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

First up: Mindi Smith, a professional stylist and redhead-about-town equipped with a to-die-for closet and, as you’ll see, some of the most haute hippie style in town. A woman after my own heart (as a Boulder grad, myself).

For the Bohemian, or the Mod Squad, in you...

“Haute Hippie” Outfit No 1, at left:

“Those shoes, those shoes, those shoes!,” says Mindi.  ”The lucite wooden heel?  Are you kidding me?” Unfortunately they were snatched up almost immediately, but all the more reason to check Covet Shop “What’s New” as often as you can. Mindi “loves the keyhole” in this Cavalli dress, and designed these looks to wear to a cocktail party or an afternoon wedding — anywhere you’d like to definitely make an appearance or impression “as you’re gliding about.”

For her, the key to looking effortlessly chic is comfort…and this, she adds, “honestly, really looks comfortable.”

Roberto Cavalli Long Floral Printed Dress, Chloe Lucite Wooden Platform Sandals, Bottega Veneta Woven Hobo, Marc Jacobs Gold Bar Sunglasses

“Mod Squad” Outfit No. 2, at right:

Meow. “This reminds me of you, Nicole,” says Mins. “Love the new ‘pattern play’ coming off the runway for spring and this dress nails it.  Very mod, very now.” She recos wearing this this to market appointments, to lunch, dinner or to drinks.  Nothing too formal because it is a shift, but, she comments, “…it definitely goes from office to work lunch or dinner easily in the summer.”

Marni Circle Shift Dress, Jimmy Choo Prize Sandals, Temperley London Flag Bag

A more refined Bohemian...

Classic Bohemian, with a Twist:

This outfit, also by Mindi, exemplifies exactly why stylists are good at their job: They have ways of arranging looks in ways you’d never have dreamed, that reinvent pieces in a different light. Take this Balenciaga dress, for example. I’d never think of picking this out for fear of its potential frump-factor, but Mindi designed this around the belt and has instantly made it something covet-able and super hot.

“I originally styled it around the dress (who wouldn’t?) but the belt is stealing the show and that bag is sick!,” she says. “I would wear this anywhere, to lunch, on a date, to a funeral or a party.  You cannot go wrong with a LBD from Balenciaga.”

Like these picks? Mindi is available for personal styling/shopping. Just contact her here.

Gucci Buckle Sunglasses, Balenciaga Baby Doll Dress, Salvatore Ferragamo Gancio Patch Tote, Marc Jacobs Cut Out Pumps, Giuseppe Zanotti Python Wedges

And now…the next stylist…Brianne Tammaro, an industry sales/design veteranette and friend of Nancy’s from Parsons (both are alums). Brianne currently works at covet-worthy Italian brand Blumarine.

Black, white, day, night...

Laid Back, and Luxurious:

Brie really loves the black/white trend we are seeing right now (so do we!), since it’s “…really clean, and black always looks professional but also stylish – especially for New York.” She has paired a boyfriend-like cardigan over a cocktail dress and would wear this with these fabulous flats during the day for a “laid back luxurious” look. “By adding the white bag, it adds interest to my ‘uniform of black’ that I tend to wear during the week.  However, the black dress can also be sexy for night so I like that it is a ‘day-to-play’ look.”

For day, Brianne suggests the flats, of course, and “wearing the cardi open, scrunching up the sleeves and adding some fun jewelry.” But for evening…throw these dangerous Giuseppe Zanotti booties in your oversized bag to put on after work…and start your night on the town on the right foot.

Temperley Mini Kaleidoscope Dress, Roberto Cavalli Jewel Cardigan, Giuseppe Zanotti Platform Booties, Salvatore Ferragamo Gancio Patch Tote, Christian Louboutin Mousse Clou Flats

We’d love to see YOUR styling creativity! If you think you have Covet Shop-worthy style, please submit your styling/picks, and reason for your choices, to Nancy [at] Covetshop.com. We’ll select a winner, who will receive $50 toward their next Covet Shop purchase, and post their look on the Covet Shop blog. Deadline: Wed., April 21.

Tripping Out? Go ask Alice

Inset, colored fringe and a soft punk edge for the hair at Cynthia Rowley; Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter

Is anyone not running out to see Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland when it hits on March 5? The thought of this psychedelic  overload is inspiring us to be a bit more daring these next seasons — and along those lines we loved Cynthia Rowley’s new fall/winter collection (above, with jewel-toned fringe). Being backstage, we also got to see Eva Scrivo’s crimped extensions up close: Gorgeous, textured and edgy, and practically good enough to eat.

Dying to know who did Johnny’s makeup…speaking of beauty, you’ll also need to get your hands on OPI’s Alice in Wonderland collection, reviewed here brilliantly by All Lacquered Up.

Absolutely Alice; Mad as a Hatter

Now that you’re in the mood, some Covet Shop picks we’ve assembled for the occasion:

Outfits, from left: Temperley Mini Kaleidoscope Dress, Balenciaga Giant Work Bag, Stella McCartney Velvet Stud Sandals; Milly Ruffle Tube Top, Missoni Geometric Skirt; Marni Circle Shift Dress, Pierre Hardy Suede Pumps

Delicious reds, for your nails

Valentine’s Day ends tomorrow, of course, but celebrate red nails all month anyway (it is, after all, American Heart Month). Booking an appointment at my favorite nail salon, Jin Soon, as we speak, after assembling this juicy collage.

Jin Soon for M.A.C., Dance All Night; Sephora's Red Alert 6; Chanel Le Vernis, Shanghai Red; Nars' Vintage, Limited Edition in Hunger; Essie's After Sex; London Underground by Butter 3Free

Tattoo You

We heard that Anya Hindmarch opened some Pop-Up Tattoo Parlours this week in London and NYC (which unfortunately ended yesterday), but what a fabulous idea. We heart the mermaid (below, at left). But if you want to go hard-core, pay a visit to Sailor Jerry (”Stewed,” at right). And don’t forget to pick up your new, bad-ass consignment outfit online at Covetshop.com.

S.W.A.K., the Covet Shop team

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?