Leather: An Enduring Trend

According to Women's Wear Daily a big trend for Autumn is leather - again!  This enduring product has outfitted the desperados of the Old West, protected our flyboys in open cockpits, defined "cool" on the backs of Marlon Brando and James Dean, and strutted down designer runways during Olympus Fashion Week. Leather apparel is undoubtedly infused our culture with a rebel spirit and rock and roll bravado, but leather has many faces. It can be dressed up for a stroll down 5th Avenue or roughed up to fix barbed wire on the ranch.  The question then becomes, "Which face are you today?"

Fortunately, no matter your mood, the go-anywhere elegance of our Treviso Leather Coat can be casual, professional or formal in the indulgent velvety softness of New Zealand lamb leather.  So consider the lasting beauty of an iconic leather garment this season for yourself and tap into this recurring thrend.

Jacqueline Revisited

Did you know that the characters of Rob and Laura Petrie (as portrayed by Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore) on the classic TV series "The Dick Van Dyke Show" were modeled after President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie? The Laura Petrie character in particular wore Jackie-style clothing and hairdo! There's no doubt that Jacqueline Kennedy influenced her times and the iconic look of the early 60's still finds a following today.

Mimicked on runways to bridge-line retail markets, the mod cropped jacket has charmed a new generation this year. The alluring style is usually tailored from thick textured fabric with wide 3/4 sleeves, big buttons and feminine silhouette...nearly identical to the originals. The 3/4-sleeve length may cause concern in regards to it's pracicality during winter months.  However, the solution always presents itself in the form of dramatic long gloves, then and now.

Capture the spirit of Jacqueline Kennedy (or Laura Petrie) with these iconic styles:

• Kelly Jacket
• Mod 3/4 Sleeve Jacket
• Black Couture Gloves
• Ribbed Elbow Gloves

Coat or Dress or Both!

About two years ago the classic women's trench coat was resurrected and design houses began offering it in shorter lengths and in a rainbow of colors and fabrics. When I saw Sienna Miller's coat (above) it reminded me that the charm of a shorter, dress-length coat is that it instantly becomes less of a piece of outerwear, that covers your trendy style beneath, and more of the style statement itself! When you wear a fabulous coat that drapes like a dress you are lent immediate versatility. You can wear them with skinny jeans and boots for the casual city-look as Sienna has, or wear it WITH a dress or AS a dress with tights and your favorite heels. Either look is flattering and certainly timeless.

My favorite dress-coat, similar to the stylish outerwear option that Sienna is wearing, is our Gathered Back Coat. It shares the same spirit in the back with gathers that fall from the waist while maintaining a flattering narrow silhouette in the front. It's everything I want for this season: The perfect blend of quality fabric and tailoring with the refined style of a 7th Avenue dress-coat. I feel prettier already!