Dress of the Week. J. Crew

My silent treatment of J. Crew ended when they finally pulled their heads out and started shipping international. 

Here is the DressologyHQ Dress of the Week from J. Crew

J Crew Sararose $185

Love the crisscross neckline and that it comes in eight colours, all for less than $200 smackers. 

Kiss, kiss to the Crew!

__________________________________ Why not look your best every day?

Dress of the Week: Day by Birger et Mikkelsen

Dressology HQ's Dress of the Week is perfect for anyone

experiencing a "I-have-nothing-to-wear" day?!

Bloom Short Dress, approximately $260 from Boutique 1

Slip into this silk number in grey (above) or 

nude (below) from  Boutique 1 and 

you will look—and feel—completely pulled together.

Boutique 1,  Bloom Short Dress

The simple slip-over design with unique one-shoulder accent is a deceptively easy way to look fabulous & poised, 

even if you're not feelin' it. 

I call if the Fake-it-til-Ya-Feel-it Dress!

_____________________________ Why not look your best every day?

What's Old is New Again...Part Deux

There's a bit of 50s, 60s & 70s in this 

gathering of vintage-inspired beauties. 

Each brings with it a contemporary, modern twist.

How would you style and make these looks your own?

Asos Flower Embroidered 50s Dress, approx $115US

ModCloth's Honolulu Holiday Dress, approximately $160US

Mrs Press sleeveless Stell Dress, approximately $270AU

Net-a-Porter vintage-inspired by Steven Alan, Louisa Plaid, approximately $300US

Rebecca Minkoff at Revolve Clothing, approximately $295US

Nordstrom Laurence Dolige, approximately $135US

What's Old is New Again...Part One

There is nothing better than a dress that looks like it was inherited—passed down through the generations. 

Authentic vintage clothing is amazing, however, my heart beats even faster for a dress that looks retro, but is indeed....brand new!

Here are some beauties that make 

my heart skip a beat.

Shabby Apple's Blackberry Pie Dress, approximately $32US

Sweet Alma's Pink Sparrow Madison Dress, approximately $45AU

Erdem Mette silk-embroidered Dress, Browns Fashion approximately $4,000US

_________________________________ Why not look your best every day?

Did Somebody Say Zebra? What's Black & White &...

What is it about black and white? 

The timeless combination of ebony & ivory

survives trends & looks good 

on every skin tone.

Black & White has also inspired some pretty good kiddy jokes...

Tracy Reese Black & Ivory Tribal $349US at Revolve Clothing

JcPenney's 2-piece Floral Dress with Jacket, Approximately $60US

DVF Elalia Dress at ShopBop about $465US

Seduce Aviatrix Tunic Dress $190AU at Three Wishes

Banana Republic's BR Monogram Silk Dress, about $115US

What's Black & White & has 16 wheels?

Eight Nuns Riding Bikes!

_______________________________________ Why not look your best every day?

Dress of the Week: Oasis Floral Full Skirt Dress

I'm not sure what to love best about 

this week's Dress of the Week.

Is it the rich caramel-bronze color? 

The bold pattern with contrasting trim at neck- and hemline?

Maybe it's the retro feminine cut of the dress, 

nipped in at the waist, with the lovely full skirt?

Really, this dress has the whole package...

About $125US at Asos with FREE International Shipping!

Perhaps, the very best trait is the free shipping from Asos. Please, somebody buy this dress NOW!

_________________________________ Why not look your best every day?

Dress of the Week: Calvin Klein

I couldn't love this dress more if it was 
hand-delivered by Mr. Klein himself.

Nordstrom $125AU

The details: Shades of Indigo highlight a dress designed with a pleated bodice and banded empire waist above a gently flared skirt. Back zip, unlined, cotton & spandex.

____________________________Why not look your best every day?

Make it Yours—Celebrity Fashion Salute

I would be remiss to open this occasional-or-sometimes-but-not-very-often-semi-regular celebrity fashion Make it Yours post with anyone other than the fabulous, Ms Sarah Jessica Parker.

I love the way she works a dress.

The best part is, all of these looks are timeless and completely copyable allowing the flexibility for personal touches to 

make it your own, girl! 

Find these at jcpenney.com

Picture this gorgeous silky number with fab & sexy chunky sky-high wood heels with metal studs. Toss on a trendy faux-fur vest and you are ready to go!

So Fun & Completely Current at americaneagle.com

Fendi's from David Jones can give this  dress the perfect edge

 I would love to don this prettier-than-possible dress with some awesome and unexpected rugged biker ankle boots...or maybe a nice pair of sexy, strappy sandals and an oversized, floppy straw hat?

It's hard to imagine this dress looking any better ever, but different is possible—and good! I'm picturing stiletto-heel black suede boots with a canary yellow cape! Yowza!

Yummy Kate Spade Boots

Affordable Nine West 

Gorgeous Vintage Cape. Photo: weardrobe.com

Love YSL and Fashion as Theater! Maybe not daywear, but I HAD to include it!

Off the Stands—A Monthly Magazine Review

Inaugural Edition—April 2011

InStyle x 2
Madison
Marie Claire
Vogue Australia

Most women are too time poor to flip through even one fashion magazine a month, let alone several. For this reason, I'm welcoming you to the inaugural edition of Off the Stands, a monthly review of four to six fashion magazines currently on the stands. 


As an avid reader, shopper and blogger, I will dig through the information and share reports, trends and highlights. Please email me with recommendations or suggestions on how I might improve this regular DressologyHQ feature.


Lets get started! 

Fabulous DVF

All the publications report the 70s chic trend remains strong with super-wide-leg pants and jumpsuits at the forefront. If there's one thing to be learned....embrace mixed patterns and wild (especially animal) prints! Also evident is the continuing strength of metallics, with an emphasis on gold. Dresses, my personal fave, continue to dominate with longer hemlines making a return.

INSTYLE, March and April 2011 instylemag.com.au

InStyle knows how to present fashion for the every day woman. The very best part of this, is providing readers with website information in the photo credits! How utterly modern! 
MARCH
D Pair camel and gray. Classic, elegant & easy because most of us already own pieces in these colors
D Anoraks as competition to trenches as the (Southern Hemisphere) climate cools
D Significant wedding dress feature for future brides
D Photo shoot with Rose Byrne featuring Marchesa, Mulberry, Alberta Ferretti & Isabel Marant
D A behind-the-scenes Oscar feature with backstage photos—but for last year?

APRIL

Katherine in brogues...and tailored menswear

D Longer hemlines, brogues, khaki urban chic....and tweed? All trends easily embraced

D Don't miss 28 Days of Outfits. Very easy to duplicate adding your own style & using your wardrobe basics

D Loved Transformations an instructional, useful explanation of how to wear key pieces like leggings, pencil skirts & metallic tanks

VOGUE, April 2011 vogue.com.au

I think Vogue needs a facelift or maybe botox, from dry editorial to what feels like a dated format, it just feels tired. Having said that, the beauty of a Vogue photo shoot cannot be beat and they remain Tastemaker HQ.
D Red, black and gold as a new color combination trend
D Eastern-ethnic and Asian influences and tailored, menswear-inspired as hot trends
D Something I've seen nowhere else (go Vogue!) but very wearable is the “doubling-up” of belts, scarves & even purses. 
D An entire photo shoot of dresses. Gucci, Stella, Bally.....beautiful dresses as art!
D Opening of a new Hermes boutique in Paris in a disused art deco swimming pool

MARIE CLAIRE, April 2011 marieclaire.com.au

Always appreciate MC including brands like Witchery, Country Road and David Lawrence in their photo shoots bringin' it for us common folk! Their tagline is 100% truthful: Celebrating style and substance. Great features as always.
D  If you’re a Kylie fan, RUN, don’t walk to the photo feature with Dolce & Gabbana 
D  Heaps of dresses & jumpsuits reinforcing the 70s vibe with high waists & fringe
D Love the 101 Ideas section which provide inspiration for every day dressing
DOut of all the Runway Reports, they did it best. Interesting, fun & accessible

MADISON, April 2011 madisonmag.com.au

I’ll admit, the photo feature with fashion photog Ben Baker kept me busy. The boy is from Adelaide....so he has my heart.  
D Accessory report includes impressive statement shoes, belts & bags from affordable to designer & in between
D Love Cheap Chic for outfit ideas you can actually go out and buy
D  Trend report  featuring berry as the new fall color and colorblocking madness
D  One-page feature on Bally of Switzerland? I heart those guys. 

I Gotta Girl-Crush on Jessica Biel

I really do think she's one of the most gorgeous women.

Making it relevant, I love how she makes an ordinary pair of white jeans look extraordinary:

Photo: otte-a-tete.blogspot.com in MiH Jeans

My fascination with the dress—and how to wear it well—continues:

The girl does have a thing for the classics. 

Black, cream or black-and-cream. 
If in doubt, this is a surefire, go-to elegant look.

What's in a Name? Dressology Exposed...

Why Dressology?

A dress is a fabulous metaphor for the study of style...

A great dress can take you from frumpy to fantastic in seconds!

Dresses are classic and feminine. 

They simplify the process of looking stylish.

Versace

Dresses are transformational. 

A great dress is as unique and individual as the person wearing it. 

From ballet flats to boots, from sandals to stilettos. Add bling or a simple strand of pearls—how you accessorize transforms your look from Breakfast at Tiffanys to Lady Gaga. 

You can place your personal stamp on how you wear a dress.

Although dresses have come into their own recently, they remain timeless, regardless of the dictates of fashion. 

Much like personal style, a dress can be made unique to reflect your signature style.

Like Coco once said: "Fashion changes, but style endures."