Paris Fashion Week's Mother of Pearl Beading

The year of the sequins may be in full swing, but there was another embellishment that we couldn’t keep our eyes off of during fashion week: Pearl beading. Perfect for setting off a delicate design or adding a serious dose of bling to embroidered pieces, this detail dominated several runway shows. Take Balmain’s fall 2012 ready-to-wear collection, which showed during Paris Fashion Week. In addition to the multitude of intricately beaded jackets, suits, and dresses, all of which oozed opulence, model-of-the-moment Karlie Kloss made her usual head-turning appearance in a to-die-for pair of velvet pants dotted in thousands of pearls and crystal. The complex look was casually paired with a cream crew-neck sweater.

Balmain wasn’t the only big name to try out this trend. Valentino added some subtle pearl beading to its folk-inspired collection, and Dolce & Gabbana used it for a characteristically luxurious effect on their dresses. You don't have to wait for this runway must-have to hit retail stores. Snag a sparking pearl bead skirt from Top Shop, available in both yellow and silver, or keep it classy with a darling embellished pearl cardigan or a ladylike bead and faux pearl-embellished crepe top from Miu Miu.

Text Kara Solarz
Image Zimbio.com

D&G's Paisley Patterns for Spring

Out with the old and in with the paisley patterns. As March 20, the first official day of spring, inches forward, don't celebrate with an ice cream treat; celebrate instead with bold paisley patterns.

Rest assured that paisley prints are all the rage right now. D&G’s spring 2012 ready-to-wear collection supported this spring hypothesis in more ways than one. D&G had models swaddled in paisleys, prints, and retro patterns for their line. As the first day of spring nears, we can all indulge in paisley without feeling the slightest guilt of having early spring fever. After all, you can never wait too long in the land of fashion; one day a look is hip, and the next day it is out faster than a seamstress can say “paisley.” Get it while it's hot!

Text Katelyn Chef 
Image and Source Style.com

Ab-Tastic Trend

This look may take some courage and a fair amount of self confidence to pull off, but so far this season, the exposed midriff is everywhere. This trend originated in the nineties, but it has recently come back into style. 

Major designers like Nina Ricci, Dolce & Gabbana, and Roland Mouret have sent models down the runway in this look. The key to pulling this off is to keep the belly button covered, which means that the focus is all on your abs. To make that happen, you may have to wear your pants and skirts slightly higher than you normally would.

There is no better way to welcome the warm weather than by showing off some skin. Try bright colors or bold patterns to really make this look stand out.

Text Caitlin Beck

Image Trendzystreet.com

The One Becomes a Trifecta

The One. It sounds like a personal experience, or an intricately designed item that was tailor-made to highlight and enhance a singular entity, rather than a product mass-produced for men all around the world.

The One collection is a popular men’s fragrance line created by Dolce & Gabbana in 2008. The premiere product was known as The One Man, which was succeeded two years later by The One Gentleman. The most recent addition to The One collection is The One Sport, which was released just a few days ago on February 1. The fragrance was introduced via commercial that featured male model Adam Senn working out in a long-abandoned coliseum.

The idea? That even when working out, you can smell (and, in Adam’s case, look) like a million bucks, while only paying $45 at your local Nordstrom. Maybe the tagline for it should be “use this and you can look like Adam Senn.” For a lot of people, that could be quite the incentive.


Text Jarrod Wadsworth
Image Models.com

Graphics Galore

While we've seen techno-tribal bags, polka dot pumps, and other eye-popping, patterned accessories from seasons past, a plethora of lively graphics have captured the attention of the fashion industry once again! With an eclectic and exciting assortment of printed handbags and shoes, it's no wonder why designers have said goodbye to boring, solid-colored accessories and "hello" to energetic (and rather quirky) accent pieces for the spring 2012 season. 

Many prominent designers by the likes of Dolce and Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, and Kate Spade are bringing this wild and playful trend back into the spotlight. But let's be honest, has it ever left? Au contraire, this bold fashion statement is continuing to take the fashion world by storm. Even celebrity tastemakers such as Rihanna, Beyonce, and Whitney Port have all been spotted sporting this trend. 

So, spice up your wardrobe with a bold, graphic-printed accessory, and take a walk on the wild side. You will surely be strutting down the streets in style.

Text Jasmine Song

Image and Source WWD

Fall Trend: Delicate Lace

 

From demure to sexy, the latest captivating fashion trend is lace. The once-sultry fabric has taken on a whole new feel — from shoes to shirts to dresses. Lace has hit the runways of Dolce & Gabbana, Jason Wu, and more, as designers fall for its sheer elegance. 


One delicate and romantic take on the style is a short, sweet, and simple cocktail dress. To sport a more dramatic ensemble, select a full skirt or floor-length lace dress. A covered-up neckline and a nude or black slip layered underneath maintains flirty yet sophisticated elements, without revealing too much.

The key to pulling off this peek-a-boo style is to adorn yourself with just a touch of lace. A lacy pair of tights adds instant éclat to an LBD or a lace clutch with jeans, while a pair of lace pumps adds polish to any modest outfit, like a white T-shirt and loose-fitting boyfriend jeans.

Mixing the super-feminine fabric with menswear is the perfect transition from summer to fall. A lace skirt with a tailored blazer, or a lacy cami over a knit sweater, are flirty takes on this bold pattern. 

Text Tiffany Frasier
Images courtesy of Lanvin, Jason Wu, Dolce & Gabbana, Elle Tahari, and DKNY