Big buttons at Derek Lam Fall 2015

From button-up skirts to double-breasted coats, it is all about the big button this fall. The bigger the buttons, the quirkier the effect, but the statement button works for girls of every style.

Check out big button looks on the runway, and shop cool pieces below!

Buttons on the Runway

Victoria Beckham | Derek Lam | Calvin Klein | Adam Lippes | Edun

Shop Statement Buttons:

Will you be rocking the big button look this fall?

Still from Annie Hall | Kate Spade Fall 2015

Stills from the iconic Woody Allen film

Derek Lam | Thakoon | Red Valentino | Edun | DKNY

Are you a fan of the Annie Hall-inspired looks?

image via pantone.com

Christopher Kane | Creatures of the Wind | Derek Lam | Christian Dior | Jil Sander | Thakoon

So, what do you think of marsala? Is Pantone on the money with their color predictions, or does this choice have you scratching your head?

Giorgio Armani | Derek Lam | Philosophy | Araks | Lyn Devon | Marni

Do you remember gaucho pants? They were these horrid loose knit pants with wide legs that ended mid-calf and were all the rage in the mid-2000s. I remember them vividly because I was in middle school—a time when it is so easy to succumb to peer pressure—and gaucho pants were the trend of the pre-teen. Even back then I hated them, and it was then that I learned that just because something is trendy it doesn't mean it's a good look.

Anyways, I bring up gaucho pants because lately the culotte has made a serious comeback. Upon first glance the culotte and the gaucho pant are virtually the same: wide leg pants/shorts that end anywhere from the knee to the ankle. But the culotte is the chic older cousin of the gaucho pant, and somehow I love it while still despising the gaucho pant.

It's all in the material, and, as always, what the culotte is styled with. I'm sure Leandra Medine could have made gaucho pants look stylish with her amazing talent to create unique looks, just as a pair of culottes could go horribly awry with the wrong pairings.

In my humble opinion culottes work best with structured box tops and heels. If you want to be daring you can play up the oversized proportions by adding an oversized sweater, but for a polished, work-appropriate look I would stick with some structure and balance. Heels add sophistication to the outfit, but a smart pair of loafers or oxfords could work nicely.

Leandra Medine | Street Style | Street Style | Eleanora Carisi | Christine Reehorst

There is certainly potential for cool looks with a pair of culottes. And with winter approaching they're a nice alternative to boring structured pants if you are yearning for a break from them. 

Cool-toned suedes reigned supreme at Derek Lam

If fashion must remain invested in a singular decade, I guess I would rather it be the seventies than any other ten-year span from the twentieth century. And it seems that for spring this may very well be the case, as designers have continued to display motifs of the turbulent and trendy decade that first appeared in fall shows. Derek Lam is one such designer who continues to explore the seventies for his spring 2015 collection, and while it may feel like a bit of deja vu at New York Fashion Week (this piece perfectly sums up the overwhelming sense of familiarity and sameness–blandness, even–of runway collections this season) it's hard to deny that Lam has presented a new take on the style of the seventies while updating it for the modern woman.

Cool hues of purples and blues dominated the clothes, while intertwined with the earthy neutrals most associated with the decade. There was a deep emphasis on stitchwork, highlighted by patchwork pieces and visible stitches on coats and dresses.

Some looks seemed period-piece like, as if they were pulled from the set of American Hustle, but later looks took a less literal spin on the styles of the seventies, using form and shape to suggest inspiration, rather than simply appearing as modern replicas.

The addition of royal purples and rich blues also added a new layer to the collection. The style of the seventies seems to be so deeply intertwined with the feeling of "Americana" (take a glance at any blue-jean-centric editorial from the past few issues of popular fashion magazines) but these very wealthy colors are usually not part of the typical seventies wardrobe. The unexpected colors make these looks upscale and bring them into the twenty-first century, getting richer and more vibrant as the looks go on and then transforming into the epitome of stylish color combinations, black and white.

Sure, we may be getting bored of the continued fascination with the seventies, but when Lam does it so well and with creative innovation it's hard to get upset.

What did you think of Derek Lam's latest collection? What are your thoughts on NYFW so far?

Coach | Derek Lam | Juan Carlos Obando | Tommy Hilfiger | ZAC Zac Posen

the laid-back luxe of the Resort 2014 collections

Though shown during summer when baring some skin is an expectation, resort clothes are meant for those mid-winter getaways when daydreams of cutoffs and tank tops ravage our minds until we just have to escape to some exotic locale for a break from the cold. So naturally, designers revel in letting their ladies show off a little skin.

Of course, the old mini-skirt and spaghetti strap have tired out, and in there place a new crop (pun unintended) of styles that allow women to show off their figures, get some sun, and look absolutely fresh.

the mesh dress

Derek Lam; Burberry Prorsum; Jason Wu; Elizabeth & James

 the crop top

Thankoon Addition; Theysken's Theory; Phillip Lim; Organic by John Patrick; Calvin Klein

What I hate about Resort collections is that the clothing for once actually fits the weather outside -warm, sunny, tropical prints and fabulous swimsuits- so it is tres difficult to realize that the clothes won't hit the shelves for another six months. Regardless, I found myself in love with several collections. What I enjoy is that many designers are going away from a strictly vacation-centered resort presentation and focusing on the overall time of resort wear -November/December is a busy time, and many women are bouncing between end-of-the-year business meetings, family gatherings, and festive parties.

Designers like Derek Lam and Reed Krakoff, known for their downtown-easy looks, stayed within their niches for resort by focusing on urban staples. 10 Crosby Derek Lam, a diffusion line, featured patchwork plaid and cool, Brooklyn-ready Saturday night ensembles, while Lam's signature line dealt with a sort of "urban explorer" style. Krakoff adorned his boxy dresses with neon oranges and blues and glitzy embellishments, making each look worthy of a gallery opening. 

10 Crosby Derek Lam

Derek Lam

Reed Krakoff

Others, like Thankoon and Gucci, took softer approaches to their resort presentations this year, opting for pastel hues and feminine touches. Both used pinks and baby blues, but Thankoon's bold silhouettes and Gucci's straight lines all help to give these looks some teeth.

Thankoon

Gucci

Another favorite was House of Holland, whose quirky prints and fun takes on fashion I have grown to admire. Pinks and blues reigned supreme here too, but Holland went for a more playful look. Even a simple white shirt dress is livened up with bright pom-pom trim.

House of Holland

Elsewhere, The Row made editors swoon once again with now-signature straight-leg pants, boxy coats and jackets, and elegant drapery. The modest footwear and fabulous, streamlined bags will sure to be knockouts. A few personal favorites: the embroidered black evening jacket, the fuchsia velvet-covered box bag, and the plastic navy and black skirt. The Olsen Twins sure do know their clothing.  

The Row

What started off shaky has ended as one of the best fashion weeks in a long while. We aren't even out of winter yet and already I am dying for fall again because I can't wait to see these fabulous clothes in action. There are so many things I noticed, so keep checking back for more fall fashion recaps. I plan to dedicate a full post to Oscar de la Renta because it was possibly the greatest show thus far. But right now here are some other shows that I couldn't get enough of.

Whenever my brother comes home I always feel more in touch with the surfer culture of our town. Being a tiny island on the Pacific, it is hard not to appreciate surfing, even if you personally cannot even stand up on a board. I've watched many a surf video over winter break, and I must say it is an incredibly remarkable talent to be able to ride the waves.

The typical surfer is laid back and down-to-earth, and the fashion world has adapted this mantra in its attempt to mimic surfer style, but the runway version is a bit sleeker than the true rip curlers. Think primary colors, body con, and color blocking, like a perfectly slick wetsuit.