By: Maureen Connors-McBride

  In my last blog I wrote about Fall fashion trends, and now in light of Fashion Week, I’m jumping right into Spring trends. Although spring may be the last thing on your mind, it’s always nice to get a sneak peak of what’s coming next season.

   Since we love vintage inspired clothing at Chloe Chic, I chose runway pieces that fit this look. In scanning the images from Fashion Week, I found even the most avant garde designers sporting vintage.

Katie Gallagher and Ruffain

Midriff Trend- You’ll be sporting a lot of belly this spring. I love the ruffled and ruched Katie Gallagher skirt paired with transparent tights. In the second photo, the baby pink pin-stripes and pink sash fit perfectly with Chloe Chic’s romantic image. The model’s red lipstick, retro up-do, and Converse sneakers add the perfect vintage touch.

Tia Cibani and Belstaff

"Seaside Top"

Stripes- Stripes hit the runway in all shapes and sizes. The chiffon fabric and button detail on the Tia Cibani dress remind me of Chloe Chic pieces, particularly the Seaside Top  . The second outfit is oh-so-vintage. Her short bob, ankle-strap pumps, and empire waist-line make the model look like she walked straight out of Boardwalk Empire.

Tadashi Shoji and “Ruffle Me Up” Dress

Lace- You can never go wrong pairing a lady with lace. It’s one of the most feminine fabrics I can think of, and I love that it makes an appearance this Spring. The Tadashi Shoji dress keeps it classy with a high neckline, which allows for the short length and peek of midriff. I couldn’t help but think of Chloe Chic’s “Ruffle Me Up” Dress when I saw this.

In anticipation of fall, I’ve listed some of the accessory trends we’ll see this season:

1. Embellishments: shoes, bags, and clothing will all get “blinged” this fall with jeweled accents.  (Marc Jacobs, Vogue’s Guide to Fall 2012)

2. Metallic: shiny metallic shoes will be all the rave. (Nine West, Stylelist)

3. Fur bags: fur isn’t just for clothes,  now it’s for bags too. (Givenchy, Vogue’s Guide to Fall 2012)

4. Houndstooth: this classic print is back and ready to be paired with any color. (Hubpages Top 10 Fall 2012 Trends and Prints)

5. Nail jewelry: jewelry and nails will come together this fall. (Jennifer Fisher, Elle Jewelry Trends Fall 2012)

6. Animal inspired jewelry: animals will be key figures on jewelry. (Ileana Makri, Elle Jewelry Trends Fall 2012)

By: Maureen Connors-McBride

I adore summer weather and I love the fashion that goes along with it, but this time of August always reminds me of the cooler weather that’s right around the corner. The days are a little shorter, the nights have the slightest chill to them, and sometimes it’s just cool enough to wear a light sweatshirt, (when I was young these were the signals that reminded me dreaded school was  about to start).
Now that I’m an adult, I’ve decided to take these cues as motivation to prepare my wardrobe for the next fashion season: Fall.  Fittingly, I searched Choe Chic for inspiration and put together warm and cool weather looks with a few outside pieces.

Lunch with your Girlfriends Outfit

Victorian Vixen Skirt

Wild Child Vest

H&M Top

Forever 21 Booties

This outfit is perfect for early fall. Tuck the cotton tee into the maxi skirt and pair it with the beige fuzzy vest. The skirt is the perfect length for the booties to peep through the bottom.

Indian Summer Outfit

Country Breeze Top

AE Jeans

Forever21 Straw Hat

Perfect for that quirky warm day, this outfit is great for any fall occasion: apple picking, pumpkin carving, hay rides, anything!

 First Date Outfit

Jessica Ennis

In light of the Olympics I felt compelled to write about the history of sportswear. While one might think of sports bras and yoga pants right off the bat (at least that’s what I thought), true sportswear traces its origins from leisurewear.
Sportswear began as a type of clothing women wore to watch sporting events. But as the pace of their lifestyles increased after World War I, they required applicable fashions. So ready-to-wear designers introduced interchangeable pieces like blouses, shorts, skirts, and dresses to meet this need. Designer Coco Chanel adapted the simplicity of sportswear, but her clothes were still considered haute couture. By the 1930s and 40s, American women were turning away from Parisian fashion, which was deemed impractical, and embraced sportswear. This marked the beginning of the “relaxed” fashions we see in the American wardrobe today. Claire McCardell is one of the most notable designer from this era, who’s fashions were simple and accessible.
In the 70s and 80s, sportswear morphed into something that denoted both luxury and simplicity. Designer Geoffrey Beene became known for layering his sports pieces. In the 80s, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hillfiger, and Marc Jacobs, emerged as dominant sportswear designers, whose fashions still set trends today.
While you might see sports inspired trends in fashion today, such as scuba dresses and fashion sweatshirts, remember that sportswear in it’s purest meaning comes from the premise of relaxed clothing, which most Americans embrace today.

Ralph Lauren

Claire McCardell Dresses

Seattle’s Public Market

     I visited Seattle last weekend and I was really impressed with the funky neighborhoods that I found. We stayed in Pikes Place, home to the first Starbucks in Seattle’s world famous Public Market. You can find just about everything at this market—located right on the waterfront—from organic produce to original chess makers. Since it was Bastille Day, we stumbled upon a fête at a bar with a live French band and French food. There were tons of restaurants, shops, and hotels in this area, which is considered to be part of Seattle’s downtown.

Ferris wheel near Public Market

     The next day we started in Fremont. This little neighborhood hosts the famous “Fremont Troll,” which is a giant troll built from sand and dirt clasping an old VW Bug in his hand. It’s a pretty strange site but it jives with the neighborhood’s offbeat vibe. We ate breakfast at a Buddhist inspired vegetarian diner then headed to another market with tons of consignment vendors. The boutiques in Fremont ranged from second hand to high end. We also visited a giant consignment shop called, The Fremont Vintage Mall, that basically transported us back to 1976. My Dad commented that he “lived this era and needed to leave,” so we got out of there pretty quickly.

Fremont street sign

     Next we drove through the University District where the University of Washington is located. It seemed like your typical college neighborhood, with tons of bars and young people shuffling around with backpacks. It seemed like a fun area and I regretted not having more time to spend there.

     We made our last stop at Capitol Hill. This is probably the most eclectic area I found in Seattle. The rainbow flags stood proudly on every corner, representing the predominantly gay population of this neighborhood. We even had lunch at a restaurant that hosted a drag show while we ate.

     Well known chains like American Apparel and Urban Outfitters shared blocks with original boutiques, but my favorite shop happened to be a second hand store called, The Crossroads Trading Co. To me it was like the Wal-Mart of second hand stores. It was MASSIVE. It offered designer brands like BCBG and Gucci along with every name brand you could think of.

     I also liked Capitol Hill because I witnessed the fashion of Seattle. It seems cliché to equate Seattle style with grunge, but it was exactly that. I saw a lot of Converse sneakers, plaid shirts, stockings with shorts, and brightly colored hair. They were able to pull off stylish grunge very well. If anything I wanted to stay longer to experience this hip neighborhood, but sadly my trip came to an end the next day.

By: Maureen Connors-McBride

        In an attempt to save money I decided to start biking. I assumed that my work commute from Squirrel Hill to the Southside—just four short miles—would be easy enough, and Pittsburgh seemed like a bike friendly city. Well, my assumption wasn’t completely incorrect: the distance was short and Pittsburgh is bike friendly, but it wasn’t easy!—(at least not as easy as I had imagined). I run to keep in shape so I assumed I was prepared to bike eight miles per day, but the burning in my quads told me otherwise. It took a good month before I got used to the ride and began to move efficiently, but after I overcame that initial hump I really started to enjoy it. I took my bike out for leisure rides, to the grocery store, or to meet friends. I even gave it a name—Lady—after its classy white color. I accessorized the bike with bells and a basket, which inspired me to investigate accessorizing further. In my search I found that biking and fashion actually go together, and it’s called “cycle chic.” I’ve posted some of my favorite  Chloe Chic pieces that could also be cycle chic. Enjoy!

Down by the Bay Dress

Seaside Top

Misty Scarf

   Last night I saw an adorable movie called Moonrise Kingdom directed by Wes Anderson. Judging by the sheer number of twenty-somethings in the audience and the following behind Wes Anderson, I have a feeling this movie will become a cult classic. The film, set in 1965 New England, features two preteens cast out by their peers who run away together on the small fictional island of New Penzance. The local police chief, played by Bruce Willis, organizes a search party with the help of the “Camp Ivanhoe” boy scouts in pursuit of the young lovers. The film follows the circular chase between the search party and runaways on this small, enchanting island, which culminates with a tempest that looms over the entire story.

At times, the set resembles a fictitious world, which ties into the prevailing theme of “storybooks.” Sometimes I questioned whether or not I was watching a play because of the prop-like images that decorate the film. Of course I noticed the 1960s fashion in the movie—or should I say costumes, worn by the main character Suzy. Although she only has one main outfit, it represents that vintage look that we love so much at Chloe Chic.

Suzy wears the classic 60s pinafore, paired with knee high socks and her “Sunday school” oxfords. Although the dress bares a good portion of her legs, this is balanced by a high waist and neckline on top. The crisp white collar and cuffs give it that clean preppy look, which coincides with her oxfords and knee highs on the bottom. While the school girl look might represent conventional and conforming, Suzy’s character is quite the opposite, as we find out in the film.

To me summer means late sunsets, outdoor concerts, beach trips, and of course weddings.  Ever since college graduation it seems like I’ve been invited to more and more weddings. But buying a new dress for each occasion gets costly, so every summer I choose one designated dress for all of them.

When I picture the perfect dress for a wedding, something sophisticated and feminine with a hint of sexy comes to mind. Of course these adjectives describe all the dresses here at Chloe Chic, so I thought I would pick out my wedding favorites.

Retro Rose Dress

I love any tunic style so naturally I love this dress. Pair it with a set of gold pumps and black clutch and you’re set!

Ahoy Baby Dress

This dress is great because the gathered waist gives it a sexier shape and the bow in the front gives it the perfect vintage flair. Pop on a floppy hat in this dress!

Ruffle me Up Dress

Since I’m a sucker for ruffles it’s no surprise that I picked this dress. It reminds me of a grown up version of Molly Ringwald in Sixteen Candles.  I love a black and pink combination so I would pair it with black heels and a quilted black purse.

In honor of Memorial Day I thought I would highlight some of the most popular military trends in fashion.

Khahi Trousers

Khaki’s can trace their roots back to British colonial troops who occupied India in the 1840s. This staple pantaloon was adapted by the US military during World War I.

The Trench Coat

The trench coat is most closely aligned with Thomas Burberry who invented the water repellent fabric “gabardine” to protect British soldiers from wet weather during World War I.

Camouflage

The most recognizable military trend in fashion, camouflage, was first used by the French military in 1915.

Aviator Sunglasses

Aviator sunglasses were invented by Bausch & Lamb in the 1920s to protect the eyes of US military pilots. They were released to the public in the late 1930s but the trend really took off after General Douglas MacArthur sported them in the Philippines during World War II.

 

By: Maureen Connors-McBride

In light of the new exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art titled “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations,” I was inspired to write about Elsa Schiaparelli. Although she shared the spotlight with Coco Chanel between World Wars, her name doesn’t strike recognition like “Chanel.” But her Surrealist designs like the shoe hat and skeleton dress deserve as much applause as Chanel’s minimalistic fashions. Schiaparelli popularized pink fuschia, mix-and match separates, and wedge heels, to name a few. She paired with Surrealist artist Salvador Dali to create shocking pieces like the infamous lobster dress, intended to be a phallic allusion. Schiaparelli enjoyed celebrity status and acclaim for her work. Time magazine even hailed her as a genius on a 1934 cover. Yet when she returned to Paris after World War II, the public no longer sought her outlandish designs. Demand had shifted towards simplistic, minimal fashions, like that of Chanel’s, and Schiaparelli’s fashion house closed by 1954.

In today’s world of shocking fashion, I can’t help but think of Lady Gaga. Everything she does and wears is extreme, and we either loathe or love her for it. Even her name “Gaga” is strikingly similar to the term “Dada” which is the art movement that influenced Surrealism after World War I. Given that Lady Gaga has a lobster dress of her own, she’s clearly inspired by Schiaparelli and artists of the same genre.
 
So it seems that while we may find comfort in simplicity—like Chanel’s designs—every so often we will yearn for a change, and shocking artists such as Schiaparelli and Lady Gaga will always have a place in pop culture.