Pre-Fall Fashion: Metallic Pleats

Confession: I receive around 10-15 fashion magazines per month. I consider these my continuing education texts, and yes, I do study them. Once in a while, I will see an item of clothing, piece of jewelry or a pair of shoes that is in EVERY single magazine. I don’t mean a Birkin or other iconic impossible to reach status symbol- there are a few items that sneak into pages subtly, almost like they are meant just for fash-mag junkies like me to discover. These items usually lurk in the “high fashion shoot” pages that are generally 3/4 of the way through the magazine (See? Told you I read a lot of them!). I love to imagine a very Devil Wears Prada scene where various fashion houses just roll in racks of clothing for this season’s shoot. Sigh. A girl can dream.

This year’s piece on repeat is the Christopher Kane’s Lame Accordion-Pleated Skirt, retail price of $895. The August issue of Vogue had it in emerald paired with the matching shimmery sweater- just flip to page 197. Pretty sure Elle had it as well, but my kids managed to use that particular issue to wipe up spilled milk. Thanks for that. The flashy skirt is also available in silver, which is just as gorgeous, as seen here on the Neiman site.

And the celebrity contingent? Kate Hudson wore the emerald option with the coordinating tank to promote her episode of Running Wild with Bear Grylls on the Today Show.

Ok, so we all know this skirt is majorly covetable, but are you ready to toss down close to a grand on it? Eh, me neither.

If you know me, I always try to find ways to afford trends that I want to test out. When I was at my fave boutique, Ella Louvi, I spied the skirt below even before I saw it in the magazines and knew I had to have it. Best part? The price tag- $39. The last time I was in there, they still had a few left!

I paired it with a loose pocket tank from Banana Republic Outlet and silver ankle strap heels from White House Black Market (they have fabulous shoes, FYI). For jewelry, I added a silver pennant necklace I received in a PopSugar Must Have Box (THE best subscription box out there) and simple CZ studs from the Banana Outlet. I think this would be a knockout with a white loose crop top that just grazes the waistband, or for fall, a white cable knit sweater or even a white button down tied at the waist.

BTW, this photo was taken at the newest addition to the Wilmette dining scene- Firefly Kitchen! I will be visiting them on Friday and look for a review next week (pumped for the new patio!).

What do you think about this skirt? Are you a fan? How would you pair and wear it? And yes, I know, the word pre-fall is terrifying, but hey- it is inevitable!