Men's Fashion Friday: Get Cozy with Cashmere

Cashmere has been around for a while, but how many of you men out there actually appreciate Cashmere? A quick lesson in cashmere: this soft, naturally insulating but lightweight fabric comes from the underbelly fibers of the Cashmere Goat, so it's actually a type of wool. Unfortunately, prices can be steep for a garment made of 100% cashmere due to its extensive production process and because it can take up to six cashmere goats to make just one sweater!
  
Cashmere fibers actually grow as a double fleece with a straighter, coarser coating of hair. Because of this, when the goats are being de-haired, the coarse hair has to be separated from the finer, softer hair. Once the hair is separated, it still has to be treated, washed, dyed and spun.  Not to mention, these goats are season sensitive, so cashmere is collected during the spring as their winter coats are being shed which means the short spring season is packed with the production of cashmere.  Nonetheless, the final product is amazing, soft, plush, cozy and irresistible!  Find an abundance of cashmere this fall to keep you warm this winter!

J. Crew has a classic solid-cashmere scarf you'll want to wrap around your neck and never take off.  This scarf is available in six different colors from umber (pictured) to salsa (red).  Purchase this as your basic, solid scarf and layer it with a less-expensive printed piece for a trendy fall look.

J. Crew's Cashmere V-Neck Sweater is offered in an abundance of colors.  This garment is available in regular sizes for $198 or tall sizes for $193 and is sure to last you a lifetime. The investment may seem steep, however, seasons down the road when you're still pulling it out of your closet, you'll think back on how much it was worth it. Wear this over a sophisticated striped shirt for some pop.

J. Crew also wants to ensure that your investment in cashmere is sure to last with their Cashmere Care Collection. Get the kit that has a comb for you to brush away natural pilling and a cedar ball to keep the moths away. Even launder your cashmere with a cashmere wash and spray, specially formulated to keep the fibers soft and infused with lavender to also help keep the moths away.

Banana Republic's Contrast V-Neck Silk and Cashmere Blended Sweater is composed of two luxury fabrics in one with a two-toned v-neck collar added for design detailing. Priced at $100, it's destine to last you years to come.

Jimmy Choo Hits H&M

“We are privileged to be among the fashion greats who have been affiliated with H&M so far, and to be designing a collection appealing to fashion savvy, street smart women, and to be including some great pieces for men, too. Jimmy Choo will bring to H&M a sophisticated, fashion forward, accessible and glamorous collection - the perfect party pieces to buy now and then wear out that night!”

-Tamara Mellon, Founder and President, Jimmy Choo

Yes, you read that right! Jimmy Choo will join the greats that have collaborated with H&M by launching a line of their own! Jimmy Choo's glamorous and sexy British flare has been admired and adored by most of the population from afar, however, the grandiose idea to partner with H&M will allow this luxury brand name to be more accessible and affordable. 

On November 14, roughly 200 H&M stores world-wide will launch Jimmy Choo's label complete with shoes and accessories. Excitedly, in an attempt to dress the H&M consumer from head to toe, clothing will also retail to "accessorize" the accessories.  That's correct, the accessories make the outfit, the clothes are there for support!

You'll see visions of studs, fringe, crystals, animal prints, glossy fabrics, strappy sandals, stilettos, boots, flats and more all melted together with sassy attitude and 1980's inspiration. The clothing falls nothing short of a complete runway recap that's retail ready. Every angle of every trend is offered and the design details remain just as important here as they are in Jimmy Choo's renowned couture collections. With the design aspect of creating pieces as "individuals", the consumer can mix and match the entire line to create a look of their own.

 A selection of accessories, shoes and clothing will also be available for the "fashionist-o". Men can shop leather, wool blazers, boots, bags, shirts, pants and luxury fabrics blended of silk and cashmere. Much like the photo above, the clothing makes a statement and accessories are prominent. Jimmy Choo will provide accessory looks similar to the features highlighted in my October 23rd Men's Fashion Friday, so be sure to step out of your comfort zone and try something new.  Not to worry, mannequins will be there for inspirational support!

Don't miss the opportunity to check out this highly anticipated partnership.  Visit H&M online by clicking here. The economy may be down, but there are great things coming from it!  Shop the runway at your local H&M* come November 14th and flaunt your style this holiday season!

*Not available at all H&M locations

Cool Coats for Your Winter Warm-Up

Lots of fabulous coats are warming up the winter season this year!   Each coat has its individual statement feature that makes it unique. You will see anything from ruffles, oversized toggle buttons, coats with volume at the shoulders and collars, faux fur and even coats that daunt this seasons risky plaid print. With the economy still being in its downfall, be sure to invest in a coat that you can carry over to next season.  However, don't fear tapping into the trendier side, as long as you think you'll get enough wear for your buck!

DKNY's Ruffle Coat is one of my favorites this season. Remaining on trend, delicate ruffles run along the front of the coat up to the funnel-like stand collar. With hidden buttons, on-seam pockets and a slimming silhouette, this winter white coat is simply stunning.  

Oversized toggle closures draw positive attention to this Guess Hooded Jacket. The tangerine color offers a warm glow for the winter season.  Inclusive of a hood, two front pockets and button details on the cuffs, you'll be just as stylish as you will be warm!

Old Navy has a great collection of coats this season at their notoriously affordable prices. Their Double-Breasted Wool Blend Coat is a great investment for a classic look. At under $100, this coat has a stylish funnel neck collar you can wear up or buttoned down for more ventilation. Available in basic colors like Black Jack (left) and Chinchilla (right), this garment is guaranteed to coordinate with your entire wardrobe and will last through infinite seasons with its traditional look.

Fashion your plaid this season with Old Navy's Swing Coat in 'Grey Plaid' or 'Blue Plaid.' Warm up your winter with this swing style silhouette designed with a double-breasted front and a unique turnover collar. If you love the coat but hesitate purchasing a plaid, it's also available in Ancho Chili and Black Jack.

Get Your Glow with Stella & Benefit Cosmetics

OFFER ENDS 10/31/2009

What could be better than highlighting your outfit with Stella & Dot jewelry and pampering your body with Benefit Cosmetics?  How about a promotional discount to go along with it?  For you fabulous Stella & Dot customers, Benefit is offering 15% off your next order on their website. Upon checkout enter the Promo Code JEWELRY9 and see your savings instantly! Check out some of my favorite items from Benefit below:

Everything I love from Benefit Cosmetics is packaged in this Celebutante Personal Stylist Make-Up Kit. At only $34.00 (and 15% off with your discount!) you can get a sample of some of the hottest items Benefit has to offer. There are products in here for every feature on your face so you can get the entire Celebutante look without skipping a beat! They even include a lesson guide on how to use each product to ensure you're look is nothing short of flawless.

Pucker up with Benefit's Glitz Glam & Gloss! Six shades of lipgloss are wrapped up in one package for only $26 -- that's less than $4.50 a piece, and even less with your discount! Mix-n-match the colors and layer them together for your perfect shade.  This is a great stocking stuffer for your girlfriends that they are sure to love!

Laugh with me LeeLee eau du toilette and scented body lotion is flirty and floral. The set is adorably packaged which makes it perfect for gift giving. Layer the silky lotion with the eau du toilette to keep the scent with you longer.

New Pieces, Low Prices

Stella & Dot is on track for the holiday season with new style launches! With most gifts under $40 and up to $50, you can decorate your style without spending a fortune. These pieces are perfect for gift giving, stocking stuffers and sentimental gestures. 

The perfect gift for a little girl to give her Grandma this holiday season is the Signature Grandma Charm. With the word "Grandma" and a heart engraved into sterling silver. This is such a sweet way to say "I Love You" while passing along a piece Grandma is sure to cherish forever.

Catch a leaf this fall with the Signature Leaf Charm. This elegant leaf is available in 14k gold vermeil and sterling silver and is great to layer with other charms or to wear on its own.

The Signature Love Script Charm is especially sentimental.  Tell someone you love them for the first time with this delicate charm engraved with the word love alongside a stunning Czech stone.

 

 The Black Soiree Pave Bracelet is a new color in the soiree bracelet collection and is perfect to pair with your LBD. Stack this with other colors from the Soiree Pave collection such as pearl, grey and champagne.  The pave crystal bauble adds an elegant touch for all those holiday parties.

Stella & Dot's Glint Flower CZ Necklace  is affordable luxury! Pave crystals are hand set in a flower design which hangs from a delicate sterling silver chain. This piece is great to pair with the coordinating Glint Flower CZ Earrings pictured to the right and a stack of soiree pave bracelets. These sparkly studs are a simple but elegant touch to any outfit.

To shop all of Stella & Dot's new styles click here.

Men's Fashion Friday: Men's Accessories

“Fashion has become kind of like a new sport that has filtered into the man’s world. It deserves to be developed.”

~designer Rick Owens

As of late, men have become more in-tune with their inner "fashionista."  The modern-day male is expanding his wardrobe by incorporating more 'risky' accessories as runway trends become just as popular with men as they are to women.  

In response, men are taking it to the top by decorating themselves in layers of scarves, brooches, rugged cuff links, belts (not just through the loops!) and even shoulder satchels!

FLARE (Jewelry)

Stella & Dot is tapping in on the increasing trend for men's accessories. The Lion Stamp Cuff Links present a vintage vibe with a king-like lion stamped into sterling silver.  Pay attention to the details and use these links to dress up a casual button-down shirt for the perfect 'final touch.'  The Fleur di Lis Necklace is both symbolic and stylish. The "Symbol of Kingdoms" hangs from an 18" leather rope chain for a masculine look. 

SCARVES and TIES

The hottest designers on the runways are layering up and updating the look of the typical tie.  Scarves make higher impact statements with mixes and layers of pop colors and basics. Prints become more visible and at times, the focal point of your outfit.  Business ties stay lean and pattern play is still present.. Lanvin makes a 'risky' statement on the far right with a silk scarf wrapped around the neck, finished with a masculine but delicate one-sided "bow."

BELTS and BAGS

Oxford Street (left) in London is one and a half miles long and boasts over 300 shops! Packed with fashion, this area of London is a European forefront for trends and style. 

Empire belts on guys are present in London and are inspiring men in the western hemisphere. Think "outside the loops" and update your traditional trench coat by accessorizing with a belt at your empire waistline, similar to the mannequin in the above photo from Oxford Street. This is such a simple way to add texture, dimension and sophisticated style to the average look.

Give your business look a lift with an oversized messenger bag. This is a great way to update your basic and outdated briefcase.  Bags and satchels for men are designed to look masculine with more structured style lines and sturdier fabrics such as leathers and less drapey materials.

Challenge yourself to update your look and expand your wardrobe with what you already have.  Wear multiple scarves together, fashion belts where you wouldn't normally and trade in your backpack for a messenger bag. You may just be surprised what you can do with what is hanging in your closet! Investing in a statement piece, or two, each season is also a great way to keep your look fresh and fashion forward.

Dress Up Your Date Night

Don't go on a date without bringing Stella & Dot along with you.  Wear these sexy styles and you'll be sure to land that second date or even rekindle an old flame.  These pieces will keep his eyes on you all night and his mind thinking about you forever!

The Adrienne Mixed Chain Necklace is a 42.5" rope that is braided with rhinestones and antique chains.  This versatile piece can be worn layered around your neck or tied and knotted in a variety of different ways for an array of looks, including around your wrist as a bracelet.  Coordinate this necklace with the Adrienne Chain Earrings. Strands of rhinestones and chains delicately dangle 3.5" from your ears and are sure to draw in looks as they reflect a sexy shimmer.

Wear your hair back with a strapless dress and draw attention to your neckline with Stella & Dot's stunning  Lulu Vintage Glass Necklace. Hues of berries infuse these glass stones to reinvent a vintage-style piece. The only way to properly finish off this statement piece is with an adjustable velvet ribbon-tie closure.

The perfect day to "date-night" piece is the Sofia Cluster Ring in black and silver. Glass beads in hues of black and silver create a casual look that can be easily transformed into a classy showpiece for your datenight. You can even shop my trunk show and get this ring for $29 when you spend $50 or more! Click here to shop, and enter Ali Wright as your hostess! Offer ends 10/31/2009!

1940's Fashion for Fall

1940's Vintage Vogue

The 1940's continue to make strong fashion statements in today's trends. Tweeds, silks, cottons and linens were all popular fabrics in the 40's that you see carried over every season. In the forties, hemlines began to rise, tailored dresses grew popular, and style lines were introduced. A change in fashion was vividly apparent as the 30's passed and the 40's approached.  The "flapper" style of the 30's deemphasized the female figure, however as the early-forties greeted us, the female body became the inspiration behind emerging design trends.
As the women's natural physique became symbolic, designers began creating fashionable art that highlighted the hourglass silhouette by drawing emphasis to the waistline. This encouraged both designers and consumers to create and wear pieces that were flattering to the female figure. Not to mention, bathing suits (or "sun suits" in the 40's) became more revealing, thus leading to the current-day "bikini."

The modern reference to "classic" style is a direct relation to 1940's fashion. Coco "Gabrielle" Chanel, Dior and Oleg Cassini are a few designers that were extremely popular in the 1940's, just as they are today. This was an impressionable era where new looks were made popular and possible for women, and thus have remained classics since then. For example, Chanel (pictured), introduced women's casual-wear, women's suits and dresses, trousers, hats and costume jewelry which has still remained with us through 60 plus years since, in the ever-evolving world of fashion.   

These same looks have trickled into each season since the '40s, including Fall 2009.  The Kate Spade ensemble below is reminiscent of a tweed suit that looks like it walked off the runway nearly 70 years ago. With a tailored coat and a figure-hugging skirt, this 1940's look is updated with grosgrain ribbon trim but still features classic, bracelet-length sleeves.

In the mid-forties platform pumps became popular as a result of material shortage, preventing the production of "wedgies" (wedged shoes).  Since wedges have a filled in platform sole, designers had to test their creativity and eliminate the use of large amounts of material which leads us to the platform pump.  Still trendy to this day, popular designers like Jessica Simpson are delivering on these original 1940's styles. Simpson's Michaela Platform Pump (left) is a close representation of the classic design (right). 

 Beret hats were typically worn by men and boys from Germany and France back in the 1940's, however, you can see from the photo of Chanel above that she risked wearing the same beret-style hat as a woman.  These hats are still popular today and resemble the time-honored look from the 1940's, much like the one featured here from Nordstrom.

Even though we are decades past the years that made most fashion popular, it is safe to say that "what's old is new again".  Designers from the 1940's still remain a household name as much as their inspirations continue to make a saturated appearance in our market today. 

Handbag Haven

Handbags, clutches, shoulder satchels and hobo's.  Studs, animal prints, ruffles, ruching, oversized, and exposed zippers. What look, or "few", will you fashion this fall? The selection is broad this season so do a wardrobe remix with some hot statement handbags.

Ruffled bags add lots of texture to an outfit. Add some sass to a casual ensemble with a ruched or ruffled companion that has lots of character. Go structured with a ruffled style made out of leather or softer with a bag finished in a suede material for drapier, more feminine looking ruffles.  

One of my favorites this season is Jessica Simpson's Runway Satchel. Choose from four different colors, including a snakeskin print so you can fashion animals and ruffles in one style. These vertical ruffles make the look more feminine, even with faux leather material.

Add in some pretty-punk by fashioning a studded clutch or handbag. Steve Madden's BStudley is sleek and stylish. With its bowling-bag look and studded punk edge, you'll be going from day to night in high fashion style.

The Michael Kors Berkley clutch has a cut-out handle for easy toting. With its patent leather exterior and magical magenta color you'll be sure to turn heads and rack up some compliments!  This is a great way to throw in some pizazz and incorporate your berry for fall.  Get out of your comfort zone and play around with your color palate by pairing this magenta bag with a terracotta top.

I adore the risk of the Exposed Layer Zipper Clutch from Arden B. The structured frame of this clutch is softened by layers of exposed zippers which are draped to give the feeling of being slightly ruffled. Equipped with three interior pockets and an oversized toggle top, this clutch is not only functional but screams high trend.  For only $39, this is a great style steal!

Compared to Couture

Decorate your wrist with Stella & Dot's Heirloom Deco Bracelet and you'll look like you just stepped off the runway of a high-end couture fashion show.  The similarity between this bracelet and House of Lavande's Trifari Diamante Bracelet is undeniable, however, the difference in price....remarkable!

Stella & Dot's Heirloom Deco Bracelet is only $89 and backed with a lifetime warranty.  Showered in czech stones, this 1930's timepiece is classic and a great 'heirloom' piece to pass down.

COMPARED TO......

House of Lavande's 1920's Trifari Diamante Bracelet sells for $850! 

Stella & Dot's Mira Stone Stud Earrings are hand cut and glimmer with pale aqua colored stones for only $34!!

COMPARED TO...

Tiffany and Co.'s Elsa Peretti Diamonds by the Yard Earrings. Sterling silver pockets are set with aquamarine stones for $295

Stella & Dot's Tiny Pave Heart Necklace is sterling silver and decorated with pave set stones for just $39. A great piece to layer and add a little sparkle to your neck!

COMPARED TO...

David Yurman's Pave Diamond Cable Heart Necklace, also sterling silver at 17" with a retail price of $650