Seeing Black and White

We're absolutely thrilled this month to introduce a brand new fashion columnist.

Mary Jo Matsumoto is a Los Angeles-based fashion designer  who is launching a new line of handbags with her hand printed textiles along with a small home furnishings line. Mary Jo also writes a lifestyle blog at http://www.trustyourstyle.com and is a beauty and fashion editor at Affluent Magazine and Sheknows.com.

Every month Mary Jo will be highlighting a hot seasonal trend and finding those key pieces which will help keep us all at the cutting edge of gorgeousness.

Over to Mary Jo.

Being a March-born Pisces, I know firsthand that seeing things in black and white can be quite difficult. Fortunately it wasn't hard this past month, because the world of fashion was nothing if not black and white.

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some of my favorite picks that I predict will last well beyond the month: The Mulberry bag.  This must-have accessory, so chic in a low-key/no-label kind of way, thankfully comes without too much back-breaking hardware. This fun update of a classic shape in sexy shiny patent-leather could easily be a girl's new BFF. P.S. Patent leather is more than a mini-trend. I predict it's here to stay for the next eight to twelve months, and it's doubly spot-on when it comes in black or white.

I've started seeing these retro-style patent pumps around town and think they're a great alternative to the chunky platform. The Chloe Sixty Circle Buckle patent pumps are available at www.intermix.com.

 

 

 

We've seen the skull so many ways, yet somehow it's a fresh take on these sweet yet slightly naughty patent-leather ballet flats by Loeffler Randall. 

 

For more information go to www.loefflerrandall.com or neimanmarcus.com

 

Black and White Florals:

This should be an ode to the hip girls lunching at Barney Greengrass in the month of March. If these women are any indication of things to come, we can expect to see a lot more black and white floral trapeze dresses cropping up in the months ahead.

                     Abaete                                          Anna Sui

             Diane von Fursteburg                                 Nanette Lepore

Loose and comfortable, but short enough to show some beguiling leg, these dresses are easy to throw on and I look forward to seeing them replace the now tired peasant skirts and strappy tees of last season. Diane von Furstenberg made my favorite version, but the look can be seen at Anna Sui, Abaete, and Nanette Lepore.

 

 

Ya-Ya Jefferson Trench                                                         Classic Burberry Trench

Never fear, the trench is here, this time around in all sorts of angelic versions. I like both the hip short-sleeve one like Ya-Ya's Jefferson Trench coat as well as the classic Burberry in white.

It's often debated whether tech gadgets qualify as fashion. A week after I finally broke down and got a Blackberry, the Black Pearl came out. I told myself it didn't matter, but when I found myself coveting the new White Pearl Blackberry this month, I decided to join the phones-are-fashion team. Please forgive me, I live in Los Angeles. (Hehe!  I'm so cool! I've just got a new Black Pearl and it is insanely gorgeous! So good to know that I'm at the cutting edge of style even though my legs are really not appropriate for a flimsy A-line minidress - The Ed).

 

Before I sign off, I would like to say that I am so honored to be a guest-columnist here on The Year of Living Gorgeously! First off, I love this beautiful blog that celebrates each and every season. Secondly, I adore the idea of writing about fashion as it unfolds during the month; this is truly how fashion operates off the runway and what makes getting dressed an ongoing love-affair.

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