'Now You See It'

Call it sheer madness.

At designers’ shows like Valentino, the haute couture collection was an explosion of see-through black lace, ruffles and beading. Roberto Cavalli featured a brooding cast of male models sporting gauzy tanks in pastel colors with perforated leather pants.

Celebrities have caught on, with Transformer’s Megan Fox slipping into a sheer black dress for an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman in June. Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester bared all in a slinky jumpsuit at a July 28 Katie Perry concert in New York. Harry Potter’s rising fashion star, Emma Watson (the new face of Burberry), chose to show some skin in a geometric party dress while on another appearance last month.

Without being offensive or vulgar, sheer garments act as a filter – hiding what you don’t want others to see and revealing what you do. It’s the easiest way to elevate your look, turning the volume up from flirty to sexy.

Plus, sheer is a look that not only works on all body types, but in the home too (as long as the fit and styling are executed well).

Fresh and light, voile curtains are synonymous with summer décor. The curtains fall gracefully, whisking the floor with the slightest wind. They provide coverage, but still allow light to pour into a room. Affordable ($12.99), machine washable and requires little to no styling. In my home, black embroidered voile hanging from valences draw contrast to my sheer curtains.

A glass top coffee table adds instant glamour. The same way mirrors open a small space, a glass table pretends to take up even less room! This Huron coffee table ($515) is a statement piece with the innovative design of its black base and glass top.

This sheer leopard print ($88) by Patterson J. Kincaid recently made it to my own wardrobe for its slinky cut and seemingly casual style. With its longer hem and fullness in the back, the Henley appears to float as you walk. Works best with longer pants or leggings at the bottom, but if long enough, can also be combined with mini-skirts and cut-offs.

Call it whatever you want. Sheer is what’s hot this summer.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of justjared.buzznet.com; allcoffeetables.com; bloomingdales.com

'Fashion, furniture and the future'

Italy’s most sought after fashion designers transformed their vitrines and store spaces into cutting edge exhibits showcasing the newest in furniture and lighting for the Salone Internazionale del Mobile last week in Milan.

The streets, it seemed, caught trade show fever too – with Via Montenapoleone the site of large lanterns decorated with the word “Emozione” looming over visitors’ heads.

Open to the entire public, the 48th annual Salone Internazionale del Mobile is the largest of its kind. Please note: Victorian lamps and neoclassic chairs you won’t find here. The Salone prides itself on “innovation and creativity,” in addition to discovering young, fresh talent.

The event attracted more than 500,000 to high-end stores like Giorgio Armani, Moschino, Versace and Blumarine. Designers like Roberto Cavalli teamed up with the German-based Windfall to spice up their store space with tinkling chandeliers.

Participants all reported the highest spike in both furniture and clothing sales of all year.

It may have been all business and receptions for designers at the six-day show, which ended yesterday. But for enthusiasts with a penchant for innovation and style, the event serves as a springboard for future fashion and design trends.

My personal favorites first:

For a burst of color, Blumarine(above left) chose plastic fuschia chairs by design firm Kartell to accompany its own floral-laced table linens and dishwares. Missoni (below right) presented a backdrop of cacti in acid green and purple with bean-shaped chaises and side tables in similar colors. Striped curtains in complimentary colors were the finishing Missoni touch, a brand which is known for its funky knitwear.

Unlike the Versace fashion label, the Versace home line is flourishing – up 9.3 percent in sales from last year, according to WWD. A look at its mobile display explains why. Resembling a dentist’s chair of the future, Versace constructed the chaise out of crystal and then upholstered it in silk and leather. The CEO told the publication that the Versace house is always experimenting. It is in fact the first such label, said the CEO, to use titanium and ceramic for its designs.

No other label than the urban cool Diesel could have printed its linen lamps with amp switches for its design. The rock-infused collection also starred vintage treated chairs and tables, studded linens and furniture made to look like a musician’s traveling instrument case.

What to expect:

With the thrust of the Salone on new contemporary design, there may be a few things in store for us next season.

Think proportion and shape as Normann Copenhagen and Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec manipulated foam, stitching and tufting foam material to create the “Memory Chair” and “Quilt” chair (below right), respectively.

Don’t be surprised to find the latest tables and kitchen accessories crafted from such materials as stone, enamel, veneer and crystal. I personally liked Tom Dixon’s spinning plate tables and a Francesca Madera chair pieced from leather and newsprinted hemp.

It’s enough to make anyone think outside of the box.

- S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of WWD and http://trends.voyce.com