NY Fashion Week: Part 3

So, while looking through the hundreds of pictures of different fashion shows, I noticed quite a few attempts at bringing back the MC Hammer pants of the early 90s. Okay, so they aren't really calling them MC Hammer pants -- rather harem pants -- but to me, whenever I see them, all I hear in my head is the song "U Can't Touch This."

Despite the prevalence of MC...ahem...harem pants on the runways, I did come across a few pant looks that I would feel comfortable wearing out in public, without the sudden urge to do the crab dance.  Here are just a couple of the looks I found the most enticing -- slim cropped pants, high-waisted pants, both satiny in bright, bold colors.  Enjoy!

Diane von Furstenberg, Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear

 Monique Lhuillier, Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear

NY Fashion Week: Part 2

Every designer has an arsenal of fabulous dresses in their collection.  It seems that, especially for Spring and Summer lines, dresses are the glue that holds these lines together. Sure, there are plenty of shirt/shorts/pants combos, but the dresses are what make these designer's shows, well, spectacular.

Here are a few samples of dresses that I found rather splendiferous.

Badgley Mischka, Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear

Elie Tahari, Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear

 

Jason Wu, Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear

Oscar de la Renta, Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear

NY Fashion Week: Part 1

New York's Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Week has come and gone, and as someone who loves to look at the glitz and glamor of designer duds but who rarely indulges in them, I took a moment this weekend to peruse the multitude of fashion show slide shows on www.style.com.

Of the shows I looked at, a few things became abundantly clear -- the minimalism of the 90s is back, as is sheer tops and dresses, and muted, neutral colors. Another big trend seems to be a resurgence of the 70s look -- bohemian-inspired maxi dresses and loud prints.

There were some standouts in my fashion opinion. Since I tend to gravitate towards more refined, girly and sophisticated looks,  the simpler or more eclectic designers didn't really intrigue me, although the African-inspired prints and intermix of patterns front L.A.M.B were fun. And, I also liked the luminous colors that Marc Jacobs and Carlos Miele used in their designs -- when I think of Spring, I think the rebirth of color, not blah nude, beige and white.

So, here is Part 1 of some of my favorite finds during my scavenger hunt for fashion. Unfortunately, I can't offer any bargain alternatives, since opulent fashion begets economical fashion, and most of these styles won't hit stores for awhile.  I will, however, try in earnest to scour the web for some fabulous bargain chic styles in the weeks to come.  But, in the meantime, enjoy these finds and get ready for the trends to take shape.

L.A.M.B, Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear

Marc Jacobs, Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear

Carlos Miele, 201 Spring Ready-to-Wear 

All photos are from www.style.com.

I'm Too Sexy For This Cold

I'm in the midst of a cold -- a stuffy nose, plugged ears, sore throat and coughing kind of cold. Yeah, one that knocks you off your four-inch heels and keeps you in bed all day long, watching daytime t.v. and filling up on homemade chicken noodle soup.

But, as I drowned in nose spray and Kleenex, I had a thought. I'll do a post on sexy shoes.

Uh, yeah. What?!

I had to laugh at myself. Sexy shoes? That is so far from how I'm feeling right now. In fact, sexy isn't even in my vocabulary -- sick or not. It's one of those words that people say means many things to different people, but to me, it means "not me." I may be cute or feisty, at best, but sexy, nah -- that just isn't me.

But, then again, maybe "sexy" could be me. I mean, what woman wouldn't feel sexy in a pair of leather, zip-up, stiletto boots (yeah, you might not be able to walk in them, but damn, you'll look good trying!), or in a sophisticated peep-toe pump a la Joan from Mad Men -- she oozes sexiness without even trying. Maybe being sexy is as simple as feeling sexy in whatever you're wearing.

Wow, was that an epiphany or just the realization that, duh, sexiness is relative?

Well, whatever the case may be, here are the inspiration shoes that helped me reach that rather obvious epiphany. Hopefully they can inspire you to find your own sexiness.

Designer Look

Ruched Mid-Calf Zip Boot, Giuseppe Zanotti, $995; Scalloped Patent Pump, Miu Miu, $650.

Bargain Look

 Kechi Mid-Calf Side-Zip Boot, Report, $123.45; Black & Cream Flower Toe Platform Pump, Plasticland, $49