FASHIONABLE INVITES: June

CHICAGO

PRE-FALL COLLECTION PREVIEW: Chanel and Trina Turk for Banana Republic.

TRUNK SHOWS: Elizabeth Fillmore at Belle Vie Bridal Couture, Kara Ross at Neiman Marcus, Escada at Neiman Marcus and Donna Karan at Neiman Marcus.

GET THE LOOK: Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow spotted out in New York looking fabulous and wearing the latest trend,
metallic cap toe heels.

Here is how to GET THE LOOK...

LEFT TO RIGHT: ‘Ava’ silk collarless shirt, $291, Equipment available at farfetch. ‘Mandy’ pant, $248, by Kate Spade. Court show with metal toe cap $89.90, Zara. ‘Naomi’ Gray Onyx Horn Statement Necklace, $163, by Max & Chloe. Slim line contrast jacket, $130, by Oasis.

FASHIONABLE DATES

EVENTS: Height of Fashion, Chicago Wedding Salon Bridal Show and Fashioning the Object.

FASHIONABLE INVITES: May

Upcoming London designer sample sales...

SAMPEL SALES: French Connection, Erdem, Joesph, Alexander McQueen and Christopher Kane

Happy Shopping!

FASHION CONFESSIONS: CARMEN HAID Founder of Atelier-Mayer

Carmen Haid has worked in fashion PR for over a decade representing several luxury brands including Céline, Tommy Hilfiger and YSL. But in 2008 she gave it all up to pursue a long time passion for vintage and the desire to pass it on. From this ATELIER-MAYER was born, a concept dedicated solely to the global phenomenon of 20th-century vintage shopping. This luxury e-boutique is also a gallery showroom in London for vintage fashion lovers, collectors, students, designers and artists. The inspiration for both the brand and its name came from Carmen’s late grandmother, Klaudia Mayer, an Austrian haute couture tailor in the 20s.

Photography by Chris Tubbs

Carmen and I go way back, we first met in 2002 while she was at the French label Céline and I was at The Telegraph Magazine. This trés chic mother of three was kind enough to share her FASHION CONFESSIONS with me.

WHAT’S YOUR FASHION ADDICTION?
Vintage fashion and accessories

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE LONDON'S FASHION STYLE?
Quirky, eclectic and fun

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE?
Classic elegance with a funky twist

WHAT’S THE MOST PRIZED POSSESSION IN YOUR CLOSET?
My late grandmother's clothes collection

WHAT DOES FASHION MEAN TO YOU?
Fashion is fast, you need to live and breathe it to keep up with it. That's why I like in particular vintage it is beyond fashion and withstands time.

BEST BEAUTY TIP YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
For super soft hands, wash them with champagne

FASHIONABLE INVITES: London Sample Sales & Store Openings

SAMPEL SALES: Chinti & Parker, agnès b, Melissa Odabash, Sam Edelman, See by Chloe, Pippa Small and Kors by Michael Kors.

FASHION CONFESSIONS: TRACY REESE Fashion Designer

As a champion of ‘real’ women Tracy Reese has been setting the fashion world alight with her three lines; Tracy Reese, Frock! and Plenty. Her unabashedly girly cuts paired with bold mismatched prints have become Tracy's trademark style. With major department stores like Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue selling her collections, Tracy has become a household name. Even having celebs such as Beyoncé, Michelle Obama and Carrie Underwood wearing her clothes Tracy still designs for the lifestyle and bodies of women like her and her friends.

I recently met Tracy at an event here in Chicago and she was kind of enough to tell me her fashion confessions.

WHAT’S YOUR FASHION ADDICTION?
Shoes, shoes and shoes.

WHAT INSPIRED YOUR FALL COLLECTION?
Color, strength and boldness.

WHO'D YOU LOVE TO DRESS?
So many people, but I’d love to dress Oprah. I was so proud to have dressed Mrs. Obama. But I’m always excited to dress real woman.

WHAT DOES FASHION MEAN TO YOU?
Expression, art and a way to express myself.

WHAT’S THE MOST PRIZED POSSESSION IN YOUR CLOSET?
The things that my mom made for me when I was younger.

Fall Ready to Wear 2012 Collection Photos: Yannis Vlamos / GoRunway.com

A big thank you to Trés Awesome for the fab images.

GET THE LOOK: Charlize Theron

Loving this ultra cool look Charlize Theron wore arriving at LAX back in July at LAX.

Spotted in a Chaser City of Angels t-shirt ($50), Giorgio Armani 783 eyeglasses, Rag & Bone Skinny jeans in Dover and carrying a Bottega Veneta ‘Intrecciato Maltinto’ tote bag ($2,650). If you love this outfit but hate the price tag or if it's sold out here's how to... GET THE LOOK.

TOP TO BOTTOM: Dexter Glasses, $12, by Bien Bien available at Tobi. AV room headphones, $62, Panasonic available at Urban Outfitters. ‘Luella’ woven bag currently on sale $62.99 (originally $119), by Deux Lux available at Bluefly. Grateful Dead Dancing Skeleton Destroyed Slouchy Tee in Vintage Black, $53, by Chaser available at Singer22. Skinny jeans, $76, by Jane Norman. Thin banded fedora, $10.50, by Wet Seal. ‘Isador’ suede flats, $79.95, by Sam Edelman available at DSW.

FASHIONABLE INVITES: May

CHICAGO

TRUNK SHOWS: Marni at Nordstrom, Decades in Chicago, Isoude at Neapolitan & The Edit.

GET THE LOOK: Daywear PJs

I heart the pajama party look, it’s chic, stylish and most amazingly comfortable (woohoo)! Please don’t be frightened of this trend you don’t have to wear the whole look to make it work. Wearing it head to toe is a bit much and you have to be both bold and confident. How I’d wear this look? I personally would wear these silk trousers with a slouchy tee. (Two right images from STOCKHOLM-STREET-STYLE) GET THE LOOK...

LEFT TO RIGHT: Silk trousers, $845, by Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti available at Net-a-Porter. Printed trousers, $89.90, Zara. Hazia print tuxedo pants, $355, BY MALENE BIRGER available at Shopbop. Floral-print washed silk-satin palazzo pants, $325, by Elizabeth and James available at Net-a-Porter. ‘Winona’ trousers, $298, by Elie Tahari available at Neiman Marcus.