Burda Style For people who sew

Ahhh the windswept romance of the English countryside.

I am indeed a sucker for English heritage style – nubby tweeds, heavy plaided wools, thick knitted socks and a pair of rubber wellies, maybe a couple of Welsh corgis in the yard. For centuries these classic pieces have been standbys of the traditional English wardrobe and inspiration for many a born-and-bred Brit designer (ie: Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Luella Bartley, John Galliano et al). Despite their occasional presence on the runway, these staples are anything but trends, burned into the consciousness of the English people and adopted by those wishing to mimic the lush yet simple lifestyle they often connote.

At first glance sports and fashion don’t exactly seem to go hand-in-hand, although with tennis players designing their own uniforms and Olympic champions posing for luxury advertisements, the lines do seem to be blurring a bit more, don’t they? While I’m pretty certain the world could do with less of the design talents of Serena Williams, it is interesting to see designers take influence from sports and translate the casual, technical aspects in a more high-end way. Check out some of my favorite sporty-chic pieces and patterns to help translate the look into your wardrobe.

The Business of Fashion recently released a preview of INDUSTRIE Magazine’s list of the 50 most influential people in fashion. A laundry list of fashionable movers and shakers, check out who makes up the “new creative establishment” and see if you agree. Check out top 10 after the jump, and see the entire list here.

Since 2004, Vogue and the CFDA have paired up to offer financial funding to up-and-coming American designers through their Fashion Fund awards. With an illustrious list of past nominees including Proenza Schouler, Derek Lam, Isabel Toledo, Michael Bastian, Jason Wu and Doo.Ri, just to name a few, the pool from which the council chooses their winners is as talented as they are varied.

As a child some of my favorite movies were (in no particular order): E.T., The Neverending Story, Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal and of course TRON. Suffice to say my leanings toward sci-fi and futuristic dystopian theorizing has followed me well into adulthood, so imagine how amped I was to hear that Disney was coming out with a follow-up to the cult classic TRON called Tron: Legacy. My impending excitement was turned up another notch when it was announced that Daft Punk would be the masters of audio for the film and then my mind was totally blown when I saw this Tron Legacy Opening Ceremony capsule collection.

There is something so subtly seductive about a woman in a man’s jacket, an ease and sensuality that isn’t as overt as a plunging neckline or high hemline but if done in the right fashion can be just as effective.

Ruched clothing is extremely tricky terrain. If properly executed, the technique can magically flatter all body types and make for some cool, avant-garde texture. However, if not, it can create a seriously tacky eyesore. That’s why I’ve pulled together some figure flattering and fashion forward ideas for how to incorporate ruching into your garments, as well as a few patterns that utilize the look in a simple, non-distracting way.

It’s been unseasonably warm in New York the past few weeks, making it pretty difficult to get in the swing of Fall. Temps pushing seventy degrees don’t exactly get you excited to break out the jackets and start layering up. However, there is one option that will keep you looking cool while staying cool: enter the sleeveless trench.

Maxi vs. Mini: the showdown continues. Loads of designers lowered their skirt hemlines for fall, making the maxi skirt a must-have piece for the season. However, not all trend-setters have followed suit. Runways still saw their share of bare knees and coupled with other hot fall trends like thigh-high boots and socks, it doesn’t look like you have to store those minis away through the winter after all. So this begs the question: are you an above the knees or to the floor kind of girl?