Fall Shoe Trends and Must Haves

We are currently in this awkward shoe purgatory where you feel bad buying full-priced Summer sandals (even though the temperatures are still 100!), but the new Fall/Winter 2011 trends aren't fully released in the stores yet. At this point, we have seen Fall runway shoes and the stores are getting early release styles.

Because I cannot wait for the reveal of the new styles of boots, pumps, and booties, I am going to give you a preview of my fall favorites as of right now! Though black is the most common color for boots, I am waiting for a new neutral to surface (taupe was the favorite last year) this fall that I love and still works with all the fall looks.

Here goes!
First up, Nicholas Kirkwood for Erdem













Next up, Charlotte Olympia Eve Ankle Bootie












Diane von Furstenberg Ombre Bootie
Miu Miu Crystal Pumps















Reed Krakoff- I must say this fall collection had a lot of great styles to offer. Kudos to an emerging designer who has come far since Coach.















Reed Krakoff Suede Lace Up Booties
Fiorentini and Baker Slashed Boots- I would wear these boots everyday!












Nicholas Kirkwood Booties- There is something so simple but sexy about these.













And Charlotte Olympia again- What can I say? I am a little hooked...


I will report back when the leaves begin to change and it is true Fall- unfortunately in this heat it feels like that day will never come!

Favorite Couture Pieces

As most people know who follow fashion, couture runway shows are some of the most exciting events of the year. You get to see the designers produce beautifully crafted pieces that we could only ever dream of seeing in person. The items are generally innovative in design and are meticulously crafted items that look even more exquisite up close than far away.

Just wanted to show you my favorite looks from the Fall Couture Runway 2011. Enjoy!


MAXIME SIMOENS

Um, exaggerated feather shoulder pads? Yes please!


JEAN PAUL GAULTIER

Have you ever seen a trench coat dress done so flawlessly? And have so much movement and grace?







GIAMBATTISTA VALLI

Such a beautiful structure finished off with soft, light, white feathers. Super feminine and chic.



ELIE SAAB

The most interesting thing about this piece to me is that it looks so weightless, when I'm sure with the beading the dress is very heavy. The dress also has a huge key hole shaped opening in the back that goes down to the low back. Such an amazing touch.



CHANEL

In the show there were tons of these disconnected sleeves. Whether they were made in a tweed like this one or in a silk overlay, the sleeves were edgy but elegant. A perfect detail.








ANNE VALERIE HASH

I am obsessed with this one piece smoking jacket!!!! SOOOO chic.



ALEXIS MABILLE

I would die for a dress like this with spikes all down the sides!

What makes a successful shoe designer?

What makes a successful shoe designer? In the past year or so I have been searching for the newest and hottest shoe line, and if it were not for ShopBop and Kelly Ripa on Regis and Kelly, I would not have discovered my two new favorite designers. If you look in fashion magazines, it is all the same designers- Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, Gucci, Balenciaga, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Giuseppe Zanotti, Miu Miu, Alexander Wang, Alexander McQueen, Brian Atwood, Versace, Pierre Hardy, Nicholas Kirkwood... and the list goes on. And as beautiful as these designers' shoes are, I am tired of seeing the same shoes in which I can always pin point the designer before looking at the caption. Give me a sexy, inventive shoe that has me frantically scan the caption, waiting to be woo-ed by a new, exciting brand that begs me wanting more.

On that note, I have been also trying to figure out why certain brands are so popular over the rest. For instance, Louboutins have the red sole that is coveted across the world. Blahniks have dainty designs and the shoes feel weightless. Brian Atwoods are sky high stilettos.

Then, we have my most recent coveted designers signatures- Charlotte Olympia and Camilla Skovgaard. Charlotte Olympia has the heavy, but chic and sexy platform. Camilla Skovgaard has the saw bottom signature. Both designers have that simple, but edgy touch that to their pumps that makes them stand out. They make the outfit.


My question is when do we get to see the young, hip, emerging new brands in the top fashion magazines? Don't we want to see fashion to evolve and to see other designers thinking outside the box, regardless if they are a well known fashion empire? I know a few fashion magazines do articles on emerging designers, but during the editorial shoots, the shoes are back to our standard designers.

So, who is the next great emerging shoe designer that we all must know about and deserves that place in Harper's Baazar?

Fall Fashion Lusts and Musts

Here are my fall favorites for this season. They were seen all over the fall runways and are now finally starting to be seen in retail stores now that Fall is almost in full swing.

I chose to include my lust items that I could never afford for such a trendy item, and then I included my possibly I could afford if I buy a few key pieces. As always, you can find all of these items in lower end retail stores, you will just compromise quality (like shopping at H&M, Zara, Old Navy, Gap, Target, etc).




1. Feminine Silk Blouse- I prefer oversize with pockets or a slightly pouf at the shoulder with hidden buttons. Fendi, Chloe, and Ever Kennewick










2. Leather Pleated Shorts- Look great with the silk blouses above with tights and boots or with chunky oversize sweaters (make sure the sweaters are not too short or it will look like you are wearing just a sweater as a shirt). 3.1 Phillip Lim and Rag and Bone





















3. Tight Mini Sweater Dress- Must be long sleeves and can be worn with fur vests, leather motorcycle jacket, tights, and stacked heel or wedge boots. 3.1 Phillip Lim and Splendid













4. Faux Fur Vests- Worn over long sleeve henleys for a casual look, long sleeved mini dresses as a night time/on the town look, and worn with long maxi dresses to be super trendy. BB Dakota, Battalion Munro Veggie Faux Fur, and Alice and Olivia



















5. Capes and Ponchos- My favorite piece by far last fall runway season was the tweed and leather Rag and Bone Cape. So rugged and chic. I also enjoy the standard wool cape/ coat that is wearable and fashionable at the same time. Sweater capes are also impossible to resist because they are adorable, simple, and comfortable. Rag and Bone, ASOS, and Peresteso









6. Utility Jackets- I prefer the olive green color so it looks authentic. The more pockets the better and make sure it has a drawstring capability so that you can emphasize the waist when you style it. 7 for All Mankind and Vince







7. Shearling Buckle High Heel Boots- I would give my left arm to have this pair of Burberry boots, but the TopShop look a likes will have to do. They are adorable, look incredibly warm, and are chic with jeans, a simple long sleeve tee, and the utility jacket.
Burberry and ASOS






















8. Desert Boot Stacked Heel or Wedge- Every brand this season has there own take on this classic menswear style. I recommend a classic look with a stacked heel in either sand, dark olive, or black suede. DVF and Pam Project seem to do it best.





9. Cross Body Small Bags- I prefer a square shape or a bucket shape with either fringe, fun buckles, studs, or exaggerated pockets. Keep it simple, but let it be funky in style. Do not combine too many embellishments or it tends to just look cheap and trashy. Rebecca Minkoff and Khirma Eliazov



10. Menswear Hat- Camel is the new color for coats, shoes, and hats. I will only buy dark green, camel, or black, chocolate brown, burgundy, or navy hats this season and they must be wool so that they keep you warm. Nothing works better to make your day old hair look fashionable. Selima Jim

Shoes to Love or Hate

I found a few shoes that I cannot decide whether I love them or hate them. This spring, as always, the shoes are coming out in full force in different styles of sandals, wedges, heels, and... mule CLOGS?
Truthfully, I usually hate all types of mule clogs but this year I am seeing styles that make me want to change my mind. Mainly, my favorite brands so far are Alexander Wang and Camilla Skovgaard. The fun and funky runner up is Jeffrey Campbell (I cannot pull these off, but the super trendy dresser can). Other fun shoes that I could not take my eyes off include Sam Edelman's embellished, python, high-heeled, strappy sandal (too much or just enough?...), Alexander Wang's cheetah print wedges, and Rachel Comey's open-toe oxford metallic wedges.
These fun and funky shoes make me want to take a blow dryer outside to melt the snow away so I can wear these shoes sooner!

Rag and Bone Fall Winter Show 2010

The Rag and Bone show yesterday was quite possibly the best show I have seen. The collection was flawless and so exciting that I could not keep my eyes off of the models. Not only did they look like they were ready for mountain climbing, they looked completely comfortable and chic.












The show featured tweeds, flannels, wools, and mainly tons of layering of sweaters, shirts, and blazers. My favorite look of the collection was a tweed and wool poncho/cape that I would die to own!

Not only were the clothes perfection, the accessories made the outfits. The accessories were so different and fun, that I had to look a few times to figure out what they were and if they were attached to the clothes or separate. The main accessories included belts in fun places, such as over the knee high socks around the ankles and calves, making them look like they were part of a boot or leggings. Belts were also seen as a harness around the shoulders and connected over the back. The harnesses created a rugged feel and really made the outfits come together. Other accessories included a muff(I am so excited they brought them back!) and belts with pouches attached and then the pouch also attached at the high thigh with a belt. These looked great over leather pants and short wool skirts. The accessories Rag and Bone used were extremely innovative, but also wearable off the runway for a fashion forward look. Kudos to Rag and Bone's women collection this fall.