Black & White: 3 Ways

When it comes right down to it, Fashion is really just a big ol' commitment-phobe. She struts around with her latest trend, showing it off to everyone and making if feel special and then BAM, her trend-du-jour is tossed to out to the curb with the rest of her cast-offs. Harsh! Call the style world fickle, call it commitment-phobic, but at least it's interesting, right?

Though bright colours and pretty pastels have recently taken over, the spring runways were also punctuated with hits of graphic black and white, which added a modern message to couture and ready-to-wear collections. These looks stood out because of their stark simplicity, and made for a refreshing change of pace from the constant colour PDAs. The good news? Unlike its colourful counterparts, black & white has a super long shelf-life. A good pair of black pants or a great white shirt will last you from season to season, regardless of the current colour trend, so they will always be in style, will go with absolutely everything, and won't look dated by the time you get them home from the mall.  On days when you need a palette cleanser, b&w always does the trick.

Head-to-toe black (and head-to-toe white, for that matter) will always look chic, but this season, try wearing them together for a totally modern look. Add a great black belt and killer black pumps to a white eyelet dress, go sporty like Alexander Wang with sleek, graphic separates, or navigate your urban jungle in a zebra-print frock - when it comes to black & white, there are loads of ways to get it right. Luckily, this is one union that will actually last for the long haul. You see? Maybe Fashion isn't quite so fickle after all...

The Drawstring Pant: Take Two

While I love the cute snail 'jammies posted yesterday, they are quite simply bed and couch pants.  Full stop.  I happened upon these striped 100% cotton French terry pants on StyleMint today and had to order them immediately.  They work equally well as off-duty loungers and as cool run-around-towners and as StyleMint has so brilliantly demonstrated in the video above, can be worn a multitude of ways both in and out of the public eye.  Love! The Olsen twins have recently added accessories, skirts & bottoms to their growing roster of cool-girl tees on StyleMint.  If you haven't checked out the site yet, you really must.  

The Tribeca Pant ($59.98) is available in both Navy Stripe and Heather Grey at StyleMint.com

Found: Downton Abbey Pants

Since today is technically Easter Monday, I'm putting the blame (once again) on the bunny for making me eat so much over the long weekend.  Though I don't normally condone pajamas for day (Vogue endorsements notwithstanding), these 'Quick Getaway Loungers from Anthropologie ($48) are perfect for your lady of leisure days and hide a multitude of sins while you take an hour or two repose on your chaise.  Ahhh...Downton Abbey, anyone?  

Paisley & Houndstooth

Paisley Shorts from H&M (would go brilliantly with the pink Jacob blazer from last Friday's post, btw)

Ashley in a houndstooth blazer from H&M

A houndstooth look from the DVF Pre-Fall Collection - photo via WWD

Head-to-toe paisley at Jil Sander's Spring 2012 show 

Houndstooth trousers ($49.90) at Zara 

Stella McCartney Spring 2012

Bright houndstooth at House of Holland's Fall 2012 Show 

We had our family Easter dinner yesterday and as always, I ate too much food, ate way too much chocolate and generally just over-indulged.  Heaven!  Though every family get-together involves questions like, "How's work?" and "How are the kids?", my fashion-conscious fam now asks me about trends, too.  We got on the topic of pattern and I told them how prevalent retro prints have been on the runways for this season and next.  I especially love the big comeback of paisley and houndstooth - 2 of my fave old-school prints.  To make '80's houndstooth look current, team it with a pop of bright by adding a colour-blocked heel or blouse or, instead of the typical black & white, be on the lookout for colourful houndstooth as seen at DVF and House of Holland for Fall 2012.  As for paisley, it's been awhile since the old-fashioned print has looked hip so just wearing it is guaranteed to make you look in-the-know.  Luckily, instead of the heavy-looking paisleys we used to see (think forest green and burgundy..ech) the print's been reinvented with loads of bright pastel paisleys swinging from this season's racks.  Designers are showing head-to-toe matching prints but for every day, I suggest you debut one singular sensation to make a statement.  Pretty!

The Bunny Made Me Do It

RLR - I just saw this pretty pink blazer at Jacob and it's only $129.  I think I'm going to get it..."

Bunny - "But you don't really need it.."

RLR - "Okay, I know..but I saw this pic on Pinterest awhile back and I can't get it out of my mind.  The eyelet dress, the woven clutch, and that blazer!  The whole thing is just so pretty!  And it's really, really hard to find a good pink blazer.."

Bunny - "You haven't even gone shopping for your kids' Easter baskets yet!  And now you're thinking of buying a bubblegum pink blazer that you so don't need?  What kind of mother are you?"

RLR - "What kind of mom am I?  I kept my son home from daycare yesterday despite a massive build-up of work since my husband's been away most of the month.  I worked until 2 am after finally getting the kids to bed so I got maybe 6 hours of sleep, which is actually a pretty good night.  Then, I took both kids to Wal-Mart this morning  to buy all their friends' Easter treats and ended up with a cartful of candy, only to realize that my kids had emptied my wallet and tossed my cards throughout the store while I wasn't looking.  I just got my headshots back and realized that you can hire a good photographer but you can't take back a hungover Puerto Rican haircut (long story). Now I think my daughter's getting sick, my cat has a mysterious limp and my dog just threw up on my new shoes, and yet, I still wouldn't trade any of them for anything.  I don't know what kind of mom that makes me but after a week like this, I'm getting that cute pink blazer, bunny."

Bunny - "Get the blazer.  BTW, do you have any carrots? I mean...Happy Easter?"