Razzle Dazzle At Ann Taylor

I stopped shopping Ann Taylor when I no longer looked for corporate suits in the mall. But the specialty store chain has undergone a massive makeover over the past year to become more stylish, beyond chic, sophisticated and more on trend. I recently attended a preview for their fall 2010 collection at the swank ACE hotel and was completely dazzled by the clothing chain's smartly tailored, well-made modern pieces that was infused with romantic sensibilities and old-world charm.

While scoping out the fashion crowd and celebrities like Rachel Blison and Mad Men's Christina Hendricks, my heart skipped a beat when I noticed all the beautiful accessories. The opulent pieces included eye-popping Swarovski crystal necklaces, grosgrain ribbon and rhinestone pendants, beaded cocktail rings, leopard print pumps, vintage-inspired booties.

I particularly loved the way the gorgeous pieces were displayed. The accessories were lovingly placed on books and glass cake trays, two of my favorite things.

All of the accessories will complement Ann Taylor's brilliant fall collection. The look celebrate the one-year style anniversary under the direction of head designer Lisa Axelson. Ann Taylor's fall looks includes sleek pencil skirts, classic jackets and feminine dresses in black, neutrals and leopard prints.

Even this sweet puppy got his paws on some jewels. Doesn't he look fabulous?

As a parting gift, Ann Taylor gave guests their own chunky sparkler. It will add a nice playful element to many looks, especially my LBD's and boyfriend tees.

I'm so happy to see Ann Taylor coming back to life. They have always catered to the hard working woman, but they have been hard at work softening their look and making it more appealing to everyone. What do you think of their new accessories. Any that caught your eye? Let me know in the comments.

Meet The New Ann Taylor

Ann is HOT!!!!

Ann Taylor unveiled its new fall/holiday 2009 collection last night at the New York Public Library and the show, “See Now, Wear Now”, was a true transformation of the brand that evoked images of tailored clothing for the soccer moms to the new, modern Ann.

When I moved to Washington, D.C. to work at The New York Times after college sixteen years ago, I hit up the Ann Taylor store at Crystal City mall in northern Virginia and bought a whole bevy of “I’m now a working woman” power suits, pants and jackets. I think I looked like every young woman marching to work.

So when my friend Kristin told me about this fashion show, I was skeptical. After all, while my taste in clothing has become more current, Ann has remained the same.

Clearly I was wrong.

For her debut collection, designer Lisa Axelson created chic, cosmopolitan pieces infused with Ann Taylor’s spirited personality. Fashionable and sophisticated looks are crafted in luscious cashmere, luxurious silks and innovative stretch wool. The result is a vibrant, feminine collection that exudes confidence and beauty.

“Ann Taylor is such an iconic brand, we wanted to represent Ann’s heritage while defining a new modern femininity,” Lisa Axelson said. “By creating pieces that transcend the typical boundaries between the boardroom, weekend and nightlife wardrobe, we were able to put together a stylish collection with a whole lot of personalty and versatility.”

Ann Taylor held it's first live fashion show during New York's Fashion Week:

While there are still plenty of safe wardrobing options for work, Ann Taylor created clothing I really love again. They were chic, smart and oh-so versatile. The pants looked more fitted and had stretch lining and the knits were especially beautiful and timeless. I especially loved the black sheath dress with exposed front zipper and the cropped jacket with three-quarter sleeves for it’s vintage appeal.

The oversized sparkling jewelry, the “power sandals” with attached pom poms and feathers as well as the brightly-hued belts took the clothes up a fashion notch.

The night fell on the last day of New York’s Fashion week and brought out the who’s who of the fashion elite like Glamour’s Cindi Leive, Harper’s Bazaar’s Glenda Bailey, Allure’s Linda Well and Elle’s Joe Zee as well as stars including “Ugly Betty’s” Vanessa Williams, Mena Suvari and “Gossip Girl’s” Kelly Rutherford.

Gossip Girl's Kelly Rutherford at the Ann Taylor fashion show:

Ann Taylor hit it out of the ballpark with this fabulous fall/holiday collection. But the two best parts about it are: the looks are available right now at the stores and they are very affordable. Nice. I just love the instant gratification after such a tremendous show.