Even though Long Island is in the thick of winter, it’s not too early to start looking ahead to spring fashion. The one & only Victoria Beckham, pop star turned fashion mogul, is already doing so. She’s a success on & off the red carpet, who not only sets the trends, but resets them in a much more polished & elevated way. For example, during a day out in New York City, the designer stepped out recently in her own Victoria Beckham brand, wearing a marigold ribbed turtleneck with a printed pleated skirt. Her accessories of choice are naturally minimalist, letting her outfit make the statement, with a chain link shoulder bag, oversized sunnies, & leather boots.
Aside from Fashion Week & the general change of seasons (which marks ankle bootie & rich textures like suede time of year), September means that our favorite television shows are returning to make us laugh, cry, sit at the edge of our seats, & of course, be in awe of the characters’ styles. In a first ever on Style Darling, I’ve undertaken a mighty 10 television shows returning this season & found their most stylish leading ladies (two, in some cases), & found pieces & looks to inspire your fall wardrobe. Naturally, we’re talking something budget-friendly, yet still true to the small scree goddesses that have bloggers everywhere in a fashion tizzy!
Scandal(airing Season 4 premiere on 9/25 @9PM on ABC) left Olivia Pope (played magnificently by the one & only Kerry Washington) washing her hands of the controversy & turmoil that she blames herself for in Washington D.C., especially because of her torrid love affair with the president. However, Olivia’s style was only elevated by such drama, sharing with viewers the importance of a luxurious coat collection, classic & statement handbags, as well as clean lines & neutral separates since Olivia is all about getting rid of the fuss in people’s lives.
New Girl(airing Season 4 premiere on 9/16 @9PM on FOX) will surely tackle that whole Jess-Nick romance, even though the adorkable couple ended things last season. Now that Zooey Deschanel‘s character has certainly settled into her man-dwelling apartment, she’s constantly battling life with one vintage look after another, & laughter is sure to ensue. Not to mention that Jess’s girlie girl style fits right in with her job as a teacher, always conservative yet cute for partying it up after hours.
The Mindy Project(airing 9/16 @9:30 on FOX) is one of my favorite must-see shows this fall, not just because the brilliant Mindy Kaling writes a hilarious ensemble comedy, but because the show is after the hearts of its viewers with the on-again-off-again love story with one Danny Castellano, played by Chris Messina. Yes, there’s laughter too, but I’m also super excited to see what Dr. Lahiri (Kaling’s character) will wear. She’s no stranger to bright colors, wild patterns, feminine florals, & layers of preppy chic style.
Revenge(airing 9/28 @10PM on ABC) is returning this fall & Emily Thorne (played by Emily Vancamp) is back & stronger than ever in her plot against the Graysons. I love that her style recalls the effortless ease of a modern day Grace Kelly, with a luxe twist on casual wear. She wears plenty of neutral colors & no-fuss separates so that she can easily slip into scheming mode with the movers & shakers of The Hamptons setting. I love watching out for the designer pieces on this show, especially on additional key characters like Victoria (Madeline Stowe), Charlotte (Chrsta B. Allen), & Ashley (Ashley Madekwe).
When I started assembling these pieces, I realized that they have various uses, for both day & night, as well as creating looks from season-to-season. While most of our lives won’t be centered around law-breaking revenge schemes, the closest we can get to the fabulous life of Emily Thorne is recreating her style with the colorblock roll sleeve shirtdress ($109.99) in cream puff @Ann Taylor, MOD.lusive ruched sleeve long cardigan ($42.00) in white @Nordstrom, v-neck blouse ($24.95) in powder beige @H&M, & true slim chino pants ($44.99) in khaki @Land’s End.
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Nashville(airing 9/24 @10PM on ABC) is the kind of show that not only inspires music, but also fashion. Southern style is loud & clear with this show, especially when it comes to an edgy look & a splash of rock ‘n roll. The show’s leading ladies Rayna James (Connie Britton) & Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) are constantly at odds, but one thing is clear, they know how to dress. I was especially inspired by the flashy stage looks & modern casual separates that can be jazzed up for a night of music. The last season ended with both divas in trouble, both professionally & personally, but I can’t wait to see what’s gonna happen next.
2 Broke Girls(airing 10/07 @9PM on CBS) combines two of my favorite things: cupcakes & fashion! The comedy’s stars Beth Behrs as the preppy / fashion forward Caroline Chaning & Kat Dennings‘ loveable bad girl Max Black make for the perfect modern day odd couple, just trying to get back. Caroline is always neutral clad, doused in pearls & body conscious dresses, whereas Max’s fashion sense takes on a tougher city vibe in bright primary colors & boots, with a touch of menswear inspiration.
The Good Wife(airing 9/21 @9PM on CBS) keeps raking in the Emmy awards, especially with a constantly compelling performance for the show’s lead, Julianna Marguliesas the powerful Alicia Florrick. Her wardrobe includes power suits & strong jackets, much like Scandal‘s Olivia Pope. In Alicia’s world, there’s no room for floral or fussy pieces. She’s all about structure & strength, so edgy embellishments have no place among the clean details & clean lines.
Modern Family(airing 9/24 @9PM on ABC) is a comedy must-see, especially because of the show’s female leads. When it comes to style, of course there’s always a cute outfit on Sarah Hyland’s character Hailey, but the real sex-pot changing the look of a stay-at-home mom is Sofia Vergara‘s Gloria. Gloria often steals the spotlight from her family members, especially when it comes to showing off her curves in wrap dresses, V-neck tops, & skinny jeans.
Elementary(airing 10/30 @10PM on CBS) is a modern day New York City-based take on the classic Sherlock Holmes stories & what’s extra awesome about this version is that the science-minded Watson is played by kick-ass actress Lucy Liu. Instead of John, she’s a Joan who develops an intense partnership with Holmes (Johnny Lee Miller) while they’re soling crimes all over the city. Aside from her brilliant mind, I love her on-the-go style which often includes dark, layering pieces, always with a chic pair of booties.
Hart of Dixie(2015 on The CW) is the last show that I’m sharing & it doesn’t have a set premiere date since star Rachel Bilson, who plays the quirky city doctor Zoe Hart, is expecting her first child & filming seems to be halted. However, I love her character’s edgy side with dark, modern cuts in tops & leather shorts, as well as dark colors in mini & maxi dresses. She’s an accessories queen with chunky necklaces, embellished details, & the highest heels in sandals & booties imaginable. Also, it’s hard to ignore Lemon Breeland, played hysterically by the one & only Jamie King. Lemon’s style is true to the Alabama debutante ladylike way. She loves florals, sparkle, & vintage-inspired looks with a bold lip & finger curls.
Since I’m only one Style Darling & can’t possibly share every single awesome Black Friday deal going on in stores & online right now, I thought I’d put my limited graphic design skills to work & share bits of my favorite sales based on the emails that have been jamming my inbox!
Christina Hendrickshas been one of the most watched out for celebrities on the red carpet, especially with her success on the drama, Mad Men. Plus, it wasn’t that long ago that I featured the curvy actress in another Cover Craze post for her feature in Canada’s Flaremagazine, however the fiery redhead is now the face for Lucky magazine’s June 2013 issue.
She talks to the magazine about her favorite red carpet moments, famous for wearing designer duds by L’Wren Scott, Christian Siriano, Zac Posen, & Dolce & Gabbana. Also, her Mad Men fame & iconic role as Joan have created a signature style for the actress who embraces pencil skirts, high heels, & anything bra-friendly. She’s also a bargain shopper as a fan of Nine West & J.Crew, as well as international boutique for vintage-inspired pieces.
Watch the video above to get a behind-the-scenes look at the magazine’s shoot & hear Christina first-hand charm the pants off of us! Christina can be seen next in the Ryan Gosling-directed film How To Catch A Monster, & the Neil Labute ensemble dramedy Seconds of Pleasure. For more magazine posts, check out Scarlett Johansson for Marie Claire, Hayden Panettiere’s beachy shoot for Glamour, & last month’s Lucky cover with Drew Barrymore! Also, be sure to check out InStyle‘s inside look at the costumes worn by Mad Men‘s leading ladies! Happy Styling!
I’ve been saving up my April magazines to bring with me to work & now that Spring Break is over, I’ve finally had the chance to take in the latest issue of Vogue, with the always lovely FLOTUS Michelle Obama on the cover. However, as a big fan of Alfred Hitchcock movies & Grace Kelly‘s timeless style, I was enchanted by the magazine’s reprise of the 1954 suspense thriller, Rear Window, starring The Great Gatsby‘s Tobey Maguire & supermodel Carolyn Murphy, with an appearance by Laurie Metcalf, taking over the film’s roles for a shoot by Peter Lindbergh. The shoot contains stunning looks by Dolce & Gabbana, Fred Leighton, Marc Jacobs, Oscar de la Renta, J. Crew, Michael Kors, Miu Miu, Hermès, Gucci, House of Lavande, & Rochas.
Rear Window is definitely in the air since this week’s episode of ABC’s Castle spoofed the Oscar-nominated film, so as soon as I saw the nine-page shoot, I knew I had to feature the retro images. Tobey’s Brooks Brothers pajamas are nearly spot-on to those worn famously by James Stewart‘s photojournalist character in the film.
I’ve been hearing lots of great buzz behind J. Crew‘s newest Italian-made shoe collection & now, I get it. Of course, I always have lots of love for all things shoes, but watching the video below brings me back to the Salvatore Ferragamo museum in Italy. So, for all you shoe lovers out there, this is definitely a post for you! When checking out more from the collection, I learned that these aren’t necessarily affordable shoes for every Style Darling on a budget, but there’s always something to learn from all ends of the retail / fashion spectrum. The line, which is produced in Pisa, Italy, ranges in price between $125 – $378, which is pretty steep, but when you hear the brand’s creative director, Jenna Lyons, talk about the love, artistry, & legacy that goes into producing the incredible footwear, it all begins to make sense.
“Anyone who thinks that a shoe isn’t informative about who you are is making a mistake,” says Lyons & that couldn’t be more on the nose! She adds, “There’s a sense of sparkle in a shoe, & I don’t mean the sparkle like sequins. I mean, you know, add a little extra…Shoes are like fairies, like that sort of little magical piece that finishes everything. I can throw on a silver, five-inch-heel pump, and all of a sudden, I feel a little bit prettier.“
While the 2013 Presidential Inauguration from yesterday might not have been an official red carpet event, some of the most popular names in entertainment were looking their best to celebrate President Obama’s next term. The fashion world was on the edge of their seat to see who FLOTUS, Michelle Obama, was going to wear & as it turned out, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, as seen in her return to wearing a custom-made design in red by the always glamorous Jason Wu. Also in tow were Kelly Clarksonin an adorable outerwear ensemble, a smoldering Alicia Keysin a red gown by Michael Kors, & Beyoncé who performed the National Anthem in a black embellished gown by Emilio Pucci with emerald jewelry by Lorraine Schwartz.
Not to get political, but now that the Obama family is staying in the White House, we can be sure to see more of the First Lady’s all-American style making headlines in the fashion industry. We know that one of her favorite places to shop for her & the family is J.Crew, which is celebrating the holiday weekend & joining the Black Friday rush with a 25% off storewide & sitewide sale when using code COLOR25. This code even works on already reduced sale items, which has inspired me to put together these colorful looks, perfect for now, & especially if you’re heading away on a tropical vacation with that special someone to be the brisk breezes of winter approaching.
This includes pieces that are sure to make bold prints & classic patterns stand out, especially when you consider contrasting textures like leather, dark denim, & suede for a variety of modern & clean ensembles to go about the season. Starting off, I’ve selected the ruffle string top ($29.99) in sutton purple to match with the mini ruffle hipster ($29.99) in the same hue, however both are available in a many other shades that you can mix & match with other swimwear separates. To keep comfy while out & about somewhere sunny, I’ve added the perfect-fit long-sleeve v-neck tee ($19.99) in dublin green with the 3″ chino shorts ($19.99) in casablance blue. To complete your breezy look, the Lila patent platform wedges ($29.99) in neon peach are the perfect neutral to switch around with a romper, maxi dress, or cropped pants. If you’re looking for more a neutral wedge to start off next summer with, these are also available in toffee & black.
I loved all the hues of the classic medium bangle ($17.50) in ivory, neon azalea, & fresh plum, which make for a perfect gift for your girl friends if you want to find something special & share your passion for fashion. Keep with the colorblocking trend & bust those turtleneck myths by choosing the tissue turtleneck tee ($19.99) in gallery green, matched with the high-waisted corduroy pencil skirt ($29.99) in neon fuchsia. For a more masculine look in with this must-have skirt, I recommend swapping out the turtleneck for the ink dip pop over ($34.99) in festival blue & adding the patent leather square-buckle belt ($29.50) in pale gold.
What great Black Friday deals have you snagged? Have you finished your holiday shopping yet? Are you shopping for an upcoming trip? Happy Styling!
Solange Knowles has broken away from her big sis Beyonce’s shadow since her last album in 2008, Sol-Angel & the Hadley St. Dreams, but it’s time to take another look at her blend of fashion & music with her latest single “Losing You.” Filmed on the streets of Cape Town, South Africa, the Madewell spokesmodel is stylish while crooning to the dance / pop track with the help of designer duds from Diane von Furstenberg, J.Crew, Kenzo, Suno, & Opening Ceremony.
Today is officially the last day of summer & tomorrow starts the fall. I’ve probably never been so sad to see the summer end (even though I’m crazy for suede & booties right now). It was an especially lovely season, partly b/c I was a free bird all over Long Island & had a great time with my boyfriend & friends. Of course, now that my birthday is over & I’m back to school (working for one & no longer a student!), I still can’t get those last-minute summer deals out of my mind. I didn’t have to look very hard to find these five very stylish pieces to include for a special post, all for $15.00 or under!
First, the racerback rugby stripes tank ($1.99) from Forever 21 is perfect to wear still, but for fall, you have to keep in mind that fall is all about layering. This bright pop of color can be worn under a button-down shirt & sweater vest or cardigan. Of course, yellow isn’t necessarily the color of the season, but it’s still fun to add against something red or cobalt! Also, even though here on the east cost, it’s getting too chilly even during the day for shorts, but if you’re headed on vacation soon or traveling south where the summer sun is still beaming, check out the patterned shorts ($15.00) from Old Navy that are available in dark tone chambray (pictured above), as well as navy stripe & green stripe.
I love checking out what’s going on @J.Crew, which is where I found the perfect-fit tee ($14.99) in light blade & deep turquoise, however you’ll also be able to score this tee is spice for $9.99. These colors are fun to mix up by colorblocking with a pencil skirt, trousers, or leggings & some chunky, oversized accessories or printed scarves. For those who love daring prints, check out the floral/houndstooth printed mirror t-shirt dress ($12.00) from Windsor Store, which is a mini that calls for opaque tights & a boyfriend blazer. I’m not saying you have to hide your shape in this flattering frock, but another way to keep it seasonal & fresh is by adding a belt & a knit cardigan.
Lastly, I’m crazy for the American Eagle sparkling flip-flop ($6.00 – $9.99) from Payless. This pewter hue is higher in price, but they’re available in eleven other colors to help fulfill all of your flip-flop needs, especially if you’re headed for a hot tub or looking to something with some sheen for next season! What are you shopping for on this last day of summer? Do you have a favorite store where you love to shop clearance? Happy Styling!
