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Alexander to Vera

Alexander to Vera

A fashion blog for real-girls who simply can't get enough.

Go Buy Now: Printed Pants

While I usually reserve my favorite prints for tops and dresses, lately I have become completely enamored with chic, straight leg pants emblazoned with pretty florals. 

This look was all over the Spring 2012 runways. As well as many of the bloggers and fashion editors that were in New York for fashion week.

1. Alexander Wang 2. Peter Som

3. Proenza Schouler 4. Chloe

5. DKNY 6. J.Crew

On the runways, floral pants were either paired with neutral tops or head-to-toe prints. Either way works! Check out some great options below

Floral pants
Floral pants by alexander-to-vera featuring slim fit pants

J.Crew skinny pants
$298 - jcrew.com

Forever 21 floral pants
$20 - forever21.com

DKNY slim fit pants
$225 - bloomingdales.com

MaxMara floral pants
£70 - farfetch.com

Dorothy Perkins tapered pants
$49 - dorothyperkins.com

High waisted pants
$89 - warehouse.co.uk

Forever 21
$20 - forever21.com

Mary Katrantzou floral print legging
$80 - topshop.com
[images via chicfeed.com, streetpeeper.com, nymag.com, and songofstyle.blogspot.com]

Trend Forecast: Topshop Style

As you may have noticed, over the past few weeks I have been updating my Trend Forecast series in which I use the Spring 2012 collections to predict upcoming trends. While browsing Topshop.com, I found that they have created a Trend Forecast of their own. Since I regularly feature Topshop products here on Alexander to Vera I decided to share the retail giant’s Spring Preview with my readers. Check it out below, and click on any of the photos to go straight to the Topshop page where you can shop these styles to your heart’s content!

‘Sporty in shape, silky to the touch and bursting with exuberant prints, our favorites take us back to the 90s in all its excessive glory. If there’s ever been a time to team jewel tones with yellow gold, mix florals with animal prints, and make sure that every item you’re wearing clashes, it’s now!’ Check out this post for inspiration.

‘The trick to working this sorbet-sweet trend is to get your palette spot on. Sweetie shades - think lemon, peach, and watermelon - have a hint of neon, yet also appear to have been left out in the sun to fade. Yes, for SS12, even your clothes should look sun-kissed.’

‘Err on the girly side with pretty prints, dreamy shades and cutesy detailing, but don’t be deceived, the cutout isn’t for wallflowers! Apart from showing a glimpse of sun kissed skin, our favorite new way to channel the flirty cutout is to layer one peek-a-boo piece right over another.’

‘Make a bold splash - ‘Maximum’ and ‘Impact’ should be your buzzwords! And while you’re already looking exuberant in plants that sound like they’re from the shores of Hawaii, why not throw some animal print into the mix? Leopard, zebra, tiger, or snake - the choice is yours!’

‘There’s only one rule to follow when it comes to print and it goes something like this - the more kaleidoscopic the patter the better! Memorize it and you can’t go wrong; it’s all about picking out whatever prints take your fancy and wearing them all at once!’

‘With sheer fabrics and futuristic silhouettes dazzling the catwalks, calling yourself a technophobe is no longer an option - or an excuse! Believe the hype - the space-age ensemble is here to stay and mastering the art of layering light-as-a-feather, iridescent pieces is your surest fast track to fashion’s future.’

‘Oh-so-girly skirts have been given a flirty take with graduated hemlines - we’re huge fans of the short-at-the-front and long-at-the-back - while dresses in simple, sporty shapes wow with their asymmetric finish. However you want to phrase it - angular, stepped, skewed - all you need to remember is that you need at least one hem that isn’t straight.’

‘Flouncy fabrics in rose, topaz, azure and aqua are strewn with pearls and encrusted with beads, shining like scales and shells. So if, like us, you once dreamed of living under the sea, SS12 is your chance to channel your inner sea goddess.’

[all images and quoted text are from topshop.com]

Designer Spotlight: Carven

There were a number of Spring 2012 shows that blew me away: Isabel Marant, Prabal Gurung, Givenchy, and Altuzarra to name a few. It was the Carven show however, that really left a lasting impression. As one adorable dress after another came traipsing down the runway, I soon began to realize that this parisian design house was destined to be my latest obsession. Compared to the undone glamour of Isabel Marant’s designs, Carven takes a more ladylike approach to parisian dressing. According to style.com: “Bright, young, optimistic, and leggy, Carven dresses always come with a wink: a lace inset that zigzags underneath the neckline, unexpected cutouts, and removable collars” 

Here are a few of my favorite looks from the Spring 2012 show.

[images via nymag.com]

Runway Scout: Seeing Spots

To be completely honest, I have never been the greatest fan of polka dots. I often feel that when done wrong, they can look either childish or downright tacky. Over the past few months however, I have begun to see the error of my ways due to the many gorgeous spotted pieces that littered the Spring 2012 runways. In fact, one of my favorite looks of NY Fashion week was a black and white polka dot Luca Luca gown which Emma Stone wore on the red carpet a few weeks later. Lela Rose and Tory Burch both went for a more classic interpretation of the print while Sass & Bide added unexpected neon yellow accessories for an instant cool-factor.

1. Luca Luca 2. Lela Rose

3. Tory Burch 4. Sass & Bide

A great thing about polka dots is that with the right pieces, anyone can pull of this effortlessly chic look. Check out some of the amazing street-style examples that I found for inspiration.

Looking to add some great new spotted pieces to your wardrobe? Check out some great options below! Also, for advice on other great ways to wear your spots click here to see my post on mixing prints!

Seeing Spots
Seeing Spots by alexander-to-vera featuring a vintage lace dress

ASOS long sleeve dress
$81 - asos.com

Dahlia mini dress
$118 - asos.com

Long sleeve sequin dress
$82 - asos.com

Polka dot dress
$318 - asos.com

Vintage lace dress
$118 - asos.com

Madewell polka dot sweater
$85 - madewell.com

ASOS polka dot tight
$15 - asos.com

ASOS pencil skirt
$55 - asos.com

Fullcircle
$127 - asos.com
[images via chicfeed.com and nymag.com]

Designer Spotlight: Prabal Gurung

For today’s post I decided to highlight one of my favorite designers of the moment: Prabal Gurung. For the past few seasons I have been admiring a number of Gurung’s creations, but it was his Spring/Summer 2012 collection that transformed me into a Prabal-superfan. The show was full of gorgeous digital floral prints in amazing metallic purples and blues. The flirty frocks and gowns were a perfect contrast to the sleek pants and jackets that came down the runway.

This collection didn’t just catch the eye of fashion-fanatics like myself, Hollywood has taken notice as well. Both Sarah Jessica Parker and Amanda Seyfried have worn Prabal’s Spring 2012 looks on the red carpet. Since a true Prabal Gurung piece is definitely out of my price point, hopefully some Gurung-inspired looks will hit store racks this spring.

[images via instyle.com, manrepeller.com, nymag.com]

Trend Forecast: Athletics

It is time for the second installment in my series of trend forecasts for Spring 2012. Sporty looks popped up on numerous runways this season. Design darlings Isabel Marant and Nicole Miller presented a more feminine, effortless take on the trend while Alexander Wang, Kenzo and BCBG let their prints do the talking. This look takes athletic inspiration and throws in a fun and flirty twist that moves it from the gym to the streets. I personally cannot wait for all of the great sporty pieces that will be hitting stores this spring. Until then, check out the trend for yourself in these Spring 2012 looks.

Isabel Marant

Nicole Miller

Alexander Wang

BCBG Max Azria

Kenzo

[images via nymag.com]

Trend Forecast: Peplums

Peplums were all over the Spring 2012 runways, some more wearable than others. J.Crew offered a subdued take on the trend with a pretty floral top with a bubble hem, while Cushnie et Ochs showed sexy structure with sharp metallic hips. Jason Wu and Lela Rose went soft and flirty with their peplum looks while Phoebe Philo continued her flawless reign at Chloe with chic minimalist peplums.

 J.Crew

 Cushnie et Ochs

 Jason Wu

 Lela Rose

 Celine

For those of you who want to get an early start on this trend, there are plenty of winter-worthy peplum jackets out there along with adorable dresses that are perfect for holiday parties. Peplum tops are probably the easiest way to incorporate the look into your every day wardrobe and provide a little more visual interest than the average blouse. You can also create your own peplums with a chic belt like these women did.

Below are some of my favorite peplum pieces that will allow you to get this designer look for less!

Peplums
Peplums by alexander-to-vera featuring peplum tops
Aqua cocktail dress, $154
Max cleo dress, $148
Reversible dress, $40
Reversible dress, $148
ASOS long top, $63
Peplum top, $165
Oasis peplum top, $63
Alice Olivia stripe t shirt, $200
BCBG Max Azria animal print jacket, $174
Winter kate, $130
Fullcircle, $117
Oasis, $54

[photos via nymag.com, lateafternoonblog.com, streetfsn.blogspot.com]