LFW: Dark Florals at Christopher Kane, Erdem and Jonathan Saunders

Three designers I am always excited to see collections from are Christopher Kane, Erdem and Jonathan Saunders.  What I normally love from Erdem are their bright cheerful florals, but this season he took his signature look to a darker place and played with lots of deep blues and yellows.  Christopher Kane also followed suit putting out a collection that was rich in texture, hard in form but still girly with florals.  Jonathan Saunders also embraced the fall color palette and kept his collection feminine by also embracing the trend that just keeps coming back for more, florals.

Christopher Kane

LFW: Street Style (part one)

London Fashion Week has come and gone, and although I get a lot of inspiration from the runways, a lot of my inspiration comes from the real women who have their own personal style.  Street style photography is always one of my favorite parts of fashion month, so I compiled some of my favorite images of people who, whether it's bold and zany or prim and proper, have a very unique style.  Enjoy!

NYFW: A breakdown of the best shoes from Fashion Week

Here's some of my favorite shoes from New York Fashion Week.  Derek Lam's gold Oxfords, Oscar de la Renta's Cinderella shoes, Preen's butterfly shoes and Rag & Bone's awesome clunky boots are just some of the high points from the runway.  What are your favorites?!

Derek Lam

Red Carpet Style: Best Dressed and Runner-ups at the Oscars 2012

So, I don't know about you all, but last night's red carpet at the Oscars left me feeling unsatisfied.  Sure there were some high notes like Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen and Natalie Portman in vintage polka dot Dior, but for the most part, I felt the looks fell flat when there were so many amazing dresses to pick from.  For instance, Penelope Cruz, one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, looked matronly, and Michelle Williams' peplum clashed with the bottom of her dress.  Overall, I wanted more pizazz and style and less frumpy.

Here's my top five picks and then some who I think were almost there.  Let me know if you agree/disagree!

Best Dressed:

1.  Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen

OBSESSED: Cool Girl Chic at Band of Outsiders, Rodarte and Steven Alan Fall 2012

There are so many things going right with these collections that I don't know where to start.  Band of Outsiders was prairie meets New York city street chic.  I would want everything whether it be the dresses that remind me of the Midwest or the bandage-topped black dresses that scream urban sophistication.

Rodarte presented a more refined, more commercialized cool girl look that is probably meant to beef up their sales.  However, the collection was still beautiful and dresses like the hand print layered one reminded me why I loved them to begin with.  Sure, the Mulleavy sisters have now been featured in Vogue decking out Taylor Swift in their collection, and they acted as consultants for the Oscars about what goes in to making a red carpet moment, but I think the fame is hopefully only going to make them stronger designers.   I want to think that they will stay true to their roots and keep designing the amazing looks that have a unique aesthetic no matter how well know they get.

Finally, Steven Alan's collection seemed straight from the closet of some indie urban school girl.  I thought the styling was great, and I would want everything from that collection.  It's wearable, flattering and perfect for the fall season.

Band of Outsiders