Spring 2010 Trends Report – Part 1
Mar 13th
Spring is the time when all things seem new and fresh, when new life is breathed into our dead and dormant surroundings. The weather gets warmer, the sun comes out, baby animals are born and plants and flowers begin to bloom. Much the same happens in the world of fashion. Whites and colors are reintroduced, lighter-weight fabrics welcome warmer temperatures and new, fresh fashion ideas are born. Spring 2010 is no different and it promises to be an exciting one. There was no lack of variety on the spring 2010 runways and there were almost as many trends as there were catwalks. In response, we have selected the most reality-ready trends in order to make your spring shopping trip a more-focused and successful one.
Enjoy our first installment below and keep checking back in the coming weeks to catch all of the trends…
Pale Hues
The predominant colors of the season are barely colors at all. Nudes, soft neutral tones, pale pinks and muted blues showed up in almost every designer’s collection. Keep your look monochromatic or go multi-tonal – the choice is yours. Check out the spring collections of Bottega Venetta, Burberry Prorsum, Marc Jacobs, Celine and Chanel for inspiration.
Pale Hues
Underwear as Outerwear
Underwear as Outerwear
Items that were traditionally meant as “under-things” and intimate wear are having their moment in the spotlight. While interpreted very literally at times on the catwalk, the best way to translate them to reality is to select subtle accents and combine them with more modest pieces. Look for lace, sheer fabrics, sexy cutouts, slinky silks and bra, slip and negligee detailing when doing your spring shopping. Look to Marc Jacobs, Dolce and Gabbana, Versace, BCBG Max Azria, Christopher Kane, Bottega Venetta and Jil Sander for direction.
~Marisa, Director of Styling, Second Time Around
A new nail trend for spring!
Mar 11th
Nails - and their manicures and pedicures - have been at the forefront of beauty trends for the last few years. First, deep, dark nails came on the scene, then fluorescent nails and finally matte nails. All are attention-grabbing and unique and certainly add another level of fashion and style to one’s outfit.
The new nail trend for the Spring is no different.
Textured nails are the next big thing in nail trends. Nails on celebrities and models alike are boasting thick layers of three-dimensional sparkle or appliqué gems.
Get this look for yourself by selecting a clear nail polish with sparkles within it. Apply this gloss directly to your nails or on top of your favorite polish shade. Try one coat to test out the trend or load on the layers for a more dramatic effect.
Curious where to find this look? Check out Sephora by OPI’s “Modern Flower” collection. I recently purchased “It’s Bouquet with Me” which is a clear polish with metallic, iridescent and multi-color sparkles. It looks fabulous on its own or over any of the other trendy colors in my polish collection.
What a fun new beauty trick for Spring!
~Marisa, Director of Styling, Second Time Around
Get great looks for less at STA Mott St.
Mar 10th
Wow! Between the end of fashion week and the premiere of Housewives, time’s been a-flying!
Simon and I attended 18 shows and presentations this fashion week – it was a wild week with all sorts of new ideas for fall. This season I either wore a dress from the designer’s show we were seeing, or I wore something off-the-rack from the Mott Street STA, and found myself wondering as I often do – how do you execute these runway looks in real life? Aha…I feel a project coming on!!
Don’t have a Neiman Marcus budget of $3,000? At Mott Street we found a collection of separates – an Armani jacket, Ann Taylor turtle neck, Laundry tuxedo pants, a black fedora and (of course) some Michael Kors shoes. Total STA look = $400.
Next – this Academy of Art University look is cute, young and sexy in a wholesome way. Linlee and I found pieces from Theory and J. Crew paired with stiletto thigh high boots. Again, we trimmed that runway budget down to $200.
Finally, I love this full, swingy skirt from Pamella Roland though it’ll set you back a few thousand. Linlee, Sophie and I found this great mauve silk tie neck dress and paired it with peach Manolos…always a girl’s best friend. Grand total $350. Go fashioniSTA!! ~Alex
Meet Alex this Thursday, March 11, at our Mott Street location in SoHo between 2-5pm. She will be doing consignment so come on by! 262 Mott St., New York, NY, 10012 (212) 965-8415.
All That Glitters: Oscar Fashion Round-Up 2010
Mar 9th
Cameron Diaz
Oh, the Oscars – Tinseltown’s annual glamour fest, the fashion-filled night where the stars save the best for last as they strut their style down the final red carpet of the awards season. In a night as important for fashion as it is for film, the celebrities at this year’s Academy Awards seemed to be taking a cue from Oscar himself. After all, this was the night to shine!
Finally breaking from the recent tradition of safe and subdued, three major tone trends could be spotted outside of the Kodak Theatre this year: metallics, vibrant blues, and nude hues.
Following the metallic trend was Kate Winslet in a strapless Yves St. Laurent paired with Tiffany diamonds, Sandra Bullock in embroidered Marchesa, Nicole Richie in a full-sleeved Reem Acra, and Cameron Diaz bringing old Hollywood glamour in a stunning Oscar de la Renta.
Nominee Maggie Gyllenhaal gave us a pop of color in her printed Dries van Noten, while all three “Precious” players arrived in nearly identical shades of blue – Gabourey Sidibe in gilded Marchesa, Mo’Nique in homage to 1939 winner Hattie McDaniel, and Mariah Carey in a slitted Valentino.
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Fleshing out the nude hues, we found Diane Kruger channeling a 1920s flapper in Chanel Haute Couture, nominee Anna Kendrick in Lebanese designer Elie Saab, and Demi Moore in ruffled Atelier Versace.
In a sea of ruffling sparkles and flowing princess gowns, it was easy to spot the few standouts of the night. Newcomer Carey Mulligan wore a youthful black Prada adorned with mini cutlery; red carpet darling Sarah Jessica Parker (in vintage Chanel Couture) wore some of the most impressive jewelry of the evening, with stacks of diamond-studded bangles teamed with the latest skin art trend — a temporary tattoo from Les Trompe-l’oeil de Chanel resembling a pearl chain. And how could we forget the over-the-top ensembles of Avatar’s Zoe Saldana (in a confectionary piece from Givenchy), nominee Vera Farmiga (in a sculptured Marchesa), and Charlize Theron (in an attention-grabbing “cinne-bust” by John Galliano for Dior).
The Oscars is like a grand, celeb-studded fashion show — stars dress to impress, and there’s no reward for playing it safe. The 2010 Academy Awards provided us seasoned fashioniSTAs with plenty ensembles to ogle and we honor those who took a chance and dazzled on the red carpet. Vogue Editor-At-Large Andre Leon Talley, in his program notes for 2007’s ‘A Celebration of Oscar Fashion,’ may have said it best…
“Oscar fashion is an extraordinary experience rooted in the power of individuality. Since the first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929, Oscar fashion has been a laser that beams around the world through the various levels of high fashion… the glamour, the aesthetic sensibility of one fabulous night, when the individual, the illusionist, the movie star, gave the world a glimpse of their personal style.”
~Kim, fashioniSTA
Zac Posen for the rest of us!
Mar 5th
Zac Posen is known for his gorgeous gowns and cocktail dresses which celebrate the feminine figure through impeccable tailoring and visionary design. His pieces are bold and eye-catching and have graced many a red carpet. The celebrities who wear them always look stunning and never end up on the dreaded “worst dressed” list.
Sadly, his work – sold at the highest price points in the high-end department stores and boutiques of the world – is unattainable by the masses…until now!
Not only has Zac Posen recently debuted his lower-priced sportswear line for Saks Fifth Avenue called “Z Spoke,” but he has also collaborated with Target to create a collection.
“Z Spoke” features easy-to-wear separates with signature Zac Posen detailing. The collection consists mostly of dresses and skirts – the items that Posen is best known for and most comfortable designing – but there is one pair of pants and one pair of shorts. The tops are simple, but useful, with a preppy vibe. The Posen-signature bold colors are evident, as is the body-conscious tailoring. Overall, I think that the collection is a success…except for maybe that name… (Thoughts? Comment above!)
For those of us with even less cash to spend, the collaboration with Go International Target is scheduled to hit the sales-floor on April 25th. The pieces range in price from $16.99 - $199.99. Again, the collection consists of mostly dresses and skirts, but the designer has included a few bathing suits, a few jackets and even a suit. The colors are fun and the silhouettes are flirty so get yourself to Target as soon as the looks arrive or I fear there will be none left!
And, of course, always remember to stop into your local STA where you may just find a Zac Posen couture or ready-to-wear piece that you can actually afford!
-Marisa, Director of Styling, Second Time Around
How to Shop Consignment
Mar 3rd
We know that you know how to shop. But, even the most seasoned shoppers can feel a bit intimidated by consignment shopping. That’s why we have compiled a list of consignment shopping tips.
1. Stop into your local consignment shop on a regular basis.
Making frequent visits to your local store will ensure that you never miss a great find!
2. Get to know the staff.
The staff at a consignment shop can conjure an Alexander McQueen blouse to match the pencil skirt you bought last week from a rack of t-shirts and will know that the Christian Louboutin stiletto boots on the top shelf will fit your narrow feet – but only if they know your taste and your size.
3. Get yourself on a wishlist.
If there is a particular item that you are on the hunt for or a particular designer who, in your mind, can do no wrong, get your name on the store’s wishlist. Tell the staff what it is that you want and make sure that they know how to contact you. That way, when the coveted item or a piece from your favorite fashion house arrives, you will be the first to know about it.
4. If you have the time, shop ‘til you drop!
I am a true believer that a consignment store should be shopped from front to back. Dig through every rack and bin and scour every shelf looking for fashion treasures. Stash everything that you find in a fitting room. When you have finally finished looking over every inch of the store, head into the fitting room for a marathon try-on session. I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed!
5. If you don’t have the time – or the patience – for #4, hit up the themed racks.
Most consignment stores will have themed racks in addition to their general itemized organization. Some of these themes will be permanent while others may change according to season. Either way, they offer shoppers a chance to make quick and focused fashion pit-stops. For example, all STA stores maintain a New Arrivals rack. If you are a regular customer and only have a minute to pop in, you can be sure to see everything that has come in since your last visit all in one place.
Now that you are armed with the tricks of the trade, go forth and explore a new fashion frontier! Or, if you are already a devoted consignment shopper, go forth with renewed purpose and a few new tricks up your sleeve! Happy shopping!
~ Marisa, Director of Styling, Second Time Around
Traveling Back in Time with Old Hollywood Glamour
Feb 25th
The days of Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly and Sophie Loren are alive as classic Hollywood glamour takes the stage in Spring 2010. Carolina Herrera was one designer to take the late 1950’s era to a fabulous extreme with a collection boasting sweetheart necklines, hourglass cuts and rich colors fit for a queen. The Red Carpet also dazzled millions of onlookers with this classic look as actresses traveled back in time to capture the days when awards shows were just beginning.
So, your wondering how you pull this off at the coffee shop down the street or for a casual night out? Easy. There are many different pieces to try but the first thing to look for is color. Black, red and white. Though these colors may be overlooked, they epitomize the old days (and I am not just saying this because everything was in black and white). Some pieces to watch for are long sleeved wrap dresses, patternless corset tops, shoulder baring blouses, menswear (cardigans, trousers, oxford shoes, button-downs), pastel cardigans, one piece romper suits which are quite prevalent these days and high-waisted shorts and pants.
Don’t forget the accessories! Big broaches and clip-on earrings are a must. Also, decorative hairpieces and small patterned scarves (worn as a headband or neck tie) are the perfect way to polish off any look you may be going for.
All of these things, though maybe unattainable at your regular department store are always lining the racks Second Time Around! ~Kirsten, FashioniSTA
Diane Kruger at the SAG Awards
Oxfords: My current fashion obsession.
Feb 24th
Joie's "Louie Louie" oxford
At first I was merely intrigued, but now I am fully obsessed with oxfords. I hope to purchase a pair soon! I think that they will be the perfect transitional shoe to bridge the gap between boots and sandals as the weather slowly – but surely – improves.
I plan to pair them with skinnies, leggings or boyfriend jeans and menswear inspired tops on some days and flirty and feminine dresses and rompers on other days. They will be the gender-bending statement piece for combining the masculine and the feminine in my wardrobe.
I think that I will probably choose a solid neutral pair as they will fit best into my wardrobe, but there are some fabulous two-tone versions out there that are incredible. I have even seen a few black and white pairs which take me back to grammar school…
We would love to hear your thoughts on oxfords and the kinds of things that you would wear them with! Comment above!
-Marisa, Director of Styling, Second Time Around
The Alexander McQueen brand will live on.
Feb 19th
Robert Polet – president and chief executive officer for Gucci Group, the parent company to McQueen’s brand – announced that although McQueen “is irreplaceable,” they “believe in the future of the brand” and that “a continuation of the business would be the best testimony to his talent.”
Announcements were also made that the fall McQueen show would be presented during Paris Fashion Week. However, it will not be presented in true McQueen style. Instead of the theatrical displays that McQueen was known for, the collection will be shown by invitation only in a private salon format at an undisclosed location on March 9 and 10.
What wasn’t announced – or even hinted at – was who McQueen’s predecessor would be. Those in the know speculate that Sarah Burton, McQueen’s long time women’s wear design partner, is in the running, but the Gucci Group has remained quiet on the topic.
Although the future of the brand seems so much brighter than a week ago, it is clear that more uncertainty lies ahead. Fans can only hope that in the six months before the Spring 2011 shows debut, the Gucci Group can find answers to all of the lingering questions. ~Marisa, Director of Styling, Second Time Around
Alex McCord, Blog #2 from NYFW!
Feb 19th
Weekend
Here’s what I love about fashion week – the opportunity to see what’s new and exciting from creative people we know, and discovery of designers we didn’t know before.
Friday was a “hit it hard” work day, after which we stopped in at Magalis Garcia’s presentation. Her work is gorgeous; I wore quite a bit of it on our show, and I was thrilled for her that Vogue attended! My favorite detail is her obsession with one-shouldered dresses, one that I share… On the way home, we stopped in for a sec to Christian Siriano & Brad Walsh’s after-party to say hi – life moves so fast that we realized we hadn’t seen them in person since last fashion week. I was thrilled to see that Brad has started a line of rings, tried one on and can’t wait to see more!
Haute Hippie
Saturday was hectic – we began at Georges Chakra, whom we have grown to love over the last year. My favorite pieces were the mohair-draped tops over trousers, and the cocktail dresses with sexy mesh cutouts. I love cutouts covered in mesh – you get the low-cut wow factor without worrying about having a wardrobe malfunction. Next was a quick run downtown to Loris Diran, a good friend and great designer. I really loved his use of copper tones, the foiled silk shirt over wool trousers with a copper thread in them. His menswear was really beautiful and wearable – Simon kept elbowing me during the show,which is van Kempen sign language for “I love that.” There was a lace showstopping gown which I’m going to wear somewhere, and we were off and back uptown for lunch. Next was the Academy of Arts University show, which I love attending. There were 6 graduating designers showing, and all were fearless and fabulous, from Marina Solomatnikova’s suede suits to Steven Oo’s amazing knitwear. As the sun set it was off to Zang Toi, who thrilled us with his intricate beading and lush glamour. Charcoal and purple cashmere were the signature looks of this collection, with slick hair under fedoras – what a beautiful show. Finally, we stopped in at the Suno & Haute Hippie presentations – Suno’s eclectic looks with the mixture of texture and color were to die for, although I might not braid my hair up so high! Haute Hippie was fun – they sell on 5F in Bergdorf’s, but even if you don’t have a Bergdorf’s budget you can recreate these awesome looks with classic pieces from your closet (or from Second Time Around!) My favorite look was a solid tank top with ropes of pearls over a ruffly skirt.
Sunday was much calmer, though we learned a lesson. Never, ever leave a fashion show, because the gossip rags will kill you. After arriving early at Lela Rose and finding we didn’t have seat assignments, we opted to leave and use the hour to take care of something totally non-fashion week related, versus waiting to be assigned seats. Suddenly gossip hounds gleefully reported that we were thrown out. Oy. Lesson learned – if they offer to put you backstage and seat you later, stay. What was the thing we had to take care of? Simon’s sister had called from Budapest – her friend’s cousin in Queens hadn’t been heard from in weeks and they wanted us to make sure she was still alive. We drove out to Jackson Heights, knocked on her door while fervently hoping this wasn’t going to turn into an episode of Law & Order and confirmed that yes, she was fine, just hadn’t called home in a while. Mission accomplished; now back to fashion. We had the more-or-less obligatory brunch at the Bryant Park Grill and then attended Diego Binetti’s show at Exit Art and fell in love with his 20’s movie star detailing, and sunburst fabrics.
Overall we’re seeing throwbacks to old school glamour, which is refreshing. As I said to somebody last night, I think with the economic situation we’ve all been living through, designers wanted to cheer us up with lush metallic colors, velvety luxurious fabrics, mohair and vibrant mixes of texture and layering. Most, if not all, these looks can be duplicated at your neighborhood Second Time Around. So far, so good! ~Alex