FIENDTUESDAY: Menswear

COLOR ME BLOCKED

Color blocking has been a consistent trend in womenswear for the past few seasons, and it's all over menswear for Spring 2009. It's already made its way onto retail shelves in fast fashion stores like H & M.

Alessandro Dell'Acqua [top left], Perry Ellis Signature[ bottom center], and Jil Sander[bottom right] are all pro-blocking for Spring.


Photo Credits: Alessandro Dell-Acqua, Perry Ellis Signature, Jil Sander from style.com

FIENDMONDAY: Careerwear

PENCIL ME IN

The pencil skirt is a timeless staple that should be in every well-dressed woman's wardrobe. It's the most sleek and professional skirt silhouette and works for most body types. Pair it with a crisp white shirt tucked in, or loose with a waist-cinching belt. Throw a blazer over it [Louis Vuitton square-shouldered blazers anyone?], or a cropped jacket, and you have a chic and functional uniform you can wear from the office to dinner.

In addition to the many playful and voluminous skirts and dresses offered in Lanvin's Spring 2009 collection are two functional basic pencil skirts [top left and right] that can be incorporated into any wardrobe.

Of course, if you don't have the disposable income necessary for a Lanvin pencil skirt, there's still the basics-reliable Gap to turn to for a basic pencil skirt in black [bottom left] for a mere $44, or if you still need the designer name, there's Isaac Mizrahi's plaid pencil skirt for Target [bottom right] for even less, $20.99.
















Photo Credits: Lanvin from style.com, Gap from gap.com, Isaac Mizrahi from Target.com

FIENDFRIDAY:WILDCARD FAIR

COLOR FORECAST

It's coming up metallic for Spring 09, with gold a loud leader. Gold is everywhere this season, but seen most often with black or its metallic counterpart, silver. Today we will look at the contrast created when pairing gold and silver together in powerful, statement accessories.

Slither your way to the top in a platform Gucci sandal (top left) or make a more subtle splash with Christian Lacroix's necklace [bottom right].



























Photo Credits: Gucci, Lacroix at style.com

FIENDTHURSDAY: Eveningwear

Mix things up a bit and go white for Winter with Spring's take on the neutral. Red and green are overdone during the holidays, and white is a fresh alternative that also alludes to Spring.

Save money by investing in a Spring piece you can also wear now. For an ultra-feminine look with a classic twist, try this Celine belted dress [top right] with a statement bag or shoe. Trade the grey blazer and the belt for black ones or a wrap around shawl to make it more evening appropriate. Try pairing it with the Zac Posen clutch [top left]. You could also work the andrygonous take in the white pantsuit by Anne Valerie Hash [bottom left] and pair it with Calvin Klein chunky heels [bottom right].









Photo Credits: Celine, Zac Posen, Anne Valerier Hash, and Calvin Klein from www.style.com

FIENDWEDNESDAY: Accessories

This is a powerful bag.




Looking at this Jimmy Choo snake skin patchwork and printed pony Kaja bag is a comprehensive lesson in accessory trends for Spring 2009. Many of the trends in vogue from last Spring are back, including python, crocodile, and bovine or horse and zebra prints. Python is everywhere this spring again, but crocodile never really left, since it's evolved into a classic staple that's reinterpreted every season. One look at this bag and you can unpack all these trends and more. It's rare to find a piece that answers of all the trends of a season in one blow. What a bag.

Photo Credit: Jimmy Choo from www.style.com

FIENDTUESDAY: Menswear

Designers of menswear for Spring 2009 are taking a wide leap into womenswear. Feminine signatures are now the new vogue for men. One of these trends is the belted waist. The belted waist is everywhere this Fall in womenswear, mostly notably at Diane Von Fursetenberg, who sent out several looks with belted blazers over dresses. Spring 2009 shows men carrying on this trend in looks that are reminiscent of tuxedo dressing but are used for both day and evening looks. Philip Lim [bottom left], Hermes [center], and Etro [bottom right] are all pioneering the trend.

Photo Credits: 3.1 Philip Lim, Hermes, Etro from men.style.com

FIENDMONDAY: Careerwear

Simply put, gray is the new black.

For the past few seasons, gray has been the go-to neutral of choice for those looking for something just as safe and functional as black, but different enough to avoid the humdrum one note dressing you can fall into with black if you don't accessorize it. From Bottega Veneta's light gray of Spring 2008 to Fall's charcoal, designers have been creating wonderful pieces with gray.

Proponents of gray for Spring 2009 include Antonio Berardi, who offers both a pant [top left] and skirt suit [top right] in the neutral, Stella McCartney, whose sweater and pants [bottom left] can be used together or as functional separates, and Giles Deacon, who adds a feminine flourish to a sweater/skirt combo with a flash of feathers [bottom right].





Photo Credits: Antonio Berardi, Stella McCartney from www.style.com
Giles Deacon from www.nymag.com

FIENDTHURSDAY: Eveningwear

One trend that consistently comes back into vogue in the Fall right around the holidays are jewel- collared blouses. These should be adapted with caution. They were everywhere last Fall and trickled their way down to the discount fast fashion retailers quickly.

The standard for this trend last season was a round neck tank with a thick block of jewels that hugged the collar to the top of the shoulder, similar to the blouse from Macy's private INC label [below].



This season the fresher interpretation of this trend is a piece that utilizes the jewels without making them garish and flashy. This top from Epic Threads [below] is closer to what this trend should look like this season. This blouse mixes two Fall trends, the jewels and ruffles, in a peasant top silhouette in a way that makes just enough of a statement without putting two much emphasis on one trend over the other.




Good news for petite women, but bad news for our lanky gals, this blouse is a children's top. It may seem counter-intuitive, but checking out the children's section in your favorite stores is a great way to find on-trend items for a fraction of the cost, especially if you have a shorter stature and a smaller frame.

Find these tops at Macy's here and here.

FIENDWEDNESDAY: Accessories

Strappy sandals are one of the big shoe trends for Spring 2009. Whether wearing them thigh-high or ankle length, (the most common type), strappy sandals are a great way to make a casual outfit dressy or make a dressy outfit more subtle. Add some jewel-toned luxe with interpretations by John Galliano (top left) or veer classic with Giles' black ankle strap sandals (middle left). For a fresh and fun casual look you can transition from the beach to lunch with a friend, go for Vivienne Westwood's Gold Label offering (bottom left).

Photo Credits: John Galliano, Giles, and Vivienne Westwood from www.style.com.

FIENDTUESDAY: Daywear

Shoulders are big for spring, literally and figuratively.

For Spring 2009, designers have shifted their attention from the waist to the shoulders. The last post talked about the square shouldered blazer, but when designers weren't busy sketching statement pieces to cover the shoulders, they were designing elegant and eye-popping dresses that very deliberately feature the bare shoulders.

Whether it's a strapless dress baring both shoulders or, more prominently,
a peek-a-boo shoulder dress where one shoulder is emphasized over the other,
this is a trend most people can participate in, so long as they like their shoulders.

Frilly girls should try the peek-a-boo shoulder with fine details and ruffles via Valentino [top right], or for a more classic look with just enough twist to stand out, try the white knot dress from Mario Schwab [center right]. If you're feeling risque and bold enough to show a little extra skin, don the Grecian-inspired dress by Ann-Sofie Back [bottom right].





Photo Credits: Valentino and Mario Schwab from www.style.com, Ann-Sofie Back from www.nymag.com.

FIENDMONDAY: Careerwear

Fall's bold androgynous trend, which was perfect for the modern career woman, segues this spring into something a touch softer but still assertive: the square shouldered blazer.

It's easy for any working woman to fit into her wardrobe. Look for it on sales floors come spring. This is a trend just bold enough to make a statement that also has an obvious utility factor.

You can wear it with a pair of wide leg trousers à la Louis Vuitton [top left], or you can take a cue from Balmain [bottom left] and pair it with jeans. Add a pair of gladiator sandals (yes, they're still around) and a crisp white shirt and you have a casual weekend/shopping look.













Photo Credits: Louis Vuitton and Balmain, www.style.com