I keep coming back to these images from Style.com that I saved on my desktop. I can’t get enough of the pale-brights (is there such a thing?) being worn by Hilary Rhoda and Vena Cava’s Sophie Buhai.

Paired with neutrals- black and tan- the colors are summery, feminine and juicy, without being overwhelming or too sugary. By toning down the brights with neutrals, these ladies stay far away from the old adage “too much of a good thing”.

DKNY has some great pieces, like this Colorblock Racer Back Tank and Colorblock Dress, that make getting this sugar and spice look a breeze. Just throw on and go… my favorite!

Image Source: Style.com

In 2008 The Gap collaborated with the CFDA/ Vogue Fashion Fund finalists to re-work the classic white shirt. This year, the focus has moved to the company’s favorite fabric- khaki. Leaked images of some of the styles have started to appear online and I am very excited about the pieces I have seen from the Vena Cava girls- pleated shorts and chinos and great dresses with a bold graphic print.

The pieces I have seen thus far from Alexander Wang aren’t quite as thrilling, in my humble opinion. However, with the enthusiastic following he has, I have no doubt his pieces will fly off the shelves. The contoured sleeve on the trench style is pretty cute…

While I definitely plan on getting my hands on some affordable Vena Cava thanks to The Gap, I am also loving some of the regular merchandise I have been seeing from them lately. Such as this Pintucked Tunic, so cute!

You can find more photos of the designer collaborations at Racked. Enjoy!

I was, and still am, completely obsessed with Vena Cava’s resort 09 collection. One of my favorite pieces was the easy, breezy, and beautiful ethnic-print romper that Blake Lively wore, as an accessory to her awesome legs, last August at TRL.

Last August?! Can it possibly have been that long ago? Regardless of the time that has passed, this look has remained fresh in my mind. Even more so now that the weather is turning resort-wear appropriate. I was browsing online, looking for inexpensive floral dresses to update my spring wardrobe, when I came across this jumper from Charlotte Russe.

The color and cut are different, but the similar ethnic print, bohemian vibe, and effortless jumper style instantly made me think of the Vena Cava romper. It would look equally great dressed up with chunky wedges and an statement belt or thrown on with a pair of flip-flops. And let’s face it, priced at under $15, you almost can’t afford NOT to own this piece.

I’ve said it here before, Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai, the designers of Vena Cava, make clothes that I want to live in all day, everyday. Their collection was one of the few that I had been really looking forward to during New York Fashion Week, and it did not disappoint, even if it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. Buhai told Style.com,”if we were acoustic before, now we’re digital,” a perfect metaphor for the progression of the brand, which this season gave us dark colors, cut-outs and holographic sequins instead of the muted prints, soft silks and feminine shapes we come to expect. This evolution felt like a natural progression, however, especially in a season where somber and dark seems to be the status quo. The collection is still completely covetable and wearable. Here are some of my favorite looks:

Also worth noting are the awesome shoes, a collaboration with Via Spiga, which, along with the tie-dye tights that I must own right-this-very-moment, are the perfect finishing touch.

I’m totally inspired to wear patent leather oxford-inspired flats with my dresses. I love the Wallis loafer from the aforementioned Via Spiga:

Image Source: Style.com

What I wouldn’t give to be Michelle Obama right now. Not only is she smart, beautiful, married to an amazing man, mother of two adorable girls and seemingly the type of gal you would love to grab drinks and gossip with, she has kind of hit the fashion jack-pot. I can’t go a day without running across a sketch in which some fabulous designer has dreamed up an amazing gown or suit for the Inauguration festivities. While I would of course love to have these sketches coming to my inbox as options to wear to some fabulous event, I’ll have to settle for being happy that thanks to the internet, they are available as eye-candy. I love to compare the different designer’s visions for Obama, their portrayals of her face, and the varied sketching styles. There are a lot out there to choose from, but these are some of my favorites: Chado Ralph Rucci, Diane von Furstenberg, Christian Lacroix, Marc Jacobs, Peter Som, Vena Cava, Marchesa, Derek Lam.

So Michelle, if you’re reading, how about sharing some of the wealth, huh? Just accidentally give the Vena Cava girls my address, I won’t tell if you don’t. Fashionable favors is my kind of dirty politics…

I’m thinking the dress will go nicely with the Vena Cava Lucifer Cardigan I have been swooning over. Perhaps they won’t mind throwing that in as well? It will go nicely with the dress, as well as with everything else in my closet.

Style.com asked some of my favorite stylish ladies what they hoped to accomplish, or do better, in the coming year. For 2009 the resolutions ranged from spending more time with family, to finding the perfect dress. Some of my favorites:

Jenna Lyons, creative director, J.Crew
“It’s time to give up froufrou and add more menswear tailoring, nude, caramel, buff, gray, and a touch of neon…and, if I were ten years younger, a jumpsuit!

Liya Kebede, model
“I recommend people visit Africa—that is what I want to do. I want to try and see all the different countries. I also think people should get involved, volunteer, and simply help others in any way you can. This is the way forward.”

Marina Rust, contributing editor, Vogue
“I know if I squeeze a lemon into a cup of hot water and honey every morning I will actually feel and look better. Maybe this year I will remember to do it.”

Lisa Mayock, designer, Vena Cava
“Learn Spanish. Or at least start.”

Sophie Buhai, designer, Vena Cava
“Monochromatic fashion that feels elegant (but is almost boring) paired with an eccentric large metal necklace is what I am wanting to wear. As far as giving things up, I’d say it’s time to give up flashy designer bags. The new year and a new economy are all about buying vintage Ferragamo and Bottega on eBay.”

Chanel Iman, model
“Step back into my closet and re-create the things I haven’t worn in a while and do wardrobe swaps with my friends. After the swap, you can go shopping for that one item that will make the trade pop. It’s kind of a green way to go.”

While I am horrible at keeping resolutions, I sort of like the tradition of evaluating the ways that you could have improved the year that just passed and looking forward with positive thoughts of how to make life just a little sweeter for the coming year. This year I resolve to spend more time being active and outdoors, start going to yoga more often, be better at keeping in touch with friends and family and to take a vacation somewhere I have never been before. And as for my style resolution? I want to find a perfect oversized clutch, a great fitting pair of jeans that are hemmed perfectly, add some cool vintage muscle tees to my wardrobe, start making my own jewelry and utilize the sewing machine gathering dust in my apartment. How about you?

Source: Style.com
Image Source: Color Cubic

The CFDA/ Vogue Fashion Fund celebrated its fifth anniversary at Skylight Studios on Monday night, where keynote speaker John Galliano- in daisy covered top hat, vest, and a pearly suit, no less- advised the audience,”If you want easy, don’t pick fashion”. The crowd was quickly on their feet to applaud him. No doubt, in these economic times, the fashion industry is being reminded of just how tough the business can be. More than ever, the prize money from the Fashion Fund awards can mean a great deal to the new designers. Charlize Theron, wearing Dior, presented the night’s winners. For the second year in a row Vena Cava’s Sophiee Buhai and Lisa Maycock took the $50,000 runners-up prize, along with milliner Albertus Swanepoel. The fund’s top prize, $200,000 and a year’s worth of mentoring, went to Alexander Wang.

The four winners at last night’s soiree, Wang with his date Alice Dellal in his design, the adorable Vena Cava gals, Charlize Theron and John Galliano.Even if he hadn’t taken home the top prize, with great pieces like this beaded vest, Wang’s future is certainly bright.

Source: Style.com

I have been in love with every collection that designers Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai have produced since I first discovered them in a Los Angeles boutique in 2006. They created their first collection on their living room floor three weeks after graduating from Parsons, in 2003, and their talent has taken them far in just a few short years. Their upscale yet laid-back aesthetic is a dead giveaway, to me at least, of their Southern California roots. Their use of crepe de chine, and light weight knits in muted colors in the resort 2009 collection is exactly what I would love to find myself in all summer long.

These cute blouses from the quirky duo will have to do until the resort collection hits stores:

Arclight Blouse:

Boudoir Blouse:

I fell in love with this chartreuse Vena Cava dress on their spring runway and have been crushing on the color ever since. This yellowish green is bright and striking, keeping with the spring trend of ultrabright hues. While neon green may work on a select few, chartreuse is a chic, more wearable alternative- although definitely not for shrinking violets.

The color is suprisingly versatile, it can be fresh and funky for daytime or elegant and unexpected for evening.

If a full garment in chartreuse is too big of a color commitment, try pairing just a hint of the color with crisp white. Feeling audacious? Wearing the color on your face is bold and suprisingly beautiful.

These cute sweaters from CeCe and Betsey Johnson would look great paired with jeans and gladiator sandals on a chilly spring evening:

In the past year or so I have noticed a phenomenon in the closets of me and my girlfriends. We began to amass quite a collection of vests between us, in such varieties as thin cotton, plaid wool, sequins, colored denim, and so on. While I thought this may be a fleeting fad, the vest is definitely not going anywhere soon. In fact, designers took it to a whole new level on the 08 runways, some seeing sleeveless jackets as the new answer to the power suit, seen here as such at Yves Saint Laurent:

For those of us less likely to be found in a boardroom, Vena Cava opted for avant garde sexy and Etro kept the look young and relaxed.

I am enamored with how Hermes and Yigal Azrouel styled their over-sized vests with short skirts and a lot of leg. This is a great update for a LBD or mini that you can’t bear to part with but need a style revival.

Make the look your own with these vests from Bloomingdale’s exclusives, Inhabit and Vena Cava: