Lace is currently a huge trend, but really it’s nothing new.  I first wrote about lace in the e-Style Tip of the Month for fall of 2008; however, because I focus on professional style, I’ve never really spent too much time on it. Personally, I love the look of lace, but I’ll admit it is hard to pull off in the business environment…until now! Even though summer has barely begun, in the fashion world the collections for fall 2011 have been ready for months. (Crazy, right?!) For fall 2011, Jason Wu has done an amazing job incorporating beautiful lace into plenty of garments that would be perfectly appropriate for the office. Check out Wu’s fall collection on Style.com. Okay, so I don’t wear designer clothing hot off the runway, but I do draw huge inspiration from it. My favorite looks from the collection are the classic,  professional dress worthy pieces trimmed with gorgeous lace. The pencil skirt with the lace trim running down the sides is absolutely fantastic! While I’m not a DIYer, I can absolutely see finding some lace trim and having my tailor update a pencil skirt, blazer, or even a wool tweed coat. It’s a great way to (Read more...)

I'm always astounded how quickly time flies between my spring and fall trend reports, but here we are again! As with the last few seasons, we're continuing to see many classic garments. However, this fall designers have gotten extra creative with colors, textures and best of all, the way they've combined classics with trendier pieces. Since I specialize in professional dress, I always hesitate to use the word "trend." Adopting trends doesn't necessarily deem you trendy. Rather, think of it as new ways of updating your look to keep things fresh! The following is just a sampling of what awaits you in the stores. 

Colors

Purple-from amethyst to deep plum. Red-mostly a tomato red, great for blondes and brunettes with warm coloring. More colors include russet, (brown with a tinge of red,) burnt orange and of course, black.

Lace

From heavy lace garments to lace trims. If a lace blouse seems like too much for you, consider wearing it under a jacket or sweater with only the collar and cuffs peeking out.

Belts

Although all widths of belts remain popular, the newest widths are approximately 2 inches and very skinny. Look for (Read more...)