When the thermometer hits triple digits, the layers come off.  Way off.  And there you have it: a denim corset top.  Are you feeling a little bit saucy?  Do you have a hankering to be a bit dominating?  For the girl on the loose, this little denim top is a versatile focal point for all your other statement pieces: a naughty-meets-nice ensemble of a big baubled necklace coupled by the bad girl spiked stompers.  So which one are you?  It’s fun to keep them guessing.

AVAILABLE AT SHOPBOP

– Kathy Ng Hassan

– Kathy Ng Hassan

From Style.com:

Why Wouldn’t You Wear White After Labor Day?

August 27, 2010  6:51 am

Once, only the brave wore white after the first weekend in September (and by brave we mean French and/or those in possession of a generous dry-cleaning budget). But that old edict hasn’t really applied for a while, and judging by Fall collections from the likes of Thakoon Panichgul and Gucci’s Frida Giannini, a pair of white pants is now a winter wardrobe essential. According to Jill Stuart, though, the shade’s prominence has less to do with breaking rules than harmonizing palettes.

Click here to read more…

Got tons of old — but still wearable — clothes that’s just collecting dust?  Hustle over to the Levi’s Curve ID event at Bryant Park tomorrow (Friday)!  Drop off clothes for Goodwill; get a FREE pair of Levi’s® Curve ID jeans.  Good deal!

DEETS
Friday, August 27 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

BRYANT PARK NYC
6th Avenue at W 41st Street
New York, NY

“Bring something that doesn’t fit (which will be donated to Goodwill) and at the same time, get something that does. A free pair of Levi’s® Curve ID jeans. New custom fits for women. Because hotness really does come in all shapes and sizes.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

– Kathy Ng Hassan

Here’s a very good excuse to check out the newly-opened Santa Monica Place: J Brand Jeans and Lucky Magazine have partnered up to present J Brand’s fall collection preview.  J Brand CEO Jeff Rudes and the J Brand retail specialist team will be on hand to help shoppers find their perfect jean, and customers will receive a gift with a purchase!

DEETS

Saturday, August 28 (2-4 p.m.) 

BLOOMINGDALE’S B-STYLE BAR
Santa Monica Place
315 Colorado Avenue
Santa Monica, CA  90401

– Kathy Ng Hassan

Edgy. Premium. Feminine.
I was pleasantly surprised by this new denim collection.  Her jeans have an edgy touch: Metallic Brush Jeans (metallic paint accents) and Print Jeans (wild paint-overlaid urban camouflage “Wally” and Rocker-friendly “Scribble”).  Check out the Classic Tory and Modern Straight Leg Kaihara Jeans.  As you may know, Kaihara is a leading producer of Japanese denim, known worldwide for its innovation and quality.  All jeans in the Tory Burch denim collection have a feminine silhouette, including the “Tomboy” jean, a slim take on the Boyfriend jean craze.  So, yeah, the Tory Burch denim collection is worth checking out.

Bonus:  get your hands on a genuine pair of Tory Burch denim jeans with Free Shipping and Free Returns!

TORY BURCH DENIM ONLINE

– Kathy Ng Hassan

Whenever I hear about a new denim brand, my first reactions are to question the look, then the fit of the jeans.  Take STONE BLUE JEANS, for example.  I tried on the ”Jessie” Skinny Boot jean in a dark indigo shine wash (it’s sort of sparkly) and “Victoria” Straight Leg in a faded bleached out wash.  I will say, based only on these two jeans out of the entire collection, the wash and finishing techniques are excellent.  I came to realize why the finishes were so good, only after I had tried on the jeans and judged them by their own merits without any additional information that would’ve tainted my opinions.  The masterminds behind Stone Blue Jeans apparently spent over a decade honing their skills on other denim labels before going off on their own to launch Stone Blue. 

STONE BLUE JEANS 'Jessie' Skinny Boot. Photo: Stone Blue Jeans.

Both jeans fit me well and have a slimming effect on the figure.  The “Jessie” Skinny Boot is an innovative cut to have in your denim closet while the “Victoria” offers vintage inspired finish and wash options.  Conclusion: I like them.  Francine (Denim Therapy Founder) likes them.  So, check ‘em out once the entire collection hits retailers near you this fall.

STONE BLUE JEANS ONLINE 

– Kathy Ng Hassan

Paige Premium Denim Super-Tanzania. Photo: Paige PR.

Unlike its current denim shorts in the Tanzania wash, Paige Premium Denim has kicked it up a notch with the Super-Tanzania wash: a super stretch jean which comes in the Verdugo Jegging and the Curson Cargo (coming September).  The jegging comes without the trademark waistband lining, for added flexibility.  Cargo skinny jeans are super hot right now, so if you dare to go military-camouflage crazy, then this is the jean for you.  Note: the Super-Tanzania wash is not currently listed on the Web site.  Contact your local store or retailer for pre-orders.

SHOP PAIGE PREMIUM DENIM

– Kathy Ng Hassan

Everything You Need to Know About Tweed. Photo: Esquire: The Style Blog.

Everything You Need to Know About Velvet. Photo: Esquire: The Style Blog.

If you are not already familiar with Esquire Magazine’s “The Style Blog,” which provides style tips, one-line shopping rants and various other sartorial inspirations for men, then you should check out its series, “Everything You Need to Know About…”  The most recent blogs are mainly how to wear Tweed, Velvet and other fall-friendly jackets, paired with some solid denim jeans and smart footwear.  I like the fact that they find a balance between style, simplicity and sartorial intrigue, all while avoiding getting a ticket to ride on the train to “Liberaceville,” as the editors often point out so poignantly.

ESQUIRE: THE STYLE BLOG 

– Kathy Ng Hassan

Rock & Republic color twill jeans. Photo: Esquire Style.

Citizens of Humanity Sid denim and twill "hybrid" jean in Suntan. Photo: Esquire Style.

Thanks to some quick Twitpic work from the folks at ESQUIRE Style, we have the first look of what to look forward to from Rock & Republic and Citizens of Humanity.  As a recovering proto-Emo girl, I actually welcome the taste of color in my denim wardrobe.  What’s new: toned down twill jeans in yummy colors, from Rock & Republic (who are known for their loud jeans).  For Citizens of Humanity, earth tones meets alternative weaving technology: a denim and twill blend version of their “Sid” jean, in an ombré-like ”Suntan” wash, pictured above.

– Kathy Ng Hassan

Juxtapose jeans by GLUE JEANS. Images via TrendLand.

Juxtapose overcoat by GLUE JEANS. Images via TrendLand.

Is it art or is it fashion?  Sometimes, the two forms of creative expression are meld into one.  In this case, GLUE DENIM has furthered their cause with their latest Juxtapose collection.  With a series of meticulously glued-on jackets, coats and jeans, one might say these threads look quite wearable. See those seam lines?  They are actually colored glue lines.

Just two years young, the brand has reportedly won awards and received accolades for their inventive use of seam glue and techniques for piecing together denim.  I just wonder how they stand up to wash in the hot cycle.

Available at DROOG NY

– Kathy Ng Hassan