Tea for Three

While Jessica Simpson has more or less dropped off the celebrity radar, I do remember hearing she had branched out to fashion design. Being a celebrity designed collection, I had low expectations and generally didn't pay much attention to her pieces. I happened to come across her spring dresses and I can't help but admire the sweet creations.

 

My current orange kick is rather well documented here, but how gorgeous is this geometric poppy print? The buttons on the skirt give the otherwise girly dress a bit of quirk. (Jessica Simpson, $148)

This is my favorite of the collection. I love the demure tea-dress length, and the graduated print is sweet. Not to mention the smocking at the waist gives it a super flattering shape. (Jessica Simpson, $128)

I really like the colors of this dress. I'm not crazy about the ruffle at the waist, but the applique detail at the hem is divine! (Jessica Simpson, $148)

I'd love to wear any (or all?) of these to high tea or a garden party. Perfect for spring.

Converse and Marimekko

It's no secret I love bold bright prints. I also have a slight Converse obsession (I even own a sequined gold pair... words cannot describe how amazing they are). So you can only imagine my delight, no extreme euphoria, when I heard about the collaboration between Marimekko, the incredible Finnish textile design house, and Converse, the classically quirky American shoe brand.

Unikko, an iconic Marimekko print.

For those unfamiliar with the brand, Marimekko was founded in 1951 by Viljo and Armi Ratia. Armi asked some artist friends to apply their graphic designs to textiles. The fabric was then made into a collection of simple dresses. Jacqueline Kennedy, ever the purveyor of style, made the line famous in the United States when she wore eight Marimekko dresses during the 1960 presidential campaign. Today, Marimekko is known for its bright, cheery prints appearing on a range of clothing and home furnishings.

A video explaining the history and creation of the collection.

The collection, entitled 'Converse ♥ Marimekko', is available here. Picking just one pair's the hard part. If only they could all magically appear in my closet...

Images via Marimekko and High Snobiety

ASOS Shift Dresses

Dear ASOS,

I would be perfectly happy to live in your shift dresses all summer long.

Seriously... before I finish penning a gushing love letter, take a gander at these beautiful examples.

 

I'd start off with simple neutral pieces... ($50.20 and $50.20)

 

... before transitioning into punchy brights ($43.03 and $53.79).

Just throw on some colorful sandals or ballet flats, fun bangles or a chunky necklace, and you're set to enjoy warmer temps! Now where was I?...

Soft Skirts

Call it an over romanticized version of spring, but March always finds me itching to shed the bulky layers of winter and twirl around in soft, easy clothing. Realistically, it will still be another month until that fantasy becomes reality, but in my daydreams I'm wearing these light, draped skirts.

(Alloy, $15)

(Banana Republic, $45)

Technically it's a dress... but I'm loving the bright bodice! (ASOS, £35)

Prime Prints: Jonathan Saunders Fall 2011

While many designers excel at prints, London Fashion Week seemed to have more than its fair share of talent. While my overall impression of Jonathan Saunder's Fall 2011 collection was a bit underwhelming, his print placement was spot on. I'm still astonished how the bright colors almost seem, well, restrained.

I love the unconventional orange and turquoise pairing that quite accurately bridges summer and fall. I know the cardigan is menswear, but the combination of the color and print makes it seriously covetable.

 I love the blouse on the right and the skirt of the dress on the left. Who am I kidding, I love the skirt on the right as well... just not the head-to-toe styling. The waist defining silhouette of both looks is incredibly figure flattering, and the flutter sleeves and length are ladylike and elegant. At the same time, the fun print and unexpected colors keep the look very youthful and fun.

This final look doesn't showcase Saunders' prints, but I love the juxtaposition of the flirty hemline and large, graphic overlay. Very minimalist and modern.

Images via Style.com

Mary Katrantzou Fall 2011

One of my favorite collections from London Fashion Week was Mary Katrantzou's incredible rendition of prints. Her collection was once again inspired by interior decor, though this time it felt as if Katrantzou had picked up the objects, ranging from Fabergé eggs to Ming vases, and magically turned them into fabric. While a stiff silhouette prevailed throughout most of the show, softer fabrics made a debut. Above all, the focus was on the vibrant prints, which transfixed my attention from the first to last look.

 I love the soft, but vibrant colors, and the couture shapes.

 The skirts of these two looks are a bit more wearable in their fluidity. The sleeves of the top are a nice touch, adding a note of femininity while emphasizing the structure of the collection.

For good measure, the New York Times described it as "an object lesson in inspiration.... Rising designers always have a “breakthrough” moment — and this was the season when the designer’s sculptural vision created a collection of startling beauty." All in all, a gorgeous collection that definitely was a standout of London Fashion Week.

Images from Style.com

Outfit Inspiration: Whimsical Wheels

When I came across this image, I knew the previous Outfit Inspiration post would become a running feature. Sometimes I draw inspiration from entire outfits. Sometimes, like today's image, a small segment captures my attention and immediately results in a "Could I recreate that?" internal dialogue.

I immediately focus on the soft, feminine color palette of this image. While I love color, sometimes a neutral rich outfit is more attention grabbing. The combination of the sweet flats and dainty, scalloped edge skirt is simply charming. While I wouldn't normally consider a bicycle to be an accessory (well, except for this one), here it perfectly rounds out the other elements of the outfit.

Image via Weheartit