& Other Observations from NYFW Day One

Are fishnet tights making a comeback?
Have bucket hats crossed over from ironically tacky to actually fashionable? 
Will we ever tire of the 70s?
How many designers are going to reference Cuba as an inspiration? 
Why are there so many brands with the word "Creatures" in the title? (Okay, there's only two, but it gets way confusing when they show on the same day)

BCBGMAXAZRIA

Creatures of the Wind

Halston Heritage

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On Monday, we celebrated the official end of summer and the beginning of pumpkin spice latte season. The day afterward, we returned to work or school, already dreaming of summer barbeques and rosé wines that are now just distant memories. Labor Day also serves as an important marker in the fashion world, for it is supposedly the last day of the year when it is acceptable to wear white.

Because I am a *natural rebel* (hint: I'm not) I wore a white skirt to class today. It was 95 degrees and is going to be sunny and hot at least until mid-October. At least in California, summer is far from over, and even when the temperature does start to drop (into, you know, the 60s) white is a chic color, and one should not be prevented from wearing it just because some stuffy society ladies decided back in the day that white after the first week of September was passé. Wear white whenever you want!

Seriously, there are some whacky fashion rules out there that just don't make sense. And, after all, rules were made to be broken, right? (Not really, I'm a rule follower through and through, but fashion risks won't harm anyone, I hope)

So here are some more fashion "rules" that I say are okay to break. Go ahead, be rebellious!

1. No White After Labor Day 

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Colors shouldn't be restricted to certain parts of the year. Wear white whenever you want—a white winter coat is incredibly chic and so Olivia Pope.

2. Blue and Black Never Go Together

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Yves Saint Laurent and countless other designers have made navy and black look amazing. Just make sure the blue is significantly different from the black (too dark of a navy and it will just look like you can't tell the difference between dark blue and black).

3. No Plunging Necklines AND High Hems—Pick One

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If you've got it, flaunt it, and if you feel good wearing clothes that show off your rockin' bod, go for it.

4. Don’t Show Off Your Bra

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It used to be a major faux pas to let anyone but your SO know you were wearing a gorgeous lace bra, but what's the point of spending money on La Perla if no one can see it? As long as you're not wearing a sheer top and pink bra underneath to your next office meeting, it's okay to show off your cute bras.

5. Only Invest in Classic Items

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Personally, I like to invest in classic, versatile items that I can get a lot of wear out of, but if you feel like dropping a couple thousand on a uniquely-shaped Chanel minaudiere, be my guest! As long as you are spending responsibly and within your means, it doesn't matter if you buy a classic LBD or a trendy designer piece.

6. Less is More

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Minimalism is cool, but don't feel like you have to stick to basics in order to be cool and fashionable. If you want to wear five necklaces atop a sequin mini dress, do it. Besides, maximalism is totally back, thanks to brands like Gucci and Lanvin.

7. Don’t Mix Prints

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The key to mixing prints is mixing proportions—oversized polka dots with tiny flower print, thick horizontal stripes with thin vertical ones, etc. When done well, mixed prints can be such a good look.

8. Embellishments Are For Nighttime Only

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A sequined dress is a great night out look, but don't be afraid to bring that look into the daytime. Just swap out your party heels for chic flats and daytime accessories, and you'll look absolutely dazzling.

9. Faux Fur and Leather Are Tacky

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Even a few years back you could obviously tell the difference between real and fake leather or fur, but thankfully brands like Stella McCartney and Shrimps have made faux look fab. Not only are you a friend of the animal, but faux leather and fur products can be significantly cheaper than their real counterparts. Double win!

10. There Are Items That Don't Look Good on Certain Body Types

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I absolutely hate when magazines tell girls what they can or cannot wear based on what fruit their body most closely resembles. Wear what you want to wear—as long as you feel good in it, that's all that matters! Petite girls can wear maxi dresses, curvy women can wear tight skirts, etc. You do you and ignore the haters.

What style rules do you think were made to be broken?

Saint Laurent Over-the-Knee Boots | ASOS Suede Dress | Forever 21 Suede Skirt Madewell Leather Motorcycle Jacket | Clare V Purse | Alexa Chung for AG Jeans

Happy official End of Summer Day (aka Labor Day) and hello, FALL FASHION!!!

As you can see from the above collage, I am feeling the love for leather and suede, as well as rich, autumnal colors. I'm seriously so obsessed with button-down skirts after getting this one from Urban Outfitters. But actually, if you don't already have one hanging in your closet, add one now. They are so cute and on-trend but also timeless and they are just amazing.

I'm loving the resurgence of the crop straight leg jean, and I pretty much want everything from Alexa Chung's latest collaboration with AG Jeans. I'm always on the hunt for the classic leather jacket, too, and I love that this one from Madewell is classic and high-quality while still clocking in at less than $500 (a rarity in the world of nice leather jackets). I'm also totally feeling the over-the-knee boot, and while this Saint Laurent pair may be a bit out of my price range, a girl can dream! Sam Edelman also has some great thigh-high boots if you're looking for a more affordable option.

What is on your September wishlist?

Goodbye, style.com

If you type in style.com, you'll already be redirected to the Vogue Runway website. The end of an era is officially here: style.com is no more.

Of course, the website will be relaunching next year, but it's going to be another dumb e-commerce site. It just isn't the same. Meanwhile, Vogue Runway will be the new home of runway coverage, videos, and photos. I'll let you know how that goes next week once NYFW begins, but for now I'm a bit sad. I've spent the last two weeks in a sorority bubble, consumed by hair flips and color schemes, so I didn't even know that this morning when I went to check on style.com like I do every morning, it would be gone. Pour one out for the now-deceased runway fashion website, destroyed by the evils of internet capitalism.

Style.com is how I became a knowledgeable member of the fashion world. I devoured runway coverage, scoured the archives for past season looks, read up on the It models and the experimental designers. I loved Tommy Ton's inventive snaps of street style looks from outside the fashion shows. I've never sat front row at a fashion show, never even been to Fashion Week, and yet I felt like I was right there with the insiders thanks to style.com's almost-instantaneous coverage.

I know that Vogue Runway will mostly be a continuation of the qualities I came to know and love with style.com, but there is one part that makes me truly sad: Tim Blanks' reviews will not be there anymore. More than any other famous individual in the fashion world, Tim Blanks is the one who has inspired me to become a fashion writer and combine my loves for beautiful clothing and writing. The way he talks about fashion is so unlike anything else I've ever read, and it truly is inspiring. He sees runway shows as expressions of creativity and complex themes, juxtapositions of different ideas and themes all culminating in one awesome experience. It is because of Tim Blanks that I went into Art History, still with the idea that I would continue on into the world of fashion. The way he connects Prada dresses to German abstract expressionism in the 1930s, or Christopher Kane collections to obscure art films, has made me realize that fashion is just another art form and that it is related to all sorts of culture. The way we write about art and the way we write about fashion are actually quite similar, and it is thanks to Tim Blanks that I have had this epiphany.

Tim Blanks will now be writing for the Business of Fashion, and I'm thankful that he will still be active in the fashion world because I seriously live for his reviews, but I'm still sad that the style.com that made me feel connected to the seemingly exclusive world of fashion is gone. It's a brave new world. Here's hoping it's a good one.

What do you think about the "death" of style.com? Will you be using the new Vogue Runway?