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NEW YORK, January 31, 2008 – Georgia O'Keeffe meets Cold Mountain for the Park Avenue set? That would be one way to describe Rachel Roy's Fall collection. Before her show, the designer said she was interested in the intersection between Native American and Colonial styles, but brought up-to-date for the women of today. It was a tricky proposition, though for the most part Roy pulled it off. If the geometric black-on-gray jacquard used for a tulip skirt and a belted blanket cardigan that topped a tuxedo shirt came off somewhat heavy-handed, there were plenty of other pieces that finessed the conceit in a more subtle way. Take, for instance, a black wool suit with an extra-long jacket worn with a flounced white silk blouse, or a pumpkin silk sleeveless dress with a bow at the waist and a statement necklace of feathers and beads. Here Roy caught that mix of rawness and polish she was looking for.– Nicole Phelps

Images and descriptions courtesy of www.style.com.

Fresh-faced California-born actress Kate Bosworth gained notice as a teenager in 1998's The Horse Whisperer and the WB series Young Americans. But her breakthrough came when she played a sun-kissed surf queen in the John Stockwell-directed hit Blue Crush. Since then, Bosworth has mixed edgy indies (the fall-of-a-porn-star tale Wonderland) with more mainstream fare, such as 2004's Win a Date with Tad Hamilton. The same year, Bosworth costarred with Kevin Spacey as Bobby Darrin's wife Sandra Dee in Beyond the Sea, and she played Lois Lane in the 2006 summer blockbuster Superman Returns.The actress' on-again, off-again romance with Orlando Bloom frequently landed her in gossip columns over their four years together, but in 2006, her weight loss became an even more buzzed about topic. Still, the blond beauty looks to have built a strong foundation for a career that is likely just beginning.

Source: Photos and Bio (http://http://www.people.com//people/katebosworth)

Ready to become a fashion icon of your own? Contact the professionals at http://www.apresentaconcept.com/. Now booking for April and May 2008.

Fendi Pleat Detail Blouse
Orange silk blouse with pleated detail at the top.

Price $920.

Additional Items

Oscar de la Renta Wide Leg Pants in Denim

Chloe Leather Moccasins in Yellow

Fendi Bangle Set in Brown

Oliver Peoples Skyla Sunglasses in Tortoise

Fendi Leather Spybag in Tonal

Moschino High Waisted Pencil Skirt in Black
Roberto Cavalli Paillette Shoes in Gold

Marni Paillette Embellished Bag in Black

Roberto Cavalli Gold Charm Bracelet

Helmut Lang Skinny Corduroy Pants in White

Fendi Bangle Set in Brown

Roberto Cavalli Leopard Chiffon Belt

Fendi Bag de Jour in Almond

Marni Peep Toe Platforms in Mouse

Spring is perhaps the most important time of the year for shopping. The onset of Spring and warmer climates (particulary if you live in a 4 climate region as I do) comes often with a great sense of anticipation. This onset of anticipation is usually acccompanied by a certain sense of motivation which inspires one to purge old items and explore the new. I know a few people who relent on spring shoppping as they feel it is simply more of the same - with little room for trend and/or new design - particulary the latter. Spring is often a time when retailers and designers alike focus on basics and wardrobe staples. Less attention is paid to trend and more attention is paid to improving the tried and true. Spring is often a time when designers will declare the "it" color of the season or if you dare "the new black". It may seem a little early to be concentrating on your Spring wardrobe (especially if your winter climate is construed of frigid temperatures), however given Springs bounty of pulse-beating basics, the added perusal time is to ones advantage. Spring is an imperial time for accessing your current wardrobe, stocking up on basics, retooling, updating or replacing style staples and alas getting a jumpstart on a few of the upcoming Spring trends.

Here's a few key guidelines for updating your Spring wardrobe:

Know the Classics:

Okay, we need to regroup here. Have you ever seen someone maybe in your office, school, or wherever you spend most of your daily life, out of nowhere get a brand new wardrobe. The dramatic change is clear and you can pretty much tell that this person went on a shopping spree or binge and now has a "new look" so to speak. You may even be able to identify the designer or the retailer in which the macro of items were purchased. Perhaps it's Calvin Klein's new line or Club Monaco. No matter how desperately this fashion frenzy was needed you must admit this approach is pretty lame and doesn't exactly constitute a style maven. I mean it's pretty easy and predictable to just waltz into the nearest J Crew and shop the Spring line. Be careful not to confuse stylish clothing with stylish people. Stylish clothing is everywhere and now thanks to top designers such as Vera Wang heading to discount department store like Kohl's stylish clothing is more accessible than ever. To actually possess style is the art of incorporating important pieces into your wardrobe which keep your entire wardrobe looking fresh and new each day.

The Audrey Hepburn classic, Breakfast at Tiffany's continues to enchant us more than forty years later. It's still one of my all-time favorite "pick me up" movies. A big part of the films allure has to do with Audrey's classic wardrobe. The two chic black dresses, the belted trench, kitten heels... These clothes all look incredibly stylish today due to Givenchy's attention to clean lines and Audrey's effortless style and grace. Givenchy's message of simplicity is the reason why time and time again this simple and chic classic look endures.

Classics are timeless and seasonless. Trends are on borrowed time and have low season to season survival rate. Chasing trend is not only exhausting and expensive, but the payoff - a fleeting moment of hipness followed by a fleeting feeling of haplessness - is not fun. That isn't to say that trendy items don't have their place in the wardrobe of a well-dressed woman. But they should be used in a sparingly fashion, so they complement a wardrobe of your favorite classics without overwhelming them.

The Trench Coat
I know it's been said 1,000 and 12 times but seriously, "it's time you get a trench..." and "... it's time you get a good one". In fact, I'll up the ante on that and suggest 2; one in a neutral shade, such as black, white, navy, camel, or grey and one in one of this seasons fantastic brights - my favorites for this season are canary yellow, kelly green, and crayola blue. If you're a little reluctant on the mileage you may get out of the yellow or green, the safest bet for color is red, which is a bright color that tends to be more classical than whimsical.

The Skirt
Style: Pencil, A-line, Flat front, Knee Length
Colors: Neutrals - Don't recommend any brights here. Go for black, khaki, grey, brown, and white.
Avoid: Boxy styles, Stiff fabrics, pleats, wrap styles, horizontal or zany patterns.

Pumps, Kitten Heels, and Ballet Flats.
Colors: Bright pumps are actually becoming quite the stylish staple, so you can have a bit of fun in this area. Go for classic shape, but feel free to buy that red or purple pump you've been eyeing up.
Avoid: It's really difficult for me to tell someone to avoid any kind of shoe. I truly believe there is a time and place for just about every shoe - particulaty if we are discussing high heels. The most supportive advice I can give in this regard is first stock up on your basics and then feel free to go on you emotional shoe buying brigade.

Cashmere:
"The cashmere sweater will always get the upgrade to first class before the jogging suit!"
Five resasons to believe in cashmere.
1. It's timeless.
2. It's cozy.
3. It's elegant and expensive.
4. From scoopneck, to v-neck, to t-neck, to cardigan there is a style for every shape.
5. Oh and did I mention, "The cashmere sweater will always get the upgrade to first class before the jogging suit!" Cashmere is contagious!

Jeans:
The topic of jeans can be discussed so extensively that I wil no doubt have to leave that a topic for a latter date. However for the time being I leave you with this advice: go shopping for that perfect pair of jeans - and once you find them buy two pairs.

Other important classics:
Fitted cotton shirt
Semi-fitted suit (3 pieces - blazer, pant, and skirt)
Leggings and/or hosiery
Lingerie

Add Fun to Function: Revitalize the classics by adding
Waist Belts - This style trend is going nowhere!
Long Gloves
Jewelry - Classics and Funky
Bright Patterned Scarves
Bright Handbags
and Shoes!

Don't be scared to:
Mix swimwear with daywear (seriously).
Mix lingerie with eveningwear.
Change the buttons or hemming on that classic black trench that you want to spice up.
Don't be afraid to "be your own Audrey" impose your take on the classics - and project a personal sense of style and stability.

Fashion Tip:
Work one trend at a time.
For example: If you do a bright color chose a basic shape.
If you're doing a different shape choose a neutral color.

Featured:
1. Miu Miu Leather Nappa Trench in Putty
2. Marc Jacobs Short Trench in Jungle Green
3. Rachel Roy Bella Pencil Skirt in Ivory
4. Marc by Marc Jacobs Peep-Toe Patent Pumps in Nude
5. Tory Burch Reva Elasticzed Ballet Flats in Pink
6. Michael Kors Cashmere Kimono Sweater in Sand
7. Missoni Woven Shawl Wrap in ZigZag
8. Marni Medium Balloon Tote in Yellow

All items available at http://www.net-a-porter.com/

Time to find your fashion statement? Visit us online at http://www.apresentaconcept.com/ Take a moment to learn how to use your clothes to showcase what's most beautiful about you and how to add the personal to uches to creat a look of your own. Now booking appointments for the months of April and May at info@apresentaconcept.com

Runway Review:
PARIS, October 1, 2007 – Something sexy this way comes: bodies, bandeau tubes, tight graphic stripes. As a take on body-con and the smooth, attenuated silhouette, Margiela's was one of the sharpest and least retro versions on offer. His revisionist working of the possibilities of cling-fit stretch created a whole new look, but how to describe it? Put together from abbreviated, horizontally banded beige and black body pieces, it was part swim, part foundation garment, with matched armbands and the occasional trompe l'oeil bicolored stocking-legging added to give total coverage.Later on, Margiela introduced a clever way of layering fluidity into the picture, making flyaway, cutaway pieces to shrug over shoulders, or skirts that were short in front and long in back (or vice versa)—a modernist underground alternative to the floaty chiffonery that's surfaced in the mainstream. That segued into a passage of "vestigial" accessories—a couple of dresses with shoulder bags hilariously implanted at the armpit, and 3-D fabric buckles standing in place of belts. That train of thought—the "ghosts" of garments—also led Margiela to shred denim to become fringed pelmets or ultra-tattered jeans under jackets with vast, pointy shoulders. Was this a convergence with the rising interest in Americana that's bubbling up in so many other collections? Probably, yes: For evening, there were reinterpretations of a "found" fantasy Western photo-print T-shirt, made into bustier dresses. In all, there was plenty to think about from one of the most innovative designers in Paris.– Sarah Mower

Maison Martin Margiela goodies now available at www.eluxury.com

H&M is notoriously known for their trend setting pieces at rock-bottom prices. The Spring 2008 line is no exception - as the recent collection imitates global influences - combining eccentric tribal tends with Parisian flare and elegance. The eye-catching accessories, bright colors, and 70s-styled trends are sure to call the attention of all fellow trendsetters and fashionistas. Check out the website www.hm.com for a sneak preview of their exciting upcoming spring line. And while you're there, subscribe to the H&M newsletter to save 25% on one of the highly-coveted new spring pieces!

Happy Shopping!

Apresenta

Time for you to shop for your new spring wardrobe? Enlist the help of a professional fashion consultant. Contact www.apresentaconcept.com to schedule your appointment today!

A little black dress is an evening or cocktail dress, cut simply and often with a short skirt, originally made popular in the 1920s by the fashion designer Coco Chanel. Intended by Chanel to be long-lasting, versatile, affordable, accessible to the widest market possible and in a neutral color, its continued ubiquity is such that many refer to it by its abbreviation, LBD.

The "little black dress" is considered essential to a complete wardrobe by many women and fashion observers, who believe it a "rule of fashion" that every woman should own a simple, elegant black dress that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion: for example, worn with a jacket and pumps for daytime businesswear or with more ornate jewelry and accessories for evening. Because it is meant to be a staple of the wardrobe for a number of years, the style of the little black dress ideally should as simple as possible: a short black dress that is too clearly part of a trend would not qualify because it would soon appear dated.

History
Prior to the 1920s, black was reserved for periods of mourning and considered indecent when worn outside such circumstances, such as depicted in John Singer Sargent's painting the Madame X. A widow's mourning dress was closely observed at a time when details in fashion conveyed a sophisticated symbolic language. During the Victorian and Edwardian ages, a widow was expected to wear several stages of mourning dress for at least two years. “Deep” or “full” mourning required the woman to wear plain black clothing with absolutely no decoration for the first year and a day of mourning. The second stage lasted nine months and permitted the wearing of black silk. In “ordinary mourning” for three months, the widow could accessorize only with black ribbon, lace, embroidery, or jet jewelry. The final six months of “half-mourning” allowed the bereaved to wear muted or neutral colors: shades and tints of purple were most common.

In 1926 Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel published a picture of a short, simple black dress in Vogue. It was calf-length, straight, and decorated only by a few diagonal lines. Vogue called it “Chanel’s Ford.” Like the Model T, the little black dress was simple and accessible for women of all social classes. Vogue also said that the LBD would become “a sort of uniform for all women of taste.”

The little black dress continued to be popular through the Depression era predominantly through its economy and elegance, albeit with the line lengthened somewhat. Hollywood's influence on fashion in North America helped the little black dress' popularity, but for more practical reasons: as Technicolor movies became more common, filmmakers relied on little black dresses because other colors looked distorted on screen and botched the coloring process. During World War II, the style continued in part due to widespread rationing of textiles and in part as a common uniform (accessorized for businesswear) for civilian women entering the workforce.

The rise of Dior's "New Look" in the post-war era and the sexual repression of the 1950s returned the little black dress to its roots as a uniform and a symbol of the dangerous woman. Hollywood femme fatales and fallen women characters were portrayed often in black halter-style dresses in contrast to the more conservative dresses of housewives or more wholesome Hollywood stars. Synthetic fibers made popular in the 1940s and 1950s broadened the availability and affordability of many designs and so were loved by dressmakers and ordinary women alike.

The generation gap of the 1960s created a dichotomy in the design of the little black dress. The younger "mod" generation preferred, in general, a miniskirt on their versions of the dress and designers catering to the youth culture continued to push the envelope - shortening the skirt even more, creating cutouts or slits in the skirt or bodice of the dress, using sheer fabrics such as netting or tulle. Many other women in the 1960s aspired to simple black sheath dresses similar to that designed by Hubert de Givenchy and worn by actress Audrey Hepburn in the film "Breakfast At Tiffany's".

The 1970s did see some little black dresses. Some were lacy and feminine, some, like Bill Blass’ were simple and normal. Others, like the one Qiana’s one-shoulder form-fitting little black dress, were skimpier. However, colors rather than black were preferred for women's fashion, especially for the disco or jet set.

The popularity of casual fabrics, especially knits, for dress and business wear during the 1980s brought the little black dress back into vogue. Coupled with the fitness craze, the new designs incorporated details already popular at the time such as broad shoulders or peplums: later in the decade and into the 1990s simpler designs in a variety of lengths and fullnesses were popular. The grunge culture of the 1990s saw the combination of the little black dress with both sandals and combat boots, though the dress itself remained simple in cut and fabric. The new glamour of the late 1990s and into the 21st century have led to new variations of the dress but, like the 1970s, color has re-emerged as a factor in fashion and formalwear again shows an aversion against black.

Famous Little Black Dresses
Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s epitomized the Chanel ideal for wearing little black dresses, accessorized with pearls, as was frequently seen throughout the early 1960s.
Betty Boop, a cartoon character based in part on the 1920s' "It Girl" Clara Bow, was drawn wearing a little black dress in her early films, though with Technocolor Betty's dress became red.
Wallis Warfield Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, was known to own several little black dresses and said much in praise of the garments. One quote of the Duchess: “When a little black dress is right, there is nothing else to wear in its place.”
Edith Piaf, the French folk icon, performed in a black sheath dress throughout her career: for this habit she was nicknamed “little black sparrow.” It was thought that the dress helped audiences focus more on Piaf's singing and less on her appearance.

Sources
Edelman, Amy Holman (1998). The Little Black Dress. Aurum. ISBN 1-85410-604-X
The Little Black Dress by Jenna Wallis
“About Fashion.” Fashion.about.com/cs/dresses/a/littleblackdres.htm. May 2006
“Sixties Fashions.” http://www.fiftiesweb.com/fashion/basic-black-dress.htm. June 2, 2006.
“Woman’s Hour Radio.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/04/2006_12_thu.shtml. May 2006.

All dresses featured available online at http://www.saks.com/

Download date 1/1/08.