William Okpo FW14 Recap

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February 11th, 2014 thirteen women marched single-file to mount carefully placed wooden crates, signaling the start of the William Okpo FW14 presentation. The pieces seemed to simply exuded brightness and warmth on a most cold and dreary day in New York City.The presentation included elements of a homage to their African heritage in the music selections and in the photography displayed in large color format from their partnership with charitable organization 14+.

The looks, which ranged from a blue-and-white crossed- culottes, A-line dress, jumper with skinny pants, draped skirt and top - were clean and crisp. The collection, seemed to shout a return to a time where paint and playtime reigned - yet incorporated an element of sophistication that kept it far from childish. This "unofficial theme" was visible in everything from the denim pieces, part appliquéd with flowers and finished with daisy buttons at the collar, ala 90s Mary-Kate and Ashley; down to the glitter accented sandals and oxfords. When describing the inspiration behind F/W 14 (and arguably all predecessor collections), Darlene Okpo, one-half of the formidable duo behind William Okpo, articulated this desire to channel the spirit of their father. In her thoughts, he was this eclectic man of the 70s, one who took care in how he dressed and took his time, finding himself as a human being. It is this journey of self-discovery that comes out in this collection. With this in mind, the duo was able to make each look fun, incorporating color, and staying true to how Darlene and her co-collaborator Lizzy Okpo felt in the months and days preceding Tuesday night’s presentation. This organic process, Darlene notes, gave them the freedom to create and allowed William Okpo to escape the fate of fellow young labels that are so concentrated on getting into retail stores, they lose their style setting.

 

xoxo,

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*Reporting done for Fancy-Francy.com by Lami of LifewithLami

 

Noon by Noor FW14 Recap

Noon by Noor definitely did not disappoint as they showed their Fall 2014 collection on February 10th. The theme of the collection, nature, was referenced throughout the show through the beautiful colors and unique prints. Cloud formations, crystalline structures and geometric patterns seen in minerals were all sources of inspiration the designers found in the natural environment and translated into the brand’s signature prints.

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The collection featured a nod to the oversized silhouette with voluminous coats, culotte pants and sweatshirts juxtapose straight dresses. Hints of masculine tailoring balanced sporty, effortless daywear; while the expanded evening wear repertoire focused on intricate embellishments unexpectedly scattered on tops or cascading down tiered gowns. The looks were modernized through experimentation with texture such as neoprene, waffle wool, mohair and a houndstooth jacquard wool. The color palette was almost as striking as the texture choices and boasted hues of  blue, cool mint, mauve, navy, burgundy and vanilla with pops of yellow, chartreuse and royal purple.

Overall the collection seemed to personify Fall fashion and had many looks that would work perfectly for crisp Fall work days or chilly gala nights.

xoxo,

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How to wear a leather skater skirt

This season leather is just as popular as it was last year, making it a great choice for holiday parties, nights out, or a casual weekend outfit. Leather is great because it is extremely versatile and can be dressed up or down. A few weeks ago we talked about styling a leather pencil skirt, so for this week we wanted to show how to dress up or down a leather skater skirt. We already showed how to wear a skater skirt and dress, but styling a leather skater skirt can be a bit tricky. Keep reading to see how to style a skater skirt during the day or night.

Francy Answers: How to transition your dresses into Fall/Autumn

Dear Francy,
I'm more of a dress and skirt kind of girl and now that the weather is getting colder, I was wondering if you have any tips for how to wear dresses in the Fall. This is my first Fall up north and I'm nervous about the transition. Thanks so much!

1. Tights are your best friend. Don't even attempt to wear a dress without tights (or a similar contraption for those into retro guarders and things) once the weather starts to get chilly. For some ladies the thought of wearing tights and stockings may cause them to conjure up images of their mother (or even grand mother) but these accessories are definitely not a thing of the past. These days tights come in thousands of styles, looks, and forms: all perfect for younger (and older) generations alike.

Leather trimmed items for Fall

Lately I've been obsessed with leather trimmed accessories, if you follow me on Snapette, you know that I recently went on a leather trimmed shopping binge and purchased like four new items in one day. It's safe to say leather is officially back and making a huge appearance this Fall. So what's the best way to rock this new trend? Ease into with leather trimmed accessories.  Keep reading to see some of my favorite leather trimmed picks this season!

Leather-trimmed stretch-twill shift dress

Women's 525 America Leather-Trim Blazer

Blush Leather Trim Silk Shirt by Tibi

Milly Leather-Trim Sweater

Monochrome Knit Leather Trim Coat by Vanessa Bruno Athe

Men's Fall Fashion Trends

What Will the Trendiest Men Be Wearing This Fall? Robert from Style Pilot let's us know the top trends for men in today's guest post.

You and your friends are headed into town for something to eat and a few drinks, and inevitably, fashion makes its way right into the conversation. Once you have discussed your own styles and where you have bought your latest breath-taking accessories and designer dress, you move onto judging observing, the many men who are also at the bar.

The debate quickly heats up around which guys look the most fashionable, so for the sake of settling an argument, we put together this quick look at what you can expect to see stylish men sporting this winter.

Bombing Away

You might think that the guy playing pool over there is wearing a jacket that makes him look like Justin Bieber, however the bomber is a very fashionable trendsetter that is set to become a style staple for men around the world in the latter part of 2012.

If you spot a guy wearing a leather variation, then you can rest assured that he knows his fashion extremely well and is usually always this immaculately turned out.