Having a Valentine’s Day related fashion panic? Relax – Rescu. has the top guide for Valentine’s fashion, here at your fingertips.
Valentine’s Day is a fashionista’s nightmare – how can you look romantic yet unexpected, sexy yet un-cliched, and still be comfortable enough to have a good time?
Rescu. is here to help with our Valentine’s Day fashion guide.
Going out for a blow-out meal with a special somebody? If you’ve got a sense of humour about the whole affair, why not wear a giant-floral print suit?
It’s on-trend, romance-oriented and also just mad enough to communicate that you’re too cool for roses and baby’s breath.
A masculine-style outfit is another way to funk up the schmaltz. Some skinnies, a man’s blazer, some braces and a button-up? Done – add in 1940s style chunky heels for a bit of kick.
If you’re the more feminine type, opt for a printed dress – prints are enjoying a rare moment in the fashion sun, the more exuberant the better, and nothing says shout-it-from-the-rooftops like over-the-top print in blazing colour.
Look for silks and other fabrics which flow well around the body. Avoid white – it says ‘I’m basically a bride waiting to happen’ – and deep red, which may guarantee you match the themed menus. Go for non-typical colours like cobalt blue, one of the hottest on-trend shades right now.
And if it’s all about a night in (or a glamourous night out) with the girls, adopt the silk pajama pants that are being worn as just-so-nonchalant pieces this season.
Pair them with killer heels, sure, but they say you’re absolutely chic and totally not bothered. Image: Celine floral suit.
It’s the gown that regularly makes the worst-dressed-of-all-time lists, along with Bjork’s swan gown and Demi Moore’s biker-short ensemble.
But Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed in a new interview that she stands by her choice to wear a braless gothic McQueen to the 2002 Oscars.
“I love it!” she told Harper’s Bazaar, defiantly.
Her only concession? That she shouldn’t have braided her hair. “I think the hair was a mistake,” she offered.
Braless fashion had a ‘moment’ earlier this year when a French style blogger decided to go sheer and without coverage to the Paris shows.
Most critics simply called the look ‘cold’ and ignored it, but it had a brief presence on the red carpet, with both Olivia Wilde and Rihanna stepping out in sheer, braless looks (though theirs were slightly more coy).
The gown was by far Paltrow’s most unusual look – her most famous ensemble, for her Oscar win, was a bland strapless pink confection dubbed ‘boring’ by commentators.
Do you think, ten years later, that the McQueen was such a bad idea – or is it still worst-dressed as ever? Image: Paltrow in McQueen.
Got an iPhone? Love fashion? We’ve got an app for that. Rescu. has found the best apps for fashionistas on the go, whether they’re scoping shows, putting together outfits or in need of some serious pick-me-ups.
Net-a-porter: This is a classic. Escapist boutique access to the best labels in the world – yes, yes and yes.
Style.com: An essential for everybody who’s plugged into the fashion world. News, reviews, on-the-spot photos from the latest shows – you name it.
DVF: Diane von Furstenberg has always been at the cutting edge, and her DVF app is one of the slickest out there.
Stylecaster: Stylecaster bills itself as answering ‘What’s the weather?’ and ‘What do I wear?’ at the same time, with a mix of outfits, weather predictions and spot-on trends, plus a highly entertaining news room.
Lucky At Your Service: Ever wanted a concierge? Lucky Magazine has provided one – via the iPhone. It shops for you, puts items on hold in nearby stores, gives you discounts, and is basically your best friend.
Stylebook: This is for ‘shopping your own closet’ – add your own clothes, mix and match outfits, and create entire looks, all without touching your wardrobe. Cher had a similar idea in Clueless.
Snapette: It’s the source of fashion gossip from ground zero up. Fashionistas share their finds wherever they are, so you can get a hold of otherwise-hidden or obscure merchandise.
Chicfeed: The Sartorialist is yet to launch an app, so this will just have to do. It’s all the biggest street style blogs in one place – and is definitely worth a slot on your phone.
Image: Net-a-porter app.
They’re everywhere this season – gelato-toned, peach-frosting, sweet-as-pie. But how do you wear pastels without looking as if you’re a child on your way to a birthday party?
We can blame Louis Vuitton for the pastel craze – his delicate, broderie-anglais collection (with Kate Moss on THAT merry-go-round) got everybody talking, and fashionistas like Cate Blanchett have worn the collection non-stop since.
And now it’s filtered down to us. So how can you pull it off? Keep all your shades bright. No paring back to blacks or browns here – the palette has to be light, or you’ll look confused.
Avoid prints if you can, but a bit of contrasting texture can be nice – lace with light chiffon, or something unexpected like a pop of pastel leather.
Work with very simple, modern shapes rather than 1950s cream-puff silhouettes to modernise the look. Shift dresses, unadorned tops – think Calvin Klein classic.
If you can’t handle all-over pastel (although colour blocking is still having a moment, so feel free to mix and match) pair things with shades of nudes and beiges. It’s still light, but less in-your-face sweet.
Enjoy the Peter Pan aesthetic while you can – use ballet flats, hair ribbons and a sweet sense of innocence as accessories. Soon it’ll be out again, and punk tones will return – so enjoy the moment while you can.
Image: Vuitton pastel dresses.
