How We'd Wear: Guiseppe Zanotti's Black Bootie

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Cutout booties are EVERYWHERE this season. “What happens when it rains?”-type questions aside, working the bootie can be a challenge. A tapered or cropped leg favors this shoe sillhouette as do skirts and dresses. The Closet Couture chics' looks run the gamut from classic to rocker.

What would YOU do with it? Find it here to style your own look: Giuseppe Zanotti black bootie >>

If you want to share your outfit, click the Embed <> button and paste the message board code into a comment to this post!

Alyson's Look (Alyson works on the user experience at Closet Couture): “Mixing typically luxe things like sequins and to-die-for heels (want these!) with more nature-inspired pieces are great for a night out that starts early and ends laaaaate.”
Bootie-licious
Kelli's Look (Kelli's a style editor at Closet Couture): “My look Classy Gal with a Studded Twist is all about a simple fitted plain colored skirt, paired with a bright color blouse, to add that special twist. Throw a studded piece of jewelry with a black patent leather Chanel purse, and top it off with these amazing leather booties and you have an amazing look!!

Classy Gal with a Studded Twist
Look from Chris, CC's CEO (that's Chic Executive Officer to you): “My goal was to take these booties uptown and make them Park Avenue rock n'roll”
Chris\'s Bootie outfit

Look from Ellen, who does operations at Closet Couture: I love the simple chic of this booty, and immediately was drawn to pair it with something else leather, which I found in the jacket. Then I wanted a statement-making dress that would hold its own but bring the right amount of femininity, especially when paired with just a few accessories in a soft coral color.

All about the Booty
Art Director Ashley's Look: I love pairing navy and black together. Seeing as these booties are obviously fantastic for night I wanted to test out how they might work for day. I love pairing navy and black together.

Bootie Look

The Statement: Fall’s Top 5 Shoe Trends

5 shoe trendsWhile shoes are key accessories to any season, there is nothing quite like the grandeur and style glory fall bestows upon accessories. After spending the summer in sandals, there is something quite extraordinary about, let’s say, a suede cutout bootie in a magnificent jewel tone or a pair of leather lace up ankle boots to channel your inner rocker chic?. This season, shoes are all about the details, hardware, and versatile color palette and materials that make this season’s shoes particularly irresistible.

Cutout booties- As versatile as they are sexy, cutout booties are especially significant this fall. Designers have shown this irresistibly trendy shoe in suede, leather, metallic, exotic skins, open-toed and lace up – pick your poison. My favorites: Elizabeth and James 'Lola' Ruffle Bootie @Nordstrom, Loeffler Randall's Mabel Very Strappy Open Toe Booties @Shopbop, and Givenchy's Open Toe Lace Up Booties

Flat boots with hardware: In addition to the cutout bootie, there’s a great variety of low-heeled boots that feature studs, buckles, and straps galore. From the workhorse-inspired boot to the tough chic of the motorcycle boot- this fall these durable but chic boots are equally trendy as practical. My picks: 'Tamzie'@ Nine West, Candela's Studded Ankle Boots @ Saks Fifth Avenue, and Frye's Maxine Trapunto Shortie Boots @Shopbop.

Over the knee boot- The most daring of the statement shoes for fall, the height and drama of these boots are perfect over tights, leggings, jeans, or pants. Heels amp up the boldness factor while the suede lower heeled versions scream sleek and sophisticated. Chloe's Suede Over-the-Knee Boot @ Saks Fifth Avenue and Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti's 'Tassel Above the Knee Boots @ Shopbop.

Shrunken Platforms- The 'shrunken' part of the footbed on these shoes gives a subtle yet distict architectural detail that sets these shoes apart from your run-of-the mill platform- a decidedly unique and femine shoe. My favorites: Giuseppe Zanotti Platform Pumps and Oscar de la Renta's Embroidered Pumps @ Saks Fifth Avenue.

Oxford Shoes- With menswear's increasing sartortial influences popping up in womenswear this season, it is no surprise that this season's shoes are reflective of these trendy boyish accents. This season pair your blazers, stovepipe pants, and boyfriend jeans with these unisex shoes for a sharp statement. My favorites: Pour la Victoire Charlie Oxford Flats @ Shopbop, Gucci Riddle Lace-UpKilt Ankle Boots @ Saks Fifth Avenue, and Steve Madden's Black Tuxxedos @ Zappos.

Chic of the Week: rain617

rain617The new Chic of the Week is rain617!

While we love all Closet Couture members equally, there are some we love a little more equally than others… There are girls who use the site like an album of their day-to-day looks and still manage to make the rest of us look unkempt in relation and we pretty much can't handle how amazing they are.

Follow rain617 if you want to get your hands on her adorable bag and boot collections. Heck, even the girl's sneakers are cute!

To follow rain617, go to her page! >>

And check out some of her fab outfits – love them!

8/6 Work, Cyn\'s
7/8 Work, lunch w/ Soo

You're Invited to a Sneak Preview of InStyle's 15 for Fall!

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Lucky you! The rest of the world will not be told about this site until tomorrow! It's InStyle's 15th Bday and one of the ways they are celebrating is by offering finds and special deals from 27 fabulous fall collections where Instyle editors hand picked 15 of their favorite items.They are also giving away 15 $1,000 shopping sprees! Check out the 15 For Fall iPhone app so you can track all this awesome shopping information. Don't miss out on the special offers and discounts Instyle has lined up for fall!

To see all InStyle special offers

To enter for a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree

Have an iPhone? Browse and shop the best picks of the season anytime!

Closet Couture Party at Pali House!

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We died from joy last night after Closet Couture's rooftop party at Pali House in West Hollywood for like a million reasons, not the least of which were:

• Meeting so many of you gorgeous, clever Closet Couture users – and we cannot handle how adorable your outfits were. Your vintage finds, pre-fall purchase and yummy, yummy bags were all perfect perfection.
• Chef Brendan Collins's meat-and-cheese board that went on for MIIILES.
• Learning more about fab bloggers we love like Blackburn and Sweetzer, Ask Fashion Kitty, and Pretty Unused
• And hearing about what's going on at Marie Claire from Tamerri (We told her to tell Nina Garcia “Hello!”)
• Staying out on the grass-covered rooftop, above the lights of Hollywood, until the place closed down!
• Getting a first look at these amazing new ballet flats that fold in half into a little pouch for travel and LATE NIGHT COMFY FEET! They're called Tieks… we'll blog more about them soon.
• Seeing CeeLaLady's outfit #38 in her 365 days of no shopping… she's a fashion designer who is committed to making everythign she needs for a whole year. Wow! Here's her outfit…

P.S. Here's who's in the pix above (clockwise from top left): Chef Brendan Collins who made us a magical cheese board and CC founder Chris Elia; Web friends Lea Ann of ThisNext.com adn Jessyca of Causecast.org; Chris, fabulous CC user BarbaraJill and Alyson from team CC; Tamerri and her gorgeous friend (love the chapeau!); CC's Alyson, Ellen and Ashley; Fromage heaven!

How We'd Wear: Helmut Lang's Jersey Hooded Dress

Helmut, how do we love thee? Let us count the ways… by styling your minimalist chic jersey hooded dress in the way that we would wear it if given the chance.

As you check out how we'd wear this dress, imagine would YOU style it? Would you go uptown? Downtown? Preppy town? You can make outfits and leave them as a COMMENT on this post! It's easy. Here's how>>
1. Copy the dress to your closet here: Link to dress >>
2. Style your outfit… SAVE it.
3. Click the button that says “Embed”.
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4. Choose from the 3 outfit layouts.
5. Copy the code for a “Message Board” and paste it in the comments… your outfit will show up here!

Outfit by Alyson, Product Designer at Closet Couture: “I love gold accessories with gray knits. Does that make me a contratian?”

One is Silver and the Other\'s Gold

Look by Kelli, Style Editor at Closet Couture: “I decided this would be best worn on a foggy Monday when there is no visible sun in the sky. The sleeve length is perfect for a grey mid-week workday, when you have a casual lunch meeting with an important client. Keep it neutral with silver, grey, and black. In addition, I believe you should belt everything that doesn't already have a fabulous shape!”

A Grey Day!
How Chris, the Founder and CEO of Closet Couture would make her look: “I would wear this every day – I love gray.”

Chris\'s look for Helmust Lang dress

Closet Couture Art Director Ashley's Look: ” I would let the hood hang out over this leather jacket and would pair with a bag with exposed zippers like this Alexander Wang Crossover.”

Ashley\'s Helmut Lang Get Up

Ellen's Look (Ellen is Closet Couture's awesome business development person!):
I would typically be tempted to pair black with a beautiful gray dress, but given the hoody I wanted it to be paired more casually, so added a big fun pop of color in the belt and bag, and kept the rest of the accessories very understated.
Helmut Lang Dress with Sunburst
Closet Couture's Tech Star Aihui's Look: “I'm just not into accessories. Period! Maybe because I'm petite or just being paranoid, wearing more than 1 piece of accessory makes me feel like a walking Christmas tree!
I love to express myself in pops of colors, depending on the mood of the day. Red for a hint of sexiness and a touch of playfulness, great color for weekends and parties!”
Friday Night Out

Avedon Fashion

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I wanted to bring attention to an extraordinary exhibit that is taking place at the International Center for Photography here in the Big Apple- Avedon Fashion: 1944-2000. As we all enjoy the September issues of our fall fashion magazines, it's important to pause and commemorate a man that was crucial in redefining fashion photography as we know and love it today. Avedon's stylistic innovations pushed the envelope of fashion photography to the streets and even for example, to Parisian circuses post World War II, by bringing new energy, light, and motion in capturing the modern woman. The 175 works on display at the International Center for Photography is not only the most comprehensive retrospective of Avedon's career, yet exemplifies why Avedon was a pioneer in fashion photography; the exhibit is a testament to Avedon's ability to capture such spirit, beauty and movement in his photographs. I'm consistently attracted to the life and energy that is communicated through his photographs, such as this shot of Suzy Parker and Robin Tattersall running with the birds in Paris circa 1956. For me, Avedon's career as a fashion photographer revolutionized the glamorous and playful narratives of fashion that continue to inspire and infuence the fashion editorials that we read today. So as the September issues hit newstands in these upcoming weeks, happy official fall fashion reading!

photo credits: Suzy Parker and Robin Tattersall running with the birds in 1956, Veruschka in a dress by Bill Blass photographed by Avedon in 1967.

Winner of Erin Fetherston Styling Contest

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Congratulations to TookieClothespinn! Erin chose this outfit as her favorite from all the looks created by Closet Couture members for her.

TookieClothespinn will receive this dress in her size from Erin’s new collection, valued at almost $1,000.00 – how gorgeous is it?

erin dress

Over 150 outfits were created for Erin to consider – check out all the outfits that members created for her here.

Chic of the Week: Vinaholly

vinahollyLondoner Vinaholly's eclectic, funky-yet-polished style has caught everyone's eye on CC. Her closet goes on for miles and her outfits are always so fresh; at once on trend and totally her.

Right now, Vinaholly's all over statement pieces and “painfully high ridiculous shoes.”

CC member french_wench paid her this awesome compliment: “I've always trusted your great taste for bags & shoes. I love borrowing stuffs from your closet, so enchanting and tasteful.”

We couldn't agree more!

Check out a couple of her darling events below, click into her amazing closet and follow her to borrow what's inside!

Vinaholly's closet >>

DAISY
AFRICA