Things I Love ... Bows

This week I talked about a few of my favorite feminine fashion pieces: lace and pink.  To complete the list of girly things I love, I have to talk about bows.  A good bow can make everything better.  Now granted, bows can be hard to pull off.  If not done right, they can look way too girly... so girly that you actually feel like a little girl in an Easter dress.  But in my opinion, done right, a bow can be the perfect touch femininity.  It can also be a great statement piece.  But a little bow here and there make things light and fun.

Here are several bows that I love...

Valentino, swoon.

Sofia Coppola

Oscar de la Renta Resort 2013

Dior Spring 2012 Couture

Dior Resort 2012

Dior Spring 2012 Couture 

Kate Spade Jillian dress... in my closet. 

Charlize Theron in Christian Dior

Giambattista Valli Resort 2013

Burberry Prosum Fall 2012

And the biggest statement of all...

Christina Ricci in Thakoon at the Met Gala this year

(images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

Perfectly Pink

The last thing that stood out to me this resort season was pink.  While a lot of collections featured bold colors, I was surprised how many including jolts of hot of pink and mixes of lighter shades of pink.  I can't help but wonder if the current exhibit at the Costume Institute featuring Elsa Schiaparelli offered up some inspiration for designers. While the surrealist designer was known for many design aesthetics, she was also known for her own shade of bright, fuchsia pink, which is still known today as Schiaparelli shocking pink.

A look from Schiaparelli in her signature hue... image via Vogue

I love that designers are embracing this shade and hope that women will too.  Hot pink can be hard to pull off, even if you are bold.  I wear a lot of bright colors and I still have to be in the right frame of mind to confidently pull off a bright pink ensemble.  But when you do, it's perfection.

Here are some images of perfect pinks for Resort 2013.  Enjoy!

Monique Lhuiller... more lace!

Monique Lhuillier

More from Valentino

Ralph Lauren... head to toe pink

Rachel Zoe

Versace

Erdem... pink touches mixed with lace

Marchesa... mauvey pink

More Marchesa

Pink mix from Nina Ricci

Pink peplum touches from Giambattista Valli

Diane von Furstenberg

Obsessed with this peplum from Oscar de la Renta

(images via Style.com)

Lovely in Lace

One of my favorite things to see during the resort shows was lots of lace.  I think lace can be the most feminine and elegant  fabric and I love to see when it's used in a non-traditional way to look modern and chic.  I also love that while some of the lace dresses I loved were clearly for evening, many designers are incorporating lace for daywear.  While some dresses were covered in laces of all shapes and patterns, some looks just featured lace details.  A variety of colors helped to make the lace look playful and versatile. 

Here are some of my favorite looks.  Can't wait to purchase lots of lace during resort! 

Monique Lhuillier

Rachel Roy... also noticing so much yellow

Carolina Herrera... lace detail

Alberta Ferretti... love the mix of colors

Bottega Veneta

Oscar de la Renta

Chanel

Erdem... one of my favorites, and lace is a staple of his!

More Jason Wu

Naeem Khan

Stella McCartney... more yellow...

Reem Acra

Marchesa... obsessed with this! So gorgeous!

Marchesa, loving this amazing peplum!

(images via Style.com)

Ultra Timeless

While Chanel is known for many high fashion pieces, it might be less widely known for its fine jewelry.  The French fashion house has a wide range of jewelry from costume to luxury pieces.  While costume is some of the most common, crafted after the jewelry Coco herself would often wear, the more luxury pieces are often understated and timeless.  While there are different collections that feature copious amounts of diamonds and designs that range from stars to the house's signature camellias, some of the most beautiful pieces are the most simple.  Some collections feature black and white ceramic, colors that are signature to the brand.  I personally am fortunate enough to own a small black onyx ring in the shape of a camellia that commemorates my time spent studying abroad in Paris.  It is one of the most elegant pieces of jewelry I will probably ever own, in part because of it's timeless design.  The Chanel Ultra collection is similar because it features pieces that will always be in fashion.  Crafted of white or black ceramic and diamonds that are banded together, the Ultra collection is simple but still fiercely elegant.  One ring or piece is all you would ever need.  And with black or white, you've got your bases covered.

Here's a video Chanel created to showcase the collection.  Enjoy!

First Resort

Fashion season cycles can be slightly confusing.  The spring collections are on sale to usher in pre-fall collections even though it is just the beginning of the hottest part of the summer.  But the fashion shows for the resort season just ended (even though resort will not be in stores until November/December which is still the middle of winter when the fall season will already be on sale..).  It's all very confusing.  But the important thing is that there are some new looks that just hit the runways and here are just some of my favorites!  More to come later this week...

Jason Wu... because I'm obsessed!

Loving the lace... and the flounce skirt

More lace!

Prabal Gurung also had an amazing Resort collection!

Obsessed with this peplum! So perfect!

This one too, greatness! And loving the yellow!

Love this print

Perfection. 

And Valentino is always one of my favorites but this season there was lots and lots of lace!! Love it!

Yellow and pink lace, so feminine

This cut out back is beyond sexy

Perfect, girly trench

More yellow!

Why yes, that is hot pink leopard print.  Love the modest cut to contrast...

Perfect swing on the skirt hem... and obsessed with the color!

(images via Style.com)