The Felt Fedora

Fedora.  Such a beautiful, mellifluous name for something that is hideous ninety- percent of the time.  What was once a symbol of refinement is now the accessory of choice for club-going, bulging-muscled meatheads and Don-Draper wannabes.  I chose to pay homage to one of my favorite fictional heroes, Indiana Jones, with this wide-brimmed felt fedora.  While my tastes are anything but simplistic or minimalist, when contemplating this type of hat, I recommend keeping it simple and clean.  Save the feathers, ribbon trimmings, and other embellishments for your other accessories.

Dress: 3.1 Phillip Lim (3.1 Phillip Lim)
Printed Blazer: MiuMiu (Miu Miu)
Fedora: Topshop (Topshop)
Boots: Frye (Frye)
Bag: Marc Jacobs (Saks)
Sunnies: Hand crafted by Bubbles Vintage (one of my favorite vintage stores in Tokyo)

The Seafoam Green Dress

 

 

 

Elizabeth Barrett Browning writes, “Open my heart and you will see engraved inside ‘Italy’.”  Italy is a matriarchy, a realm of passion and expression where women reign supreme.  However, looking stylish whilst frolicking around the Tuscan countryside is easier said than done.  This 3.1 Phillip Lim Grecian dress is spun from the lightest silk and allows so much movement; it’s the perfect go to dress that is comfortable enough for day and chic enough for night.  I layered with an oversized Kenzo cardigan and some insanely comfortable Jesus cruisers (more commonly known as Birkenstocks) for an easy outdoors look. 

Dress: 3.1 Phillip Lim (3.1 Phillip Lim)
Oversized Cardigan: Kenzo (Kenzo)
Necklace: Marella (Marella)
Sandals: Birkenstock (Birkenstock)

The Horizontal Stripes

There are certain basic sartorial mandates that we adhere to because they seem to be steeped in common sense: don’t wear white after labor day, never pair socks with sandals (only acceptable if you’re a German tourist), leave the last button on a suit jacket unbuttoned, co-ordinate your shoes and belt, and avoid horizontal stripes.  However, common sense is absolutely over-rated and taking risks builds character… and a great wardrobe.   

Horizontal stripes: The arch nemeses of all shapely women, making them deviously appear larger than they are.  There is only a modicum of truth to this tale; stripes should be embraced as a fun, flattering option.  It is best to opt for luxurious knits, a silhouette that is fitted through the bust and loose at the hip, and stripes in the same color scheme; avoid shapeless potato-sack dresses and cheap fabrics.  

Dress: Issa (Neiman Marcus)

Waistcoat: Miu Miu (Miu Miu)
Platform Boots: Jeffrey Campbell (Jeffrey Campbell)
Sunnies: Prada (Prada)
Gold jeweled necklace: (Anthropologie)
Mini-bag: Reed Krakoff (Saks)

The Vintage Vera Dress

 

This vintage Vera shirt-dress conjures up images of old Hollywood starlets (or Don Draper’s lovers) frolicking in the summer sun.  Vera Neumann’s bold colors epitomize sixties chic.  Relive the golden age of hippies and flower-power in this A-line testament to cool.  For me, vintage shopping is akin to visiting a museum and being able to touch and purchase the artwork.  For others, like my mother, visiting a vintage store means being forced to paw through racks of dirty, used clothing.  Whatever your opinion, there are a couple things to keep in mind when searching for that flawless frock.  First, disregard sizes.  Modern sizes simply do not translate to realm of vintage; always try before you buy.  Second, pay attention to the artful details that distinguish a piece.  For example, this dress has Vera’s signature and a right-hand pocket, specifically sized for a pack of cigarettes.  While smoking may be no longer be fashionable, this dress stylishly stands the test of time.

Shirtdress: Vera (Groovy Vintage-Palm Beach)
Stacked heel sandal: Chanel (Bergdorf’s)
Sunnies: Elizabeth and James (Neiman Marcus)
Gold and lucite cuff and cameo necklace: Vintage (Groovy Vintage-Palm Beach)
Luggage Tote: Céline (Saks)
 

The Winter Floral

Winter is a culmination of frigid unpleasantries: Frankenstorms, seasonal depression, brown grass and colorless trees...  Perhaps the only redemptive quality of the change in seasons is the opportunity to hibernate in cozy sweaters, textured knits, fur (faux or real, your choice), and all other fabulous  wintry accouterments.  As the vestiges of the cold slowly give way to Spring's lush, vibrant blossoms, I find myself savoring my favorite seasonal looks; most particularly, the winter floral.  This long-sleeved, deep-hued Isabel Marant dress is perfect for layering and looks great whether you are trudging through snow in your hunter boots or wishing winter farewell in woven platforms.

The Winter Floral: Etoile by Isabel Marant (V.O.D)
Woven Platforms: Robert Clergerie X Carven (Barney's Co-Op)
Studded Coco Bag:Alexander Wang (Alexander Wang)
Sunnies: Elizabeth and James (Neiman Marcus)
Head-wrap: Sessùn (Sessùn)
Polka Dot Jacket: Vintage Sonia Rykiel (Come on Eileen, great vintage spot in Paris)

The "It" Bag: Céline Luggage Tote

Generally, I believe trends are both fleeting and cyclical.  I try not to succumb to the appeal of “It” bags because, let’s be honest, a bag can’t be it forever (unless we’re talking about Chanel quilted lambskin).  More often than not, after their fifteen minutes of fame, they begin to pervade the perimeter of tacky (Think Stephen Sprouse Graffiti for Louis Vuitton or Kim Kardashian toting around a Birkin etc…).  However, despite my hesitations about “It” bags, I simply could not resist Céline's Luggage Tote with sumptuous suede siding and gilded golden hardware.  The best thing about this tote is its ability to make any ensemble ten times more stylish.  Dear Céline, if loving you is wrong, I don’t want to be right. 

On a side note, lovely Rebecca from the super chic blog The Plus Side of Me was kind enough to include me on her list of curvy bloggers.  Check it out HERE:

Dragonfly Wing Jacquard Dress: Alexander McQueen
Ankle Boots: Vince Camuto
Navy Jacket with Gold Buttons:Vintage Chanel (Gabrielle Geppert)
Leggings: Sassybax (Neiman Marcus)
Bag: Céline (Saks)
Polka Dot Jacket: Vintage Sonia Rykiel (Come on Eileen, great vintage spot in Paris)

The Little Red Dress

“Red has guts… deep, strong, dramatic. A geranium red.  A Goya red… to be used like gold for furnishing a house... for clothes, it is strong, like black or white.” - Valentino

I’m paying homage to Valentino’s perfectly crafted red in this fit and flare Alexander McQueen dress.  After cultivating his creativity at the Parisian salons of Guy Laroche and Jean Dessès, Valentino opened his own atelier in Rome.  His first collection in 1959 marked the debut of “Valentino red,” his signature hue inspired by poppies.  Valentino redefined red; he transformed a color into a mood that is undeniably seductive.  The rest is history…

The great appeal of this dress is that it is hugs the right curves and hides the wrong ones.  The simplicity of its construction makes it the perfect piece to dress down.  I refuse to abide by the rule that cocktail dresses only can be worn on special occasions.  In my world, every day is a special occasion.   

I’ve “casual-ized” with a vintage Yves Saint Laurent sweater that I practically live in, Loeffler Randall platforms, an Anthropologie necklace, and a Gedney Hatattack hat. 

Red dress: Alexander McQueen (Alexander McQueen)

Sweater: Vintage Saint Laurent (Gabrielle Geppert)

Shoes: Loeffler Randall (Barney's)

Hat: Gedney Hatattack(Intermix)
Necklace: Anthropologie

The Art-Print Tee

I've always believed that fashion is art, but Carven offers a more literal interpretation of this belief in their A/W 2012 collection. Thanks to Guillame Henry's sartorial genius, Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights has abandoned the Museo del Prado for a more stylish home. This silk tee is the ideal for art history majors and fashionistas alike. Paired with a skinny-pleated metallic skirt, a nautical themed blazer, and color-blocked platforms, this tee maintains the perfect combination of quirky and cool.   Currently I'm escaping the cold in Palm Beach which is why I am frolicking on the sand instead of shivering in the snow.

 

Silk Print Tee: Carven (Totokaelo)

Metallic Skirt: Prada (Saks)

Blazer: Thom Browne (Neiman Marcus for Target)

Shoes: Loeffler Randall (Barney's)

Sunglasses: Linda Farrow (4510)
Bag and necklace: Prada and Van Cleef & Arpels (My mother's closet)

The Pleated Dress

Hello everyone!  I'm so sorry it has been an unforgivable amount of time since my last post but things have been a little bit hectic on my end with job and graduate school applications.  I was just interviewed by the New York Times college blog - check it out here!  Thanks to Lily for a great interview!

Mulberry is a brand that is iconic in England but still a little bit under-appreciated stateside.  While predominately known for bags and shoes, I love their ready to wear collections.  Romantic silhouettes and feminine frills make for an irresistible combination.  This pleated dress is fantastically flattering for several reasons.  The most important reason being the size of the pleats.  When you are choosing a pleated dress, choose pleats that are smaller.  Smaller pleats are infinitely more flattering because they lengthen the figure.     In addition, choose pleats with lots of movement to avoid looking stiff.  I paired this mustard colored dress with a navy blazer to break up the color and voilà-  an outfit was born.  Thank you to my gorgeous, talented friend Bianca Rutigliano for taking the pictures.

-Coco Curvy

Dress: Mulberry
Blazer: Vintage Chanel from Gabrielle Geppert (one of my favorite vintage spots in Paris)
Necklace: Marni
Shoes: Yves Saint Laurent
Sunglasses: Stella McCartney

The Pleated Black Dress

Yves Saint Laurent is a manifestation of a romanticized Parisian arcadia, in other words, the land of my dreams.  My fantasy realm is basically a YSL ad campaign, consisting of clandestine meetings with devastatingly handsome paramour, splashing around in a Veuve-Cliquot filled bathtub at the Hotel de Crillon, and riding a bike along the Seine while wearing a Breton striped shirt  and carrying a baguette under my arm.  Actually, it would be a Vespa, high heels aren't conducive to bike rides. 

This wool crepe dress brings a little bit of my imagination to life with its elegant pleats and unique shape.  It is impossible to not look and feel beautiful in this piece because, similarly to Mr. Laurent himself, Stefano Pilati embraces femininity and understands how to accentuate the beauty of the female form.  

Oren, a genius at the Yves Saint Laurent store on Madison and 57^th Street, explained to me that this dress is part of a capsule collection called Chyc that is comprised of the greatest hits from the past two years.  The pieces from the Chyc capsule collection truly reflect the YSL aesthetic and are staples every woman should have.  

- Coco Curvy

Wool crepe dress: Yves Saint Laurent

Enamel black and gold platforms: Yves Saint Laurent runway

Head Scarf: Hermes

Sunglasses: Stella McCartney

Ring: Yves Saint Laurent

Necklaces and bracelets: vintage