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Stylspy Blog
Pants for days....
Just when you're ready to give up your cold weather warmies (cozy leggings that got you through low digits), there's a plethora of cool, new pants to fill the gap for spring. Here's what on my radar:
European designers certainly grasped the hunger for for more wearable, “normal” women’s clothes that’s out there right now——and pants are fundamental to that.
This spring, designers also honored the uniform, both literally with surplus style details, such as loops and cargo pockets. but also in the idea of familiar shapes in beautiful everyday clothes— a woman’s uniform if you will. Maybe this was partly a conscious tribute to Ukrainians and their fighting spirit, but perhaps also a reflection of the war anxiety and awareness that has gripped Europe.
So, it’s fitting that cargo (or utility) pants are a must-have at the moment. You can get them in uniform olive drab, stone or khaki, but also in white, black, colors or as jeans. They’re slouchy and edgy at the same time, with a cool attitude, but supremely comfortable.
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Wide leg and/or pleated trousers were also integral to the wearable clothes moment. Since when has a well-cut pair of trousers not fit the bill for so many occasions? They’re always on target for working life , but also dressing up, weekend, travel, even formal venues. Women are looking more pulled together in life after jogger pants. Owning really great stylish pieces you can wear, re-wear and rotate throughout your wardrobe, like super-cut trousers, was part of the uniform theme, And doesn’t that just make so much sense?
Take a look at just a few of the great pairs I noticed:
But this season’s pants weren’t just a utilitarian daily uniform; they were spirited and fun as well. Colorful bottoms and patterned legs appeared in lots of shows, and made the case for injecting some liveliness into your repertoire. Red pants at the office-why not? Lean, multi-color striped legs for for weekends or a less formal job? Absolutely.
Look at my take on technicolored and patterned pants-I think they’re fresh and made to be noticed in a good way. Enjoy.
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Zara TRF wide leg cargo pant, $49.90
Zara, pleated wide leg trouser, $49.90
Everlane, utility barrel pant, $98
Cos wide leg utility trouser, $135
Shopbop, Reformation, $178
Shopbop, Alice and Olivia, $278
Net-a-Porter, Nanushka, $495
Frame, satin cargo pant, $428
Madewell pocket cargo jeans, $188
Zara flat front wide leg trouser, $69
Zara mid-rise palazzo trouser jean, $59.90
Moda Operandi, Siedres, $495
Zara straight-leg cargo pants, $45.90
Frame, Le Palazzo trouser, $368
Shopbop, Favorite Daughter trousers $218
Norma Kamali, wide leg pant, $150
Spring blues, mermaid hues
Color Joy
Deep into January’s grey days, I’ve been looking back at the spring runway collections from September, thinking how crazy it is that the tangible appeal of new lightweight clothes is really lost on us hot-weather-weary fashion folk then.
In late summer, we tanned style people see next spring’s warm weather trends and nod in professional, but distant, appreciation at the of-the-moment shows. Then, we get down to the business of hungrily scouring for salable/photogenic looks, under-the-radar designers and models, front-row gossip, and just maybe some really good clothes. But did we really feel it? No-we looped into professional auto-drive. (Forget that the rest of the nation was focused on Mar-a-Lago and the midterms, we competed to be first declaring micros, maxis, midriffs and monochrome the runway headlines.)
But, that’s just what we do--the business of our fashion business, if you will. The real impact of a season’s beautiful trends doesn’t really grab the fashion pack—until we wish we could wear them. Like right about now—thank you very much, winter.
Delectable color is certainly what gets me into a new season. Who doesn’t want to wear color that makes us think about and feel sunnier, airier, lighter days in the middle of wintry pewter skies?
So, color can definitely be the “a-ha” moment, when we “get” the new season’s raison d’etre.
This year’s magical spring palette was positively Neptunian: sea hues-blues and greens and lilacs, from light to saturated. There was the gradient green-to-purple, sea creature iridescence, the pale ghost colors of jellyfish, squid and plankton, the silver mercury flash of fish and the deep shades of ocean depths. Mesmerizing, cool, serene, and sensual colors that made me feel a sea breeze and a wave’s caress on my toes in my living room..
And, I reasoned, like the unsated fashionista that I am, why wait till spring? I want some of that color, and that feeling, RIGHT NOWI So I searched for my bit of new season magic to behold and covet. Hope you’ll love these pieces as much as I do…
Stylspy Blog
Blumarine, runway
Staud, Intermix, $365
Materiel, Farfetch, $655
The Attico, Farfetch, $1900
Off-White, Farfetch, $1700
Norma Kamali, Net-a-Porter, $385
Jason Wu, Bloomingdales, $1395
Alex Perry, Net-a-Porter, $2000
Gauge 81, Farfetch, $517
Everlane, $130
Style Copy
CARLA ENGLER/ BELEZA MAGAZINE
FASHION COPY- SPRING-SUMMER
Top Craft
Refined ease and sporty chic went luxe with surprising materials and craft techniques.
Modern dressing masters, Alexander Wang and Proenza Schouler, crafted sleekly polished looks this spring. They combined laser-cut, perforated leathers, seaming, transparent embroidery, photo prints and exotic python patchwork. These designers showcased their luxurious ideas about what women really want now—unique, individual dressing.
Proenza elevated the relaxed topper with black and white digitally-cut luxury skins. Wang unexpectedly used clear fishing line to piece together athletic tops of stark white stamped leather panels that floated on the body, and suture-slashed skirts and sporty shorts. Our take? Totally modern luxury -- and covetously CHIC!
Carla Engler/Beleza Fashion Copy/Spring-Summer Issue
Clear State of Mind
Transparence is a popular buzz word now in politics, business—and spring fashion.
Cool, clear or tinted lucite or plastic accessories sleeked their way down the catwalk, part of many statement-making collections.
Whether it was a see-through clutch or carry-all (no messy interiors please), or an icy, space-age lucite heel on a chunky sandal, or a rose-tinted transparent cuff, the look was light, airy and fun.
Barely-there shoes, clearly individual jewelry, bags and belts with nothing to hide made us smile and look twice. Sheer modernism that is future-perfect.
Confidence Game
Stay above the madding crowd in a clear beautiful color, like this citrine yellow shade that radiates serenely-In-control vibes.
This '70s shape wool sweater is lightweight and lengthening, and pairs with well-cut, wide-leg trousers.
Underneath the sweater, $58, is a lemon and white striped classic shirt, $68, white linen trousers, $88, bracelet, $32, all Banana Republic, Hat, Tracy Watts, belt, Gabriella Giovanni, $48.
TOP-NOTCH AND TAILORED
Self-assured, sexy style doesn't always come from plunging neck-lines and lots of skin. Sometimes it’s in the subtle but strong vibe of a tailored pantsuit, shown here in cool modern white with a spacey silver stretch turtleneck.
Think of 70’s icons Faye Dunaway, Lauren Hutton, Bianca Jagger and Gloria Steinem, and you'll see how sleek, sporty shapes can exude a powerful allure. Turtleneck Norma Kamali. White linen suit. Calvin Klein Suits, $320. Bracelet, Roxanne Assoulin for Lee Angel.
DRESS CODE
One and done is the season’s new dress code with cool shirt dresses, sleek knits, trim shifts, fuller midi dresses, feminine florals and floor grazing maxis all giving us throw on and go style.
Whatever your day looks like, dresses help you get there faster. Here, this slim Norma Kamali ruby red shirt dress $125, Pono necklace and cuff and Tod’s tote took minutes to slip on, and this busy woman’s on her way, scooter to match.
Beauty Copy
Beleza Spring/Summer Beauty
Beauty By No One's Book
Independent Eye
Slightly sci-fi strange but starkly beautiful, colorful eyes were a strong beauty statement this spring. The futuristic bold strokes, jagged edges and swathes of color totally tripped our coolness meter.
These angelic road warriors thought — why not a hot pink-lined eye, a Vespa blue brow, a sea green brow-to-lash color wash? Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder, and sidewalk chalk green or lavender lids suddenly looked chic, just the twist an individual beauty could want.
So get some serious second looks with a new beauty id, and stand out in these decidedly beyond-the-norm hues. Simple, bold, and totally yours.
BELEZA BEAUTY DECEMBER
Winter Warrior
Beauty Armor
Storm Brewing
Winter’s coolly beautiful women are set to conquer with strong, mysterious, storm-hued eye looks. Part Mad Max, part serious siren, these bold eyes are about power, edge, and a bit of steely androgyny knocking us out of our comfort zone.
Confident women can challenge conventional beauty norms with these unexpected swathes of shadow, bold brows, and almost no mouth (or, an in-your-face, deeply-toned one). Dare to find us beautiful, these moderns ask, and we do.