Feminine Renaissance
Spring 2012 marks a rebirth of the feminine form in fashion. Gone are the blousy, shape-masking, masculine silhouettes of last year. This season is all about celebrating the female body. Waist-cinching peplums, bust-enhancing bra tops, and crop tops are some of the trends to keep an eye out for. Good news this spring is that you don’t have to completely overhaul your wardrobe. Colorblocking is still in vogue, and you can’t go wrong with pastels. If you’re feeling adventurous, try your hands on bright florals or a crisp white spring suit (no. 2 above). Leah B., AU Assistant Designer, says of this season’s collection: “The color palette is a great mix of bright colors and pale neutrals with a shock of white.” We have all your bases covered!
From AU Spring collection, left to right: 1. Champagne Back Dress 2. Pique Bustier Top and Tab Shorts 3. Pique 3-Tier Dress 4. V-neck Tank and Gathered Hi-Lo Skirt 5. Back detail of Champagne Back Dress and 6. V-neck Tank and Bias Maxi Flower in hot pink spring flower print
The Fabric of Emperors
Charmeuse (pronounced “shärmōōz”): female charmer [French]; one who is seductive. Seduce is just what this sophisticated silk does. Sensuous and soft, this light fabric is extracted from silk worms and then woven with a satin weaving technique to give it a lustrous and reflective front and a matte back. Sometimes called crepe back satin, it was once referred to as the fabric of emperors. This holiday season drape yourself in supple and luxurious silk charmeuse with the Tina, Joan Maxi or Maripol Dress. Charmeuse is extremely delicate, so we recommend dry-cleaning your lovely Amanda Uprichard dresses.
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The color of winter
We’ve already experienced our first dose of snow. We’ve brought out our inner child with our fairy, Gene Simmons, and washing machine costumes. Everyday the purple, red, yellow and orange leaf piles grow bigger leaving behind silhouettes of branches and twigs. All this means the holidays are around the corner! A time for families and parties, for warmth and closeness. AU’s Holiday 2011 collection features warm animal prints, amazingly soft ponti dresses, and glamorous metallics to tide you over. Here’s a taste of what’s to come:
The Secretary
Also known as the Bow or Tie-Neck, this style is finger-scalding hot this fall! The Amanda Uprichard take on this sophisticated trend is the Renae Blouse and Dress in luscious silk. Our long-sleeved blouse and dress feature self-buttons on the collar and cuffs, with a smattering of gathers at the chest.
We especially adore the Renae Blouse in black and white. What to wear it with, you ask? Try a pencil skirt or a pleated one. Or for a serious, don’t-mess-with-me look opt for slacks—tucked in of course. For romantic flair, slip over a maxi skirt. Or dress it down with skinny jeans or leggings, hair done in a fun carefree updo. Endless possibilities.
Photos (clockwise from left): Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Secretary”, Renae Blouse (as spotted on Kyle Richards when she met with President Barack Obama!), Renae Dress in olive keys print, close up of Renae Blouse in cracked ice print.
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THE SEASON’S A-CHANGING!
All too soon, summer is ending. We’ll soon be stowing away our swimsuits and strappy sandals, and begin piling on layers and boots. As much as we’re reluctant to say goodbye to the beach, rooftop summer cocktails, and hours and hours of sun, we’re looking forward to autumn’s rusts, reds and browns. Fall is an exciting time for fashion—fashion’s night out, coterie, fall fashion week, and here’s an AU guide for you to breeze into the season.
Why not try two of fall’s trends with this sweet day dress? Polka dots are all over the runway, and several designers have introduced collage and mash-up elements into their clothes. The Galveston combo has a zigzag print blouse and a polka-dotted skirt, and for an added touch of playfulness, a white and black belt.
The maxi refuses to go out of style (check out our post on the maxi dress) and we know just how you love the Joan dress. Add to the mix fall’s high slit trend and you have a winning combination.
This season, gone are the days of muted fall colors. Oranges, reds, violets are all the rage. We’ve always loved our bold hues over here at Amanda Uprichard and are happy to see the rest of the world’s catching on. Picture the one shoulder petal dress in tomato, cobalt, hot pink, green and orchid. Are you drooling yet?
