In this Issue No. 14 - Summer dress inspiration

 It's summertime and the living's easy.

 

At least this is what I will trick myself into believing, if only due to the fact that it's warm enough now that I can prance around in pretty dresses and girly skirts, acting like I have nary a care in the world.

My ode to summer is less a poem and more of a visual display of the dresses and skirts that I have seen (and bemoaned that I didn't have the money to buy) in pages of magazines past, that I still adore to this day.  Ahem, and to start:

1.  Seriously the prettiest dress ever. If it were still available, I'd snatch it up in a hot minute.

 (Lucky, June 2010)

2. Pink Plenty! By Tracy Reese dress, top right. I love the illustrated flowers and the flare of the dirndl skirt. Perfect to wear to a wedding.

 Allure, February 2008

3. That skirt can be worn with anything. Dress it up, pair it down. At the office, out for drinks. Tomayto, Tomahto.

 Lucky, date unknown

4. I love how relaxed, yet put-together the model looks. This photo shows that there is no reason why comfort and languid ease must be encapsulated only by the constantly perpetuated vision of t-shirts and sweatpants.

5. I love the duality of this dress; it can act both as a beach cover-up or a dress to wear out on the town - provided that dress has killer accessories to liven it up (see: headband, earrings).

 Lucky, June 2010

6. Again, with the full skirt. Love 'em. They make your legs look soooo loooong.

 Glamour, date unknown

7. It's no big secret that I'm attracted to bright colors like bugs are to a light, so this tangerine, coral and fuchsia combination makes me giddy every time I look at this picture. The excess displayed here - in colors, jewelry, volume of hair, pose - I love it all.

 Elle, date unknown

8. I remember when this Gucci outfit made the rounds in almost every magazine and on several celebrities, such was its appeal, and I willingly jumped on the bandwagon. It has an equal mix of high culture meets low-brow, as can be seen where the pairing of expensive fabrics and masterful tailoring meet gratuitous decollete on display.

 Cosmopolitan, April 2011

 

9. Much like the Gucci dress from above, when this skirt hit the scene, you couldn't throw a rock without hitting someone that was wearing it, or see an editorial without it being featured. Tilda Swinton wore the pale yellow version to the Golden Globes and Kate Bosworth wore the light green runway version to an event. I love the rich orange hue, as seen featured below.

 Glamour, March 2011

10. I hadn't heard of the brand Saloni before read the credits for this fun, brightly patterned dress, but I soon became a fan after I noticed that all of the brand's designs are as eye-catching as this one.

 Vogue, June 2011

11. I'm probably beating a dead horse at this point, but having just discovered my affinity for yellow, I became obsessed with finding a skirt that looks like this. Don't worry, I've already created seven or eight outfits in my mind that incorporate this skirt.

 Marie Claire, November 2010

12. Another take on the Gucci dress featured in No. 8. I love that the voluminous curls and hoops lend a certain vivaciousness to the bold colors of the dress. It wouldn't do to have a meek personality while trying to rock such a style. You can't let your clothes wear you; it has to be a partnership. *Side note: Those shoes. Those. Shoes.

13. I'm talking about the white babydoll dress on right. You know the rule that states, "Show legs or chest, but not both at the same time,"? Playing on that idea, since the bodice is so austere, I'd match this dress with some serious heels, be they wedges, stilettos, platforms, booties.

 

Nylon, January 2012

14. It's obvious at this point in the list that I like the tiny-waisted, flared skirts. The cap sleeves and v-neck combo is what drew me to this look, though, as it's a combination that's very flattering and yet I don't see it on many pieces. I love the barest trace of the ikat print near the waist.

Real Simple, September 2010

15. Though I wouldn't bust this gorgeous dress out for a summer party, this outfit makes me immediately envision myself to be in 18th century France, sipping tea, eating pastries and playing croquet (Did the French play croquet or sip tea in the 18th century? I might have to read up and change my daydream accordingly).

Vogue, 2006 (Total guesstimate)

In this Issue No. 9 - Red trousers

I distinctly remember the moment when I first saw this photo in Elle Magazine's April 2011 issue. On a surprisingly warm March day, my roommates and I were lounging on the roof of our Lawrence house, talking about heading to the pool, when I flipped to this page in the magazine. The whole outfit immediately grabbed my attention. The magenta, bright green and orange-red pieces meshed together seamlessly, while I felt that the black overcoat and amazing heels grounded the outfit, keeping it from being too neon. After my initial infatuation with the whole outfit, I homed in on those freaking beautiful red pants. I mean, just look at them! That perfect crease down the front of each leg, the hem grazing the tops of the heels, the lack of awkward pleating. This is minimalism at its best.

I had to snap out of my pants-induced reverie when I realized that soon it would be summer, and hot, humid weather would be the norm. Not only would humid summer prove to a bad time to be wearing full-length trousers, I wouldn't even know where to buy a pair of red pants. It was time to face the facts - I would have to wait until fall to renew my infatuation with the pants and actually search with intent for a pair.

(Fast forward to October)

I am digging through the pictures and magazine cut-outs in my inspo folder when, lo and behold, I find this picture. I personally like the tiny arrow that I'm guessing I penciled-in to indicate (to myself) exactly what item it was that I liked on the page.

Being that it was October and that the slightly chilly weather had made its appearance, it was time to search for a pair of these bad boys. The search wasn't easy. I tried on pants that were made of cheap material, some that were too short, some that had bulky, unsightly pockets. At the risk of sounding dramatic, I felt like a fish being lured in by bait because I was always so close, but my pants were always out of reach.
And, as luck would have it, I found a pair when I wasn't actively searching for them anymore. Figures.

Whether worn with or without tights, on soul crushingly frigid nights or on breezy days, I like 'em.

 

Fall/Winter 2012 - My favorite runway pieces, part two

(all images c/o style.com)

And away we go!

No. 8 - Sachin + Babi dress
The perfectly symmetrical tiles and the small sheer panels of the sleeveless top mesh exceedingly well with the flared a-line black skirt. A look that can effortlessly transition from day to night without much else needing to be added or removed. A++

No. 9 - Sachin + Babi black dress
Much like the Sachin + Babi dress featured in the aforementioned text, this piece makes me want to give a hearty round of applause to the design duo for having created it. The dress itself is lovely, with the leather t-shirt top and a-line, semi-sheer skirt overlay. However, the dress's appeal also lies in the fact that I believe any woman could wear this outfit and completely customize it to her style.

No. 10 - Prabal Gurung peacock dress
The first time I saw this dress, I was reminded of peacocks due to the intricate, feather-shaped lazer-cut shapes in the iridescent blue fabric. I love the small sparkly bits that thin out toward the edges of the dress, seemingly like stars in the sky. I also like this dress because it keeps prompting me to spew metaphors into its description.

No. 11 - L'Wren Scott cape
First off, I've almost never met a cape I didn't like. That having been said (typed) even if I wasn't a fan of capes, there is no way that I'd not like this fantastical, resplendent, furry, royal-hued number. Just imagine the street cred you'd obtain (and fun you'd have, no doubt) if you strutted around in this all day long. It looks cozy too, so it could probably double nicely as makeshift down comforter.

No. 12 - Kevork Kiledjian leather dress
Inspired by the Helmut Newton aesthetic, this dress epitomizes sultriness - no uber-short hems or bared skin necessary.

No. 14 - Juan Carlos Obando mint ensemble
The mint hue of the jacket and skirt indicates a summery vibe, yet the fur keeps the outfit firmly grounded in autumnal territory. The satin flats and full-length sleeves hint toward daytime wear, yet the sternum-exposing blouse and waving skirt hem veer toward after-hours wear.The choice is left to the wearer as to which occasion it will be best suited for.

No. 15 - Juan Carlos Obando t-shirt dress
A t-shirt usually invokes a casual, laid-back appeal, but the wave of the skirt hem as well as the silky finish and slim fit of the dress makes it perfect for a variety of occasions. I'm ticking them off in my head as I type...birthday party, happy hour, date night, basketball game...
Maybe not a basketball game, but who knows?

No. 16 - Jil Sander color palette
What a perfect trio of colors. Palest icy blue, light taupe and Pantone shade 230 combine together to create a beautiful vision in pastel. I am in awe of how delicate thr near-invisible neckline appears. The satin, pointy-toed heels rounds off this ballerina-esque look quite beautifully.

No. 17 - Jil Sander gown
Calvin Klein may have made "the nude dress" popular, but Raf Simons has perfected it. If Grace Kelly were with us today, I suspect she would have gravitated toward this gown.

No. 18 - Hermes suit
I can't even put into word the amazing qualities of this suit. I just keep looking at the photo as if a plethora of adjectives will fly at me, but no. I guess that's the sign of something great - speechlessness (typelessness?)

No. 19 - Christian Dior ballet-esque skirt + lace-embellished top
Frothy, in a word, sums up this punch-colored ensemble. The delicate, semi-transparent skirt is complemented by the structured, lace brocade top. I can see someone like Poppy Delevigne doing her thing in this outfit.

No. 20 - Markus Lupfer sweatshirt + miniskirt combo
I appreciate that Markus Lupfer acknowledged the fact that seasonal runway offerings don't have to follow by-the-book rules for lengths and fabrics. I love wearing cardigans and shrunken sweatshirts over shorts and dresses during summer, so it's a pleasant reprieve to see the pairing of similar styles in his line.

No. 21 - Viktor and Rolf suit
The silky shirt plus the seemingly jersey-like quality of the fabric and the slits in the pant hems lend this look a feminine air while the slashed, pillowy edged sleeves add a Shakespearean element into the mix. An inspired, new take on a timeless classic.

No. 22 - Viktor and Rolf 2-in-1
A cape and a wool trench in one. Be still my heart. Why choose between a cape and a trench at all? Finally a 2-in-1 I'd want to wear. High fashion : Viktor and Rolf :: Loungewear : Snuggie

No. 22 - Luisa Beccaria lace frock
So sweet.

No. 23 - Manish Arora dress
Because this would be a treat to wear. I'm about 99.343% positive that I would smile for the entire period in which I was wearing this frock. The Manish Arora line is always full of fun, vibrant prints. I first learned of the brand through the MAC collaboration a while back, and I've been a fan ever since. Also, those booties.