White Summer

Summer may officially kick off next week but we couldn’t wait to rock the spring/summer 2013 trend of head-to-toe white. Whether it’s a white top paired with city shorts and topped off with a white jacket or a button-down shirt worn with pants, nothing says pristine like a full-on white ensemble. The look works equally well at the office. For a pulled together professional look wear a white ¾ length sleeve tunic with gently-flared white pants or capris (if the work environment is business casual). —Simone McKenzie

Style Tip: With an all-white ensemble, throw in a pinch of the unexpected with animal print shoes or bright colored kitten heels.

Creative direction: Delphine Niviere

Fresh Coat

The New Year is in full swing and so is winter! To combat the frigid temperatures outside, we thought we would search the web and see what we could find that’s both style-savvy and budget-friendly. Leave it to ASOS to deliver with this flared, belted red coat. We swooned when we saw this one. Loved the cinched-waist (feminine and flattering for most body types), bold statement color and sense of movement captured in the coat’s structure.

As working women, what we really love is the functionality of this coat. It can do double-duty at the office and off the clock. Appropriate to wear to work—check! Perfect to slip on for a night out—check! Price-friendly for the purse—check!

Style Tip:

You can wear this coat a variety of ways:

1)      Buttoned-up with a high collar with belt neatly tucked into loops for a clean silhouette.

2)      Lapels showing with belt casually tied and hanging for a looser look.

Either way you wear it, opt to keep the bottom portion of the outfit lean and stream-lined to keep the focal point on the swing of the coat.

Bottom line: a coat that’s stylish, affordable and functional. Our final verdict—score!—Simone McKenzie

Creative Direction: Delphine Niviere

ASOS Flared Belted Coat, $122.78, us.asos.com

Peplum Bloom

 

 

The peplum trend that blossomed earlier in the spring is maintaining its hold on fall and winter. The cinched-waist silhouette can be flattering on a variety of body types. We like Aqua’s take on the peplum trend available at us.asos.com. With its ample fabric sleekly jutting out from the hips, the peplum structure coyly camouflages a tummy bulge all while maintaining a look that’s pulled together. Pair this with a form-fitting, cropped, white jacket and you’re good to go at work. For meeting up for drinks after work, simply slip off the jacket and you’ve got the perfect dress for sipping cocktails.—Simone McKenzie

Creative Direction:  Delphine Niviere

Aqua New Element Structured Peplum Dress, $263.85, us.asos.com

Rites Of Spring

Spring’s officially here and you’re, no doubt, ready to break out the florals and the prints. With a particularly grueling winter behind us, you’re probably chomping at the bit to ditch those wooly sweaters that safely cocooned you during the blistery cold. Now that the weather’s hinting at warmer days ahead, it’s time to fling open the windows and welcome a fashionable new season.

What’s on the horizon you may ask? At Glam Gazette, we’ve sifted through the trends and came back with a few tips on how to pull off certain looks—we like to call it the “Style Takeway.” Over the upcoming weeks we’ll share style cues on the trends worth trying and how to incorporate them into your wardrobe.

We were inspired from Prabal Gurung’s impressive spring 2011 collection (see our previous coverage) which featured several trends. Key among them color block and the clever mixture of vibrant, unexpected colors.

Style Takeway: Color Block

Style Tips For Wearing The Trend Based On Your “Trend Trial Run Preference” (TTRP):

– 1^st Gear (for the newbie): You may wear the trend in small doses. For example, work a color block shoe or  accessory into your wardrobe for a light touch.

–  2^nd Gear (willing to try): Pick a color block top and wear it with black or a dark denim bottom.

–  3^rd Gear (let’s take her for a spin): Another option is selecting a color block bottom and topping it off with a neutral-toned, solid-color top.

–  Full Throttle (gung-ho and ready to go): For the full effect, select a color block dress that compliments your figure.

How to determine your Trend Trial Run Preference (TTRP):

–          “Newbie”: You’re skeptical of most trends. Mostly for the fact that you’re not sure how to pull it off. With a little bit of prodding and advice, however, you’re willing to dip your feet in the water.

–          “Willing To Try”: You’re game for trying out new trends as long it fits in with your personal style.

–          “Let’s Take Her For A Spin”: You’re the style adventurer. You’re ready to try out a new trend and tweak as you go.

–          Full Throttle: Gung-ho and ready to go. Need we say more? You don’t need directions. Your motto: “Who needs a map when you’re on own personal style journey?”

No matter what your preference, at Glam Gazette, we believe everyone can hone their personal style GPS. Now, Go!—Simone McKenzie

Creative Direction: Delphine Niviere

Images: PrabalGurung.com, see images for store location.

Bright Tights, Big City

With the temperatures dropping and fall/winter finery coming out in full force, one trend that’s spot on for form and function is the resurgence of tights. No longer relegated to the grade school set, tights are a smart if not practical solution for keeping legs fashionably warm during chilly months.

This season out, however, tights run the gamut from basic black, ribbed, brightly colored to bold geometric patterns that add zing to any outfit. Whether you’re opting for standout leopard print tights or tights with a strong graphic element, the idea is to keep the focal point on the tights and build your wardrobe around it. In other words, pick a pair of great tights as the starting foundation for your outfit.

Keep in mind that the more bold and unusual the print of the tights, the more neutral the remainder of the outfit. For example, tights with an eye-popping graphic work well when paired with a simple yet chic, black pencil skirt and black top. Want proof? Pair any of the tights on this page with a simple, black skirt and a black top and see how an outfit instantly comes together.

The key to making it work? Black or a neutral tone plays both backdrop and balance to a bold patterned tight effectively giving you a leg up on effortless style.

–Simone McKenzie

Creative Direction: Delphine Niviere

Images: Wolford.com, Jcp.com

Call Of The Wild!

For fall, designers inevitably take a shining to animal prints. This fall/winter 2010, however, the competition is fierce for designers clamoring to swathe everything from clothes, shoes, totes, handbags and boots in a feline print.

Whether it’s cheetah, zebra or leopard print, designers have let out a resounding roar that animal prints are the must have fashion trend of the season.

The key to pulling off the animal print trend you may ask? Well, from Glam Gazette’s perspective, it’s all about your personal style. For women seeking to tamely work the trend into their existing wardrobe, opt for restraint by including one animal print item and building your wardrobe around it.

For example, pairing a neutral tone with an animal print is a chic way to wear the trend. Closet case in point (smile, we couldn’t resist), Ann Taylor’s animal print sheath dress gets toned down with a gray sweater. Meanwhile, a black skirt anchors an animal print top from JC Penney.

For women looking to go full throttle with the animal print trend, there’s always Dolce & Gabbana. The Italian design duo have consistently worked some element of animal print in their collections.

If you’re a maestro (like Dries Van Noten) at mixing patterns in clever, chic and innovative ways then let loose and go wild—you’ve earned your license to thrill by putting your own personal stamp of style on any trend.—Simone McKenzie

Creative Direction: Delphine Niviere

Images: AnnTaylor.com, JCP.com, DolceGabbana.com, DriesVanNotten.be

Top left: Leopard print dress, Ann Taylor, $188, AnnTaylor.com

Top right: Animal print top, JC Penney, $49.99, JCP.com

Middle: Dolce & Gabbana clothes, DolceGabbana.com

Bottom: Dries Van Noten clothes, DriesVanNotten.be