summer 2014


Spring 2014 fashion trends: full skirts

Full skirts were in full swing on the runways for spring/summer 2014/2015 in New York, Paris, Milan and London. This girlish skirt style hearkens back to a time of high ponytails, Ed Sullivan and drive-in burger joints. Designers favored full skirts not as part of a 1950’s/1960’s resurgence rather, they modernized the retro style and brought it right into 2014; no saddle shoes required.

That’s right! The full skirt, midi-length, has taken on a modern look for the spring/summer 2014/2015 season. Although the style is being shown in classic fabrics, neutral hues and pastel shades, the way full skirts are being worn is thoroughly fresh. It is all about how you style a full skirt for 2014.

Full skirts are being shown with crop tops, crisp shirts and body-conscious sweaters for the spring/summer 2014/2015 season. Although body-conscious sweaters are reminiscent of the 1950’s, they do not necessarily evoke a vintage vibe due to the color combinations and patterns designers have chosen for spring.

When you think of crop tops from the 1980’s, you may think of “Fame” style off-the-shoulder crops tops or loose fitting tops with a lot of movement. The crop tops being paired with full skirts for spring/summer 2014/2015 are form fitting and do not offer a lot of movement. In many cases they are made from the same fabric as their matching full skirt! Matchy-matchy!

Full skirts can be worn dressy with structured satchels and pointed toe pumps or dressed down for a casual look. For a weekend ensemble, full skirts are being shown with flat sandals, heeled sandals, mini-satchels and soft clutches. This is not your Mother’s or Grandmother’s full skirt outfit!

I found a few fabulous full skirts, both dressy and casual, around the web and assembled them into the shopping widget below. I hope you love them! Happy shopping, and stay fabulous 😉


Spring 2014 trends: crop tops

Crop tops came into fashion in 2013, and for spring 2014, the 1980’s style is back with a vengeance. Crop tops are everywhere for spring 2014 and being paired with skirts, shorts, skorts and pants in the same fabrication for a suit-like ensemble. In addition to being the top half of the “new suit,” crop tops are also being shown with workout clothing and as casual tee-shirts for a lazy weekend day.

There were fashion editors and insiders everywhere at New York Fashion Week sporting crop tops while attending the fashion shows for fall 2014. Despite the snow, these wearers of crop tops paired their spring 2014 “shirt of the season” with pants, skirts, tights and boots in an attempt to keep warm. The crop tops were often paired with a bottom made from the same fabric as the crop top. Matchy-matchy!

This is one trend from the 1980’s we have not seen make a resurgence in the last twenty-something years. Crop tops were hot for several years in the mid-1980’s to late-1980’s until the waistlines on denim began to sink below the waist and the hip hugger returned from the 1970’s. That was the death of the crop top.

We are starting to see waistlines on denim begin to rise, and as the waistline rises towards, gasp!, the waist, the crop top is gaining momentum as the new “it” shirt of the spring 2014 season; and most likely the summer 2014 season. This is one runway trend which is already a hit on the streets.

I found a few fabulous crop tops around the web and assembled them into the shopping widget below. I hope you love them! Happy shopping, and stay fabulous 😉


Spring 2014 shoe trends: mules and slides

mules slides spring 2014

From top right: Alexander Wang / Stella McCartney /Sophia Webster / Manolo Blahnik

Mules and slides are back! Get ready to scrunch your shoes as you walk! Mules and slides were huge in the mid-1990’s and Fashionistas everywhere learned quickly how to scrunch up their toes in order to keep their shoes from flying off their feet. Oh memories. . .

Mules and slides stayed in style until the early 2000’s when pointed toe mules had their moment. After enduring pinched toes inside of shoes which were next to impossible to keep on ones’ feet, mules and slides ended up in the back of the closet; and the d’Orsay Pump took its’ place.

Well, for spring.summer 2014, the mule and the slide are back. Hold on tight! Mules and slides look amazing and are actually comfortable when you are standing still. There isn’t anything in the back of the shoe to rub and cause blisters, nor is there a strap which could break or become too tight as the day wears on. Mules and slides are easy to take on and off when driving as well as underneath ones’ desk at the office. (of course, when no-one is looking!) 

That being said, mules and slides are not meant for sight-seeing, long walks or cardio shopping at the mall. Mules and slides are perfect for events where you might find yourself standing such as at a fundraiser, auction, luncheon, wedding etc. Since they are actually comfortable, and hot off the runway, it would be wise to own at least one pair of mules or slides this spring/summer 2014 season!

Mules and slides were most popular on the Milan and Paris runways; although designers around the globe are favoring the style this warm weather season. If you kept a pair from the 1990’s or early 2000’s, go ahead and move them to the front of your closet. If not, look for a fabulous pair of mules or slides in a neutral color. If you find them easy to walk in, then more power to you; buy all the colors you can find! If you are like me and prefer mules and slides for less mobile situations, look for a neutral pair which will take you through the trend.

I found a few fabulous pairs of mules and slides and assembled them into the shopping widget below. I hope you love them! Happy shopping, and stay fabulous 😉