The year of the dress part 5: Eyelet dresses

Eyelets were a feature of the spring catwalks and not surprisingly, high street quickly caught on. Usually the domain of white dresses, eyelets can now be found in other colours and other pieces like tops and even shorts.

Badgley Mischka's eyelet dress.



Peter Som's eyelet dress. Black is a refreshing take on the usual white eyelet.

Again, there are always high street options available.



Old Navy does a simple empire-cut eyelet dress. Perfect for those summer days matched with a hat and bejewelled sandals or espandrille wedges. These Christian Louboutin espandrille wedges and Miu Miu bejewelled sandals are utterly adorable.


This eyelet dress is from Delias, and the ribbon belt adds to the romantic vibe.

Another eyelet dress in a romantic cut is this piece from French Connection. Pair it with knee length flat soled boots and and you'll look straight out from the movie set of Pollyanna. As I am not fond of Pollyanna, i suggest those interested in this piece to keep with the wedges, espandrilles or sandals combi.



For those who might not like the country-girl connotations of the white eyelet dress with empire bustlines, there are eyelet dresses in more modern shapes. For instance, these two pieces are from River Island and Delias respectively and come in A-line shift and babydoll style of the 60s, short short hemlines included.



Not to be outdone, Arden B also provides a eyelet style in a modern shape.



C and C California also created a series of eyelet dresses for their spring-summer collection. I like the way it is paired with a tank worn underneath.



These are eyelet dresses, also from C and C California, in the tube dress style.



While it can be worn plain like in the picture, i would suggest pairing it with a tee of another colour worn beneath the dress. Yellow and white would be a nice combination. This Topshop one would do the trick. You might also want to add a wide-waist belt to cinch the waist and break up the white.



Eyelets also make for beautiful tops, as this Webster piece adequately displays.



For those who can't get enough of this trend, there are also eyelet shorts. However, I hope eyelet trousers or jeans never come to fruition.




Photographs from: www.shopbop.com, www.activeendeavors.com, www.delias.com, www.ardenb.com, www.topshop.com, www.saks.com, www.style.com, www.elle.com, www.fcukbuymail.com, www.riverisland.com, www.oldnavy.com, Elle Uk magazine April 2007 issue.

The spring romantics: the high street version

In this post, i have selected from the high street shops, pieces of the spring romantics trend that i like. Enjoy!




This is from Bebe. Lace, soft in material and colour. Very spring romantic.



This is a dress, (You saw it right, dress. Just very very short. Do you know that if the dress is shorter than your fingertips laid by your sides, the hemline would rise to above your midthigh when you sit down, but i digress.) from River Island. If you're uncomfortable with the length, just wear it as a top and pair with shorts or pants. A nice white pair would compliment the look without making it overly girlish, while a grey pair would provide a nice contrast.



From Tracy Reese. The floral cutouts is pretty cool way of interpreting the romantic trend while the trapeze shape is flattering (good for hiding tummies).



Floral trapeze tieback dress. From Shop Intuition. This would work well on the beach with sandals or with wedges. These 2 are from Madison Harding.



Or you combine the above 2 and have this:



This is from Topshop and i really like the soft nautical look. Preppy and pretty is one of my favourite combinations.



From Rebecca Taylor. Her spring 2007 has many romantic pieces. Not surprising since most of her clothes, including those from her autumn/winter collections have a very feminine vibe.

For those who don't like frills or floaty pieces, there's always the option of wearing structured pieces in pastel colours like this Madewell pair of shorts in a lovely pale pink.

Or you could just give this trend a miss altogether. Heh.

Photographs from: www.madewell1937.com, www.shopbop.com, www.activeendeavors.com, www.stylefinder.com, www.elle.com, www.shopintuition.com, www.topshop.co.uk

The spring romantics

Fashion, like economics, usually follows certain cycles, and come spring, the look is usually romantic. The romantic look usually entails pretty trimmings such as lace, rosettes and bows, all in pastel shades consisting mainly of white, pink and violet. Choice of material is also important, with most designers favouring lightweight fabrics such as chiffon, satin, tulle and light cotton to express the flirty airy feel often associated with the romantic look.

Labels that strongly showcased the romantic look in the Spring collections include 3.1 Philip Lim, Badgley Mischka, Louis Vuitton and Thakoon.

From 3.1 Philip Lim (Rosettes, white colour, lightweight material all there)



From Badgley Mischka. This is the epitome of the spring romantics look: lace (check), rosette-like trimmings (check), bow (check), pastel palette (check), lightweight material (check). Put it on a nice fair and lithe model, keep her make up and hair simple, with a touch of pink on her cheek and lips and voila! The ultimate embodiment of spring's romance.



Another statement piece by the duo that screams---or should i say whispers---the romantic look.



Yet another Badgley Mischka piece. More subdued but the rosettes remain.



A non-white Badglely Mischka romantic piece.

My personal favourite from this label:



When i was seven or eight, I had a dress just like this but made of tulle. It even has the same midcalf hemline. It felt a bit titchy when i wore it, but like any good fashionista, i endured the temporary discomfort for the priceless feeling and knowledge of being pretty pretty pretty. My shoes were the same sort of Mary Janes featured in the above picture, though in black. And i paird my outfit with a white brocade hairband and white lacy socks. (No parental choosing of outfit for me---I am my own stylist, both then and now). I am now 21 and it delights me to find out that my choices then were fashiontastic. (Badgley Mischka has the same dress!!!)



From Louis Vuitton. Notice that the model's hair has not been spared the rosettes.



This is from Thakoon. Again the rosettes, bow and pastel palette.

Moving on from the catwalk shots, let's now examine the pieces themselves...

3.1 Philip Lim rosette dress.



3.1 Philip Lim rosette tee. Would be nice with shorts and wedges; or paired with jeans, especially the new wide-leg ones.

3.1 Philip tea dress. Another personal favourite and something I'd wear to school, to the park, for a casual meal or just for gallavanting around town. It is stylish, with an easy elegance and rather fuss-free.

Jill Stuart dress.

Calypso tunic. Can be worn just like that or paired with city shorts. These ones from Reyes and Topshop respectively provide a tasteful juxtaposition as their sombre colours and structuredness balance the soft bohomenian look of the Calypso tunic.

Rebecca Taylor dress. The 60s shift shape adds a modern touch to an otherwise Regency-era trend.

Photographs from www.elle.com, www.net-a-porter.com, www.topshop.co.uk, www.style.com

The year of the dress

2007 has been hailed "the year of the dress", which brings to mine one rather nifty dress-wearer. Mischa might not be known for her acting prowess but she sure has a pretty collection of dresses. Though her dressing might sometimes be unconventional, she (or her stylist) sure knows how to knock the ingenue dresser look.

Nice Mischa(love the 40's influence) versus Not so nice Mischa (what is THAT? Ew)

Other nice Mischa pieces:

Clothes like this (and the seth-summer, seth-ryan banter) are the only thing that makes the otherwise somewhat annoying OC melodrama worth watching.

She looks guant here, but love the little white dress.

The mustard colour's not really to my taste but i love the way the dress drapes, and the detailing, and she looks elegant.

This would also look nice with a white tee underneath. Something to wear for a casual day running errands or to school.

Photographs from www.mischastyle.com