A Return to Royalty

Amidst the excitement of the many fashion week posts, I want return to the continuance of brilliant style from the Duchess.

Image courtesy of WWD.com

This stunning floor length black dress is DVF. I love that it is not overly fitted, rather is falls straight down. It shows her great shape in a modest way. The sleeves are a great middle ground for incorporating conservatism, elegance, and modernity. Choosing black adds to all three elements.

Will You Be My Valentino?

Image courtesy of Vogue.com

Hailing from Paris, Valentino's latest collection is composed of blacks, whites, pastels, and bold eccentric patterns.

The theme I found in many dresses is distinct patterns with exact symmetry. Love the beginning layer of black+white with a bold dash of pink. Hitting the pink at the collar and sleeves adds wonderful symmetry. The middle portion of deep blue-green tied together with mirrored feathers contrasts the warm colours and floral above and beneath. The skirt portion also plays a two tone element. That bright marigold yellow adds great warmth to the thick black trimming ending the dress.

I love those sandals. Very Roman/Greek-esque (taking a classical studies course right now, so the sandals are a huge win.)

Sometimes crazy contrasting patterns just work together. The more unique from one another the better.

For Oscar

The fashion community lost a talented designer last week. He will be forever missed.

Today's post focuses on his latest collection from NY. It ranges from bold blacks to floral; from casual to ballgown, and everything in between.

Image courtesy of Vogue.com

I am always a fan of black+white with a dash of colour. The white jacket has a great A cut paired with a high round collar. I like this twist rather than the usual V cut and a round finish. This unique cut allows more of the skirt to be shown. I like the big black flowers on the skirt contrasting with the small colourful ones on the jacket. When the right contrasting elements are put together, it makes for a beautiful ensemble.

Botanical is the new floral

Erdem and floral. This is how I usually pair the designer. But recently, I read the word botanical and found it even more fitting. There is something enchanting about this collection. Mysterious hues of blues and greens. The loose fabric flowing off the dresses. Almost mermaid-esque.

Image courtesy of Vogue.com

This dress embodies all the amazing highlights of the collection. It's not symmetrical, the loose fabric is free to wisp around. It's translucent and solid all at once. The blue is darkened with black to create a sultry vibe. The Peter Pan collar is a cute touch to the neckline. This dress is just so free to move, like waves crashing onto shores.

Mustard Stripes

Image courtesy of Vogue.com

A consistent theme in Tory Burch is shown in this number: prep and boho chic. I have always been a fan of bringing out one colour of a patterned piece. The safe choice would have been to highlight blue or white, but the mustard yellow is the unique choice. The dark tone with a collar is business forward. The white horizontal stripes within the top complement the vertical stripes of the skirt. The white ends add the casual boho feel: business need not be stiff. The two distinct pieces play with, not against, each other.