Trends: Summer Leather

Celine Spring 2010, Yves Saint Laurent Spring 2010

For Spring 2010, leather was allover the runway. While leather never really goes out of style, it seems to have evolved into new forms of casual dress.

Hermes Spring 2010, Balenciaga Spring 2010

Thanks to Phoebe Philo's Spring 2010 Celine collection, I have never wanted a leather t-shirt so bad. Clean lines in a slick unexpected material look so perfectly modern and minimalist. At Balenciaga, leather thrown into school girl kilts looked perfectly good girl gone bad. And while leather shorts are nothing new, the way it's been paired with neutral tone basics makes leather look day wear acceptable, light and summery.

While leather is now tissue thin and somewhat breathable, I still have a difficult time taking the plunge as something to wear now. I've seen adorable leather t-shirts at Theory, Lani's loving pleather shorts at Rachel Rachel Roy, Timo Weiland had amazing perforated leather tanks, and Veda has a variety of leather tank & short options.

No doubt the look is adorable but in New York City this summer has seen weeks on end where the asphalt hit 100+ degrees Farenheit (or 37+ degrees Celsius) and humidity makes a girl find ways to sweat while standing still, I've had difficulty wearing anything but the sheerest jerseys or cottons.

As more and more summer leather hits the shelves, the question remains, would you wear summer leather?

Chloé Spring 2010, Michael Kors Spring 2010

CFDA Awards Winners & Red Carpet Trends

The CFDA Awards last night celebrated designers and members of the industry across various categories. Congratulations to all the winners!

The CFDA Award Winners:
Marc Jacobs - Womenswear Designer of the Year
Marcus Wainwright and David Neville for Rag & Bone - Menswear Designer of the Year
Alexis Bittar - Accessory Designer of the Year

The Swarovski Award (honors emerging talent):
Jason Wu- Womenswear
Richard Chai - Menswear
Alexander Wang - Accessory Design

L’Oréal Popular Vote Award:
Ralph Lauren

Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award:
Michael Kors

International Award:
Burberry’s Christopher Bailey

Eleanor Lambert Award:
Vogue’s Tonne Goodman

Eugenia Sheppard Award:
Paper magazine’s Kim Hastreiter

Fashion Icon Award:
Iman

The Board of Director’s Special Tribute:
Alexander McQueen

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So with it being such a designer-centric fashion affair you would expect that the fashion would follow suit but I found that most people took a safe approach to their dressing and black, white and silver were the dominant dressing themes.

Sparkling Sexy Black

Left - Michael Kors with Gwyneth Paltrow in custom Michael Kors and Fred Leighton.
Center - Lara Stone in Calvin Klein Collection and Fred Leighton.
Right - Molly Sims

Textural White Minis

Left - Amanda Brooks in Thakoon.
Right - Hana Soukupova in Marchesa.

Shining in Silver

Left - Constance Jablonski
Center - Donna Karan
Right - Whitney Port in David Meister.

Printed Columns

Left - Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen and Stephen Russell.
Right - Jessica Biel in Diane von Furstenberg.

Left - Diane von Furstenberg
Right - Tory Burch

Blush/Nude

Left - Linda Fargo
Right - Alexa Chung in Marc Jacobs and Atelier Swarovski.

Left - Brooke Shields in J.Mendel.
Right - Maggie Grace in Notte by Marchesa.

Left - Alexis Bledel in Benhaz Serafpour.
Right - Carmen Kass in Michael Kors.

Statement Necklace

Left - Jessica Stam
Right - Sasha Pivavarova in The Row.

My Personal Favorite

Rachel Weisz in Jason Wu.

All images courtesy of WWD

Sample Sales This Week: NYC

Who: Michael Kors
What: 75% Off on Women's Collection RTW, Dresses, Knits
When: March 20-21, 2009 - 9am-7pm
Where: Metropolitan Pavilion - 125 West 18th Street between 6th & 7th Ave.

Who: Libertine
What: Everything under $100, including blazers, pants, vests, skirts, tees, overcoats, etc.
When: March 19-21, 2009. Thurs-Fri 11am-7pm, Sat-Sun 11am-6pm
Where: 187 Lafayette Street, 7th Floor, between Grand and Broome, 212.925.8445

Who: Abaete
What: Up to 80% off on Fall 08, Holiday 08 and Resort 09
When: March 19-21, Thurs-Fri 11am-7pm, Sat-Sun 11am - 6pm
Where: 560 Broadway, Suite 509, on the corner of Prince Street, 212.334.4755

Who: J.Crew
What: Up to 70% off on Women's (only) samples and accessories from J.Crew and Madewell.
When: March 17-19, 2009. 11am - 8pm.
Where: 261 W 36th Street, near Seventh Ave, 2nd Floor

More Sales via Daily Candy:

What: Lauren Merkin
Why: Softer-than-soft leather handbags ($150-$225), clutches ($40-$150), and accessories ($15-$25).
When: Mar. 17-21. Tues.-Fri., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: 231 W. 29th St., b/t Seventh & Eighth Aves., ste. 201 (212-239-2459).

What: Lanvin
Why: For one day only, more than 400 pieces are 70 percent off (or more!). Trench coats for $560 (reg. $3,900) and minidresses for $325 (reg. $1,560).
When: Mar. 18. Wed., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: 230 Fifth Ave., b/t 26th & 27th Sts. (212-920-1211).

What: Me&Ro
Why: Up to 75 percent off silver and 10- and 18-karat gold jewels.
When: Mar. 19-21. Thurs., noon-7 p.m.; Fri., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: 13 Crosby St., b/t Howard & Grand Sts., 2nd flr. (646-747-5900).

What: Saja
Why: Gowns, cocktail dresses, knits and sweaters at more than 75 percent off.
When: Mar. 19 & 20. Thurs. & Fri., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Where: 250 W. 39th St., b/t Seventh & Eighth Aves., ste. 1601.

What: Only Hearts
Why: Up to 80 percent off ready-to-wear and lingerie from Only Hearts, Alice McCall, Madison Marcus, LAmade, and more.
When: Mar. 19-22. Thurs.-Sat., noon-8 p.m.; Sun., noon-7 p.m.
Where: 230 Mott St., b/t Prince & Spring Sts. (212-431-3694).

What: Tucker by Gaby Basora
Why: Resort, vintage, and limited-edition pieces starting at just $50.
When: Mar. 19-22. Thurs. & Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. & Sun., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: 13 Essex St., b/t Hester & Canal Sts. (212-777-8711).

What: Marchesa
Why: Stunning gowns, cocktail frocks, and evening separates (sizes 0-12) for 50-80 percent off.
When: Mar. 25 & 26. Wed., 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Thurs., 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: Warwick Hotel, 65 W. 54th St., at Sixth Ave., 2nd flr.

What: Salon 9 Showroom
Why: Swimsuits by Red Carter, Zimmermann, and Brette Sandler at $40-$150.
When: Mar. 30-Apr. 3. Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: 241 W. 37th St., b/t Seventh & Eighth Aves., ste. 923.