Tag Archives: spring 2015 trends

How Do I Wear a Kimono?

Posted in business, clothing, dressing your figure, Fashion, personal style by

Kimonos are a fun new trend this spring, but you may be wondering how to wear one.  Most young contemporary vendors

This gypsy print kimono from Elan is available on http://Fashion-Crossroads-Inc.shoptiques.com

This gypsy print kimono from Elan is available on http://Fashion-Crossroads-Inc.shoptiques.com

picture them with short shorts and a tank, like the one shown here.  This is a very trendy and cute look, but this style really only works for those of us who can wear short shorts, leaving out way too many women over the age of 25.  Don’t be discouraged!  In this blog, I’ll suggest some alternatives!

Kimonos are basically a loose jacket with sleeves and no collar.  If this model were to hold out her arms, you would see that the kimono forms a box shape, creating a flowing and draped style.  They can be long or short, but most are the length pictured here.  Many prints and styles are available from southwest and gypsy to vintage lace.

Because of the boxy cut, one style option is to balance the volume of a kimono with a slim fitting bottom like a slim legged bottom like a cropped jean or jegging.  I can also see it with a distressed boyfriend jean that wasn’t too wide in the leg.  The style is somewhat Bohemian, so gladiator sandals or fringe sandals work well.

It is also possible to go the opposite direction and create all over flow.  You can do

This fringe kimono can be purchased at www.Fashion-Crossroads-Inc.shoptiques.com

This fringe kimono can be purchased at http://Fashion-Crossroads-Inc.shoptiques.com

this by paring your kimono with a palazzo pant and tank.  Take for example this fringe kimono pictured on the right.  Because of its natural colored fringe, I think it would be very cute to pair it with Elan’s natural palazzo pants pictured below.  To make this look work, you will need to have a palazzo pant that isn’t so full in the leg it makes you look like a box. The one from Elan has a flowy look that is not too dramatic.  If your tummy is slim, I would suggest wearing a slimmer tank underneath to provide some balance.  If, however, you have a little extra around the middle, you can keep the look loose.  Be careful to give your legs some height if you are short by adding a wedge sandal.  If you are tall, a cute Bohemian sandal would finish off the look perfectly.

This natural palazzo can be purchased at http://Fashion-Crossroads-Inc.shoptiques.com

This natural palazzo can be purchased at http://Fashion-Crossroads-Inc.shoptiques.com

Posting From Market- WWD Magic Day 2

Posted in beauty, clothing, spring 2015 fashion trends by

So I have to tell you, today was rough.  My dear, sweet mom left her purse on a bench just outside the market entrance.  When we finally realized it, we discovered that some honest buyer had turned in the purse to a market worker who turned it into a security officer who turned it into the security office.  The problem was that somewhere between the market worker (who is convinced the phone was still in my mom’s bag when she gave it to the security officer) and the security office, her iPhone 6 and $200 cash went missing.  Total bummer!  It is really frustrating when you are pretty sure the guy who is supposed to be protecting you is the one who took your property.  Worse is when the security office shows no interest in investigating the theft.  You could almost hear them thinking….”dumb lady, shouldn’t have left your purse, tsk, tsk, tsk.  Not our problem (even though it was likely one of our guys who did it).”

Tea and Rose is a cute young contemporary line we carry at Fashion Crossroads.

Tea and Rose is a cute young contemporary line we carry at Fashion Crossroads.

Anyway…despite the iPhone fiasco, we did manage to get some buying in today.  We started out the day at Lysee leggings where we purchased new colors for our spring leggings including

Me and the Creative Director from Yellowbox shoes as well as our fabulous shoe collections for spring and fall

Me and the Creative Director from Yellowbox shoes as well as our fabulous shoe collections for spring and fall

heathered brown and grey as well as a cute denim cropped legging.  We also found several amazing embellished black leggings.  I am most excited about the champagne joggers that we bought because these have a silky fabric and Lysee’s fabulous shaper underneath.  By the way, a jogger is a loose fitting, silk pant with an elastic cuff at the ankle.  They are a key trend.

Me and the owner or Anushka handbags. Anushka has some beautiful new purse designs that we will be seeing in Fashion Crossroads this spring.

Me and the owner or Anushka handbags. Anushka has some beautiful new purse designs that we will be seeing in Fashion Crossroads this spring.for the season.  

Next we visited Ginger G, one of my favorite young contemporary lines we carry at FC Outlet.  As usual, we found lots of really cute tops, dresses and skirts there.  And as has been the case with every young contemporary line we visited in the last two days, the booth was packed.

Then, we headed to Lush to purchase some more young contemporary items for the Outlet as well as picked up a new line that is very cute and similar to Pretty Angel but younger.  This line has a vintage feel and focuses on layering slip dresses under lacey tanks and tops.  Sooo cute!

You may notice that none of the pictures in today’s blog are from the booths that we visited today.  I’ll share some more pictures from today in tomorrow’s blog post because for some unknown reason, I cannot get my photo stream to update on my ipad.  Today is just not a good Apple day.  I think I’ll put all my devices away for the night and hope everythings goes better tomorrow!

Here’s to a new day….

Posting From Market – WWD Magic

Posted in Fashion, Jewelry, personal style, spring 2015 fashion trends, trends by

Today we headed to Magic at the Sands Convention Center.  This is always the highlight of my week at market because Magic sees more young contemporary and junior buyers than the others we usually visit.  One of my top priorities while I’m there is to pay close attention to the fashion trends I see representated by all the buyers milling about.  I have learned over the years that if I see a trend worn by a large marjority of the buyers, it will make it to Casper, Wyoming.  Not every trend works its way from the coast, either the West or East, into mid America and especially into the casual, lifestyle wear driven Rocky Mountains.

I saw many, many buyers wearing the shoe boot, cropped and rolled skinny jean combo, both male and female.  I saw quite a few plaid shirts, long vests, kimonos, skinny jeans and tall boots, short jumpers, gladiator inspired shoes, and lots of beat up jeans.

Check out the floral bomber, gladiator heels, colored skinny jeans and boots.

Check out the floral bomber, gladiator heels, colored skinny jeans and boots.

This on trend market attendee is showing off his rolled skinny jeans and lace up boots with a blazer and hoodie.

This on trend market attendee is showing off his rolled skinny jeans and lace up boots with a blazer and hoodie.

These shots are candid, catching buyers doing their thing…buying and checking their phones!

I also noticed a large amount of grey- heather, dove and charcoal- from nearly every

Display highlighting the importance of grey in spring 2015 fashion

Display highlighting the importance of grey in spring 2015 fashion

vendor we visited but especially the young contemporary and junior vendors.  Between the grey trend and the still very popular cream and white vintage lace and bohemian trend, it was a struggle to find things in color.  But, have no fear, while we will definitely have a preponderance of greys and neutrals in our young contemporary department this spring, you wil also find soft florals and pastels to break it up.  It is also worth mentioning that despite the fact that the key color for 2015 is marsala, it seems it is used mostly as an accent color for spring.

Today we bought from Elan, Blu Pepper, Tea and Rose, Vocal, and Anushka.  We picked up NikiBiki and Jamierocks as two new lines for the store.  NikiBiki was recommended by a customer is similar to Tees By Tina but less expensive and in plus sizes.  They also have exceptionally cute active wear which you will be seeing in the store as well.  Jamierocks is a great new jewelry line that offers daintier, multi-layered jewelry at great prices.  Tomorrow we will see Ginger G and Lush for FC Outlet and a few other new young contemporary lines that we saw today.  Tune in tomorrow for more info!