Baby It's Cold Outside!

Temps are dropping, snow is covering the ground, and time to break out your cold weather boots.  Now that Fall temps have arrived (although in Chicago it's really hard to tell what with the 60+ degree weather we have been having as of late) shearling, suede, leather and rubber are the key fabrications of choice for footwear.

Fall/Winter footwear should not only provide warmth and protection against the elements but most importantly doing so in style.  The following are my top 6 picks that will keep you stylish & warm:

Ash Shoes
Where: http://rstyle.me/irns7yjnkw

House of Harlow
Where: http://rstyle.me/irnrgjjnkw

Marc by Marc Jacobs
Where: http://rstyle.me/ipjqt9jnkw

Matt Benson
Where: http://rstyle.me/irniehjnkw

Monika Chiang
Where: www.monikachiang.com

Salvatore Ferragamo
Where: http://rstyle.me/h36h36jnkw

Pint size Stunner!

Bigger isn't always better as evident with the current trend of handbags moving away from the larger than life silhouettes to a small and mighty pint size silhouette.  These smaller silhouettes are considerably reduced but they still pack a punch.  How you say? Because the beauty is in the details.  Whether it be an an obscure shape like Anya Hindmarch's evident fruit inspiration or the intricate beading and detail that is signature to Judith Leiber's handbags.

Check out my round-up of my favorite Spring 2013 pint size stunners:

Stella McCartney

Lanvin

Reece Hudson

Anndra Neen

Anya Hindmarch

Emilio Pucci

Diane von Furstenberg

Judith Leiber

Oscar de la Renta

Get ahead of the fashion pack and work this pint size handbag silhouette into your arm candy rotation now:

Where is CSM at? She's been MIA for a whole week!?!!

Last week I took the week off from blogging, social media and social networking to enjoy some much needed R&R for my birthday.  My better half planned a fun filled trip that included visits to New Orleans, Progreso, Yucatan Mexico and Cozumel Mexico.

Now I'm back refreshed, tan & with a liver in dire need of an alcohol detox but most importantly ready to get back into the swing of all fashion/style/trend musings.

Check out some of my pics from my week long excursion (and yes, I've been day dreaming all day long about being back on the beach sipping rum punch):

*Photos taken on iPhone (you read it correctly I've upgraded and now have an iPhone!) 

 

Edgy Cut-Outs... for your Feet!

Today's warm 70+ degree temps have thinking ahead to spring.  I know, I know it's too pre-mature because they will eventually drop but it's too late.  Once you hop on the shoe-gazing train it's ridiculously hard to get off and especially when one big trend kept popping up: Edgy Cut-Outs.

Sprinkled all over the Spring 2013 runways were various versions of an edgy cut-out.  Check out my favorites  from the runways pictured below:

Alexander Wang

Altuzarra

Jimmy Choo

Proenza Schouler

Salvatore Ferragamo

Tom Ford

Versace

Beat the Rain in Style!

There are those rare beautiful souls out there who embrace and love the opportunity to dance in the rain every time mother nature turns on the sprinklers.  I am not one of those people.  Don't get me wrong, I appreciate all of the amazing things that the water does for our environment, etc.  But for some reason once I see a droplet a big wave of disappointment covers my face because of the kink it's thrown in my ensemble planning for the day.  The only appropriate weather proof ensemble is something that is vinyl or plastic-y and none of those fabrications exist in my clothing wardrobe.

So to battle the rainy day blues I do what any other gal in her fashionable right mind would do: accessorize!  Accessorizing not only will help weather proof you but will you also be doing it in style.  These four rain boots aren't your ordinary rain boots, because who wants to be ordinary?

Check out my suggestions below and who knows maybe they'll make you want to dance in the rain after all:

RED Valentino Bow Rain Boots

Where: http://rstyle.me/h9uztkjnkw

Kate Spade 'Parsipany' Short Rain Boots

Where:  http://rstyle.me/ie5tvpjnkw

Dav Rain 'Ashley Nylon' Rain Boots

Where:  http://rstyle.me/ixxerejnkw

Cole Haan 'Evan' Ankle Rain Boots

Where: http://rstyle.me/iu9rszjnkw

[Chicago Fashion Event] Fashion Focus Chicago: Maison De LaCour's Spring 2013 Collection!

This past Tuesday, Julius LaCour Jr. presented Maison De LaCour's Spring 2013 Collection as a part of Fashion Focus Chicago at the historic Murphy Auditorium.  Having only been exposed to a few of Julius' pieces and not being too familiar with his work I was very excited to see a full collection.  Once the first procession of models entered and sat lined up across the stage in Medieval-Renaissance style chairs the tone for the show was set and I was captivated.

The palette of the first collection were of monochromatic blacks, whites, greys and beige.  This palette allowed the zippers, buckles, and other trim details coupled with the strong lines and architectural shapes of the silhouettes tell the story of "The Immaculate One".  Each piece seemed to have a universal and transitional approach to the clothing that blurred the lines of definitive "menswear" or "womenswear".  It's absolutely no shocker to anyone that I have a love affair for the genius of Rad Hourani, so to be immediately reminded of his unisex pieces while watching Julius' presentation is a definite compliment.

Transitioning from the first collection his second collection filled with a color explosion as the palette, it was a definite stark contrast to his first.  Yet through the details of the print and silhouettes you were pulled back into a sense of familiarity.

Kudos to the great team who pulled off one of the best Chicago fashion presentations I've had the opportunity to witness: Richard Sebastian of Luxury Management  & Yana German of Yana German School of Walk.

Check out my favorite looks from Maison De LaCour's Spring 2013 Collection: