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Paris Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Street Style & Front Row Fashion

Here we are, the final post from Spring 2013 Fashion Week in New York, London, Milan, and Paris. Today we’ll be looking at some of the best street style from Fashion Month – The ladies really dress to the nines when it comes to being photographed at Paris Fashion Week.

I adore this look from head-to-toe! From the quilted motorcycle jacket to the striking black & white bag to the suede ankle boots. Well done!

This look is so sweet and retro I couldn’t help but love it. The contrasting colored tights and chunky velvet ankle strap sandals are my favorite part!

A dramatic black & white look with a splash of color is a great color scheme to work with and the sleek silhouette of this look is even more striking.

This outfit is all about the tan, double-breasted coat. I love a dramatic outerwear look like this!

A floral jumpsuit is just the thing in the Parisian parks when paired with a tan wrap-around belt and a striking coral Chanel bag.

This is one of the most stunning overcoats that I’ve seen in a while –  A stunning color with a fun, eye-catching brooch and a great retro vibe.

So chic & well put together! The bright, collared shirt dress paired with a sleek black leather jacket is a great pairing and suits her perfectly.

Karmen may be Estonian, but she’s got the French je ne sais quoi in spades. This layered black look is striking & eye-catching despite being monochromatic.

Such a stunning, Summery look – The floral maxi looks great paired with the white, cropped leather jacket and that Hermes Birkin bag is swoon-worthy.

One of my favorite Paris Fashion Week street style looks was from blogger Chiara Ferragni – This multi colored lace Chanel dress with nude accessories is chic, flattering, and timeless. She looks stunning!

{Click on the links above to view the original source}

Previous Spring 2013 Collections: New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part I, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part II, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part IIINew York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Street Style & Front Row Fashion, London Fashion Week Spring 2013London Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Street Style & Front Row FashionMilan Fashion Week Spring 2013, and Milan Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Street Style & Front Row Fashion.

Additional reviews, photographs, shows, and videos: Onto My Wardrobe’s Fashion Weeks Recap, FabSugar’s Best Paris Fashion Week Street-Style Accessories, and WhoWhatWear’s What They Wore: Paris Fashion Week.

Which street style and front row fashion had you most excited from this season’s Fashion Month – New York, London, Milan, or Paris?


Paris Fashion Week Spring 2013

J’adore Paris!

There is no city quite like Paris and no fashion is quite like Parisian fashion. I adore many cultures and cities and designers, but there’s just something about Paris that you can’t forget.

Valentino:

Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli have consistently created lovely collections since taking over from Mr. Valentino himself – Lots of dresses, fabulous splashes of classic Valentino red, and red carpet ready gowns.

Leather, velvet, silk, chiffon, lace, satin, and eyelet all made their way down the runway – Along with the occasion statement coat and jumpsuit. My favorite look was the gold brocade coat-dress that Hanne Gaby Odiele wore down the catwalk – Tres chic!

Chanel:

The Chanel show is always a dramatic, eclectic spectacle and this season was no different with solar panels, turbines, and wind farm-like backdrops.

This collection included everything from hula hoop handbags, stark black & white, youthful polka dots, bright jewel tones, traditional florals, 80’s style fingerless gloves, denim, rompers, suits, wide-brimmed hats, and strappy wedges. I especially liked the chunky pearl bracelets & necklaces, the polka-dotted strapless dress, and the cute Dorothy-inspired blue & white gingham.

Alexander McQueen:

The McQueen show is always something to look forward to with eye-catching, one-of-a-kind makeup, backgrounds, clothing, and accessories. No other designer can come close to the types of shows that Lee McQueen – And now Sarah Burton – Put on.

This season’s collection had an S&M beekeeper type of vibe with safari-style netting covered hats, bustiers, thigh-high stockings, harnesses & corsets, bustles, wide belts, and bee, wasp, and honeycomb prints. Excessive, rich, over-the-top, and utterly stunning.

Miu Miu:

Denim, interesting fabrics & textures, moody prints, and a mixture of silhouettes and lengths all gave the Miu Miu collection a fun but grown-up feel.

I love classic workwear style pieces so this collection was right up my alley. I adored the pencil skirts and sleek sheath dresses, and the retro vibe was to die for with killer furs, boat neck tops, visible pin-up inspired bustiers, leather gloves, slim pocketbooks, and long, demure jackets. J’adore!

Lanvin:

“Deconstructed classicism” was the theme and it came to life in sleek separates and dresses done up in black & white, bold, vibrant jewel tones, and silky neutrals.

The collection was sleek and sexy, the pieces modern and wearable. The embellished prints were quite eye-catching but the sleek pieces in navy, black & white stole the show in my opinion. All of the looks above are amazing – I would wear them anytime, anywhere!

Yves Saint Laurent:

New name – Saint Laurent – retro vibe. The 70’s were back at YSL with leather, suede, fringe, wide-brimmed hats, and maxi lengths all evoking classic Yves.

The details of this collection were what caught my attention – The slim, cropped pants, the white piping on blazers, the patent t-trap heels, oversized bows at the neck, and opera-length gloves. I especially liked the pants looks and shimmering, two-toned caplet was the piece at the top of my Must Have list!

Givenchy:

While the theme may have been the same, Riccardo Tisci’s sedated and minimal interpretation of Catholicism was a far cry from the extravagant opulence of the Fall 2012 Dolce & Gabbana show at Milan Fashion Week.

The pieces may have been stark – Done up in mostly black & white with severe cuts – But they were still dramatic and eye-catching. I adored the black & white frocks, the flattering tunic-vests, the subtle ruffles, and the thick metallic chokers.

Stella McCartney:

The Stella show was bold in both color and silhouette – Her usual oversized, boy-meets-girl style got spiced up with wrap dresses, jumpsuits, and racerback tops.

The suits and the minimalistic pieces are always my favorite – Though the patchwork prints and cheerleader skirts last season proved that she’s got more up her sleeve. The safari-style tops were cute and versatile and the green she showed was right up my alley!

Louis Vuitton:

The LV collection was awash in checkered patterns, bright hues, and in a fun change of pace Mr. Jacobs had all of his models strut their stuff down the runway in pairs.

The mod feeling to the show was modernized by the eye-catching prints. The accessories were cute but minimally applied – Bow adorned headbands, checkered flats, and small patterned daybags. Fun, flirty, and oh-so-wearable. Just what Marc Jacobs does best!

Chloe:

The Chloe collection was primarily black and white with some splashes of burnt orange and fleshy pink throw in for good measure. Very French. Very feminine. Very Sweet.

The silhouettes ranged from oversized and exaggerated to romantic and womanly. While the colors, fabrics, and prints ran the gamut from black & white velvet to salmon stripes to sheer purple ruffles.

Balmain:

The Balmain collection brought to mind the 90’s with power suits, big shoulders, loud prints, thick belts, and plunging necklines. All with a Parisian, Balmain spin on them.

Stripes & checkers, bold yellow, oversized hoop earrings, metallic accessories, midriff baring tops, denim, and oversized blazers all had me checking the models faces to see if Cindy, Linda, Naomi, or Christy were there.

Christian Dior:

Raf’s debut collection for Dior was full of dichotomies – Stark but romantic, minimal but dramatic. He played with colors, prints, lengths, and silhouettes while still presenting a very Dior collection.

The suits and coat-dresses were my favorite, they came in different cuts and lengths, but were utterly chic and utterly timeless. The kinds of pieces that you invest in and wear for the rest of your life.

Sources: Style.com, Fashionologie, The Stylist, & Tom & Lorenzo

Previous Paris Fashion Week Collections: Paris Fashion Week Fall 2012, Paris Fashion Week Fall 2012 – Street Style & Front Row Fashion, Paris Fashion Week Spring 2012 Part I, Paris Fashion Week Spring 2012 – Part II, and Paris Fashion Week Spring 2012 – Street Style & Front Row Fashion.

Additional reviews, photographs, shows, and videos: Raf Simons, Hedi Slimane and the Tectonic Shifts of the Paris Fashion Establishment from Business Of Fashion, FabSugar’s Paris Fashion Week Diary, Precious Details from The Man Repeller, and Derek Blasberg’s A Photo Diary From Paris Fashion Week.

Which Paris Fashion Week show was your favorite? Do you like the classic, Paris Fashion Week institutions like Chanel and Valentino best or newer, more modern houses like Chloe and Alexander McQueen?


Milan Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Street Style & Front Row Fashion

So far we’ve enjoyed the editors, bloggers, fashion insiders, models, and fabulous fashionistas who graced the streets at New York Fashion Week and London Fashion Week, and today we’ll turn to the stunning Italian style showcased during Milan Fashion Week. Bold prints, brilliant colors, dramatic silhouettes – Very distinct styles & interpretations of trends, very well done.

Stunning! Such an interesting and creative combination of elements that come together in a beautiful Italian way – The animal print dress works perfectly with the bright tweed jacket and the blue top handle bag.

Taylor Tomasi-Hill is one that I always keep an eye out for. She puts together such fun, visually interesting looks that I can hardly wait to see what she’s wearing. A midi-length dark floral dress would overwhelm some but not only can she pull it off, she can also add a cropped motorcycle jacket and look nonchalant about the whole thing.

Model Dree Hemingway knows the value of an eye-catching accessory. Her slim black leather pants and basic tee are taken to a whole new level with the addition of an oversized cobalt blue clutch.

Stunning Italian Fashion Blogger Chiara Ferragni of Blonde Salad fame looks great here in contrasting brights. The oversized lucite bangles, jaunty hat, and mouth-watering Hermes bag are the perfect finishing touches.

Head-to-toe Prada could be overwhelming but it looks street-ready here with the crisp white shirt underneath and the brilliant orange platform heels.

I love everything about this casual but oh-so-chic look. The army green & black combination, the killer Givenchy handbag, and of course, those loafers!

Mixing & matching prints is one of my favorite looks – When it’s done right. And this outfit? This is a tutorial on how to do it in a flattering, eye-catching way.

A wide-leg, grey, pinstripe jumpsuit? Three concepts that make me break out in hives just thinking about them together, and yet, here it looks downright dapper.

This striking white jumpsuit was caught outside the Etro show. I can’t decide if I love the plaid jacket, tan handbag, or the back-bow on the jumpsuit best!

Russian designer & photographer Ulyanna Sergeenko is quickly becoming a favorite of mine during Fashion Month – Her look is always refined and ladylike, with an emphasis on the DRAMA.

Garance Dore captured the always well-heeled Elisa Nalin in this great look. I love the diamond print on the slim pants as well as the black & white plaid boyfriend blazer paired with a Kelly green top. Tres chic!

Leave it to a blogger to pull of a brightly colored floral & bulldog print shift dress paired with buckle adorned black ankle booties. Brava!

Not sure how to pair various denim pieces together in one look? This model shows us just how it’s done in an oversized chambray button-down shirt and patchwork jeans.

This model looks amazing in Isabel Marant, from the separates she paired together to the booties – Well done!

{Click on the links above to view the original source}

Previous Spring 2013 Collections: New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part I, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part II, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part III, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Street Style & Front Row Fashion, London Fashion Week Spring 2013, London Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Street Style & Front Row Fashion, Milan Fashion Week Spring 2013, and Milan Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Street Style & Front Row Fashion.

Additional reviews, photographs, shows, and videos:

Are you a fan of the dramatic and eye-catching style that the Italians are known for and that were quite prevalent during Milan Fashion Week?


London Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Street Style & Front Row Fashion

The street style in London always has a bit of drama to it – While New York Fashion Week is full of fun, bright Summer separates, London usually has more focus on deeper colors, outerwear, and great boots.

You can always out on Miss Dita to give great face. She always gives a look her all and looks perfectly put together.

Mixing prints like this is not a challenge to be taken on by a novice! Bright colorblocking, paisley pants, red, black & white heels, and an oversized black clutch with red piping. Masterly!

Mulberry had itself quite the front row! Designer Emma Hill was joined by the a couple of fabulous British It girls – Alexa Chung, Kate Moss, and Lana Del Rey.

Texture! Texture! Texture! Between the stacked beaded bracelets to the contrasting lace in blues and creams to the chunky statement necklace – This look is all about mixing and matching textures and fabrics.

Such a stylish, colorful outfit – I love the marigold cropped pants paired with the emerald-green double-breasted blazer, it’s an interesting and striking combination.

This is such a great British outfit! The sweet silhouette of the drop-waist shift dress, the contrasting collar, and the chic retro hat are lovely, and I like how she paired them with a statement necklace and brightly colored clutch.

Poppy has been a longtime fan and supporter of Matthew Williamson and put together a great boho look for his show – Torn jeans, metallic strappy sandals, an embroidered top, and braids.

This is a fantastic jacket and I love how she gave it a fun, relaxed feel by paring it with a graphic tee and the cherry red handbag.

Rocker chic meets Catholic school girl – Daisy Lowe put together an edgy but stylish black & white ensemble by pairing a pleated mini with a high-neck blouse, cropped motorcycle jacket, and ankle boots.

I absolutely adore this – The puppy sweater is too cute for words, the tweed coat is killer, and I NEED those moccasin heels!

The stylish outerwear wasn’t just on the runway at Burberry, Miss Julia RestoinRoitfeld and Robert Konjic looked great in double-breasted coats just outside the show.

Drama Queen! Never interested in being a wallflower ADR stuns in statement pieces after statement piece! Maybe she got caught in a fashion shower on her way to the show? 🙂

I adore this shot of models Poppy & Arizona. They have such distinct styles, but they both look great. Poppy’s studded ankle boots and black & white printed blouse suit her perfectly, while Arizona’s button-front dress and cropped leather jacket work really well to create a fun, unique look.

Stunning! I love the sweet Peter Pan collar and can’t imagine a more flattering color or cut for her. And those booties? Swoon! Leave it to a blogger to knock it right out of the park! 🙂

{Click on the links above to view the original source}

Previous LFW & Spring 2013 Collections: New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part I, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part II, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part III, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Street Style & Front Row Fashion, London Fashion Week Fall 2012, London Fashion Week – Street Style & Front Row Fashion, London Fashion Week Spring 2012 Round-Up, and Streetstyle & Front Row Fashion – London Fashion Week.

Additional reviews, photographs, shows, and videos: London Fashion Week Spring 2013: Parties & Front Row, Street Style Spring 2013: London Fashion Week & London Backstage Beauty Files: Spring 2013 from Harper’s Bazaar.

Do you prefer the wild & vibrant styles that feature heavily on the sidewalks of New York City or the moody, Fall-inspired fashions on the London streets during Fashion Week?


New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Street Style & Front Row Fashion

This is the final – finally – post on the Spring 2013 New York Fashion Week collections. During the first three posts we reviewed the NYFW institutions, the affordable “real women” lines, and the newbies to Fashion Week. Today’s post is all about the editors, actresses, bloggers, models, and fashion industry insiders during New York Fashion Week – What they wore to view the collections, running between the shows, and to the parties, store openings & celebration dinners.

{I absolutely adore this look. It’s chic and utterly put together, but still fun and youthful rather than being stiff and boring. Well done Miss Belle!}

{Low-key and casual, perfect for a muggy NYC day and comfortable enough to make it through the day without foot pain, fashion emergencies, or faux pas.}

{Quite the well put together outfit – I love the blouse, it suits her really well, and I’m a sucker for a great day clutch so this studded beauty really caught my eye.}

{So. Cute. I can’t imagine a more adorable or flatteringly age-appropriate little outfit for this young lady.}

{I kind of love Kelly’s look here. I’m not a huge fan of her recent hair color choices, but the bright colorblocking of this frock is lovely and that black & white checkered clutch was a brilliant choice.}

{I love the fresh, colorful prints she picked here, as well as the unique midi length hem. There’s something to be said for mixing & matching, no one else will ever show up in the same outfit!}

{LOVE! It’s fun and one-of-a-kind, totally Brad!}

{Great colors. Fabulous length. Utterly flattering silhouettes. Well done ladies, well done.}

Bloggers:

Bloggers do it better! 🙂 The ladies who represented the blogger contingent in New York City did a fabulous job in brights, florals, prints, and eye-catching accessories.

{Such a gorgeous dress! Dark florals are one of my favorite ways to bridge the Summer-to-Fall gap and this is a great example of how to transition them. And Zara booties never hurt an outfit!}

{One way to make sure that you stand out in a crowd of bloggers, celebrities, and editors is to: (1) Look stunning (2) Wear stand-out hues that suit you to perfection & (3) Pile on the gorgeous statement jewelry}

{Great print & colors – And those double ankle strap heels are killer}

{Liz from Late Afternoon (left) and Laura from OnTheRacks (right) make quite the pretty picture in a fun, colorful array of separates paired with perfectly chosen, eye-catching accessories.}

JVP_3000
{Do blondes have more fun? Ask Shea {Cheyenne Meets Chanel}, Chiara {The Blonde Salad}, and Kristina {Kayture}. These lovely ladies all added some Summer white to their chic ensembles – from blazers & cropped leather jackets to pants & handbags.}
Models:
Can’t forget to include the great looks that are put together but the stunning ladies who strut their stuff on catwalks all over the world during Fashion Month!

{Sylish and chic! I love this look but I have NO IDEA how she was wearing a black blazer during NYFW, maybe she took it off after the pictures were taken?}

{This is a great laid back look. I adore the printed pants paired with the leopard print pieces, and the plain white tee paired with the dramatic statement necklace is another great choice.}

{LOVE THIS. It’s wild & crazy & fun – Just what fashion week is supposed to be all about!}

{I always look forward to shots of Karlie – I adore her street style, her runway walk, and how her personality always manages to shine through in a picture. Here’s yet another great example of her personal style from Mr. Newton!}

{How fabulous is this shot? I love her bike, her handbag, her helmet, and her low-key but chic style – Skinnies & a tank – perfect for a humid Summer day in New York.}

Constance Jablonski, Ginta Lapina and Karlina Caune Off Duty 

{This is a great shot showing models doing something that they do best – Mixing & matching! These ladies are doing a great job of combining interesting and fun pieces to put together unique, fashionable looks.}

And last but hardly least, my favorite look from New York Fashion Week…

{I mean seriously? Can you imagine a more chic and stylish looking woman? She probably made half the women at this show cry and give up on fashion. Head-to-toe this is an amazing look – The red is striking and the gloves & pearls are such chic touches. J’adore!}

{Click on the images above to be taken to the original source}

Previous NYFW Collections: New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part I, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part II, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part IIINew York Fashion Week Fall 2012, Pre-Fall 2012 Part I, Part II, Part III, and NYFW Spring 2012 Round-Up.

Addition reviews, photographs, shows, and videos: WhoWhatWear’s What They Wore – NY Fashion Week, Style.com’s Get the Look: Tilda Lindstam, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013: Parties & Front Row from Harper’s BAZAAR & Modelinia’s Top Twitpics from Spring 2013 New York Fashion Week.

Photo by andie_arthur

Now we’re off to London – See you there! ❤


Restaurant Review: Manna

My first day in London included a wonderful dinner at Manna in Primrose Hill. I was looking forward to trying this restaurant after reading Evan’s review over at The Wannabe Chef and one of my colleagues was kind enough to indulge me. I’m always nervous taking non-vegetarians/vegans to restaurants that have a plant-based menu, but the three omnivores who accompanied me all enjoyed their meals.

We ordered four appetizers and shared them, which was great because I was having trouble deciding which one I wanted! The basil & cashew cheese croquettes were excellent, really flavorful with a great crispy shell. My favorite starter was the spiced jerk tofu, plantain & sweet potato kebabs, which were both savory and sweet, and had a really great flavor combination. We also got two orders of the quesadillas, which were good but nothing too special.

For my main I ordered the organic bangers and mash (come on, it was just too traditionally British to pass up!) which included  fennel and pumpkin seed sausages with greens and a delicious parsnip and carrot mash. I especially liked the faux sausage since I like trying new non-soy based fake meats, and this was a great version. My boyfriend ordered the enchilada casserole which was absolutely delicious, I definitely snuck a few bites from his plate. Our two dining companions ordered the spaghetti & meatballs, the faux meatballs were admired and shared, and the ravioli, which they both seemed to enjoy.

The restaurant was packed for a Sunday night and I even heard one of the waiters tell someone on the phone that they were completely booked for the night. It’s always nice to see a vegan restaurant that is doing so well!


London

This has been a whirlwind trip, lots of family time, lots of travel time and some really great experiences. Three days in London, a week in France and four days in Spain. But I wont get ahead of myself, let’s start at the beginning…

Jolly old London!

To be honest, London was a bit of a blur, we touched down Sunday afternoon and hopped on the Chunnel Tuesday night. London consisted of lots of jetlag-induced napping, some work and some seriously yummy food.

Fashion: The first thing that I noticed when I arrived in London (which was quickly echoed by my boyfriend) was that the men are EXTREMELY well dressed. Well cut suits and pressed slacks with blazers & button downs were everywhere, I only saw a handful of men in what we in America would consider “street clothes.” Needless to say, I was in heaven people watching. 🙂 As for the women, lots of flats, tights and crossbody bags. I wasn’t really blown away by the female fashion, so apologies for only touching on it briefly. For the most part they looked put together (no tennis shoes, no backpacks, no baseball caps, no gym clothes on the street…) but it wasn’t terribly memorable.

Food: I’ll dedicate a separate post to the restaurant that we went to our first night, Manna, which was absolutely spectacular. The second night’s dinner was a hodgepodge affaire after we found a Whole Foods in Soho (where, I might add, I saw Bill Nighy). Overall the food was good, but there wasn’t a huge selection of vegetarian/vegan fare, as I had expected.

Fitness: Lots of walking and that’s about it. My boyfriend took advantage of the hotel gym & pool, but between working and a bout of food poisoning I didn’t get a chance to enjoy the facilities personally.

Lodgings: We stayed at the gorgeous One Aldwych hotel in Westminster, which was walking distance to my office. The room was small (I’d forgotten that about European traveling!) but sumptuous. Overall it was a good experience, great central location and very attentive and helpful employees, I’d definitely recommend it if you’re in the mood to splurge.

Travel: We flew United (via AirCanada) from SFO to Toronto to Heathrow, took the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station and then took a taxi to the hotel. London has awful traffic though, so I would recommend public transportation if you’re traveling around the city during peak hours. Our exit from London after three chilly days was via EuroStar, and after a two-hour train ride we arrived in Paris!

Highlights: For me the highlight was dining at Manna, the food was great and it was an adorable little part of London that we probably wouldn’t have seen otherwise. I highly recommend a visit to Primrose Hill if you’re in the area! 🙂

Stay tuned for a review of Manna and my Parisian adventures.

Cheers!