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Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Check Mate







Gingham is one type of print you will see throughout this spring. Whether you get your fashion inspiration from runways, magazines or boutiques you don’t have to go far to see that it is raining gingham all over the catwalks, roadways, sidewalks and even waterways

Altuzarra SS15 RTW
 


Altuzarra SS15 RTW



Altuzarra SS15 RTW


Altuzarra SS15 RTW


Balmain SS15

Lela Rose SS15 RTW


Lela Rose SS15 RTW

Luisa Beccaria SS15 RTW


Michael Kors SS15 RTW

 
Blair Eadie of Atlantic-Pacific


Taylor Swift



Rihanna




The history of gingham, which is made of cotton or linen, is vast and quite interesting. What I found out about it has led me to have an entirely new understanding of what I have long thought of as just another type of print. Gingham is so much more than that. Gingham was manufactured in Malaysia, Indonesia and India way back in the day but of course in the 17th century and subsequently the 18th century Europeans and Americans fell in love with the textile and adapted it into their own fashion cultures. In some countries, it was and still is simply a textile used to make towels while in other countries it is used to make all manner of fashionable garments.

One of the most interesting things I learned about gingham is that one side of this textile mirrors the other. In other words, there is no right or wrong side. I sometimes do like grey areas. Don’t you. Why choose a side if you don’t want to? After all, wouldn’t life be boring if everything was black or white? Even those of us whom like to dress in black or white, whether on occasion or all the time, like to add a pop of color to our look. My pop of color comes in the form of a bag and shoes usually but let me not digress. A gingham print can include a bold color like red or a non-color, like black. It can be the perfect check mate for solid shades, other prints and even make your outfit glow when it is in the form of a sheer print.
Source




 
If you aren't really into wearing checks all over just give your audience a glimpse of your check mate.  Did I say glimpse? See below and you will find that just a glimpse of gingham can be so divine.

Altuzarra SS15 RTW
 


Altuzarra SS15 RTW


Richard Nicholl Resort15


DVF SS15 RTW


DVF SS15 RTW


You can actually get the best of both worlds with gingham. Black and white print gingham is so in right now. Gingham may be more associated with blue and white or red and white print but not anymore. It is the 21st century, after all, and things are meant to naturally evolve. If you love fashion as much as I do, and you must if you are reading this right now, you may sometimes feel like you are a quick-change artist as it were. I certainly do. One day, I may wear jeans and a blazer and the next a skirt and blouse. The great thing about gingham is that it may be a vintage textile but it has modern day sensibilities. It just fits somehow. It works when paired with solids other prints and even comes in many more color combinations than the traditional white and red and blue and red I referenced earlier. Check this out. No pun intended, of course.

Oscar de la Renta SS15 RTW; Source
 
Source




Luisa Beccaria SS15 RTW


 
Temperley London SS15 RTW

One of the most common gingham prints this spring is pink and white. So if you want to let your feminine side fly high one day why not wear a pink and white gingham dress one day and the next when you are feeling bolder just break out a black and white gingham top. Regardless, of how you choose to adapt to the gingham style this spring I am certain of one thing. You undoubtedly will be noticed, in a good way, of course. Gingham print has an elegant way of standing out in a crowd of solids.
Bottega Veneta SS15 RTW



Bottega Veneta SS15 RTW

I previously thought of gingham as rather a cute print but I can honestly state, right now, that cute is no longer the adjective that comes to mind when I think of gingham. Not only are there so many colors that pair with white to make up gingham but the size of the gingham prints has certainly expanded to double and even triple the size it was back in the good old days.


Oscar de la Renta SS15 RTW


Leandra Medina
 
Why wouldn’t I grow rather fond of a textile that is the same exact print on both sides, includes one of my favorite shades (white) and comes in an array of print sizes?  What do you say? Are you going to make gingham prints your check mate this season? I do like to read your comments so bring them on.

DVF SS15 RTW
 
DVF SS15 RTW; Source


DVF SS15 RTW


DVF SS15 RTW


DVF SS15 RTW; Source


DVF SS15 RTW; Source


Tsumori Chisato SS15 RTW


Tsumori Chisato SS15 RTW

Before I go, I must give homage to the great Lucille Ball who always looked like a domestic goddess in her gingham frocks and to Elizabeth Taylor who shined bright like a diamond in a gingham shirt. Wouldn't you say? Goodbye for now, my dear friends.





 
Credit: Most of the images featured here were sourced from Pinterest except where indicated.

 

Saturday, April 4, 2015

A Flare Up





 
Anna Sui SS15
 
 
Louis Vuitton SS15


Antonio Berardi SS15 RTW; Source


Antonio Berardi SS15 RTW; Source
Bell bottom jeans and pants are really chic but for the longest time I refused to wear them. Have you heard the saying, All styles are not meant for everyone? That refrain just played over and over again in my head whenever I even began to think about purchasing a pair of bell bottom pants. All I had to do was try on a pair and look at myself in the mirror. That was all I needed to stop the madness.  Anyway, if I had long legs like a gazelle I am sure I would have liked them so much better. Note to self: Just because I don't have legs a mile long doesn't mean I can't look as hip as other fashionistas do in 70s style denim but more on that later. Right now, I am so inspired by those that carry off this look with more than a dash of fab.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Source







All I ever seemed to do whenever I wore a pair of bell bottom pants during my girlhood years was kick up dust along the way to wherever I was headed. Before you start, don’t blame me for putting on a type of jeans that didn’t work for my body type. I certainly don’t. What was a girl to do after all when she was at the age when her mother still picked out her clothes? It was the 70s, after all. I was a young thing and bell bottoms were where it was at.

Bell bottom jeans, in particular, remind me of everything that was great about the 1970s; a decade I love for disco music, soul jams, television shows such as Charlie’s Angels, Starsky and Hutch and a dance called the hustle. If you didn’t guess it already you probably are on your way now to understanding just how much I love the 70s. Bell bottom jeans won’t ever be my favorite type of jeans to wear but I have a genuine fondness for them. I won't be adding them to my wardrobe this season but I am very tempted to invest in a pair of flare-leg jeans. After all, they really are like a cousin once removed from bell bottom jeans. 

I have been sucker-punched by the likes of the looks below. Tempting, no? What's not to love about a rocker chick or glam-slam look?
 
Tommy Hilfiger SS15 RTW; Source
 

Balmain SS15 RTW; Source
 
 
Balmain SS15 RTW; Source
 
 
Balmain SS15 RTW; Source


Tom Ford SS15 RTW

There are so many good memories I associate with 70s denim. As a consequence, I do quite enjoy seeing the retro-denim styles on fashionistas whom have the type of stature required to look glam in them. I don’t happen to be one of those fashionistas but I came to the realization some time ago that I can actually look quite satisfactory in them with just a few style tricks I have up my sleeve. What are they? I am so glad you asked.

The best way to balance out the wide hemline of flare-leg or bell bottom jeans and pants is to invest in a pair that have a high-waist. Your legs will look supermodel long; particularly, if you are petite and tend to wear heels like I do. I will be wearing mine with a pair of platform heels. If you don’t know anything else about me by now I hope you know how much I love platform heels. Did you read my post about flatforms versus platforms? Why, of course you did, my darlings. But if you didn’t please pretty please do. I would love for you to weigh in on the great debate since both are on the hot list for spring. By the way, platforms are perfection with flare leg jeans.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  • Bell bottom jeans can also look great with sneakers. If you choose to pair them with sporty footwear, however, make sure the back of the hemline hits just at the top of the shoe to prevent any fraying at the hemline. Unless, of course, that is your thing.

  • Don’t be afraid to incorporate layers into your look. A buttoned-up shirt, sweater and scarf for instance look fantastic with bell bottom-jeans. Just make sure the shirt is fitted and the sweater tucked in just a tad at the front to show off that wonderful waist of yours.

  • Pair them with an easy-breezy tunic top, some heels and a large pair of danglers if you want to go for a bohemian look. After all, large earrings are going to be quite the hit for spring based on what I’ve seen on the runways.

  • Bell bottom jeans also look quite fabulous with a tailored blazer, a camisole or a graphic t-shirt. You see, now that I have figured out that short girls can wear bell bottom jeans with ease. There is no limit to the styling possibilities. I hope you think so too; whether you are short or tall you too can rock this 1970s style.


The only question is, “How much flare do you want? There are so many choices this season ranging from flare leg denim and pants to bell-bottoms.

Anyway, I really must run, my dear friends. Remember to leave a comment. You know how much I love chatting with you.

DVF SS15; Source
 

DVF SS15; Source
Before I go I wish you peace and love. I could not resist. I just had a 1970s flashback, you see. It is all because of those darned flare leg jeans. Now, I can’t get them out of my mind.  Maybe, they will still remain with the rest of the fashionable thoughts in my head until fall arrives.

 
 


Valentino PF15



Veronica Beard PF15


Zimmerman FW15 RTW

All images not noted are credited to Pinterest.