Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton kick started this trend late last year and I instantly sat up and took notice. Anyone who reads this blog knows that I love comfortable, easy clothing and what could be more comfortable than wearing your PJ's during the day! I can't get over how gloriously chic Sofia Coppola looks in her head to toe Louis look; the classic navy pajama set with white piping is given a seriously sharp fashion edge with its leopard print and slim cropped cut. Add louche chic into your look and purchase the rather more affordable Rag and Bone silk PJ blouse www.barneys.com, wear with a skinny pant or a city short and a flat loafer and you will as look fashion fabulous as the glorious Ms Coppola.
STYLE STAR: EMMA STONE
Emma Stone's style star continues to shine and her appearance at the 2013 Elle Women in Film awards was blinding. I am head over heels for her magenta Valentino Resort 2013 dress; the femininity and frothiness of the pink chiffon is beautifully balanced by the clean preppiness of the dresses' stark white collar and cuffs. The dress is divine and so is Miss Stone.
STREET STYLE: MICHELLE WILLIAMS
Whether its on the red carpet or the street Michelle Williams' choice of clothing never fails to disappoint. Strolling the streets of the hipster capital Portland, Williams' choice of silk print pants, chambray shirt, black loafers and cropped black jacket is so bang on trend yet so in keeping with her overall aesthetic. William's always manages to look like she hasn't tried too hard and interprets trends in her own preppy Brooklyn hipster way, and I love her for it!
STYLE SPOTLIGHT: KIRSTEN DUNST
You can always rely on the hipster fashion darling Kirsten Dunst to sport an unexpected look on the red carpet and this yellow brocade Stella McCartney shorts and top combo is no exception! I love the length of the short and the body conscious tailoring of the top gives this outfit a girlish and mini dress like appearance. Take a style tip from Kristen and clash your citrus hued clothing with an acidic orange lip, she keep the rest of the her look simple with undone done hair and suede ankle strap shoes. Love love love this look!
TREND REPORT: THE BLACK LEATHER BIKER JACKET
So all the cool girls have thrown out their army jackets and are now sporting the new must have cover up- the black motorcycle jacket. This archetypal cool kid piece is now being redesigned by all of the super hip brands and Acne, Carven and Burberry all have their own interpretation. The through lines are; the jackets are cropped, have a shrunken fit and are a little boxy. These jackets are perfect for giving your style that androgynous boy meets girl cool factor, throw over floral's, lacy dresses and of course pair with your skinny cropped denim a la Alexa. Make like Audrey Hepburn meets Patti Smith and invest in this trend pronto! x
MUST HAVE: THE FLORAL PRINT PANT
Yes minimalism is my thing but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the more playful side of fashion. One recent trend that I have been admiring is the floral print pant. For myself I will stick to a black and white print but if color is your thing, I highly suggest you grab yourself a rainbow bright pair! The key to anyone pulling off the floral print pant is keep the rest of your look simple and neutral. Go for a solid top (pull a color from the pant as seen in the photo above), for your outer layer stick to a simple, sharply tailored blazer, trench or military jacket (army green is the new neutral don't you know!) add a sky high sexy pump and you are SET! I have seen some fabulous floral pants at my old faithful www.zara.com Have fun! x
THE ALEXA FOR MADEWELL FASHION FRENZY!
So ladies did you log on at midnight this week or attend one of the Alexa Chung for Madewell 2011 in store launch parties? I must confess I logged on the minute the clock struck midnight and found myself frantically clicking 'add to shopping cart' on every lusted after item of the collection. When the time came to check out, the total amount sent me into such a state of shock that I slammed my lap top shut and went to sleep empty handed. The next day I nervously ventured to my nearest store, terrified for what may happen to my bank account. I restrained myself and walked away with the flared high waisted jeans, the 'I'm Serious' t-shirt and the round necked polka dot blouse. The palm tree dress and leopard print booties were nowhere to be seen, but I survived and my bank account breathed a sigh of relief! What did you buy?!
RIP THE BALLET FLAT?
When packing for my trip to London and Paris I grabbed my trusty tan Repetto ballet flats but then a wash of hesitation came over me, dare I ask myself the question; are my ballet flats feeling a little tired? Sadly the answer was yes, I had a moment of fashion focus and thought of just as comfortable alternatives. I came to the conclusion that while my ballets flats are eternally chic and will always be easy to wear, a tan Repetto loafer felt far more current and more interesting, a little more sturdy and a better contrast to my favored polka dot maxis and trench coats. Don't worry my ballet flats are not going anywhere and they are certainly not going to fashion heaven, they are just going to take a little break :) Find your Repetto loafers at www.openingceremony.com or for a cheaper alternative go to www.stevemadden.com x
KEEP IT SIMPLE
When I saw this pic of Aussie super Miranda Kerr in NYC I couldn't help but feel compelled to write a post. I want to highlight that real style is so much more obtainable if you KEEP IT SIMPLE. In your everyday life your wardrobe can be pared down to a few essential items that you will wear for years to come, trust me if you do this you will have no problem getting dressed in the morning! I used to give myself such a headache every day when I opened my closet; I would be confronted by dozens of multicolored blouses, leopard and polka dot print dresses and a multitude of striped shirts and I didn't know what to do with it all, and I'M A STYLIST! HA! I am simply too busy and don't have the time or the yearning to wear super on trend pieces, its too much effort! Here Miranda shows how fabulous a white shirt and a pair of jeans can look, she adds a fashion forward touch to the look by adding the incredibly on trend Isabel Marant Dicker boot and a tan felt hat. Put your best foot forward and start to build a simple clean wardrobe full of well made classics and you will thank me for it!
PARISIAN CHIC
When thinking about what to pack for my upcoming London/Paris trip it lead me to dream about Parisian chic. Anyone who reads this blog knows that I regularly obsess over French fashion and my excitement regarding my trip is reaching fever pitch! I suppose to break down Parisian chic there are just a few items that you need, all of which are classic and will never go out of style; a trench (go for Burberry or APC), a Saint James striped tee (can now be found at JCrew) a pair of ankle length black capri pants (H&M have some great ones at them moment) and top the look off with a Chanel ballet flats in black or camel (or if on a budget try JCrew again). See? so easy, so simple and TRES CHIC! X
MY SPRING UNIFORM
Imagine how thrilled I was when I discovered that my spring uniform (which has existed for at least a couple of years) is near identical to that of my most favored style icon Vogue France's editor Emmanuelle Alt's most recent look. OK, I'll break it down for you. firstly lets identify the essential skinny white jean which is such a great alternative to blue denim (which honestly I am finding rather BORING) and goes with EVERYTHING. Don't be afraid to wear in cooler months either, pair with a light grey woolly sweater and a little tan ankle boot for instant chic! Alt wears her white skinny's with a low rise, I opt for medium-high, when on styling jobs as the last thing I need is to flash my undies when cuffing a models jeans! Next up, we have the chambray shirt; if you read this blog regularly you know that I ADORE the chambray shirt, it adds a laid back quality to any look and is so flattering and practical. Start building a collection of different shades of chambray and wear with sequins, floral prints and of course, white denim! Now with this chambray shirt and white skinny jean uniform I find I can take it from day to night very easily. In the daytime (unlike Alt in her vertiginous black pumps) I wear my spring uniform with white high top converse, my green army surplus jacket and my tortoiseshell cat eyes, and at night I switch out the cons for my nude and black cap toe Prada's, undo one more button on my chambray, keep the army jacket on and add my black Chanel 2.55. If you want to try out this spring uniform you can find a fantastic selection of chambray shirts at www.madewell.com and white jeans in varying rises at www.jcrew.com HAVE FUN! X
BEST DRESSED: Leighton Meester in Prada
I must confess that I used to keep my eye on Leighton and her fashion choices but as my love for Gossip Girl has waned, so has my awareness of Leighton, HOWEVER, I could not overlook this sublime Prada number, which in unexpected and unusual but just WORKS. Who would have thought that red and nude satin and lemon yellow chiffon would come together in such a chic and elegant way?! The dresses' knee length chiffon pleats, plunging neckline and knot shoulders create such an elegant silhouette and I particularly love her choice to keep her accessories and hair and make-up simple; a barely there bracelet, nude pumps, red bag, dewy skin and a bold red lip. Bravo Leighton, Bravo! x
DO YOU DARE TO FLARE?
I am particularly excited by the resurgence of the bell bottom but it is all too easy to get the look horribly wrong and resemble an extra from Boogie Nights! My rules when going for the flared look is keep the denim a mid blue (see Dakota Fanning in Elizabeth and James Jimi Bell Bottoms), with a high rise and wear them long with a stacked boot or a 70's inspired wedge (inspired being the operative word here ladies!). On the top half of your body you can't go wrong with a white tee but also consider a tucked in and collared silk Equipment blouse. In regards to your outer layer, flares look particularly great with a belted trench. They are also a great denim silhouette for a curvier girl as they balance out the hips and bust, just please make sure you wear with a heel, flats and flares do not a good match make! Find at www.shopbop.com x
SUBLIME SWEATERS
I am thrilled that sweaters are so in vogue right now, when I dress myself comfort is key and there is nothing better than a cozy sweater to warm me up and keep me happy. Sweaters are incredibly versatile and can be dressed up or down; I wear mine constantly over a flared and flirty floral vintage dress, my leather shorts or a mini skater skirt.When reaching for your sweater this January keep a few things in mind; cable knits are great (see above on Rachel Bilson) and super chic but if you are blessed with a generous bosom, steer clear of them, you don't need the added bulk. Keep your sweater round necked and slim fitting, I think over sized equals sloppy and should only be worn whilst sitting in front of the fire at home! Splash out on a cashmere or alpaca sweater, but choose your colors wisely to make them practical investments; you can't go wrong with cream, black or grey. I am a huge fan of the sweaters at www.madewell.com and www.jcrew.com, their cuts are spot on and the price is right! Stay warm and ENJOY! X
SECRETS OF A STYLIST
Click on the link to read another article that I wrote for The Huffington Post! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clare-mukherjee/secrets-of-a-stylist-how-_b_1026028.html
PRINTS PLEASE!
Now if you are a regular reader you will know that I like to keep my style neutral and simple but sometimes I crave a little whimsy. Since MIU MIU's famous Spring 2010 season when we were launched into a fashion frenzy by its collection featuring cat and bird prints (see on Kirsten above), I have been yearning a piece of the action! This year Victoria By Victoria Beckham, Carolina Herrera and Altuzarra have all jumped on the fashion bandwagon with their collections heavily featuring cat and bird prints. This trend is clearly not going anywhere. If you are the daring sort, try a heavily detailed print dress like Kirsten's. I have found a fantastic and affordable option here: www.asos.com. Or if you are feeling timid about this trend why not try a bird or a cat print silky blouse like this one www.netaporter.com tucked into a pair of high waist jeans or a black skater skirt? Fun, fresh and bang on trend!
THE DRESS, THE BAG, THE SHOE-THIS GIRL HAS IT ALL!
Oh Alexa, when will you cease to turn me green with jealousy with your ever increasing closet. Not only are you sporting the must have shoe of the season (the Miu Miu's Glitter boot that I fawned over in a previous post) but you are also wearing the coolest dress in the stores right now, the Rebecca Taylor Ghost dress. It is perfectly girlish with its heart shaped cut out neckline, but what I love is that the sweetness is offset with the dresses' ghost and ghouls print- just in time for Halloween. Who needs a costume when you have this dress! Find the dress here at www.rebeccataylor.com
KATE THE GREAT
The fashionista filled front row gasped as Kate Moss walked onto the runway to close the Louis Vuitton ready to wear spring summer 2012 collection shown in Paris yesterday. Her white feathered mini dress was the perfect climax to a exceptionally theatrical show where we had seen models emerge from carousel horses sporting 50's silhouettes in varying pastel hues. Floral and feather accents on the clothing added to the bountiful femininity of the collection and as the last show of Paris Fashion Week, the Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton collection was the perfect send off. Au revoir!
PALTROW LOOKS PERFECT IN PRADA
I must confess that I generally find Ms Paltrow rather irritating, what with her holier than thou approach to diet, fitness and parenting. However I can not deny that all of her hard work and dedication has paid off and she looked truly breathtaking in this drop waist peach Prada silk gown at the Deauville Film Festival opening night gala. Tasteful, timeless and so very elegant, Gywneths appearance was bordering on regal. Don't you agree?
MODERN CLASSICS: The Equipment Shirt
Back in the early 90's when I was 7 or 8 years old, my Mother's outfits often involved blouses of the silky variety. In subtle shades of ivory, blush pink and grey they seemed so feminine, grown up and womanly. The predominant blouse brand in the 80's and 90's was Equipment and last year the French company relaunched with a new CEO and have returned to the forefront of the fashion scene. Fashion editors and taste makers are professing their undying love for Equipment shirts and I couldn't agree with them more. They are practical, stylish and classic and look just as good with a pair of cropped pants and flats in the office as they do with a mini skirt and shoe boots at night. Find your nearest stockist at www.equipmentfr.com and start collecting them asap!