• Three Screen Beauties, Three Fall Fashion Palettes

    What do screen stunners Katherine Heigl, Patricia Clarkson and Rosario Dawson all have in common? Gorgeous. Talented. And they each have strong and unique personalities that call for three very different Fall color schemes…

     

    When screen stunner Katherine Heigl has something to tell us, we tend to listen up — girl knows how to work her threads! At Jenny Packham, our gal spotted “10 dresses that I would die to wear!” Our takeaway? Use your colors to evoke depth and mood. Jewel-y emeralds, blues and pinks are a match for Katherine’s thoughtful smarts and style.

    Katherine Heigl backstage at Jenny Pakham

    Katherine Heigl backstage at Jenny Pakham

    Jenny Pakham

    Jenny Pakham: Subdued hues don’t soften the impact

     

    Over at Nanette Lepore, film icon Patricia Clarkson called the designer’s work “breathtaking.” She was loving the Mars-inspired collection’s planetary palette — olives, reds and turquoise. Out-of-this-world designs + down-to-earth hues = beautiful balance (just like Ms. Clarkson’s own brand of eccentric glamour).

    Patricia Clarkson

    Patricia Clarkson, front and center at Nanette Lepore

    Nanette Lepore

    Nanette Lepore: Out of this world color? Mission accomplished.

     

    Rosario Dawson went for Boy Meets Girl‘s “very modern” mix of punchy neons, greens and yellows. Playful, brave and for those who want to wear their fashion out loud… Perfect match, we think!

    Rosario Dawson

    The never-shy Rosario Dawson

    Boy Meets Girl took bold strides down the runway

    Boy Meets Girl took bold strides down the runway

     


  • Leather, Lunges, Prints & Prowess: More Trends to Test!

    NYFW has wrapped, folks. (Sad face, right?!) But we’re still reeling from the runways over here at AOP. Ready for another day in the life of Fall Fashion? File this one under: ALL occasions…

    'lectric blue leather at DL 1960

    ‘lectric blue leather at DL 1961

    Because who DOESN’T want to slip into denim and leather on the daily?!?!  DL 1961 showed us a little something we call sexy-casual and, really, what’s easier than doing the urban look all simple and sleek? And blue leather? That’s electric. Speaking of…

    Carmen was ready to work it at Betsey Johnson!

    Carmen was ready to work it at Betsey Johnson!

    We caught up with Carmen Electra at Betsey Johnson and she was inspired, we were inspired, everyone — get inspired! Betsey showed all of us that it’s OKAY to take your activewear to the next level. So much neon to kickstart the heart —  we love!

    Betsey's bold take on active fashion

    Betsey’s bold take on active fashion

    While we’re on the topic of bold… You can mean business without blending in, you know. It’s gonna be a cinch to keep your professional wear on the stand-out with Fall’s mega print explosions.  Zero + Maria Cornejo used pixelated digi-images to remind us — the best prints are one-of-a-kind (And shades of grey? Anything but dreary…)

    Printed up at Zero + Maria Cornejo

    Printed up at Zero + Maria Cornejo

    But at the end of the day, mystery wins. So if you’re going out — go femme, go fatale! Badgley Mischka took their cues from Hitchcock’s screen sirens and SO CAN YOU.

    Throwing femme fatale face at Badgley

    Throwing major femme fatale face at Badgley Mischka

    Songstress Colbie Caillat gushed about Badgley Mischka’s legendary fabness, and we bet she’ll be heading into the nighttime in one of their leading lady looks come the cooler months!

    We caught up with Colbie Caillat at Badgley Mischka

    Chattin’ it up with Colbie Caillat at Badgley Mischka

     

     

     

     

     


  • From Day to Night: Around the Clock Fall Trends

    We sat back and let these designers school us on two ways to do day, and two ways to do night. The one thing they all had in common? Burgundy. (Ladies, trust us — start thinking about how you’re going to work it in this fall…)

     

    Daytime Trend: Lush Conservative
    Derek Lam showed us how a simple color palette is anything but basic when you’re talking luxe materials. Wearable navy, black, burgundy, creams and camels… Classic, chic, and the stuff of endless wardrobe combos!  Work with suedes and wools to keep your neutral look a cut above.

    Classic in camel at Derek Lam

    Classic in camel at Derek Lam

     

    Daytime Trend: Funky West Coast Mod
    Purples, berries, teals and tweed all over! Trina Turk turned it up with 1960’s Cali-inspired day-wear Chunky knits, vests and retro-brights are an easy way to play off of this look. (And who wasn’t waiting for the swirly patterned neck scarf to make a comeback?)

    Trina Turk's updated Cali-moderne

    Trina Turk’s updated Cali-moderne

     

    PM Trend: Work It Like a Lady
    Model Molly Sims doesn’t call Carolina Herrera “elegant” for nothing. We caught some major dame-royale evening looks on her runway! Blue and burgundy tones and floral patterns looked right in line next to classic champagnes and whites. But, really, doing nighttime like a lady is all about dripping in chiffon, fur and satin — GORG!

    Lady parade on the Carolina Herrera runway

    Lady parade on the Carolina Herrera runway

    Molly Sims & Maggie Grace with Carolina Herrera, backstage

    Molly Sims & Maggie Grace with Carolina Herrera, backstage

     

    PM Trend: Russian Grandeur
    Pamella Roland showed us how to channel St Petersburg. This is an evening option that takes the black and gold trend to its grand glitzy hilt! Gowns draped with fur and feather collars and trims — sophisticated grandeur is IN for Fall. And what’s a Russia-inspired without touches of… (you guessed it)… burgundy.

    Stunning shoulder plume at Pamella Roland

    Stunning shoulder plume at Pamella Roland

    Black, gold & fur at Pamella Roland

    Black, gold & fur at Pamella Roland

     


  • Fall Fashion 2013: Work The Trends, Own The Looks

    After a week in the trenches at NYFW, we can tell you — strong lady looks are where it’s at! And we at AOP know that strong ladies are of many moods, so here’s how four different designers interpret what makes for bold, beautiful and in-control…

     

    Fancy yourself Fresh and Strong? Think tomboy, Brit-punky, edgy… and still feminine! Rebecca Taylor rocked the “pretty tough” look with glitz, zippers, and plenty of tailored jackets and vests — a little polish goes a long way.

    Rebecca Taylor

    Boy-girl is fresh together at Rebecca Taylor

     

    A Powerhouse Amazon? You know who you are, so does Herve Leger! HL upped the sporty-go-luxe vibe with pieces sculpted to fit every last curve. Plus, we learned that accessories galore balance a form-hugging figure — stop traffic AND keep it practical.

    Herve Ledger

    Curves and purpose at Herve Ledger

     

    Stand-Apart Trend-Setter? VPL introduced a mix of bold dimensions, flowing cuts and even – gasp! – crochet embellishments. This is the stuff for the gal who knows how to own her look — wear it like you mean it, and no trend is impossible.

    VPL

    Knitted up modern at VPL

     

    And because The Statuesque Dame never goes out of style… Catherine Malandrino reminded us that nothing commands attention like a long, sleek figure. Keeping it clean and high waisted creates that eloooongated effect… The illusion of a few more inches? Confidence-booster, no doubt!

    Catherine Malandrino

    Small torso, longer silhouette at Catherine Malandrino


  • NYFW Trend Update: Teaming Textures, Powerful Proportions and Black is Back!

    Don’t say we didn’t warn you — if there’s one trend you can trust will dominate Fall 2013, it’s texture. And lots of it. Tweed, leather, fur… even transparent rain gear at Lacoste! It’s been a straight up texture riot at NYFW, and the bigger the contrasts… the more everything seems to blend just right! Feel free to go at this trend with gusto, gals!

    Project Runway's parade of texture

    Project Runway’s parade of texture

    We also caught major proportion performances at Project Runway, Charlotte Ronson and, once again, Lacoste. The most popular silhouette for his trend — ballooning tops over slim-cut bottoms. That’s some attention-grabbing shape, for sure!

    Proportion popping silhouette at Lacoste

    Proportion popping silhouette at Lacoste

    And it’s time again to celebrate the almighty basic black! Easy to build on and, with all the added kick of fellow texture and proportion trends, maybe not so basic afterall… Charlotte Ronson tapped her inner Brit and splashed her dark line with sixties inspired hunter green blooms, and we just looove all the turns leather is taking this year. Have a look:

    Basic black meets a shower of flowers at Charlotte Ronson

    Basic black meets a shower of flowers at Charlotte Ronson

    Zip into a full leather Lacoste dress

    Zip into a full leather Lacoste dress

    Black works the bulky over skinny look at Lacoste

    Black works the bulky over skinny look at Lacoste

     

     


  • From Runway to Your Closet… It’s Trend Round-Up Time!

    Girls, it’s that point in Fashion Week when it’s time to get your trends down! We’ve spied a few common threads tying together some top name Fall 2013 collections, and here’s few tips before you get your shopping on — think reds, think textures, think metallics!

     

    We saw red on the runway as early as The Red Dress Collection, and it just keeps coming…

    Edun did reds darkly, mixing in bruise-y and punch tones of the hue du season...

    Edun did reds darkly, mixing in bruise-y and punch tones of the hue du season

    Max Azria’s BCBG line showed us how to layer up on textures, and we caught more “polished edgy” combos at Edun — helloooo, leather and tweed — très rawk! Edun also worked some heavy flashes of night-owl worthy silver into the mix…

    Full-body splash of silver at Edun

    Full-body splash of silver at Edun

    Who else shined out? Earthy tones and neutrals collided with sparkling futuristic metallics at Kenneth Cole. His city-warrior wear manages to mix layered textures and mega metallics in a way that looks ready to step right from runway to sidewalk. Major urban edge! Peek it…

    Future-treated earth tones at Kenneth Cole

    Future-treated earth tones at Kenneth Cole

    Mixing textures and shine at Kenneth Cole

    Mixing textures and shine at Kenneth Cole

     

     


  • Catching Up With Bono at Edun

    Guess who we caught up with backstage at Edun? That’s right — husband of label mastermind Ali Hewson — aka Bono.

    Edun's Ali Hewson & husband Bono

    Edun’s Ali Hewson & husband Bono

    Though he swerved modest when describing his personal style (“I’d say… low”), and offered that he knows nothing about fashion (“I feel like an intruder here [at Fashion Week].”), well… we say the iconic singer proved to know quite a bit, starting with this take on Ali — “She knows what she’s talking about.” We agree. We also agree with Bono’s bon mots on the topics of fashion:

     

    ON THE FASHION INDUSTRY & PREPARATION BEHIND EDUN’S FALL 2013 LINE:
    “… Fashion… wow. … it’s really tough. You gotta really believe in what you’re doing.”

     

    “You have to be fearless. And you have to go for something new. And if you go for something new, then people may not get it.”

     

    ON WIFE ALI HEWSON’S INTERPRETATION OF EVOLVING TRENDS:
    “… You have this sort of pseudo-glamour thing going … And then you have the reaction to that … this sort of grunge-y, anti-glamour school … and she’s found some kind of hybrid … it looks very fresh to me.”

    Edun on the runway

    Edun on the runway

    ON MUSIC & FASHION… AND HIS ROLE IN IT:
    “There’s always been a relationship, even if it’s an anti-fashion stance.”

     

    “What do I know? I had a mullet, you know what I mean?”

    That mullet in the 80s? Forgiven.

    That mullet in the 80s? Forgiven.


  • BCBGMAXAZRIA Wants You To Mix It Up!

    Our first Fashion Week swoon? The soft-yet-edgy “hip gypsy” vibe at BCBG! For his Fall 2013 collection, Max Azria played with up to five different colors and textures at a time to pull off his flirty-sophisto layered boho looks. And, ooooh, heads up — turns out the slouchy knit hat is seeex-ay! Go for a fresh face and highlighted cheekbones to play up the face-framing toppers perfectly!

     

    Our front-row friends at LifeMinute shared the scoop: