Oh Snap! It's Cold

"Lover's Knot" Stitch

With the cold front in full force for the past week or so, staying functional (AKA warm) has finally become a sort of mindless daily routine. Like most native Californians, I don't "do" cold effortlessly. From what I'm craving and cooking to how I get out my door in the frost-ridden mornings,  it always takes a bit of thought and conscious effort initially.  While I love the freezing temperatures as a sort of fashion novelty, with twenty-degree temperatures and all their unforgiving repercussions now my daily reality,  I can honestly say I'm finally understanding why people from the east coast look at me sideways when I gush inconsiderately about loving wintertime.

Still, with my fireplace now at the official pinnacle of its glory,  and my choice gloves and scarves in accessible cache next to my front door, I'm quite enjoying myself. Maybe it's because I get to wear my fall/winter favorites in fair rotation without a second thought (ALL day versus mornings and nights) I've finally gleaned a sensible clothing routine that keeps me satisfied, reminiscent of festive holidays spent huddling in the quaint cafes of Greenwich or at the northern mouth of the whirling steps of the Arc du Triomphe - travel layers that are now my startling reality. 

Winter in The Village

So what makes up the cold snap equation? The sum of the parts most certainly includes wool or similar materials meant for freezing temps - put those fine knits away if you haven't yet and reach for cable knits and densely blended sweaters,  just the looks of which would make you sweat on a warm summer day. East coast staples usually foreign to Californians - long socks, puffer vests, scarves, mittens, and beanies - are easy, affordable pieces that can transition your wardrobe into more cold-friendly territory if like most locals, you haven't invested in heavy-duty outerwear. Body-hugging items like skinny jeans, long wooly socks, knit turtlenecks and long sleeved-tees should form a base (repeat daily if you must, but wash often!) which to layer these winter wonders atop of.  And if you're always freezing like me, current trends in oversized menswear-style coats and jackets allow for us to graciously sneak additional layers under our winter finery. 

      The Quintessential Winter Travel Uniform

If you are in the market for one easy piece of outerwear to throw on in order to tackle all your Arctic woes, shop quickly before inventory runs bleak in stores and you're left digging thru sizes too large or small. Fall/Winter apparel took a beating during Black Friday sales and supplies continue to dwindle. I'm not one to push for seasonal sales/mania but with the daily haggle of what to wear mentioned in conversation with everyone from my mother to my mailman these days, I'm thinking it may be time for some folks to throw in the towel and actually purchase a (gasp!) coat for Cali.

Oh Snap! It's Cold :) by stylebydesign-sbd featuring camo beanie hats

Joules sport shirt
$115 - johnlewis.com

Plus size crochet top
etsy.com

Topshop striped t shirt
topshop.com

Gérard Darel grey overcoat
$655 - johnlewis.com

Paige Denim super skinny jeans
farfetch.com

Hunter low-heel boots
shoescribe.com

Reiss leather shoulder bag
reiss.com

Juicy couture glove
juicycouture.com

Camo beanie hat
karmaloop.com

VILA tube scarf
$31 - vila.com

Here's a little something to help: three more days until H&M's deal on all outerwear in-store only (a full 50% off!) expires. This deal is NOT being advertised in stores so you will need to mention it in person to benefit. (No, I don't get commission from H&M, just wanted to share a little something with all of you, lovely readers, from the holiday-induced-yet-still-genuine-depths of my freezing heart). If you are able to resist fast-fashion and have issues shopping at chains like H&M, good luck elsewhere and I also mean this very sincerely...more power to you. Cheers!

. 

P.S. Upon a quick search for more options, I hilariously found that Forever21, H&M's arch nemisis-ish fast-fashion foe, is also offering the exact same deal (surprise!). Their pitch, however, is only offered online and doesn't seem to be populating the actual outerwear on the site (check the tiny gray print at the bottom of the image below). Please join me in laughing sinisterly at the retail industry and the deals they attempt but can't seem to deliver on even if we are all helplessly reliant on them to dress ourselves. Tis the season! 

Questions? Comments? Post below or email us at stylebydesign.sbd@gmail.com

Isabel Marant for H&M: The Review

Going, going.....gone! Overpriced and overhyped, Isabel Marant's collection for H&M drew shoppers by the hoards in the past 12 hours. I opted to check out the collection from the snuggly comfort of my home this foggy November morning versus lining up on the cold streets of the SF flagship store (really, was there even a question about which option I would go with?)

The verdict? Though there were a few notable pieces that had caught my eye from the previews, the prices, along with the sordid fact that each distinct item will be instantly recognizable by anyone in the know,  helped me refrain from shopping like a maniac.  Now in hindsight, after reading about all the chaos ensuing and having experienced the virtual shoppers' mania this morning,  I can see how the collection is just one pricey example of the sheep-shopper phenomenon retailers are banking on these days.

Molly Sims with a little insanity in her arms (and eyes)

Yet DESPITE my rational brain telling me to refrain, I did manage to score a little something by being pre-registered and having my credit card number already in the system. Upon entering hm.com, I was held in a queue shortly before being let loose to shop. I quickly added random items to my cart (just because I still could), but before I had time to think twice about whether I really wanted those items, they were snatched from my cart by fellow virtual shoppers. H&M was NOT reserving items in carts, so quick checkouts were encouraged and in the end, absolutely necessary to successfully purchase anything.

Maybe it was the fact that I skipped straight to the kids section (vs. womens) for a 14+ sized cardigan that had jumped out to me in the preview (it reminded me of the real Marant sweater I've been eyeballing for over a year and featured on my blog back in the spring), or maybe it was my rational brain telling me that those $300 boots looked like they had been churned out by Cathy Jean and that I could in fact score real Marant for a similar price if I simply hunted online ($399 for a beaded H&M jacket? No thanks!), but I was not too impressed.

$300 at H&M, they now have 88 bids at $623 for eBay Bulgaria. Really people?! Go buy real Marant at these prices! 

The collection is certainly chic and representative of the cool-girl Parisian aesthetic Marant is famous for, but from a shopper's perspective, it's just not worth it.  Blame it on the recent comparable hype of Target's 3.1 Phillip Lim collection which drew people in similar flocks, launching countless resales on ebay and craigslist. The pieces that caught my eye then are now featured on every other blog and instantly recognizable by people on street (that hideous polyestery leopard print and the BOOM sweatshirt, for example), and all this takes more than a bit of the novelty away. Hence I'm perfectly happy with my single strategic purchase this morning (which was based on previous knowledge of the brand versus buyer's impulse - trying to practice what I preach by shopping wisely) and even more comforted by H&M's return policy in the event that it doesn't live up to my expectations :)

The real Marant sweater from my blog on Transitional Chic....

...and the H&M version I purchased online this morn. We'll see how it measures up once I receive it!

P.S. There are over 1300 items already listed on eBay, with bids running for 2-3 times the original price. Yikes!

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.Xmarant+hm&_nkw=marant+hm&_sacat=0&_from=R40

Looks like Black Friday insanity has officially commenced!

xoxo

Style Icon: MK

She gone Gatsby on me...

One thing clients often ask is that I categorize them into a "type".  "Just tell me what style I am and where I need to shop from now on," a busy, professional mother once pleaded with me. "It will make my life so much easier!"  

While this may work in some instances, it's not always so simple. We all have different facets to our image and dress sense. Our look and preferences are constantly evolving based on age, lifestyle, outside circumstances and influences...sometimes even a film we just happened to watch.  I even have a hard time categorizing myself  into any one particular style bracket. And I've known me a long time. I'm preppy at the core, but I love edge and a touch of boho...within limits. Nothing too busy. I guess that would make me a minimalist. So I'm a preppy, edgy, minimalist? Does such a style genre even exist? 

A tactic I've found effective is to refrain from looking at one’s own wardrobe to draw a conclusion. Our closets may not be representative of what we truly love because for whatever reason, we haven’t successfully channeled our likes into real-life.  Look to others in order to determine what gets your heart racing.  Most people can rattle off celebrities or socialites whose aesthetic they admire, the ones whose ensembles they lust after and think "YES...I WOULD TOTALLY LOVE TO WEAR THAT!" Whether or not we actually wear those outfits is a different story. Factor in lifestyle, age, body-type, budget, modesty preferences, resources and... we are limited. However, we can still aspire to be inspired, keeping in mind these constraints. It is possible.  

Pinpoint a person whose style you consistently love. We all have someone. It can be a celebrity, or someone you know. Then work backwards and figure out what elements of their look you really like.  Is it that they take risks? Is it that they can successfully mix prints? Maybe they have a similar look or body type to yours, making them more relatable to you. Is it the fine tailoring of their wardrobe that draws your eye? That they always look neat and put together? Or is it the effortlessness of their look you can’t get enough of? We all have different likes and dislikes, and being able to hone in on exactly what you love about a look is a valuable tool in developing your own personal style. 

This is a highly subjective exercise, so be really honest with yourself. It's got to be love at first sight. If you have to think about whether or not you like it, chances are you haven't found your style icon just yet. 

I'll give one such example for myself. I kinda fell for her without even realizing it. I always found myself eyeing and being helplessly, hopelessly drawn to her outfits. Not her beauty, but her street style (be sure to differentiate).  She’s visually statuesque and stunning, no doubt (she is the literal epitome of wearing a potato sack and still looking flawless. You get my drift). I fell head over heels, consistently across the board for every single look I spotted her in. The dialogue in my head went something like this:

• Her again? Why are her outfits always so on point? 
• I would so wear that. Like, in a heartbeat. 
• MMM-mm. This girl. YES.
• B**** stole my look! 

Just my luck, she happens to be a Victoria’s Secret model with ethereal limbs, porcelain skin, and the hanger-type physique designers favor to showcase their work. Despite her being an easy- to-hate ubermodel, I love her style. She's got the genetic blessing of looking good in anything she wears - yet she favors much more tasteful clothes than your average lingerie-model.  It's precisely why I covet her distinctly restrained element, and the fact that she keeps her overall look elegant and unfussy, versus provocative and trite.

Miranda Kerr is the ideal of preppy, minimalist, sporty-chic with edge, if this fantasy combo of mine ever existed. Whether on the red carpet or casually strolling the city streets with her baby boy Flynn, the girl dances the precarious tango of mastering clean and modern without EVER delving into boring. It's not easy. (Believe me, I've tried!) Since photos are indeed worth a thousand words, I'll stop writing and let you see. Then again, her look may not get your blood pumping the way it does mine...

So ask yourself - who is your style icon, and more importantly – what exactly is it about their style that really draws you in? It's the first step towards answering the age-old question: "what is my style type?"

Oversized, preppy-chic…with leather pants. I want every single coat this girl owns

 The queen of pairing quality basics with lust-worthy bags and accessories

Those Marant boots! And she's not afraid to repeat (re: coat). Love

Modern Hamptons #ootd

Did I mention I love her coats?

Not afraid of color. We'll see these shoes again...

B*** stole my look! In the infamous Marant sneaker wedge

Tone-on-tone. Sigh

Red carpet perfection 

The perfect touch of Boho. And there are those shoes again! 

                                         

   B**** stole my look! Minus the slit. We won't hold that face against her. 

    I almost cannot HANDLE  this one

Clean basics + Cool Accessories, Take 2

Love x 3

Maybe 2 people on the planet could pull this look off with a toddler in tow

Classicly ladylike

Written by Saba Ali - stylist, writer, and founder of SBD - Image Consulting

Comments? Questions? Leave below or email us at stylebydesign.sbd@gmail.com

Fashion Week SS14: A Closer Look Into Spring's New Style Collective

Fashion week has wrapped up in a whirling New York minute, and the highly anticipated Spring/Summer 2014 ( (or #ss14 if you speak hashtag) collections are making their way into the mainstream psyche as designers, models, bloggers, socialites, actresses, and minions gathered for what is perhaps the most anticipated event all year.

A few concepts spotted early on in the week drew inspiration from confection in blush pastels (rose, lilac, butter) and stark white in women's wear. The soft colors were balanced with strong asymmetrical lines in silhouette from powerhouses such as Alexander Wang, Victoria Beckham, Tadashi Shoji, and Prabal Gurung. On the contrary, last season's statement patterns grew bolder in all their animal, tribal, floral, and pinstriped glory on soft, minimalist shapes at Diane Von Furstenburg, Donna Karen, and Tracy Reese.

The overall verdict? Styles seem to be drawing consistently from last season's spring collection, yet pleasingly topping their predecessors with added oomph in graphic prints, structured cuts, and modern aesthetic.  This was embodied best in the prevalence the full, flouncy skirt, which made a stunning comeback (in varying lengths) at collections across the board, from department store favorite Alice-and-Olivia to Spanish-darling designer Delpozo.

Delpozo

3.1 Philip Lim

The full skirt is also a key example of a startling shift.  The continuing movement away from the ultra feminine, bodycon apparel of the past seems to be here to stay. Cool-girl uniform master Philip Lim stunned with boxy shapes orchestrated in rock and fire prints as well as subtle embellishments, a collection so dazzling in itself that the models were sent down the runway with shades, wet-looking hair, and barely-there makeup. Lim is just one successful example of the widespread appeal of a more restrained approach to fashion, where something is being left to the imagination. What started out as a natural shift last year due to the see-saw nature of the industry has been fully embraced, and is now being recognized as a conscious international effort on part of several designers to to tap into the infamously conservative emerging markets of Southeast Asia and the Middle East.  One look at Valentino, now owned by Qatari royalty, and it is apparent that the brand has traded in skin for lush fabrics and demure necklines which are equal, if not greater, parts glamorous than their skimpier predecessors.

DKNY frontwoman Rita Ora

Other luxury brands are trying out voluminous yet structured shapes, not just with large winter coats, but in fresh spring concoctions of roomy knitwear and boxy jackets as was apparent all over the Spring/Summer 14 collections. While lush, full silhouettes in heavy, rich fabrics were the epitome of high-end couture for fall, the notion is just as relevant on the street-style side for spring.  DKNY's 25th anniversary collection, featuring large logo'd nods to decades past, as well as a closing strut by trend setting pop starlette Rita Ora, epitomized this notion with tailored staples, billowing trenches, and clean neutrals that were young, edgy, and anything but dowdy. Such conservative approaches as seen in menswear, grunge, and throwback 90's looks like DKNY's (think of the consistently popular hi-tech, roomy sweatshirt) prove that covering it up is quickly becoming mainstream.  Blame it on the comfort and ease of movement, those with their eyes on the prize of conservative yet lucrative fashion markets, or a natural progression from bodycon, the restrainted aesthetic seems to be here to stay, and the all too pleasing #SS14 collection further proves across the board that this is the case.

                                                             90's Menswear at DKNY