You might be looking at the title of this post and asking, what in the world??? Yes, I said the same thing when I heard that New York Fashion Week, or should I say the CFDA, had renamed their calendar to the “American Collections Calendar.” Since many designers who show at New York Fashion Week actually come from various parts of the United States, the CFDA decided to rebrand the agenda and name the schedule of runway shows/presentations the “American Collections Calendar.” After all, designers no longer show all together, in one compact week. They show before and after the designated week; and then they trickle into the following month. This makes the schedule less of a week, and more of a season.
I have mixed feelings about the new name. The name “New York Fashion Week” doesn’t need to be literal. It has a historical vibe, and blends well with the other fashion runway events around the world; most of which use the (city name + fashion week) formula. It appears, for now, the event is still referred to as New York Fashion Week, but the schedule has taken a name change to be more inclusive to designers from throughout the United States, as well as those who show outside the traditional NYFW dates.
The American Collections Calendar shows designer shows scheduled February 2, 2021 through April 15, 2021. The bulk of the shows, which would traditionally be referred to as part of New York Fashion Week, will occur on February 15, 2021 through February 17, 2021. Since the shows are predominantly virtual this season, they have been consolidated into three days instead of the usual six or seven day calendar. That being said, there are a handful of shows a few days before and after those three, jam-packed days.
The fall/winter 2021 collections will be shown mostly virtually again this season, with the hopes of returning to more of an in-person, normal event in September 2021. This means the shows will, once again, be more accessible to fashion fans everywhere since they can be viewed online. Although many designers are sending out invitations for their virtual runway shows, the shows can still be viewed Runway360. You can watch along with me again this year! Love that!
I will do my best to cover the virtual events this season, and bring you the best trends from the runways, and the fall/winter 2021 color trends, to look forward to in the autumn season. You can join me on Instagram for my runway stories, and also read about the runways here on the blog at the end of the week. Enjoy the American Collections Calendar!
The Prada Cleo is here! While not as hard to get as some other IT bags in recent years, the Prada Cleo does require a bit of searching, and a lot of patience, to obtain.
It took about one month for me to get my hands on my Prada Cleo. I initially ordered one in white, but after two weeks, the retailer cancelled my order stating they miscalculated stock levels. <sigh> Back to the web searches! I finally found one in the larger size, in black. While I initially wanted one in white, the cancellation made me rethink my choice, and I decided to go for a more 1990s color; black. After all, the Prada Cleo is inspired by Prada’s famous IT bags of the 1990s; and I am here for it!
If you lived through the 1990s like I did, you may remember it wasn’t patent leather we saw all over the place, it was abrasivato finishes, and spazzolato finishes, which dominated the streets. Patent leather was a bit too shiny. The 1990s were all about high gloss leather, without crossing into patent territory. Patent leather had it’s moment in the 1980s, so it had an old fashion vibe during the minimalist 1990s. Patent was thought of as a bit too flashy, but high gloss leather, THAT was modern and chic. Loved it!
Another trait of handbags in the 1990s was simple, black, and chic. It was all about bags with no fuss. We wore nylon totes, nylon shoulder bags, simple hobos, and simple top handle bags. The big brands were Prada, Kate Spade, Coach, and anything Gucci or Chanel. Shoulder straps were high and tight. We wore our bags under our arm pits, safe and snug. If they had a top handle, they were worn by hand. Carrying your bag on your forearm was an early 2000s thing; not in the 1990s, you would never carry your bag like that!
Since I was a young adult, just starting out, I could not afford the beautiful nylon and spazzolato finish bags Prada designed. They were the IT bags of the moment, but my budget was found on the clearance table in the back. I had a similar bag to the Prada Cleo, which had a strap that used to break all the time. Since I knew shoe repair, I was able to maintain my clearance table bag during the 1990s. Thankfully I had splurged on a Kate Spade nylon tote for work, so I wasn’t always a hot mess with my bag. haha
Now, let’s talk more about the Prada Cleo! This beautiful bag takes inspiration from Prada’s 1990s archives. It has a hobo silhouette with structured, spazzolato leather. The high gloss is very 1990s. The bag fits under the arm without violating the armpit. That’s a huge plus. Armpit bags really aren’t that comfortable, and they slip off your shoulder. The Prada Cleo sits nicely, and stays put, on the shoulder. That’s everything!
The lining of the bag is exactly as I remember it in the 1990s. I love the thick, fabric lining which has the signature Prada logo print. It’s sturdy and easy to clean; perfect for handbag lining. There is also one pocket inside. It does not zip, so it’s more of a phone pocket. It’s not ideal for loose coins. I prefer to use it for receipts or paper notes.
The Prada Cleo is lightweight, and fits all my purse essentials. There is still room inside for my sunglasses, and few snacks for my kids, as well as hand sanitizer, and a spare mask. The bag also has been good at keeping it’s shape when filled my things. This is important since the Prada Cleo isn’t your typical hobo shape; it has a modern twist.
Did you notice the back of the Prada Cleo is longer that the front? This gives the bag a three-dimensional vibe which is geometric and modern. It definitely elevates the Prada Cleo from a 1990s clone, to a 2021 IT bag. Love that!
Since the Prada Cleo sits snugly under the arm, it is pretty safe from pickpockets. That being said, there is a nice magnetic closure to keep the bag closed. I have never had anything fall out of the bag. It’s pretty secure.
The Prada Cleo is a great everyday bag. It’s simple and chic. It pairs well with casual denim looks as well as dressy outfits with skirts and dresses. The simple yet modern silhouette also lends well to staying power. This bag won’t be easily dated as time goes on. I can see it being worn for several years. That being said, the spazzolato finish is not as sturdy as pebble leather, so don’t lay it down on concrete or throw it around; you’ll scratch it. Treat it nicely, and your Cleo should last for many years, and keep it’s nice, high gloss finish as scratch-free as possible.
Shop the Prada Cleo online:
Don’t worry if the Prada Cleo you want is sold out. You can pre-order one here! There are also three different sizes to choose from. The small size has a flap closure, the medium and large look like mine. I purchased the large which isn’t much bigger than the medium; it’s a slight difference which I wanted since my kids always give me things to hold. haha
What do you think of the Prada Cleo? Do you love it? It’s the hottest IT bag of 2021, so when you get your hands on one, snap it up!
Sneakers for spring 2021 are here! Athleisure has become more and more important in the world of fashion as it has taken over the streets over the past decade; and some would argue the last two decades! With the current pandemic, people are finding themselves wearing sneakers more and more as athleisure becomes the dominant street style we have all been rocking as we increasingly stay home.
Since outdoor activities and comfort are at the forefront of fashion, and personal style, right now, a comfortable and fabulous sneaker is a must! Street sneakers are important, since we all want to save our serious sneakers for sports and fitness. With a street sneaker, we can enjoy comfort while walking around, running errands, etc., yet still express our personal style on a daily basis.
Last year we saw a rise in white sneakers, platform sneakers, and wearing two different sneakers; yes, that last trend fizzled and died within one season, haha. Now that we are in 2021, we are all wanting a little bit more fun and pizzazz in our footwear.
Spring 2021 is all about vintage inspiration, bright colors, metallic fabrications, and a bit of “look-at-me-I-am-out-of-the-house.” With inspiration from the 1970s through to the early 2000s, spring 2021 sneakers are taking on a flashy vibe. We are looking at platforms, chunky soles, metallic hues, groundbreaking florals (so shocking for spring right??), wedge sneakers (yes, these toe stubbers are back from the dead), preppy boat sneakers, slip-on skater styles, and canvas sneakers in general. If you wore it in high or college, it’s time to wear it again. So pop some TLC into your CD player, and buy some funky and fun sneakers for spring! Unless you are planning to rock the nautical and preppy ’80’s trend; then pop some Rick Astley into your cassette deck and rick-roll yourself.
Without further ado, here are the four biggest trends in sneakers for spring 2021.
Platform sneakers and chunky sneakers are a continuing trend which has taken on a bit more flash than before. For spring 2021, look for platform or chunky sneakers in trendy florals, designer logo prints, stripes, metallic hues, cartoon prints, and painted patterns.
Have some fun with your platform sneakers or chunky sneakers, this is not a serious trend, it’s lighthearted and enjoyable. Isn’t that what we all need right now? Love!
Canvas sneakers is a catch-all for three separate trends we are seeing emerge for spring 2021. Nautical and boat shoes are having a moment as the preppy ’80’s reemerge. If you long for the days of a convertible red BMW and a pink polo shirt, this is your year. Look for boat shoe inspired sneakers to round out your look.
Are you a sk8ter? Grab your skateboard from 1991 and pick up a pair of canvas slip-on sneakers. You can go traditional with Vans, or mix things up by snagging a pair with 2021 florals, logos, and more. You don’t have to look like you walked out of 1991, just take some inspiration, slip on some canvas sneakers, grab your skateboard, and have fun!
Remember the days of white Keds in the 1980s? The style is back, but with some flair. Instead of only being allowed to wear white canvas sneakers, for 2021, you want anything but white canvas sneakers. Look for Keds-inspired styles in denim, floral prints, logos, cartoon prints, and more fun looks. Have fun with your canvas sneakers; it’s not 1988 anymore, so you don’t have to worry about being caught in a pair of canvas sneakers that aren’t white. Loving this!
OMG this is so groundbreaking! Are you sitting down? Big news!! Get this, florals are big for spring 2021. Isn’t that crazy? Who would have thought! Well, at least we can narrow down which type of floral prints are big this spring as opposed to past spring seasons. For spring 2021, look for smaller floral prints, no big giant flowers. Floral print sneakers are a huge trend this spring, so have fun with it; it really is groundbreaking.
I’m eyeing the slip-on pair. I love how the floral print looks on the slip-on sneaker styles. Which style do you like?
Metallic sneakers come and go, as far as sneaker trends are concerned. They are currently huge as we see the return of the metallic mirror trend from the turn of the century. Why not have glitter sneakers, or metallic sneakers to pair with your mirrored silver handbag? Yes, those are back too, but I digress. . .
Look for glitter, metallic accents, mixed metallics, and solid metallic sneakers this spring. These are definitely “notice me” kicks, so have some fun with the pair you pick.
Shop spring 2021 sneakers around the web:
What is your favorite sneaker trend for spring 2021?
Thanks for stopping by!
XOXO
Cathy
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