Street style photographer Bill Cunningham has passed away, Puma teams up with the New York City Ballet, an exhibition exploring vulgarity in fashion, and more news from the fashion trenches in June.

• Christophe Lemaire is joining Uniqlo as artistic director of the Japanese brand’s new Paris-based R&D centre.
• Lands’ End has launched an activewear line called Lands’ End Sport.
• Tim Coppens has been appointed executive creative director of Under Armour Sportswear (UAS), a new men’s and womenswear brand that will launch this Autumn.
• Puma is teaming up with the New York City Ballet as the company’s official activewear partner.
• Target’s newest designer collection is with Superga. Have a peek at the collection.
• Amazon has partnered with a number of fashion bloggers for its #SaySomethingNice anti-body shaming campaign.
• This Fall a new exhibition at the London Barbican gallery will explore vulgarity in fashion from the Renaissance to the present day. 
• Iris Apfel is working together with Macy’s on a 40-piece collection called Iris Meets INC. that “captures the spirit of Sixties Mod styles”.
• This October, the Frost Art Museum in Miami is staging the first solo show dedicated to fashion designer Narciso Rodriguez.
• British retailer Selfridges has been awarded with the Intercontinental Group of Department Stores’ inaugural sustainability award for its innovative approach to corporate social responsibility.
• On Saturday, legendary street style photographer Bill Cunningham passed away at age 87.
• Some of his fans are petitioning the city to name his favourite street corner, the intersection of 57th Street and Fifth Avenue, after him in tribute.

Fashion Quote

As a tribute to Mr. Cunningham I would like to share something he said in the wonderful 2010 documentary Bill Cunningham New York that I’ve never forgotten:

“The wider world perceives fashion as frivolity that should be done away with. The point is that fashion is the armour to survive the reality of everyday life. I don’t think you can do away with it. It would be like doing away with civilization.”

Camisoles are an extremely important part of my style, although they aren’t all that noticeable in my outfits. To me, they are a necessary third item of underwear. I wear a $12 black or white camisole every day. I have many duplicates to prevent laundry bottlenecks, and feel oddly naked without one. 

My reasons for wearing a camisole are manyfold:

First and foremost, I love the comfort factor. Wearing a very soft and snug, cotton-rich item against my body makes every outfit more comfortable and secure. I wear a cami over a bra and knickers and tuck it into my bottoms. I’ll tuck the cami into my knickers when I’m wearing a dress. I find camis insulating in cool weather and air conditioning, and strangely cooling in warm weather. I will absolutely wear a cotton camisole in hot and humid weather too. Cotton camisoles are like the security blanket of my style, and I am definitely less comfortable when I don’t wear one. 

I hardly ever wear a camisole because tops are overly sheer or necklines are too low. That said, my die-hard camisole style comes in handy when I do wear see-through tops and lower necklines. I will seldom purchase an item of clothing if it doesn’t work with my camisoles. Another reason why the off-the-shoulder top was not for me. 

I wear lace bras and knickers because I find them pretty and luxurious. Wearing a camisole over the top prevents the grinning of bumpy lace when I wear delicate fabrications. The snug fit also smoothes out the contour of my body under most items of clothing.

I also love the look of lace camisoles, especially when they peek out from under a low neckline. But I don’t find them nearly as comfortable as cotton camis, which is why I haven’t committed to any for a very long time. I’m sure the right lace camisole will come my way at some point.  

I dress women for a living and don’t know anyone else who wears camisoles as regularly as I do. In fact, most of my clients prefer to leave off the camisole completely, unless their tops are overly sheer. Some like to wear a cami in cold weather, and leave it at that. Their reasons for preferring a cami-free style have to do with overheating, extra bulk on the bust and midsection, and feelings of outfit discomfort. 

Over to you. How frequently do you wear a camisole?

A few late and less expensive Summer wardrobe additions go a long way to refresh your look when your Summers are long. Here are some new items from Nordstrom that caught my eye. Browse through the colour options. 

• Adidas 'Stan Smith' Sneaker (Women): Because Modern Retro white sneakers can be worn with just about any casual outfit these days, Adidas's "Stan Smiths" are as popular as ever. Many, many rave reviews.
• PRESS Twist Front Tee: An interesting tee that skims over an apple shaped torso, but works AS well over an hourglass shape. Hem is too wide for an inverted triangle body shape.
• BP Foldover Crossbody Bag: Vegan Crossbody Tassel Fabness.
• Majorica Round Pearl Stud Earrings: Great quality pearl stud earrings that will stand the test of time. Also available in grey.
• PJ Salvage PJ Savage 'Desert' Lounge Pants: Floppy and fun Summer lounge pants.
• Catherine Catherine Malandrino ‘Rea’ Tropical Print V-Neck Top: A great top to wear under a fitted blazer. A good shape on a curvy hourglass with a larger bust. Fab on a shorter neck too.
• BaubleBar 'Twiggy' Floral Collar Necklace: Modern Retro Floral Necklace Fabness.
• Maaji 'Homy Dusk' Harem Yoga Pants: Super soft and comfy harem pants to wear to yoga, to bed, or to simply lounge in at home. Works on most body types.
• Vince Camuto 'Random Dabs' Print Side Pleat Top (Plus Size): A great fit on an hourglass figure. Tailored with a bit of flow, and therefore forgiving on the midsection. Flattering.
• Sole Society 'Paxley' Woven Satchel: Luxurious vegan woven satchel fabness. Best in the tan.
• Matty M Sleeveless Lace Top: A little sleeveless lace to wear with black bottoms or under a black cardi. Fluid and non-scratchy.
• M·A·C 'Bangin' Brilliant!' Lipstick: Try turquoise lippie if you dare - just for fun. Match it to turquoise finger or toenail polish - because why not!
• Topshop Embellished Fringe Cord Necklace: A statement fringed necklace with a global integrity. Good with a black, white and denim outfit.
• Madewell 'Courier' Drape Front Shirt: A boxy, yet fashionable, drape front shirt. It's short and will work with skirts and on petites. Size down.
• Urban Originals 'Wonder' Perforated Tote: A versatile, roomy and robust perforated tote. Good for travel.
• La Fiorentina Tassel Scarf: Cotton scarves with tassels scream hot beach weather. The French blue colour option gets my top vote.
• Essie Nail Polish: A remarkably versatile shade of nail polish. Works well with faded denim. Read the rave reviews.
• BP Floppy Straw Look Hat (Online Only): A versatile floppy Summer hat that works on most head and face shapes as long as the circumference of your head is around 23 inches.

You can see the items alongside my descriptions on the collection page.

26-year old Alexa from Fabes Fashion hails from Germany and currently lives in Los Angeles. Her style is casual and relaxed. She combines girly with boho, and enjoys a tomboy and rocker look too. She loves to wear ripped white jeans with fun tops, and sports hats regularly. Her long locks, big smile and beautiful green eyes are her trademarks.

This Summer-y look is the perfect embodiment of Alexa’s casual, relaxed style. Our blogger loves to wear ripped white jeans that give her outfits a RATE (rough around the edges) vibe. This is partly tempered by the fact that they are white, which adds back a level of polish. An on trend off-the-shoulder peasant top with pastel geometric print creates a pretty ‘70s boho effect. The billowy bell sleeves and drapey volume provide flattering proportions with the skinny jeans. A dressy tan tote and fab flat sandals with eye-catching pearl embellishments are the polished finishing touches.

A fun take on a column of colour. Our blogger has paired her favourite distressed jeans with a V-neck cover-up worn as a blouse. The lace trim detailing and Alexa’s long sleek hair are the feminine touches. The oversized denim jacket with embroidered patches and low-top Converse create a playful tomboy vibe. The olive sneakers, blue denim, colourful souvenir patches and Alexa’s bright lipstick make a vibrant impact. Sporting white on the top and bottom creates a long lean line and is useful for making the harder-to-style oversized jacket instantly wearable. Rolling the sleeves adds structure to the outfit.

Alexa’s stunning floral print dress undoubtedly steals the show. The simple above-the-knee A-line style accentuates her shapely legs. I especially love how the bold floral pattern is only partly coloured-in, giving it the air of an unfinished aquarel painting. Beautiful! Light taupe stacked heel cage sandals and Alexa’s body art peeking through add soft edge. The nude-for-her colour further elongates the leg line. Alexa’s neon pink lipstick emphasizes her gorgeous green eyes even more. A colour blocked envelope clutch in soft neutrals complements the look. Our blogger’s pinned back wavy hair is the romantic finishing touch.

A jumpsuit in a striking colour doesn’t need extra bells and whistles. The rusty red is flattering against Alexa’s skintone. The combination with the cool-toned pink lipstick is a little unexpected. Opting for a fluid fit helps to not overwhelm the wearer. The V-neckline, rolled hems and sleeves, and the belt with metal buckle also provide structure. Pairing the jumpsuit with heavier footwear like these black cut-out block-heeled booties creates a playful utilitarian vibe. The black felt fedora bookends the shoes, and Alexa’s long locks add girly charm.

I call this one Pretty Boho Rocker. The ripped skinny jeans, black booties, long cardigan, fedora, and chain strap bag make up the Boho Rocker part of the outfit. The white and pink striped boat neck tee, in combination with white jeans and pastel pink lippy, soften the look. Pairing the tee and jeans with a maxi cardigan creates drama, but the fine gauge knit and structured fit on the shoulders and arms prevent it from becoming overwhelming. The light with dark grey ombré effect subtly echoes the striped tee. Together with the suede booties, felt hat and quilted bag it provides subtle textural interest. The high-contrast black footwear creates an extra horizontal line which is offset by high heels and the vertical integrity of the long cardigan.

A simple tee and jeans look is elevated by incorporating colour, pattern and texture. Alexa is wearing her trademark distressed skinnies with an Aztec print crew neck T-shirt. The mix of colours and patterns creates outfit depth. The tasseled hemline, the knot detailing on her tote bag, and braided sandals add lots of texture. A banded fedora adds flair and is a great way to shield yourself from the Californian sun. Bright red lipstick and rosy cheeks finish off this casual Summertime look.

Let us know in the comments what you think of Alexa’s fun, relaxed style. You can also browse the rest of her outfits over at Fabes Fashion, or find out what inspires her on Pinterest.