Cute Cutouts: The 2017 ShopMKC Fashion Show

ShopMKC (the multi-line retailer with brands in apparel, shoes, accessories and cosmetics) held a fashion show in Orange County to benefit the amazing Boys Hope Girls Hope nonprofit. This organization helps children in need to meet their full potential by providing homes, opportunities and education through college. The bustling event featured a runway show highlighting the many fashions you can find on ShopMKC's site. I noticed a major trend of these collections was the cutout. 

The print on this Prey Swim bathing suit is fantastic! This line is designed by Audrina Patridge.

Here it is in a gorgeous bronze metallic color. It's even reversible!

 The final look of the Prey Swim collection was modeled by the designer's own sister, Casey Loza.

This hot pink minidress by Naven was made even more fun with chic cutouts.

This blue one-shoulder dress had a modern feel with the side cutout.

The midi length of this dress was chic, paired with the side slit and architectural cutouts.

From flirty to feminine, cutouts can give any look that little something extra - and they don't always have to expose a lot of skin!

Black, White & Chic All Over: Anne Fontaine Spring/Summer 2017

Anne Fontaine's French fashion house began in 1994 based around the idea of the white blouse as the key to womenswear. Over the years it has evolved into a line of iconic ready to wear collections. I attended her Spring/Summer 2017 runway show and the vibe was simply chic. Almost entirely in black and white with pops of red and navy, this collection was full of elevated essentials.

The shortened bell sleeves on this coat were highlighted by the lace shirt peeking out from underneath.

The chic stripes on this dress are so flattering and reminiscent of classic Breton Stripe so closely associated with Parisian style.

This nod to menswear was balanced with slim tailored pants.

This pleated dress had such a cool surprise when the model turned to reveal this is actually a red sheath with sheer overlay. So chic.

Loose cropped trousers were beautifully paired with a sexy sheer lace top.

An off the shoulder blouse was paired with a gorgeous flowing printed skirt and flattering corset-style belt. The movement on this skirt was lovely. Check out the slo-mo, above!

This high-low hem dress with cutout sleeves is so chic the designer herself even wore this look to the show!

The cutout detail on this blouse is so striking. It was paired with a pleated leather skirt for a bit of romantic-edge.

Tiers of semi-sheer ruffles on the finale gown were met at the high neckline with floral palliates, offering no need for accessories with this stunner.

The designer takes her finale bow.

As you can see from this collection (the finale video is above), black and white is anything but boring! Her ability to take of-the-moment trends and transform their elements into timeless pieces is incredible. The ever-elusive French-girl aesthetic is attainable in Anne Fontaine's easy separates.

The Art of the Mix: Roberto Cavalli Spring/Summer 2017

This past Sunday, I had the honor of attending the Roberto Cavalli fashion show benefiting En Plein Air, a foundation providing laser scar removal for patients with traumatic and surgical scars.

The beautiful Monarch Beach Resort was the backdrop for equally gorgeous clothes.

Roberto Cavalli's Spring/Summer 2017 Collection has stuck with me since it first debuted on the runway of Milan Fashion Week last September (I featured it in this post). The inspiration behind this collection was a pioneer with a rock and roll heartbeat. The bohemian luxe feel of this collection strikes the perfect chord. Here are just a few of my many favorite looks.

The show opened with a bang- featuring model Maryela Pinkston in a striped crop top and pants with matching lace-up details. The double-flare of the sleeves and bell-bottoms created a cool silhouette.

The sophisticated shape of this minidress sheath with arm slits was balanced by floral embroidery and styled with chunky platform boots.

The detail on this fringed ombre poncho was incredible- take a look at the slo-mo, above!

This multicolored coat is definitely a hero piece of the collection and on every fashionista's wish list!

Sexy embellished pantsuits paired with sequin scarves are standout separates that you can wear on their own paired with something more simple, or together for a total Hendrix/Elvis babe vibe.

There is no shortage of glam evening dresses in this collection either. This one was a lesson in artisanship: it is adorned with shells, beads, boning, feathers and sequins over the sheer base.

This vintage-inspired dress had a totally modern cut, making it sexy and romantic all at once. Just look at the movement of it in the video, above!

This elegant, red carpet-ready dress is gilded with beadwork creating the most incredible designs throughout the gown.

It's such a feat to create a collection so dedicated to the patchwork of textiles yet with such incredible movement. Take a look at the finale video above!

This collection truly is a testament to "the Art of the Mix" and what better things to mix than fantastic fashion and a cool cause? To learn more about En Plein Air or to support this foundation, visit https://enpleinairlaser.org/.

Orange County Fashion Week Recap

This week I had the pleasure of attending Orange County Fashion Week, where emerging and international designers showcased their collections, while industry insiders had the opportunity to network and celebrate. What's unique about OC Fashion Week is the coastal-cool feel with a global flair. 

Day One

The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach served as the beautiful location for Industry Night.

Designers such as Ionica Moldovianu (of Ionica), previewed the collections they'd show during the week.

Nasim Nelson, the creator of Lebrisa Designs, had her beautiful jewelry on display (I'm obsessed with her body jewelry) and I loved chatting with her about styling! Her gorgeous pieces have been featured in Sports Illustrated.

Renowned photographer Viktorija Pashuta kicked off OC Fashion Week with an enlightening symposium on fashion photography. She is also the Editor-In-Chief of the incredible BASIC Magazine. It was inspiring to hear her speak about her experiences in the industry.

Day Two

The second night's event was held at the Orange County Museum of Art, where I had the pleasure of speaking with Anum Tariq, the super talented (and sweet!) fashion illustrator who I've followed on Instagram for years (@anumt). If you aren't already familiar with her work, go check her out now! 

Fodada's coordinating adult and kid's clothes were so cool and the line funds free programs for Dads and their families.

Cash and Puppy's line of casual wear featured many mix-and match pieces for effortless dressing.

Charmaine Joie Couture's collection had a chic cocktail dress to suit anyone's style!

I loved Neon Beige's line of sexy athleisure wear. The sheer and cutout details make her pieces unique. CJ Franco, the designer, shared with me that she wanted to create pieces that she would love to wear also! Check out the finale video above.

Ionica's collection was timeless, with elegant pieces including the gorgeous black sheath in the video above. 

Day Three

Colorful designs with a multicultural inspiration were showcased by Tatiana Shebelnik.

Berenice Gonzalez showed gowns that were elegant with an edge.

Menswear in the Paris Homme Collection featured fresh colors and prints. One of the chicest moments of the week came when model Cole Woods strutted out in the blazer-hoodie, showing how fly unisex dressing can be!

Special-occasion dresses in a variety of chic styles were shown on the Dominique Mearns runway.

Saul Lizacri closed the night's event with a gorgeous parade of dreamy gowns with beautiful embellishments. The finale video, above- is a must-see!

Day Four

Ms. Morales Couture's high-end lingerie line started off the exciting final night of OC Fashion Week.

Colombian designer Pedro Pablo Pacheco showed his resort-ready line of breezy dresses and chic accessories.

Coral Castillo's breathtaking line of gowns with fitted tops and flowy skirts also featured incredible strappy designs on the backs. Notice her killer details in my video of the finale, above! 

With sensational venues, captivating guests, and fabulous fashion ranging from lingerie to athleisure to haute couture, 2017's Fall/Winter Orange County Fashion Week was a hit! This week, I loved spending time with fashion industry friends new and old who are all super talented at what they do! I encourage you to check some of them out:

Fashion Bloggers:

Kendall of My Styled Life

Alison of The Frugal Fashionista of OC

Jen of The Retail Princess

Vlogger:

Kriscia of Outfit of the Dreamer

Makeup Artist:

Stirling Gill

Models:

Maryela Pinkston

Cole Woods

Zoe Birdsell

Photographers:

Viktorija Pashuta

Angelito Vandam

 

Paris Fashion Week Trend Report: The Astronomical Aesthetic

Paris Fashion Week closed out a month of international designers touting the best of what's to come for Fall/Winter 2017. Perhaps with a nod to the political chaos affecting our world, many French designers looked to the escapism of the sky for inspiration. Looks featuring celestial elements were definitely trending on the runways in Paris, so you can expect supernatural style to be big.

Chloé's minidress had a chic graphic print with faces and shimmering stars.

Dior showed several looks with the phases of the moon printed with beautiful effect on sheer black tulle.

Isabel Marant's street-style ready denim look was embellished with stars and a glittering lapel.

Manish Aurora showed galaxies and rocket ships embroidered on this cocktail dress, which was accessorized with a planetary bag.

A gorgeous sunburst highlighted Alexander McQueen's ethereal top, accentuated with feathers over wide-leg pants.

Mugler chose to use star shapes as the cutouts on skirts, dresses and jackets in this collection, unearthing cool new silhouettes.

At Nina Ricci, gold and navy stars were printed on skirts and dresses to amp up an otherwise Western theme. Space Cowboy chic, if you will.

Finally, at Karl Lagerfeld's spectacular Chanel show, complete with an explosive rocketship liftoff, chic dresses covered in astronaut prints were paired with glittering space boots.

For Fall 2017, there will be many options for this trend, whether you want to go full-on galactic glam or just add some cosmic cool to your wardrobe. From graphic lunar prints to sparkling star accessories, a touch of the ethereal will make you look out of this world.