knits - Q the Stylist

Spotlight: Cashmere Whispers

Q the Stylist — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 07:05:22 +0000

To know me, is to hear “I’m cold.” And so for more than half of the year I don a sweater. I have a real thing for turtlenecks but truly, I’m equal opportunity. As such, it is a search that happily never ends. Duffy Design Group, named for Ed Duffy who is credited for bringing cashmere to the masses via L.L. Bean and Eddie Bauer, is one of the oldest import-manufacturers of Cashmere in the US with unparalleled quality. Duffy NY began in 2010 as an exclusive brand for Barney’s with a goal of designing versatile, contemporary silhouettes with thoughtful details and construction. Their success led them to sell to other companies while keeping their price points very competitive.

I recently went to their Bryant Park showroom to see the Fall ’17 collection first hand and chat with the design duo. The Cashmere Whisperers, designers Nicole Retting and Ann Yee, said their inspiration this fall was the boundless and unconfined spirit of abstract art. Yarns for the season focus on the softest cashmere, cashmere blends, cash felt, Mongolian fur and vegan leather offered in an harmonized mix of pop and neutral colors. Needless to say, I’m going to be living in Duffy. And you can too! Duffy and I have partnered to offer exclusive access to their full collection – so if you see something you like click here with your order.

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From the Runways: White vs Black

Q the Stylist — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:05:45 +0000

With New York Fashion Week wrapped up, let’s talk about how we can incorporate the fabulous trends from the Fall runways to your Spring wardrobe. Some themes are so versatile that they look great when combined with other looks! For example: “all-white everything” (seen at The Row, Tommy Hilfiger, J. Crew) and “all-black everything” (seen at Vera Wang and Zac Posen) outfits were a consistent trend at fashion week. The key to making these outfits look chic and trendy is contrasting textures – giving us the opportunity to incorporate other trends into the mix.

Perfect for Spring, the white ensemble combines multiple trends while still looking light and fresh. A chunky knit sweater with metallic detailing alludes to the metallic themes at Marc Jacobs and Alexander Wang, while the crisp cargo pants salute to the modern military trend seen at Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, and Donna Karan. To polish the look off, add the new It-bag: the structured handbag with mini-wedged sandals.

This black on black look also incorporates many of the latest trends from fashion week while remaining chic. This leather collared blouse from Theory resembles many looks from the runways that emphasized leather detailing. Black silk basket weave jacquard capri trousers are the perfect pants for spring because of its cut and intricate detailing. Throw on structured jacket to stay on-trend (and weather appropriate) with a structured satchel, and slip into the hottest style in footwear — the minimalist sandal (this one is from Prabal Gurung’s new LOVE collection from Target.)

All White Everything

1. MANGO Metallic Chunky Knit Sweater, $34.99

2. UNIQLO Skinny Fit Cargo Pants, $39.99

3. Prabal Gurung for Target Wedge Sandal, $29.99

4. The Hut ‘Ali’ Purse, $11

All Black Everything

1. THEORY Leather Collar Blouse, $314

2. HELMUT Helmut Lang Vector Felt Jacket, $495

3. Haider Ackermann Jaquard Trouser, $347.20

4. Badgley Mischka Erin Messenger, $164

5. Prabal Gurung for Target Ankle Strap Pump, $39.99

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Uniqlo opens in San Francisco

Q the Stylist — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 16:25:03 +0000

Japanese retailer Uniqlo has officially made its mark on the San Francisco shopping scene. The first Uniqlo location on the West Coast, the store debuted with a Grand Opening party on October 4, with a Japanese sake barrel breaking, musical performance by R&B singer and brand ambassador Goapele and more.

The three-story, 29,000 sq-ft Union Square location houses its famed brightly colored basics, an LED-illuminated rainbow staircase, rotating mannequins, and a “Magic Mirror” — a virtual dressing room that lets you use a Kinect color-changing engine to change the color of whatever you are trying on!

The vibrant crowd at Uniqlo’s opening celebration. Photo: Drew Altizer Photography / SF via sfgate.com

What makes Uniqlo a truly unique shopping experience are its innovative designs and commitment to high quality basics in rainbows of color. Their proprietary Heattech items are heat-retaining synthetic fabric, while undergarments come from an engineered fabric Silkly Dry, an even lighter version of Heattech. Both materials guarantee style and comfort — a perfect fit for the San Francisco lifestyle.

Here are a few of my picks from Uniqlo!

Women’s Cashmere V Neck Sweater, $89.90

Women’s Cotton Modal Striped Crew Neck 3/4 Sleeve T, $14.90

Women’s Skinny Fit Cargo Pants, $39.90

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