Excitement is in the air! Collaborations with luxury designers doing affordable collections for mass retailers – love it!  Remember Missoni for Target last year?

Jason Wu became the talk-of-the-town when Michelle Obama wore his custom-designed one-shoulder, floor-length white chiffon gown at President Barack Obama’s inaugural balls.  Mr. Wu created the perfect dress for her and she looked a-m-a-z-i-n-g!  We sat up and took notice of this rising star designer.

Starting February 5th, a Jason Wu 53-piece collection will be available at Target with prices under $60.00.  This will be a hot one…mark your calendar!

As we face the doldrums of winter, it’s refreshing to see what’s new at kate spade for Spring!

Behind the Brand

”Clean lines, vibrant color and impeccable quality are the calling cards of kate spade new york. Since the brand’s first collection of nylon totes, each new season has ushered in a modern mix of instant classics—including handbags, shoes, accessories, and women’s apparel.”

Great “nude” bowed kitten heels and adorable rain boots!

Now’s the time to take advantage and earn Triple Reward Points! With free shipping, shopping is easy; see Buyers’ Picks for Fall!

Magazines reveal hemlines for Fall – farewell to the maxi and the mini!  The sweet spot of the moment is a midi length that can fall anywhere from just below the knee to a few inches above the ankle. “A covered-up silhouette feels more confident right now and definitely cooler,” say Proenza Schouler designers.  For his own collection and for Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs created seductive below-the-knee pencil skirts. Victoria Beckham’s fall collection reveals hourglass dresses whose hemlines hit the beginning of the shin, and as she describes the midi look, “the new precision pieces.”

So while we see calf-grazing hemlines on leggy actresses and celebrities, I feel most women know where their hemlines should fall. Age, lifestyle, physical attributes, occasion and desired image all come into play.  The mirror and if in doubt, opinion from a friend, help determine if a trip to the seamstress is in order!

About Lafayette 148 New York
Named for their street address and known for impeccable tailoring, Lafayette 148 quickly became a destination for the modern, intelligent woman. Design director Edward Wilkerson takes an intensely personal approach to learning the needs of his customers, traveling to more than 200 trunk shows a year to gain perspective into the lives of the professional women and the on-the-go mothers that he has come to call "my women."

A quick peek at Fall dresses:

Leopard-Print Dress, Leather Gloves and Obi Belt

Timeless and modern at the same time, this Lafayette 148 New York look is a rich blend of leopard-print and leather that exudes unparalleled luxury.

I believe one of the successes of AMC’s Mad Men is the way costume designer Janie Bryant has captured the cool polished style of the 1960’s era. The Gap’s Banana Republic is launching 1960’s era chic in collaboration with Bryant and creative director Simon Kneen beginning August 11th. The 65-piece collection for men and women, combine Banana Republic’s modern American style with 1960’s clothing and inspiration.

Mad Men’s fifth season airs early 2012 and reigns as the only television series in cable history to win the Emmy for Outstanding Drama three years in a row (2008, 2009 and 2010), continuing to be the most Emmy- nominated drama on television. In July, The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awarded the series with 19 nominations making it the most recognized series on television.  The Emmy award show which airs on September 18th, along with Banana Republic’s collection launch on August 11th, will lend excitement to shopping for Fall/Winter wardrobe needs.

I can’t wait to see the tailored dresses and patterned pump heels!

I like wearing dresses: easy to wear and care for and they elevate your everyday look. Last weekend I ran to the grocery store – slipped on one of my “everyday” or what I call “lounging” dresses and flats. Amazingly 3 compliments while shopping.  Responded “Thank you” while thinking “ this cost me $30.00!” You don’t have to spend a lot to look good!

Shopping the deep discount sales, Macy’s is a sure bet in checking out items for this purpose. Last Fall, I bought 4 dresses that had been $100-$139. With sale discounts and my Star Rewards and newspaper coupons, the most I paid for a dress was $34. Alfani, Rachel Roy, INC, DKNYC were my picks. It took 90 minutes to peruse the racks and try on my armful of choices and I came away more than satisfied.

During my cousin’s recent  visit,  we shopped at Macy’s during one of their big sales. We went our separate ways for a bit and when we met up, she hadn’t purchased anything. Not being one to easily give up, we returned to the racks, narrowed down a brand that works best for her (Jones New York) and found $700 worth of work clothes for $198.00!  She was ecstatic and I was happy: “mission accomplished!”

Keep in mind when shopping, get into your “hunt and gather” mode. With lots of shoppers, not all the items are returned to their proper size racks. Also, if you’re not sure which size you take with a certain brand, don’t be afraid to  “eye it up.” I can take anywhere from a small to large, depending on brand and style of dress. And if I’m buying “out of season,” I look for styles and colors/patterns that are timeless. I can always “trend it up” with accessories.

Macy’s has an on-line sale going on right now. Take a peek!

http://www1.macys.com/shop/womens/sale-clearance/dresses?id=50016&edge=hybrid&cm_mmc=MCOM-_-20110803_MCOM_RTWFashionSale-_-50016-_-MB&cm_em=lisa@lisa-rae.com#!fn=SPECIAL_OCCASIONS%3DCasual%26pageIndex%3D6%26sortBy%3DORIGINAL%26productsPerPage%3D40&!qvp=iqvp

Some of my best buys have come from Target.  They offer cute styles and good quality at a great price! I’m especially drawn to the dresses, cardigans and tops. Dresses are easy to wash-and-wear and a reasonable way to bring in the next season’s new colors. As you can see below, they offer shopping by occasion, sleeve length or color. I’m impressed!

With 20% off and free shipping, now’s the time to check their site:

http://www.target.com/Dresses-Clothing-Womens/b/ref=nav_t_spc_1_3?ie=UTF8&node=256138011

BTW: 

If you charge your order to a Target VISA, you get an extra 5% off!

Lowest prices of the season..storewide summer savings..shop in store and online! No coupons necessary.

I was in Boston Store last week; always HAVE to check out Ralph Lauren.  I need a new white skirt and this one is very pretty and summery. Not too full – lined – light.

LOVE this dress.  So versatile – flip flops or dressy sandals. Bohemian look or dress up with accessories.  This dress is a winner! The color, pattern, style…would  be a great dress to pack for a trip.

LAUREN Ralph Lauren has wonderful casual/sport wear. Comfortable, easy to wear and you look put-together….with minimum effort. This is a great travel outfit. Pants and jacket for cold airplanes and you remove the jacket upon reaching warm destinations.  Of course, convenient to  have the outfit with you for lounging or walking!

Loving print media…my newspapers along with a plethora of catalogs…there’s nothing like a high-quality catalog showcasing beautiful designs. A wonderful way to peruse; educate and enjoy the Art of Fashion. My daughter and I went through Nordstrom Designer Collections Spring 2011 to “ooh and aw” and pick our favorites. A delight for the visual senses!

The results?

This was one of my favs – in fact LANVIN had many top contenders. It was tough to choose!

LANVIN

My daughter loved this one…..

NINA RICCI

We both picked this combination. Beautiful and sexy.

JASON WU

We  immediately gravitated to these rockin’ sling back sandals!

NICHOLAS KIRKWOOD

GUCCI

TWIST STRAP DRESS

tHE cOLORS – belt….JUST GORGEOUS!

Our top favorite? This aqua silk tweed dress with ostrich and hen feathers. My artistic creative daughter picked for the color and beauty of combination of textures. Me – of course for the beauty but mostly for how I’d FEEL wearing this fine design piece. On a cloud…..thank you CHANEL!

CHANEL

LESAGE SILK TWEED SLEEVELESS FEATHER DRESS

And, thank you NORDSTROM, for producing this heavenly catalog!