In what's shaping up to be the most comfortable Spring '13 shoe trend, the lower-heel profile continues its takeover with the chic oxford. We've already waxed poetic on the kitten heel, but now we're veering into a more traditional flat shoe with a distinct borrowed-from-the-boys twist. Whether the silhouette is classic (think brogue detailing and a patent finish) or culls fashion-forward accents like metallic shine, exotic texture, leather cutouts, or colorblocking, there's certainly a more dynamic way to interpret (read: wear) the flat oxford look. Luckily, Alexander Wang, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Fendi, and even Zara have all crafted their own versions to appeal to a handful of style personalities. As for execution? Remember that these shoes work for day and night — and as long as you show a little ankle (at the very least), you're good to go. Click on for 16 of our favorite oxford picks now.
The Top 10 Reasons We Love New York Fashion Week
Now that the New York Fashion Week dust has settled, we've had time to fully digest a week's worth of parties, shows, favorite designer encounters, and every heart-stopping highlight. Some of our favorite moments are outrageous, others truly iconic — but each could only happen on the streets of NYC during one of the biggest, craziest, and best times of the year. In short, these are a few of our favorite Fashion Week things. Watch on for the top 10 reasons our editors love NYFW.
3.1 Phillip Lim Fall 2013 Runway
3.1 Phillip Lim delivered to his legions of fans with his cool-girl-chic Fall 2013 collection, shown in an industrial space inside the New York City central post office. The looks were almost uniformly layered — jackets on top of coats, motorcycle vests on top of sweaters, furry coats over chiffon dresses. There was still a tiny hint of the '90s nostalgia from his Spring 2013 collection in dark plaids and slouchy pants, but it was a modern take on the pantsuit in a shimmering navy that made it clear that the designer is looking forward now.
As for his much-loved accessories, this season's crop of handbags were small, flat, and structured, slung crossbody on narrow straps. Models' ears were adorned with shoulder-length peacock feather chandelier earrings designed by Alexis Bittar. The jewelry maestro explained that he wanted to "stay away from being so architectural" and that the design of the earrings were "definitely more feminine feeling — very flowy and airy, with a '60s influence." Where footwear was concerned, Phillip Lim made a strong statement in support of over-the-knee sandal boots and square-toed mules. He showed a fresh take on eveningwear with double denim covered in sparkling badges and patches. Click through now to see the collection in full.
— Additional reporting by Brittney Stephens
Runway Retrospective: 3.1 Phillip Lim
The tour de force of our favorite designers and their collections past continues right here with a look at the ever-talented Phillip Lim. Read on to see his collections as we prep for New York Fashion Week's impending kickoff.
Phillip Lim debuted at Fashion Week with a presentation of his Fall 2006 collection and then showed his Spring 2007 collection the following season on the runway. Since its beginning, the label's been praised for its cool and easy aesthetic, combining the worlds of street style and ladylike elegance in collections filled with subtle femininity. With a celebrity fan base that includes so many of our favorites — Kate Hudson, Kate Bosworth, Natalie Portman — he's created a wildly popular brand with major staying power. Click through to get a glimpse of Lim's past collections as we eagerly await his Fall '13 lineup.
Textures Give All Black a Luxe Touch — Get the Look
All black never looked so chic, thanks to this perfectly put together bit of street style. Utilizing Winter's cozy textures, this styler paired a warm shearling jacket with a cuddly gray knit topper and a leather skirt. The cherry on top? Her slick Givenchy wedge boots not only keep her legs warm, the structured shape injects a cutting-edge tilt to her downtown getup. You too, can achieve the same textural Winter look with just a few key pieces; just shop our editors' similar picks below and get ready to turn heads.

Shop clockwise starting left: Nasty Gal Great Heights shearling jacket ($115), Phillip Lim embellished sweater ($215, originally $475), French Connection leather skirt ($120, originally $288), Maison Martin Margiela wedge boot ($346, originally $770)
Source: Adam Katz Sinding
Small Victories: 14 Little Bags at the Top of Our Wish List
Serving as the happy medium between big satchels and small clutches, it's no wonder why we love little bags so much. These perfectly sized bags are ideal for those days when you don't have to lug around your laptop (or don't want to) or when you want to keep the load light on weekend shopping trips, concert excursions, and on a night out — you catch our drift. The bottom line: these little bags are packed with possibilities, despite their outward appearance, for you to wear now and straight into Spring. And while we value our roomy totes and carry-everything shoulder bags, it's time we downsized, the stylish way. Thus, we've handpicked the best of the bunch for you to shop. From this patent silver Proenza Schouler PS11 mini to Jason Wu's coloblocked crossbody, herein find the prettiest, most irresistible minibags on the market right now.
12 Chic Camel-Hued Pieces to Polish Off Your Style
Camel is one of those colors that just refuses to go out of style and we totally appreciate its stubborn nature. No matter what time of day or what season you wear it, it still manages to look relevant, not to mention supersophisticated. That's why we think it's a good idea to invest in a few camel items that will add instant posh and polish to all your outfits. One of our favorite finds is 3.1 Phillip Lim's camel-colored satchel — we envision it breathing major life into your work wardrobe. Another easier way to get in on the look is to throw on a camel scarf or cinch your dresses and pants with a skinny camel belt. Or, if you want something more in your face, there's always chic camel coats, tops, pants, and shoes. Step inside to discover our favorite camel-colored pieces right now, then shop the one(s) that speak to your unique aesthetic.
Phillip Lim's Leather Overalls Are Practically Sold Out — Would You Wear Them?
We might be in a recession, but that's not stopping fashion girls from spending big bucks on the latest craze — Phillip Lim's leather overalls. Ringing in at a cool $1,400 (and practically sold out everywhere online and in stores), — see a more detailed look here — Lim's luxe ode to the '90s is a surefire way to inject a refreshing tilt to your cold weather look. We've been seeing overalls popping up more and more as of late, but the Fab team is torn on whether this leather rendition is taking it too far. While some of us would wear Lim's decadent rendition in a fashion heartbeat, others are just not into this burgeoning throwback trend. That said, we need your help deciding: if money weren't an issue, would you sport Phillip Lim's superluxe leather overalls?

Source: Phil Oh
Suzy Menkes's Award, Vogue's March, and Margiela's New Site

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Those stories and more here in our daily news roundup.
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- The Municipality of Florence will award Suzy Menkes the Fiorino d'Oro — an award for contributions to the city — during the upcoming Pitti Uomo men's trade show. [WWD]
br> - If rumors are to be believed, Vogue has tapped Beyoncé for its March 2013 cover. [HuffPost Style]
br> - Over 100 retailers, including DVF, Helmut Lang, Marc Jacobs, and Tory Burch, are offering postholiday markdowns on select merchandise. [Racked]
br> - Many retailers hope their new promotions will make up for a lower-than-expected holiday shopping numbers. [WWD]
br> - In related news, Maison Martin Margiela has relaunched its website. [MMM]
br> - It's official: Terry Richardson is making a documentary about Lady Gaga. [Fashionista]
br> - Phillip Lim's pop-up store in Hong Kong, which opened its doors last week and will stay open for 10 months, is the brand's first temporary space in Asia. [3.1 Phillip Lim]
Photo courtesy of Maison Martin Margiela for H&M.
3.1 Phillip Lim Pre-Fall 2013
The spirit of riding a roaring Harley down an open highway permeated Phillip Lim's Pre-Fall 2013 collection. If the leather jackets and pants with quilted knee panels didn't express that feeling enough, the stylized phoenix and zippers that acted as decorations should.
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Those pieces were appealing enough on their own, but Lim balanced them with garments that even dedicated pedestrians will want to wear. Of note: otherwise simple skirts featuring asymmetrical hems, outerwear with rounded shoulders, oversize knitwear pieces, and a pale green parka that looked perfectly cozy paired with a navy snood and maroon trousers.
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Photos courtesy of 3.1 Phillip Lim.





