StellaMcCartney

The Fashion Statement: Take the Plunge

Summer is bearing down upon us and so is the most fearful word in the English language -- swimwear. Sooner or later we all have to buy a swimsuit and we women like this seasonal ritual about about as much as filing our tax returns.

But this season offers hope. For those among us who aren't blessed with Gisele's bod, now is as good a time as any to hit the fitting rooms. Why? Because, one-pieces, like the throng Dolce & Gabbana (pictured above) sent down the runway, have the ability to cover up imperfections without a whiff of dowdy. If bikinis are more your thing, there are plenty of boy bottoms cut à la Marilyn Monroe that hide a lot more than the essentials. Of course, if you are a Gisele, there are still plenty of ways to show off your assets.

Here's a cheat sheet on who's doing what in swimwear. Then, ladies, gather up your courage, go forth and shop!

RETRO '50s: Designers have gone back to the days of Harry Truman, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and the birth of Rock 'n Roll. Maurizio Pecoraro, Stella McCartney, Moschino Cheap & Chic, and Hervé Leger all presented swimwear that jumped out of the mid-century. These silhouettes sit oh-so-low on the leg, but still read sexy because of their emphasis on the waist.

CUTOUTS: Not for the faint of heart. If the retro style is Marilyn Monroe, swimwear with cutouts are more like Grace Jones. Tim Hamilton, Gucci, Roksanda Ilincic, Jen Kao, and Yigal Azrouël sent out suits with a touch of the '80s and a good dose of fierce.

THE DEEP V: The swimwear equivalent of J. Lo's famed Versace dress, deep Vs are de rigueur. Jasmine di Milo, Milly and Twenty8Twelve showed V necks plunging down there that promise to boost the sex appeal of the waif-ish, in particular.

ONE SHOULDER: Gone are the days of the matronly one-piece. Taking a cue from evening wear over the last several seasons, Emporio Armani, Unique, Michael Kors, and Diane von Furstenberg designed swimwear that drape over one-shoulder, with some incorporating cutouts.

ITSY BITSY: Gisele's milieu. Jean Paul Gaultier, Dsquared2 and Emporio Armani used fabric sparingly in their swim collections. Waists are as low as they can go while tops are tiny triangles held together by a string. One-pieces take cutouts to another level -- one from Gaultier is in a harlequin pattern.

Check out the gallery for the latest looks.

Gallery: The Fashion Statement: In The Swim

Tags: Dolce Gabbana, DolceGabbana, Stella McCartney, StellaMccartney, swim trends for 2010, swimsuits, SwimTrendsFor2010, swimwear, Twenty8Twelve, Yigal Azroul, YigalAzroul

Dresses That May You Say "Thank You for Sunny Days!"

by Marsha Reid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

There is no denying that with the arrival of Spring comes the feeling of renewal. Cleaning out the clutter in our homes and minds while starting the season with a fresh outlook and sense of excitement for the warm weather. And of course, who can forget about shedding away the winter gear and replacing it with skirts, dresses, tank tops, shorts and open toed sandals? Finally, our skin is able to see the sun and feel the warmth once again. So perhaps this may be a bit melodramatic but I am so ready for warm spring and hot summer days. To kick off my excitement, and I'm sure others out there too, here is a colorful collection of dresses that scream - thank you for sunny days!

Featured above is eco-friendly fashion extraordinaire Stella McCartney's Chiffon Rose Nari Dress. This pretty floral sleeveless dress features a color palette that would look beautiful against all skin tones, pleats and an exaggerated scalloped hem that offers volume and understated sexiness. Price: $2,325.

Gallery: Dresses That May You Say "Thank You for Sunny Days!"

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Tags: 3.1 Phillip Lim, 3.1PhillipLim, chiffon, diane von fursenberg, DianeVonFursenberg, dresses, milly, mod cloth, ModCloth, Orla Kiely, OrlaKiely, see by chloe, SeeByChloe, spring, stella mccartney, StellaMccartney, summer, tibi

Pleated Silk Satin Fold Over Anouk Clutch, Handbag of the Day

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

It's cloudy as I write this and I can't help but imagine how nice it would be to have this bright pop of vibrant pink to lighten things up. It's the Pleated Silk Satin Fold Over Anouk Clutch by Stella McCartney and the name pretty much says everything. A pretty evening bag with goldtone hardware that includes a gold Stella logo tag. The interior is fully lined in silk satin and has one large interior pocket. Perfect for spring! (Or honestly any season, when does pink not work?) $755

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Tags: clutch, handbag, handbag of the day, HandbagOfTheDay, stella mccartney, StellaMccartney

Stella McCartney Falabella Tote, Handbag of the Day

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

Stella McCartney Falabella Tote, Handbag of the Day

A lifelong vegetarian, Stella McCartney never uses leather or fur in her designs and proves that you don't need these materials to be a success or to be creative. Her pretty bronze, matte, faux suede Falabella tote bag can be worn two ways, folded over as a shoulder bag or carried as a tote. Includes gold chain detailing, a Stella logo tag, and a satin lined interior with a pocket. 7" W x 10.8" H x 2.8" D. $995

Tags: Falabella, faux suede, FauxSuede, handbag, handbag of the day, HandbagOfTheDay, handbags, Stella McCartney, StellaMccartney, tote, tote bag, ToteBag, vegetarian

Stella McCartney Embroidered Sequined Clutch, Handbag of the Day

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

Stella McCartney Embroidered Sequined Handbag

I think this Embroidered Sequined Clutch by Stella McCartney looks more suited for autumn or late summer but I love it nonetheless, and think it's probably just the 3 feet of snow outside putting limits on my fashion sense. Made of brown canvas (so refreshing to take a break from leather) it's covered in sequins in a pretty multi-colored floral pattern. It has a wallet-like feel when it opens up, revealing slots for your credits cards and ID and cash separate from the main compartment with a clasp-top closure. Goldtone hardware, chain wrist strap, and golden faux-leather lining. $1.025

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Tags: clutch, handbag, handbag of the day, HandbagOfTheDay, handbags, sequins, stella mccartney, StellaMccartney

Gucci: Synonymous with High Fashion

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Shoes

From the model-patrolled runways of Milan to the chic streets of New York, Gucci is synonymous with high fashion. The Italian designer outfits opulent consumers of all stripes -- financiers, socialites and celebrities -- making it an obvious candidate for a Luxist award in the Best Clothing Designer category, in addition to a nomination for Best in Leathergoods.

Founded in 1921 by Guccio Gucci in Florence, Gucci began as a luggage and leather goods store. Guccio Gucci drew on years of experience working at London's Savoy Hotel and observing the proclivities of English nobles, combining this sensibility with his own Italian fashion sense in his early work, a theme that still runs strong at Gucci today.

Though Gucci struggled to find materials as World War II raged through Europe, the scrappy founder was able to stay afloat by creating products like the "Bamboo Bag" from the resources available. The postwar years brought expansion to Milan and New York, and, sadly, the death of Guccio Gucci. His sons would take over the business and continue to guide it along the path to becoming an international fashion powerhouse, expanding to Hong Kong and Tokyo. The designer became a favorite of fashionable and legendary celebrities such as Grace Kelly and Jacqueline Onassis Kennedy.

Guccio Gucci's aesthetic persists, a lasting legacy for the founder. The company boasts talented designers like Frida Giannini, who was named sole creative director in 2006. In addition to Gucci, Gucci Group also owns Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Boucheron, Sergio Rossi, Stella McCartney and Yves Saint Laurent. It directly operates 560 stores around the world.

Cast your vote for the Readers' Choice Awards at http://www.luxist.com/awards-vote/accessories-awards.

Tags: accessories-award, alexander mcqueen, AlexanderMcqueen, awards-main, balenciaga, bottega veneta, BottegaVeneta, frida giannini, FridaGiannini, gucci, luxist-awards, sergio rossi, SergioRossi, stella mccartney, StellaMccartney, yves saint laurent, YvesSaintLaurent

Stella McCartney Gap Kids Collection Goes Live

by Ariston Anderson (RSS feed) —

We let you know back in June that eco-friendly designer Stella McCartney was creating a line for GAP Kids. The runway designer has been an early adopter of fashion for the people, creating an H&M line back in 2005, and an ongoing athletic collection at Adidas boutiques nationwide. And now she's paving the way for top designers to enter into the kids market.

If you'd fancy dressing up your toddler in tuxedo jackets or tulle skirts, then this is the collection for you. And while the collection is full of statement pieces, there are also lots of practicals like jeans, tunics, and caps. McCartney created the line with her own children in mind. "I believe that kids clothing should be more accessibly priced," she said in a release, "which is particularly important at the moment given the current climate." Prices start at $14 for colored knit tights and on the higher end, a baby cashmere blanket sells for $98. The collection is sure to sell out quickly, and give some much needed holiday sales to the GAP and further make McCartney's luxury brand a household name.

Gallery: Stella McCartney for GAP Kids

Tags: childrens fashion, ChildrensFashion, gap, kids clothes, KidsClothes, stella mccartney, StellaMccartney

The Fashion Statement: Who are the Greenest Designers?

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Green. Sustainable. Recyclable. Not exactly the first words you use to describe luxury fashion, right? At the same time, numerous clothing companies have been founded on the principal of being eco-friendly.

I'll admit, the skeptic in me began to worry when giant brands like Guess, Inc. started producing lines purporting to be green. Green's big business and it made for great advertising and public relations. But how can you tell whether a line that claims to be green is really green?

I posed the question to Emma Grady, a contributing fashion writer at TreeHugger.com (a division of the Discovery Channel) who helps sort this out for consumers. "We do this by asking lots of questions to understand a garment's life cycle," she says. "Where are the fabrics sourced? How are they produced? How far does the product travel (shipping is a major source of pollution)? Is the cotton grown in Africa, weaved in India, then shipped to a store in California? What dyes are used in the process?"

Grady and her team at TreeHugger.com a number of designers' sustainable practices are the real deal. It's worth listing a few of them here. Not surprising, Stella McCartney is one. McCartney is well-known vegan and has long produced pleather shoes, belts and handbags to avoid the environmentally taxing tanning process.

Linda Loudermilk, a designer from Los Angeles, is another to watch. I interviewed Loudermilk a few years ago and she told me she spends countless hours researching and developing textiles that are not only made from certified eco-conscious materials, but suited for high design. I found this particularly impressive because the fashion design process is already grueling. And, no doubt, these steps added a lot of expense to production costs.

EDUN, founded in 2005 by Ali Hewson and Bono, promotes sustainable employment in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, reads its mission statement. The line's primary focus is trade but it's also working to use more organic materials in the collection.

Even small things like recycling zippers and buttons can make a big difference, says Grady. Props to Yves Saint Laurent for earlier this year unveiling an eco-friendly capsule collection called "New Vintage." The idea was to create classic YSL styles using fabrics from past collections.

If designers can't be innovative, who can?

Tags: blogactionday, EDUN, Linda Loudermilk, LindaLoudermilk, Stella McCartney, StellaMccartney, TreeHugger.com, Yves Saint Laurent, YvesSaintLaurent

Stella McCartney Studded Faux Suede Clutch, Handbag of the Day

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

The Stella McCartney Studded Faux Suede Clutch is an unusually fabulous little purse.

The purse, as one would expect from Ms. McCartney, is made of cruelty-free faux leather (and nobody does it better than she does), and decorated with gold and gunmetal studs.

The style is part Aztec and part astronomy, with its celestial circles (love the lopsided kiss lock closure) and angular patterns we're used to seeing done with beads -- this time, they're all studs. The purse has function as well as form; it's 8" tall by 12" wide. I feel like it's been ages since I've seen a clutch large enough to fit my wallet!

The Stella McCartney Studded Faux Suede Clutch is available from Intermix for $835.00.

Tags: clutch, handbag of the day, HandbagOfTheDay, purse, stella mccartney, StellaMccartney

Stella McCartney's Metallic Fabric Tote, Handbag of the Day

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

Metallics aren't usually my favorite but something about this Metallic Fabric Tote by Stella McCartney really caught my eye. It's a pretty burnished brass color that acts as a neutral as far as pairing it with outfits goes, and it has a little bit of a "structure forced to go casual" vibe about it that I really like. A wide beige strap ties around the center, decorated with geometrical resin details on the ends. It comes with a small purse chain and one zip pocket on the inside, plus an adjustable shoulder strap. $608

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Tags: handbag, handbag of the day, HandbagOfTheDay, handbags, metallic, stella mccartney, StellaMccartney, tote

Stella McCartney To Design For Gap

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Children, Celebrity Design

Designer Stella McCartney has formed a new partnership with Gap Inc. The popular designer will create a collection of children's clothes to be carried by select GapKids and babyGap stores in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Ireland, and Japan. The collection will also be online. McCartney, known for higher priced clothing, says that now is the time to create affordable clothing for children.

This move is just part of Gap's plans to revitalize the company which has been suffering lately. Today the company, which also operates the Banana Republic and Old Navy stores announced plans to remodel about 50 Old Navy stores in 2009 and open about 40 new franchise stores internationally. The company also plans to expand offerings for the online shoe and handbag shop, Piperlime adding 50 new contemporary apparel labels later this summer.

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Tags: gap, stella mccartney, StellaMccartney

Gem-Embellished Clutch, Handbag of the Day

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

The Gem-Embellished Clutch is another sparkling floral beauty by Stella McCartney. Light and neutral, it will go with all kinds of spring and summer dresses or even a pretty blouse with jeans might work. Champagne twill is accented with silvertone hardware and pretty flower gem embellishments on both the front and back, in haphazard colors, shapes, and sizes. Definitely no shortage of femininity here! The clutch is made in the fold-over-flap style and has a logo-embossed charm on one side, plus a taupe satin lining. $995

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Tags: clutch, handbag, handbag of the day, HandbagOfTheDay, handbags, stella mccartney, StellaMccartney

Stella's Cloud-Print Collection

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Stella McCartney has created a lot of "happy" designs in the past and now she's done it again with her collection of 'cloud print' goods that are exclusively available at Net-a-Porter. It's definitely a casual, slightly whimsical print, and the pieces she's created are comfortable and relaxed. There's a tote, a pair of flat sandals and a cute wedge, plus an organic cotton t-shirt, a breezy jersey dress, and a silk shirt. Each comes with a special silver tag label.

The only thing missing in the collection is a nice floppy sun hat for the beach!

Gallery: Clouds by Stella McCartney

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Tags: clothing, cloud, clouds, fashion, handbag, shoes, stella mccartney, StellaMccartney

Valentine Essentials: Going Green

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Green

Maybe this is the year you want to send a valentine to the planet, express your love for the environment, in addition to impressing the object of your desire.

Luxury gifts that just might turn the tide against climate change abound, and there are plenty more that are chic reminders that going green looks good these days -- like Stella McCartney's just-released organic lingerie line.

Don't forget all-organic romance: flowers (like the dozen roses at right, sustainably farmed and harvested using fair labor practices), truffles, champagne and candles. See the gallery for inspiration.

Gallery: Valentine Essentials: Going Green

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Tags: champagne, organic, organic bouquet, OrganicBouquet, stella mccartney, stella mccartney lingerie, StellaMccartney, StellaMccartneyLingerie, truffles, valentines day, ValentinesDay

Melamine East West Clutch, Handbag of the Day

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

Looking like a miniature suitcase, this Melamine East West Clutch by Stella McCartney is something different in the world of handbags. Comprised of melamine wood and gold hardware it might be hard and structured on the outside, but it's soft and feminine on the inside (thanks to a blue suede lining). Other accents include cute little feet on the bottom and a large gold plaque on the front that's embossed with Stella McCartney's logo.

I think it's awesome but per my usual I'm wishing it came in a silver version! $2,795

Gallery: Stella McCartney's Melamine East West Clutch