FabSugar

Trend Alert: Two-Tone Frocks

FabSugar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:00:08 PDT

Have you been crashed by the sudden wave of two-tone frocks yet? If not, get your two-tone on now. Unlike most dresses, these give the illusion of separates. While an onlooker may think you spent a lot of time pairing a skirt and a top, really you only took a few seconds to slip on your genius two-tone frock. They're effortless, flattering, and fun. And they come in all sorts of color combos. What's not to love?

Trend Alert: Two Toned

FabSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 03:00:22 PDT

Sadly, not all of us can pull off this Armani Prive tonal black strapless gown. But all can be inspired by its two toned appeal. A bit Jekyll, and a bit Hyde, these pieces deliver some style surrealism. The effect spans clothes and accessories, so choose to be dramatic, be Klum.

The adventurer in me has been eyeing this Marc by Marc Jacobs "Twinsie" Cardigan ($268). Not only am I a cardigan collector, I am also crushing on anything gray. This is not your typical cardi; two toned, here I come!

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Rodarte Fall 2012

Marisa Tom — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:35:12 PST

Leave it to Kate and Laura Mulleavy to not only draw a star-studded front row - hello, George Lucas, Natalie Portman, and Dakota Fanning - but to deliver a stellar, 1940s-inspired Fall '12 collection too. One part cave-drawing-infused, one part retro femme, and one part Australian outback-reminiscent, Rodarte showcased a beautiful mix of totally girlie pieces with both red-carpet appeal and wearable ladylike style. The sister duo paid close attention to feminine details á la Peter Pan collars, artfully structured ruffles, and metal star appliqué hair combs. Yet, never ones to shy away from throwing some quirk into the picture, they added literal hand prints to long, flowy evening gowns and added cowboy buckles to double-strap leather belts. The biggest covet-worthy takeaway from today's show? After several seasons of collaborating with key shoe designers like Nicholas Kirkwood and Christian Louboutin, the Mulleavy sisters debuted their first-ever in-house shoe collection. We're calling it: Rodarte's two-tone pumps with heels made of plexiglass, sexy dominatrix-inspired spat heels, and lace-up boots will be Fall '12 It girl items. All in all, it's a gorgeous autumnal lineup, just begging to be worn.

Trends: Cropped cable-knit sweaters, hand-print chiffon dresses, and 1940s-inspired silhouettes.
Colors: Warm, earthy tones like rust and terracotta juxtaposed against cool neutrals.
Key Piece: Super-cute chunky cable-knit sweaters paired with terracotta-hued trousers; diaphanous hand-print chiffon dresses.
Accessories: Ladylike round-toe pumps with heels made of plexiglass or filled with sand, sexy lace-up gladiator-inspired spat heels. Look out for the subtleties in each heel design.
Who Would Wear It: Front-row attendees Natalie Portman and Dakota Fanning are high up on the list, but we think a plethora of A-list talent will be clamoring to wear this collection. Don't be surprised to see Taylor Swift, Alexa Chung, Kirsten Dunst, and Elle Fanning flaunting Rodarte's wares, too.

J.Crew Fall 2012

Chi Diem Chau — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:02:48 PST

J.Crew's packed Fall 2012 presentation showed a bevy of vibrant structured coats, eye-catching knitwear, and a refreshing mix of printed trousers. Almost every look has a sporty twist to it - we especially loved the casual pullovers made in silk floral prints, brushed fleece tops, and what has now become the brand's signature, daytime-appropriate sequins. Other standout pieces included a cozy two-toned tweed coat, leather trimmed jackets, and pajama-inspired pants. For accessories, VP of women's design Tom Mora provided major eye candy in the way of pastel candy-colored Manolo Blahnik pumps, Patricia Underwood hats, sleek snake-print bags, and textured clutches. More highlights below, then check out the complete collection in the slideshow.

Trends: Printed trousers, sporty, daytime sequins, tweed, snakeskin prints.
Colors: Emerald, brown, hot pink, orange, mustard yellow, blue, gray.
Key Piece: We can't wait to get our hands on the two-toned tweed coat.
Accessories: Reptilian print bags, shearling satchels, tweed clutches, point-toe Manolo Blahnik pumps, Patricia Underwood hats.
Who Would Wear It: Women who crave classic looks with a refreshing twist like Michelle Obama and Olivia Palermo.

Minka Kelly Shares Her Heart-Healthy Fitness and Diet Tips

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:02:38 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

Esquire magazine once named actress Minka Kelly the “sexiest woman alive," so walking in the Heart Truth’s Red Dress Fashion Show to raise awareness for women’s heart health should be a breeze, right? Not quite. “I’ve been nervous all week!” Kelly said when we got the chance to chat with her on her new ambassador title with Diet Coke. We caught up with the brunette bombshell hours before showtime to get the scoop on how she lives a heart-healthy lifestyle, the exercises she swears by, and more.

Tell us about your partnership with Diet Coke and Heart’s Truth Red Dress Fashion Show. What made you decide to get involved?

Before I started working with Diet Coke as an ambassador, I wasn’t even aware that heart disease is the number-one killer for women. I figured this would be a chance for me to use my voice and let other women know how important it is to eat right and exercise to keep your heart in good health.

How do you manage to stay in shape, especially with such a busy schedule?

I try to do yoga every morning at 7 a.m.; it’s good to get your workout out of the way early. I also work out with my trainer Gunnar Peterson two days a week on top of that. I owe him a lot of credit for the shape I’m in because I love to eat! I have to work out extra hard to balance my love for food out.

Keep reading to learn how Minka Kelly is trying defying gravity.

Michelle Williams's Gorgeous BAFTA Dress Is . . . H&M!

Marisa Tom — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:00:00 PST

The art of a well-executed surprise never goes unappreciated, and this one is too good not to admire. Case in point: Michelle Williams stunned at the BAFTA awards in a bespoke black-and-ivory H&M gown. Believe it. At first glance we assumed the consummately chic actress had opted for Chanel or Prada, but it looks like we've been treated to something totally new and unexpected. She complemented her strapless, boutonniere-adorned gown with a quirky faux Arthur Miller novel-cum-Olympia Le-Tan clutch and a statement collar necklace. Good news for anyone that can't get enough of this dress: a gold top ($40) and black skirt ($30) inspired by her gown will be available in select H&M stores in April, as part of the launch of the brand's exclusive Conscious collection. While we wait to get out hands on Michelle's sweet, simple evening ensemble, the real question remains - would you have ever guessed that this two-toned number was a custom H&M creation?

Yigal Azrouël Fall 2012

Marisa Tom — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:52:22 PST

Yigal Azrouël designed his Fall '12 collection for a woman who is "fearless in her outlook and quiet in her confidence." Drawing from the spirit of Françoise Hardy, Yigal sent sophisticated, ladylike looks with an exotic twist down the runway. To put it simply, it was a luxurious mélange of plush raccoon-fur cossacks, long cashmere coats with leather-trimmed pockets, pebble-printed silk jumpsuits, snakeskin gloves, and one jaw-dropping laser-cut crepe leather gown. Add to the mix lambskin pants and structured leather jackets in a covetable palette of autumnal henna, bordeaux, and evergreen hues, and you've got a cold-weather wardrobe worth lusting after. As Yigal put it, this collection is all about "the unintentional beauty in mystery."

Trends: Ultra-luxe outwear, contoured hoods, reinvented wool silhouettes, and exotic textures.
Colors: Henna red, bordeaux purple, muted navy, pale forest green, and slick black-and-brown combos.
Key Piece: We love the juxtaposition of this floor-length black gown - precise laser-cut detail and daring proportions all in one go.
Accessories: Plush add-ons; two-tone fur and leather booties, leather-trimmed pockets, snakeskin gloves, and raccoon-fur hats.
Who Would Wear It: The effortlessly poised woman with a flair for surprise, like Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham.

Peter Som Fall 2012

FabSugar — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:15:19 PST

Katharine Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich served as Peter Som's inspiration for his Fall 2012 collection - specifically, their knack for exuding femininity even when they donned menswear. The show started with a pretty ode to Winter white - monochromatic outfits got a textural punch thanks to cool fabric combinations like wool with organza. The play between masculine and feminine came through via tailoring and textures: streamlined silhouettes were softened with details like eyelet and bonded satin. There were strong sculptural references in the ultra-fitted tops that suddenly burst into waves of peplum, and wrap jackets structured with molded balloon sleeves. And what of the glamour that Hollywood icons like Hepburn and Dietrich were famous for? It came through in the luxe furs, particularly a teal fur coat over a twill voile pant that glimmered under the runway lights.

Trends: Multicolored fur, balloon sleeves, peplum, architectural silhouettes.
Colors: Plum, emerald, ivory, ruby.
Key Piece: The peplum tops are a must have for their mix of fantastic tailoring and femininity.
Accessories: Aperlai did the shoes, including two-tone pumps.
Who Would Wear It: Olivia Palermo sat front row, and we bet she'll be wearing the peplum tops next season. Confident, fashion-loving girls who crave a statement piece will dig this collection.

Look of the Day: Cool Contrasts

FabSugar — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:00:24 PST

Fab reader Chanelcraves looked ultrachic in a black-and-white ensemble. She executed the long-short silhouette with flawless precision by contrasting her two-tone sheer blouse with her uneven-hemmed maxi skirt. To polish off her Fashion Week-ready outfit, she added a large camel-colored tote, gold collar necklace, and chunky Mary Jane platforms. We can picture her sitting front row at Jason Wu or Calvin Klein being snapped by the street-style shutterbugs.

Congrats Chanelcraves!

Everyone else, submit your looks, and we might just feature you on FabSugar!

Beyond Red: Decorating With Ruby Hues

Elka Karl — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:25:49 PST

When it comes to deep saturated color, ruby rules the red tones. This saturated color originally was used to represent the color that best expressed the ruby gemstone. Its gorgeous red color strikes me as passionate, regal, and perfect for adding to your home decor.

Ruby is actually an easier shade to decorate with than straight red, thanks to the brown and purple tones present in varying shades of the color. Essentially, this means you have a red shade that plays well with a variety of other colors. Try mixing a ruby-red chandelier with a duck's-egg shade of painted walls, or add a ruby-red sofa to an eclectic mix of multihued wood furniture and patterned upholstered chairs.

For a modern ruby chandelier that won't strain your pocketbook, try the Boom Lucite Chandelier ($105). Inspired by papercut art, the chandelier features two planes of voluptuous laser cut into lucite curls. For an even greater impact, try hanging a cluster of three.

The color mix in Flavor Paper's Shore Leave Wallpaper ($150) has a fun edge, which matches the imagery. Designed by Emily Minnie, the pattern features old-school tattoo images including stars, pinup girls, and anchors. I'd love to see this papering a powder room in a roller derby girl's home.

Perhaps my absolute favorite find is the Hans Wegner Oculus Chair ($5,500). Available in a variety of colors, this gorgeous chair features a wool upholstery and a stainless steel base. Originally designed in 1960, Carl Hansen & Son began reproducing the Oculus chair three years ago based on the prototype still owned by Wegner's family.

Did something else catch your eye? Click the image to shop your ruby-red favorite.

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MARC BY MARC JACOBS 'Twinsie' Cardigan - Sold Out	Chloe Two Toned Sunglasses - Wine/Grey - Sold Out
Cynthia Steffe Keyhole Dress - Sold Out	Two Tone Lacquered Bangle - Sold Out
Lovely People Women's Angela Flat - Sold Out	C&C California Janet Tank - Sold Out
Marc Jacobs Daydream Suvi Tote- Dark Orchid - Sold Out	Georgina Goodman Women's Florie Two-Tone Pump - Sold Out
O'Neill - Jackson Thermal Hoodie (Cayenne) - Sold Out	Nordstrom Two Tone Fedora - Sold Out
Hayley Tulip Tote - Sold Out	Prada violet two-tone leather belt - Sold Out