Fashion Week: Style it with a black shirt.

I love to notice styling ideas and trends at fashion-week as much as I love seeing great design. This is nothing particularly revolutionary and new, but I thought it warranted a post, none-the less. Wearing a tight long sleeve black shirt under a dress in winter. I especially like it when the shirt is knit, but very sheer, and when the dress is silky and even a little spring-like. What a fabulous way to make your favorite spring dresses winterized. And it is also a great way to tone down evening dresses to daywear, fancy dresses to bar-wear, and sexy dresses to in-law-wear.

My favorite application of this look was at BCBG Max Azria. The shirts were perfectly fitted, just the right amount of sheer, and I loved when he put a flowey silky boldly printed strapless over the shirt. Add a chunky leather belt at the waist, and I'm in heaven.

Basically, this is the equivalent of opaque black tights, but for the arms. And it's especially good when you are cold, but don't want to hide the dress under a jacket or sweater. Now, you could also wear black opaque tights with this look, but I prefer if you vary up the degree of density and texture. At Vena Cava, they used a very opaque black turtleneck, but paired it with black fishnets. perfect. It really is always about showing just the right amount of skin.

Now, because I am a stylist, and my job is to source stuff, I found for you this American Apparel long sleeve shirt.

In the picture above from left to right: BCBG Max Azria, Zac Posen, Helmut Lang, Vena Cava (all taken from Style.com)