Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Fashion Week - Spring/Summer 2014 - Nina Ricci


Ready-to-Wear • Spring/Summer 2014 • Fashion Week

Part 2 of 4

MILAN


From Milan Creative Director Peter Copping’s collection for Nina Ricci caught our eye.  Before coming to Nina Ricci he worked for over a decade for Louis Vuitton and that same sophisticated style is still being seen in his work for Nina Ricci.  The Summer 2014 collection was no different.  The clothes had a softness to them that would make even a tomboy feel like a lady.  The collection hits on a few trends we are loving for Spring and Summer.  The looks we chose are reflective of these trends.

Runway Look #1




We love the look of floral matching separates.  The look from the Nina Ricci fashion show is a more formal take on this trend.  We chose to highlight a more laid back look.  The look we settled on comes from the upcoming line of Show Me Your Mumu.  Pieces from their line can be found on their website or at Soca, a local boutique with a store front in Homewood, AL.  

For more information on Soca check out our Spotlight Boutique section near the end of this post.  

One of the two founders of Show Me Your Mumu, Cologne, models with flipper in our look for less.  They chose to tuck in the Watson Tie Top to the skirt, but it can also be tied in a knot on those hot summer days.  

Runway Look for Less



Runway Look #2





We love the comfortable style of the peasant trend, but feel some of the RTW pieces seen throughout all four fashion weeks are too frumpy.  We prefer a more mature take on this upcoming trend, so we chose the Bermeja Tunic Dress from Anthropologie.  We also feel that this look is best styled with a long necklace.  You can find our necklace look for less at Socaclothing.com or at a Soca store near you.  

Runway Look for Less





Dress • Bermeja Tunic Dress - Anthropologie - $138∞
NecklaceCatherine Popesco Double Tassel Necklace - Soca - $70∞


Runway Look #3




The last piece we chose to highlight from the Nina Ricci collection is the asymmetrical jacket or coat.  This style adds a modern edge to even the most classic of coats.  On our search for this wonderful piece we came across to asymmetrical jackets from opposite ends of the spectrum.

Runway Look for Less



Xhilaration Colorblock Faux Leather Jacket - Target - $39.99                


Watch the full 2014 Spring/Summer RTW Nina Ricci fashion show here.




SPOTLIGHT BOUTIQUE

SOCA


Soca is a local boutique whose store front is on 18th Street in the heart of downtown Homewood, AL.  For years Soca's storefront was in Five Points South before moving to Homewood, AL in 2007.  Since moving they have also opened up stores in Tuscaloosa, AL and Nashville, TN.  They have branched out into the 'tween' market opening Soca Girl, located across the street from their flagship Soca location in Homewood.  If you live in Birmingham or any of the surrounding areas and haven't been to Soca we suggest you high tail it to the nearest location.

We also love their fashion blog run by Soca buyers Roni Nuby and Morgan Sowards.  Roni helped pioneer what is now the largest variety of designer denim in Birmingham and surrounding areas and Morgan has a great eye for everything from fashion to design.  Check them out at Socaclothing.com/blog.  










Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Fashion Week - Spring/Summer 2014 - Valentino

Ready-to-Wear • Spring/Summer 2014 • Fashion Week

Part 1 of 4

Over the last few months we’ve been combing through the Spring/Summer 2014 runways shows from Paris, Milan, London and New York looking for specific trends between the different designers.  Some of the main trends repeatedly seen between many shows were peasant themed clothing, cape dresses, matching separates, crop tops and floral prints.  A few other things we think will be trending during this summers film festival are balancing delicate with tuff, rugged worn denim, fringe bags, prints, specifically animal and floral and asymmetrical jackets.

Because there are so many designers we decided to pick our favorite from each of the four fashion weeks.  The next four days will showcase these designers and how you can master their looks for less.  We are starting with our favorite, Valentino.  


PARIS


Paris was all about Valentino.  Creative Director’s Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli were well appointed when Valentino decided to retire in 2007.   We can’t wait to see what they bring to the table over the next several years.  For the Spring 2014 Ready-to-Wear (RTW) show they nailed everything from the clothing, to the accessories, to the hair, to the makeup.

Runway Look #1



We love the peasant blouse and wide leg animal print pants.  However, these pants really shine when paired with a fitted knit sweater, rather than a baggy cotton button up.  


To fully encompass the vibe of Valentino's Spring/Summer 2014 RTW collection we decided to go with a more fitted peasant blouse, paired with an almost identical pant and a black fringe handbag. 

Runway Look for Less




Top • Frill Collar Lace Blouse - Topshop - $60∞
Hangbag •  Fringed Crossbody Bag - Anthropologie - $168∞
Pants • Wayf ยบ Graphic Print Wide Leg Pants - Nordstrom - $58∞

Runway Look #2



The cape dress is huge and we like any take on this style.  The look we found is a crop top dress with half cape down the back.  The crop top and open back make this the perfect summer dress.  

Runway Look for Less



Dress • d.RA Jori ˚ Maxi Dress - Urban Outfitters - $129∞


Runway Look #3



The print on the Medallion-Print Bambolina Mini Dress by Valentino is very unique.  Trying to find a dress as in the now and yet so timeless was not an easy task.  But we love the looks we found for less.  The Tile Print Tunic dress from Topshop has a pattern similar to the subtlety of the Valentino dress.  On the other hand we love the playful elephant pattern on the Ellie Love dress from local boutique Molly Green.  

See the Spotlight Boutique segment at the end of this post for more about this fun spot.

Runway Look for Less





Dress • Tile Print Tunic – Topshop - $68∞           Dress • Ellie Love Dress – Molly Green - $76∞ 


Watch the full 2014 Spring/Summer RTW Valentino fashion show here.



SPOTLIGHT BOUTIQUE

MOLLY GREEN


Molly Green is a fun local boutique in Hoover, AL with a storefront inside the Galleria Mall.  The stores owner Brittany Miller Hartwell and her sister Anna Marie Miller are not afraid to think outside of the box and try new things.  The staff is also extremely friendly and helpful in putting together outfits.