'Over the Edge'

Over-the-knee or over-the-edge?

Pre-fall collections have already hit major department stores like Barney’s and Saks Fifth Avenue, prodding its dedicated clientele to spend on the best Fall-Winter ’09 pieces of the season. Investment buying, as we like to call it in the fashion industry, is one sure way to beat the recession blues and jumpstart the flagging economy.

Hottest investment buy: Over-the-knee boots.

First spotted on the spring catwalks of Givenchy, Preen and Rodarte, a variety of thigh-high flats, wedges, stilettos and platforms are now taking up most pre-orders on fall merchandise.

Style icons like Kate Moss, Rihanna, Blake Lively and Hilary Duff sported pairs last winter, wooing fans who once associated the style with the same profession as Julia Robert’s character in Pretty Woman (let’s just say that Roberts was ‘no saint’ in the film).

Designers like Chloë and Stella McCartney have perfected the over-the-knee boot, creating a sleeker version that rivals the aggressive vinyl look of thigh-high boots from yester years. These over-the-knee boots act as a second skin – made of taught leather and with light ruching at the sides for ease.

The shoe adds length to the mini-dress silhouette, looking its best when paired with monochromatic leggings or pants. No longer do you have to be built tall and slender in order to pull off this season’s must-have shoe.

Want to get your hands on a pair? Look for out for these popular styles:

A bit of a wedge. This Pour la Victoire boot looks like a typical riding boot, but has slight wedge heel and two wraparound straps at the ankle and knee. Comes cool gray and black colors. Slips on easily – important when it comes to being effortlessly chic.

The classic over-the-knee boots gets a major makeover. Can’t be afraid of heights if you want to pull off this Colin Stuart 4 3/4-inch heel. This daring platform boot matches suede with leather in a combination that is sure to turn heads.

Talk about having a second skin. This Brian Atwood shoe comes in stretch suede that is as soft as rolling around in a bed of Egyptian cotton. The boot may be just as high as the Colin Stuart, but with a boot as snug as this, I promise you won’t even know it’s there.

Never mind designers going over-the edge. I’ve fallen head-over-heels in love.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of www.batchplease.com, shopbop.com, victoriassecrets.com and saksfifthave.com

'Lap of Luxury'

“How about tea at the Biltmore Hotel?” my boyfriend asked.

The grandiose Biltmore Hotel, with its 93-foot Giralda tower, stood out in my memory while driving past the upper-crust Coral Gables section of Miami as a teenager with my father and cousin.

After a three-year hiatus, I would be returning to Miami to spend a few days in South Beach and to visit my Cuban family and friends. But being that a stop to the coastal city would be a first for my boyfriend, I wanted both of us to experience all new sights and sounds in my little Cuba.

I considered my boyfriend’s request.

The only resort in South Florida recognized as a National Historic Landmark, the Biltmore Hotel boasts the largest 23,000-square foot hotel swimming pool in all the continental United States.

The Biltmore Hotel tops the history books with its legendary cast of characters: Judy Garland, Ginger Rogers, Bing Crosby, Al Capone and President Franklin D. Roosevelt were all frequent guests. Hollywood’s original ‘Tarzan,’ Johnny Weissmuller, broke a few world records at the pool during his days as a swimming instructor there.

The Biltmore Hotel was built in the 1920’s during the peak of the Florida land boom by the same great architects that designed New York City’s Grand Central Terminal, Leonard Schultze and S. Fullerton Weaver. Their designs drew inspiration from Mediterranean architecture – a fusion of Italian, Moorish and Spanish tastes.

During galas hosted at the hotel, guests would dance on the polished terrazzo floor underneath vaulted ceilings with hand-painted frescos. Guests could sit it out on their own balcony or room – one of 400 rooms in the hotel. The many aquatic shows allowed guests to watch synchronized swimmers, bathing beauties and divers leap from an 85-foot high platform.

The hotel was considered an American Riviera resort of sorts, the jewel of Coral Gables, a ‘center of sports and fashion.’ More than 75 years later, guests can still sit on the lap of luxury in the historic Biltmore hotel.

The arched driveway and 93-foot Giralda tower, modeled after the one in Seville, Spain, greets visitors before entering the rich mahogany-furnished lobby. The travertine floors and hand-painted ceilings remain. The immaculate courtyard and fountain are not far from the 18-hole golf course, also restored to its former glory.

I thought of the Vanderbilts, the Roosevelts and my favorite Hollywood heroines like Judy Garland. I imagined how I might channel some of that old 30’s Hollywood glamour while delicately dipping a Madeleine into my tea, listening to a string quartet play lightly out on the terrazzo.

“Yes,” I told my boyfriend. “The Biltmore sounds perfect.”

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of Biltmore Hotel

'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

'A Little Hospitality'

Southerners might be known for their hospitality. After adding a few decorative touches to the guest room, you will be too.

Thin, crisp summery mats not only complete the look of a room, but keep the ground cool underfoot. When temperatures start to dip, just roll it up and replace with the cushy winter rugs. A whimsy print in and teal or lime by Koko Company ($60-$90) are extremely versatile.

When was the last time you changed the pillows on the guest bed? Do you leave the guest room for last when it comes to changing the décor? No more bland pillows in foreboding colors. Allow guests to relax after a long trip with this lasting pillow in a mosaic pattern, floral, or multi-stripe ($14.99-$19.99) at Décor Innovation.

On a similar note, a please-all bedspread in a neutral pattern might lack personality if your décor is less French country and more neoclassic. Isn’t it important that they be comfortable and have a memorable stay? An exotic animal print is guaranteed to remind your guests of their gracious and adventurous host. This cheetah bed cover set ($119.99), complete with the duvet, sham and pillow cover, is made of 100 percent microplush fabric – which is softer than regular fleece and other fabrics.

A must-have for any guest room, a clear Plexiglass rack ($89) will hold up your guests’ luggage. Unlike its metal version, the clear legs of this rack are more luxurious and just as practical.

Just like coffee tables make a great to keep picture books for guests to rifle through, so do nightstands. For the overnighters or troubled sleepers, Furnish Furniture and Interior Design for the 21^st Century takes a look at masterful works of arts that are reinventing the interior design industry. Very Vintage: The Guide to Vintage Patterns and Clothing (left) includes not only photographs of iconic vintage fashions, but previously unpublished sketches.

Lights out! A blackout tie-up curtain shade in colors like royal blue, sage and turquoise ($34.99) will do the trick. The tie-up creates ruches in the center, softly draping at the sides. And it makes sure your guests get the best rest by blocking out unwanted noise and sunlight.

Who needs Southern hospitality when there’s a host like you!

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of pillowsandthrows.com and decorinnovation.com