with enamel stones, a coral dangle with Czech stones and rondelles, and a turquoise enamel flower with a pave studded ladybug. Add these to the Bloom Charm Bracelet  and wear it with the Boca Necklace for the complete look!

There are miles of coastline to see in Florida! Click here to finish your trip to the white sandy shore of Palm Beach!

Stella Hits Hollywood

When you see that Stella & Dot has hit the Red Carpet Fashions, you know its a brand to have in your jewelry box. Not to mention, hosts and contestants on some of the top mainstream media shows have incorporated Stella into their style, consistently. 

Stella & Dot's new Spring 2010 line launched barely two weeks ago, however, reporter Giuliana Rancic has already added a piece to her E! News wardrobe. Giuli is wearing the Sayulita Statement Necklace in brown and shows us just how simple it is to wear a statement piece.  She fashioned this necklace with the cluster of Swarovski crystals on her right, but as you can see from the catalogue photo above, you can wear it on either side. Notice how she paired this turquoise and chocolate colorway with a knit dress in plum. Style Sense: she proves you don't have to wear this piece with just brown and turquoise! Expand your color matching skills!

We all sit with our jaws dropped at the fabulous jewels that dazzle the red carpet knowing there is no way we can reach in our pockets and impulse purchase the pieces from Neil Lane, Cartier, and Chopard that these celebrities are wearing. That is, until Stella & Dot came along!  Once again, Giuliana Rancic goes high style in an affordable way! She has paired her couture gown with Stella & Dot's Grace Pearl Bauble Bracelet . For just $89 you can get her award-stunning look.

No matter what the age, you can still splurge on style! Bachelorette, Jillian Harris and talk show host, Barbara Walters, are featured wearing Stella & Dot's Turquoise Sea Necklace two completely different ways. Jillian shows the simplicity of this necklace as she pairs it with a basic tank as Barbara dresses it up with a blazer and a risky pop of color with her flower brooch.  Once again, this goes to show you can mix statement colors and still pull it off! 

Barbara continues to use Stella & Dot for her finishing touches and this time she does it along with Debra Messing. Both celebrities are featured here wearing the Delilah Necklace . This is a fabulous statement piece and is full trend with the turquoise color for Spring 2010. Hues of greens, jade and turquoise work together to create this stunning style. 

Entourage star, Debi Mazar, wears baubles of pearls around her neck at the Golden Globe Awards with the Sofia Pearl Bib Necklace.  You can wear this piece alone or add the Bardot Flower from the Spring/Summer 2010 collection like the photo to the right shows above.  Or, utilize the barrette on the flower and wear it in your hair to compliment the necklace. 

Men's Fashion Friday: Spring 2010 Colors for Guys

For the first time in their company's history, Pantone has come out with a men's color palette for Spring 2010! You might not have paid attention, but the colors in menswear do vary from the colors in women's apparel, with an exception of a few select standards such as Turquoise, Dried Herb and Amparo Blue. The difference remains in most neutral colors as well as a few spicier fashion colors. Below are some highlights of risky and comfortable hues you will see hit the floors this coming spring.  Pay attention to the color story rather than the fashions featured and think of ways you can mix in this trendy palette!
 

Be on the look out for Pantone named "Coffee Liquor". This shade of brown is the shade you will see heavily in menswear and in men's suits and is slightly darker than Tuscany, the brown shade for women. Dolce and Gabbana uses this coffee as a dominant color in their spring collection.

Grey's will remain neutral colors for Spring 2010, much like the Steel Grey in the photo above. These hues are relaxed yet tailored and will be seen in heavily suiting and trousers in addition to casualwear. The look photoed above is from Monarchy's Spring 2010 runway where a relaxed button-down is paired with destroyed jeans and finished with a casually-tailored blazer. This is a great day-to-night look.

Men need a little spice of color too, hence, Pantone's 'Spicy Orange'.  Marc Jacobs incorporates Spicy Orange in his Spring 2010 "Pantone Prep" collection (right). He does a superb job energizing prints with bold colors or pairing vibrant solids with subtle, yet statement, neutrals. If this color is too spicy for you to go completely submerged in it, sport it in a print like the tie featured in Jean Paul Gaultier's spring collection where it adds a refreshing pop of color.

Amparo Blue is a shared color between men and women's apparel for spring 2010. A look from Bottega Veneta's Spring 2010 collection is pictured above.  Blue makes an appearance in casual, formal and beachwear as its versatility allows it to be utilized in a variety of ways.  And yes, that is a satchel for men which makes an appearance in nearly all designer collections for Spring. Think of it as the modern-day briefcase, not a purse!

Chalk Violet might seem feminine, and although it is another color shared with the female palette, men can wear it too. This might not be your look, or any of the ones that I have featured here, however, if you are a guy who isn't shy of wearing pinks (aka "salmon" for those who want to be comfortable in your pinks) then tap into this season's "new pink" and go for violet. This is a look from Ralph Lauren's spring show and is predictably preppy. So think of wearing violets as a splash of color in your ties, your shoes or in a graphic tee.

Pantone's men's palette for ready-to-wear also includes colors such as Turquoise, Sheepskin (left) and Sudan (right).  Sheepskin made an appearance in a lot of tailored clothing on the runway so you can expect to see it in trousers and button downs.  This is the subtle and more blushy take on the pinks men like to wear, but since pink is now more widely accepted, to spring will test the waters with violet. Sudan has a burnt and rustic look to it and can be seen in casualwear as well as suiting and outerwear. Although these colors might seem risky and intimidating presented in the form of a "block" you will be more accepting of it as you see it at retail.

*All colors and industry color names pulled from top color forecaster, Pantone

Hola, Sayulita!

Hola, Mexico! Can't make a trip to paradise then bring paradise to you! Stella & Dot's Sayulita, Mexico collection will bring you to the turquoise colors of the ocean waters and the earthy tones of the Mexican land!

Bring in the season with the hottest colors and trendy bib styles with the Cortez Bib Necklace.  Chocolate suede is dressed in glass beads and malachite with each detail being hand-stitched. A sea of turquoise and greens pop against the espresso background. The bib necklace still remains a popular style and with this

bo-ho chic twist, you'll be turning heads!

 

Go "bohemian beach" with the Tulum Turquoise & Leather Bracelet (left). Reconstituted turquoise is stacked in rows and threaded with leather for a super trendy spring style. The button and loop closure allows you to adjust the size of the bracelet so it can fit small to large wrists. This piece is great to wear alone or stack with other styles like the Summer Soiree pictured to the right.

Make a stunning turquoise statement with the Azure Couture Earrings. These chandelier earrings dazzle and dangle 3.75" in length for a meant-to-be-seen statement.

There is so much more Sayulita to see! Click here to shop the rest of the statement collection!