For the Frill of it! Beyond Bridesmaid-Reasons to Get Ruffled

Fendi

Chloe



With Halloween only a week away I am noticing a lot of costume looking pieces hanging on main line store racks---

leaving me to wonder what designers are thinking...
what are buyers and merchandisers thinking???

Net a Porter


Does everything need a ruffle on it??? In all fairness to Seventh Avenue though it could be that I am just still haunted by BAD Bridesmaid memories. Once upon a time I was forced to be seen in public looking like a blueberry with ruffles and since then I break out in hives whenever I am within 100 yards of anything polyester/acetate and ruffly.

I am not alone on this one, on a recent episode of Project Runway Heidi Klum declared that she was "not a big fan" of ruffles either. Even if you have been scared by one too many bridesmaid dresses you cannot help but notice that ruffles are having their day! Wherever you look you can see that designers are incorporating ruffles on necklines,
Tory Burch
hemlines
Anthropologie

scarves, hats, gloves , boots, Anthropologie
shoes...Moschino Anthropologie


Coats Anthropologie

Anthropologie

The Runways and Red Carpets are All-a-Ruffle as is The First Lady







I may never walk out in public, short of October 31, in a lot of the be-ruffled wear of the season but even this former bridesmaid admits that ruffles done well can be...
Feminine

Valentino

Flirty

Zac Posen Celine

Fun!

Anthropologie

Classic


HalstonMarc Jacobs

St. John

and Yes! Elegant

Valentino

Chloe

Valentino

So if in fact I am letting ruffles into my closet then f course my eye roams over to the knit world...ruffles are adorning scarves and jackets and sweater coats and ...

Anthropologie

Jean Paul Gaultier

Anthropologie

Come Visit Winding Yarn and let's play with Ruffles from the needles...

The Polyvore Playground

When I was growing up my favorite after school activity was art class. In camp it was always arts and crafts... that got me through archery! One of the projects I loved working on were collages, pulling bits and scraps and cutting pictures out of magazines. Later I went on to decoupage and took the images and covered anything that didn't move with everything from the cover of Vogue to greeting cards to strips from the funny pages. So you can imagine how excited I am about this site...Polyvore is the playground I have been waiting for but could never have imagined. If you love design, shopping, style, trends, art,color... GO! but don't say I didn't warn you... this could get addictive.

Here's the idea...type in a search word or phrase and up pops an image library pulled from sources all over the web -from shopping site to blogs. You can narrow your search by site or color scheme, pull the image and then decide where it goes on your set, and play with each image you add. For example, I typed in..you got it... Strands of Pearls and this is what I did

Next I started playing with some vintage Vogue covers, a work in progress but so much fun...

...there are some amazing sets posted to inspire your work-

You can design an outfit, like playing with paper dolls only better, a room or a piece of art. Of course this is also a very cool way to shop.

Let's say you want a new sweater...type in sweater, narrow the sites you like to shop on, pick your sweater. Now you need jeans...then boots...maybe a scarf..hello earings...bracelet..belt..outfit! and you can click on any of the images to get to the sites to buy what you put together.

I thought why not a few things for the season ahead???
So... I went shopping...first the shoes,how much fun is this!..Manolos anyone? Next a coat...Burberry works for me. Need a bag or 6...Gucci, Valentino, Tory Burch,Hermes??? Stopped in at Netaporter.com,Neimans,Gucci.com,Burberry.com...all in my bunny slippers and look what I got without once taking out the plastic!!

For room design, I love that I can move furniture around...add in fabric wallpaper, lamps, tables,accessories, a rug...and here's a room. I clicked around with two of my favorite room elements-chairs and wallpaper...I could have played all day!!

Go have fun...you may be up all night!!

SummerTIME

Oh! Do not attack me with your watch. A watch is always too fast or too slow. I cannot be dictated to by a watch.
Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

I would be very happy living my life never wearing a watch, or shoes for that matter-particularly in summer. So why do I own so many watches(not to mention so many pairs of shoes!!)?? Summer of all seasons really should be the time of year when we can walk around not caring what time it is. The days are long and schedules are relaxed or tossed all together. I may not care what time it is but I do love the "look" of a great watch. Watches are an essential accessory and gone are the days of owning just one, or one for day and one for dress. Summer watches are fun, as they should be, light, bright or white! Acrylic, resin, ceramic, leather strapped, grosgrain,bracelet... here are some favorites...

White Hot...THE watch of the season comes from Chanel...

(Chanel)

The The J12 White ceramic diamond dial chronograph watch has the look but $10,000 for a summer watch...

I like the ToyWatch Ceramic with diamonds as a "less expensive" option $1500 (ToyWatch)

A White strap against summer skin is a sign that you are summer ready...

David Yurman Thoroughbred(Nordstom)

Brighton (Brighton)
TOKYO Bay Oversized (Garnet Hill)
Honora Mother of Pearl

Ceramic, Rubber, Resin,Acrylic and Plastic are all a twist on the Chanel. Surrounded with diamonds or crystals...your choice all mimick with good style...
Michael Kors Chronograph Resin (Bloomingdales)

Michele Tahitian Chronograph Diamond and Ceramic Bracelet (Michele)
IKE Gommato (Nordstroms)

ToyWatch Oversized Acrylic (Toywatch)


(Elyse Ryan)
My summer watch this year comes from Elyse Ryan. Her lemonade watch is a part of her collection to support Alex's Lemonade Stand

COLOR It!!...

Toy Watch Neon Plasteramic (Toywatch)

SWATCH Plastic (SWATCH)




Kiss and Tell Skagen (Sundance)

TOKYO Bay Boyfriend Watch (Garnet Hill)

Zodiac Round Face Rubber Band (Nordstroms)

FUN! !!!!!

Hello Kitty Ceramic and Diamond (Neiman Marcus)

Kenneth Jay Lane Animal Covered Face Bangle Watch(Nordstroms)




Hello Kitty Patent Strap(Neiman Marcus)



Hang this Gossip watch off your tote(QVC)



Tracey Porter style...Tracey Porter

Nautical Charm(QVC)





"Tortoise" of course(Pedre)





I love Ribbon watches...all year round but with shorts or a sundress they are perfect-this has an actual Burberry Ribbon (Girly Twirly)


(Three Chickadees )