Seeing Red

Photo by: Mr. Newton

The overall trend of the spring season seems to be raising the shock-factor - statement jewelry, sci-fi themes, and barely there sheers have all made an appearance, but using a concentrated punch of color in clever ways seems to be the way to go. Streets from New York to Paris have seen more and more stylers using red as an outfit game changer. Whether it's shoes, skirts, or little leather gloves, we loved how these women fired up their looks with an unexpected stroke of red. Best of all, red is a year-round classic, so this summer, swap your red suede pumps for a pair of simple red sandals, or pair that long red skirt with a silky tank.

Runaway Runways

Gen Xers looking to recapture your disaffected youth, this is your year. A recent grunge trend has inspired bare faces, greasy eyes, and deconstructed bed heads that haven't been seen since the early nineties.

This could have something to do with the recent release of the Runaways film, which premiered on March 11th. The film is based on and shares a name with the American all-girl teenage rock band that performed in the 1970s. The Runaways boasts A-list actresses like the Twilight Saga's Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning.


Make this trend your own by shopping the Runaway trend at UrbanMinx!

A Cut Above

The Fall 2010 runways at Paris Fashion Week kept last spring's ubiquitous cutout trend alive, resulting in slashes, perforations and gaping holes galore. And to think of all the moth-eaten sweaters and holey T-shirts we've stupidly thrown out over the years. This new provocative way to dress is strategically sexy: discreetly peekaboo, transparent but not trashy.

Take a look at these trend-setting cutout looks ... or just grab some scissors and start cutting.

Back in Black

Florals and saturated hues made our last fall fashion line-up seem unseasonably warm but now the classic drama of black has returned to the runways with refreshing new styles.

Strong themes among designers included the traditional military trends, silky gowns suited for silver screen starlets from the fifties, as well as heavy fur and feather textures that wouldn't be out of place in the more glamorous parts of Russia.

Shop this ageless trend at UrbanMinx.

Runway Rewind: Paris Fall RTW 2010 Part 2

UrbanMinx was so enamoured with the fashions featured on the Paris runways that we just had to give you a second glance. Look below to see the latest trends fresh from Paris ready-to-wear shows.

High Waisted Trousers

Hitch 'em up, ladies. High waisted trousers are back in for the fall and the style is pure elegance. The cut is slim and streamlined - made for legs to look a mile high. Pair your trousers with a skinny belt or longer coat to balance out your body.

Minamalist

Spring designs were all about the embellishments with what seemed like every garment fringed, flounced, and embroidered within a yard of its life. Now this fall we see fashions stripped to dramatic minimalist form. But don't confuse bare with boring - the fine cuts and oh-so-subtle details were only enhanced by the stark trend for a look as confident and refined as the quintessential Parisian woman.

Friends and colleagues mourned the passing of avant garde designer Alexander(Lee) McQueen with a celebration of his work yesterday in a gilded salon in Paris. Sarah Burton, his right hand, described how, in beginning this collection, McQueen had turned away from the world of the Internet, which he had so powerfully harnessed in his last show. "He wanted to get back to the handcraft he loved, and the things that are being lost in the making of fashion," she said. "He was looking at the art of the Dark Ages, but finding light and beauty in it. He was coming in every day, draping and cutting pieces on the stand." The 16 outfits shown had been 80 percent finished at the time of his death.

View the full collection here.

Runway Rewind: Paris Fall RTW 2010

Dark decadence was the prevailing theme on this year's Paris fall runways and we're loving every inch of the earthy fabrics and dusky shades. Read below for some of the top trends in ready-to-wear!


From the looks of the fashions pictured above Paris took last season's ruffles trend and ran with it, though these new styles have been remastered to fit in with fall themes. Gone are the gauzy pinks and piled organza- in their place are silks and velvets set in coppery shades of brown and jewel tones - perfect for luxe textured layering.

Camel is a rich fall hue easily paired with a myriad of skin tones and colours, which might explain its heavy popularity on the Paris runway. Seen in anything from knits to leather to feather-weight fabrics, camel made it's comeback in a way that was elegant and understated.

Our third trend is perfectly transparent in more ways than one, and while some of these styles may be a bit bold for the every day (we're looking at you Celine), sheer layers are a gorgeous fall representation of the feminine mystique, calling to mind thoughts of barely-there lingerie and midnight rendez-vous without putting your goodies out for the general public.

HiLo: The High Road

The biker trend is big on the fall ready-to-wear runways, and people are shelling out serious cash to get buckled, zipped and belted like in the Maison Martin Margiela Collarless Jersey Biker Jacket pictured at left. It's a simple style - elegant, edgy, and tagged with the lofty digits of $1200. At that price you'd better hope you're a biker already used to living on the road because you'll probably have to sell your house after buying it.

Okay, that might have been a bit of an exaggeration but the price certainly wasn't, and I can see a lot more sense in getting the almost-identical style from Juicy Couture's Motorcycle Jacket, priced at a moderate $198.

New Draft

The military theme has been a perennial runway favorite since the 70s. Anyone would be hard-pressed to imagine that something new might be salvaged from this tired trend, but luckily there are still some in the industry who can boast an imagination.

This season saw more than a few fresh interpretations of this style, displaying a surprising range in the incorporation of anything from feminine florals to an almost medieval-looking gold mesh. The trend turnaround means that military is now accessible to everyone. The feminine fatale might wear lace or pretty florals like pictured above, while the more modern minx might lean toward the leather look on the left.

Mixing and matching is the fun part, but it's always best to start with a good base. Check out these military-inspired items to jumpstart your look!

Runway Rewind: Milan Fall RTW 2010

Fall fashion week in Milan is off to a memorable start with a glam mix of understated elegance and out-there fashions. Below are a few of our favorites plucked from the top trends of the season.

The Professional

Dolce & Gabana might have been a little blazer-happy this season but they weren't the only ones. Designers all across the board were offering up their own renditions of modern business couture rich with unexpected elements like barely-there negligee or intricate metallic embroidery. We love the trim lines of the blazers pictured above, but we don't recommend wearing them a la Lady Gaga.

Pop-Up Prints

Amid the usual flood of dusky florals were some truly singular prints which captured just how vibrant and diverse Milan designers can be. Marni showed us nothing short of a geometric fun-house, and a handful of designers, including Marco de Vincenzo, turned toward eye-boggling abstracts that would have made the Masters proud.

Red, Red, Red

A confident Corvette red dominated as the shade of the season. No matter if it was used in a coquettish cocktail frock or a printed pant suit, its sultry siren call rang loud and clear from every style. This particular shade was seen most paired in riveting contrast with black or white.

Earn Your Stripes

Stripes made a strong comeback this season at New York's Fall RTW, though not in the conventional sense. Straightforward (and slightly nautical) stripes were out. In their place is every abstract interpretation of the line ever conceived.

Pictured above are the most traditional faces of the trend, but Fashion Week attendees saw everything from organic stripes verging on tribal to heavily structured styles branching every which way.

Shop the fresh faced stripes trend at UrbanMinx!

Also, learn how to wear stripes by visiting this how-to blog.

Prints Charming

When worn wrong prints can go completely awry, but done right they can make you look confident and sexy. Hollywood starlets Sienna Miller and Leighton Meester (pictured left to right) certainly have the right idea with their prospective prints.

The trick is to choose one printed piece and pair it with simple, untextured attire so that your print pops. Avoid anything too overwhelming; brights are in, but Bozo isn't. Even your boldest styles are best in moderation.

Muster your guster and try out this trend for yourself, but always make sure you're comfortable in what you're wearing. There's nothing worse than feeling awkward with all eyes on you.

Floral Fixation

While watching Ralph Lauren's 2010 Fall Ready-to-Wear show in New York we spotted a transitional trend that we can't wait to try - the simple but elegant use black layering pieces (i.e. cardigans or leggings) with airy florals.

The look is essentially spring-themed, but the layers help in the shift from cool weather to warm and makes for a clean contrasting style.

Shop florals at UrbanMinx to start this spring and fall friendly look!

G-Star Stands Out at NY Fashion Week

G-Star made their highly anticipated fall debut at New York's Fall/Winter Shows this Tuesday with a surprising splash of color. Signature pockets and collars showed the brand held true to their roots, but instead of the usual dour shades punctuated with the occasion flash of bright, the runway was flooded with electric shades of blue, yellow, and even green mixed in with the more muted tones of brown and beige.

Also novel was the runway, which in recent years has been populated with trampolines, shifting screens and myriad avant garde effects. This season saw an elegant (albeit stationary) runway with interlocking lines and a background of minimal lasers, but the simplicity of the set only made the styles pop more.

Watch the full video here or shop G-Star here at UrbanMinx and get 30% off with the coupon code GSTAR30 at checkout.

Minx Must Haves: Monochrome Minx

Draped fabrics and feminine florals have been pushed to the sidelines in the spring runway line-ups, to be replaced with the unexpected edge of monochromatic couture. Presenting a lovely kind of understated drama, the looks are all about contrast with cohesion.

This week's Minx Must haves pay tribute to the trend with myriad styles in the monochrome look. Shop Minx Must Haves here or browse through our latest Look Book.

Resolute Couture

There are some styles we wish had never surfaced, but alongside were a lot of fun trends to walk last year's runways too. Here's a list of what we think is cute enough to carry through to 2010:

Plaids: Put away the thoughts of burly lumberjacks and little houses on the prairie. Modern plaids are feminine and modern, often in lovely muted colours. The very epitome of casual chic, this particular trend was made popular by young starlets like Megan Fox and Miley Cyrus. Pair your plaids with classic blue jeans and pumps for a classic look.

Feminine Embellishments: Beads, sequins, rhinestones, and embroidery - the fashion world has fallen in love with frilly bits and we're never going back. Everything in moderation, of course. It's not recommended that you start swimming in Swarovskis, but small accents throughout your ensemble add a bit of old Hollywood glam.

Patent: Posh and polished, this is one of the hottest trends of the year. There's nothing quite as sexy as a girl in gloss. Spring style is taking a darker turn this year, so keep this edgy theme for future fashion dos.

Asymmetry: Off-balance is far from out. '09 saw an influx of sexy slants to classic styles and the skewed angle is still going strong, especially in evening-wear. Asymmetry is a simple way to create interest in an outfit and often has serious slimming capabilities when worn right.

Menswear for Women: Who knew androgyny could be so alluring? The balance has shifted and now the women are the ones wearing the pants. Fitted blazers, suspended trousers, crisp button-downs, and vests are all making an appearance. The trend still carries a feminine element with the subtle application of ruffles, statement accessories, and keeping with femme-friendly cuts, but this look runs strong on several levels.

Contrast Couture

Oscar de la Renta, Resort 2010

Winter runways were full of a lot of seasonal switches, favoring bright shades and rich textures against the more conventional and darker designs of the past.

And now the resort line-up is adding another spin in turning away from the usual brushed florals and nautical themes. In their place is a dramatic monochrome trend. The sharp contrast of black and white offers an almost mod-like style, but still very modern and oh so sharp.

Shop the black and white trend at UrbanMinx.

The Bold and the Beautiful

Summer has slipped out of sight, and with it go the warmer cosmetic trends. In their place come rich jewel tones and some pretty outrageous brights.

As shocking as many of the season's new shades look on the runway – and, let's be honest, in their pots, compacts and tubes – the wearability factor is actually quite high.

Many of the boldest shadows, for instance, actually go on quite sheer. And those that aren't can be tamed with judicious application.

Below are a few tips on how to turn this runway trend into your latest look:

• Instead of covering your entire lid with the brighter shade, do a smokier liner and then add a splash of color in the outer corner of your eye.

• Start with a sweep of vivid color, then dust it down to a more approachable shade with a shimmery nude shadow. Skip liner and finish with mascara.

• When it comes to vibrant blush – fuchsia, magenta or tomato red – it can tempered with a more neutral shade. On the cheekbone, where you would typically contour, use a bronzer to create a banana shape. On the apple, use the pop of color. If you exclusively use bold color, it'll turn dated. You have to give it something to melt into.

• Lip color is the one area where many women are less afraid to be daring. Fall's deep scarlets, wines and lacquer reds strike an ideal balance between retro and modern when skin is flawless and brows are refined. The best way to balance a deep, velvety lip is to have a really clean and groomed eyebrow with a defined arch. For a flawless look, take your time and use a lip brush. Color as bold as you dare to wear it.

Shop Napoleon Perdis for the best colour-infused cosmetics and take 30% off any one of their products at UrbanMinx by using the coupon code NP30 at checkout.

Good Odds on Ombre

The ombre trend really picked up this last summer season and it's still going strong well into winter. We're loving these new ombre knits from oh-so-romantic brand Nougat. The combination of soft fabrics and the even softer gradation of shades is absolutely gorgeous and two of the newest items are detailed with the feminine textures of silk rosettes.

Our new Nougat is what will carry you through the next season in high style. Shop Nougat at UrbanMinx!

Straight from the Glossies

Christian Dior. Paris Spring/Summer RTW 2010

The heavy hues and edgy cuts seen in this winter's runway wardrobes appear to have lingered on in the latest spring lines. Tucked in with breezy florals and feminine tints is a trend as refreshing as it is uncharacteristic.

A glossy patent sheen is popping up in nearly every designer line, most prevalently in an edgy black. The look adds a gorgeous contrast to the usually soft spring styles and creates drama without looking too outrageous.

Snag this look in our Straight from the Glossies section at UrbanMinx!

Runway to Reality: Stellar Style

Stella McCartney is the queen of chic, sleek stylings so it's no wonder that she'd wear this streamlined look to her latest spring/summer show.

Lucky for you, it's fairly easy to replicate. For her high-fashion, high-waisted denim, Hudson has what you need in their Wide Leg Patch Jean - washed in the deep-sea shade of aquarius. Next, slip on this LA Made Double U Tank in a crisp white and top it off with Rock & Republic's smart Weston Jacket. Footwear should be functional but fun - try the Button Up Boot from Irregular Choice.