Kate Middleton, Fashion Icon

I'm not a morning person--in fact, you might say I'm the opposite of a
morning person. But, since I've followed Kate Middleton's style on this
blog and wrote about her effect on the fashion industry in London, I
felt obligated to wake up and watch the wedding arrivals and ceremony,
if only from the comfort of my bed. And, I'm so glad I did. I'm not
only not a morning person, but I'm also not one

London Fashion Week: Lee Klabin

As you're probably aware, I have a crush on Lee Klabin's luxurious
ready-to-wear. In February, I again visited the Lee Klabin team, this
year at the On/Off exhibition, which showcases some of London's
up-and-coming, and most innovative, designers via intimate catwalk
shows and a cozy showroom.While chatting with Lee Klabin and her
spokeswoman, I learned that her third ready-to-wear collection was

The Weekly Standard: The Middleton Effect at London Fashion Week

While at London Fashion Week last month, I wrote a story for The Weekly
Standard on the "Middleton Effect" on London Fashion Week. In my story,
which you can read online here, you'll get my take on Kate Middleton's
role as a fashion icon as well as a taste of collections like Vivienne
Westwood, Lee Klabin, and Maria Francesca Pepe. An excerpt: Kate
Middleton...is on the cover of tabloids across

London Fashion Week: Temperley London

About a week after celebrating her brand's 10-year anniversary at
London Fashion Week, designer Alice Temperley received a Member of the
Order of the British Empire (MBE) award from the Queen of England for
her service to the fashion industry. Her label, Temperley London, is
loved by women including London's style-setters to New York's polished
editors to Hollywood's starlets, and her feminine

London Fashion Week: Backstage at Vivienne Westwood A/W 11

The Vivienne Westwood Red Label show on February 20, 2011, at London's
Royal Courts of Justice definitely places among my top five--if not
three--Fashion Week moments in my short fashion journalism career. I
had the privilege of hanging out backstage prior to the show for my
upcoming story in The Weekly Standard, and you'll be able to read about
the details when it's published (and, uhh, finished

London Fashion Week: Vauxhall Fashion Scout's Ones to Watch

After fighting my jet lag with a Pret a Manger latte--no, Pret does not
pay me--and some champagne at a cozy Shepherd's Market bistro, I headed
straight for Vauxhall Fashion Scout's "Ones to Watch" womenswear show.
The show featured four recent fashion school graduates who are
considered top emerging designers: Kirsty Ward, Anja Mlakar, Tze Goh,
and Sara Bro-Jorgensen. Sponsored by Vauxhall

Good Morning, London!

Actually, it's more like "good afternoon" if you're on London time, but
many of my readers are likely just turning on their Blackberries to
take a look at the day's news clips before hopping on the Metro.And,
quite frankly, I wish it were the time in this lovely photo of Harrods,
because I'd love to take a 9-hour nap.Nonetheless, I'm finally in
London and thrilled to begin another Fashion Week in

Lee Klabin's Lovely Frocks

If you're a woman in Washington, you often find the occasion to wear a
cocktail dress--especially in the spring, when the warmer weather
brings invitations to charity galas, media dinners, embassy parties,
and other springtime fetes. (Yes, a cocktail dress. Unless you're going
to the White House, it's probably not necessary to wear a long gown. If
you resemble Heidi Klum or Helen Mirren in any

London Fashion Week: Pyrenex's Posh Puffers

During this exceptionally cold winter, I've noticed a trend on the
streets of Washington that I find extremely unattractive: the long
black puffer coat. I literally see two or three per day, minimum.
They're not only unflattering on almost every figure, but down-stuffed
nylon also does not pair well with work attire.Angelina Jolie models
the Washington puffer trendI suppose I understand why so

Royal Dressing

The Hollywood awards shows have nothing on a royal wedding. The last
time we heard a buzz this loud about a dress was in January 2009, when
the world wondered who Michelle Obama would wear for the Inauguration
festivities. (She surprised everyone, you may recall, with her exciting
choice of Jason Wu.) Now, the world wonders who Britain's Kate
Middleton will choose to design her royal wedding

London Fashion Week: Jasper Conran

While enjoying my Illy on this holiday, I've been reading a recent
profile of British designer Jasper Conran in the UK Telegraph,
describing his career trajectory from his days sharing a house with The
Clash to designing for Princess Diana. In September, I had the
privilege of seeing the Jasper Conran Spring 2011 collection live in
London, which, as I mentioned in my print story, featured airy