wrap up

the row spring/summer 2015

okay so I must admit, this summer there are a few collections that I actually have very much responded to. as we all know, its so hard these days to keep up with every designer, but when someone catches my eye I will take notice and put the extra effort in too see, what is going on. case in point, I think my favorite spring/summer 2015 collection has to be from The Row. I don't know why I love this collection, but I do and I think mary-kate and ashley olsen have such a great understanding about simplicity and sophistication. I also think the fabrics and just how every piece is designed this season, looks so utterly stunning. silks are used beautifully, within many of the pieces and I love the fluidity and the way these clothes move. plus, the raw surroundings are a perfect backdrop to this collection. to pick a favorite ensemble is rather difficult, but I love this look, in particular. I think its the wrapping that caught my attention. the way that black jacket wraps across her chest is quite amazing and I love the way it layers with that shirt underneath and then the train that pops out in the back. this look is ethereal, but still very refined and I like the pairing with those sleek pants and sandals. its utilitarian fashion done right and I also love that its black. I saw so much black on the runway for spring/summer and I can't tell you how much I appreciate that....no surprise, really but I always find when I see something noir chic that I can easily translate that with my own personal wardrobe. I am trying to do just that with this look and if you have not seen this collection by The Row, do yourself a favor and check it out. I think this is their best season yet, and I am not surprised that they won, the CFDA womenswear designer of the year just a couple of weeks ago as this collection certainly displays why. personally, I think they are taking minimalism to new heights....don't you think?

sisters in black

mary-kate and ashley olsen

I try hard not to post photos of celebrities, but sometimes I make exceptions! the evolution of mary-kate and ashley olsen has been an interesting one and I must admit about 10 years I was very confused by the way they dressed. I just remember looking through tabloids at the supermarket and seeing them on the street with ripped up jeans, oversized sunnies, and carrying starbucks in their hands and not quite understanding what exactly was being praised about their style. well, I must admit now, I have done a full 360. something has changed with them and I admire the sophistication and noir chic they exude, especially when they are together in black. I came across this image of them last week and I just love the way they both looked. its such a perfect moment in minimalism and how to look sleek in black. I have no idea if this outfit is by The Row or another designer because I see that they are very much into wearing other labels, but I think it just works on so many levels. I love the kimono-like sleeves, but also how refined it is, and how they adorned themselves with just the right amount of vintage jewelry. very rarely, do I ever see sisters in black who know how to wear this color so effortlessly, but I think they do it, so perfectly. this is so different from the way they were 10 years ago and I think they have fully come into their own and I so applaud them, for finding their personal style and for what they have brought to The Row. I feel they have brought a simplicity and uniqueness to fashion that just seems so needed these days. I see so many other designers or even just people on the street who tend to over do it with excessive jewelry or just too much accessorizing and I think why not just go back to basics? not too sound snobby, but I think mary-kate and ashley olsen very much understand this style philosophy and how it really is needed in today's fast world. perhaps, the stendhal quote is true only great minds can afford a simple style....I don't know about you, but I very much live, by these wise words!

summer turban

photo by my sister

since today is the official first day of summer I thought it would be appropriate to mark the occasion with my new lime-yellow turban. a couple of months ago, I mentioned that while I was in new york I found a special one at the norma kamali store. it took me long enough to share, but I thought today was the perfect day. I so love the way it drapes across my head and I can't get enough of that yellow-lime color. I know its not black, but I prefer a turban with a unique color. when I think of a summer turban this is what comes to mind and I think its the perfect color splash that I need with my simplified wardrobe. last week, I got to wear it and I thought it would be quite suiting by the pool, especially with that crystal clear blue water and the way it balances with my asymmetrical black norma kamali bathing suit. I wanted it to look like a kenton nelson painting with all those textures and I think my sister captured it quite well. not only does the turban work with a black bathing suit, but it also goes with a minimal black dress. no surprise really, but this is how I work with color, in small doses. at any rate, I will most likely be wearing this yellow-lime turban all summer, but I am so glad that I finally got to unveil it, long overdue!

swim party

painting by kenton nelson

the inspiration for my summer turban by the pool came from the painter kenton nelson. I actually discovered his work from the 2003 film something's gotta give with diane keaton and jack nicholson. I recently re-watched it and couldn't help but notice one of his paintings in her home. I think I have seen this film too many times, but I am quite in love with the interior design in this movie, its just so meticulously decorated and put together. I love stylish swim paintings and I think I was feeling very much inspired by the women he paints with my by the pool image. I tried my best to emulate his painting style with my pose...not sure if that makes any sense, but I think there is something very elegant about a woman in a one piece bathing suit lounging by a swimming pool and I love that kenton nelson painted an entire pool series entitled swim party devoted to this theme. its nice too know that I am not the only one who finds this aquatic look so chic and even though he pretty much only paints women with swim caps, I tried to make my own version with a summer turban. personally, I think its very much about taking inspiration, but still making it all your own. definitely, check out his work if you are unfamiliar, I like the summer feeling his work conveys!

bougainvillea blend

photo by my sister

a couple of weeks ago for my mom's birthday we went to see the virginia robinson gardens. I didn't really know what to expect or more importantly how to dress for the occasion, but I thought it would be appropriate to wear my new isabel marant floral dress with missoni turban. a couple of months ago, I featured the look as I went very out of my comfort zone buying a dress with a floral print, but I am pleased to say that now I feel very comfortable wearing this look and I love how it surprisingly matched the setting. the house had so much history and beauty, but my favorite part was when we somehow ended up in the tennis court surrounded by a magnificent bougainvillea bush. I was very taken by the magenta color and how it somewhat corresponded with my pink parasol. of course, I made my sister take a quick photo just because I loved the way nature and fashion worked together here, in this moment. I would say this is a very casual cool capture, but I like the far away distance and the italian noir chic feeling that this image conveys but perhaps, most importantly, I love how it shows that style exists in not only by what we wear but, in our everyday surroundings as well. I think its pretty clear to say, that nature and fashion, go hand in hand, together!

in all it's glory

photo by mario testino

every photo project I take on has some kind of inspiration and with that moment I had with the bougainvilleas at the virginia robinson garden I very much had this mario testino image in mind. in case you cannot tell that is supermodel daria werbowy blended within those flowers. it would be very difficult to pick a favorite mario testino image, but this one is definitely in my top ten, just because I think there is a beautiful spring time elegance to this image. I love the pop of red, but most importantly we see again how nature and style can work so harmoniously together, especially with the right dress. I believe this gown is by tom ford for yves saint laurent from when he use to design for the house (how I miss those days) and I think daria werbowy's body language and the composition of this shot make for absolute perfection. it really is such an eye catching blend and when I think of the perfect fashion into nature moment, this photo always pops up in my head. many feelings of joy and inspiration come to me when I stare at this one....hopefully you can see all the glory depicted, as well...classic mario testino, at its best!

summer darkness

photo by rory van millingen

believe it or not, black hats are very much in style, this summer.....but when does this look ever really go out of fashion? I remember last september seeing the j.w. anderson spring collection on style.com and noticing that all the models were adorned in black leather hats. I didn't necessarily care for many of the outfits on the runway, as they were a bit too nautical for my taste, but I loved the details of this collection....including the gloves, necklaces, and hats. I can even see elements of catherine deneuve's character, séverine, from belle de jour with many of the runway looks. I have no idea if that was a major influence to j.w. anderson for this season, but I can certainly see some style connections. whatever it may be, I think the black leather hats are the most standout for the season and I love seeing this kind of look for summer and not so much for winter, even though it could easily translate for the colder months, as well. personally, I love a big black hat for all seasons, but I think this hat has just the right amount of noir chic drama and I love that it is in leather. last week, I found myself looking at some shots from this collection for love magazine, and this image in particular caught my eye. I mean it has sister's in black written all over it and I can't help but be in awe of the shape and the way that hat undulates. this was such a beautiful photograph caught backstage and I love the contrast of her white skin and the darkness of her hat. I know it doesn't exactly scream summer, but I do think this leather hat, is quite superb and I would wear this in a noir chic heartbeat. if you have not seen this j.w. anderson season, do have a look. personally, I say the accessories are the best part and on a side note, I also have my eye on one of those metal puzzle necklaces that he designed. I think it could be the perfect accessory for my next jigsaw puzzle....I meant why not, it could make the process more chic!

new vintage

photo by luciana val and franco musso

there's something about this time of year that always has me thinking about that perfect black hat. perhaps, it all started with my new bcbg one that I just posted. whatever it may be, I feel like this look never goes out of style and I love finding unique black hats that I can use as inspiration with my style. case in point, recently I found myself reminiscing through a vogue turkey editorial from the may 2012 issue entitled retro dalgalar. the layout features model juju ivanyuk in a beach style story wearing swimwear looks, that look rather vintage, but are actually from today. there is something very retro and dreamlike about this editorial that I find rather beautiful. this was my favorite look from the layout and I actually do not know who designed this amazing black hat, but I can't stop staring at it. I think the shape is perfection and I love those individual lines within that hat. she also has such a mystery expression underneath her hat, that I find so appealing. plus, I like how her hat is styled with a simple white halter and black shorts. its minimal, refined, and so perfect for the beach. this is what incognito chic is all about and I can't help but be very much inspired by this whole look and that stunning moody beach background. I don't get a chance to skim through vogue turkey that often, but I am feeling like maybe this is the vogue that I need to pay more attention to. I always love a fabulous hat editorial and this one in particular goes above and beyond. if you are like myself and are continuously looking for black hat inspiration do yourself a favor and check out this vogue turkey layout. I don't know about you, but this is definitely the noir chic hat mood, I am going for this summer!