The Ultimate Clutch

When I first spotted Christopher Kane's Fall 2011 collection with his aqua-filled PVC clutches and dresses I about died. I knew it was going to be huge on all the street style'd regulars...and, lo and behold, it has. Last season it was the clutch to have and let me tell you, I would give my first born to have that clutch. Okay, not really...but if you threw in this dress, it certainly wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility.

Dolce & Gabbana floral print top, Helmut Lang asymmetrical skirt, Giuseppe Zanotti lace-up booties, Valentino studded, pointed-toe flat, Christopher Kane aqua clutch, MaxMara ivory necklace 

I love how the bright orangey-red clutch picks up the hints of red in the floral print and is then juxtaposed with the pale pink flats and the rust skirt. So perfect. Even better are the Giuseppe Zanotti booties for a little bit of a shocker to cap off the outfit. So...anyone want to spot me oh...I dunno, $10,000 so I can buy this outfit?

Green.

I am loving on green right now. Such a fun color with so many amazing variations! Monochromatic color-blocking is one of my favorite looks. There are endless possibilities and this is just one.

Untitled #3 by laurenangarola featuring crystal jewelry

1. 3 1 Phillip Lim leopard blazer 2. Chloé silk crepe de chine top 3. Jil Sander pleated stretch cotton poplin skirt 4. Jil Sander leather pyramid clutch 5. MM6 by Maison Martin Margiela peep toe booties 6. Oscar de la Renta crystal insect cuff 7. Yves Saint Laurent Arty gold-plated glass ring

I could probably spend all day creating outfits and literally never tire of it. In fact, I already kind of do that in my head. My favorite thing to do when I have time to relax is to hop on Net-A-Porter or Shopbop or the Outnet and find what inspires me. I love to do it even more when I'm trying to procrastinate doing other things...which is what I'm doing right now. 

Anyways, back to the outfit. I though the Jil Sander pyramid clutch was so interesting! It caught my eye as I was perusing the interwebs and it exudes luxury but in a really fun and exciting way. I have been so impressed with Raf Simons' work at Jil Sander these last couple seasons. In fact, he's churned out some of my most favorite collections of all! Sad to see him go but very exciting that Jil Sander will be back at the helm of the fashion house. I think Margiela makes the most interesting shoes...including these! My mind is racing with all the outfit possibilities. And I adore the navy with green...I need some more green in my wardrobe.

Fashion Month

Yesterday marked the beginning of the best month of the year (okay, one of two of the best months of the year). And no, not because it's love month but because it's FASHION month! If you ever watched the Rachel Zoe Project, you would know that every year, except last year because she was pregnant, she would miss Valentine's Day and her anniversary because she was at fashion shows. Poor Rodger, such a good sport! The point of this digression is that my priorities are about equivalent to Rachel Zoe's. Granted, I don't get invited to sit front row at fashion shows...ever...nor am I married...or dating someone...but, if I was, I would totally miss my own anniversary and Valentine's Day to sit front row at Marc Jacobs, pretty much every year for the rest of my life.

Not only does this mean we get a whole month to see the world's most amazing and talented artists showcase their work but (and this might even be better than the actual shows) we get to see the world's best dressed men and women showcase their talent in putting outfits together. It's SO fun to see people express themselves and to get to see the most recent season's collections put together in outfits. My dream is to be the next Natalie Joos or Taylor Tomasi-Hill...or just the next Lauren Angarola :)

So far I've loved some of the things from BCBG Max Azria, Richard Chai Love, 10 Crosby Derek Lam, Chadwick Bell, Kimberly Ovitz, and Rachel Comey. Here are my favorite looks:

Richard Chai Love

Richard Chai always has such interesting collections. Always with a bit of edge. I wish I had legs as skinny as that models so I could pull off pants with horizontal stripes. I love the long skirts and layering in the last two looks. Feminine, but relaxed...so great!

BCBG Max Azria

The coat with the fur sleeves is to die for! Also, the colors in this whole collection are perfect for fall.

10 Crosby Derek Lam

The layering in this look is impeccable. And the robin's egg blue color with the deep red so perfect. Not to mention, Hanne Gaby Odiele is beautiful!

Chadwick Bell

To be honest, I had never even heard of this line until yesterday. I'm so glad I discovered it though because this guy is so talented! The coat is just too good. Such a great shape. And by great shape, I mean there is no shape. I love a good jumpsuit and that is a great jumpsuit. I know color-blocking is old news but it's still my favorite trend. Dresses that look like potato sacks are the way to my heart. And last, the gown. Someone invite me to a fancy party so I can have an excuse to wear this.

Kimberly Ovitz

So Lisbeth Salander chic! I loved that textures were so prominent in this collection, black is the perfect color when it comes to experiment with textures. So simple, yet not at all.

Rachel Comey

I love skirts. I could wear them all day everyday. Rachel Comey had some AMAZING skirts. The first one, with the cool print on it...I would literally give my right arm to have that skirt. The second outfit is an incredible mix of prints and textures...right up my ally! And the last...please can I have that metallic skirt? I mean, the outfit possibilities are endless!

On Looking Like An Easter Egg

I know this trend has been talked about...and talked about...and talked about. But, posing oneself as a sartorial easter egg is perhaps my favorite trend since, well the previous spring when I practically went blind after spending just one day perusing Jak & Jil fashion week street style. Do not fret, your eyes might have been heavy laden with neons galore but they now will be soothed by the soft as a baby's bottom color palettes that dotted the Spring 2012 runways.

3.1 Philip Lim

Color-blocking AND pastels..how could you not love this collection? Not to mention, the shapes...or lack thereof, are wonderful.

Chanel

Karl Lagerfeld can do no wrong in my eyes and this whole collection was so dreamy. Yep, dreamy is definitely the perfect word to fit this collection. I adore the monotone looks but I especially love the textures in the look on the right, impeccable taste that's for sure!

Christopher Kane

My favorite part about this collection is that it totally echoed the prints he used in his Spring 2011 collection, but instead the color palette was far more muted. Not to mention, the fabric is amazing!

 

Christian Dior

Ever since John Galliano had his fall from grace last year I've been curious to see how the house of Dior would hold out and let's just say, I am thoroughly impressed with Bill Gaytten's work. The dress on the right is just simply pretty. I love the softness of the pale green against the harsh black belt. Can you imagine this on the red carpet (just add some sort of lining) on someone like Mila Kunis? Perfection.

Diane von Furstenberg

Love love love. That is all.

Givenchy

Givenchy RTW is not usually on my list of favorites, I generally favor their couture collections more, but I really love the tailoring and styling of these two looks!

Erdem

I have no words for the look on the left. Prints and pastels. What more could you ask for?

Jonathan Saunders

Okay, I was trying so hard not to add every. single. look. from Jonathan Saunders collection but OH MY GOSH it's simply brilliant! Seriously, if you haven't taken a look through the whole collection, do it now. The juxtaposition of 50s housewife attire with funky, modern styling fits my aesthetic too perfectly. The colors, the fabrics, the shapes, the shoes. I want every single piece.

Jil Sander

Ever since Raf Simons Spring 2011 collection for the design house I have been in love with his aesthetic. Most specifically, I love the shapes and colors he uses. I am mostly attracted to the simplicity of it all, which is strange because my style is far from simple, and these looks aren't really simple in comparison to what has been done in the past but the tailoring is so perfect. I want that plaid skirt SO bad.

 

Marni

In love with the sheer skirt under the dress. Brilliant, perfect, wonderful.

Louis Vuitton

Marc Jacobs was the best thing to ever happen to Louis Vuitton. He totally revitalized the brand. These are the perfect sartorial easter eggs. That is all. Oh, I want those shoes. Both of them.

 

Mulberry 

Fab and fab. Both of them. The right look really screams "I love Easter and I'm proud of it." That olive green jacket combined with Easter egg pastels is the coolest thing I've seen since sliced bread.

Peter Som

Models channeling an Easter egg channeling a potato sack. In other words, my dream wardrobe.

Prada

I have no words for this collection. By far my favorite one all season. So different, so on trend. Watch this video. If you are not in love with this collection after watching this, we cannot be friends.

Prabal Gurung

Prabal is so incredibly talented and although this collection was not all Easter eggy, this look was. And it has a really cool print. In a pastel color. My stamp of approval has been given.

 

Rochas

Retro. Pastel. Head scarf. Potato sack. Could you make a more perfect outfit? Nay, I say!

Preen

The look on the left, color-blocking and a neat pastel print. Awesome. The look on the left, so Tilda Swinton androgynous it's  awesome. Also, blue cuffs=COOL.

Valentino

Valentino is always right and this is so wonderful. 

Versus

Truthfully, I was not aware of the Easter egg-ness of this collection until yesterday when I was going through all the Spring 2012 collections. I want to wear all of these. Especially the skirts. And the shoes. And the tops. Pastel+black makes my heart melt.

Vera Wang

This is the first time I've really loved anything Vera Wang has done that was not a wedding dress. Not to say she isn't a great designer, she most certainly is, I just...don't align with her aesthetic as much. However, this collection...holy pretty Easter egg!

Well, that's my input on the Easter egg trend for this spring. I tried to narrow down my picks but I just couldn't. There were too many good looks. I am so ready to fully embrace this trend as soon as I can step outside without having to wear a parka. Maybe by June I can finally transform myself into the sartorial Easter egg I truly long to be.