Best of Fashion Week Street Style: New York

It’s astounding how different one city can be from another. The four fashion capitals, New York, Paris, Milan, and London, all have distinctive styles. I’m going to explore that with my series of blogs about Fashion Week street style.

Street style blogs have a cult following for a reason. It captures individual style and it captures the feeling, mood and personality of that particular moment. Where you live affects your sartorial choices, and I want to explore that through these blogs. I’ve curated images, which stand out for its sense of style as well as that unique New York feeling. New York is urban and straight forward, just like these stylistas. Here are my picks:

Magazine editor Joanna Hillman isn’t afraid to wear two bohemian trends together. Billowy floral sleeves and fringe never looked this good together.

I love this chic yet subtle take on color blocking. It’s a different way to dress up in warm colors when it’s autumn.

Hanneli Mustaparta bucks the fashion rules dons a pair of floral overalls with gusto.

Look closely and you’ll see 3 different kinds of graphic stripe in this look. So edgy.

Model Lindsey Wixson nails Brooklyn cool in this ensemble. Love the brown belt and wide brim hat.

The architectural feel of the check print and especially the shoes reflects the New York skyline. But just like the city, there’s an unpredictable element. How amazing is that pink furry clutch?!

Make  a bold statement in Moschino.

No shame in the matchy-matchy game. Start a new trend when you match your bright top with equally bright-hued sunglasses.

There’s no reason why culottes can’t be done up in leather. That plus sheer sleeves equals edgy glamour.

Editor Christine Centenera makes a strong case for pinstripes in this fashion forward look. Mostly black and navy, but never boring.

Sweater dressing gets elevated with stark white masculine oxfords.

This outfit is Upper East Side Gossip Girl style with a dash of modern. The white sneakers and ribbed turtleneck definitely put a trendy spin on the matching tailored blazer and shorts look.

Nothing says downtown cool girl like an unexpected outfit pairing. A standard striped Breton shirt gets upgraded by a tiered ruffle skirt.

Chiara Ferragni of the Blonde Salad blog looks adorable in this earthy 70s inspired look.

Leandra Medine of the Man Repeller shows us her unique style yet again. Sequined Rugby shirts have never looked this chic.

Stylist Liz Uy is an example of fashion excess done right. Printed platforms, oversized cuffed jeans, fringed clutch, and kimono tunic doesn’t sound like it should work, but it does.

Irene Kim, Chriselle Lim, and Aimee Song = #squadgoals

Go big or go home. Fringe plus voluminous culottes is the definition of full throttle fashion.

Military green parkas are basically a staple in any city gal’s wardrobe. Here is a new and refreshing way to wear ’em.

White T-shirt is a casual must-have. Knot it to the side and tuck it in, style it further with a printed blazer and you’ve got a winner.

Contrast the trendiness of your It bag with a quirky vintage print and a ladylike classic bun.

New Yorkers are always in black. Black + dark denim looks extra polished with the addition of a classic leather belt.

Photos from Harper’s Bazaar

CFDA Awards 2015 Report

Kim Kardashian’s fire emergency aside, this year’s Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards was full of fashion inspiration and sartorial surprises. Celebrating the very best of fashion design, the CFDA Awards this year did not fail to amaze and to provoke a deeper love for the industry and it’s creative minds.

But before we get to the awards part of the evening,let me bring you some choice red carpet snaps of my personal picks for best dressed.

Image from People StyleWatch

Kim’s grommeted Proenza Schouler gown was undoubtedly one of the most memorable looks of the night. Those feathered shoulders brushed a candle at some point during the night, but luckily Pharrell was there to lend a hand. Wanna know more? Check Kim K.’s Instagram.

Image from Style.com

Gotta love Natasha Poly‘s sexy take on red carpet glamour.

Image from Style.com

Monique Lhuillier and Michelle Monaghan are picture perfect. Classic black and elegant gold, I love it!

Image from Style.com

Julianna Margulies’ metallic gown is alluring and is just the right amount of sheer. Gotta love Michael Kors‘ black suit too, a menswear classic staple.

Image from Style.com

Zachary Quinto‘s sophisticated tuxedo looks even more amazing beside Gigi Hadid‘s blingy and youthful take on the 70s with her gilded jumpsuit.

Image from Style.com

I am simply dying over Emmy Rossum‘s LBD! It’s simply stunning and has the right details into it.

Image from Style.com

Style maven Miroslava Duma is excellent at dressing for her frame. This mini dress with intricate embroidery is a refreshing ensemble and is so fashion forward.

Image from Style.com

Leandra Medine from famed blog, Man Repeller, took her quirky sense of style to the CFDA Awards, and it was terrific! Love the bandana on her wrist!

Image from Style.com

Katharine McPhee took a definite sartorial risk in her long vest and trouser look, and it definitely paid off.

Image from Style.com

DJ and It Girl Harley Viera Newton and designer Cynthia Rowley look printastic in these babydoll shift dresses. The prints are retro yet modern.

Which looks did you love? There were just so many good ones! Red carpet glamour and jaw-dropping fashion aside, the other great part of events is all those memorable quirky moments before the show, during the show, and after it. What better way to take a peek into the full CFDA experience than through Instagram? Here are my favorite Insta snaps from the night.

Chrissy Teigen‘s wardrobe malfunction had her date Stuart Weitzman coming to her rescue. Phew, that was a close call. She looks adorable in this Insta snap though!

I love this funky nail art! Guess whose these David Bowie tips belong to? Blogger Chiara Ferragni, of course! 

Makeup check! Everyone has to check their beauty look before stepping out, right? Aren’t you just in love with her fresh faced look?

Victoria Beckham is oozing elegance as she is escorted by fashion industry insider Hamish Bowles. Still working it even in the rain.

And now, onto the winners! All the winners were movers and shakers that definitely deserved the awards they received. Each one of these designer’s unique vision has shaped the industry and the fashion world.

Images Below from NYTimes.com

Shayne Oliver,the designer behind hip and happening brand Hood By Air, won the Swarovski Award for Menswear.

If you haven’t heard of Mansur Gavriel, you’re not a true fashionista. The covetable minimalist bucket bags from the brands are must-haves for It girls everywhere. Floriana Gavriel and Rachel Mansur, the creatives behind the brand, won the Swarovski Award for Accessory Design.

Kanye West presented Pharrell Williams with the Fashion Icon Award. He completely deserves it. His recent collaboration with Adidas is proof of his design acumen and style savvy.

The night wouldn’t be complete without a Betsey Johnson split. The fun and forever young designer won the night’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and stayed true to her playfulness by repeatedly breaking out her splits throughout the night.

I hope you had as much fun as I had looking through all the fashion and Insta-worthy moments from the CFDA Awards. Until next year!

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Top 10 Fashion Bloggers

Blogging might have started out as a hobby for some of these girls, but now they have permanent seats in fashion week front rows.

When blogging started becoming big, the fashion industry questioned the credibility of this platform. But now there is no mistaking that fashion bloggers have major clout and major influence within the fashion industry and beyond. Far from following trends, these movers and shakers use their respective social media accounts and their personal blog, of course, to start trends. Each blogger has their own unique style and voice, which is why they attract a large and dedicated online following. Bloggers are such an important part of the fashion industry now, and it is amazing to see how one’s individuality can take off as a legitimate and thriving career in fashion.

I personally always look to these bloggers for inspiration. Here’s the list of my top 10 fashion bloggers:

Rumi Neely of Fashion Toast 

Rumi Neely’s style is a very interesting cross-section of maximalism and minimalism. Sounds like a paradox, but when you think about it, it really isn’t. Rumi doesn’t use too many accessories in her looks. However, each piece that she chooses packs a major pow and creates so much drama. Known for her love of short hemlines and chunky heeled footwear, Rumi also has enviable hair that seems perfectly beach tousled every single time.

Karla Deras of Karla’s Closet 

Karla Deras has an undeniable penchant for vintage luxury wear. She is often photographed in her blog in something from her favorite vintage store in her hometown L.A., Shareen Vintage. Her style is always tailored to fit, or closely cut to her amazing body. Karla takes her natural elegance and mixes it with fashion risks that are just a little bit on the risque side. Her love for edgy jewelry has led to her own line of bling for online retailer, E-luxe.

Aimee Song of Song of Style

Collaborations with industry big names like Piperlime and 7 for All Mankind, interior designer turned blogger extraodinaire Aimee Song has cemented her place in fashion. She takes such a democratic approach to dressing up, but still adds her own brand of eclecticism to her outfits that she simply fascinates the imagination of fashion fans worldwide. Her style is so effortless, yet each one of her looks read sartorial royalty.

Ashley Madekwe of Ring My Bell

Ashley Madekwe is more commonly known as Ashley Davenport on Revenge or as Tituba on Salem. Both her TV shows are certified hits, and her fashion blog is a certified hit too. Ashley certainly takes fashion seriously. Her blog, Ring My Bell, is filled with ensembles that seamlessly combine her interpretation of current trends and her British roots since every single look has traces of the irreverence of British street style.

Jamie Chung of What The Chung

Another actress/blogger on the list. It is simply hard to make a top blogger list without including Jamie Chung. She makes me fall in love with her feminine looks. It is hard not to want all the matching skirt and crop top sets she wears as well as her killer sunglasses too. Her bubbly personality can be glimpsed with her vibrant choice of colors and her preference for cheeky tropical prints.

Elin Kling of The Wall

One of the originals, Elin Kling’s minimalist and predominantly monochromatic style is just so reflective of Swedish fashion. She has done collaborations with H&M and Guess, and is now a bona fide fashion powerhouse. Her original blog, Style by Kling, has now transformed into The Wall an online curated magazine /journal where she shares what she loves in fashion. She also has her own line of clothing as well.

Chiara Ferragni of The Blonde Salad

The first blogger ever to be on the cover of Vogue (she was on the April 2015 of Vogue Espana), Chiara Ferragni is a permanent presence in street style blogs and fashion websites. Her style is unapologetically trendy, she’s always seen in the latest designer threads sporting the hottest “it” accessory of the moment. Her wildly successful footwear line is just as exuberant as her style. She basically can’t go wrong, every one of her #OOTD is golden.

Nicole Warne of Gary Pepper Girl

Nicole Warne simply loves vintage, and it shows. Whether she’s sporting a treasured find or a hot-off-the-runway frock, the effect is still the same. Her looks always have a dreamy and ladylike quality to them that has become her style signature. This creative soul started her blog as an extension of her online vintage store. She has certainly come a long way from that. Managed by the prestigious IMG agency, and counting Louise Vuitton and Vogue as her past collaborators, Nicole Warne is proof of the relevance and power of bloggers today.

Leandra Medine of Man Repeller

One of the funniest and most playful bloggers out there, Leandra Medine, has made man repelling her brand. Man repelling in this case means wearing trends and styles that women simply love, but men hate. Don’t mistake her humorous take on fashion as a sign that she takes fashion lightly, Medine is a major player. Unique is not enough to describe the way she puts together her looks. It is man-repelling, and boy do we love it.

Kelly Framel of The Glamourai

Creative director and editor of her online webzine called The Glamourai, Kelly Framel is an accomplished stylist that puts together her stylish inspirations, travel snapshots into this online part-blog part-magazine hybrid. Her style is sophisticated. With a definite love of details that pop, Kelly’s appeal lies in her uncanny ability to mix high and low, vintage and modern.

There you have it fashion folks. Now, who’s on your list of blogger faves? Let the bookmarking begin!

Style Report: Under the Radar Street Style Stars

The streets are the new place to see and be seen in your sartorial best. The recent surge of popularity and fashion authority of street style blogs and street style photography has produced a new crop of style stars that are a category all their own.

Bloggers, fashion editors, fashion buyers, and other personalities that work behind the scenes in the fashion industry have now come to the forefront in the fashion media solely because of their stellar personal style. Names like Miroslava Duma, Leandra Medine, Yasmin Sewell, Giovanna Battaglia, Ann dello Russo, Harley Viera Newton, Susie Lau are some fashionistas that have been a fixture in street style blogs. They have risen to the top and went on to lucrative products and collaboration, and are now fashion icons in their own right. Now let me bring you another set of street style stars you should be watching out for.

Eva Chen

Her now infamous #EvaChenPose on Instagram (see photo below) has gained her hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. Lucky Magazine’s EIC Eva Chen does a daily style snap at the back of her cab/town car to show off her eclectic taste in accessories as she displays her shoe and bag of the day. A mix of high and low, her style is that ever elusive marriage of girly and playful fashion meets haute and happening trends.

Kristina Bazan

One of the breakout street style stars for this year’s fashion month, Kristina Bazan of the style blog Kayture is a Swiss-born and raised style maven who has been dominating more than street style blogs. Her amazing ensembles and great taste in fashion has been featured in sites like Teen Vogue and WhoWhatWear. I predict that this 19-year old stylista will be making waves in the industry soon.

Linda Tol

Amsterdam based blogger and trendsetter Linda Tol has been wearing one edgy look after another. Her ultra modern and chic blunt white bob aside, her style aesthetic is carefully cultivated and she thoughtfully puts together each look into one gorgeous photoready outfit. But picking apart her look, you’ll find that each piece can stand stylishly on its own. Her taste is something that you will do well to learn from.

Caroline Brasch Nielsen

Danish model Caroline Brasch Nielsen is a permanent face on Caroline’s Mode a model off duty street style blog. She certainly possesses the hallmarks of great model off duty style, she has that same effortless ease in assembling looks that convey casual sophistication and approachable daytime glamour.

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld

If you’re the offspring of, arguably, one of the most influential voices and most important stylesettes in the industry, how can you not turn out to be a top tier fashionista too? Simple answer, you can’t. Growing up surrounded by great style and with a glamorous mom like Carine Roitfeld, former editor of Parisian Vogue, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld has pretty much her name written in the fashion history books. She certainly nails the essence of Parisian Girl style, she seamlessly blends textures together for visually interesting looks.

Atlanta de Cadenet Taylor

Model and DJ Atlanta de Cadenet Taylor is part of an emerging young fashion mafia. With her incredible street style cred, she constantly mixes the best of high street brands like Topshop and Zara with more high-end and feminine pieces. Each of her looks have a definite rock n’ roll vibe, probably an influence of her rockstar dad John Taylor of Duran Duran, she loves wearing vintage band shirts with fun and girly pieces like full skirts and heart-shaped leather crossbody bags.

Pernille Teisbaek

Look de Pernille is a wildly successful street style blog from Pernille Teisbaek, who is a huge influencer in the Danish fashion industry. This former fashion editor and current freelance stylist and TV personality has been dropping jaws left and right with her refreshing take on feminine dressing, either going all out in a pastel pink cape dress or putting her on spin on menswear with sporty stripes and cropped bra tops.

Candela Novembre

Argentine born and Milan based model Candela Novembre has that enviable ability to inject bright colors to every single one of her looks without looking too over-the-top and still looking seasonally appropriate and fashion forward. She also has an extraordinary penchant for mixing patterns and textures together. So take some notes every time you see her in one of her signature standout ensembles.

Ella Catliff

La Petite Anglaise is Ella Catliff’s fashion blog where she expresses her sense of style, and that is feminine meets vintage. In an age where trends and faces blend together in a blur, Ella Catliff distinguishes herself by always sticking to her signature style. This London based model and blogger embraces girly and ladylike silhouettes and shows off her love for color.

Whose style speaks to you? I love the inspiration I get from these fashionistas!