Pantone’s top colours for Spring 2016, Athleta’s first designer collaboration, a new wide-fit footwear collection, and other style news that caught our attention this week.

• Next year’s exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London will celebrate 100 years of British Vogue.
• e-Tailer Eloquii has just launched its own wide-fit footwear collection.
• Rose Quartz and Buttercup are among Pantone’s Top 10 colours for Spring 2016, which “are meant to ease the daily grind.”
• Andrew Bolton will succeed Harold Koda as Head Curator of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.
• For its first designer collaboration, a 38-piece collection of activewear and athleisure, Athleta has teamed up with Derek Lam.
• ShoeKicker is a search engine that sifts through over 10,000 pairs of running shoes to help you find the best deal on any specific shoe.

Fun Fashion Fact

Proposing marriage with a ring goes back centuries. But it is said that Archduke Maximilian of Austria is one of the first people on record to have proposed with a diamond ring. In fact, it wasn’t until the mid-1800s, when diamonds were discovered in British provinces in South Africa, that diamond engagement rings really gained in popularity. Until then the most popular rings featured other gemstones, often birthstones.

This ensemble was inspired by two modern retro looks from Express that feel fresh for Fall. They combine flared trousers or culottes with a soft tucked blouse. They chose a fringed suede jacket as a topper, but a fitted blazer is just as ‘70s, and easier to pull together for this outfit formula. 

I’ve chosen black, white, cognac and burgundy here but feel free to choose any colour palette. Here are the components: 

Flared Bottoms: Think flared trousers or jeans that are fitted in the hips and thighs for structure. Think culottes in all iterations as an option in wet and soggy weather. And although I haven’t included the silhouette here, think cropped jeans with kick flares too. They look great with booties with higher shafts. Neutrals are easy to style but don’t overlook colours like rust and burgundy either. 

Romantic Blouse: You’re after a soft blouse with a romantic touch in a solid or pattern. Think blouses with neck ties, bows, ruffles, lace or flounces. Wear it tucked into the bottoms, or untucked over the bottoms. You might find that the untucked version works better with full length flares instead of culottes. 

Topper: The topper is optional. Choose a fitted blazer or a suede jacket that works with the colour palette for an extra ‘70s integrity. 

Footwear: Pointy toe footwear with low or high heels works best with full length flares. Knee-high boots, ankle strap footwear, cut-out booties, pumps and booties with higher shafts work well with cropped flares like culottes. Choose a colour that works with the rest of the outfit. I’ve chosen black, cognac and animal print because they look more ‘70s.  

Accessories: Finish off the look with a fringed bag or hobo for a retro touch, or keep it modern and simple with a clutch or tote. Add jewellery, eyewear and watch as desired.

I’ve sported my version of this ensemble a few times already. I combined light blue flared jeans with a white neck tie blouse, studded cognac belt and animal print booties. On a chillier day I added my equestrian Smythe jacket because it’s very fitted and the elbow patches work with the cognac in the rest of the outfit. For a modern touch, I finished off the look with green specs and neon clutch.

With New York Fashion Week officially kicking off today, I wanted to share some links about the big biannual fashion event.

• New venues, brand opt-outs, designer switch-ups, and more, Racked brings us the NYFW Spring/Summer 2016 guide.
• On Friday, Instagram is debuting a new section to the app’s Explore page with picks of the best updates from New York Fashion Week. It’s the first time that Instagram will feature a daily updated feed of content from a specific event.
• Here are The Huffington Post’s suggestions for people to follow on Instagram during the big event.
• These 18 designers are making their New York Fashion Week debuts.
• Several brands are moving away from the runway format and are coming up with other ways to show their collections.
• The New York Times discusses how “the future of fashion is being reimagined by WME/IMG, the entertainment and sports management company that now owns New York Fashion Week.”
• Meet six behind-the-scenes people who make Fashion Week work.

Fab Links from Our Members

In theory Marlene agrees with John Oliver’s view on fast fashion. “But with 98% of America’s clothing manufactured outside of the USA, where am I supposed to get my clothes?” she asks.

JAileen found this slideshow of Queen Elizabeth II’s outfits throughout her reign fascinating.

Sally reminds us that people have pores. “The next time you see an ad like this and find yourself lamenting your ‘bad skin’, gently remind yourself that the vast majority of the ‘good skin’ you’re being shown has been digitally improved.”  So true, Angie says.

No more puffy puffer coats, says Skylurker, now that “Thindown“, the first 100% natural goose down fabric is here.

Vildy was interested in Alyx Gorman’s take on why Australia is not a nation of coat-wearers.

Six underground unisex labels that prove that fashion is bored of gender norms. Robin adds: “The more we turn the idea of what people should be wearing on its head, the more safe and free people will feel to be creative and self-expressive with their clothes.”

Annagybe came across the “Fibonnaci skirt“, a great project that truly merges science and fashion.

Laura (rhubarbgirl) directs us to an interesting interview with a historian of 20th century American culture about why Americans dress so casually and what that means.

As Inge mentioned in the Link Love post last week, brooches are making a comeback. Designers like Chanel, Prada, Suno and Balenciaga accessorized all sorts of outfits with brooches for Fall Ready-to-Wear 2015 as a nod to Retro Futurism. Outfit maximalism is just as trendy as outfit minimalism these days. Love that.  

Brooches cover a range of personas. Vintage, quirky, modern, shiny, matte, bold, subtle, delicate, chunky, hard, soft, neutral, colourful, casual, dressy or abstract, so take your pick. There’s something conversational and playful about a brooch which makes them a fun jewellery item. They are also good pieces to pick up at consignment stores.

Think of all sorts of ways to incorporate brooches into your outfits. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Casual Blazer Chic
• Retro Fabness
• Arty Preppy Casual
• Modern Dandy
• Hard & Soft
• Maximum Impact
• Column of Bombshell
• Trendy Cameo
• Ruffled Stone
• Denim & Diamonds
• Beach Brooch
• Cafe Pretty

I was inspired by the brooches on the pullover to the right, thinking how easily the look could be recreated with a similar item of knitwear. The concept would also work with a tie-front or pussy bow blouse. The effect is much like wearing a necklace without the chain. 

I wore brooches to death in the ‘80s because Duran Duran’s new wave looks inspired my brooch style enormously back then. I skipped the brooch trend for twenty years, but had a ball with floral pins in the early 00’s. It seems I need at least a decade to pass before I add brooches back into my style because I’m feeling them again. They look fresh! They can liven up the appearance of pullovers like the ones below.

The V-neck sweater with detachable scarf is begging for a brooch to complement it (pinned onto the knotted part of the scarf). And the right brooch might make me feel happier about wearing charcoal grey. I just have to think about how the right brooch will work with my modern apple green specs. I’m thinking vintage and gold for a fun juxtaposition.

Over to you. Are you inspired to wear brooches for Fall and Winter?