{runway inspiration: valentino, paris}

. . . fluttery pleated skirts with a hint of soft coral, elegant leather trenches and sheer blush-hued dresses, beautiful cashmere skirtsuits -- and suddenly, the workday has just gotten a little more chic . . .


{p.s.} isn't that trench an amazing shade of green?

......................................................................................................
{also:} more looks here

{images: style.com}

{runway inspiration: philosophy, new york}

. . . elegantly tailored a-line princess coats perfectly paired with matching lace-trimmed satin, crocheted mohair, and appliquéd floral lace, and best of all, in irresistible shades of pale & pretty pastels . . .

{alberta di ferretti for philosophy fall ready-to-wear 2011 via style.com & fgr}

PARIS, MILAN OR NYC?

So many fashion week travellers, 3 destinations for all.

FOR FASHION WEEK PEOPLE...

{runway inspiration: lanvin, paris}

. . . elegant leather detailing, glamorous jeweled embellishments, and form-fitting bodices perfectly complemented with luxurious and fluttery fabrics on the runways of paris . . .

{style.com}

{sequined socks + a few things . . .}

. . . after yesterday's fantastical floods of inspiration, taking a few moments this morning to get caught up on a few things before dashing out for thursday's customary late lunch, shoulder-grazing waves and warm sable lipstick, socks & heels and the still-lingering scent of gardenias . . .

wishing you a perfect morning & à la prochaine until we meet again,
xo

{as promised, a few new & beautiful things:}
* details: marble & gold
* a glimpse: balmain, paris
* simply pretty: champagne & vermillion
* elegant neutrals: rees roberts
* décor inspiration: black, white & ballgowns


{p.s.} the very last day to enter this week's give-away: an exquisitely beautiful crystal & 24 karat gold tray

{photography by tommy ton for style.com}

{runway inspiration: j. mendel, new york}

. . . one of the very few designers that could rival affections for monique lhuillier, {with the exception of chloé and stella mccartney}, would be j. mendel, whose purely romantic sensibilities are impossible to to resist, and whose spring collection was an ethereal dream of mousseline and tulle, exquisite hand-pleating and ruching, and stunningly elegant draped silk chiffon . . .

{style.com, more of this collection at the side project}

{runway inspiration: monique lhuillier, new york}

. . . a longstanding love affair with monique lhuillier for as long as can remember, and couldn't possibly choose between such a stunning array of beautiful things from the spring 2011 collection, and so, not one, but two glimpses, the first, strewn in magnolias on silk and chiffon and belted in gold . . .

{style.com}

{runway inspiration: derek lam, new york}

"I wish I had invented blue jeans. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity - all I hope for in my clothes."

~ Yves Saint Laurent

. . . a little sad to gracefully decline so many new york fashion week invitations as we've only just returned, but still and always wonderfully exciting to pore over the spring 2011 ready-to-wear collections for new work by favourite designers such as derek lam . . . there were clean lines and floaty dresses, linen twill blazers and silk crepe blouses, but most of all, there was that wonderful seventies sophistication that am so adoring these days . . .

{p.s.} more sexy seventies style:
* blouses & blazers
* scarves & pencil skirts
* fedoras & leopard print
* stripes & secretary blouses
* turlenecks & tweed

{images: vogue}

{runway inspiration: alberta ferretti}

. . . sensuous satin and fluttery chiffon, glittering necklines and pure romance at alberta ferretti . . .

{via a glamorous little side project}

{fashion inspiration: tulle + runway reviews}

. . . the spring-like weather this past weekend and a perfectly wonderful late-winter thaw have filled the afternoons with wisps of balmy air, making things feel fresh and bright and filled with thoughts of light-as-air frothy little white dresses dreamed up from swaths of tulle . . .

{ a few more ny fashion week favourites:}
* more vb
* mulberry
* sophie theallet
* rodarte
* marchesa
* vera wang

{marchesa autumn/winter 2010 via a glamorous little side project}

{inspiration: holly golightly}

. . . little black dresses and dark sunglasses, be-ribboned necklaces and heady fragrances, upswept hair and elegant heels -- have always adored all the things of ladylike refinement . . .




{p.s.}
* shoes, shoes, shoes + tiffany blue
* more of this collection

{images: victoria beckham a/w 2010 collection & lonny magazine}

{runway inspiration: cynthia steffe}

. . . shaun kearney for cynthia steffe's infusion of street-style elements and artful layering, combined with a fun mix of elegant plaids, bell sleeves, knitted capelets, knee socks and berets are perfect for the beautiful transition from winter into spring . . .

{cynthia steffe collection a/w 2010, more of this collection at the side project}