Standouts from Pre-Fall 2015

While I understand that the planning and execution of a single seasonal collection involves more time and work than the average end consumer could even imagine, the idea that the fashion world has two seasons per year, while the weather and our lifestyles have four, is still a bit of an odd idea to wrap one’s head around. Even more trippy is the fact that technically, February is the first month of “Spring/Summer” and August is the first month of “Fall/Winter”. It is as if the fashion world is proof that a parallel universe does indeed exist.

Thankfully, Resort and Pre-Fall collections are here to (somewhat) normalize the annual cycle, so that, just as we plan our year around four seasons, we can plan our fashion calendar around four different points of reference. Pre-Fall collections are the epitome of “short and sweet”; they do not involve as many looks as the average Fall collection, yet the looks are more wearable than the theatrical ensembles one might see on a Fall runway. Here are ten such looks that caught my eye:

Theia   Giamba 5

Theia, Don O’Neill ~~~~ Giamba, Giambattista Valli

Rodebjer  Co

Rodebjer, Carin Rodebjer ~~~~ Co, Stephanie Danan and Justin Kerr

Noon by Noor  Mantu

Noon by Noor, Shaikh Noor Al Khalifa and Shaikh Haya Al Khalifa ~~~~ Mantù, Jane Hayward

Public School  Yeohlee

Public School, Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osbourne ~~~~ Yeohlee, Yeohlee Teng

ICB   Won Hundred

ICB ~~~~ Won Hundred, Nikolaj Nielsen and Anna Bauer

Trend of the Day — Plaid Cape Coats

I may go to NYU, but I can still appreciate the New England, Ivy League vibe of a plaid cape coat! Here are my current favorites, at every price point.

Girls on Film  Nasty Gal

Girls on Film, $29                              Nasty Gal, $69

 

Runyiyi  Vivienne Westwood

Runyiyi, $118      Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, $290

 

Club Monaco

Ralph Lauren, $510            Club Monaco, $695

 

St. John 2  Libertine

St. John, $1,395                      Libertine, $2,750

 

Love This Brand — Alice + Olivia

My fantasy is to travel the globe in search of new Alice + Olivia pieces. Here is how I would go about it…

START: ALICE + OLIVIA BOUTIQUE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK

Alice + Olivia boutique  Alice + Olivia from Alice + Olivia

Cherry pouf dress, $698

SCOOP, NEW YORK, NEW YORK

Alice + Olivia from Scoop              Scoop

Lewis drop waist knit skirt, $220

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK

 

Saks Fifth Avenue           Alice + Olivia from Saks Fifth Avenue

Lang two-tone strapless cut-out waist jumpsuit, $440

NORDSTROM RACK, WESTBURY, NEW YORK

Alice + Olivia from Nordstrom Rack                          Nordstrom Rack

Dakota ankle strap flat, $120

MYTHERESA.COM ON THE PLANE

mytheresa Alice + Olivia from mytheresa

Verity fur jacket, $1,315

OXYGEN BOUTIQUE, LONDON, ENGLAND

Alice + Olivia from Oxygen Boutique      Oxygen Boutique

Wynn sleeveless slim fitted dress, $525

SELFRIDGES, LONDON, ENGLAND

Selfridges                     Alice + Olivia from Selfridge's

Floral ball gown skirt, $900

SMETS, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

Alice + Olivia from Smets              Smets

Sheer crochet top, $235

LA CASA MODA, SCHORNDORF, GERMANY

La Casa Moda   Alice + Olivia from La Casa Moda

Breton sweater, $173

EXCELSIOR MILANO, MILAN, ITALY

Alice + Olivia from Excelsior Milano     Excelsior Milano

Mandy dress, $352

SHOPBOP.COM ON THE PLANE

Alice + Olivia from shopbop

Shopbop Logo. (PRNewsFoto/Shopbop.com)

Vintage box leather car pouch, $225

LANE CRAWFORD, SHANGHAI, CHINA

Alice + Olivia from Lane Crawford          Lane Crawford

Perna flower swing coat, $810

THECORNER.COM ON THE PLANE

Thecorner                         Alice + Olivia from thecorner

Knee length skirt, $490

NORDSTROM, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

Alice + Olivia from Nordstrom                               Nordstrom Headquarters

High waist wide leg pants, $365

DSW, NOVATO, CALIFORNIA

DSW                   Alice + Olivia from DSW

Dina floral pump, $290

CUSP NEIMAN MARCUS, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

Alice + Olivia from Neiman Marcus Cusp                             Neiman Marcus

Eddie floral-print boot-cut pants, $298

BLEU, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Bleu                           Alice + Olivia from Bleu

Sarita sequin drop shoulder top, $385

ZAPPOS.COM ON THE PLANE

Alice + Olivia from zappos                        Zappos

“Only you could know how perfect our trip is XOXO” Stella, $345

TOOTSIES, HOUSTON, TEXAS

Tootsies                         Alice + Olivia from Tootsies

Cady patterned shorts, $290

AND BACK HOME TO NEW YORK, WITH A BETTER WARDROBE TO SHOW FOR IT!

My Favorite Things at Nordstrom

I work at Nordstrom in Corte Madera, California, mainly in the TBD and Savvy departments, but also in Point of View, Individualist, Dresses, and Men’s Clothing when needed. Here are the best things I have noticed during my days there…

Kensie   Natasha Couture

Kensie, $15              Natasha Couture, $48            ASTR, $49

Joa   Sondra Roberts        kate spade 2 (2)

J.O.A., $92              Sondra Roberts, $98                           Kate Spade, $109

Jane Post   Alice + Olivia        St. John

Jane Post, $325             Alice + Olivia, $345                         St. John, $2,595

Departments (from top left): Hosiery, Trend Accessories, Savvy, Savvy, Trend Accessories, Accessories, Studio 121, Via C, Via C

Style Icon — Athena Calderone

Athena Calderone graduated from Parsons, has done modeling and created a line of custom children’s products. She is now an interior designer and writer of the blog Eye-Swoon. 

Athena in Suno          Athena in a jumpsuit

(Left) Suno dress

Athena in A.L.C.   Athena in black

(Left) A.L.C. dress, Nicholas Kirkwood pumps

Athena in fur   Athena in Peter Pilotto

(Right)  Reformation top, Peter Pilotto skirt

Athena in white   Athena in Topshop

(Right) Topshop top, Helmut Lang pants, Alejandro Ingelmo shoes

 

Stand Out — But Stay Warm!

Now that we are in the dead of winter, it makes sense to see most every person outside wearing a coat. What does not make sense is walking through a sea of drabby black coats. Here are a few pieces guaranteed to give the wearer a street style advantage!

Nº21 overisze coat; MSGM digital print coat; Au Jour Le Jour lips print duchesse coat

Derek Lam bonded leather trenchcoat; Liska brushstroke print coat;  Marc Jacobs, silk jacquard coat

Etro cotton coat;  Dolce & Gabbana embroidered cape coat; Opening Ceremony jacquard coat