Sorry for the huge gap in post, but I was whisked away on a last minute vacay to Cancun for my birthday *feeling really special right now*. So, here's what I've missed:

Blake Lively wore a cute pair of dark denim jeans during Fashion's Night Out.

Rihanna, her cutoffs, and her nips made an appearance in NYC. I just don't get where she's going with this ensemble.


Amber Rose also wore a weird cutoff ensemble for her Elle photoshoot. And BTW, she was styled by Kanye himself. Nope, I don't like it either...


Megan Fox out shopping in Toronto.

Jessica Alba wore her bleached jeans. I think she should've either worn the top or the jacket, but definitely not both of them together.

Nicky Hilton had on an interesting stone-washed denim dress. I don't like it, but I think that she still looks cute.

Anna Wintour, American Vogue
When I first mentioned Fashion’s Night Out to my friend Vera Wang, a fashion designer here in New York, she gave me a quick double take. While her business, like everyone else’s, was having to ride out the recession — Vera always jokes that she has this knack for opening a store just before some new global cataclysm hits — it had never crossed her mind, not once, to stop shopping. “Anna,” she said, laughing, “I did shop, I do shop, and I will continue to shop!” For Vera, hitting the stores is about more than an act of acquisition. It’s one of self-invention and self-empowerment, no matter how small and inexpensive her purchase might be. It's Vera’s attitude that I’ll keep in mind when I do the rounds on September 10.

I’m going from Macy’s in Queens to Manhattan, where I’ll drop by Ralph Lauren, the Oscar de la Renta store — Oscar promises to sing! — then Intermix to see Sienna Miller, and on to Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, Dior, Saks Fifth Avenue (where there will be a William Rast pop-up shop), and Sean John, finishing up at the Meatpacking block party hosted by Theory and Diane von Furstenberg.

What am I looking to buy? Something in red, some new boots, and some kind of savage fur (that’s American Vogue shorthand, so you know, for a rough, shaggy stole or collar of some kind).

It’s not a lot, but isn’t that the whole point of shopping these days (and probably should always have been)?
You don’t need much, just whatever you’ll love and that will really mean something to you.

Source: Times UK

When I shop and I have different color options to choose from, I usually select the hot colors of the season. I love doing this because

1. It becomes easy to coordinate my wardrobe for that season
2. I can look trendy and fashionable even if I'm wearing a basic and/or inexpensive piece

“The vibrancy of the top five colors [for women] — versus the neutrals we see toward the bottom of the ranking — show that designers are choosing optimism for the season,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, which disclosed the top 10 colors chosen by New York designers in the Pantone Fashion Color Report Spring 2010. “It’s a cautious optimism, however, because no one can ignore the elephant still in the room — the recession.”

Here, the Top 10 Pantone colors for women’s collections chosen by New York designers for spring 2010.

1 VIOLET PANTONE 16-3320
“Purple has been a huge color for the last several seasons, and this version has finally taken purple to number one,” said Eiseman of Pantone. She said the red undertone “provides a bit more excitement to what we’d typically think of as a cooler color. A little bit of warmth to a cool color intrigues the consumer’s eye.”

• 2 AURORA PANTONE 12-0642
  
  
  Percentage of designers who used this color: 13.17
  Eiseman attributed the rising popularity of yellow to designers who used the color in accessories and evening gowns. “We’ve really been seeing variations of yellow on the red carpet,” she said. Reese Witherspoon and Michelle Williams have graced red-carpet events with variations on the color. Adam Lippes        
                                    played with contrasting pop colors, including Aurora.
  

• 3 TURQUOISE PANTONE 15-5519
  
  
  Percentage of designers who used this color: 12.57
  Peter Som, who used Turquoise for spring, told Pantone his color inspiration reflected “the need for a happy mood — lifting colors that offer a bit of escapism.” And Eiseman explained, “This version of blue excites the consumer because we associate certain tropical, ocean-filled vacations with Turquoise. It makes people think of someplace exotic.”
  
  
  
  
  

4 FUSION CORAL PANTONE 16-1543
“Designers really believe in orange, and they clearly want to continue that pathway,” Eiseman said. “This version is not over the top; rather, it’s a very mellow color.” The cosmetics industry also has taken advantage of this color, because, unlike the bolder, typical oranges, she said, “this is much more flattering to many different skin tones.”

• 5 TOMATO PUREE PANTONE 18-1661
  
  
  Percentage of designers who used this color: 10.18
  Ken Downing, Neiman Marcus senior vice president and fashion director, told Pantone, “Red is the message from the runway. Bright lipstick to deep Bordeaux will fill her passion for a color-saturated season.” For spring, Badgley Mischka, Rebecca Taylor and Tia Cibani for Ports 1961 also chose this
                                     version of red for their collections.
  

• 6 TUSCANY PANTONE 16-1219
  
  
  Percentage of designers who used this color: 8.98
  “This is a basic, strong color for consumers’ wardrobes,” Eiseman said. “In the last few seasons, we know that the brown tones have become so much more popular. This is a variation on the brown theme but, again, this is a light, soft version for springtime.” Designers who used this color include Nanette Lepore and Catherine Malandrino.
  
  
  
  

7 AMPARO BLUE PANTONE 18-3945
This version of blue has purple undertones, “which add more warmth to the color, giving it more appeal than an average blue,” Eiseman said. Adrienne Vittadini chose this as one of her colors, telling Pantone her inspiration was “the crystal blue waters of Capri.” Tommy Hilfiger, who also worked with Amparo Blue, told Pantone he was inspired by “the California coastline.”

• 8 PINK CHAMPAGNE PANTONE 12-1107
  
  
  Percentage of designers who used this color: 7.78
  “This is an airy, light-as-a-feather kind of color that relates well to textures,” Eiseman said. “I see this used in filmy, romantic spring dresses and skirts and scarves. Because of its versatility, it’s not a boring neutral. It’s got that little undertone of pink that gives it more romance, more personality.”
  
  
  

• 9 DRIED HERB PANTONE 17-0627
  
  
  Percentage of designers who used this color: 7.21
  This variation of green “is very neutral, and it will be accepted even by people who are typically hesitant to invest in green,” Eiseman said. She noted that combining it with colors such as Violet or Aurora “would urge consumers even more to buy the color.” Carmen Marc Valvo’s version of Dried Herb, “Warm Khaki,” was his signature color, “juxtaposed with metallic gold.”
  
  
  

10 EUCALYPTUS PANTONE 15-0513
This version of gray is a practical, neutral gray that can be used in any of the top 10’s palette as a combination, Eiseman said. “If you purchase a jacket in Eucalyptus, you can match it up against any of the top vibrant colors, for example. It will work to balance out an outfit.” She predicted many consumers will look for shoes and accessories in this color.





Source: Pantone via WWD

 

I really like both styles, and would love either on a man, but I'm on the fence about the red sole. It is likely because I have associated this red bottom with a women's shoe, but what are your thoughts? Can any man pull this off?

Billion Dollar Babes is having a sale on Stitch's denim. There is a huge selection at over 40 pairs ranging from $59-89 with MANY colors and styles. The sale ends tomorrow, September 10th at 12:00 PM CST.


Click here to register or copy/paste this link:
https://www.billiondollarbabes.com/register/u/b6c3dcd1ccd49677aa97a8

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Haute Look is ALSO having a sale on Stitch's. I'm not sure if its the photography or what, but I'm feeling this selection much more. Their selection ranges from $59-99, so I suggest that you comparison shop before buying anything. This sale ends September 11th at 1AM CST.

Click here to register or copy/paste link:
http://www.hautelook.com/invite/jeanotype

Anna Sui, the next designer for Target's Go International line, created nineteen Gossip Girl inspired looks. The line will be in stores and online September 13 through October 17. Check out some of the looks here:

Blair Looks:

Serena Looks:

 

Jenny Looks:

Vanessa Looks: