Rag Report: InStyle Serves Up Spring

Rag Report dives under the covers of fashion publications to rant or rave about all the glossy goodness.

Now that it’s warming up, it’s time to snatch off those layers, brighten up and show off some of spring’s fabulous accessory trends. The April issue of InStyle gave us a preview of what we’ll see in the stores and on fashionistas everywhere.

Here's a sample from “The Top 9 Trends to Try Now” in InStyle’s Spring Accessories Trends of 2010.

Bright Wedges: This trend is great because wedges are a comfortable way to wear heels and show off that fresh pedicure all at once. Instyle says they look great with tailored shorts or cropped, straight-leg jeans — depending on how much leg you want to show. 

Boho Clutches: There isn’t much to say about these fabulous patterns and textures. Instyle tells us not to be afraid to pair these with print clothing as long as they share the same color palette.

Stacked Bangles: It would be a crime to overshadow gorgeous bangles like these. Adding any other statement jewelry would give off a Liberace vibe — and not in a good way. These could easily dress up a cardigan and jeans or add more flavor to a cocktail dress. Instyle says to stack three or four of these in varying textures and colors. 

Two-tone frames: We think sunglasses are a year-round accessory, but with these two-tone frames and colored lenses, we can almost hear Will Smith’s Summertime playing when they go on. Instyle says, find some that pair two neutral hues or bright hues of the same color palette. Two random, bright colors is way too much.
 

Layered Chains: This look is so glamorous that it would look great with a plain, white crew neck T. If you don’t want to go buy a layered chain, Instyle says to combine link necklaces of different lengths and colors to get an all-in-one effect.

- Rosalind Dean

Rag Report: Summer's cuts and colors

Rag Report dives under the covers of fashion publications to rant or rave about all the glossy goodness.

 

 Instyle's colorful spread

What’s not to like about this editorial? V’s Brazilian beauty, Morena Baccarin — and her legs — dons some of spring’s sweetest prints.  Featuring Gucci, Jason Wu and Pucci, to name a few, this Instyle Magazine spread is something we could all use for color and cut inspiration this season.


In the feature shot, Baccarin is wearing a geometric print dress with a metal and leather belt and leather and suede platform sandals — all by Gucci.  The dress would be fabulous on a mannequin, but it almost looks like it was made for Baccarin.  The black and grey Rorschach blots contrast beautifully against the sharp lines and pieces of orange and blue.  The shoes also have a slight geometric feel, which really finishes off the look.

 

The perf match between hair and dress

For those of you thinking of a short cut this summer, wearing dresses with embellished or exaggerated sleeves is a great match.  In this photo, Baccarin wears a silk taffeta dress by Jason Wu.  The ruffled sleeves are shown off because of her pixie haircut and the deep v-neck.  Of course, those of you with the long-hair-don’t-care mantra could always just pull the hair back into a chignon.

 

A lux beach cover-up option

This silk jersey dress by Emilio Pucci serves as a spring break/summer preview that could be worn as a super chic cover-up on the beach.  Grey and yellow always have such a delicate contrast that they can easily transfer from spring through summer.  The sequined leather sandals give the impression of golden fish scales, also a great look for spring/summer.

- by Rosalind Dean

Rag Report: Making a 'Great Escape'

Rag Report dives under the covers of fashion publications to rant or rave about all the glossy goodness. 

American-born model and actress Amber Valletta is causing quite a buzz in fashion publications this fall. 

First, she posed on the September cover of V Magazine. The next month, she modeled glitter and sequins in the Instyle editorial "Sparkle & Shine."

Amber Valletta in Elle Nov. 2009

This November, Valletta is the leading lady in the Elle shoot “The Great Escape” photographed by Michelangelo di Battista. In the shoot, Valletta plays the role of a stylish and independent woman on the move, alongside Michael Rady from the CW’s Melrose Place.

Amber Valletta and Michael Rady in Elle Nov. 2009

He poses as the sexy hitchhiker that Valletta picks up on her journey. Decked out in structured jackets, prints and layers of jewelry, Valletta’s looks are feminine and sassy.  

Our favorite shot features Valletta in a powder blue zippered jacket, printed silk shorts and a yellow bowler bag. The hazy background of the shot perfectly compliments the yellow and orange tones in the shorts and purse.

  

Amber Valletta in Elle Nov. 2009  

Undeniably, the models and clothes are gorgeous. But the best part of this shoot is the lighting. A soft glow of sunshine lingers on the edges of the photos giving them a sense of romance and effortless glamour.  

In this editorial, Elle sends a clear message:  finding ‘a great escape’ is exactly what every girl needs to be doing this fall.

- by Carine Umuhumuza 

"Look of the Day" is InStyle

In my quest to become more knowledgeable about fashion, I am beginning to look at websites which have neat approaches in accomodating user interactivity. Through my browsing, I found InStyle.com and the "Look of the Day" feature they have on their site.

Each day, InStyle displays five photos of celebrities and pick which of the five is their look of the day. What is so neat about it?

• Image with quick description about that "look"
• Five thumbnail looks for that day, so you can compare
• Click to buy feature, making it easy for users to buy what they see
• User vote for who you think is the look of the day
• Archive of the last five days, so you can go back and check those out as well

Out of these five points I listed above, I think the idea of giving the user the ability to "click and buy" is great. Taking out the hassle of going to look it up yourself.

What is the next step to improve this feature? Make the "Click to Buy" button give me where I can buy that item locally. I like to try clothes on before purchasing them, especially if it is a new brand and I do not know what size I need to purchase.

To make this advancement possible, this could be accomplished through users providing a zip code to direct them to the store nearest them with the product. If the product is an item that can only be found in select areas, the click to buy button can then be directed to a website where it can be purchased.