Bay Area Fashionista

The return of the pleated skirt

wearing: blue tassel earrings / Chanel lipstick / blue ruffle sleeve top / black leather and silver watch / Chanel fall nail polish / Givency bag / bold silver cuff (on major sale!!) / black metallic pleated fall skirt / blue velvet booties (so comfy!!)

Remember a couple of years ago when pleated skirt were all the rage? They seemed to disappear for one year, and now they are back! For fall 2017, pleated fall skirts are hotter then hot; and I am thrilled!

I love pleated skirts for fall because they are a flattering silhouette on almost every body type. Pleated skirts can be dressed up for dinner, the theater, church, or date night. They can also be worn casually with street sneakers, flats, or sandals for a feminine daytime look. Love that!

Two years ago, pleated skirts were being shown in solid colors, and in prints. They were usually made from a polyester fabric. For fall 2017, pleated skirts are being shown in velvet, faux suede, and thick, autumnal fabrications. This metallic skirt I am wearing in this post is made from a thin, faux suede-like fabric which feels so luxurious. Love!

These photos were taken while I was in New York for fashion week. I wore this outfit on Sunday when I attended seven shows. The shows I attended that day were Francesca Liberatore, Dan Liu, Nina Tiari, Leanne Marshall, Rinat Brodach, Vivienne Hu, and Jared Zhang. Whew! It was a full day, I am not quite sure how I squeezed in any food! Room service is a life saver during fashion week!

I’m excited about this skirt because back home, I can wear it casually with a sweater and boots during the day, or I can dress it up with a black top and high heels for evening occasions. This will be my go-to skirt for fall!

These booties also happen to be a new favorite of mine. They are really comfortable, and kept me going all day long! The velvet is soft and the heel hits my foot in the right spot to give me a bit of arch support. I am looking forward to wearing these often during fall with skirts, dresses, and jeans.

The next item on my wish list is a velvet pleated skirt. I cannot wait to find the perfect one! Fingers crossed I find one in blue or burgundy. Wouldn’t that be fabulous! What do you think of the pleated skirt trend for fall 2017? Is this one you will be wearing?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Photos by Dawn/Fashion Should Be Fun

NYFW photo journal spring 2018

photo: Taoray Wang spring 2018 NYFW

My trip to New York Fashion Week was shorter this season then usual. I have stepped up to be troop leader for my daughter’s Girl Scout troop, and everything seemed to happen the week of fashion week. I was required to be home, to lead the troop, for service unit activities and to kick off the new scout year.

Thankfully, I was able to get to New York for the weekend shows. Although I watch many shows via You Tube, there is nothing like seeing the clothing on the runway. When I can see the fabrics, stitching, and movement of the silhouettes up close, it is easier for me to report on the collections, and incoming trends, for you.

These are the shows I was so thankful to be able to attend. I will share my favorite look from each collection. In some cases, I was only able to get a final walk video on my phone. My seating ranges from front row to standing room, so depending on where I was placed, results in the quality of photos I can show you.

Day one: I woke up at 4am and drove with my friend Dawn from Fashion Should Be Fun to the airport for a 7am flight. I landed at 3:30pm in New York, caught a Taxi, checked into the hotel, and jammed over to my first show at 6pm. It was an exhausting, but productive day!

Cindy Montiero spring 2018

Michael Costello spring 2018

Maison the Faux spring 2018

Day two: This was a heavy schedule! I saw five shows and attended the rewardStyle rooftop party where I met up with fellow bloggers. I arrived late after a show, and left early to get to another show. It was a whirlwind!

Taoray Wang spring 2018

Runa Ray spring 2018

Custo Barcelona spring 2018

Olivia Palermo at the NYFW Banana Republic “See Now Buy Now” presentation.

My favorites from the collection can be found below:

A Detacher spring 2018

Academy of Art University spring 2018

Day three: This was a heavy schedule too. I attended seven shows; it would have been eight but I had a logistical issue getting to one. Yikes!

Francesca Liberatore spring 2018

Dan Liu spring 2018

Nina Tiari spring 2018

Leann Marshall spring 2018

Vivienne Hu spring 2018

Jarel Zhang spring 2018

I also attended Rinat Brodach but was unable to get photos or video due to the lighting at the presentation. The CAAFD Showcase is the one I missed due to logistics. Many of the shows are spread apart throughout lower Manhattan, so it isn’t always easy to get from show to show; especially if one runs late; and they always run late. It was a whirlwind trip and so much fun! I will definitely be bringing you more NYFW coverage, as well as continuing to talk about our present fall season.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Top 5 New York Fashion Week trends spring 2018

photo: Maison the Faux spring 2018 NYFW

The last model has walked off the runways of New York Fashion Week. As the fashion world moves to London, Paris, and Milan to continue fashion month, those of us who look closely to New York designers for inspiration are left with a new set of trends for the upcoming spring/summer 2018 season.

There are so many trends which seemed to inspire New York designers this season. We saw new trends, old trends, continuing trends, and confusing trends, for the upcoming warm weather season. Despite the large amount of trends, and inspiration, from New York designers for spring 2018, there were five trends which stuck out, and dominated the runways of New York.

Without further ado:

New York Fashion Week trends spring 2018: Menswear

photo: Francesca Liberatore spring 2018 NYFW

Menswear inspiration has been a huge trend in fashion over the past few seasons. It is showing no sign of slowing down for spring 2018. Designers showed a large amount of menswear inspiration in the form of suiting, prints, tailored blazers, trousers, and shoes. Look for more menswear as we move out of winter, and into spring.

New York Fashion Week trends spring 2018: Clutches

photo: Nina Tiari spring 2018 NYFW

Clutches are making a comeback for spring 2018. While they never really went out of style, designers have favored saddle bags, hobo bags, and satchels the past couple of seasons. For spring 2018, designers are looking towards small clutches.

Also of note; the fanny pack appears to be making a comeback. Let’s see if the streets like that one. I’m a little frightened by the thought.

New York Fashion Week trends spring 2018: Small Florals

photo: Nina Tiari spring 2018 NYFW

Florals, I know. Soooo groundbreaking. Seriously though, florals are really small for spring 2018. Alice + Olivia, Zimmermann, and many more showed small floral prints for the spring season. No big flowers, only small ones; all squished together. Small, busy florals. Not groundbreaking, but noteworthy.

New York Fashion Week trends spring 2018: Silver and Metallic

photo: Academy of Art University spring/fall 2018 NYFW

Silver is the new metal du jour. For spring 2018 look for silver jewelry, silver accents, silver footwear, silver handbags, and silver metallic clothing. Silver is already a hot trend for fall, look for more in the spring 2018 season.

New York Fashion Week trends spring 2018: Cold Shoulders

photo: Vivienne Hu spring 2018 NYFW

Cold shoulders are not going anywhere for the spring 2018 season. Look for this trend from last season to continue into next year. There will be peek-a-boo shoulders, off-the-shoulder, strapless (no shoulder), cold shoulders; so many types of naked shoulders! In addition to cold shoulders, look for a continuation of ruffles surrounding these cold shoulders.

There you have it! The top 5 New York Fashion Week trends for spring 2018. In addition to these five trends, look for a continuation of asymmetrical lines, longer hemlines as well as mini skirt hems, two piece sets, and black/white combinations.

Handbags for spring 2018 will offer small clutches, shoulder bags/saddle bags, east/west totes, and <gasp> fanny packs.

When it comes to color, dark sea foam green, shades of yellow, grey, and white are hotter then hot. See the top 12 colors from NYFW by clicking here.

What do you think of the spring 2018 trends from New York Fashion Week?

photo: Custo Barcelona spring 2018 NYFW

Yes, that is a fanny pack. Several designers were showing them on the runways for spring 2018. Thoughts?

Top 5 fall 2017 trends

Asymmetrical lines at New York Fashion Week

Fashion Week