All That Glitters in 2012

Sure, right now Christmas shopping is important and all, but chances are that many women's retail priority is nabbing the perfect New Year’s Eve dress. But once the ball drops and the hangover subsides, what will you do with that stunning sequined mini dress? Don’t keep it tucked away in the back of your closet — the glitter trend will be far from over in 2012. And while you can’t exactly wear your cocktail frock to work, there are (slightly) more subtle ways to incorporate sparkle into your everyday wardrobe.

Our favorite solution: Embellished sweaters, which can be found in all sorts of variations in stores this winter. You can go down the glitter gradient from Marc by Marc Jacobs's restrained use of shimmer in his floral Gladiola sweater, to J. Crew’s sporty sparkly Wynter sweater (rugby stripes which alternate between basic black and embellished white), to Top Shop’s twinkling, all-over sequin sweater. And why wait ‘til the New Year — you could even pull a Jenna Lyons and pair your sweater with a formal skirt for a head-turning, midnight-ready look.

Text Kara Solarz

Image Fashionologie

Winter Blooms

Holly and mistletoe aren’t the only flora that will make this season bright. Designers have reinvented spring’s signature print with bold, graphic florals flourishing in this year’s fall and winter collections. One of the most notable among the crop is Givenchy’s resort 2012 collection, which primarily features digitalized floral prints, often manipulated in kaleidoscope-esque designs that bloom on pencil skirts, shirt dresses, and boxy tees. In fact, creative director Riccardo Tisci was so smitten with his prints that he later returned to his favorite florals to create another series of cropped sweatshirts, button-downs, and skirts after the line’s debut. Designers such as Dolce and Gabbana, Jil Sander, and Fendi fell into the same flower-patterned suit, presenting rich, large-scale blooms on silk dresses, coats, and clutches.

Luckily for your wallet, high-street stores have taken up the trend, too. Floral prints sprung up in Top Shop, whose girly Intense Floral Print Dress is just right for winter when paired with wooly tights and high boots, and in The Gap, whose floral-print cardigan can add a pop of color to the sea of black and grey garments in your winter wardrobe. Cold weather aside, you can still have some spring in your step — or at least in your closet.

Text Kara Solarz
Image Style.com

Summer must haves...

Summer is right around the corner and it's about time you make your list for your must have items. Bikini, check. Caftan, check. Sandals, check. Hat, check. Sunglasses, check. Bag, check.

TOPSHOP offers a great selection of bikinis, so much to choose from; stripes, floral, colorful, tropical, and patchwork. Prices range from $50-90. For the same price range you can also choose your cover-up, perfect for strolling to the beach. Topshop seems to have it all this summer, not a bad selection of hats either.

LOUIS VUITTON has some great sandals in their summer 2010 line, they may be at a bit pricey but they are totally worth it. Check out the Monogram Sandal, these are priced at $790 and are a great choice for summer 2010.

Make your summer check list and hit the shops, or even the internet and grab yourself this summers must haves!

Studs (and there is nothing masculine about them!)

Whether you are a wild child or need to add some pizazz to an outfit, studded accessories are a great way to express your inner tough girl. Metallic details such as studs pair well with colors and neutrals, and chances are these accessories would get a lot of use so don't be afraid to splurge on an investment piece.

Studded shoes such as the Tory Burch stud ballet flats are a great example of fashion and function in unison. L.A. designer Dafne Balatsos has a line of gothic studded and spiked purses which are a tad pricy at around $800 each, but they are truly works of art. My favorite studded accessory is the Givency by Riccardo Tisci leather and metal studded headband. It definitely requires a lot of confidence and hair full of body to pull it off, and is a unique piece for an accessory lover.

If accessories with studs aren't for you, how about a studded leather jacket thrown over a cute dress or your favorite pair of jeans? Topshop's stud biker jacket is a very reasonable $115!

-Erin O'Hara

Tippety-Top Obama Shop

Alright so...I'm performing my tri-daily (is that a word?) ritual of searching for blog topics. I mean I could just say that I invent fashion news but I'm a truth-sayer so I won't. I'm here to tell you all about what you need to know in what's going on in the world of style. And apparently as of 6:58pm on Thursday, April 9th 2009 the only thing worth talking and/or knowing about is...TOP SHOP! OMG if I see another fashion story chronicling Top Shop and it's new opening in SoHo, I'm going to quit writing. No, I wont. That's a lie. But see, there's that story that's flooding mass media along with Michelle Obama's wardrobe whilst visiting the shriveled Queen. Ok, so Top Shop first, then Michelley Belly.

So Top Shop. I get it. I worked for H&M once upon a time...and was obsessed (and still am pretty much) so I get it. HUGE. Amazing. However, Top Shop is just another H&M, another Zara, another...what's another high fashion discount couturier? I don't know but think of it and that's what it's JUST LIKE!

The fashion is typical: trendy. Nothing spectacular. Funky printed shift dresses, bold primary colored strappy heels, cut-off denim shorts, and a wait-in-line from Broadway to Ave. of Americas (and back around to Houston). Oh and Kate Moss' fashion line is being sold exclusively here. I'm picturing Kate's clothing to be basically mirrors and razor blades, and white. All white. And nothing above a size 0. In fact, size 0 is the biggest size available. Aside from the mass amounts of parties blazing for the first ever Top Shop being opened in America (with special appearances by everyone from Jay Z to Michelle Trachtenberg) there is nothing to talk about that can't be said for H&M. So let's talk about Michelle Obama.

Um, why? All I've been hearing about is Michelles AMAZING wardrobe while she and Barrack (our President by the way) paid homage to Great Britain and did a shoe-shuffle-tap-dance for the starkly white Queen Elizabeth. Needless to say, I was deeply disappointed. I mean, her most 'amazing must-see' outfit was a cardigan. Seriously, google 'fashion news' (and read Daphne's recent post) and you will find nothing but Top Shop and Michelle Obama. I expected more from us, world.

I just have nothing to say except this week in fashion is a dead end. Snuggle up with CHAOS and go back to bed because you're not missing anything out there. Peace.