Generously embellished frocks and kicky separates are what Alice + Olivia has built a growing business on (fifteen boutiques and counting), but for the brand’s Pre-Fall offering, designer Stacey Bendet was keen to showcase something else: “Everyone knows about our party dressing, but this was about showing our tailoring.” And while high-brow, Helmut Newton-esque androgyny this ain’t, the line’s flirtation with menswear is an agreeable one. Bendet paid homage to her husband’s slacks with a slimmer take on the peg-leg trouser. A blazer and trenchcoat featured a sweeping, feminine peplum and skirt, respectively. A particular standout was a suit in gray pinstriped wool flannel with a peplum top and mannish pants that would have made Katharine Hepburn proud.

There was an emphasis on transitional dressing, not only of the summer-to-fall variety, but also day to night. Catering to the “New York City girl who’s working all day and running around at night,” Bendet outfitted A-line dresses with plunging backs, and teamed them with smart little jackets to be doffed after hours. The va-va-voom factor of an otherwise modest sleeveless black sheath skyrocketed thanks to a decidedly PG-13 slit and a close-fitting ponte knit.

It was an offering largely bereft of A+O’s usual jewel tones, but there was plenty of cream, red, and camel (though the latter was an appropriately “off” camel that bordered on mustard). Lest Bendet’s fan base thinks things are getting too staid, there were girlish bows galore, in intarsia trompe l’oeil or dappling a black pullover, and even a pair of beaded unicorn d’Orsay flats.
—Kristin Anderson
Runway Feed

Our review will be posted shortly. See the complete collection by clicking the image at left.
Runway Feed

Our review will be posted shortly. See the complete collection by clicking the image at left.
Runway Feed

“Half-tucked” was the phrase Rachel Comey threw out to describe a breezy dress from her Pre-Fall 2014 offering, but it seemed an apt description for much of the collection, which bore all the hallmarks of Comey’s signature nonchalant cool. While some pieces were literally half-tucked, like a blousy chiffon top, others simply embodied that certain undone spirit beloved of the designer’s fan base.

Comey’s Pre-Fall woman? “She’s a little sneaky. You feel like she’s kind of up to something. She’s got a sweetness, but she’s also got a devilish side.” And indeed, there was a certain cheeky femininity to the clothes. A vintage poodle wallpaper print (in black or coral) might have felt saccharine, but when seen on flowing gowns with slits and lace paneling galore? The effect certainly wasn’t bobby-soxer. Elsewhere, a powder-pink skirt suit felt more House of Yes than straight-up Jackie O. But fans of Comey’s utilitarian leanings won’t be disappointed. There was a generous dose of seventies appeal; a Western-inspired boxy wool coat in paprika would look every bit as fitting on a young Dennis Hopper as on Comey’s usual clientele. For each separate in a brazen metallic floral jacquard, there was a counterpart in easy sand-washed silk, deep indigo denim, or creamy flannel. The aforementioned
poodle-print pieces will be nicely grounded by strong shoe offerings in masculine shapes and borrowed-from-the-boys-club kiltie details. A collection so diverse is sure to bring some new fans into the Comey fold.
—Kristin Anderson
Runway Feed

Some cool weight loss photos images:

Walking in Central Park

Image by Ed Yourdon
This is one of several pictures that were taken on a vintage-2005 Saturday afternoon stroll around Central Park — starting on the west side of the park at approx 86th street, heading south down past Tavern on the Green, and then up the East Side to the 104th cut, and back around…

The temperature was pleasant, but the sky turned from a hazy blue to a hazy gray during the walk, which washed out some of the pictures a bit…

Two young women, strolling along, chattering away about whatever it is that young women chatter about. Nothing particularly unusual about them — they were typical of dozens, if not hundreds, of other young, reasonably athletic young women out for some sunshine and exercise in the park.

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Note: this photo was published in an Oct 6, 2008 blog titled "Warm up to these 2 exercises." It was also published in a March 14, 2009 blog article entitled "Top 8 Exercise Myths." It was also published in a Nov 23, 2009 blog titled "Beauty 101: Get some PMS SOS." And it was published in a Nov 30, 2009 blog titled "Weight Loss Tips and Tricks."

Moving into 2010, the photo was published in a Mar 7, 2010 Slimsix-dot-net blog with the same title as the caption I used on this Flickr page. And it was published in a Jun 11, 2010 blog titled "My Weight Loss Tips" It was also published in an Oct 15, 2010 FeelBetter4Life blog, with the same title as the caption on this Flickr page. And it was published in a Dec 7, 2010 blog titled "Cutting Darren down to size."

Moving into 2011, the photo was published in a Jan 3, 2011 blog titled "BMI, calorie intake and being big boned?someone explain!!?" It was also published in an undated (early Jan 2011) blog titled "Healthy Weight Loss Program: Your Personal Exercise Prescription." And it was published in a Jan 16, 2011 blog titled "How Can I Make Any Girl Fall in Love With Me Instantly? Here Are Three Unfailing Tips." It was also published in a Mar 12, 2011 blog titled "Walking in Central Park." And it was published in an undated (late May 2011) blog titled "Live Lean for Life Unveils Exciting Weight Loss Tips and Tricks." It was also published in a Jun 8, 2011 blog titled "I am 37 & want to start a quick weight loss diet & a exercise program to build mass. Any suggestions?" And it was published in a Jul 3, 2011 blog titled "Weight Loss Psychology: Why Your Brain Might be Holding You Back." It was also published in a Jul 11, 2011 Frugal Mom blog, with the same caption and detailed notes that I had written on this Flickr page. And it was published in a Jul 19, 2011 blog titled " Veggie Burger & Organic Blue Corn Chips." It was also published in an Oct 25, 2011 blog titled "Nice Exercise Programs And Weight Loss photos," with the same caption and detailed notes I had written on this Flickr page.

Moving into 2012, the photo was published in a Jul 3, 2012 blog titled "Weight Loss Psychology: Why Your Brain Might be Holding You Back." It was also published in a Sep 8, 2012 blog titled "Walking in Central Park ." And it was published in an Oct 20, 2012 blog titled "Quick weight loss tips for women at home?" It was also published in an Oct 29, 2012 blog titled "Cheryl Keaney: Some quick and easy tips for weight loss." And it was published in a Dec 12, 2012 weight loss workout programs buy blog, with the same caption and detailed notes that I had written in this Flickr page.

Moving into 2013, the photo was published in a Jan 28, 2013 blog titled "Bezpieczny detoks – oczyść ciało bez efektów ubocznych." It was also published in a Feb 25, 2013 blog titled "＜糖尿病患者＞熱心な運動で死亡リスク半分に－厚労省研究班," as well as a Mar 7, 2013 blog titled "25 Tips to Increase Adherence Outside of the Gym." And it was published in a May 17, 2013 blog titled "I Enjoy A Free Drink." It was also published in a Jul 17, 2013 blog titled "Supporting a Fellow Military Wife Who Started Workouts for Military Spouses!"

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Note: on Jan 20, 2010 I replaced the original version of this photo with a slightly edited version. The original, which I took in the summer of 2005, was edited with the Apple-Macintosh "iPhoto" program, and all I did was crop the photo to remove irrelevant scenic elements … and perhaps a little color-saturation to highlight the various colors involved.

I’m now using the Apple-Macintosh "Aperture" program, and I realized that I could edit the dark shadows and nearly-black color of the shorts worn by the two women. The current version has a little more "noise" (aka "graininess," in the pre-digital days) than I would have preferred, but you can see more details of their legs than was visible before…

With or without the detail, they are both still beautiful young women. I have no idea who they were, never spoke to them when I took this photo, and will probably never see them again for the rest of their lives or my life. C’est la vie…