Must Read - Blow by Blow

Isabella Blow is considered to be one of the most influential and eccentric people in fashion. We know her best for discovering and nurturing the talents of Philip Treacy and the late Alexander McQueen, as well as for her unconventional personal style. Her untimely death in 2007 rocked the fashion world. The Story of Isabella Blow - Blow by Blow is an intimate insight into Isabella's life narrated by her loving husband, Detmar Blow. To say that this book is a good read is an understatement - READ IT!

Fall Essentials...Capes.

Since the weather is finally cooling off its time to explore jacket alternatives for the winter months. Although the ever stylish leather jacket is still our go-to for night-time looks, they won’t keep you very warm. Capes are a great alternative to heavy outerwear this season. It’s the perfect way to add a little retro to your day or evening outfits. Capes are available in classic cozy wools like the Rag & Bone and Aqua capes or you can dress up with Gryphon’s military inspired cape.

1. Rag & Bone cape jacket $795

2. Gryphon cape coat $620

3. Aqua hooded wool cocoon cape $148

Awesome...Damien Hirst for Converse

Esteemed artist Damien Hirst has teamed up with Converse PRODUCT(RED) to create this exclusive Chuck Taylor All Star sneaker. To say that we are excited about this is an understatement. Not only are they super cool looking but PRODUCT(RED) stands for an amazing cause by raising awareness and funds to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. Starting December 1st - World AIDS day, 400 pairs will be available world wide at select retailers only, like our favorite CANVAS Boutique and Gallery in Malibu.

Friday try me...guy edition, Wing-tip boots

This Friday Try Me goes out to the men! A Fall/Winter trend that we are seeing for both men and women are BOOTS. Boots are HUGE this season replacing all other forms of footwear. Wing-tip boots are the perfect footwear for your classic herringbone suit. The look: timeless class meets rock star. John Varvatos and Ferragamo are both doing an excellent version that is, a must try this season.

Frye James Lug Wingtip Boot, $198

John Varvatos limited edition Murray Spectator Wing-tip boot, $698

Tuesday try me...Faux Fur!

Perhaps one of our favorite fall trends this season is faux fur. This retro inspired look is perfect for any age and any occasion. A fur piece is a great alternative to your classic blazer or leather jacket. It makes a flirty, fun statement. The key to wearing faux fur is keeping it clean and simple; let the fur make the statement. For day try pairing a faux fur vest with your favorite pair of military cargo skinny jeans, a basic white t-shirt and some flats. For a more formal ensemble try out Dolce Vita’s new faux fur jacket a pair of wide leg denim and some perfect heels and you are set! And as PETA would say “we’d rather go naked than wear fur!”

1. Dolce Vita sadie faux fur jacket $286

2. Ella Moss Kennedy faux fur vest $258

3. Halston Heritage faux fur vest $375

Spring 2011 Preview...

In the real world we are getting ready for Fall, chunky sweaters, layers and boots. In Fashion Land it's already time to start thinking about spring, here is a little preview of our favorite Spring 2011 runway looks. Enjoy!

Tuesday try me...Sequins!

This week’s Tuesday Try Me is for the ladies and we think this is a great fall trend. At Graywolf we like to say, “we never met a sequin we didn’t like!” That being said, try this trend out slowly. Test out these sparkly waters with a subtly sequined cardigan. It’s a great way to sass up your typically predictable work wardrobe. Right now, if there is one place that has done sequins well, it’s J. Crew. They do a great job of incorporating sequins into their garments without going over the top. Feeling a bit more adventurous? Try going all the way with either a sequined bloomer short or mini cocktail dress.

1. Aidan Mattox Sequined One-Shoulder dress $330

2. Haute Hippie Sequin Miniskirt $295

3. J Crew Arlyn Sequined cardigan $178

4. J Crew Sequined jersey bloomer $98

Happy Labor Day - Summer to Fall carryovers!

Labor Day marks the end of Summer and the official beginning of Fall, here are a few ways for both men and women to have a smooth transition from summer to fall wardrobes. For the ladies, layering is key. Transform your floral print dresses, dress shorts and the ever classic shirt-dress by layering on cardigans, light weight jackets, scarves and tights. Also, never forget to accessorize, gradually eliminate the strappy sandal from these looks and pair with an awesome tall boot or fun ankle booties.

For men: The utility oxford shirt! From chambray to plaid to a gingham check, this style is very versitile for Fall. Layer your button downs with v-neck sweaters, cardigans and light weight jackets and don’t forget your favorite pair of desert boots - a must have for any man's shoe closet.

Tuesday try me...Denim Jackets for ALL !

Graywolf is back from summer vacation and just in time to jump in to Fall! With cooler weather approaching, the latest jacket trends are emerging. One that has us VERY excited is the denim jacket. What's so great about the denim jacket you ask? it never goes out of style and is a great trend for both men and women of all ages. Men, pair with a casual chino pant or for the ladies, throw a denim jacket over your favorite print dress, add a pair of killer boots and voila! You're the perfect vision of LA cool.

Ladies:

1. Current Elliott snap jacket $230

2. Rebecca Taylor Bloomie dress $345

3. Frye Engineer boot $208

Gents:

1. Levi's Trucker jacket (available at Jcrew) $128

2. Converse green leather chucks (available at CANVAS) $125

Summer Essentials...part 5.

The Little White Dress

The suns out and it looks like it’s here to stay! Nothing says summer like a little white dress. With a slight summer glow and a few accessories any white dress can be the perfect daytime brunch dress or an early evening cocktail dress. For day; pair with sandals and a messenger bag to get around town. Don’t have time to change before evening plans? Throw on a belt, heels and bright cardigan and your set!

1. Tibi scoop neck dress $298

2. J Crew Cashmere crew neck cardigan $158

3. Linea Pelle Studded split belt $198

4. Jimmy Choo Patent leather wedge espadrilles $395

Tuesday try me...Tone me!

THIS SHOE TONES YOUR MUSCLES AND BURNS CALORIES WHILE YOU WALK! need we say more?

We have all seen toning shoes that magically lift your butt and tone your calves. Thats all great, except that they look like corrective footwear. The New Balance 1100 toning shoe (also available in silver) is super cool looking in addition to actually providing visible results. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Available at our favorite shopping spot: CANVAS boutique and gallery in Malibu.

Summer Essentials...part 4.

Everyone looks good in STRIPES (the right kind that is…). A navy and white horizontal strip tee or tank is the perfect way to make those old faithful cutoff shorts look like new. When picking a striped tee or tank, a narrow horizontal stripe is typically more flattering than heavy lines. Working a stripe into the right evening look: pair it with a heel, white skinny jeans and a blazer (if the weather is cool enough). Throw in some gold jewelry and you are ready for a night out!

1. Saint James Naval II tee $115

2. Paige Denim venice cropped skinny jean $165

3. Alexis Bittar woven teardrop earrings $185

4. Twelfth St, by Cynthia Vincent

tuesday try me...it's in the BAG!

Let’s face it ladies, we like handbags... sometimes a little more than we should. We collect handbags not cars. Searching for the perfect bag takes about as much effort as searching for a soul mate! This season we are seeing a new trend in bags, less hobo and more of a versatile utility style. The satchel comes in all different shapes and sizes, prices and styles. Wear this trend in the day with the strap cross-body over a casual dress. For evening drop the strap and carry it by its handles. Here are several to chose from:

1. If you have the budget for it, we are in love with: Proenza Schouler Medium Suede PS1 Bag $1,595

2. For a more affordable approach to this trend try the: Tory Burch Tevin - Large Satchel $595

Summer Essentials...part 3.

HOT LEGS!

Much of what we are seeing for this season’s summer trends are very retro inspired. The romper is back and in full force this summer. We are seeing “onesies” in all prints and lengths which is why you should know exactly how to dress up and dress down this summer's essentials.

A denim jumper paired with your favorite flat sandal, a Panama hat and a tote are a great daytime look for lunch with friends or bike rides on the boardwalk. Take this look to evening; trade those flip flops for espadrilles, bangles, toss your hair and you are ready to go to any beach side restaurant or bar.

1. DIANE von FURSTENBERG "Juniper" Slubbed Cotton Romper $285.00

2. Graham & Spencer Strapless Linen Jumpsuit $250.00

3. Tibi Daisy-Print Silk Skort Romper $335.00

Tuesday try me...Tan me!

Although nothing looks more natural than the real thing, we all know the sun is damaging and that is why we recommend self tanner to help enhance your color this summer. Vitamin D is healthy but too much tends to be aging. Summer forces us to show some skin which is why we recommend a little self tanner to make those winter white legs look a little more “in season”. The key to successfully applying self tanner is to exfoliate beforehand and apply evenly. Don’t rush or you are bound to have some streaks. For first time self tanners try out a spray can, it has an easier application. Here are some self tanners that we are obsessed with:

Diana B 60 seconds instant Miracle Tan - $60 @ studiobeautymix.com

St. Tropez Essentials Self Tan Bronzing spray - $35 @ sephora.com

TanTowel Classic Self-Tan Towelette for Face & Body - $21 @ sephora.com

Tuesday try me...Cat Attack!

Release your inner wild child in this season throwback to the 60's, cat eye sunglasses! Toss aside your traditional oversized shades and give these puppies a try. Ease your way in with Dior's understated take on the style. Feeling a bit more daring? Alexander Wang takes this trend to the extreme.

Summer Essentials...part 2.

Since some of us still might be a bit weary about breaking out the shorts, (diet begins on Monday), here is a great day to night look that keeps you looking and feeling cool, without showing too much leg.

Cropped is everywhere and that’s why you need to know how to wear it! For day, take your cropped denim pant (white or blue jean) with a fitted collared shirt and a casual flat. For night show some of that newly tanned skin by swapping for a loose tank and sexy heels.

1. 7 For All Mankind Roxanne flood jeans $178

2. Elizabeth and James schoolboy shirt II $225

3. Cynthia Vincent "Keller" embroidered ballet flat $225

4. Rosegold cutout sandal booties $168

5. ACNE shy pleated satin tank $200

Tuesday try me...guy edition

Shoes are IMPORTANT! Whether you’re a “dudes” dude or you have a more adventurous approach to style, all men need a shoe wardrobe or at least a few pairs to choose from. Old tennis shoes, loafers and beat up flip flops don’t look good with every outfit. The perfect shoe to solve all wardrobe needs is the desert boot. This boot is perfect for all seasons and can be dressed up or dressed down. The desert boot has a casual appeal that can be paired with your favorite relaxed denim jeans or worn with a pair of trousers for a dressier look. The good thing about a desert boot…its meets all local bar dress codes…

John Varvatos star USA suede hipster chukka boot $198

Summer Essentials...part 1.

With Memorial Day weekend marking the official launch of Summer we want to urge you to put away the leggings and show off those legs! We are all about effortless style which always inspires us to create looks that are easily translated from day to night.

Floral dresses are always very popular for summer. A heavy floral print should be the focal point of your outfit with accessories at a minimum. Take a floral dress of any length and add a simple flat sandal with a detailed earring (the earrings we are showing will add a little edge to this otherwise ultra girly outfit). For night, add some height with a wedge platform heel and a cropped denim jacket.

1. Elizabeth and James "lila" chiffon faux wrap dress $465

2. Current/Elliott snap denim jacket $275

3. Cynthia Vincent "Pru" zipper peeptoe wedges

4. Tapeet canvas and leather sandals $375

5. Fenton/Fallon for Jcrew jaws earrings $85

Tuesday try me...

We would like to introduce a weekly feature here at the Graywolf blog. A "Tuesday try me" will be something that we are currently obsessed with and would love for you to try.

Channel your inner child and go back to the days of innocence. A jelly sandal is fun, flirty and playful. Wear with your favorite cut-offs to the beach or with a strapless sun dress for a hot date!

See by Chloe jelly sandal available at saksfifthavenue.com for the bargain price of $125

The Graywolf Philosophy...

The GrayWolf fashion philosophy is that every individual’s personal style can be effortlessly and aesthetically expressed in fashion choices using a few simple principles. We view clothing as a form of artist expression, allowing both men and women the opportunity to create a wardrobe that reflects each individual’s unique taste. In future blogs we will describe these principles and help you define your personal style.

Fashion, most simply put, is a prevailing style or custom that is expressed in clothing and personal accessories. Your wardrobe reveals more about you than almost any other aspect of your material world because it expresses what you want to convey about yourself to the outside world. The garments you wear and the style of dress and the garments you chose to wear are a unique personal statement. Trends are fashion items that make a statement, picked up by the masses and eventually decline very quickly. It is important to recognize the difference between style and trends.

This concept is true not only with women’s fashions but men’s as well. Through the years, traditional men’s fashions have become androgynous trends. Men’s and women’s styles play off of each other and elements of each are translated through trends. As a current example, women are wearing the traditional structured blazer and men are going back to a more tailored fit as well as incorporating lighter “feminine colors” to achieve the perfect Spring/Summer look.

Here are some classic styles that are seen in both men’s and women’s wear :

1. Theory Bindi TS Blazer $365 @ Shopbop.com

2. Jcrew linen/cotton Elan trouser $168 @ Jcrew.com

3. Gap Chambray western shirt dress $69.50 @ Gap.com

4. Jcrew Seaside madras shirt $79.50 @ Jcrew.com

5. Banana Republic twill two button blazer $198 @ bananarepublic.com

6. Urban Outfitters cropped 5 pocket skinny pant $49 @urbanoutfitters.com

7. Jcrew vintage chambray Utility shirt $98 @ jcrew.com

8. Polo Ralph Lauren custom fit madras Military shirt $68.60 @ bloomingdales.com

What's in a name?

When following fashion, you need to be able to pronounce the names of all of the top tier designer labels. Most couture houses are European, making pronunciation difficult, at first glance. There’s nothing more embarrassing than mispronouncing a designer’s name! Here is a list of a few well known designers with the phonetic pronunciation of each of their names:

Christian Lacroix – Kris-TEE-ahn lah-KWAH

Hermès – “air” ‘MEHZ

Hervé Léger – ur VAY leh-ZHAIR

Yves Saint Laurent – eev saint luh RAW(NG))

Givenchy - zhee-VAH(N)-shee

Monique Lhullier - moe-NEEK lu LEE ae

Moschino - moe SKI noe

Balenciaga - bah len see AH gah

Lanvin - law(n) va(n) *n is nearly silent

Proenza Schouler - pro EN sa shoo ler

Jean Paul Gaultier - zhahn pall GO tee ae

Louis Vuitton - loo ee vee tawn