Pearls have long since represented the epitome of classic sophistication; some women wear them every day to elevate a casual outfit and others save them for only the most special of occasions. Over the years, pearls have become defining features of many signature celebrity styles, as well as striking fashion statements on runways and red carpets. The iconic pearl is so pure and simple, you can see it easily lends itself to a wide range of versatility in styling and design.

Top, L to R: classic Ralph by Ralph Lauren ad from the mid 90s, featuring model Bridget Hall // Princess Diana’s “Elvis” gown, worn on her 1989 trip to Hong Kong // Jackie O ‘s trendsetting presidential pearls from the early 60s. Bottom, L to R: Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, Season Four // Audrey Hepburn’s elegant Parisian style in Breakfast at Tiffany’s // Lady Gaga’s pearl encrusted face from the NYFW 2010 amFAR Gala.

Top, L to R: body and hair pearls from Chanel SS 2012// pearl sandal by Alexander McQueen SS 2012// Balmain AW 12/13. Center, L to R: pearl collar by Tory Burch AW 12/13 // trompe l’oeil printed dress from Notte by Marchesa // pearl encrusted jacket and clutch by Chanel SS 2012. Bottom, L to R: Nicholas Kirkwood pearl platform pump // Miu Miu Resort 2012 ad // dress by Alexander McQueen SS 2012.

My friend Holly loves how a string of pearls can add a preppy sense of humor to any outfit. Its one of her all-time favorite accessories and she’s planning to have her bridesmaids all wear pearl necklaces at her wedding. With these details in mind, and no lack of inspiration from the runway, I set out to cover Holly’s wedding shoes in thousands of precious little faux pearls. The results were well worth the laborious process and I’m quite proud of this unique application where the iconic pearl has been transformed in fashion once again.

P.S. Speaking of pearl-adorned fashionistas throughout history, here’s Holly channeling a timeless Jackie O look that captures the quintessential sweet sophisticate. Jackie’s apricot silk dress was designed by Oleg Cassini and worn in 1962 during her trip to India. Holly’s dress is modernized with cut-outs and while you can see she’s styled it with aviators and gold jewelry, I have no doubt there’s a pair of pearl earrings beneath those brunette locks.

Vans Girls Wellesley Hiker PR one-sheet // Kristen Stewart spotted in Wellesley Hiker shoes at LAX on February 18, 2011 (via kristenstewartfashion.blogspot.com)

Somewhere along the way, I remember hearing from my product manager at Vans that Kristen Stewart’s stylist had requested a few pairs of our Wellesley Hikers for potential use in one of the upcoming Twilight movies. Fast forward a couple of years and this cool bit of information came flooding back to me as soon as I spotted my shoe designs on the big screen in Breaking Dawn: Part 1. They’re featured in an irresistibly cute scene, in which Bella, the natural beauty naive to all things fashion, agonizes over having to practice walking in the white satin high heel wedding shoes her soon-to-be sister-in-law has picked out for her. She can’t wait to get back into her trusty hiking boot sneaks, which fit perfectly with her woodsy Washington-state style. Oh the irony that in such an effortless outfit, Bella is, in fact, on trend.

Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Alice (Ashley Greene) immersed in wedding prep. Screen shots from The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 // close-up view of the Vans Wellesley Hiker brown colorway

As honored as I am that both Kristen and her character, Bella, seem to like my design, the custom wedding shoe designer in me can’t help but give pause to the hypothetical question of whether Bella might have preferred a hiking boot inspired wedding shoe? Maybe white lace-embossed leather on a wedge with a luggy sole and of course, the traditional red hiker laces. Thankfully, the high-heeled hiker is already a reality in the marketplace and with a continuous stream of evolutions on this rustic-chic hybrid, it’s safe to say the outdoor fashion trend isn’t going anywhere.

From L to R: Steven Alan boot, Boutique 9 Demarko, United Nude Crazy Lacy, Jeffrey Campbell Everest

As a self proclaimed cat person, raised in a family of cat people (see photo above of my sister Betsy, circa 1987), I can get a little obsessed over anything cat related. I realize only some of you will really appreciate what I’m talking about here, but even if you aren’t a big fan of the felines, it’s hard to deny there isn’t something inherently cute about them. Is it the ears? It seems that when you stick two rounded triangles on top of anything it suddenly becomes irresistible…

I think the fashion world has noticed the same thing. Recently I saw a photo of street style blogger Peony Lim wearing French milliner Marie Mercie’s Abyssin hat while attending Fall 12′s New York Fashion Week (above, right). On Peony’s blog she says it’s her favorite hat and has also used it in her own editorial styling work. A quick internet search reveals this adorable cat ear cloche on fashion centric celebs from Clemence Posey and Jessie J to Emma Watson and Anne Hathaway (shown from left to right, below). I guess cat ears aren’t just for Halloween anymore (that’s me, above left, in 1996)!

Over the years I’ve found my favorite animal incorporated into many other fashion must-haves. Although not quite as literal as wearing cat ears on your head, they are equally whimsical and effective in letting your inner cat lady come out and play. From left to right: Miu Miu’s Sp10 line was covered in repeat prints, from which still I cherish these cat print platforms. In 2011 Charlotte Olympia’s Kitty Flats were spotted on celebs like Katy Perry, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Alexa Chung, who is shown below at the 2011 British Fashion Awards (Charlotte Olympia won for top accessory designer). More recently at the launch for the Sp12 Jason Wu for Target collaboration, French singer Yelle wore a t-shirt from the collection of Milu the cat, Jason’s muse and star of the show.

Last month when my Hello Kitty iPhone cover (yes, Hello Kitty) became too scratched up from banging around in the depths of my purse, I was excited to find a new cat themed case to dress up my phone. The fact that it has rounded triangle cat ears that stick up on top, makes me smile every time I pull it out of my purse. There’s just something about those ears! Like the iPhone, the cats I know (see Spooky, my parents cat, below) never cease to amaze me by how smart and intuitive they are. It’s no wonder that cats continue to inspire and bring joy to the people around them – even high end fashion designers.

A few months ago a vintage leather jacket came into my possession. It was a boxy men’s bomber with a torn lining and little to no relevant style. Nevertheless, the supple worn leather was too nice to be cast aside and screamed for repurposing. One look at this large amount of tan leather and I knew it was destined to become some kind of western boot. With plans for a ski trip to Beaver Creek, Colorado coming up, I set out to design a chic little bootie to wear on vacation.

I had recently purchased a great sweater coat covered in an all-over horse pattern, which I was already planning on wearing in Colorado. This inspired the equestrian details of the boot design – from the decorative waxed lace over the instep, the pinked edge of the tongue, and the long tassel in the back, which looks like a horse’s tail. The tassels are attached to zippers, which were reused from the jacket pockets, and I added a shearling lining to ensure the booties were ready for winter in Colorado.

One of my favorite places in Beaver Creek is the Ritz Carlton, Bachelor Gulch – a gorgeous grand hotel built in classic National Park-lodge style. The Ritz sits right in prime ski-in-ski-out position, creating a postcard-perfect panorama against the glorious backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. On a day off from the slopes, I spent an afternoon there at the outdoor fire pit, listening to some great live music by acoustic guitarist Robert Ingman. For more photos of the Ritz and the custom shoes made for this special day, check out the Leather Horse Tail Booties in the Gallery section.

Field Flower sweater coat from Anthropologie, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent black dress, vintage wood and turquoise belt buckle, Charlie Middleton of Sydney shearling purse

A very apropos vintage book cover. // A rare glimpse of sky-blue-pink set behind one of the picturesque houses of Amsterdam’s chic Nine Streets, a shopping area nestled within the city’s canal network which is patterned like concentric water ripples.

Token tourist photo-op on our way to the Van Gogh Museum which houses the life’s work of the renowned Dutch artist. There, we walked through floors and floors of exquisite paintings illustrating the timeline of Vincent’s strange and tormented life.

Later that day we stumbled upon the custom shoemaking and repair shop of Nils Kalf. Of course I have a personal interest in this subject and Nils was more than generous in answering our questions about his work and how he got his start. There was much to be admired in the aesthetic of his house brand – from the labels and packaging to the neat little shop itself.

Acne’s Pre-Spring/Summer 2012 edgy ice cream colored palette, as spotted at de Bijenkorf department store in Amsterdam. // A silk flower holds its bloom in the crisp air outside a vintage shop.

We came across this great little boutique called Young Designers United just moments before they were set to close for the evening, but nonetheless got a great taste for store’s unique approach. YDU carries the collections of carefully selected up and coming designers, offering creative yet wearable and high quality yet affordable clothes and accessories. Truly a breath of fresh air.

Kleikollektief is another local gem we found on the cobblestone streets of Amsterdam. The tiny ceramics studio sells the fine work of Corien Ridderikhoff, from whom my coworker and I both bought adorable gold polka-dotted pieces from her collection. // A stray black cat on the hunt for a deal.

Loving this tortoise shell tile I spotted in the foyer of an old building in Antwerp. // The mens department upstairs at the luxurious Dries van Noten ”Het Modepaleis” flagship store, one of the notable avant garde designers who has kept Antwerp on the fashion map since the 1980s.

Just next door, we visited MoMu, a fashion museum currently exhibiting a retrospective on Walter Van Beirendonck – another Belgian fashion maverick and part of the avant garde “Antwerp Six” (along with Dries van Noten). Walter is known for his colorful designs, social commentary, and spectacular shows and it was a treat to see his eccentric work, from the inspiration stage to the finished pieces.

From Antwerp, we hopped on the train, routed back through Amsterdam, and transferred onto the City Night Line to Berlin. I wouldn’t call it a red-eye, per say, because we had these nifty single bed compartments – a new experience for all us seasoned travelers in the group! // After arriving in Berlin at 4:30am, this to-die-for breakfast at Chipps recharged us for the day ahead. Best Benedict ever.

About to tackle Bread & Butter: 600 of the top market leaders and upcoming brands in contemporary clothing culture, housed in the old Berlin-Tempelhof central airport. // Cute denim jacket from Kuyichi, who had an interesting tradeshow booth showcasing its new “Salvage Project” through a series of rooms which each displayed a live team member reproducing one of the 8 stages of their unique in-house up-cycle production process.

In front of the Bauhaus-Archiv Museum of Design which collects furniture, textiles, drawings, and every other item related to the Bauhaus School. While the school was dissolved in 1933, only 14 years after Walter Gropius founded it, Bauhaus is nevertheless recognized as one of the most influential artistic movements in modern history. The later Gropius – Massachusetts connection brings this subject even closer to my heart.

Bauhaus posters for sale at the museum shop. // A whirlwind of chairs by Marcel Breuer including evolutions of his tubular steel chairs and the famous Wassily Chair (front, Black), which are said to have been inspired by the curved steel handlebars from his bicycle.

Ironic timezone installation of various Berlin neighborhoods by PLY.de at Capsule. The tradeshow, housed in an old minting factory where, until 2006, Deutsche Mark and Euro-coins were produced, featured an edited collection of independent designers and streetwear labels in this industrial setting.

Evening treat of mini-cupcakes while shopping the boutiques in the chic Mitte district of Berlin. // “Haha hihi” neon chandelier, designed by John Kormeling and hanging in Departure Lounge 2 of the Amsterdam airport, sends us on our way home after a fun-filled trip to Europe!

#2. This Nixon watch is definitely on my Spring hit-list, as I am a sucker for anything blue and painterly. I’m already lucky enough to own the tortoise shell / gold version of this same model, which is one of my favorite accessories, and am convinced that adding this watercolor colorway to my arsenal would be like having the perfect yin and yang of Nixon Chrono 42-20s. #3. On a similar note, this two-tone sweater from Dsquared2′s Pre-Fall 2012 collection has my name written all over it (via style.com). Combining ombré over cable-knit is a great way of doing “preppy with an edge” and I’m thinking this might be a fun DIY project to spruce up an old sweater in a similar way using dye or bleach.

#4. I’m not sure where I was last spring to miss the wedding photos of country singer Miranda Lambert and the gorgeous vintage brooch bouquet she carried, but my sister recently clued me in and it didn’t take much searching to find the talented designer behind this unique wedding accessory. In fact, after reading the biography on Jennifer of The Ritzy Rose, I discovered that the two of us are very much alike, having both attended art school and designed for large corporate brands before establishing our own businesses in custom-made wedding accessories. Maybe a collaboration is in our future?

To be quite honest, most of my time online is focused as much on home décor as it is on fashion. With a new house to furnish, my husband and I are always on some sort of internet-combing treasure hunt for cool (and affordable) pieces: from rugs to wallpaper, and most often, lighting…

#5. While it is well out of our price range, I am nonetheless enamored by this stunning mid century wall light found on eBay; the juxtaposition between the strong atomic style sputnik lights interspersed by delicate flower-like glass crystals is so special and unique. The item description explains that it was designed by Emil Stenjar and produced by the well known Viennese manufacturer Rupert Nikoll in the 1950s. Dreamy. #6. Last but not least, snedker studio (found on trendir) is another great example of a designer turning to nature for inspiration in creating functional art. Artist Pernille Snedker Hansen uses an old marbling technique to add beautifully colored organic patterns across the surface of raw pinewood floorboards. She’s been nominated for many prestigious design awards and the Danish Biennale for Crafts and Design put together an interesting video about her process.

All photos by Katie and Adam Blauer

Every year, Pantone, the global authority for color reference, selects a color from a trend forecasting position which is predicted to be relevant to consumers and reflective of the times. The 2012 color is a vivacious reddish orange color called Tangerine Tango, which, much like the vibrant flora and fauna I saw in Belize, is full of life. As Leatrice Eisman, executive director at the Pantone Color Institute further describes, it is “sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive. Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it.” This energetic and motivating color is not only fun to wear, but would make for a fantastic accent color in your 2012 wedding. Try spicing up your invitations, flower arrangements, or eyeshadow palette with a pop of Tangerine Tango! Better yet, who’s up for a destination wedding in Belize!?

Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent dress, Steve Madden "Kennyya" shoes / Tangerine Tango swatch card

On December 13th, The Early Show on CBS aired a great little segment by Katrina Szish about the life and work of Stuart Weitzman, the talented shoe designer often known as the King of the Red Carpet. Stuart Weitzman shoes are a staple in the high end dress shoe category and this insight into the designer’s world was an inspiration for me to watch. Last year Weitzman sold a majority stake of his company to the Jones Group, and the rumor that he might sell off the rest by the end of next year was the critical news bite that prompted the interview. With Weitzman, at 70 years old, still sketching 1000 shoe designs every season and presiding as lead designer on every single pair of shoes he sells, the industry is definitely wondering about his plans for the future. But even more than this prolific work ethic, put into 25 years at the company that bares his name, it’s Weitzman’s attitude about his work that is the most inspiring. Much like myself, he calls it his hobby. When Katrina asks if relinquishing the remaining shares to the Jones Group would translate into retirement, Weitzman answers laughingly, “No. You retire from a job, but who retires from a hobby? I don’t think anybody does. I certainly won’t.”

Above is a screen shot of Stuart Weitzman proudly showing off the upper of the first shoe he made, called Sheer Delight. To make this this elegant jewel encrusted style, the nude mesh is cut away leaving a scalloped throat-line around the foot. Pulling this piece out of the archives, Weitzman is struck with the idea that they should bring this beautiful design back into the line and start producing it again! Sheer Delight would definitely be perfect for a Cinderella style wedding and I love that Weitzman and I share a love for creating memorable wedding shoes that are artistically detailed. He explains, “When I began this business, I began as a maker of bridal shoes. It was an opening; it was a niche. I went into it. Started to make them, and then evening shoes and party shoes. And we still make bridal shoes as a big part of our business.”

As a tribute to this Stuart Weitzman theme, I dug out some SW shoes from my own collection, circa 2005: a unique pair of blue leopard hair calf driving mocs with oversized crystal keepers on the vamp. Although there’s not a picture of it, the leather bottoms have big rubber SW letters as the forefoot tread. I remember these instantly catching my magpie eyes, trained to spot sparkle and whimsy from a mile away, back when I was designing children’s shoes at Stride Rite. I didn’t wear them much while living in California, but upon reuniting with them this past weekend at the library, I realized they’re still pretty irresistible. The way they liven up a preppy East Coast winter outfit is definitely worth working them back into rotation, with the added benefit that now every time I wear them, I’ll be reminded of the great inspiration that is Stuart Weitzman.

Wrangler Black Label blouse, Rag & Bone Paper Bag leather shorts, Alexander Wang Darcy bag

Arches National Park in Moab, Utah, was stop No. 2 on Katie and Adam Blauer’s cross-country drive from Huntington Beach, Calif., to Stowe, where Katie’s parents and other extended family live. Katie’s grandparents are Rose and the late Walt Snow, who were featured in the magazine in 2010 in honor of the 50-year anniversary of Snow’s farm and creemee stand; Katie even had a “cameo” in that spread as the baby in one of the photos. “Out of the whole drive, this stop in Moab was our favorite – the landscape looked like it was out of a science-fiction movie on another planet. But nothing tops the beauty of Stowe in my mind,” says Katie. “I’ve traveled all over the world and it’s still my favorite place.” Katie and Adam now reside in Lexington, Mass. Stowe Guide & Magazine, winter / spring 2011-12, page 36

Towards the end of our trip, we stopped at The Heart of Ohio Antique Center in Springfield, OH, which stakes its claim as America’s Biggest and Best Antique Mall. I’ve been antiquing all my life and love the hunt for vintage pieces that catch my eye and/or fit into one of my many dust collecting collections on display in our house. By the end of the day, however, we had only accumulated a handful of small items for my parents, who are also avid antique collectors (the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree). The one piece I found for myself was a mid-century style silver ring with four inset stones. The combination of colors are what first struck me, but it didn’t take long before I considered this ring a precious memento of our trip as a whole, with the four stones each representing a major stop along the way.

Clockwise from Top-Left: The brown tiger-eye stone reminds me of the exposed strata that can be seen looking into the Grand Canyon, the copper-colored goldstone is like the sun reflecting off the bright orange rock formations at Arches National Park, the deep blue Lapis represents the cool dark caves of Meramec Caverns, Missouri, and the green Malachite looks identical to the lush greenery and craftsman details Frank Lloyd Wright incorporated into his Fallingwater house in Pennsylvania. Click on the image above for a closer look at the ring.

Just last night, I caught the premiere episode of Mad Fashion on Bravo from my hotel room in Seattle, and had a good laugh relating to the premise of past Project Runway contestant Chris March’s new business venture. Each episode, the eccentric team at Chris March Designs sets out to create one-of-a-kind outfits for high-profile clientele looking to wow the room at their next big event. March’s aesthetic might be a bit flamboyant for some tastes, but his level of creativity is definitely one to admire and his work is also a perfect example of true wearable art.

I was pleasantly surprised by another sighting of wearable art recently while strolling the Burlington Mall, one of my old haunts outside Boston. In one of the halls a fashion exhibit comprised of many non-textile garments was on display, aptly titled Wearable Art and presented by my own alma mater, Mass Art. While I was unable to attend the corresponding fashion show, the Assistant Professor of Fashion Design explained on their website, “The students and I can’t wait to fit traffic cones, 3-D glasses, molded vinyl records and more on our special models. No one is expecting silk charmeuse or duchess satin – it’s all recycled, sustainable, eco-friendly wearable art!”

I was really impressed by the craftsmanship of the unique pieces I saw at that mall that day and so I snapped a few pics of my favorites – one of them being this chunky black overcoat intricately woven out of generic trash bags! Just a few days later I was admiring an Isabel Marant Spring 12 runway show post on fashiontoast and found a collection of garments with an almost identical texture. The timing of these events proves that the similarity is pure coincidence and I love how pairing the student work with the runway version gives even more validity to the ingenuity of wearable art.