Tips & Trends

Jan 27

Spring forward to fashion

Whether or not you consider yourself a fashionista will be irrelevant, it looks like there is something for everyone in the styles now trending for Spring 2013.

For starters, the designers have incorporated a variety of textiles from leather to organza, chiffon, silk and lace.

If you like color, color is big – happy is in! Fashion houses have utilized the color palette from the bright spectrum, to the neutral spectrum with muted pastels and unexpected combinations of the standard black and white.

 

Another big thing on the runway as well as the retail racks is the animal prints, geometric patterns and bold stripes; interspersed with garments that feature floral motifs and extravagant looking sequin & crystal embellishments; or the abstract prints that reveal influences from Eastern territories.

We relish the popularity of the stripes because let’s face it, we all have different body types and stripes if used correctly can be a great camouflage – but we digress.

You will find gutsy (pun intended) crop tops, dresses with cut outs in the waist, short pants suits or pieces with exposé splits for those who wish to bare their chiseled mid-riff and toned legs, along with loose-fitting and flowing options for the more demure fashionista.

Pants, pants and more pants in any style, fabric and length. From the reemergence of the palazzo, to slim fits with pencil bottoms, cropped above the ankle selections, and tailored capris.

Then we have the ruffles – on the sleeves, adding drama to the front of the top, as a bib on both tops and dresses, or to form a peplum waist. Yes, the peplum waist is back on the rack and featuring big in store.

We can’t forget the tunics, worn as oversized shirts paired with shorts or as mini dresses – always a comfy choice.

With the myriad of options from the versatile ready-to-wear collections debuted on runways across the globe and available on the racks, there will definitely be something for everyone to feel sensual, flirty and worthy of the catwalk this Spring.

Stay tune, we are about to Spring forward at the isntshelovelystore.com.

  • Share
Jan 27

Dressing the part

Dear Fashionista:

A few days ago we witnessed history from our front row seat just below the television screen, popcorn and all.  Like the rest of the fashion community we also spent a little time gazing at the First Lady’s choices for inauguration.

What we absolutely adore about Mrs. Obama’s style is that she is ‘every woman’ – we can definitely relate.  Every outfit might not always be accessible from her specific designer, but then again we would expect her to have selections that will grace the corridors of the Smithsonian, after all she is our beloved FLOTUS.  Her style however, we can certainly imitate.

Like the fabulous Thom Browne, fit and flare, blue checkered, silk jacquard coat, inspired by a men’s silk tie according to the designer himself.  ISL has these Tracy Reese Plenty intricately embroidered trim and chic doubled breasted fit and flare coats that will get you donning the same sophisticated look at a fraction of the cost.

Plenty by Tracy Reese Black Princess Coat

We can’t offer you Mrs. Obama’s custom ruby colored, chiffon and velvet Jason Wu creation, but these stunning Max & Cleo and BCBGeneration ISL picks are guaranteed to get you noticed at that special event.

 

For the shorter, flirty look you may wish to consider:

 

What’s your favorite FLOTUS style?

  • Share
Jan 20

She’s got the look…

This weekend’s historical events definitely deserve a journal entry in our fashion diary.

We are sitting here glued to the television to catch every modicum of the coverage surrounding the 57th Presidential Inaugural pre-celebrations and ceremony. There is really no other way to say this – we are hooked!

On Saturday we watched the Kids’ Inaugural Concert, held in honor of the children of our military families and hosted by the First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden. Though we completely appreciate the significance of the event and were just as enthralled by the big name acts on stage as the other guy, we have to admit that like the rest of the fashion industry in particular we were dying to see Mrs. Obama’s style.

What’s our verdict? Mrs. Obama you rock! Sporting fabulous new bangs that have spawned its own life in the social and mainstream media – who knew that bangs could become a news item.

The First Lady was wearing what appears to be an Alexander McQueen Victorian Bustle Cotton Piqué Shirt over slim-fit black pants and, for that added pizzazz, a beautiful yellow belt with a dazzling bejeweled clasp to add a splash of color to the outfit.

To participate in the National Day of Service earlier in the day on Saturday, Mrs. Obama opted for the casual look in a geometric print top that reminded us of this ISL Tracy Reese Plenty Blue Violet Brickwall Surplice pick. She paired it with another black slim-fit pants and a mid-calf boot – a very appropriate selection for the event.

We love First Lady Michelle Obama’s look, but then again we always do. She’s got the look…

It’s a little too late to pick up that outfit to attend the public inaugural festivities. By the way, we are seething with jealousy at the thought, but enjoy it for all of us if you will be attending. You can however take part in another festive event of your own and that is the 20% discount storewide at the ISL Martin Luther King Day sale that is now just hours away.

Elegant selections like that Tracy Reese Plenty Blue Violet dress will be on sale, so don’t forget to log on and use the promocode MLUTHER.

We are signing off now and getting back to the news coverage – can’t wait to see Mrs. Obama’s Inauguration Day outfits.

  • Share
Jan 19

…thoughts of warm weather on the mind

 

Great finds to heat up your warm weather wardrobe

Summertime and the livin’ is easy…sing it Lady Ella!  You don’t have to have an appreciation for Jazz to comprehend this one.  Thoughts of warm weather are drifting through my mind.  Memories of beautiful sunny days; light and breezy fabrics that exude femininity; bright, citrus hues and sky blues; and sandals that let the toes go free.

Ah!  Let’s escape while we browse ISL’s glamorous selections that remind us of that tropical getaway.  Maybe you are even planning or have your bags permanently packed for a Spring Break in the Sunshine State.

Wherever you plan to enjoy the warm weather we have some sultry pieces now on sale under $100 that will inspire you.  Better yet, with the 20% off storewide discount in 3 days and counting, you could find some additional pieces in store at a steal.

Some options to consider:

 

Max & Cleo Cinched Waist Dress

Just too many to list them all, but we guarantee something for every taste.

Remember to use the Martin Luther King Day sale promocode MLUTHER to get that 20% discount storewide.

The countdown is on at isntshelovelystore.com for you to add those great finds to your shopping cart.

  • Share
Jan 18

Catwalk Conceptualized, Street Approved

 

Real Talk! We watch as models strut down the catwalk season after season in collections from some major design houses and, quite unsuccessfully we might add, try to envisage ourselves in the particular getup floating down the runway. A perfect fit for the catwalk, or perhaps if you are as fashion-forward as Rihanna, but a misfit on Main Street.

Not so for our featured designer Tracy Reese. There is something for everyone in her collections. Her fetching designs are ready to wear from the catwalk to the street.

It is no wonder that First Lady, Michelle Obama according to other reports has opted for Tracy Reese creations on at least a dozen occasions, the most recent being the elegant, gorgeous custom piece that the First Lady wore to address the Democratic National Convention last September. That in itself continues to catapult the already famed designer’s brand to a different level of stardom and would have definitely been an added boost for her Spring 2013 collection.

Speaking of Spring 2013, as usual Reese did not disappoint. She ripped the runway with the juxtaposition of silk, leather, tribal and animal prints, citrus hues, sequin embellished and intricately embroidered pieces that surprisingly rock together and affirmed that she is not afraid of color. In other cultures some might term it color blocking!

Can’t wait to shed the wool, knits and tights for as some have described it, the sporty, feminine, soft yet structured, bright and breezy selections in the Tracy Reese 2013 Spring Collection.

Maybe if we verbalize it, it just might speed up the process – warm weather here we come!

  • Share