Looking Back

Azzedine Alaia's deep teal cotton pique dress reminds me of Christian Dior's late 1940's signature style of tiny waists and full skirts. Early in Alaia's career, he worked at Christian Dior as a tailleur. A master at creating shapes and feminine silhouettes, Alaia skillfully referenced and designed this dress to have a timeless yet modern look. The fitted bodice and generous tulip skirt is a flattering style
for my figure. I love the exaggerated Peter Pan collar with the unexpected plunging "V" back. I chose to wear Menthe dyed python pumps by Christian Louboutin. The flash of coral at the peep toe added just the right amount of interest. A big cocktail ring and that was it. I felt any additional accessories would start to dilute the simplicity and graceful ladylike look.

Tip: If in doubt, leave it out. I have learned with certain outfits, sometimes less is more.

Azzedine Alaia dress and Christian Louboutin shoes available at Neiman Marcus, Paramus.  

Short Stories

It is always a challenge to dress stylishly in very hot weather. As one option,
I like to wear walking shorts. The slightly elongated silhouette brings casual
up a notch. Black linen shorts and cotton wrap blouse paired with neutral
accessories of straw and cork felt easy and summery.

Brown silk safari shirt and ivory shorts are a great
back drop for the layered turquoise necklaces. 

Into the Trenches

When you find a style that works for you, I encourage you to play with
variations of that theme. Trench coats, whether short or long, are a big
favorite of mine. This one, by Valentino, is quite fabulous. The cutout and
embroidered cotton jacket has a striking lace effect. The beautiful feminine
reinvention of this classic piece feels contemporary with just a white
T-shirt and jeans.

This shot really shows off the exquisite detail of the fabric. Not really for
cold or rainy days... just a wonderful novelty piece to add as an investment
to a wardrobe.

Valentino Trench, Oliver Peoples sunglasses and Ashley Pittman bangles
all available at Neiman Marcus, Paramus, NJ. 

Party Dress

Color is a big trend this season, and it is always fun to experiment with a
playful palette. This coral Azzadine Alaia cotton lurex dress certainly has
lots of punch. The accessories are bold and spirited, just like the dress.
 
The 2 gorgeous Stephen Dweck bronze bangles studded with lapis, turquoise,
blue agate and smoky quartz and the blue agate faceted rock crystal ring
connect the Crayola crayon shades of the Christian Louboutin T Strap sandal.

Tip: Try to make a connection to your style sensibilities. Think about why you
are drawn to certain things. I have always loved Azzadine Alaia. His designs,
cuts, fabrics and workmanship are beyond perfection. Yet, it wasn't until I sat
down to write this blog that I realized another reason for my strong attraction
to his body skimming dresses: his fabulous full skirts remind me of the swirl
of ice skating dresses. Years - I mean years ago - I was a dedicated figure
skater. Wearing this dress brought back the wonderful memories of that time
in my life.

All items available at Neiman Marcus, Paramus, New Jersey

Hello Summer

Cavalli

I was so excited to finally wear white with this Roberto Cavalli animal print.
The jacquard pattern crop pants created a subtle weight that gave a nice
balance to the bold pattern of my jacket. A neutral strappy platform sandal
is quiet and allows the eye to travel up to the main event. A structured
clutch adds that "pop" of color and summer fun.

For my jewelry I chose two "accessory zones" to play with. With my hair
worn off my face, I thought that these gorgeous Elizabeth Rand earrings
would be perfect. The design has a strong tribal feel which works well
with the leopard pattern. The gold mesh with turquoise and pearl bib
necklace is a vintage piece. I purposefully tucked it in the jacket to just
give a hint of color and texture to the outfit. 

See how I wore the Cavalli jacket here: A Walk In The Park

Spring into Style Event

A few weeks ago I hosted a wonderful event for more than 80 women. It was a full day starting with a workshop on Finding and Refining your Personal Style. A beautiful luncheon and Spring Trend Presentation followed our fundraiser for Julia's Butterfly Foundation. Fashions were provided by Saks Fifth Avenue. It was a great day for all!

My talented and dedicated team helped make this day a fabulous success!

 

Presenting style and trends with model Keisha.

Pleats, long strands of pearls, stacks of bangles and a mix of metallic accessories epitomizes lady like glamour.

Vivid color block maxi dress with teal cuff adds that additional pop and reaffirms that color is the biggest trend this season.

I invite you to visit the link below for full coverage of the event.
http://www.bergen.com/fashion/Social_Scene_Finding_Your_Personal_Style_Event_with_Catherine_Glaser_at_Indian_Trail_Club.html 

Tap Pants

I've had these Perry Ellis seafoam green and cream stripe linen shorts for over 25 years! They are so much fun to wear and are reminiscent of the tap pants of the roaring 20's. Well, maybe I am stretching this a little, but there is a frivolity about these knickers that makes me think about flappers practicing their dance routines.

I took the shorts to the beach (the only place I would wear them) and paired them with a fitted oatmeal colored cropped knit sweater from H&M, a neutral floppy straw hat that I have had for way too many years and big yellow sunglasses from the Gap. Tap dancing into the sunset...

Saks St. John Event

Last Thursday, I was honored to host a wonderful evening at Saks, featuring St. John clothing. I created 10 looks that reflect my style and some trends that I am excited to play with this Spring.

Here is one of the mannequins I dressed in a platinum satin drape blouse and matching full pant. Easy, sexy and lounge like. I added longs pearls and a cloche hat... yes, I'm feeling inspired by “The Great Gatsby”!

I chose to wear a simple gray sheath by St. John, the dress needed some texture and interest – I thought about the outrageous beaded dresses from the 20’s – so I decided to use tons of necklaces layered long to create a liquid and sparkle like effect. Continuing this flapper look, I chose these glittery Jimmy Choo silver double banded shoes. Details at the instep are very reminiscent of this period.

Photographed with my Event Director, Audrey is wearing a vibrant coral knit dress from the St. John Spring Collection. The shade suits her spirit and one of the trends of the season – bright and happy color! A fur shrug continues my Hollywood glamour vibe. 

Images of a bygone era... one of the mannequins I styled, a black pleated chiffon skirt (pleats are a huge trend this spring) I coordinated a sleeveless cream and black stripe banded knit top (I wanted to create a drop waist dress look - very flapper) with long strands of pearls, a straw hat...cocktails with Daisy Buchanan?

Hamming it up with 201 Magazine/Bergen.com photographer, Chris Marksbury. To see full coverage of this event, please visit the link below.  

http://www.bergen.com/fashion/Fashion_Scene_Catherine_Glaser_at_Saks.html

St. John

It is interesting to see how designer brands with great heritage create new looks for each season. St. John is known for its traditional styles and easy to wear (and pack) light weight knitwear. When I saw this suit, I was drawn to the soft, delicate colors of powder blue and mocha. The pencil skirt and crop jacket felt modern and classic. It is a great investment piece that will endure for years to come.

I wanted to continue with this palette with the accessories. The Valentino Couture pearlized patent peep toe platform pumps with bow adornment in light taupe was the perfect choice for a neutral shoe. A little runway and trendy, but somehow it seems to work in a demure and delicate way. This gorgeous Gucci "New Bamboo" medium top handle bag made with vernice leather in the color soft rose is a wonderful updated twist on a iconic design. The pop of color adds just the right amount of interest. Constellation 18k gold vermeil ball necklace by Mija added a little quirkiness. Lastly, the two tone Balanciaga sunnies keep with the pastel shades.

Fashions Provided by Saks Fifth Avenue – The Shops at Riverside

I am excited to be hosting a special event this Thursday evening at Saks Fifth Avenue.
Please see invitation below. I hope you can join us. 

201 Magazine

I was so happy to be chosen as the cover girl for the March issue of 201 Magazine. Now I can share some behind the scenes moments of the photo shoot.

I loved this beautiful floral dress by Erdem. I was drawn to the feminine silhouette and fresh Spring colors. I chose a classic pump by Manolo Blahnik. The pearlized patent seemed quiet and current.

Working with photographer Anne Caruso was a treat. It is wonderful to collaborate with people that are open and creative. 

I loved this dress by Valentino. It felt like the Gatsby era, so I chose to play with a strand of long pearls. The T-strap peep toe patent shoe by Christian Louboutin finished the look. 

Racks of clothes and accessories filled the rooms. So many bright and colorful Spring choices from Neiman Marcus. 

Anne Caruso, Audrey Zona and I reviewing the shots of the day.

I want to extend my gratitude to Audrey for opening up her home for this photo shoot. Days of prepping, propping and moving furniture all around allowed all of us to create a cover and article that we will always remember.

Gunmetal

While visiting the battlefields of Gettysburg, I was inspired to wear my grey shearling trench coat. The grey wool surplus cap and vintage sunglasses continued this military vibe. For a shot of color, I chose to go deep into wine accessories. A little historical on this Presidents weekend, yet current with color blocking!!

La Dolce Vita

I have a philosophy about building a wardrobe. Create a strong foundation of classic pieces that fit and flatter your figure and you can wear year after year. Then invest in novelty pieces, those special items that speak to your heart and express your personal style. Lastly, play with trends by sprinkling them into your core collection to make you feel current. All the items I am wearing in this blog post fit my approach.

Classic black sheath dress and black peep toe sling backs - a staple I always have in my closet. Elbow length black leather gloves - elegant and quite handy in cold weather months. Vintage YSL satin belt with black jet buttons - novelty and forever being used in new ways. Giambattista Valli - leopard coat is a very special novelty piece that I will be reinventing in many ways for seasons to come. Herve Van Der Straeten - these 2 bold gold cuffs are truly modern, yet the hammered finish has a Byzantine timeless feel. Cat eye sunglasses - a fun retro trend.

How I decided to style this???? I guess I was dreaming about Fellini's "La Dolce Vita" as my inspiration!!

Shearling

These past few weeks I've been running around working on many exciting projects. This Talbots shearling coat has turned into one of my go to items. Comfortable, warm and so easy to wear. To create a long lean look, I chose to use one color as my base. Here a simple brown turtle neck worn with a pair of J.Crew brown cords. Riding boots by JP Todds. Ridiculously comfortable and necessary when I am on my feet all day. I added a little whimsy with red suede gloves, my grandfathers monocle on a gold chain and this fabulously practical animal print tote is also from Talbots.

Historically, shearling used to be very heavy and cumbersome to wear. Now they are light as a feather and still keep you warm. Sometimes we just need to feel stylish and cozy during these dreary winter months.

Burberry 2

As promised in a prior post, here is another outfit I pulled together with my favorite Burberry sleeveless jacket. The Diane Von Furstenberg wool pinstripe cuffed trousers have a strong mens wear feel, yet the cropped length gives them a chic feminine look. I played with this "dandy" theme with another one of my favorites, a pair of peep toe platform perforated booties. The gray chalk stripe in the pants was the perfect color to use for the light weight wool turtleneck by J.Crew I wore under the jacket. I do like how the gray tones blend with the gunmetal buttons of the jacket.

For my accessories, I chose a structured handbag in a luxurious skin because it works so well with the strong lines and shapes of the outfit. Lastly, two chunky Stephen Dweck multi-stone bracelets finish the look. Again, taking into consideration the scale and balance of all the elements, the wrist adornments just felt right. 

Suggestions:
Choose a favorite piece in your wardrobe and take the time to be creative and style it in three new ways. 
Think about balance and proportion and a color palette that all relates. It's fun and resourceful to shop your closet and think of items in new and fresh ways. 

To see how I wore this Burberry jacket last year, I invite you to visit my archives (Burberry).  

Elizabeth Street

A few weeks ago, I was asked to be featured for a Street Style Profile for the
launch of a website/ipad app called Elizabeth Street. This is an exciting new
destination for stylish moms to learn what is current in some of the most
fashionable cities around the world. 

 

I am wearing a Givenchy olive/black and brown color block wool peplum jacket with a fitted brown skirt. I love the tightly structured jacket paired with the sleek fitted pencil skirt. The abrupt transition from the jacket's flared peplum gives this combo a well balanced feel. To complete this look, I chose a pair of Brian Atwood open toe black multi strap back zip platform sandals. I think it was important to continue the edgy and linear feel. Each item is a statement in itself so I decided not to wear any accessories except my gold wedding band and a vintage gold and black twisted ring. I styled my hair off my face, again keeping the look clean, sleek and modern.

Givenchy suit and Brian Atwood shoes available at Neiman Marcus, Paramus

I invite you to click the link below to see my Street Style Profile and learn more about Elizabeth Street.

http://elizabethstreet.com/streetstyleview/114

Circa 1966

Fashion inspirations can come from many places... here I am at the pool circa 1966.

Now I know why I have always been fond of nautical looks! I am loving orange and red as a fresh color combination and thinking about how bright bathing caps with outrageous appliques could be totally retro and chic poolside! 

Experiment and have fun with old and new fashions in 2012!!!

Best wishes for a very happy, healthy and stylish New Year. 

Azzedine Alaïa

Leave it to Azzedine Alaïa to tastefully reinterpret a leopard pattern in a chic grey palette. Known as the "King of Cling", Azzedine Alaïa skillfully understands the female body and creates a sexy yet classic silhouette. This photo is part of a photo shoot for a project that I was asked to be involved with.

My husband David, who shoots all my blogs, captured some great moments from the day! A peak of the behind the scenes with the photographer and editor making sure the lighting and subject was just right. More details and photo's to follow soon.

Info:
Peep toe platform pumps, leather gloves and lizard handbag all in shades of wine
look great with grey and beautifully finish the lady like ensemble. 

Azzedine Alaïa sheath dress and matching crop jacket available at Neiman Marcus, Paramus. 

Visit the link below to learn more about Azzedine Alaïa and his incredible exhibition
at the Groninger Museum in the Netherlands.
http://www.groningermuseum.nl/en/exhibition/azzedine-alaï-21st-century

Brown Silk Trench

I have had this brown coat with a matching sleeveless dress for years.
It has been a great "go to" outfit for many occasions. Too often we buy
an outfit and always wear it the same way. So I decided to wear it in
a new way.

Seen here as the "outfit", I decided to use purple as an accent color.
I chose a python bag for its great texture and a pair of Pucci pumps
with a fun harlequin pattern. Adding a little sparkle to a pearl choker
I twisted in a lavender rhinestone necklace. 

When I spotted this metallic woven skirt I was excited about all
the style possibilities. I decided to use the brown trench as a way
to frame my story and pull the gold textures from the skirt and
work a Chanel theme. Using a simple brown turtleneck as my
background, I loaded up on vintage gold chains, small pearls and a big
medallion. I chose to balance the weight of this look with wine velvet
platform peep toe pumps.

Tips:
Take a look at "outfits" and think of new ways to wear the pieces.
Use colors and textures to help guild you to create a look. 
Be deliberate in what you want your statement to be and have impact.

Burberry

When I spotted this Burberry sleeveless double breasted jacket, I immediately knew it would be a slam dunk investment in my wardrobe. I chose to wear fitted flared jeans and a striped turtleneck, and I added lots of chunky gold bracelets to balance the look and give it a nautical twist. I assure you this jacket will be styled in many different ways in future blogs.