1. Kate Middleton in Erdem, 2. Jess Stam in Vionnet on the new cover of Flare, 3 & 8. Erdem Resort 2012, 4. French Connection,
5. Top Shop, 6. New Look, 7. French Connection, 9. Prada @ Yoox

I already posted about Erdem's 2012 Cruise collection a couple of months ago. I was and I am still in awe of how beautifully simple it is. I particularly loved the navy (or ultramarine) lace, which seemed so chic to me.

Not long after the collection had come out, Kate Middleton picked a dress or two from this collection for her North American tour and she really look incredible in them.
And now it's Jessica Stam who a navy lace number by Vionnet for the September cover of Flare magazine.

I think it was the contrast of the blue next to the black font on the Flare cover that made me realise how much chicer and sexier than an LBD a navy dress can be in the summer.
And so, I decided to see the offerings of other designers and the high street in the navy lace department. None of the options are as exquisite and elegant as Erdem's, except maybe for the Prada jacket, but I think the New Look and French Connection options can make a really nice summer outfit if well accompanied and accessorised.

it's all in the skirt

It took me a while to realise why these pictures of Lauren Conrad seemed different. All the usual black and her jumbo Chanel were still there, her golden locks done up casually. It was the skirt. A burgundy satin skirt with two flaps on the sides as if a massive bow had been tied around her waist and left to rest upon her legs. It worked well with Lauren's style but it added a bit of an edge, which she really needed.

Skirts monopolise the best part of the spring as they are the perfect compromise between wearing a dress and having to cover the shoulders. In need of finding ways of creating something new and flirty yet lacking flamboyance designers and high street have found the best compromise in restrained but fun detailing. Pleats and drapery reign over SS10 with slightly uneven hemlines and that sinuous movement that a skirt should always have. Others have opted for layers of ruffles (the summer staple) or more generic A-line minis in neutral hues or covered in feathers.

1. Balenciaga @ Browns, 2. Top Shop, 3. Carven @ Net-a-Porter, 4. Theory @Net-a-Porter, 5. Adam @ Net-a-Porter, 6. Top Shop, 7. Diane Von Furstemberg @Net-a-Porter, 8. Oasis, 9. Erdem @ Browns, 10. Oasis, 11. New Look

What kind of skirts are you wearing this Spring?
I'm off.

[Pictures: As credited above, Celebrity-Gossip.net]

the new New Look

Last Friday I attended the breakfast event for the New Look flagship store opening in London. The first thing that struck me was how spacious the shop is inside —never judge a store by it's entrance. You walk into a seemingly regular shop with some accessories and clothes and tills but as soon as you begin to ascend to the first, second and third floors more and more space opens up. But there were three aspects about the shop that really made me begin to love it. 1. It has a Starbucks —in my book any place with a Starbucks is a good place 2. Menswear is neither at the bottom nor at the top floor but on the second floor so boyfriends can have a break after floors G and 1 but right before the grand finale. 3. This grand finale consists on a massive SHOE floor where anything from pumps to flats to brogues find their place. Even I felt slightly taken-aback by this last floor both by the size of it and by the huge selection of shoes. These below are soVIPzone's New Look must-buys for the season.

[Click here to get your pair]

[Click here to get your pair]

And, of course, I had to get a few pieces for myself. Only for testing purposes, you know. I chose all four items because they have character but they work in many different ways too. I am specially excited about wearing the checked jacket —possibly as part of a Sartorial Ensemble for LFW. And I'm wearing the tweed waistcoat today, woop!

[Picture credit: Net-a-Porter.com, MatchesFashion.com, MyTheresa.com, Liberty.co.uk]

I'm off.

when you're not Carine

One thing Giulia and I noticed when we went to the New Look SS10 preview back in December —and what makes their SS10 collection great— is how they have extracted the essence of the main trends of the season and transferred them onto high street clothing versions. Here are some of our favourites that will be hitting the stores soon. What do you think?

[Picture credits: Style.com and New Look]

I'm off.

Update: The SS10 collection will be out in stores starting at the end of this month! And get ready for the opening of their flagship store in London!