Helmut Lang - Holiday 2011

First of all, thank you so much for your readership and support these last few years.  Since the launch of the new Professionelle this Spring, we've had over 10,000 visitors!  I know that's not a lot for some blogs, but it means a lot to me, and I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to peruse this little corner of the internet.  Coming up next, I'll be posting about menswear inspired prints, upon the recommendation of a reader, so please write and let me know if there's ever anything you'd like to see on Professionelle.  But today, it's all about one of my favorite designers...

My mom and I love to shop together, so naturally, I took her to my favorite hidden shopping spot - the Theory Company Store which also carries a full line of Helmut Lang.  Much to my surprise, my mother loved Helmut Lang, and so do I, particularly their new Holiday 2011 collection.  Below are my favorite pieces.  Keep in mind if you're going to order online that Helmut Lang tends to run small. 

Mantle Felt Coat (1290.00)

Smoking Wool Blazer (575.00)

Supple T Dress (220.00)

Shop Online at Zara - Finally!

My google reader hit an all time high last week due to a very busy September at work, which means that I'm about two weeks behind on the announcement that Zara has finally launched an online store!  I actually found out when I saw a girl walking down Fifth Avenue with a Zara bag that said "shop online."  I nearly stopped her, then realized how creepy that would be, so I pulled out my iPhone and sure enough...

So, better late than never, here are my must-have fall items from Zara: 

Longer cut jackets are in this fall.  Not a great look for petite girls, but I love the black/blue combination.  Blazer with Shiny Lapel (89.90)

Double Breasted Coat (169.00)

Laminated Heel Court Shoe (89.90)

I love the look of bright suede.  Perfect accessory to a basic trench or black wool coat.  Coloured Suede Belt (29.90)

I'm also very impressed with how Zara has designed their online shop.  The thumbnail pictures are large and when you click "view all," it saves your spot on the page.  Plus, there is free standard shipping and shipping to stores.  Bravo Zara!

What the Cool Girls are Wearing

I think French girls are so cool.  They look so...effortless.  Like they rolled out of bed looking totally fabulous.  Since I spent only one week observing what Parisian women wore, I can't claim to be an expert (or even very accurate) but I noticed a few trends: leather motorcycle jackets, cross body bags and chunky ankle boots.  All of these items lean towards casual, so I thought it would be fun to interpret them in a way that could work for a Professionelle.

McQ Leather Vest-Inlay Jacket (1565.00)

I love how feminine this leather jacket looks.  The cut softens the edge of the leather and the cropped length would work well for petites.

BCBGMAXAZRIA Naples1 (250.00)

The buckles on these boots give it that biker chick look but the shape of the boot is very refined.  I would wear these with patterned black tights.

Lauren by Ralph Lauren Harbridge Saddle Bag (228.00)

I actually saw this bag in the window of the Macy's on Nicolette Mall in Minneapolis.  Paris inspired, but found in the Midwest.

Alexander Wang Leather-Front Blazer (895.00)

It's so hard to find a leather blazer that doesn't look outdated.  I love how modern this looks, yet it still feels classic.

Alexander McQueen Tab and Buckle Heel Bootie (1225.00)

Now this boot is going to take some attitude to pull off at work, and perhaps a very conservative outfit to balance the shoe.  I absolutely love navy suede for Fall.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Jane-On-A-Leash Crossbody (228.00)

I'm so glad Marc Jacobs finally made some Marc by Marc Jacobs bags without that awful gold plaque.  This bag makes the perfect day to night purse.

Chic Looks from Zara (and a note to brick and mortar stores)

I absolutely love these looks from Zara, but if they weren't posted on their website, chances are, I would never have seen them, much less blogged about them.  Don't get me wrong, I love going into brick and mortar stores on a Saturday afternoon as much as the next professionelle, but because I do so much of my shopping online, I am often disapointed when stores aren't well organized or don't have items in my size.  Zara is sort of the worst of all worlds in this sense since their stores are often messy and they don't offer online shopping capabilities.  Maybe I'm wrong, but I believe that women who grew up in the internet era have higher standards for efficiency when it comes to shopping.  Who wants to dig through racks of clothes when we can sort and search for exactly what we want online?  But . . . I digress . . . below are some lovely looks from Zara.  Hopefully you'll be able to find them in a Zara store near you.

Dress with Frills at the Back (59.90)

Pique Blazer (99.90)

Double Breasted Raincoat (79.90)

Double Breasted Blazer (99.90)

Stripped Blouse (69.90)

Tulip Skirt Dress (99.90)

Same dress with stripes (99.90)

 Butterfly Top (59.90)

Kansas City Kate

It used to be that Kate Spade handbags depressed me. They were black, boxy and horribly expensive considering they were made from nylon. Now, the Kate Spade brand has the exact opposite effect. I love her feminine details and bright colors. Looking at the Kate Spade window display on 5th Avenue always brings a smile to my face.

She also happens to be from Kansas City (the about page on her website describes how her upbringing in KC influenced her aesthetic), which is where I will be going next week to spend the holidays with my boyfriend's family. So, I thought this was the perfect time to feature some of the things I love from Kate Spade. Enjoy and happy holidays!

Polka-dot Jillian Dress (375.00)


Head in the Sand Melinda (425.00)


Stripped Bow Jacket (445.00)

Ushering in Autumn

As many of you know, I've been in Hong Kong and China for the last month or so, traveling and basking in the tropical (if polluted) weather. Today is my last day here so I'm preparing myself for the brisker weather of New York. Once I find an apartment in the city, this will be one of the first Fall pieces I order.

Cape of Good Hope (97.99)