Leather is HOT!

Walking the streets of London we are surrounded by the hottest new trend sweeping the fashion scene: leather bottoms. From the vintage backbone of British style these leather skirts, shorts and leggings have completely taken off!

This trend found its start on the streets of Brick Lane and has spread its success to retailers such as Marks and Spencers, H&M and Harvey Nichols. Not only retailers love this leather trend, but so do top designers and forecasters. London based designers such as Caroline Charles and Daks sent this leather look down the runway and Doneger and Stylesight are both predicting leather to be a main component in the Fall 2012 season. London has seen the trend trickle up, while in New York and other fashion cities leather is taking a different direction. Rather, designers at New York Fashion Week such as Jason Wu and Vena Cava are boldly bringing this hot style to the US market. From the runways leather bottoms will most likely find their first layers of success with the early adopters in a high end retail environment such as Barneys. The young and trendy Barneys customer will want to be the first to wear this sexy style, leading others such as the Urban Outfitters customer to pick it up once they see it reach the mainstream retail market.

                                           Alexander McQueen at Selfridges

What every consumer can appreciate is that this style is all about convenience! Leather shorts and skirts can be worn from hot summer nights to cold winter days. Thrown on with a light silk top in the melting heat or pair of thick tights and a chunky sweater in November, this trend is made for the smart fashionista. It’s all about wearing them any way she wants with their incredible versatility and perfect fit!

Here at Manhattan Pleats we have fallen head over heels for leather bottoms, and our guess is that you will too once you’ve picked up this smokin’ hot trend!

                                            Christina at Beyond Retro

Coquette Video Look Book

Street Chic

  Post 10
It is amazing who we look to as our fashion idols, all the way from Lady Gaga to Kim Kardashian. We may not even realize how much we take into consideration what idols like these are wearing. Yet, in being so heavily exposed to them we little by little accept and adopt aspects of their style, whether they are credible in the fashion world or not.
Young girls are especially susceptible to teen celebrity styles shaping their own looks. I am predicting a strong shift however from the wildly epidemic Hannah Montana/ Miley Cyrus movement towards someone more street chic, like 10 year old Willow Smith. With the debut of her Whip My Hair song, Will and Jada can be proud of their little girl, who has her own uniquely fabulous look. Girls her age can look up to this Willow rather than the controversial Miley and Lindsay who are unfit to be the idols of impressionable young elementary and middle-schoolers. Not to mention my 19 and 20 year old college friends look up to this unbelievably cool up and coming star. Watch out for Willow and the street chic look!

Most Recent Addition: Boots

 Post  9
With the leaves starting to change and the cool autumn winds blowing it can only mean one thing for your wardrobe...new boots. A woman can truly never have enough shoes, but when it comes to the cold weather, having just a pair or two of boots can be essential. Investing in boots means carrying you through season after season with fabulous style, comfort and practicality. From combat to equestrian, take a look at these great sites that offer tons of this season's amazing styles at great prices!


http://www.endless.com/Womens-Shoes-Boots/s/ref=topnav_sd_boot_gw?ie=UTF8&node=242261011&pf_rd_r=110JE6N3THFXQY0QPXMB&pf_rd_m=AF16NM0QF9TKW&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=homepage&pf_rd_p=1275638242&pf_rd_s=headernav
Felicia's Favorites:

http://www.zappos.com/womens-boots~4
Felicia's Favorites:

Hologra-Fashion

Post 8
Check out Diesel's '08 Spring/Summer Preview show! 'Liquid Space' was a holographic fashion show held in Florence Italy. Everyone needs to see this incredible runway feat..

Wedding Wonders

Post 7
Check out Belle Vie Bridal Couture's Reem Acra Trunk Show. Reem Acra's red carpet hand draped and beaded pieces come in three designs; dramatic, princess, and exhibitionist. These beautiful gowns are perfect for that special day!

The Elephant in the Room..or on the Runway

  Post 6
Fashion Week is a time for designers to showcase their artwork to the world. Runway shows have been the most popular way to get a brand or specific designer into the apparel marketplace, not simply to sell product, but to gain acceptance and familiarity within the fashion scene. There has been a recent shift however, in this popular trend and designers and companies alike are searching for more interactive and intriguing ways to capture the eye, and heart of consumers.

In this video, Masquerade Wine Company in an attempt to release their new Effervescing Elephant Champagne, has paired up with the Asian Elephant Art and Conservation Project based in New York City and put on a fund raising trunk show. The fabric to make the featured dresses was sent to conservatories around the world, on which the elephants painted unique designs. Take a look at this inventive trunk show collaboration and watch for the beautiful designs handcrafted by elephants!