casual fashion

Jackets for fall 2014 and winter 2015

 in General Fashion / Trends  tagged casual fashion / fall 2014 / jackets / winter 2015 by

jackets winter 2015 falll 2014

Pictured: Pink Jacket / Moto Jacket / Grey Jacket

Jackets for fall 2014 and winter 2015 are offering a wide range of styles. The moto jacket trend from last year is still going strong; and we are also seeing an uptick in the waterfall jacket trend which has been popular for the past few seasons. In addition to the moto jacket and waterfall jacket, traditional puffer jackets, tailored blazers and waisted windbreakers are also du rigueur for the fall 2014 and winter 2015 seasons. 

One of the great things about jackets this fall/winter 2014/2015 season is that the styles are timeless. There is a good chance we all have a moto jacket in our closets as well as a blazer, puffer jacket, windbreaker or waterfall jacket. This makes finding a jacket for the fall/winter 2014/2015 season an easy and inexpensive task since most of us will be able to shop our closets! Love that!

In addition to classic moto jacket styles, this motorcycle inspired jacket style has taken on new life for the fall/winter 2014/2015 season. Moto jackets are being shown in more than leather and faux-leather styles for this cool weather season. Designers have used fabrications including tweed, wool, polyester and more to add texture and dimension to the traditional moto jacket silhouette. If black leather or faux-leather isn’t your thing ,look for a moto jacket this season in pastel pink, a bright color or neutral hue made from wool, satin, sequins and more!

If you are shopping for a waterfall jacket this fall 2014 or winter 2015 season, look for one in grey, pale pink or any shade of blue. Waterfall jackets tend to be lighter weight than other styles of jackets and they are going to continue to be a big trend in jackets as we move into resort and spring 2015. By purchasing one now in a spring color such as pale pink, grey, or blue, you will save money in the long run and get a lot of wear out of your waterfall jacket. Love that!

I love moto jackets and waterfall jackets this season. What is your favorite style of jacket for fall 2014 and winter 2015?

Jackets for fall 2014 and winter 2015 around the web:

Looking back to my flannel shirt days

 in Bay Area Fashion / General Fashion  tagged casual fashion / casual style / fall 2014 / grunge / outfits by

DSC_0292 DSC_0307DSC_0312 DSC_0308

Pictured: Lipstick: c/o Dolce & Gabbana “Orchid” / Earrings: Bauble Bar / Necklace: Express (sold out, similar here) / Tee: Express / Flannel Shirt: Sundry / Handbag: Rebecca Minkoff / Nail Polish: Christian Louboutin “Lova” / Ring: 2 Bandits / Jeans: 7FAM (past season, also love this pair) / Shoes: MM6 Maison Martin Margiela (in black here)

Ah, the flannel shirt. Flannel shirts used to be associated with cold weather and lumberjacks. Then, in the early to mid-1990’s, the grunge movement brought out the flannel shirt as a key piece to putting together the ultimate grunge ensemble. When grunge went away and minimalism rose to prominence, the flannel shirt was folded up and shoved to the back of closet’s everywhere. Until. . .a couple of seasons ago, the flannel shirt started to creep back into the forefront of casual fashion; and for fall 2014, it has become the ultimate alternative to a lightweight jacket in the autumn season.

When I was in my undergraduate program at USF in the mid-1990’s, the grunge movement was huge. Pearl Jam was always in my CD player and I had a few flannel shirts which I wore on an almost-daily basis. I love flannel shirts. Living in San Francisco, the cool fog and changing micro-climate’s, lend themselves well to the flannel shirt. A flannel shirt was the perfect weight to keep me warm in 65 degree foggy weather, and if the sun came out, I could wrap the flannel shirt around my waist until the fog rolled back in from the bay. Since the sun normally would only peek through the fog for a few hours, it was convenient to have something around my waist to put on to keep warm. After all, don’t we all find jacket’s bulky and annoying to carry around?

At the end of the 1990’s, the flannel shirt was long gone from music and the runways. I was also out of college and working in the financial district of San Francisco. This meant casual, flannel shirts were not practical in my wardrobe. Although I missed the cozy warmth and convenience of the flannel shirt, I did have an alternative; the pashmina. Remember pashmina’s!!! They were easy to fold up and put inside your purse, making them the perfect wardrobe item to graduate to after the flannel era. Alas, as the world moved into the new millennium, the pashmina was no longer “on trend” and was deemed only appropriate as a wrap for a semi-formal or formal gown. This left a huge hole in the wardrobe’s of Bay Area Fashionista’s. After all, what could we use to keep warm when the fog rolled in? Carrying around a jacket or coat is bulky and downright annoying; so we either froze, or carried a bulky, annoying jacket around the city. Ho-hum. . . 

When I first saw grunge making a few appearances on the runways several seasons ago, I was not quite sure what to make of it. I wore this trend when it first came to fruition, so could I really wear it again? I avoided the trend at first, since as an adult, and Mother of three, I questioned whether or not I could really pull off what I wore in my 20-something college days. But as fall 2014 came around, I realized, yes, I can pull off certain aspects of the trend which feel so much like me! The flannel shirt was always my favorite part of the grunge trend back in college, so I decided this was my chance to wear something on casual days which fits my personality; and musical taste! After all, Generation X created the trend, so it is only natural that we are the ones who should own it and rock it. Can I get an “aw yeah!!”

I was thrilled when I saw this flannel shirt on ShopBop.com. I loved the colors, and the plaid offered the perfect dimensions. Since I have been wearing it this season, I remember why I loved wearing flannel shirts so much back in the 1990’s. They are comfortable and offer the perfect amount of warmth in our climate. Now it is time to pop “Temple of the Dog,” “Alice in Chains” and “Pearl Jam” into my CD player. Yes, I still use a CD player sometimes, and maybe even a record player 😉

Lug sole shoes for fall 2014

 in General Fashion / Shoes / Trends  tagged casual fashion / casual style / fall 2014 by

IMG_3778.JPG

Pictured: MM6 Maison Martin Margiela; can be found here and here.

Lug soles are back. I never thought I would utter those words; I have! The lug sole was huge in the late 1980’s through to the early 1990’s. At that time, you never wanted a platform; only a lug sole. Lug soles were mainly found on loafers and boots, but would occasionally pop up on high heels and sandals.

In 2009, Prada showed the lug sole on a pair of high heeled, runway loafer pumps. Although a few designers caught on to the possible emerging trend, the lug sole remained quietly in the background, unable to revive, until 2014. Cue in the lug sole!

Although associated with the falling grunge trend, lug soles were actually a precursor to the grunge trend in the early 1990’s. They were considered “over” by the time the Seattle Sound hit the airwaves and teenagers smelled like teen spirit while wearing flannel shirts around the globe. The only lug soles left in style by the time grunge became popular, aside from Doc Martins, were in the form of hiking boots; which was a big casual trend in the early to mid-1990’s. 

For fall 2014, designers have gone head over heels for the lug sole. Lug soles are being found on every type of shoe imaginable including loafers, pumps, high heels, sandals, boots, and any type of shoe imaginable. The fabulous thing about the lug sole is that it adds height, like a platform shoe would, but it gets through the “platforms are out” loophole by simply being a lug sole. Love that!

Lug soles are also handy when it is raining or snowing outside. The lug sole is utilitarian and hugs the ground, allowing you to walk without slipping and falling. Under normal circumstances, one would have to wear boring snow boots or rain boots in order to enjoy the practicality of the lug sole in rain or snow. Thankfully, the lug sole has come out from under work boots, and weather shoes, in order to be a fashionable and practical look/answer to the fall season; and bad weather! Love it!

Now, if only California would get some REALLY bad weather in order to combat this terrible drought we are having; and also, so we can wear our lug soled shoes and enjoy not slipping!

What do you think of the lug sole trend for fall 2014, and into 2015? Will you wear it?

Lug soled shoes for fall 2014: