Second City Style Fashion Blog - Style, Luxury, Beauty & Shopping

Runway to Real Way. See Worthy Suits!

Jenn Scott for Second City Style Magazine

Whether you are ready or not, skin is in. The days have grown longer, the sun has come out to play, and the skirts have gotten shorter! Runways have been filled with swimwear to wet the appetite of any eager water enthusiast.

Each season that we enter boasts a strong statement, and the start of spring is no different. With months of excess layers in fabric and long sleeves covering the arms, designers have taken a dramatic turn to the basics; the basics of the body that is. Get ready to live in your bathing suit this season!

Designers have been busy creating look after exciting look with minimal amounts of fabric. The runways have been filled with bright, neon colors, floral patterns, edgy patterns, and classic black and white looks. Packed with a wide variation of styles, there is a look for the coastal chick, the lake lady, and the back yard bombshell.

Towards the end of the fall season, bright colors were beginning to creep into accessories like bags, clutches, jewelry, and pumps. Now that spring is here, brights are no longer the supporting role. Vibrant and bold statements are stepping out to take center stage. Whether you are playing beach volleyball or sunning on the beach, don’t be afraid to step outside the box wit a loud, fun color. This eye-catching craze will lend toward endless possibilities for you this swimwear season!

Read more "See Worthy Suits" here

Pret Reporteur. Painterly Prints

Gabbie Perez for Second City Style Magazine

This season the artists are in. Prints have taken on painterly “accidents” of drips, splatters and strokes, looking fresh from an artist’s atelier.

This attention to bold colors and artist detailing recalls a certain art movement when Pollock was king. Abstract Expressionism, the first real American art movement, began in New York City just after World War II. Trying to find make sense of the chaos from the war, the New York School turned to abstraction to evoke pure, universal emotion in their works. Large, gestural brushstrokes are characteristic of the Abstract Expressionists, and it is this painterly handling that has popped up on prints in many collections this spring (I doubt Rothko or De Kooning ever thought their masterpieces would be influencing the fashion industry 50 years later!).

 

Read more "Painterly Prints" here

Runway to Real Way. Thank You, Fashion Week!

Jenn Scott for Second City Style Magazine

New York Fashion Week festivities have left throngs of people wanting more. After a week chalk full of exciting fashion-forward apparel, I’m sure you are left wondering how you will ever be able to achieve the look of the runway.

Even though the runway styles seem to be untouchable, there is a way to happily clad your body with styles that resemble the designers’ hard work. As fashion morphs from one style to another, the runway offers a clear look of some distinct pieces that your closet will crave.

Fashion Week serves as a guidebook to the basics and urges everyone to explore their own fashion identity. These must-haves will make the last few months of winter bearable, while helping to usher in the first signs of some much needed warmth.

1. Lots of fabric is a trend of the upcoming season. Whether you chose to wear a dress that is draped with loads of fabric or a piece that has a specific concentration of fabric in one area — the more the merrier!

This trend creates tons of drama and volume to the look that you are trying to achieve. The level of professionalism that this look generates makes it a perfect fit for office attire or a night out with friends.

Read more "Thank You, Fashion Week!" here

Runway to Real Way. It’s What’s Underneath That Counts

Jenn Scott for Second City Style Magazine

The fashion capitols all over the world are heating up their runways in anticipation of Fall and Winter fashion shows. Designers are not sleeping at this point, because they have way too much to do. Models have drastically reduced their already meager diets, and runways are being constructed with eager hopes of successful shows and rave revues. The outward appearance tends to reign in this fashion-frenzied time of year.

However, sometimes the most important thing in a woman’s wardrobe is unseen by the general public. Sure, you’ve put hours of time and consideration, not to mention money, into your new, bright crop jacket. Although stylish and cute, the most substantial piece of your wardrobe is what’s underneath. That’s right; I’m talking about your lingerie!

So many women overlook the details when it comes to this essential element, but those days are drawing to a close. Maybe you aren’t bold enough to strut down the runway in your unmentionables, or even out of your bedroom, but your undergarments have been overlooked long enough. Your lingerie is something you see every day, and it deserves to have as much attention as your new pumps or oversized bag.

If you have a small chest and can get away with less support, opt for a bralette or triangle bra style. They are a sassy way to liven up your every day lingerie. They are normally thinner and can be found in pretty laces and fabrics. Some styles of bralettes can even be worn under suit jackets or camisoles. This is a fun, flirty way to rev up your undergarments, and you will still be comfortable.

Read more "It’s What’s Underneath That Counts"

Runway to Real Way. Pumps, Boots, Slingbacks, and Wedges — Gang's All Here! Second City Style Fashion Blog

Jenn Scott for Second City Style Magazine

Having a bad hair day? We’ve all been there. Is your “skinny” outfit failing you? Everyone can relate. Forget about your boisterous locks and inflating scale for the day. Every woman has a torrid love affair with shoes, and today is the day to embrace it.

The best thing about feet is that they rarely have a bad day — not many people complain about a “bad foot day.” While your unmanageable mane develops a mind of its own and your body can grow two sizes over night, your feet will trustily pull through in a bind.

Many times, seeking solace in shoes is the way I find peace in my ever increasingly fast-paced life. Every day is a new adventure. As you roll out of bed and your feet hit the cold air beneath, a surge of excitement overtakes the chill. What shoes will you wear today?

This season offers versatility when it comes to matters of the feet. Prepare to have a runway show of your own every time you walk out the door.

When you open your closet doors, consider what shoes you will wear. Build your outfit around the shoes that you feel the best in! By doing this, you are guaranteed to start your day in the best way possible. Embrace those things in life that make you feel empowered!

Don’t be afraid to rock the wedge. A wedge offers the leg elongation and general feel of a pump, but functions as more of a flat. If you have a long day ahead of you, and you can’t imagine spending an entire twelve hours with your foot in a pump, then spring for the wedge. Wedges are also great for jeans that may be a little too long for flats. If you want to dress down your look and also wear your favorite wide-leg pants that are usually worn with a heel, rely on the wedge. Don’t be afraid to pair them with dressy and casual outfits. Read more here...

Style Ideas. Male Bag: Sheer Up. Second City Style Fashion Blog

Doo Ri

Marc Jacobs

Rodarte

Perhaps it’s a little scheming for a guy to tell women they should embrace see-through clothing. The intent is pretty…transparent? (Sorry, sometimes these puns just write themselves.) But as you may have noticed, floating down the runways this season were sheer creations of organza and chiffon – pleated, paired with silks, or left alone - provocatively. Transparent pieces are already being incorporated into looks for fall and winter, and will have an even stronger presence this spring. But don’t head into your underwear drawer in search of your La Perla nighty just yet. This time, it’s more inventive and creative than ever.

Let's go shopping:

YA-YA Silk Crepe Mini Dress $345 Saks Fifth Avenue

DVF Abaje Shift Dress $425 Net-a-Porter

Dolce & Gabbana Multimedia Mesh Dress $3,250 Saks Fifth Avenue

Thomas Wylde Performer Tank Top $695 Net-a-Porter

- Thomas Kikis

Runway photos: Style.com