TREND I-SPY

From  Style.com   Kim Jones' debut as men's style director at Louis Vuitton was a coup similar to the one achieved by Vuitton's artistic director, Marc Jacobs, 14 years ago.  A union that seemed unlikely on the surface turned out in actuality to be a relationship of remarkable, intimate compatibility. In the four months since he was appointed to the position, Jones and his team managed to turn out a collection that wove his own history into Vuitton's heritage.  The common bond? Travel. Vuitton has always been the traveler's brand. Jones grew up in Kenya, and his life since has been defined by a nomadic spirit. He'd been thinking about photographer Peter Beard, the Kennedy-like apogee of American aristocracy whose life and work have been devoted to Africa. A Masai blanket Jones has at home as a souvenir of his East African childhood inspired an extraordinary passage of cornea-searing blue-and-red plaids... A Masai blanket Jones has at hom...

In a rather bland runway season for Fall 2011, one non-shoe or handbag accessory has been ubiquitous. The wide-brimmed portrait or picture hat has symbolized many fashion eras, most recently the 1970s. Iconic fashion figures from Bianca Jagger and Angelica Huston to Cher and Lauren Hutton have been photographed wearing one.There is something wonderfully ladylike and yet bohemian about these hats. For Fall designers used a wide range of sophisticated colors from cloudy pink and nude to deep teal, purple and ochre Marc by Marc Jacobs, Fall 2011 Christian Dior, Fall 2011 Chris Benz, Fall 2011   Gucci, Fall 2011

Considering her many God-given physical attributes, there have been occasions in the past when Angelina Jolie's appearance somehow misses the mark on the Red Carpet. The Golden Globes 2011 was NOT one of those times.  Her wonderful long-sleeved A telier Versace   gown, encrusted with Swarovski crystals, was arguably the best dress there. Its color, a deep emerald green, was a knock-out. Even though Hot Pink has been touted as THE color for 2011 in some quarters, it is already the wearing of the green that has had folks talking thus far in this Awards Season. It is a color that perfectly reflects our current fascination with ecology and sustainability. Green is the color of fertility and Mother Earth!  In the Middle Ages, wedding dresses were green as in the Jan van Eyck painting, The Arnolfini Wedding. Angelina Jolie in Versace Catherine Zeta-Jones in Monique Lhuillier Mila Kunis in Vera Wang SJP on the cover of Elle Jan 11 Mika...

American Vogue October 09 According to The UK's Daily Mail pointy bras are making a come-back. Now we've established that designers like Dior, Prada, Marc Jacobs and Jean-Paul Gaultier are all looking back to previous "pointy bra" decades such as the '80s and '50s it makes sense doesn't it? Blogger Joanna Douglas points out (oops, sorry, couldn't help it) that Katy Perry, Lady GaGa and Mad Men have all helped to drive this trend. Shown here, from American Vogue's October 09 issue, Karlie Kloss photographed by Arthur Elgort at The Ritz in Paris. She is wearing a pointy satin bra and silk-tulle skirt embroidered with rhinestones from the Dior F09 Couture Collection. Creative director, Grace Coddington styled the ensemble in the same state of chic déshabillé designer John Galliano used for the show. Another designer who showed an interest in the pointy bra made popular in the '50s was Louise Goldin who incorporated the design into a modern sil...

Marc Jacobs S10 Marc Jacobs is another designer with a fascination for emphasizing classic women's underthings. He styled his models with old-fashioned, satiny underwear over the clothes in Spring 08, a theme he repeated with gusto for Spring 10. Marc Jacobs S08 Unless your name is Lady GaGa (who sported the look at the Ace Awards this month) you're probably not planning on wearing this look but let's revel in the fact that there is a current celebrity who does. Marc Jacobs S10, Lady GaGa November 09 Runway shows aim to create a mood for the season and send messages about a designer's influences and future direction. Visible panty lines allude to freedom of expression, power and strength (Superman anybody?), and applaudable eccentricity (can't you just see the ladies of Grey Gardens prancing around the house with knickers on their heads?). Vivienne Westwood 1982 It's not the first time a designer has shown this "...