Here are some stunning finds for holiday dressing this season featuring unexpectedly lush fabrics, finishes and accessories. Let’s start from the ground up, with silk, satin and jacquard shoes from Reformation in a surprising array of colors. Calista Flat in Chartreuse by Reformation will put anyone in the mood to celebrate. Or Inez Flat Mule in Honey Mustard Satin gets the party started in style. Reformation’s Wells Slingback Heel in Light Blue Jacquard is another sensationa

If you are into city glam, don’t be startled if I tell you that lifestyle dressing has gone full country. We’re not talking Nashville, we’re talking the Cotswolds: that’s right, in the heart of the UK. Layers of tweed, plaid, and corduroy not your thing? The holidays are just around the corner with enough silver and sparkle to satisfy any city girl but until then, its wool, leather and suede. Picture soft cashmere with lots and lots of plaid. Pleated skirts, chunky woolen swe

It’s September and yes, seasonal change is in the air. An obligatory look at the best of fall fashion trends brings us to ponder the colors, prints and silhouettes of the season. The best of means saying no these fall trends: no to slip dresses (keep your lingerie where it belongs please, under your clothing), unstructured tailoring (togas were bad enough on the Greeks), animal prints (how many times can they come back?), satin ballet flats (great, if you’re a ballerina),

Late summer is a time to consider how the elements, sun, heat and surf, have impacted your skin. First aid for your face should be seasonal and can include skincare and makeup swaps as fall approaches. Review the effects of cleansers, moisturizers, foundation, concealer, lipstick, blush and eye makeup to see what to keep and what to toss. Clean products are a must because what we put on our skin is more than skin deep. Dr. Hauschka makes a gentle yet effective cleanser that I

Take a dip, relax poolside or soak up some sun at a favorite beach in swimsuits and beachwear that make summer last. There’s plenty of summer left so let’s dive in. Looking for a luxury swimsuit or beachwear at a discount is easier as summer gets into high gear. High summer is the perfect time to find that coveted suit for less. Yes, the one-piece is now retro. L’Agence has one-pieces that feature retro styling reimagined. Why not take the plunge in Lisa Plunge One-Piece Swim

There are times when everyone craves a little luxury: that one-of-a-kind item so unique, so stylish, it’s hard to stop thinking about it. Of course, I believe it’s possible to look great, whatever your budget. However, if you’re on the lookout for something that’s truly a luxury buy, I’d suggest these, Net-A-Porter and Bergdorf Goodman: two luxury sites that feature designer clothing. All categories of fashion—from top designers—plus curated clothing and accessories, can be f

The coveted shoe, a glorious foot covering that heightens the allure of what you wear. Before I sing the many praises of shoes: pointed toe, kitten heel, high heel, flat, sandal, slide, mule or loafer, let me say, to combine beauty with comfort is the ultimate in a shoe. Some shoemakers do this better than others. And what’s comfortable on your foot may not be on mine. Comfort brands I’ve found include: Vagabond, LDP, Cole Haan, Gentle Souls, Bella Vita, Bernardo, Andre Assou

There, is an art to being a stylish wedding guest and it starts with knowing what’s appropriate for the occasion. Whether black tie, formal/black tie optional, cocktail, semi-formal, casual or destination, reading the invitation will guide you in knowing what to wear. Here are a few tips that will make you ready to mix and mingle the moment the reception begins. If an invitation says black tie, that translates into a floor-length formal gown or, for a man, a tailored tux. If

If you think the hat has lost its allure, please don’t mention it to the British who cannot find enough reasons to don one on their colonial heads (just kidding on the colonial part). Yet we can learn a thing or two from the royals regarding their penchant for fascinators and tilt hats. Melania Trump has embraced the wide-brimmed hat on several state occasions and Princess Kate regularly chooses wide brims, fascinators, tilt hats and pillbox hats. Whether it’s for camou

Fashion today is very eclectic. Anyone can wear something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Did you know that much of what we see today is borrowed from decades, even centuries, ago? Bell sleeves, empire waist dresses, linen or cotton sheaths, corset tops, puff sleeves, ruffled collars, waistcoats, ruching, high collars, mid-calf laced boots, even square necklines, are a nod to Greek, Roman, Renaissance, Victorian or Edwardian dressing. Some things

© Donna De Palma All rights reserved. So much has been written about Parisian-style: simple yet elegant dressing from a capsule wardrobe of upscale basics. Want the look: a tailored silhouette, a palette of neutrals accessorized with gold? If looking natural and fashionable, without much fuss, is your desired style, then a closer look at what Parisian women wear is a chic way to build a versatile wardrobe that goes from day to night effortlessly. Timeless, versatile clothing

It takes a certain type of woman to be a fashion icon: confident in her own skin, bold, not afraid to attract attention, uninterested in the opinions of others when it comes to how she dresses. My mother was a fashion icon. She came from a tradition of fashionable women, both my grandmother and aunt. Balancing on the edge of her bed, I would cringe watching my mother get ready for an evening out, yet I was equally fascinated by how she could put an outfit together. She was fe

When I want a good laugh, I browse through fashion sites to see what they’re passing off as fashion these days for the well-heeled. Better yet, I tune in to an award show like the BAFTAs or the Academy Awards to see how truly distasteful dressing can be. Proof that even if you have all the money in the world, and a stylist, you can still look ridiculous or worse, on the red carpet. For most of us, simply walking down the street in one of the aforementioned items can make ja

The power of red dates back centuries to a time when vibrant red pigments were very costly. Red dyes had to be imported from far eastern routes. Red clothing or shoes were considered luxury items and were worn by royalty to denote wealth and imperial power. In the court of Louis XIV, red heels were restricted to nobility and were a mark of proximity to the king. Cinnabar was used in Chinese lacquerware and in Roman frescos. Vermillion, a vivid red orange, became a prize

Have you ever asked yourself why male designers refuse to wear their own designs? Instead, they wear jeans and t-shirts at the finale of a runway show. Is it possible they don’t want to wear their own over-the-top fashions? Perhaps you’ve looked at men’s fashion like I have and asked, ‘Who wears these clothes?’ When a man can turn heads with a great suit , jacket , trench coat , watch or leather attaché why would anyone chose to dress like a clown? For the professiona

A few weeks into the new year and already some outrageous fashion trends are appearing on the pages of fashion magazines and in the headlines. The funniest headline I saw topped the fashion section of UK’s The Telegraph . It reads, “Bonnets are no longer just for period dramas–here’s how to wear one in 2026”. Regardless of what The Telegraph says, one color dressing or mood-boosting activewear are not the hottest trends. And while trends this year may not actually include

Photo by Richard Avedon Fashion photography at its best becomes an art form best known for invention, humor, and the unexpected. Iconic names in fashion photography like Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Annie Leibovitz, Peter Lindburgh and before them, Edward Steichen, have illustrated how photography has truly elevated fashion’s status. Ever since Avedon photographed a model for Vogue in a white and black evening gown shown mimicking the gesture of each elephant’s trunk wit

A touch of silver , a little satin , a few sequins ? Wondering what to wear this holiday season? It doesn’t take much to add sparkle to the holidays. A boat neck slip dress is more festive with a velvet jacket . Not just any jacket, a striking, black Emporio Armani satin trimmed jacket with tassel pull. A Giorgio Armani sequin tank under a ruffle-collar, black, Dolce & Gabbana chiffon blouse : stunning. High shine Dolce & Gabbana metallic silver leather slingback pump

If we look at Marie Antoinette’s fashions in isolation, apart from her political and social views, her personal style could be deemed radical for the time and circumstance in which she lived. That may be why an exhibit entitled, Marie Antoinette’s Style , currently on view at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum through March 22, 2026, elicits such interest. Marie Antoinette’s daring wardrobe, her unique millinery choices, wigs and pouf headdresses were counter to establi

Autumn is once again displaying her brilliant colors this October. Naturally, we seek comfort and warmth as temperatures fall. If you’re like most people, you cast a critical eye at your wardrobe as the seasons change to find items suited to cooler days and nights. Think bulky sweaters, plush scarves and soft, heat-retaining fabrics. As you reach for those boots and say goodbye to flip flops, let’s take a look at a few fashion choices to avoid this season. I don’t kn