Style + Beauty - Page 364
When Miami Fashion Week kicks off on March 20th, it will be celebrating its 15th anniversary of runway shows that feature up-and-coming designers looking to get a foothold in the U.S. market.
While fashion fanatics may turn to designs that grace runways in New York, Paris and Milan for tried and true inspiration, Miami sets itself apart by giving buyers an opportunity to eye new talent.
Recognized as the largest international fashion event in the U.S., and ranked fifth on the world fashion calendar, the four-day event is the brainchild of Beth Sobol, who got her start in the fashion industry as a model at age 19.
The idea came when she produced an event in Ecuador that featured designers from 12 Latin American countries. Many told Sobol that they were hoping to bring their designs to Miami. When Sobol returned home, she began working to launch what would become Miami Fashion Week.
READ: Stars and Models Collide at New York Fashion Week
These days, the event features designers from all around the globe and those presenting their collections this year include Peru’s Itala Testino, Raafia Husain from Pakistan, Heather Jones from Trinidad & Tobago, SEEN by Sumayyah Al Suwaidi-UAE, Dusko Orascanin-Bosnia & Herzegovina, Mike Sylla for Baïfall Dream-Africa, and Dolcevita Cashmere by Veronica Zorzi-Italy.
Carlos Miele is set to receive the International Designer of the Year award on opening night while Rosa Clará will take home the award for International Bridal Designer of the Year.
Other designers attending the show include Fadila Kihel-Algeria, Spain’s Rosalinda Quesada Silva, Ecuador’s Carolina Lopez, Mathilde D’Apuzzo-Venezuela, Chile’s Claudia Anicy Manuguian, Canada’s Davmani by Marie Fortin, Italian designers Damiano Marini, Marco Calamassi for Luxus Italy, Azzurre F.A. Fashion, MacchiaJ, and that's not even the whole list! In other words, there’s something for everyone.
WATCH: Designer Michael Kors on His Latest Collection
What can those attending the Miami shows expect? Lots of color, says Sobol, pointing to the mix of Latin, Middle Eastern and European pieces that give Miami Fashion Week its unique perspective.If you’re in the area be sure to check it out for yourself.
We got a sneak peak at some of the pieces that will be debuted at Miami Fashion Week when Sobol stopped by FOX Business to talk to Gerri Willis.You can catch The Willis Report's “In Fashion” segments on Fridays at 5:00p.m. ET.
When Halle Berry made an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” this week, the Academy Award-winning actress made sure all eyes were on her.
READ: The Most Talked-About Acceptance Speeches in Oscar History
The 46-year-old Bond Girl showed off her assets in a strapless little black dress with a plunging neckline, which proved somewhat distracting for the 62-year-old talk show host.
If there's one thing Berry knows about fashion, it's how to pick the most flattering pieces.
Want to take a page from her style book? It's all about playing up the best parts of your figure, says Sharon Graubard, Senior Vice President at Stylesight.
"Halle Berry has a killer body and great skin, so she can wear anything she chooses, including super-revealing plunges and body-hugging silhouettes," Graubard explains.
"Regular women can channel her style by showing off their assets one at a time," she adds. "If you have great legs, wear a high slit. Beautiful cleavage? Wear a plunging neckline — but make sure it all fits smoothly and no bra shows. Less than perfect skin? Wear a dress or top with sheer illusion panels that veil the skin. If you have Berry-worthy curves, but are not comfortable showing skin, wear a body-con dress with a high neck and long sleeves. A strapless top with slim pants will channel Bond Girl style and still look elegant."
See what we mean below.
We're seeing them on runways and red carpets, and they're peppered across the racks at our favorite department stores — we're talking stripes, and come springtime, they're going to be everywhere.
"This season, graphic designs like checks, plaids, houndstooth, polka dots and most importantly, stripes, are a huge trend," says New York City designer and stylist Bobette Cohn.
Cohn, who notes that stripes "never really [go] out of fashion," further explains how the look has permeated the runways, with notable striped fashions debuting from such designers as Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta and Marc Jacobs.
READ: Dress Like a Model Without ‘Sheer’ Terror
It's only a matter of time, then, before we'll need to embrace this trend in a current, confident way.
"These days, it doesn't take long for runway looks to trickle down into our day-to-day wardrobes," confirms Helen Sac, who serves as the senior editor of Prints and Graphics at the fashion-forecasting firm Stylesight. Sac also observes that stripes are "a perfect union of two contrasting shades," (along with chevrons or the aforementioned houndstooth patterns), making them a fun way to spice up your closet for spring.
That being said, there's a wrong way and a right way to incorporate stripes into your style. For starters, and probably most obviously, stripes don't flatter every figure.
"The danger with wearing stripes is when they're horizontal, and can give the illusion of adding a few pounds onto your shape," points out Cohn. That doesn't mean, however, that stripes are off limits for fuller-figured fashionistas. "The best way to avoid this is to wear diagonal or vertical stripes, unless you are very thin," she suggests. Cohn also advises people to steer clear of horizontal-striped tops in stretchy fabrics.
However, some experts disagree, claiming that horizontal stripes shouldn't be shunned altogether. "If you’re going for a chunkier, wider horizontal stripe, make sure that you’re exposing some skin," says style and beauty guru Gretta Monahan. She suggests horizontal stripes be worn in "v-neck, off-the-shoulder or tank styles, so you can see where the stripe ends and the body begins."
READ: Update Your Wardrobe With Pantone's Spring 2013 Color Report
Too much at once, though, can be unflattering. "Stay clear of top-to-toe looks that incorporate different stripes," Sac says. "A heavily patterned upper half is best accentuated with a plain bottom half, and vice-versa."
Monahan suggests a similar approach: "Always anchor a stripe piece around a solid or neutral piece," she says. "Should you want to explore head to toe stripes, definitely stay away from chunky knits and thick cotton fabrics," as those materials can add volume to a springtime look.
Colors, on the other hand, are left up to the wearer's discretion. Although black and white are taking control on the runway, "any color would potentially work over white," says Isham Sardouk, the senior vice president and chief creative officer at Stylesight. "If it's juniors, brights and clashing color combos are very well accepted — same as active. But if it's menswear, the choices [should] become more conservative, just combining dark neutrals or muted shades."
So now that color is covered, all that's left are a few suggestions for specific spring pieces.
"Nothing says warm weather like a striped maxi, in either dress or skirt form," insists Monahan. "A body-con maxi in a bright hue would be my personal favorite." And for guys, "striped cuff links and swim trunks would be my first choice," she says.
Bobette Cohn also shares her vision for a great spring look, which is achieved "simply by adding a striped shirt under a blazer" — a pairing she says works equally well for both men and women. She asserts that bold striped socks could also work to add flair to an ensemble, especially for those who worry about going overboard.
PICS: Polka Dots: The Hot Trend and How to Wear It
Those of us looking to make an even bolder statement might want to consider Cohn's go-to piece: "My favorite item is a striped jacket … that can be worn with its matching skirt for a suit look, or separately with any shirt, shorts or pants," she says. "Very versatile and chic."
But no matter how you wear your stripes, make sure to wear the correct stripes for your body type. After all, you will be wearing them soon enough.
Make no mistake — this spring is totally ripe for stripes.
Scroll down to see how some of this season's top designers showcased stripes in their collections.
