Stylish with Substance

Ever since my early days of watching the runways (same as my early days of blogging), I've been watching and enamored with Verrier. Here is my first piece on the designer, short & simple amid the Fashion Week rush. It's discoveries like these why I try to watch as many of the New York shows as I can, lesser-knowns among famous favorites.

As I tried to merely fit in some catwalk viewing over my busy weekend, I lost time for many, but kept a high priority for Verrier. I needed to find another source outside Style.com (where Verrier was not covered) though, and I found it on WWD.com. Luckily then the viewing was worth the wait and effort, after my anticipation was furthered and incited heavier by Women's Wear Daily's description;

"Tea-length dresses and a romantic sensibility enhanced Ashleigh Verrier’s Thursday-evening soiree-style presentation at The Box in Lincoln Center. The designer, inspired by “The Great Gatsby” and American women in the Twenties, sent out a pretty lineup of delicate, feminine looks — from an eye-catching green lace fitted blouse over a green miniskirt to below-the-knee crinolines paired up with a tweed jacket or silk blouse."

The actual show held much to love and various aspects about which to talk. I'll save most for my favorites gallery comments or other roundup pieces, so for now here is a bit of commentary on a slightly unique vision I found amusing...

Voyeur Verrier

Ashleigh Verrier keeps the ladylike in undergarments and brings it into underwear-as-outerwear. I just adore her.

This NYFW year, I've been sort of introduced to the concept of using Fashion Week to this-far-ahead plan a season wardrobe with new additions or remixes, and I'm warming up to the idea for Spring. To keep things within a less-than-designer budget, perhaps I'll buy a vintage a-line crinoline slip to wear over knee or tea-length flared skirts. (What do you think? Would you wear that?) I won't show much of any leg under the slip, so as to keep the look heavily-purposeful (as though one garment) and as classy as it can be.

It's "Ladies who Dessert".

The looks show the remain of the lace trend, and sort of bounce it on its head. Seen here is the sheer piece being something other than the lace. Ashleigh switched up other trends, which I'll feature in a later over-arching theme post.

Boudoir to boardroom. Or neither, rather. I wonder how you would wear this? I love this, but I can't decide whether they can't be separated to be as fabulous, or must be to fit in with life.

What Ashleigh wants you to take away; that sexy is ladylike and classy. ;-)

Photos: Designer courtesy of Ashleigh Verrier, others Women's Wear Daily.

I kind of think the Christian Siriano Spring/Summer 2011 collection is a girly girl's dream. Or that of anyone who loves ruffles as much as I do. There's hardly anything to say - beyond photos - about pieces unique yet subtle and sophisticated or unique and just wildly out there.  Wild prints were also a part of the New York Fashion Week show, but not in a full-out leopard-y way.

Style.com writers did not seem to like, but Ella does! That's all I have to say,  so on to the eye candy...

I would buy this, for sure, if I made a high income.

Reminds me of coral, but what's wrong with that?

Larger than life; is that so wrong?

Whew! Rough day for me today. Yesterday and today's slowness should not be a sign of what's to come during Fashion Week(s?), though! Read a little bit about my troubles here on my other blog.

Anyway, on to my first publishing of NYFW reviews!

Willow Evolves the 'Animal' Trend

Willow, an up-and-coming brand by Aussie, Kit Willow, is clearly taking a long stride away from the current ladylike trend, in which they had participated, thus veering away from my own comfort zone.

While I may not like garments that appear to mix swimwear with evening attire (read: very short dresses, if that's what they are, that are more like ruffled leotards), I can appreciate what this artist attempted.

Namely it's Kit's interpretation and personal evolution of the current animal print trend. The designer seemed to mix Zebra inspiration with another trend, stripes, in a visually appealing way. I even love her own method of doing striped pieces; they're far better than the unflattering horizontal madness we've had going since Spring 2010.

View a few picks below.

This dress is my favorite of the range. While not my style, I know I could make it work. Mostly, I just highly appreciate it aesthetically.

Subtle and different; a good way to look current without being obviously trendy.

First of all, these alternating black & white gladiator shoes remind me of Zebra faces when mixed with the model's skin tone. While not overly cute, I'm digging the effect mixed with the collection.

Also, from head to toe, this look is not working, but I do love the mix of the stripes/patterned print in a diagonal fashion that matches the line of the asymmetric "skirt" hem. I'd imagine this bottom (not sure what is is) could be paired with a pencil skirt - with said skirt under the top layer of fabric and over that panty-like under portion - for a great overall skirt effect.

And then we're even brought back to ladylike. *Sigh of relief.*

For more from Willow Spring/Summer 2011, click here to view on Style.com.