Palm Beach Musings

From breathtaking beaches along the Atlantic coastline to lavish clothing and cars, Palm Beach is packed with oodles of cultural and sartorial beauty. But, before I write about my next outfit in PB, I’d love to share a selection of uniquely coveted musings, which I spotted along the streets and shorelines. With people strutting their stuff in compositionally exquisite, style-statements and throngs of window displays curated perfectly like an art gallery; PB is loaded with all sorts of must-haves to turn heads for the holidays. Investing in a haute baguette with intricate detail will bring any outfit to red carpet perfection, yet a new Tiffany & Co. diamond ring and sparkling pair of Jimmy Choo’s are a girl’s best friend too! While Gucci’s evocatively enchanting primula silk gown with a floral hand-embroidered neckline offers a taste of vintage elegance for any occasion, Bottega Veneta’s edible kicks provide the right amount of sweetness to celebrate the festivities with a fashion-forward attitude (continued below photo 6).

Importantly, I’d love to thank my sweet mother for buying me a clutch-friendly, SLR-caliber camera (Canon G-15) to kick-off the holiday in style; she made this post possible. So far, I’m impressed by the high-quality imagery and the contributions this camera has and will enable me to deliver in the blogosphere. I might sound pompous but I’m so proud of myself for personally capturing each and everyone of the following photos; I think they’re worth bragging about. Nevertheless, upon taking my new toy for a stroll on Worth Ave. and S. Ocean Blvd.– I encountered loads of striking inspiration, which I hope you’ll enjoy!

Hitting the books!

Like history, fashion also explores social, historical, and cultural contexts that shape contemporary trendsetting. Photographer, Baldovino Barani’s editorial titled ‘Bookworm’ -featuring Madison Schill, conveys the best of both world’s according to my books. It sets the tone for going back to school and beautifully curates vintage inspired style in warm brown, orange and yellow hues for fall. Surrounded by dinosaur bones in Paris’ hauntingly exquisite Museum D’Histoire Naturelle, while sporting 70’s inspired head-scarves, high neck blouses, and pencil skirts— this spread offers chic, preppy and timely sartorial inspirations for hitting the books in style this season (…continued following the photo spread).

The Bookworm by Baldovino Barani featuring model Madison Schill

The Bookworm by Baldovino Barani featuring model Madison Schill

The Bookworm by Baldovino Barani featuring model Madison Schill

The Bookworm by Baldovino Barani featuring model Madison Schill

The Bookworm by Baldovino Barani featuring model Madison Schill

The Bookworm by Baldovino Barani featuring model Madison Schill

Speaking of history and hitting the books, my cousin found items in the Ontario Jewish Archive that are sentimental to my father’s family heritage, which also indirectly interrelate to style. I’m particularly infatuated with these photos and my great-grandparents (a.k.a bubby and zaidi’s) marriage certificate since I love nostalgic images and vintage trends. Although I never knew my great-bubby Dora or zaidi Mike (Myer), I ought to say they undoubtedly stayed on top of their sartorial game! While my great-bubby rocks her vintage button down multi-pattern floral and polk-a-dot dress with leather kicks; my great-zaidi Harry, zaidi-Mike and great uncles showcase their strong sense of style in perfectly tailored, clean-cut suits.

Left to right: My great-bubby Dora Solomon. The Solomon brothers, my zaidi Mike is wearing the dark suit in the middle. My great grandparents, Harry Solomon and Dora Rogow’s (nee Rogowitch) marriage certificate.

Couturier, color utopia….

In a season saturated with vibrant colors and prints, Vogue UK’s May 2012 issue takes the trend a few steps further with Mario Testino’s spread, High Plains Drifter.  Stylist Lucinda Chamber, adorns model Carmen Kass to emulate a nomadic desert queen, sporting vibrant colors and eclectic mixes of fabrics, patterns and accessories. Making gargantuan trend statements with over the top accessories, Kass looks exquisite in a vibrant spectacle of style, in the midst of a breathtaking desert.

This eye catching editorial incorporates pieces from couturier collections such as Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Burberry, Michael Kors, Donna Karan, Miu Miu, Hermès, Jimmy Choo and Roger Vivier.

Magazine: Vogue UK May 2012, Editorial: High Plains Drifter, Model: Carmen Kass, Photographer: Mario Testino, Stylist: Lucinda Chambers

Magazine: Vogue UK May 2012, Editorial: High Plains Drifter, Model: Carmen Kass, Photographer: Mario Testino, Stylist: Lucinda Chambers

Magazine: Vogue UK May 2012, Editorial: High Plains Drifter, Model: Carmen Kass, Photographer: Mario Testino, Stylist: Lucinda Chambers

Magazine: Vogue UK May 2012, Editorial: High Plains Drifter, Model: Carmen Kass, Photographer: Mario Testino, Stylist: Lucinda Chambers

Color blocking phenomenon

Last year color blocking made a comeback in the fashion world unlike before. Topping off any outfit with a color blocked shoe gives fashionistas a strong sense of style, personality and vibrant edge, which is truly an exquisite work of art…. This season many of the hottest designers have added a contemporary twist to an ultra mod trend from the 60’s. Yves Saint Laurent pioneered the color blocking phenomenon in 1965 with mod-style dresses featuring blocks of color inspired by renowned Dutch artist, Piet Mondrian. YSL’s frocks exhibited the graphic composition of Mondrian’s signature abstract paintings with black lines and color rectangles. The duo revolutionized fashion by inspiring contemporary color blocking trends! It’s fascinating because it exemplifies fashion is a powerful form of art. Style inspires and involves creativity; it’s the craftsmanship of culminating design, detail, architecture and history that makes style grow into new forms conceptually like art!

Color block heels

  1. Charlotte Olympia: Isla palm leaf suede and leather sandals
  2. Yves Saint Laurent: Obsession satin and suede pumps
  3. Bottega Veneta: Multi Strap Runway Sandals
  4. Christian Louboutin: Sylvieta 120 color-block leather sandals
  5. Brian Atwood: Mojito leather and raffia sandals
  6. Giuseppe Zanotti: Color-block patent-leather sandals
  7. Miu Miu: Nude Leather Double Ankle Strap Peep Toe Pumps
  8. Pierre Hardy: Elaphe snakeskin and leather sandals
  9. Gucci: Tri-color suede platform sandals

Photo credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET), Yves Saint Laurent, “Mondrian” day dress, autumn 1965, Wool jersey in color blocks of white, red, blue, black, and yellow

Mondrian Composition II: Red, Blue, and Yellow. Piet Mondrian’s paintings are the inspiration behind the color blocking trend phenomena.