Haute or Faux? iFashion Network Weighs in on DAK’s Fall/Winter 2011 Line

My daughter is enamored these days with all things Little House on the Prairie.  Seems that the creative geniuses behind the DAKS brand may also be smitten.  At London’s Fashion Week, the line displayed  plenty of long, full skirts worn with tucked-in sweaters layered over buttoned-to-the-chin blouses (Ma would have worn these).  Buttoned-up  plaid ruffled blouses paired with long plaid skirts were more Miss Beadle’s style.  Oversized plaid capes in giant patterns layered over plaid button-downs and paired with retro-looking ankle boots would have kept Laura warm through a Plum Creek winter.  And an ivory hooded sweater/skirt/scarf combo would have been just the thing that the snarky Nellie Olsen would have waltzed into school in.  Despite all these period pieces, there were some bright spots in the collection.  Monochromatic numbers were sophisticated and sleeker than their plaid counterparts.  The best ensemble?  A black calf-length pencil skirt paired with a belted short sleeve trench.  It achieved a glamorous retro vibe without seeming the least bit costumey.  We hope next season brings a softer touch to the offerings, and in the meantime we apologize for sticking the Little House theme song in your head – we can’t get rid of it either…

via Haute or Faux? iFashion Network Weighs in on DAK’s Fall/Winter 2011 Line | Street Style.

Haute or Faux? iFashion Network Weighs in on Orange Shoes

We all know orange is coming our way this spring. We are comfortable with a bright scarf, some orange beads, a pair of statement earrings … maybe even a bag. But can you rock a pair of orange shoes? And do the available styles pass the haute-or-faux test? We took a look at the best and the worst of the crop that strutted down the runway during New York Fashion Week. The final verdict? We would take a pair of those Naeem Khans any day.

Haute:

Our top picks are successful because the silhouettes are modern, the orange is reined in a bit with some neutral colors and the details are fresh and flirty. All three of the shoes below work with cropped jeans or dresses and are trendy but still sophisticated.

Faux:

Below are a few pairs that missed the mark. Nanette Lepore’s attempt on the left looks frumpy and cheap. The fringe on the back of the heel adds nothing, and we hate that Velcro closure. Jeremy Scott’s zebra print boots are horrifying with those hooved toes (seriously, who is buying these?). And we’re not a big fan of Alberta Ferretti’s decision to do her shoes in satin. Where would you wear these? We aren’t sure, but we sure aren’t crazy about the fussy embroidery around the platform. Better luck next time, designers!

via Haute or Faux? iFashion Network Weighs in on Orange Shoes | Runway Trends.