Put on Your Red Shoes and Dance the Blues

To elevate any look try this on point trend:

Red Heels. 

I purchased a suede pair of red heels for my 40th birthday and have worn them frequently!
  Red shoes are the outfit so it's almost impossible to go wrong unless you wear red on any other part of your body. Do not compete with you shoe and you are good to go!




Hello Lover.
I am beyond obsessed with this shoe line!
www.aminahabduljillil.com







If heels are not your thing, try flats or sandals.
 The pop of color will translate just the same.




Free People Harpoon Sandal

Mad for Plaid

If you are looking for a way to freshen up your wardrobe this season, try some plaid pieces. It is classic made contemporary.

Free People, $128., Anthropologie 

For a riff on menswear try a windowpane plaid. They were all over the runways for Fall/Winter '14. Here are a few budget friendly items that pack a lot of punch style-wise and work well for the office and beyond:

Windowpane Plaid Skirt, $88.

Piperlime

JOA Check Sleevless Shirt, $59., 

Piperlime

Greylin Skirt, Piperlime

Come Into My Dark Garden

The dark floral trend has been going on since the runways of 2012. But it keeps coming up season after season and has certainly mainstreamed into fast fashion. The prints themselves are reminiscent of the paintings of the Dutch Masters with bursting flowers.

Dries Van Noten SS14

Alberta Ferretti SS14

Valentino

Runway to Real Life:

Asos Floral Cardigan

Free People Floral Maxi, $148.

Gray is a perfect compliment for florals as a neutral.

Pair florals with a printed tee to funk them up.

Keep mixing those prints.

 I swear, stripes look great with everything!

Luulla Floral Skirt $19.90

I love the floral skirt with a completely

 monochromatic palette. How chic!

Getting Folksy

Anyone else feeling the folksy vibe going on in the fashion world?
 One of the biggest trends this year has been embroidery.  I'm using the term trend, but embroidery is obviously a timeless craft. Embroidery, in all it's forms has been cross-culturally fashionable throughout the ages. Trend wise, embroidered looks will continue into Fall. The look evokes a tribal feel.  It is also a throwback to the Bohemian looks of the 70s and early 80s.

Valentino Resort 2015

Naeem Khan Resort 2015

For Fall, try embroidered pieces in darker colors or pair lighter items in your closet with a dark blazer. In order to avoid looking like you have just left Floydfrest/Bonaroo/Burning Man, pair individual pieces with tailored items from your closet (i.e. a flowing top with tailored cigarette pants). Consider menswear and solids foils to balance out the folksy look.  It's all about the mix.

Little White Lies embroidered gray dress on Asos.

I love the embroidered coats and coat dresses featured on the runways for Fall. If you do not want to invest in a big piece, as always, consider accessories.

Valentino 2014

Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2014

RTW Collection

Runway to Real Life:

Anthropologie Noyo Tee, $78.

*great with black skinnies and boots for Fall*

Free People Embroidered Fable Dress, $168.

Anthropologie Tunic

I am in love with this outfit!

Think Globally

  Wow. I get very excited about fashion trends.  I get even more excited about trends when I'm sure they're going to last into the next year.  If top designers have anything to say about it, Global Chic is here to stay (at least through next year. Haha).

Suboo S/S '13

UK Marie Claire, June 2013

love the strong brow

Vogue, India

Mara Hoffman, F/W '13

                                                                                                               Oscar de la Renta, F/W '13

Fashion editorials as well as the runways were covered in the past two seasons with technicolor global prints and design. The key to pulling off this look is to pair a global item with a more everyday item. For example, wear a flowing bohemian top with preppy, more tailored pants. Try a tribal print maxi dress or skirt from a less expensive store with your favorite tee and belt. This world traveler look can be a bit bold, but you can translate it with pieces from your own wardrobe to make it work for you.  Here are some looks below to inspire you:

Obviously, this girl is fully committed to the trend.  But you gut the point.  Mixing prints is a big part of the concept.  As long as they are tone on tone, go for it!

The tribal inspired necklace changes everything in an otherwise simple look.

Try a bold scarf and stacked bracelets.

But, If you have not taken the plunge just yet...try an embroidered tunic.  It just does not get any more classic than this.  Tunics come in every shape, color and size.  They range from a bohemian look to seriously preppy and elegant.  I have a black silk one for cocktails that is lovely.  A tunic is a risk free way to try the global trend as you can go as conservative or daring as you like. Another positive aspect is their forgiving nature: pair a tunic with skinny jeans or leggings for a slender look no matter the size of your mid-section.

Free People Top, $89.

Oh, and I did mention that the look is back for Fall/Winter? It's all very Dr. Zhivago/Twenties and I love it!

Tory Burch F/W '13/'14

Mara Hoffman Fall '13