With the weather cooling down it is time to reorganize closets and drawers, putting away lightweight and sleeveless shirts and replacing them with heavier materials and sweaters. One of my favorite fall and winter 2011 items are cable knit sweaters. Cable knit is not a new trend, in fact it has been a mainstay for centuries but there is nothing better than a  knit sweater on a cold day.  Just because the sweater is cable knit does not mean that it cannot be fashionable or slimming. Not all of these types of sweaters are going to be big, bulky and oversized.

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The most common cable sweaters you are going to find are ones that are on the casual side. These sweaters are available in multiple lengths.   For Fall 2011 many of these sweaters are cropped or on the shorter side of full length. One of my favorite is the Juicy Couture Cropped Crew Neck Cable Sweater which comes in a light Khaki as well as a pink. This sweater has cable knit and baubles making it a very fun and playful sweater. Even though it is called a crop sweater it really is not that short. For most, the sweater will end at the waist. You can wear this for work with a skirt or dress pants if your office is not too strict with its dress code. Another great cropped cable sweater is the Jenni Kayne Cable Sweater. The thing that sets this sweater apart from most of the other cable knit sweaters is that the pattern goes horizontally vs. vertically which is how most cable knits are done. I love the neutral blush color of this sweater. It looks great with a leather skirt like the model is wearing but it looks like it would be a very cozy sweater to wear with a pair of jeans when the temperatures really dip down.

Click the link at the top of bottom of the page for these and other great cropped cable knit sweaters

I love ombre and when I saw the Bird by Juicy Couture Ombre Cable Turtleneck Sweater I immediately had to order this sweater. The ombre oversized cable knit in the front is great but I love that the back has ombre banding as well as the thick turtleneck. Now if I could only get the temperatures to drop enough to be able to wear this sweater, I will be very happy.

Click the links at the top or bottom of the article for Cable Knit Sweaters

Though I have yet to buy one, a cable knit sweater dress is on my must have list for Fall / Winter 2011. I have narrowed down my favorites to two. The Tibi Cable Knit Sweater Dress has banding at the waist giving the dress more of a shape than most other sweater dresses and the thin cable knit pattern also makes this a very figure flattering dress. My other favorite is the Pencey Cable Knit Sweater Dress. This is a much more casual sweater dress, it even has shredding at the bottom hem. It is also 6 inches shorter than the Tibi dress. Both have their advantages and hopefully soon I will decide on which one will be part of my 2011/ 2012 wardrobe.

Click the links for great cable knit sweaters

I have only shown a few of the hundreds of great cable knit sweaters available for the 2011/ 2012 season so take your time in the search for the perfect cable knit for your wardrobe.

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Click Here For More Information or To Buy These and Other Color Block Dresses

Color Blocking has been around for decades but it really was not until Spring 2011 that it has really taken off. If you remember, most of the colors used for this look have been quite bright and bold but now for Fall 2011, the colors are are deeper and darker shades. There are lots of reds, browns, earthy, and jewel tone colors.

While you can easily take a top and wear it with a different color bottom and perhaps a third color belt or scarf there are many great items that are also color blocked already. One of the best ways to find these items is in dresses. There are so many great color blocked dresses ranging from casual to more formal.

One of the first dresses that caught my eye was the Thread Social Colorblock Turtleneck Dress. This dress had a very 1960s mod look to it. This long sleeve dropwaist dress has a grey cotton turtleneck top and a colorblock silk skirt. While the dress may be a little to short to wear for work, this is a great dress to wear for a get together with friends.

Click the Link at the Top or Bottom of the page for this and other great Color Block Dresses

If you are wanting a great color block dress that is more appropriate for work, there are plenty of those to choose from. There are two in particular that I love a lot. The first is the Joseph Van Colorblock Dress. This dress is a long sleeve lined crepe dress. The top of the dress is white with red sleeves and the skirt part is a solid black. The length is office appropriate and it is perfect to wear for an after work get together as well. Wear this dress with a pair or black or red heels and your outfit is complete.

The other dress that grabs my attention is the Alice + Olivia Short Chloe Coloblock Dress. This dress is a gorgeous brown and cream dress and comes with a detachable narrow gold belt. This is a great dress that is comfortable as well as fashionable.

Click the links at the top or bottom of the page to buy these or other great color block dresses

Moving on to dresses that are perfect to an evening party or formal get together the choices for color block dresses are practically endless. One of my favorite is  the Herve Leger Colorblock Dress.  Like most of the other great Herve Leger dresses, this is a form fitting banded dress. A gorgeous shade of green with blue and black, this dress will have all eyes on you this holiday season or whenever you wear it.

Another great colorblock dress that will show off your figure is the Pencey Colorblock Cutout Dress. This dress is available in pink/ burgundy (pictured) as well as blue/aqua. While both are great color combinations, the pink and burgundy dress is a bit more fall like. Keep in mind you will have to not be self conscious when wearing this dress because of the exposure at the waist.

Though not as form fitting, but equally if not more gorgeous than the previous two dresses, the Matthew Williamson Paneled Mini Dress is a great colorblock dress. This red, pink, and black dress has a array of materials and textures on this dress. You will definitely get a lot of attention when wearing this dress.

Click the top or bottom link for these and other colorblock dresses

No matter the occasion make sure that you have some sort of color block dress to wear this season. You can find so many that have the colors combined for you already or mix and match colors on your own.

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Alice + Olivia was launched in 2002 by Stacey Bendet because Stacey was struggling to find the perfect flattering form fitting pants. Over the years the brand has grown from pants to a full ready to wear line including outerwear and dresses. Over time the Alice + Olivia brand has expanded into categories from work clothes to casual wear meant for layering.  In 2008 Alice + Olivia expanded again with the creation of a children’s line of clothing.

The signature item from Alice + Olivia are the Stacey Pants. These pants are a staple in every collection with colors and styles being updated based on the trends for that season. The Stacey pants range from cropped pants for spring and summer, pants with a slight flare that are great for work or fun,  and Stacey Flare Jeans which are perfect for when you want the comfort of jeans but in a more polished, dressed up manner.

Alice + Olivia Stacey Flare Pants

Other signature items from Alice + Olivia are the variety of goddess dresses. These one shoulder dresses come in both sleeveless as well as a single long sleeve style. The One Shoulder Goddess Dress is made from jersey and has ruching and silk-chiffon  overlays. These dresses come in solid basic colors like black, white, and grey. The Sleeveless One Shoulder Goddess Dress is similar in material and style to the one with a single long sleeve but the colors are brighter and bolder and even come in a tie-dye pattern. Both versions of this dress are perfect for parties when you want to stand out in a different style dress than most others.

Alice + Olivia One Shoulder Goddess Dress

In 2011 Alice + Olivia expanded into the world of footwear with an alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet line of shoes as well as collaboration for the even popular brand of casual shoes, Keds. Alice + Olivia even created a line of shoes for Payless.

The limited edition Alice + Olivia for Keds were released in Spring 2011 and sold out quickly.   The classic laceless slip-on Keds Champion style sneakers were updated from the basic canvas to ones that are adorned with glitter sequins in black, white, silver, and gold.

Just like the clothing, Alice + Olivia shoes range from ones appropriate for fun to those made for work. The shoes come in many styles as well, flats, heels, and sandals. The first collection of shoes debuted in Spring 2011 and had great sequin  and animal print flats, open toe booties, and heels. Polka dots and stripes were also popular patterns for these shoes and of course there were solid color shoes as well.

Alice + Olivia Lila Platform Sandals

Alice + Olivia is a relatively new brand when compared to other popular brands but they are making a mark on the fashion world and I expect to see more great clothing, shoes, and accessories from them in the future.

If you are in search of a lightweight, ultra-feminine dress with ruffles dress to wear this summer then the Club Monaco Andrea Dress is the answer.

The Club Monaco Andrea  Dress is a scoop neck  dress in a lightweight wrinkled cotton voile and has lace and pintucking  throughout the dress. There is a 4 button closure at the top of the dress so you can wear the dress buttoned up to whatever degree you would like to do so.  A drawstring at the neck allows you to wear the dress as tight or as loose as you would like and the drawstring at the drop waist creates a definition in the dress. Elastic at the bottom of the sleeves  makes it easy to wear the sleeves at full length or pushed up without worrying about them constantly falling down. The bottom hem of the dress has ruffles, silk chiffon panels, and embroidery which add to the feminine look and feel of this dress. Since all of the fabric is thin and sheer, there is a slip dress lining so there is no worries of the dress being see-through.

For more information or to buy this dress please click the link or picture below

Club Monaco Andrea Dress

This is a casual dress perfect for your normal weekend activities like shopping, brunch, or sight seeing. You will want to wear the dress with a neutral or soft color sandal or wedge shoe.

Boulee is the brainchild of Debbie Morad who wanted to create clothing that was effortless and chic. Debbie created this line due to frustration with her own wardrobe. Boulee is known for interesting cutouts in dresses as well as bright vibrant colors.

The Boulee Ciara Sleeveless Dress is a asymmetrical dress with a deep cut in the fabric of the one shoulder strap creating a double strap. To balance out the cut out on the left shoulder is a cut out at the waist on the right side of this dress. This dress is available in so many colors including : Black, White, Fuschia, Red, and many shades of Blue.

For more information or to buy please click the link or picture below

Boulee Ciara Sleeveless Dress in many colors

The Boulee Ciara Sleeveless Dress is simple yet detailed so you will want to keep this in mind when accessorizing. You will want to wear a simple necklace or no necklace at all so you do not take away from the detailing of the cut out strap. Simple earrings as well as suggested. In terms of shoes, if wearing a black or white dress you can keep it classic with a black shoe or add any color that you wish. In terms of patterns on shoes a basic one is fine but if the pattern is detailed and intricate you want to make sure that it does not distract from the dress. If you wear a colorful Boulee Ciara Sleeveless Dress you can match the color, wear black, or add another bold color shoe to create a color block look. The Ciara dress also comes in just as many colors in a single long sleeve version if you prefer a slightly different style of this dress.

If you are a not a fan of asymmetrical cut outs on a dress but still want something bright, vibrant, and a show stopper the Boulee Serena Dress fits these requirements. The Serena Dress has a simple silhouette making it a dress to wear for so many occasions. The top of the dress has boning in it which provides shape and support. The bottom half of the dress hugs the body and is quite short. Not all of the drama for the dress is in the front though, the back of the dress has an exposed zipper that is outlined in black.

There are a few versions of this dress, some are a solid color like red or blue and others are color blocked. The solid dress is a great starting point to build an outfit on. Wear the solid dress with a wide belt in black or another color to wear the dress in a more casual dressed down look. If you are wanting to stand out a little more then there are some great color contrasting dresses. Some of the color combinations for these dresses are pink and purple and a light and dark orange combination. My favorite though is the grey and black color contrasting dress. This dress has a grey base and a black top with grey triangle accents at the waist. Just like the other signature Serena dresses, this has the exposed black zipper in the back. The color contrasting combinations for these dresses seem to be a bit more casual than the solid versions but they can be paired with the right shoes or accessories to make appropriate for more formal events.

Boulee Serena Tube Top Dress with back Zipper in Grey/Black

Since this is a strapless dress you can wear it as is in the summer or when the weather cools down, wear a cardigan or light weight jacket over the dress. The colors of the dresses are all great for summer and most are on trend for fall 2011.

Nothing says Boho Chic more than macrame does.

The A.L.C. Macrame Long Dress, featured in the June 2011 edition of Lucky Magazine, is a great dress to wear this summer. It is light and airy, perfect for hot summer days and nights, as well as fashionable and on trend. A long accordion pleated dress with unfinished edges at the hem allow this dress to flow freely and is not at all tight and uncomfortable to wear on a hot day. The unfinished edges give this dress a natural bohemian feel to it. The bodice of the dress is a scoop neck halter open macrame with distressed metal beads woven into the macrame. Between the bodice and the dress is an elastic banding that is ruched creating not only shape for the dress but creates another texture. At the back of the dress there are spaghetti straps and a tie at the neck so the dress will remain secure. Everything about this dress is natural and not at all formal feeling at all.

For more information about this dress please click the link or picture below.

A.L.C. Macrame Long Dress

Since the top of this dress is so detailed you will want to wear simple earrings and perhaps a bracelet or two. Do not go heavy with your jewelry. In terms of footwear a sandal like the model is wearing will look great. If you want a shoe with some height stick with a simple nude heel or wedge.

Now that Memorial Day is behind us the unofficial beginning of summer is here. With summer come many parties, some of which may be a wedding or other formal celebration.

The ADAM Ruffle Tank Dress in peach is the perfect summer dress. It is soft and feminine in shape and color but has some unique detailing that gives it a bit of an edge to it as well. The entire dress is made up of tiers of ruffles creating a soft elegance but the edges of these ruffles are frayed which not only takes away a bit of the softness but it gives the tiers some dimension. A self tie bow at the waist adds to the femininity of the dress and creates a defined waist giving you a very nice shape. I love that the dress has straps so there is no worry that the dress will slip down. You can wear the dress with a similar color shoe or be bold like the model in the top picture and add some color to your outfit.

Click the link or picture below for more information or to buy the ADAM Ruffle Tank Dress

ADAM Ruffle Tank Dress

1.  Comfy, go-with-everything sandals – A comfortable pair of sandals that will go with everything is essential for summer, and with all the styles available too choose from, finding the perfect pair is easy!  Brights are definitely in this season, so grab a pair in neon yellow or pink.  If you aren’t into brights, go for a neutral or metallic, both are versatile and can be worn for day or night.

2.  Fun sunglasses - Break away from the conventional, because there are multiple ways to show your style with sunglasses this season.  Oversize 70′s glasses and cat-eyes create a chic look, while my personal favorite remains the wayfarer.  There are so many different colors and patterns to choose from as well!  So have fun with them and let your personality show.  I always have multiple pairs and colors on hand to keep my options open!

3.  The oh-so-versatile summer dress – Have at least one good summer dress that is versatile enough to wear at the beach during the day and can carry you all the way to cocktails at night, just by changing a few accessories.  Floral patterns make it so easy to do this, especially if they have a dark base, such as black or navy in the floral background.

4. Wedge or chunky heeled sandals – A lifesaver compared to stilettos, many chunky heels can actually be comfortable!  The perfect shoe to dress up or down, and can be worn with shorts, skirts, dresses and pants.  The only thing to watch out for is making sure you don’t get a style that is too bulky, especially if you have thin ankles.  The result can be quite comical when your feet look too heavy for you!

5.  Stripes! – Nautical stripes are always in for summer, but this season its all about standing out!  Having at least one navy and white striped tee in your summer wardrobe is absolutely essential, but you don’t have to limit yourself to just those colors!  Mix bright colored stripes, and even add striped accessories.  If you do keep it classic, pair the nautical stripes with white or beige bottoms, it’s a look that will always be in style.

6.  Floppy hat –They shade your face from the sun, and make any outfit look instantly more glamorous while keeping up with the seventies trend.  This is one addition you will be glad you got over anything else. I’m still looking for the perfect one, but this piece will be joining my collection very soon!

7.  The Perfect Swimsuit – Swimsuits are an area where it isn’t always best to get what’s on trend, but what is best on your body type.  Luckily, this season’s trends make it easy to find the perfect one.  Retro, vintage-inspired suits are making a huge statement for 2011, as are ruffles and crochet (not sure how I feel about this one yet – wet yarn brings an image of sagging suits in my mind).

So there you have it – your most essential summer wardrobe pieces.  If you liked this post, you can read more at my personal blog Indigo Impression for more!

I just absolutely love all the great coverups/dresses from Anna Kosturova. I have already talked about a few of these great dresses/ bathing suit coverups but there are so many other great crochet dresses that it is hard to pick a favorite.

The Anna Kosturova Guinevere Dress is a short sleeve crochet dress in white that features a drawsting right under the bust so that you can tie it up to create some definition or wear it untied making the dress look more streamlined. You can wear this dress over a bathing suit or bikini while spending time at the beach or pool.  You can also wear the Guinevere with a tank top and pair of jeans when not relaxing by the water. Since the dress is white, it will go with everything.

For more information or to buy the Anna Kosturova Guinevere Dress click the link or picture below

Anna Kosturova Guinevere Dress in White

The Anna Kosturova Guinevere Dress is a hand crochet, 100% cotton dress that will keep you cool and comfortable for the summer days and nights.

The Anna Kosturova Magnolia Dress in White is a versatile year round dress.

When seeing the open knit crochet Anna Kosturova Magnolia Dress the first thoughts are to wear it over swimwear but if you really take the time to examine this dress you will realize that there are so many different ways to wear this dress year round. The white dress is the perfect coverup to put on when lounging at the beach, pool, or casual bar / restaurant after a day in the sun. It will look great over any swimsuit, solid color or a print, though if you wear it over an all white suit the detailing of the dress will not be as visible. The crochet dress will also look great layered over a tank top worn with pants or jeans. When the weather cools back down in the fall you can wear this over a tight fitting long sleeve top with jeans.

The pattern of the dress is very unique. Spiderweb or snowflake like patterns are all over the front and back of the dress while the sides are an open netting. The bottom hem of the dress is a chain link pattern. Each dress is hand crocheted so there will be a bit of variance from one dress to the next making yours truly original and unique.

For more information or to buy the Anna Kosturova Magnolia Dress Click the Link or Picture Below

Anna Kosturova Magnolia Dress in White