Metallic bodycon dresses

Metallics are absolutely everywhere this season. From shoes to scarves and everything in between fashion has come over very futuristic. Shimmering silvers and golds, sequins and embellishment take your dress from drab to fab. Ramp it up even further with a bodycon dress; this will definitely get you noticed.

How to wear? 

Styling details to keep you on point can include one-shoulder straps, studding and embellishment as well as bust cups and contrasting metallic belts.  Keep the metallic trend going in your shoes and jewellery. Give the look a bit of an eighties vibe with wrist cuffs, black and gold envelope style clutch bags and chandelier earrings.

Lacy LBDs

The little black dress never fails to impress, but this season you need to spruce it up a little if you want to compete with all those shimmering metallic-clad ladies. The only way to do that this season is with lace, and plenty of it. Whether bodycon, shift, a-line or skater, lace adds a sultry, sexy touch to an otherwise average black dress.

How to wear? 

Lace on the arms, around the neck or layered over the dress are the most fashionable ways to work lace into your outfit, but don’t be afraid to break the mould with lace hemlines and cut-out detailing. Work the grunge trend and go for black from head to toe with colour-matching accessories.

Bright, bold, asymmetric dresses

The colour block trend from the summer is reinvented with richer, autumnal hues such as burgundy, plum, mustard and emerald green.

How to wear? 

A favourite style for these eye-catching dresses is asymmetric hemlines accompanied by one-shoulder detailing. Corsages, Grecian-style drapes and pleats all add glamour and style and give a nod to the disco fashions of the 1970s. Accessorise in contrasting colours and keep jewellery, shoes and jackets larger than life.

Ladylike Fall 2011 runways: Monique Lhuillier, Jason Wu and Nina Ricci

Look 1:  Trompe L’ace

The Lace Fringed Dress, $125

This piece is so versatile because it becomes what is beneath it. The low swinging fringe makes the dress substantial.

The Nude Bra Top, $65

The top underneath is made of lace – pile the two laces atop one another and they become opaque. The bra hits the bottom of the ribcage, which equals more skin coverage from the lace.

The High Nude Shorts, $125

These thick silky shorts hug the body close and make a great layer unto itself. The length just happened to cut at the exact proportion necessary for this visual effect.

The Lace Cutout Kimono Jacket, $225

Found in varying lengths throughout the store, this particular piece comes to a sheer end at the bottom of the dress fringe. The silk swims to complement the shape beneath, and it has the capacity to fit a multitude of situations. However you decide to style it, it can work inside the house or out, day or night.

The Vintage Man’s House Slipper, $95

Now, these probably were not made with the intention of being indoor slippers, but they do remind me of what my grandfather used to wear, though his were not as pointy. The woven leather has been worn, and wear with ease. This look, however, could certainly do with a spicier pair of shoes.

The Reformation NYC | 143 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002, (646) 448-4925

Photography by Christopher Hall

The Skirt: Myth & Ritual, $178

My mind scarcely runs to any sort of “business wear”, but this skirt seemed more versatile than that. Though it would feel at home in the office, try it at a picnic.Peer at the careful detailing on the pockets and waistband. Blue velvet panels do more for a garment than you might think.

The Lace Shouldered Tank: Vanessa Bruno, $178

A little lace lining at the sleeve cap gives this slightly slouchy tank an edge. The sides have a different textured gusset and add dimension. Alone it would have been just enough for a late spring after work drink.  Danish born, Paris based Vanessa Bruno creates unexpected shapes with cutouts and wrapping straps while mixing patterns and textures with a deft hand.

The Cropped Lady Sport Jacket: Lover, $450

This jacket kicked the power up a notch. The bold shoulders add a touch of welcomed severity, while the above-the-elbow sleeve and short cut keep it fresh. Started in 2001 by two Australian Lovers Susien Chong and Nic Briand, they have taken their creations of romantic, ethereal, loud and irreverent designs from a market stall all the way to Vogue and into the hearts of celebs and It girls like Keira Knightly and Alexa Chung.

The Blue Suede Shoe: Repetto, $250

This heeled and ever so slightly platformed lace up jazz shoe seemed the ideal fit for this work and play ready look. Rose Repetto began making ballet shoes in 1947 for her son – real ballerina’s point shoes. That has been the backbone of the company, revered by professional and amateur dancers alike, but she expanded to all kinds of shoes to make Repetto a part of every day life. “Like dance, our designs take skill and knowhow.” Expect a seriously well-worked shoe from Repetto. Perhaps AvaMaria owner Virketiene knows of Repetto from her ballroom dancing history.

The Ombré Turban: Cashmere, $80

No brand in particular, gradient blue cashmere scarf has been reworked into a turban for this particular look. It gives the office aesthetic both a more playful and more intimidating edge simultaneously. Learn how to tie a turban like this in a minute.

The Delicate Cuff: Nagicia, $248

Part of the butterfly collection by Tricia Kim, this skeletal cuff is barely there but vibrant at once. She chooses her materials. When she uses gemstones, they are hand-made with love in Bali. Kim feels that she is the loving intermediary of beauty.

The Home Sweet Home Ring: J. Davis Studio, $138

Brooklyn based silversmith Jill Davis takes her jewelry home with miniscule house imagery. On this ring, the homes are sitting within a circle, perhaps of trust. Outfit complete.

AvaMaria | 107 Crosby Street, New York, NY 212.966.0909

Photography by Christopher Hall

PHOTO CREDITS: NY Mag

This One Shoulder Darling Black Tulle & Satin Dress is perfect for a holiday party.

How about the Flower and Feather Fancy Headband when you don’t feel like doing your hair?

These Black or White Lace Fingerless Wrist Ruffle Gloves are soooo Madonna. I want them for New Years.

You can shop for these styles and more online at Unique Vintage.

Katy Perry took to her twitter a couple of days ago and posted a picture of her latest nail art. The picture featured laced glove tips. Not sure if it’s the most practical move, but it’s definitely an interesting concept.

LINK LOVE: Style

Just you know, on the street in Milan, snapped by Scott Schuman….God.  Can Anna Dello Russo BE any cooler? Love her.

Link Love:  The Sartorialist

Check out the back of this womens blazer jacket covered in lace! (Anyone know the label?) It looks amazing. I´m just thingking of refashioning my fav black wool brazer by sewing pices of lace on the back bodice and sleeves. And then cutting the back piece and sleeve fabric away from under it. Adding the layered ruffles is optional bot adds a lovely victoran feel to the piece. You with me?! This would be a killer look in summer weddings/bridal wear or you steampunk fans.

Naomi Watts for Vanity Fair Italy May 2010.
Via Fashion Victims.

LINK LOVE:Lace

LINK: Fug or Fab: Becki Newton

Add Your Own Stories on ENVY The Fashion Network

Top:  H&M

Trench: Burberry

Tights: Bebe

Boots: From China

Shorts & Bag: F21

Dolce & Gabbana just released their new catalog which featured this amazing shade & lace combination which is so highly covetable that I need to see them on the street pronto. Probably a really easy DIY project for the resourceful fashionista, a definite must attempt for anyone of our readers who haven’t been on the Satorialist yet.

I’ve seen too many spin-offs of this incredible Helmut Lang knit lace top, but let’s be honest, there’s really nothing quite like the original! Knitted from ultra-fine Italian yarn, this top has a uniform and symmetrical destroyed look that rivals all the others!

Get it at: La Garconne

Here are the two latest trends in nails: the above from Prada’s runway, and the below as seen on celebs such as Blake Lively. I can’t lie, I kinda like the clear plastic add on (not necessarily the length) more than the lace, which seems too bulky. What do you guys think?

LINK: Allure and All Laqured Up

Kinda like these, not sure yet, but for $40 bucks they’re super cute. Available in four different colors, cute with teeshirt dresses or shorts!

Buy them at ShopBop

Gloves are not just made to keep your hands warm during the winter months, they have been worn by women as fashion items since the 13th century. Gloves became a symbol of status depending on the amount of embellishment, and the trends that catch on are often catapulted to the mainstream by a music of film fashion icon.

The above gloves, from the 1600′s, showcase linen embroidery that was typical of the time. The knitted gloves to the right held less social standing then the embroidered ones on the left.

Most flapper costumes come complete with satin opera gloves, a confusing addition because flappers are most often seen with bare arms or light crocheted gloves which were popular during the 1920′s.

During the 1940′s, after the war was over, glamorous opera gloves came back into style. Opera gloves remain popular in editorials today.

During the early 60′s opera gloves were still popular due to Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Audrey Hepburn’s influence as a fashion icon. 60′s secretaries wore short white gloves along with their sweater sets, girdles and high heels (think Mad Men chic).

The punk movement in the late 70′s sparked the trend of fingerless studded gloves worn by both men and women as strictly a fashion item, regardless of the season. Rainbow style gloves were also popular, commenting on the trends of the time.

In the 80′s lace gloves were popularized by Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan. Fingerless gloves were also popular during this time. Thankfully the combination of these trends is mostly left to halloween costumes and 80′s theme parties.

Gloves in the new millennium have taken on many diverse styles. These Gucci gloves (left) from Fall 07 represent the constant use to embellished leather since the 70′s. Fingerless gloves have once again become popular, a trend we can attribute to the phenomenon of texting. Patricia Field’s gloves (right) are an example of how gloves have taken on a life of their own besides just keeping the wearer warm.

What do you think will be the next trend in gloves?