La France: Florals, Denim and Feathers

From Numero's online Galerie: Stunning, and delicious

For those venturing outside of the mainstream editorial viewpoint, I sought out Jalouse and go-to international style pub Numéro – from which I couldn’t resist this gorgeous pic, above. Lately, I can’t seem to get enough of this hot-hot-hot pink, and if you’ve got un goût pour les fleurs (this is my French major coming into rare use here), we offer you this delightful assortment from Covet Shop…for window shopping or strolling the boulevard, wherever you may be.

Stella McCartney Floral Maxi Dress, Moschino Ruffle Dot Dress, Dolce & Gabbana Floral Halter, Roberto Cavalli Floral Tank Dress

Jalouse, for its cover, focused on an “Into the Wild” prairie look, which of course becomes painfully chic with the careful insouciance of a side braid — which style blogger Garance Doré (who’s posting in English now, as well) also showcases (inset).

Side braids, for the impossibly stylish

We don’t have any denim on the site at present, but these tops look fabulous with jeans…

Temperley Pebble Tunic, Marc Jacobs Floral Tiered Top, Temperley Jamila Kaftan Tunic

Andiamo in Italia: Vogue Curvy…Celebrating Style of All Sizes

Back in February of this year Vogue Italia launched Vogue Curvy, a microsite within Vogue.it that celebrates a woman’s bounty with videos, shopping tips, daily suggestions, fashion/beauty, “Curvy News” and a blog. We love that it’s called “Curvy” and not “Plus-Size,” btw. Who’s to say what’s considered “plus” in a world where perceptions of beauty and body image are in the eye of the beholder? As Vogue Curvy cites in its “Flashback or Flashforward” post, “Are we outlining the identikit of the new beauty standards for the next years, when abundant figures will be considered the perfect ones? Will curvy women of the whole world be envisaged as the new beauty icons?”

Vogue calls out women like Christina Hendricks and Sofia Loren as its curvy icons

For Covet Shoppers, we’ve pulled together some size 10s currently listed on Covet Shop, as well as some platform shoe selections (since they were a prominent theme in Vogue Curvy’s Daily Suggestions/Style Advice).

Milly Candy Ruffle Dress and Ruffle Tube Tob, Abaete Burn Out Dot Dress, Roberto Cavalli Jewel Cardigan, Etro Flutter Silk Dress

YSL Tribute Canvas Leopard Pumps, Moschino Cheap and Chic Scarpa Suede Pumps

Across the Pond…to the UK

When London’s calling, we love Grazia’s “Style Hunter” feature, which snaps street stylish ladies and commenters chime in (with the most “constructive” getting printed in the magazine. Here, Samia Nasr shows that even 42-year-olds can still rock short shorts.

http://www.covetshop.com/495/All_Clothing

The iconic sailor shirt makes a comeback.

For example, The Wall Street Journal reports on “stripes galore” in spring orders at Saks, parades of blue-and-white clad mademoiselles promenading in the streets of Paris, and the allure of hunky deck swabs; while WWD’s couture preview says Anne Valérie Hash has slashed up a Jean Paul Gaultier Breton shirt for her upcoming show based on reworked garments. Fortunately, Covet Shop has some fabulous new Chanel finds that we’ve just released!

From left: Chanel Vintage Quilted Shoulder Bag, Temperley Beatrice Sweater Tunic, Chanel Patent Riding Boots; Chanel Vintage Floral Bag, Marc Jacobs Ruched Cocktail Dress, Christian Louboutin Heart Patent Pumps

Perusing the blogs further, the craze for green polish, especially Chanel’s Jade Le Vernis nail color, is going strong and (at post time), we noticed a bottle that sold on Jan. 19 for $305. Mon Dieu. Does this mean we’re out of the recession?

But don’t take it from us: Style icons such as Kate Moss and Zooey Deschanel know how to do it right. The trick? Cleverly mixing vintage to create looks that are modern and uniquely yours. And don’t forget – if you’re very creative, like Kate was when her Vintage Dior accidentally ripped at a 2007 V&A event, you can always alter your vintage finds to make them even more personal.

Kate goes from Glamourous to Rocker by cutting her vintage Dior gown

As an extra bonus, there’s no easier way to go green than by buying used or vintage clothing.

It’s a pretty simple concept: By recycling fashion, demand goes up for the vintage/resale market, which can help reduce global impact of clothing manufacturing. Another effect is purely inspirational. As other designers take note of consumers’ appetite for used clothing, they may be encouraged to use recycled materials in their new lines. Below, some of our favorite Covet Shop online vintage designer finds.

Sorry, but how can you live without these vintage Dior floral pants?

A vintage dress line-up. From left: DVF Justin Wrap Dress with Chain Print, Vivienne Tam Embroidered Dress, and Narciso Rodriquez Seam Dress

These vintage deals have SOLD, but that's all the more reason to Covet Shop often for vintage finds! Dior Vintage Austria Sunglasses, Pollini Chair Jacket, Chanel Lambskin Backpack Bag

1. Coco Before Chanel, starring Audrey Tautou. The film, directed by Anne Fontaine, has received mixed reviews thus far: Panned by the NY Post as celebrating a glum heroine and her success via luck and prostitution; and picked apart by the New Yorker, in part, because gamine du jour Tautou can’t shake Am?ieand isn’t sour enough. However, we are looking forward to seeing it so stay tuned for our thoughts (after we have a chance to check it out this week).

2. Chanel at Covet Shop, of course. Pay homage to Chanel with these late summer/vacation or fall ensembles. Visit covetshop.com for more Chanel items!

Clockwise, from left: Terry Swim Dress, Vintage Logo Earrings, Vintage Blazer, Cambon Reporter Bag, Caviar Backpack Bag

3. The gorgeous new Chanel N?5 ad/film. Have you seen it yet? Perhaps I’m lacking Tautou’s haunting eyes, fabulous hair, and sensual insouciance, but all the lads I met on trains while living in Europe for two years didn’t quite measure up. Then again, I wasn’t wearing Chanel N?5 at the time, so guess all it makes sense.

Chanel N?5 Ad

4. Chanel Nail Colour. Remember the absolute mania Chanel caused for black nails thanks to Vamp (in the ’90s) or Black Satin (more recently)? Not sure anything can quite reach those epic levels of nail frenzy, but based on the online coverage for this limited edition Jade…let’s wait and see.

Also comes in Jade Rose, if you're not feeling quite so... envious

5. Chanel Iman. OK, this one’s not about the House of Chanel—but we happened on a Style.com blog post from the fall 2009 shows stating that Chanel Iman, like Covet Shop fans, loves a good designer deal. The model was reported as saying her favorite pastime, while in Milan, is shopping for discounts.

Manic Prints, Sexy Tailoring

Whether bold, floral, tribal or frisky, we absolutely can’t get enough of prints for spring—which ranged from graphic and festive (Marc by Marc Jacobs) to nature-inspired (Zero + Maria Cornejo, Costello Tagliapietra). Our hats off in particular to Brooklyn-based Costello Tagliapietra (who lives in my ’hood) for their waterless printing technique called AirDye—as reported by WWD—and to Anna Sui, whose opening look transported me back to my ’70s baton-twirling summers…

Anna Sui, Zero + Maria Cornejo, Proenza Schouler, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Costello Tagliapietra, Thakoon

Or if you’re not feeling quite so explosive, try these tailored looks from Rachel Roy and 3.1 Phillip Lim, who paired a gathered neck, double breasted maxi vest with “Hardy” bootcut trousers.

Metallics and pinstripes by Rachel Roy, belted vest and trousers by 3.1 Phillip Lim...

Feeling Breezy, or More Structured?

Donna Karan was lauded for the creativity and delicate splendor of her collection, while Matthew Ames found inspiration in geometry and color expression to celebrate “the freedom, ease and simplicity of American design.”

Matthew Ames, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein

Looking to the Past…or the Future?

You choose. Here, one of Zac Posen’s chicadelic creations for spring, and Victor De Souza’s presentation of designs that have an “…avant-garde and futuristic feel while being light, playful and sophisticated.” It was a smashing month for Argentina indeed: Del Potro takes the US Open, and De Souza (also Argentinean) hit the fashion jackpot with a cover and spread in Vogue Italia’s September Couture edition. Fabulous. (We also liked that some models had alien-esque paraffin gloves—with nails peeking out—courtesy of Creative Nail Design.)

A look from Zac Posen's spring 2010 collection

Striking a futuristic pose at the Victor De Souza presentation

Thanks to streams of positive comments from readers, the New York Post reported on Tuesday that the magazine would run a nude shoot of other curvy models in a future issue. Here at Covet Shop, we couldn’t agree more: Fashion is for women of every shape and size, but it takes a savvy shopper to find those pieces that accentuate your assets while cleverly disguising what you’d prefer not to show off in public. So ladies of all sizes, strut your style with these hand-picked items for size 8s and up:

Since we’re moving into fall, here’s a complete outfit to bridge the season with class: A 3.1 Phillip Lim black Bow Tie Top paired with this Robert Rodriguez pencil skirt – with Badgley Mischka Mary Janes.

Silk Bow Top

Pencil Skirt

Marsilia Mary Jane Pumps

With those same shoes, you may as well pick up this Michael Kors Collection pleated dress…with a little black cardigan, you’re ready day or night.

Pleated Dress

This brush stroke skirt, from Moschino Cheap and Chic, lives up to its name at $172.50. And why not pair it with the Phillip Lim Bow Tie Top?

Brush Stroke Skirt

To sum up our feelings about the documentary, it was good, not great but if you love Vogue, Anna or fashion as much as we do, then we highly recommend you go see it.

We do have a new found love for Grace Coddington, Vogue’s Creative Director. She was a surprise star in the documentary and an amazing talent (apparently she was reluctant to be in the film)! We love her sense of humor, her ability to stand up to Anna and how she can make any fantasy a reality.

Don’t take our word for it, go see for yourself. In the meantime, take a look at what you’re in store for…

Check out who’s gracing this years’ covers:

Sept Fashion Bibles