NYFW Fall 2012: Lesson 1

Instead of focusing on the new trends for fall (that we won't wear for 7 months), I wanted to use NY Fashion Week as inspiration for right now!  As we all know, the winter months can be pretty dismal as far as fashion is concerned.  At least for me, when it is cold I seem to lose my inspiration... I just want to stay warm.  So, let's take looks from Fall 2012 and apply them to our closet today.  We might even be able to make smart spring purchases that will carry us through the upcoming fall season too!

First lesson - Layering.  Layering is key any time of the year, but is not always present on the runway.  I love seeing different designers take on this very important part of dressing.  The varying points of view on the topic give us loads of looks to mimic over the next few months.

NYFW is not over yet, but already we have designers putting dresses over button-down shirts, sleeveless dresses over blouses, cropped over long tops and dresses over pants. After going over these looks, I promise you will find so many new looks in your closet... combinations that you never would have thought to put together until now.

10 Crosby Derek Lam

Rachel Zoe

Timo Weiland

Tibi

My spur of the moment layering this morning... very vintage J.Crew shirt, sweater dress and jeans.  My H&M fur vest, an A&F belt (yes, I did work there at one point in time) and my favorite Frye booties.

I will post more layering inspired looks as I experiment... I am very excited to go "play".

      

                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                 - Allison

The LWD (little white dress)

My LWD look was inspired by the fact that I was attending a toga party in February.  It's a long story.  

Back to my dress, I wasn't really feeling the toga vibe, so I wore my LWD instead.  First I have been dying to wear this Tibi Mod Shift Dress (I had to purchase it after my post on Shifts - thank you NM gift card!).  When spending more money on a dress, I hem and haw over it for weeks.  I think about all of the different ways that I can wear it... I have to have a bunch. Usually the deciding factor is if I can wear it all year, or at least for 3 seasons.  This shift definitely met and exceeded all of my criteria.  It is a-mah-zing!  The fabric, the fit and the fact that you feel like a million bucks... totally worth it!

Besides the obvious choice of black for shoes and accessories there is animal print, python print, pastels, brights, metallics... it is literally like wearing blank canvas.  The possibilities are endless!  I have already planned my next ensemble... my fur "collar" and my brown riding boots... c'est chic.  I just have to wait for the dress to come back from the cleaners.  Note to self - the LWD is not the best choice to wear to an Italian restaurant.

                                          - Allison

The Robert Rodriguez Top = Love at First Sight

It's not that often that I find a top that I cannot stop looking at.  Literally, I find myself clicking on the link once every hour or so, just to look gaze at it.  I click on the different views as I rest my chin on my hand and think about all the different ways that I would wear it... sigh.

This top that I am so taken with is none other than the Robert Rodriguez V-Neck Cascade Top.  It is a coral and pale pink colorblock silk top with an asymmetrical hem.  In other words fresh, edgy and just plain pretty.  Some of you might be scared off by the uneven hem, but I want to you to embrace it.  It adds so much interest to your look, and gives the appearance of being quite hip without much effort!

I love the idea that I could wear this under a chunky knit sweater with my skinnies and tall boots for daytime, and then switch the jeans and boots for a pair of longer flare jeans, heels and a fur chubby for a night out.  It doesn't stop there.  This top could also be worn in a more sophisticated manner...

First the top... gorgeous.

I am going to include another crush I have this spring... the Blur Distressed Leather Jacket.

You can't forget your animal print pumps... this pair of Rupert Sanderson pumps are beautiful.

Go casual cool with distressed boyfriend jeans... True Religion Cameron Boyfriend Jeans.

Office ready with a chic pencil skirt...  No. 2 Pencil Skirt.

Classically chic with wide leg trousers... No. 21 Trousers.

Other pieces to wear with this top would include various blazers/jackets, colorful pumps, floral pencil skirts (even a tweed) and don't forget python accents (not to be combined with animal print pumps).  Believe me, there are lots of options!  Do you think I have justified my anticipated purchase of this top?  Hmmm...

                                                                                                        - Allison

*Photos courtesy neimanmarcus.com, shopbop.com, freepeople.com, jcrew.com, mytheresa.com.