the top 6 of fw16

Fashionweek may be closing up in my Milan and overseas the trends it set for fall are far from over or weak, so here's the top 6 of 16:

Jewel tones:
Emerald was more than just "Oz"as greens, ruby, and shades of crimson ruled the runway. We aren't fans but your local malls will be. 

YSL embodies the lipstick color of the year deep deep red

We all predicted burnt orange lips and lavender lids, with pastel polishes to match this season. After all, these were the shades littering backstage Prada and Vuitton as Pat McGrath, makeup phenom worked her magic. And, these shades will be seen, but so will black. We know, who would have seen that one coming?

A traditionally cold color, we associate black with the winter months. Well now, thanks to Rihanna, Gaga, and Selena, it is going to dominate up until about May. You heard us, it isn't the catwalks or Miuccia Prada who set this standard. It was Tinseltown, who can't let go of this hue, literally. From OPI to Chanel, black is beautiful, especially when it comes to nails and eyes with the re-emergence of winged lids and heavily smoky eyes.

Luckily, NYC and Rimmel help us do both on a budget, as their nail polish and eyeliners run from a cool $.99-$9.99, and can be found at any local drugstore. Yet, there are other ways to rock your makeup and wardrobe this season with black, and we will discuss how you can make this shade of the year work for you at the moment.

Old Color, New Ways

The crimson attack is not limited to eyes or nails as we discussed above. No, this shade is in for spring clothing as well. This classic hue is back in new ways:

1. -Seventies flares This Spring, thanks to Alexander Wang's take on seventies Flares bold lips and colt blocking is back. From pant stripes to tote bags, like the ones we spotted at the Gap for $59.99 and TJ Maxx via Buena for $24.99, anyone can pull off this look.

2. Leopard print but dont overdo it accessorize it Specifically, brown is being paired against jewel shades. From your gym bag to your clutch you can do this too. Add some leopard colored laces to your Reeboks or hang a funky leopard  key-chain on your black tote and you are ready for the gym and bar.

3. Nails-Consider deep purple gold or a reverse mani

4.  Red Eyes-Line your lids with red and work out from there. Pair it with some metallic gold shadow on the outer-lids to avoid goth and stay in season.

5. Get Your Wings-Not by flying commercial, but rather picking up a liquid eyeliner from Rimmel or Maybelline, which are our favs, and follow your inner-lid line as straight as possible, curving the ends up and out like Cleopatra or Sophia Loren about .25 cm past your brow line.

6. Make it Nude-Just like Spring offers a breath of fresh air, so should your wardrobe. Liven up this shade by purchasing it in sequin or metallic form. For example, pair a nude sequin mini with a collared white blouse and perhaps even a mock bow-tie and heels.

Above all, however you rock these colors this season, and further this whole year, don't rock it literally. (In other words, don't take the black too far and become a stereotype. We have Gene Simmons and Van Halen for that.) So next time someone asks you why you are wearing black in the middle of May this year you can say, black is back in how many ways? Answer: All of the above.

xo,

chasing pumas

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blog by levacasa featuring isabel marant sneakers

Alexander Wang crop top
$415 - kirnazabete.com

Burberry prorsum
€1.801 - luisaviaroma.com

Alexander Wang high waisted legging
$295 - yoox.com

Crafted
£10 - republic.co.uk

Envelope clutch
£175 - lkbennett.com

Engraved jewelry
€95 - jades24.com

Necklace
zazzle.com

Miu miu sunglasses
$390 - miumiu.com

Lily and Lionel blue shawl
£170 - harveynichols.com

Burberry Sport for Women Eau de Toilette
£40 - johnlewis.com

Oscars After Parties: Saving the Best for Last

The Party Never Ends and Neither Does the Fashion

Cameron makes another splash in orange

When it came to fashion this year at the Oscars, they may have saved the best for last. Last evening's Vanity Fair and Elton John parties showcased some of the best fashion we have seen all year. From Cameron's quick change into a simple cut hot orange gown(one of the "it" colors of the season) to Lily Collins fresh take on Monique Lullier, we have all the women that made the after party, well, worth it.

Miley Cyrus Rocking Roberto

Miley Cyrus rocked a greyish silver Roberto Cavalli gown at Elton's bash after the Oscars. Not only did we dig the shade with her tan, but the sleeves, open back, and figure-hugging cut helped her rival the red carpet arrivals.

Posh Looked Posh

Victoria Beckham simply looked, well, "posh" in her signature collection. Wearing a similar shade to Miley, the hot madre of four proved that she isn't the only lucky one in the relationship. David, watch out. This woman was on fire.

Lily Collins in Monique LullierSome people said this blue, embellished, puffy number was overwhleming for a post-Oscar affair, but the color paired with her red lips and slicked back hair, made it work and struck a high note with us.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Antonio Berardi

The model did not disappoint in a lace, red number by the fashion label.

Sofia Vergara in Cavalli

Vergara knocked it out of the park in this white strapless lace Cavalli gown at the Vanity Fair bash. While we would love to see her in somethin gother than strapless once in awhile, this look is still just like her, hot, hot, hot!

Selena in Dolce & Gabbana
Although at times the dress looked like it was changing colors on us between blue and grey, we loved it and the Disney darling at the Vanity Fair event.

Georgina Chapman in Her Own Design

The woman behind Stacy, Sandra, and many others on the red carpet hit a home run in her own white design at last night's Vanity Fair bash, and ties with Gwyneth for best dressed overall. Not only was she a knock-out in the color of the night: white, but she rocked a trend few others braved to that evening: the peplum.

Any other hot post Oscars looks we missed? Let us know.

Oscars 2012: A Night of Stars, Literally

A Red Carpet, White Gowns

Cameron in the trend of the night

From Stacy Kiebler in a striking gold Marchesa to Cameron Diaz in a blush tone Gucci and J. Lo in a striking ivory and sparkly Zuhair Murad, Oscars 2012 gave few disappoints. Instead, many of the predictions we made here at Chasing Pumas in our last post about white, metallics, and sparkle came true. This was the trend of the night, and almost everyone that followed it, deserved an Oscar themselves. Another trend we were surprised by was strapless. I guess you can't assume because a Duchess and the sleeve dominated the runway that it would dominate the carpet. However, while there were no actual mishaps or fashion wtf(fashion)? moments, we must admit there were a few close calls.

That Was A Close One!

Although it was a Giambattista design, first time Oscar attendee Emma Stone(pictured above) failed to do her homework, and therefore just misses our best dressed list. Unfortunately, Nicole Kidman wore a very similar red number, bow and all, to the same 2007 affairs, except hers was Balenciaga. Sorry Emma, close but no cigar.

Another actress that took home the gold literally winning her third Oscar and shocking quite a few, including myself, was Meryl Streep. Maybe she had an inkling she was going to win when she stepped out draped in an Oscar, wearing a tragic gold curtain cinched with a belt. We would love to see Meryl in something like Jane Fonda wore to the Emmys, but some things it seems, never change.

Finally, Sandra Bullock, who has had her own series of close calls before when it comes to fashion, (remember the liquid gold gown paired with too much red lipstick and powder makeup that aged her when she won recently?), had another close call when she stepped out in an ill-fitted black and white Marchesa. Our problem with the gown here was not the design so much as the tailoring and fit. Perhaps if the shoulders had been pulled in a bit more, it would have been better fitted and the back of the dress would have been a bit more of what it was meant to be...striking.

Aside from those few mishaps, and because we here at Chasing Pumas hate negativity, we found it difficult to assemble a worst dressed list. Also, since the Oscars only highlight winners, we thought we would follow suit. No losers only means our best dressed list for this year has grown, and we tried to whittle it down to a top 10, so here goes.

Our Top 10

10. Melissa McCarthy-Marina Rinaldi- This curvaceous comedian finally got it right in a one-of-a-kind Marina Rinaldi gown. From the cinched waist to the illusion sleeves and blush tone, she didn't make us laugh, but cry like a proud parent. Happy tears of course!
9. Octavia Spencer-Tadashi Shoji-This woman was a true winner in every sense of the word. She knows what works best for her and she always works it in another signature silver Tadashi Shoji gown with cap sleeves and a cinched waist. She may have worn the silver trend, but she walked away with the gold for best supporting actress.
8. Viola Davis-Vera Wang-This nominee offered a refreshing splash of color and break from the major flush-toned trend of the night with her gorgeous copper locks against a striking green Vera Wang. Her look and beauty inside and out were felt whether she won or not. She still made us green with envy, so she gets a gold star in our best dressed list.
7. Cameron Diaz-Gucci-Thanks to stylist Rachel Zoe, this girl always gets it right. Yet another strapless nude gown, the fit and cut on this one were what stood out on this fish-tail Gucci piece. It made Cameron stand out as well. Rachel Zoe strike again. All we can say is "amazeballs!"
6. Rooney Mara-Givenchy-She finally wore a color other than black! What struck onlookers more than her Snow White beauty was her snow white Givenchy gown. We just had to put her on this list for that alone, although she did look stunning.

And now, the specially photographed top 5...

5. Angelina Jolie-Versace-From the red lips to her cream skin and that slit, this woman never gets it wrong and proved so again in a color we didn't see a lot of this year: black. Additionally, the velour Versace number proved that this woman doesn't need to follow trends, like a true puma, she sets them.
Angie in her pose of the night


4. Berenice Berejo-Elie Saab- While many may call it too sophisticated or boring, we call it right on point. The French actress wowed us in the trend of the upcoming season, and was the only one to do so: pastels! Not only did she wear the it color: mint, but she wore long, embellished sleeves and we love someone who knows trends and spreads them. We thought she did so perfectly against her slightly braided(another trend) red-colored locks.
Berenice proves the French know fashion

3. Stacy Kiebler-Marchesa-He may not have won Gold, but George certainly took it home thanks to her. If it weren't for her tan and her height, this shade could have been overwhelming and a Meryl, but thanks to her beauty, Stacy wins the gold in Marchesa. George has got his gold on his arm

2. Gwyneth Paltrow-Tom Ford- Although she wasn't nominated this year, the former winner proved to be a best dressed contender in a white asymmetrical cut-out Tom Ford. From her blond locks to bronzed skin, this woman proves A-List all the way, even when it comes to fashion. This classic and simple look is one that fuss and frills can't beat. Classic Gwyneth in classic Tom Ford

Drum roll please....

And the Oscar goes to....

1. Giuliana Rancic in Tony Ward- Okay, Okay, I know what you are thinking. Giuliana Rancic, really? She wasn't nominated. Hey, you don't have to walk the red carpet to take home fashion gold, and she struck it rich in this couture white Tony Ward gown with sheer backing and feathered sleeves(trend). We were only disapointed to find the dress wasn't a McQueen. Against her tanned skin, sleek bun(another trend), and those red lips(major trend), she landed all the major trends, and landed them well. Most importantly, the breast cancer survivor wore a smile and her beauty and strength may just be what really landed her the top spot. a back view

That's our wrap-up, feel free to comment, agree, disagree, we love your feedback. Now, as Porky Pig would say, "That's all Folks!"

*all photos courtesy of google.com*

What's Old is New Again

Pumas on Pause

Due to other obligations, Chasing Pumas has quieted down in 2012 thus far. However, with some major events (Whitney Houston's passing) and a renewed interest, the giant has been awakened refreshed and faster than ever. While we were gone, unfortunately it seems, we have missed out on some awards fashion, including the Grammys, and the Emmys. Luckily, the Oscars and Fashion Week are right around the corner, and we still have time to predict the red carpet trends, which seem to be making the old new again.

The Color Wheel

From Katy Perry's baby blue gown at last night's Grammy Awards to Taylor Swift's gold gown(who both get our vote for best dressed), this season is all about exploring the color wheel and spinning it for all it's worth. While Fergie's hot orange gown tested the limits of that wheel, Rihanna's black jaw-dropper proved sometimes black is best. So far, the awards brought a lot of reds, black, and blush tones. So, what's next?

Perry in pastel at last night's Grammys(courtesy of justjared)

Going for the Gold

Expect the Oscars to bring out more blush tones and neutrals, however, also be prepared to see stars going for the gold in gold. If the 1920s vibe that littered the runway for Spring were any indication, the rich metallic and gold hues that dominated the Prohibition will dominate, while some stars like Viola Davis may go for the pale trend and pick a lighter color, which would suit her stunning chocolate skin.

The Future and the Past-el

While we feel there may be some pops of color, we would be thrilled if some stars followed the pastel route seen at D&G, who gave us another throwback with the retro 50s vibe of the show, and McQueen, and parade the top colors of the coming season: mint and baby blue. Chloe Moretz or Ashley Olsen would make these colors age appropriate. Unfortunately, we feel most stars who have stylists now-a-days, will go the safe route, as they have done at the awards so far, with simple cuts and hues.

But then again, just like Audrey Hepburn showed us in Givenchy(pictured above, courtesy of Google) at the 1954 Oscars, maybe simpler is better?

We would love to hear your thoughts and fashion predictions. So, as always feel free to comment!