Bargain Chic: French Connection

Showing posts with label French Connection. Show all posts

Packing for Paris: Part Four

September 9, 2013

Three weeks and counting until I'm in gay ole' Pair-ee. And, as the days flutter by and the weekends slip past me, I'm starting to realize that my European wardrobe may be lacking in the WOW factory.

See, I'm not really a flashy person. I tend to wear simple, low-key pieces that I can mix and match. But, I suppose it might be worthwhile to add a little pizazz to my wardrobe, especially since my friend from Paris, who is traveling with me to London, said she wanted to go out for a nice dinner during our visit. And, well, that just upped the ante for me. Now I've got to find something cute and hip with a little bit of flair.

So, here are some dresses that do a good job of keeping that simple side of me happy, while adding a little flourish here and there to add some interest and intrigue to my look.

1. Contrasted Panels Dress, Mango, $79.99; 2. Lace Detail Dress, I. Madeline, Piperlime, $89; 3. Tweedie Dress, C. Luce, Piperlime, $79; 4. Solar Pleated Dress, French Connection, $198.

The Dichotomy of Dressing

March 6, 2009

Over the last few years, there has been a trend towards two completely opposite styles -- the structured look verse the amorphous look. Both have had their time in the spotlight, but this year it seems the designers have managed to meld the two into a look that is unique and daring.

They've taken the fluidity of ruffles and chiffon and structured them as pleats and origami-like constructions. The outcome is a style that oozes sophistication and will always make anyone wearing it chic -- bargain price or not.

Designer Look

Marchesa, Spring 2009 Ready-to-Wear
(Photo courtesy style.com)

Bargain Look

Kuro Brocade Dress, modcloth.com, $71.24

Wizard Wonder Dress, French Connection, $109.99

Plastic Island "Cocktail Dress"
(was $44.70 on sale -- dillards.com no longer has dress available,
but it may still be available at Dillard's stores)

Fashion Immitating Life

August 23, 2008

A friend of mine forwarded me this quote from Coco Chanel about fashion and style. It epitomizes the breadth of fashion -- how it can transcend past fabric draped on our bodies to a metaphor of life. The following looks are reflections of images that we see everyday -- from the sky to the street to bold statements -- and represent how fashion can transform how we think.

The Sky

Loose and light like the sky with a bit of rigidness reaching for the soft clouds.

Mystical dress, French Connection, $228

The Street

Vibrant colors mixing around varied layers and textures with a sense of whimsy and adventure.

Donegal tweed ecole jacket, $198; watercolor floral roset tank, $98; distressed vintage slim jeans, $135 (all JCrew).

Bold Statements

Out-of-the-ordinary, intense statements that leave a lasting impression.

Extreme cut-out sandal, Dior, $780

The Roaring Twenties

October 6, 2007

Drop waists, sequins and fringe -- what do they all have in common? They are a part of this season's "essential trends." So, I say, give in to the retro glam of the twenties, when women chopped-off their hair, began showing their ankles and shoulders and started having as much fun as men!