shopbop shoptalk

accessories come out to play

 
I’ve got a closet full of black dresses. They’re classics, and I’m of the mindset that I can never have too many. Does that make me boring? Maybe, but the other day I was perusing Style.com and found a feature by Candy Pratts Price highlighting playful accessories. Light bulb moment: the season’s whimsical accents play perfectly on my wardrobe’s black canvas.

I recently added a Vanessa Bruno frock to my cache of black dresses, and I plan to make it my go-to for summer’s series of weddings. With the Style.com feature in mind, I set out on a little accessories hunt. Being a footwear girl, I started with the shoes. A silver pair with a sweet curl by Eileen Shields makes my toes twinkle and hints at fall’s feminine footwear trend. For a pop of color, I’ll carry a fuchsia Elie Tahari clutch named after a certain plastic icon, and I’ll don some look-at-me earrings with a hint of pink tint to match. And as the finishing touch, I’ll mirror my kicks with a tiny bow bracelet from Bing Bang.

Tell me ladies, will you accent your LBDs with whimsy, or do you prefer to play it straight?

--Amie

first fashion

Our Favorites from What's New
What does Ksubi mean? If you look to Ksubi.com, you’ll find an uncensored, random stream of social commentary and wry humor: a YouTube video of a bushy-bearded Joaquin Phoenix rapping on the mic, drawings that recall Ralph Steadman’s tormented Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas sketches, snapshots of “excellent Tokyo babes,” couples making out on NYE, and P. Diddy accidentally stepping in sidewalk dog poo. For those who “get it,” Ksubi is an underground urban lifestyle, a melding of art, music, and current events that ultimately translates into killer jeans. Or as brand creators Dan Single and George Gorrow say: “Ksubi is a word to describe our movement and our creative collective. It has no other meaning than what we give it.”
	In the future stores may stock cans of spray-on jeans, but until then these are painted-on perfection. Ksubi – Spray On Jeans
	Who doesn’t need a pair of headline-grabbing, scandalously short shorts? Ksubi – Clam Mini Shorts
	Ksubi knows a chick can’t possibly buck the establishment without these babies. Ksubi – Zip Super Skinny Jeans
Ksubi is a brand with something to say. Speak your mind, with a vocabulary from What’s New. --Suzanne

holding patterns

All winter I’ve been carrying my same old black handbag and black wallet. Yes, they’re classics, and yes, they’re functional, but I’ve been thinking about diversifying with something a little brighter, something with more personality. I came across a NYT article that sings the praises of candy-colored and floral-printed wallets for spring, and the featured See by Chloé wallet (which could double as a fun clutch for evening) inspired me to finally buckle down and scope out some other equally functional yet playful possibilities.

Handbags that can pull double duty as totes and shoulder bags have been pouring into shopbop lately, perfect for my summer self who loves to carry a book for spontaneous stops in the park and a lightweight cardi for cool evenings. The Foley + Corinna Mid City Tote is a classic favorite, and the tie-dye version plays with spring’s printed handbags trend (its refined take on the boho print will look great with a crocheted dress, or a lightweight blouse and faded flare jeans). An equally cheerful option is the Classic Q Huge Hillier Hobo (one of a passel of convertible Marc Jacobs bags in bright shades), which will help schlep all my stuff this summer and really pop against my black wool coat come next fall.

--Tonya

first fashion:

Our Favorites from What's New
My summer uniform revolves around dresses (Milly dresses are some of my faves), and with the selection of sweet frocks that have been arriving at shopbop, this year will be no exception. A few that will surely make their way into my wardrobe:
	I love the sporty look of this dress. It makes me feel like I could be dashing off for a game of tennis, even if my only planned exercise is the short walk to meet friends for lunch. Wayne - Pocket Tank Dress
	There is something so delightfully decadent about a lounge-worthy dress that’s fashion-forward too. Generra - Dip Dye Gathered Dress
	This floor-sweeping frock has “summer goddess” written all over it. Nieves Lavi - Halter Long Dress
Build your summer look with styles from What’s New. --Amie

dominant jeans

Back in January, I posted my fashion resolution for 2009: expand my denim horizons. And unlike most folks who dump their New Year’s resolution by mid-Feb, I’m still adhering to mine like industrial-strength glue. My main objective? To finally venture away from denim’s failsafe Holy Trinity (Citizens of Humanity, Joe’s Jeans, 7 For All Mankind) and trade in my standard boot cuts for some other sizzling silhouettes.

If the Anlo jeans pictured above were a man, we’d be registering for fancy stemware right about now. The Ava Skinny’s higher rise helps me follow Rule #1 in jean shopping: Avoid the “whale tail” at all costs.   (Not familiar with this poor denim fit phenomenon? Check out denimblog.com, third pic down, for a frighteningly graphic illustration. Oy.)
 
The Avas rest a figure-flattering two fingers below my belly button, a handy (no pun intended) guide when you want to know where a natural rise should be. But just because their rise is higher doesn’t mean these are your mom’s jeans—well, unless your mom is insanely sexy.  The fabrication is stretchy so as to eschew the painted-on look, and the dark rinse goes everywhere from the office to a rock club. Plus, there’s no need to hem—these look even fiercer scrunched at the ankles with a pair of Camilla Skovgaard stilettos peeking out. 

Next target on my denim hit list: an LTR with the perfect boyfriend jeans. Wish me luck!

Tell me, ladies, do you have one pair of sick jeans that trumps all others?  Have you stuck to your New Year’s resolutions? Do you know of any other awesomely bad terms for ill-fitting pants?

--Suzanne

must-have spring collection: nightcap clothing

The Latest by Kate, Fashion Director

Nightcap Clothing is one of my favorite lines this spring. The items are effortlessly sexy and I find myself wearing my Nightcap pieces over and over again. The perfect special touch on tees, pants, and dresses creates the cool look I'm perpetually striving to achieve without "trying too hard."
 
I am living in my Drop Back Top right now, and obsessing over the black and white printed Motif Vest. The Mon Amour Shirt is that perfect date top that’s totally no fuss—just hot! And the Willow Dress is one of my favorite frocks of the season. Add in brilliant fit and fabrics (and great prices, too!), and this line is perfection.
 
Snatch up a few pieces for yourself before I buy them all, and stay tuned for their fall cashmere. It’s insane!

first fashion

Our Favorites from What's New
Since it’s getting warmer and I just want to get dressed quick and go outside without a fuss, it’s hard to resist the siren song of my super-easy tees and old sneakers. Which is fine (we all need our chilled-out days), but I’ve been looking for some easy pieces that will keep me as polished in spring as I was in my sweater dresses and suede boots all winter.
	I love the body-conscious sensibility Black Halo dresses are known for, but this airy frock in spring green is a welcome departure for a balmy evening. Black Halo – Ruffle Front Racer Back Dress
	A leather jacket is made sophisticated with clean lines and a nude hue, while the lace-up detail at the back keeps it unique. Veda – Alexander Leather Jacket
	Old Hollywood sexy, in a spring-perfect lightweight fabric. Just need to remember to avoid subway grates. Dolce Vita – Florence Dress
Keep your spring look out of couldn’t-care-less territory, in What's New. --Tonya

color me timeless

 
There’s been a lot of gravitation toward black and white these days (I’m guilty as well) because of their timeless appeal, but as classic as the colorless duo is, shades of the rainbow have been a factor in fashion for years. In the right hands—like those of Chris Benz, whose masterful employ of Roy G. Biv makes your basic black and white look like boring fare—color has real staying power.

Look to Benz’s spring collection, the inspiration for which is as seemingly out-of-left-field as a dress that mingles red, fuchsia, teal, and orange (Benz does this, brilliantly). The designer took his cue for the season from “Revolutionary War-era dressing,” he told Style.com. That’s right: styles of the American Revolution. And yet each piece feels modern and unforced. The faintest hint of military influence underlies the collection as a whole and comes out strong in a militia-inflected jacket (a clever, fashion-forward take on The Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper). The rest is about color. Bright colorblocking plays beautifully among neutral pieces, and even the boldest combinations—like the red-fuchsia-teal-orange number mentioned above—feel effortless under Benz’s deft eye.

So keep thinking about those investment pieces, ladies, but don’t limit yourself to the b’s and w’s. Every wardrobe could use a color lift like Chris Benz.

--Amie

first fashion

Our Favorites from What's New
I’ve always been a hat girl. Berets, ’90s “Blossom” hats with the big sunflower, angora beanies, bright buckets, camo-green cadet styles—I’ve done them all (and some regrettably) at some point in my sartorial past. As I type this, I’m wearing my signature black velvet Burberry cabbie, which I also have in merlot and dove grey. So, you can imagine how happy I am to see we just got in this summer’s hottest hat silhouette: the straw fedora. Here’s how I’ll wear it:
	Eugenia Kim has a few different versions, but I’m digging the glam touch of a metal mesh band. Eugenia Kim - Max Crystal Band Fedora
	The fedora is my focal point, so I’ll keep my top simple. What’s better than a sublimely soft burnout tee in my new favorite shade? Bop Basics - Short Sleeve V Neck Burnout T-Shirt
	This metallic Kooba bag has just the right blend of polish and punk. Kooba – Halle Bag
I’ll finish with some street-smart baubles and a pair of ripped skinny jeans , all tracked down in What’s New. --Suzanne

searching for spot-on swimwear

Pickiness is often considered a negative trait, but I’d argue that it’s good to be choosy. Especially when choosing swimwear. (If I’m showing that much skin, I need to look great.) So to help us all with our summer swimwear search, shopbop stylist Bobbie gives us tips on how to find the perfect suit (it must be out there somewhere) to fit both our personality and our body type.



When selecting a suit, first you need to figure out the look you are trying to achieve. If you’re going for a fun and flirty feel, try Zimmermann, Milly, Kushcush, or Shoshanna. For a sophisticated, chic look, suits by Diane von Furstenberg, Tibi, or Mara Hoffman will be your best friends. For a timeless suit with great fit, Melissa Odabash and Rachel Pally are spot-on. And for a super glamorous poolside look, throw on some beachy heels, bangles, sunglasses, and suits from Tyler Rose or Vix.

Once you’ve got your look, you need to assess your body type. Shoshanna swimwear is a flattering pick for curvier figures, with tops that lend support, while Loeffler Randall suits are ideal for less curvy girls, with bandeau tops that are a great choice for smaller busts and fuller bottoms that accentuate the hips. And for fuller figures, triangle tops and halters are always a must; Rosa Cha swimwear has some perfect options for this body type.

--Bobbie, Stylist