European Style Hunt: Day Four

This month, in the dog days of summer, I'm posting a weekly diary entry from a designer friend who travels the world for inspiration, fabric samples, and all the other myriad things a fashion company needs from abroad. For five days on her European spring trip, while sourcing material for Spring 2012, she took some notes and photos while working from city to city, and reported for us some current must-have looks and trends...and I'm looking for these now on 34th Street.

Day Four: Kimono Belts

*Kenzo...brightly colored Kimono belt straps with double wrap-around wider straps seen with the double knot finish. Both fabric and leather belts are updated with this knot finish and eastern influence. Perfect with a maxi dress to simplify and streamline the waist. A simple ribbon tie was also seen against a print dress.

Must Have: Double wrap-around brightly colored belt.

Editor's Note:

Now I'm obsessed, I need that Kenzo belt, but without the Kenzo price, so I'll be hunting 34th Street. In the meantime, I saw this kimono jumpsuit restocked at H&M Herald Square recently, but sadly still not in my size.

European Style Hunt: Day Three

This month, in the dog days of summer, I'm posting a weekly diary entry from a designer friend who travels the world for inspiration, fabric samples, and all the other myriad things a fashion company needs from abroad. For five days on her European spring trip, while sourcing material for Spring 2012, she took some notes and photos while working from city to city, and reported for us some current must-have looks and trends...and I'm looking for these  now on 34th Street.

Day Three…. Hang on to your Stripes.

*If there were an ‘It Bag’ for the season, my vote would have to go to Prada’s bold stripe clutch. Stripes are seen in every bag silhouette: beach bag, hobo, weekender and the classic casual clutch. Bold colors and retro deckchair pinstripes are a fresh twist to brighten any spring outfit.

*Must Haves: Striped weekend bag and pinstripe day-to-evening clutch

Editor's note:

Just give in already, as the stripe is it not just for summer but for fall this year as well. You've seen all the cool girls wearing stripes?! And then there are those of us who for years have had to curtail striped-top shopping for fear of ending up with an all-stripe closet.

On 34th Street check out JCPenney Manhattan Mall for the very '70's I heart Ronson striped shirt, and for a more classic stripe go to Old Navy for the raglan boat-neck sweater.

JCPenney Manhattan Mall lower levels 1 & 2, 33rd Street & Sixth Avenue

Old Navy 150 W. 34th Street between Broadway & Seventh Avenue

European Style Hunt: Day Two

This month, in the dog days of summer, I'm posting a weekly diary entry from a designer friend who travels the world for inspiration, fabric samples, and all the other myriad things a fashion company needs from abroad. For five days on her European spring trip, while sourcing material for Spring 2012, she took some notes and photos while working from city to city, and reported for us some current must-have looks and trends...and I'm looking for these  now on 34th Street.

 

Day Two…Secret Garden 

*This Season’s florals take on every scale, from exploding brush strokes of petals to ombre wash effects inspired from remote tropical botanicals. This mix of everything colorful is staged in a retrospective of gardens from around the world.  Marc Jacobs & Missoni have both been influenced this season by the perfect ‘blush reds & berry tones’ which have a sun drenched, rich hue. Accents with yellows are the perfect compliment to bold floral accessories. 

*Dream Must Haves: *Mulberry’s floral bag, floral T-Shirts,Perfect in Pink Sandals (Dior)

Editor's follow-up:

Note the floral Esprit window in our designer's inspiration board. I dropped by the Esprit flagship on 34th Street this morning to check out their current floral situation, and while the store was not yet open (*ahem* it was after 10am, retail foul), their windows were bursting with fall floral. Love the mix of floral prints with fall jackets and sweaters.

Esprit 21 W. 34th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues

European Style on the Hunt: Day One

This month, in the dog days of summer, I'm posting a weekly diary entry from a designer friend who travels the world for inspiration, fabric samples, and all the other myriad of things a fashion company needs from abroad. For five days on her last trip in the spring, while sourcing material for Spring 2012, she took some notes and photos while working from city to city, and reported for us some current must-have looks and trends. She prefers to be anonymous, but I'll call her Incognito Girl for now because it's getting late on a Monday, naming things is hard, and every other stylist seeking and trend hunting name is taken. Yes, this is called #fashionbloggerproblems. Read on below and look for 34th Street follow ups this fall to see how these summer trends translate through the fall...

Day One….Denim & Dots.

*Sonya Rykiels S/S’12 Collection has inspired this season’s mix of bold black and white polka dots and color blocking. What’s fresh to reinvent this spring’s statement? It's worn head-to-toe in your outfit. Denim has also made a strong statement in the stores for summer. Denim wash shoelaces? They're just the tip of the denim trend. Denim is also hot for the interior…teapot cozies, patchwork denim cushion covers and framed vintage denim patches.

Must Have: Patchwork Knits at Ralph Lauren. Classic utilitarian gets an update with denim washes and deconstructed knits.