Mothers and daughters were never so opposed as in this episode. Look at how different, and yet how similar, these two are. | Photo via AMC.

This week’s episode of Mad Men explored the relationships between parents and daughters and the inevitable conflicts that arise when the daughters grow up.  The episode was on point and right on time—it was time that Sally finally put on her big girl shoes, it was time we met Megan’s elusive parents, and it was definitely time Peggy and her mother finally had it out.

Sally had a stunning, albeit brief, Cinderella moment this episode. | Photo via AMC.

Sally Draper has undergone major character development in Mad Men‘s most recent seasons. As the child of the dysfunctional marriage of two extremely dysfunctional people, Sally was destined to have a difficult time growing up.

Sally has managed her circumstances admirably with the help of her wise therapist (who saw that her mother was the one who needed the most help), learning to prioritize her frustrations and define herself as an individual. Sally carries the coldness of her mother and the smooth manipulativeness of her father within her—she’s able to spin a situation or shut an enemy down at the drop of a hat (see how she stole five dollars from her grandfather and blamed it on the maid a few seasons back, or how she subtly blamed baby Gene’s toys for Pauline’s fall in this episode).

We’ve seen her growing exponentially over the course of this season, and in this episode we finally saw the “a-ha!” moment; Sally is now a young woman, not a little girl. As she glided into the room, graceful and confident in her adorable and completely 60′s-fabulous getup consisting of a glittery halter top, miniskirt, bouffant, eyeliner, and white go-go boots for her daddy’s big awards dinner, she was never more different than the innocent Sally of season one, with her cupcake dresses and pin curls. Of course, this was no fairy tale, and there was no time wasted between her time as a child and her new identity as a sexual object in the 1960′s. “Soon your daughter will spread her legs and fly away,” Megan’s father Emile said, in a line as biting and terribly funny as the show has ever had.

Sally’s Cinderella moment was, as predicted, sundered quickly and shockingly, when she unwittingly walks in on exactly the type of behavior that Emile sneeringly warned of. Sally returns silently to her chair and eats the fish that she refused as a child. She is a woman now, and does what is expected of her, even when it does not go down easily.

The Calvet family dynamic is, appropriately, devastatingly academic and very, very French. Despite the fact that they are Canadian, the Calvets are continental and fabulous in a way that no one else on Mad Men is. Marie enters the room dressed in head-to-toe magenta with a matching hat and chunky gold jewelry (a bold ensemble even today), then changes for dinner at home in a chic little black dress worthy of Audrey Hepburn. She falls asleep with a lit cigarette in her hand and her shoes on in a wine-induced haze. Her husband Emile is every inch an academic, with quirky little round black frames and tweedy plaids.

Marie and Emile Calvet’s marriage is crumbling and sarcastic, all romance and passion gone, and they take their frustrations out on one another using sex, alcohol, and money. Marie’s dress at the awards dinner (black with a low neckline, sheer netting, and a bold jeweled neck piece) is the height of style, but extremely risque for the time, signifying both her wealth and her reliance on her sexuality as a tool. The tension between Megan and her parents is clear throughout the episode, not only in dialogue (“You’ve changed,” her father tells her) but in apparel. When Marie is in pink, Megan is dressed in green, opposite each other on the color wheel. At the ball, Megan wears a gorgeous and modest coral, while Marie wears daring black. Megan is on her game the entire episode, showing that she is not only a gifted professional, but that she and Don make an excellent team. “Some things never change” is a brilliant tagline, and, not coincidentally, echo the themes of the episode perfectly—family tension will never change.  Her outfits often coordinate with Don and their apartment , but always clash with her parents. They don’t like that their daughter is gifted and happy at what she does, a fact which brings them all down.

Busy patterns clash in this tense relationship. | Photo via AMC.

Peggy’s life has reached a satisfying stability, both personally and professionally. As Abe and Peggy sit together in the office in subtly coordinating outfits (grey, high collars, slashes of red) we know that they are a good match—he likes her for who she is, and respects her role as a modern professional woman.

Joan smartly advises her that Abe may propose when he insists upon dinner at seven one night, and Peggy falls into an old-fashioned tizzy. She goes out and buys the most obviously feminine outfit in the world, a hot pink cupcake of a dress (take note, Pegs: pink is not your color) but, lo and behold, Abe’s request is much more modern than all that. Peggy hesitates, her traditional Catholic upbringing weighing on her, but accepts and is overjoyed when she gets Joan’s honest (and heart-warming) approval.

All is not well, though—Peggy decides to tell her mother, and it does not go smoothly. She dresses in her most traditional 50′s silhouette, but still clashes with her mother, their busy patterns fighting one another. Katherine Olsen is horrified by the news, taking away the delicate cheesecake she brought (“I’m not giving you a cake for living in sin!”) and suggests that Peggy should have let her live in ignorance. Projecting her own loneliness on her daughter, she says “You’re lonely? Get a cat. They live thirteen years, and then you get another one, and then you get another one, and then you’re done.” Of course this was not going to go well. Peggy needed to finally hear her mother’s disapproval after years of tacit silence. They needed to have it out. Peggy’s all grown up now, however, and her mother’s disapproval can’t change her mind now.

The ladies of Mad Men are all doing all right for themselves, forging their own personal and professional identities and celebrating their earned successes, but there is no success without some force pulling them back. In this episode, that force came in the forms of mothers and fathers. We saw hints of true sisterhood among them this week, real steps forward, but the creators of Mad Men know that there will always be a struggle for these women, some insurmountable test for them to defeat.

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Layering different weights of fabrics not only looks great, but gives warmth and versatility to an outfit. Photo courtesy of theonlyfashionprincess via chictopia.com

1. Layer Up!

Layering is never more important (or fun!) than during the transitional seasons. Donning multiple garments will serve as protection from the elements, but also allow for cooling off when a random heat wave comes through. Start with a simple foundation: a slip dress, jeans and a tee, or a simple blouse. Then add a warm layer with a sweater or scarf (they haven’t exhausted their use quite yet). Adding a light jacket further insulates the outfit without sacrificing style or versatility; the Quad recommends denim or utility jackets for a perfect amount of warmth and light weight. Accessorize with tights, jewelry, and some killer shoes, and hit the town.

2. On your feet

Deciding what shoes to wear is tricky when the weather is so unsure. Rain could hit at any time, but a sudden burst of warmth is equally likely. Now is the time to retire fuzzy and suede options (although suede is having a moment right now–reserve that skin for positively sunny days, or protect them with a waterproofing spray) and opt for more versatile fare. Don’t jump the gun, however, and spring right for sandals, since it’s still a bit too cold for them. This is a perfect time to get the last bit of use out of the booties and other closed-toe options available: oxfords, lace-up ankle boots, cool kicks, and pumps are just right this time of year, because they protect the foot from wetness while avoiding suffocating your legs in excessive warmth.

Layer springy pastels up to stay warm and seasonal. Photo courtesy of stefaniekuncman via chictopia.com

3. Indulge in spring colors

It might be too cold now to wear the springy sundresses that April and May evoke in memories, but that’s no reason to sacrifice seasonal fashion. Pastels like mint and lavender are incredibly hot right now, and many stores are stocking them in a variety of cuts and fabrics. Florals, another spring staple, are also quite versatile, and look just as good layered with warmer fabrics as they do with bare skin. Why not don a piece in a striking pastel and layer it up with a leather or utility jacket? Or pairing a floral sundress with a nubby sweater? Celebrating the season is not limited to those beautiful breezy days.

Ideal weather is hopefully right around the corner, but as long as nature continues to be fickle, following these tips for transitional dressing will preserve warmth and comfort while celebrating the season.

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Yes, this week’s episode was chock full of trips—physical, metaphorical, and psychedelic. The characters moved from place to place, in and out of reality, and in and out of themselves. As Jane Sterling’s therapist urged, each of the characters experienced “living together in the truth,” although this new-found truth was only positive for some. We saw glimpses of these characters’ hearts this week, and some of what we saw was bleak and horrifying. This was one of the finest episodes that the show has produced in a long while, with incredibly on-point writing, unique art direction, and of course, truly fabulous styling.

Peggy's siesta in this episode was a clear throwback to Don's nap in the show's pilot episode, both in framing and in apparel. Screenshot by Sharon Weissburg.

This episode, more clearly than ever before, shows that Peggy has evolved into Donald Draper, 2.o. She is high-functioning in the office–brilliant and talented the way Don is–and all over the place at home, lashing out at her well-meaning boyfriend and doling out sexual favors to strangers in darkened movie theaters. In a meeting with an unresponsive client, after giving a gorgeously written and emotional pitch, she looks the client dead in the face and tells him off for his dullness. “Do you know how often people come in here and look at work and feel something? Almost never. You have to run with this. It’s young, and it’s beautiful, and no one else is gonna figure out how to say that about beans.” It’s a spellbinding scene, a dose of Don brilliance in the vein of his “I’m not here to tell you about Jesus” moment in season 1, but because Peggy is a woman, it doesn’t go over well with the client. Peggy is up against a whole other set of obstacles (her gender and youth being the foremost examples) that reduce her to a haughty little girl in the eyes of her clients. She exits the meeting and takes a nap on her office couch in a shot clearly referencing the show’s pilot, in which Don falls asleep on his couch, awash in his own mind. She runs off to a dark movie theater, as Don was likely to do back in the day, and has a drug-hazy sexual encounter with a stranger. This is a shocking act for Peggy that only serves to draw an even more defined connection between her and Don. She is dressed sharply and masculinely in a beige, black. and white ensemble with clean square lines—a costume choice that recalls men’s suiting and especially Don’s particular smoothness.

The episode then shifts to Roger Sterling’s marriage, which is deteriorating faster than we can keep track. Jane, dressed in one of the most fabulous outfits the show has ever seen (an I Dream of Jeannie-inspired white pantsuit with cutouts, plentiful diamonds, and big hair) takes him to a dinner party that quickly becomes an LSD trip. Their trip is brilliantly photographed, with subtle special effects that thankfully avoid any technicolor cliches. They discover that both of them know that their marriage is over. Roger wakes up happy and relieved, quickly ending the marriage with his shocked and unsuspecting wife.

Jane and Roger went on a real trip--dressed fabulously, of course. Look at those earrings! Photo via AMC.

Perhaps the episode’s most disturbing plot line, however, concerned Don and Megan and their trip upstate to Howard Johnson’s. Megan’s mind is clearly at the office with Peggy, where her work is being presented, but Don is still deep within his honeymoon mindset and whisks her away on a road trip for orange sherbet and one big, messy fight. Megan’s coral and white ensemble, which she has worn before on the show, clashes unpleasantly with Howard Johnson’s bright orange, showing her discomfort in her setting. Megan’s biting retort to Don’s embarrassed lash-out (“Why don’t you call your mother?”) provokes a typically Don reaction, and he drives away, leaving Megan alone to fend for herself. It seems as though Don’s new happy-go-lucky persona is not bone-deep. After frantically waiting for her upon his sheepish return, Don returns home to a locked door and a furious Megan. What follows is a disturbing scene: Don kicks the door in and chases Megan around the apartment at a dead sprint, destroying their possessions and knocking her down in a tackle before apologizing. Both Don and Megan are dressed starkly, in dark darks and white whites. The lines between them are drawn; the truth is clear. Don’s demons are still alive and well, and may be even worse than we thought. He struggles against them, reconciling the fight with Megan, but it’s clear that the honeymoon is over. When Bert Cooper berates Don for his poor performance as of late, we see just how far Don has fallen on a professional level. The entire office passes by him, alone in the glass-windowed conference room, Megan and the creative team walking one way and Peggy walking the other. Is Don’s way of things becoming outdated? What does this mean for SCDP?

And where the heck is Betty this season?

Megan's coral clashes with Don's orange in this tense scene. Photo via AMC.

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Joan and Peggy fit right in at SCDP. | Photo from AMC.

Megan’s continuing understanding of Don and how to influence him, Trudy’s persistent harping on Don, Joan’s rediscovered power and independence in the office, Peggy’s savvy with Ken–all the show’s women experienced a bit of power in this episode.

Empowerment was visible not only in their demeanors but also in their wardrobes–often, the women were dressed to look harmonious with their surroundings, a technique that costumer Janie Bryant has been known to use to indicate the relationships among characters. In the office, Joan and Peggy’s outfits’ color schemes pick up and echo the turquoise and gold tones of the SCDP offices. At the Campbell house, Trudy, Megan, and Ken’s new wife Cynthia are all dressed in warm colors that mirror the home’s interior.

Of course, attention is paid to the individual women’s styles, with Megan dressed in the latest groovy fashions, Cynthia in a sprightly yellow shift, and Trudy in a slightly out-of-style but cheerful early 60s floral with a full skirt. These women fit in where they are and hold the power in their positions, whether that is in the office or at home.

Warm colors and personal style abound in the Campbell kitchen. | Photo from AMC.

The men, however, were subject to all manner of humiliation and emasculation, chief among them Pete Campbell, who experienced these feelings not only professionally, but also socially and within his own family. He is incompetent at home (for example, Don’s Superman-like fixing of the kitchen sink while Pete fumbles for unfamiliar tools), floundering in the office (even culminating in an intensely satisfying exchange of blows in the conference room with Lane Pryce), and only successful at seducing a prostitute, rather than the teen beauty he obsesses over. He is far from the young, snarky ad rookie we met in Season 1 in his narrow blue suits and lightness of foot. Pete Campbell is visibly aged, his hairline thinning and his waist expanding. He is costumed fashionably (Pete has always had style) but his clothes are unflattering and not very masculine; we see him wearing pastels and clashing colors in sloppy, loose fits.

Pete is dressed in un-masculine colors and unflattering fits to highlight his aging and emasculation. | Photo from AMC.

The other men (Don, Ken, Roger, Lane) all experienced some cutting down. Don, unbelievably the happiest person on the show now, is cut down to size by his new wife who understands him better than Betty ever could–a fact that was not Betty’s fault, per se–but Don grows from it, maintaining his potency and passing on his new self-knowledge to Pete, who seems to be attempting a Don-like existence. Don is dressed attractively and in the now quite popular plaid sport jackets, but we see his real power when he whips his shirt off and fixes the sink in his white tee, recalling when Francine and Betty used to watch him fix up the house and sigh, “that man.”

Ken Cosgrove’s ambitions of becoming a great writer are cut down by Roger and Pete when he reveals that they sometimes interfere with his work, to which he responds by not-so-subtly painting an invective-filled picture of the two in the final moments of the episode. He is dressed, like each of the men in the episode, to clash with his surroundings in a brilliant blue plaid. Lane experiences disappointment when his foray into accounts fails because of Pete’s indiscretion (“there was chewing gum on his pubics!” remains one of the funniest lines the show’s ever had), but quickly regains his power when he beats the stuffing out of Pete Campbell, giving the audience a moment for which they have waited for five seasons. This triumph, however, is again diminished when Joan quietly shoots him down. Lane’s stuffy British tweeds and touches of red in this episode highlight how out-of-place he is in this area of the SCDP work environment (all modern sleekness and blue tones). Lane retains his dignity, but experiences disappointment and emasculation the same as the rest of the men.

Lane's Saville Row tailoring and British reds clash with the modern SCDP offices. | Photo from AMC.

Not much has been done in this episode to advance the plot of the show, but it has accomplished a summing-up of many of the themes of the season. As the wide-eyed teen beauty of Pete’s dreams says, “Time feels like it’s speeding up.” This is very true of New York in the 60s, which declined rapidly from shining metropolis to filthy crime capital in the span of a few years–a process we are already seeing in the increase of violence and depravity discussed.

The idea of “every man for himself” is also being explored, with Pete’s betrayal, Peggy’s surprising alignment with Ken, and Roger’s marked departure from the activities of the company displaying themselves all too clearly. At a time when SCDP desperately needs cohesion, each character is focusing in on themselves. This episode gave us a clear view of where each character stands–or perhaps more appropriately, where they should stand, and the consequences of when they step outside of those lines.

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The episode opens up with the moment that was distinctly missing in last week’s installment: the reintroduction of Betty Francis nee`

Betty has changed a lot since we last saw her. Photo via AMC.

Draper nee` Hofstadt. The sight of the Betty we know and love (well, the Betty we have complicated feelings about, anyway) struggling unsuccessfully to pack herself into that shiny, paisley, purple monstrosity of a dress was absolutely gasp-worthy. This is the woman whose relationship with her own mother revolved almost entirely on appearance and weight. The woman who remembered the phrase “You’re going to get stout” above anything else her mother

Betty has taken a turn for the sad in this housecoat.

ever told her. The Betty who pranced around her sparkling modern home in kicky little outfits— spouting cruelty and charm in equal measure—is no longer. She now sits in the dark luxuriousness of her ancient mansion (that house is an honest-to-blog castle, although its deep woods and high ceilings are not very cheery), eating junk food in her enormous pink housecoat. We are deliberately reminded of her long days at home in tattered maternity clothes, makeup-less and sad. Now, however, she has a devoted and supportive husband. When she receives the good news that the lump on her neck is benign and says, darkly, “Now we know I’m just fat,” it becomes clearer than ever that Betty is a woman who can not be happy with anything. As we watch her eat her daughter’s pudding in one of the uglier dresses we’ve ever seen on the show (ball fringe on the cuffs, cringe),  it’s striking how different she is now.

Megan is all kinds of hip in this kicky number. Photo via AMC.

Much of the rest of the episode’s styles serve as contrast to Betty’s physical changes. Immediately after the aforementioned dress-zipping scene, we see the new Mrs. Donald Draper zipping into her own dress with no trouble at all. What a dress it is—all swirling patterns, pleats, and bell sleeves. Megan’s heavy eye makeup, big hair, and gold jewelry are all very cutting edge, as are all of her outfits on the show. She is often shown in sunny colors and white, with ample exposed skin and fun silhouettes. She is easily the most stylish and daring of any character on the show. When she corrects an out-of-touch client that the title to a Rolling Stones song is “Time is on My Side,” the client simply responds, “Yes, it is, dear.” Her personality is equally distinct—who else could convince Don Draper to forget his bad mood and go to Fire Island? Megan may still be a mystery, but she is definitely unique.

This episode also introduced an element of the 60′s that can not be ignored: teenagers! The explosion of youth and youth culture has begun to display itself even within the world of SCDP as Don and Harry wade through a sea of hip young kids at a Rolling Stones concert, smoking joints and singing the praises of Mick and Keith. These are not the shirtless hippies of Woodstock (yet), but they bear artsy sensibilities and a distinct sense of rebellion. Don says squarely to one lime green miniskirt-wearing youngster that his generation is “worried” about hers. She promptly flees to jump onto her favorite rock star, screaming with excitement. This scene exemplified, definitively, the generational differences between Don’s generation and the baby boomers to come.

Perhaps the most intriguing development, however, came with the introduction of Michael Ginsberg—a hot shot new copywriter who is

These two are living parallels. Look at how their outfits subtly mirror one another! Photo via AMC.

in many ways similar to Peggy. He’s talented, strange, and comes from a traditional background. His work is provocative and smart, but he is ill at ease with his talent. We are, in almost every way, reminded of Peggy’s entrance into Sterling Cooper all those years ago. From the echoes of similar colors peppered through their outfits (note the red, white, and green in both of their ensembles), to Michael’s apartment at the end, which directly recalls Peggy’s mother’s apartment. They are equals in intellect and social status, a fact that puts them in personal and professional competition with one another. Could this be a potential Don/Peggy sort of relationship, nonsexual and built on mutual respect and trust? A bitter rivalry? Or could it be a budding romance? Only time will tell.

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A head-to-toe pastel look screams springtime on Comm Ave. | Photo by Sharon Weissburg.

Over the past few years, the term “street style” has evolved from a mostly irrelevant aspect of fashion into a major component of the style world. The advent of street style sites like Scott Shuman’s The Sartorialist and Tommy Ton’s Jak&Jill, featuring photographs of stylish pedestrians in New York and sometimes Paris, London, and Milan, have legitimized and popularized this idea to an astonishing degree. These sites have inspired countless similar movements worldwide, from Stockholm to Moscow to Tokyo and everywhere in between. The

Check out this girl's rad style! Deep arm holes, pops of red, and a great bike… early summer perfection! | Photo by Sharon Weissburg.

phenomenon continues to touch new places, documenting the styles of the day and featuring the creativity of local residents.

Through these channels, fashion icons are made and celebrated; for example, Anna Dello Russo, editor at large of Vogue Nippon, is even more widely regarded for her everyday avant-garde fashion choices than she is for her work at Vogue. As each new street style revue emerges it becomes clear that style is everywhere, and that relevance in fashion does not always have to come directly from the runways.

What started as somewhat of an oddball site in 2005 with The Sartorialist has evolved into a fashion mainstay. Scott Shuman, the site’s creator, began taking photos of pedestrians with eye-catching style with the goal of inspiring people the same way that designers get inspired: by people on the street. This represents the culmination of a gradual

Cutoffs, mint green, and a big smile spotted on the BU Beach. | Photo by Sharon Weissburg

shift in trend osmosis over the years.

Fashion trends of the distant past filtered to the streets from the extremely wealthy, since debutantes and other high-society figures would dictate the styles of the day. In recent years, however, designers have become more and more inspired by street fashion, bringing that inspiration to the runways. The late Alexander McQueen was a prime example of this reversal, taking inspiration from the club kids of the 90s, football players, the grunge scene, and everything in between. Street style sites like The Sartorialist and Jak&Jill cement this link

Sometimes, a killer pair of shades and some headphones are all you need to make a stylish statement. | Photo by Sharon Weissburg.

between high fashion and everyday style in a way that is more legitimate and respected than ever before. These style-makers have been revered and employed by major magazines and corporations, including the monolith Conde Nast, as fashion correspondents. Furthermore, the popularity of street style sites has made the diffusion of trends between people faster and more dynamic than ever.

Lately, this same trend has been popping up around college campuses as well. Bloggers, often college students themselves, prowl campuses with cameras around their necks searching for inspiring outfits. These campus shutterbugs stop stylish passersby, ask to take their photo, and then post the images on their sites as a template of inspiration for others. This seems a natural development, as college students are both wildly active on the Internet and make up a large part of fashion’s audience. While some of these blogs are mostly street style, some blend in personal style photos (outfits of the day, etc.) into the mix, like Heather of Pocket Full of Fancy.

A lovely ensemble of neon and chambray at the GSU. | Photo by Sharon Weissburg

Using sites like Blogger, WordPress, and Tumblr, it’s never been easier to create a blog and showcase one’s style.

Fashion and street style blogging are especially suited to Boston University. As a city school full of avid social networkers and replete with personal style (Boston is, after all, a very stylish city), one need only walk out onto Commonwealth Avenue to find fashion inspiration. This past week, with the sudden introduction of springtime, students came out in full force, decked out in all of the latest spring 2012 trends (mint, bustier tops, full skirts, denim on denim, etc).  For many Terriers, Comm Ave is their runway, a fact that is and should be celebrated. Walking the streets of Boston could be the next Schumann or Ton—why not pick up a camera and see what fresh styles are prowling the streets?

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London's Mary Katrantzou is famous for her digital prints. Here, a dress inspired by a typewriter. Photo via style.com.

Though New York fashion week is undeniably fabulous (and there were some brilliant offerings from American designers this year), there’s nothing like it when those Europeans head to the runways. Since New York kicked off fashion season a few weeks back, London, Milan, and Paris have taken their turns, putting on shows that have ranged from tough to whimsical to downright strange. Across the board, there were continuations of many of last season’s trends (midi skirts, fur) with a few new ideas thrown into the mix (thigh-high slits, peplums). Here, highlights from each city.

In London, fashion takes on a whimsical and imaginative look that is unique among the major

Thom Browne's outlandish menswear caused a stir at London Fashion Week. Look at those shoulders! Photo via style.com.

fashion cities. While New York is all about trends, London is all about creativity. Riots of color stomp down the runway, replete with madcap details and extreme proportions. These characteristics do not exclude menswear, either: at Thom Browne, models sported extreme body padding and makeup, creating cartoonish proportions — not necessarily practical, but incredibly visually arresting. For the ladies, a clear frontrunner at London Fashion Week was perennial favorite Mary Katrantzou, who is famous for her digitally-created prints. This season was no exception, with vivid, boldly paired prints featuring vintage typewriters, bathtubs, and gardens sprawled across hourglass silhouettes and peplums galore. Definitely a whimsical week in London.

Prada is a perennial favorite. Here, a 70's-inspired print. Photo via style.com.

Milan Fashion Week is host to many sartorial greats; Valentino, Dolce & Gabanna, Gucci, and Prada. In Milan, the word of the day was “classic,” rendered in an incredibly fresh way. As usual, Miuccia Prada stunned and surprised with this season’s show, featuring prints that fell

somewhere between 1970′s wallpaper and robotic precision and shoes that seemed to spill over themselves. Prada has been a consistent favorite among Milan’s design houses for countless seasons for its ability to produce fresh and covetable pieces that never sacrifice that quintessential Italian quality. Meanwhile, at Dolce and Gabanna, Stefano and Domenico sent out a collection of jaw-dropping pieces both recalling their past season and introducing fresh elements. Lace, gold, religious iconography, hothouse florals, and sheerness (all D&G staples) were present in full force, but were done up in some truly original

A sheer look at Dolce & Gabanna. Photo via style.com

shapes, be they gowns or cocktail dresses. Milan was truly a display of masters at work this season.

And finally, Paris. Paris, the ultimate fashion mecca, chic beyond chic. The home of immortals like Chanel and Dior, the city of light. Paris shows this season were truly representative of that ideal, showcasing impeccable design, brilliant innovation, and a sense of true showmanship. Chanel was one truly impressive highlight. Mr. Lagerfeld, the brand’s long-time head designer,

was inspired by minerals this season, and displayed this inspiration stunningly in the show’s enormous crystalline set. Massive purple and transparent prisms shot out of the runway, creating a landscape reminiscent of Krypton. The fashion, however, was the real star. Riffing off of last season’s Indian inspiration, Lagerfeld took the  tunic-over-skinny-pants silhouette shown in that

Louis Vuitton had the standout show of Paris Fashion Week, with an actual train chugging onto the runway. Photo via style.com.

show and transformed it into something entirely new and distinctively French. Of course, Chanel signatures like tweed and camellias were all over the place, refined and elegant in shades of eggplant and forest green; a true fashion moment. At Louis Vuitton, however, showmanship took on new significance. Marc Jacobs, the brand’s creative director, stunned the crowd into silence by opening the show with an enormous Belle Epoque-era steam-powered train chugging onto the runway, chock full of impeccably dressed models. They paraded out one by one, each with a gorgeously chic bellhop carting their luxurious luggage behind them (watch it here). One would be hard-pressed to find a more fabulous presentation, but the clothes really did take center stage,

with beautifully structured coats, felt hats, and a warm color palette. Mad genius.

As fashion weeks round up, one is reminded of the possibilities of fashion. It can be solemn or fun, luxe or minimal, but it is always creative and cerebral when done by such masters. Only time will tell how these shows will influence quotidian fashion, but they have certainly imprinted themselves in our memories as great shows.

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1. Gwyneth Paltrow:

Gwyneth Paltrow was a vision in minimalist white by Zac Posen. Photo via tomandlorenzo.com.

Love her or hate her, Miss Paltrow really raised the bar on the red carpet. Her clean, simple, stark white Tom Ford gown, accessorized brilliantly with one cuff and a minimalist cape, was unusual and classic at the same time. With clean hair and makeup, Gwyneth was a minimalist vision. The cape worn over the gown during the pre-show has received some criticism for being so out-of-the-box, but this was no Jennifer Hudson snakeskin bolero situation–this was high elegance.

2. Emma Stone:

Emma Stone channeled old Hollywood glamour in this Giambattista Valli gown. Photo via tomandlorenzo.

The charming, hilarious redhead we all know and love from Superbad, Easy A, and The Help dazzled in a raspberry-colored stunner by Giambattista Valli. A simple column accented by a voluminous, impossibly fluffy bow at the neck set off Stone’s Titian coloring and moved beautifully with every step, including the goofy little dance she performed onstage while presenting alongside Ben Stiller. Stone paired the gown with a small jeweled box clutch, pared down hair, and low-key jewelry, letting the dress shine.

3. Jessica Chastain:

This black and gold McQueen number turned heads on "The Help" actress Jessica Chastain. Photo via tomandlorenzo.com

Known for being inconsistent with her choices on the red carpet, the Help actress proved her style chops in a black-and-gold number by Alexander McQueen with a nipped-waist and full, dramatic skirt. Chastain’s golden red hair was complemented by the gold in the dress, styled in a soft half-up do (a far cry from the stiff blonde wig she wore in The Help). A real red-carpet turnaround.

4. Stacy Keibler:

Stacy Keibler stunned in this liquid Marchesa number. Photo via tomandlorenzo.com

The actress, model, and former pro-wrestler had the attention and envy of everyone watching this year’s ceremony. Gliding atop the red carpet on the arm of George Clooney, nominated for his role in The Descendants, Keibler wore an absolutely stunning gown that walked the Marchesa runway just a few weeks ago. Sculptural and yet fluid, the metallic gold column flowed effortlessly over her body in a way that only a great gown can. Keibler was the embodiment of glamour and elegance in this creation. Expertly styled with subtle gold jewelry and soft hair,  Keibler wore with a supreme confidence that truly made the dress alive.

5. Viola Davis:

Viola Davis's brilliant green gown by Vera Wang was a pop of color in a sea of black, white, and navy. Photo via tomandlorenzo

The Best Actress nominee, clad in a brilliant green gown by Vera Wang and sporting a gorgeous short haircut, stunned red carpet spectators. While there were a few pops of color dotting the runway (Emma Stone, Natalie Portman), the overall palette was dominated by white, black, and navy. Davis’s gorgeous emerald certainly popped among this mostly homogeneous background. This was Viola’s night, and she wanted everyone to know it.

6. Octavia Spencer:

The adorable and gracious Octavia Spencer stunned in this Tadashi Shoji number. Photo via Tom and Lorenzo.

This Best Supporting Actress winner proved that simple elegance is never boring. In a sleek, glimmering column of opalescent white by Tadashi Shoji with a simple rounded neckline and opulent beading, Spencer projected beauty and elegance from every angle. And come on, how adorable was it when she tearfully said “I’m freaking out!” atop the winner’s podium?

7. Rooney Mara: 

Rooney Mara accentuated her striking looks with a Givenchy Couture creation that was as unusual as it was glamorous. Photo via tomandlorenzo.com

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo star has become a real red carpet presence in the last few months, turning out look after head turning look. Mara tends to favor architectural, stark silhouettes in one color, set off by her precise raven-dark bob and angular features. Mara’s Oscar gown was no different–a pearly white Givenchy creation that was part straight-jacket, part couture, worn with red lips and little else. Though certainly not wearing the most accessible gown of the evening, Mara was chic, head-turning, and mega-stylish.

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Boston's street style is chic, urban, and everywhere. Photo by Martini Severin.

Boston is metropolitan by any standard. It is diverse, full of culture, and never lacking in things to do. Why, then, has Boston been panned as unstylish? In 2011, GQ dubbed Boston number one in their list of “The 40 Worst-Dressed Cities in America”, citing the sloppy attire of college students (whom they dub “hoodie monsters”) and the propensity of outdated “prep” style as great fashion sins.

What nonsense! While every city is host to some sartorial sins, Boston is a city full of style and fashion, as demonstrated by the burgeoning local blogging community, rich street style, and the growth of such institutions as Boston Fashion Week in the city. One need only walk through Boston to see that its citizens are urbane, stylish, and au courant.

The Quad sat down with one of Boston’s best-known style bloggers, Martini Severin of Beyond Boston Chic, for an insider’s perspective on what makes Boston such a stylish city. Severin started Beyond Boston Chic, in 2008. Since then, it has become an enormous success, gaining many devotees due to Martini’s engaging writing and beautiful photos both of herself and of stylish Bostonians sashaying down the street.

Severin, who has lived in Boston since the tender age of ten, finds fashion inspiration on the streets of Boston and around the world. Her work has achieved both local and international relevance–she has exhibited her work at City Hall and the Boston Center for Adult Education, and her photos have been lauded throughout the Web. Outside of Boston, she has shot street style photographs around the world — at fashion week and otherwise in places like Australia and Span, to name a few from this year alone. Why, then, does Severin make her home in Boston?

“There is fashion, style and beauty in Boston at every turn,” said Severin, “Today I was walking about and noticed this young man in peach colored jeans and canary yellow sneakers. It was a wonderful combination. Then there was an older woman dressed in black who had the most beautiful wave of silver hair. I think GQ may not have looked hard enough before declaring us the worst dressed city in the US.”

A stylish Bostonian leans on a bike. Photo by Martini Severin.

Indeed, Boston is not only the heart of original preppy style, but is also full of hip, downtown aesthetics. Part of this aesthetic diversity is, of course, owed to the city’s multiculturalism. “There are people from all over the world here. It’s wonderful to have so many cultures here. Just last week [my husband and I] were deciding between going out for Thai, Senegalese or Tibetan. I love Boston for its diversity in style, culture and food,” says Severin, who often photographs stylish Bostonians on the street of many cultures.

Boston’s music scene also contributes to the style scene. With bands like the Dropkick Murphys, the Pixies, Aerosmith, and countless others getting their starts in the city, Boston has deep musical roots. This inevitably generates a deep style impetus. Boston is a fixture on countless artists’ touring routes, attracting acts both tiny and extravagant—one need only attend one of these concerts to see the diversity of style present in Boston.

As the world’s biggest college town, with a significant portion of its population represented by undergraduate students, there is certainly a collegiate influence on the Boston style scene as well. GQ’s claims of undergrad sloppiness, however, only go so far. While it is true that many students spend a part of their time in sweats, Ugg boots, and hoodies (the main style offenders cited by GQ), there is a preponderance of style represented on Boston’s college campuses.

“There have been colleges in Boston since the 17th century,” says Severin. “Students add so much spice to who we are as a city.” She even goes so far as saying that her favorite time of year to snap street style photos rests between August and September when new college students pour into the city.

“I love it! I call August and September my style fest months.”

College students inject youth and diversity into Boston like no other city on Earth, creating an undeniable fashion melting pot. While it is true that Boston is not a fashion city in the way that New York, Paris, and Milan are, when it comes time for Boston Fashion Week, started in 1995, Beantown certainly does not disappoint. Local designers and artisans, many of them graduates from Boston’s numerous art schools, put their wares on sale in high style. Bloggers, photographers, and journalists show up in droves and celebrate local fashion with runway shows, clothing swaps, and glamorous parties.

And the style doesn’t stop at Fashion Week! Formal fashion events abound for the stylish set with events year-round. Severin will be hosting a fashion event called “To the Nines” on March 30^th at the Boston Center for Adult Education. Ultimately, it’s Boston’s street style and blogging scene that defines it as a fashion city. Bostonians are hip, current, fresh, and vibrant—and that won’t change any time soon.

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If something has a great print, fabric, or shape, it's worth the trouble to get it fixed--these pants were a whopping two dollars and only required minimal hemming! A great, fun piece for almost no cost. Photo by Sharon Weissburg

A great closet can be a pricey thing, especially on a college student’s budget. It’s difficult to resist new trends when they come along, but even more gut-wrenching to see that drastically reduced account balance after you indulge.  Thankfully, there are ways to scratch that fashion itch without breaking the bank. For those fashionistas apprehensive of thrifting, have no fear! The Quad is here to show you the way to shop thriftily without sturm und drang. There are countless ways to save on style in Boston, whether they be at thrift shops like Goodwill and Buffalo Exchange or hidden within major retailers.

1. Be Tenacious. This is the most important thing to remember while bargain hunting for stylish finds. That dirt-cheap gem may be hidden deep within a thrift store bargain bin or sale rack. The good finds will almost never be on the surface of things. Don’t give up just because you don’t see anything immediately.
2. Shop in unexpected places. Oftentimes, one of the best ways to score in a place like Goodwill is to walk right by the ladies’ section and head straight for the men’s and boys’ sections. While the ladies’ section may be sometimes chock full of great finds, don’t miss out on what the rest of the store has to offer. Look for boys’ denim jackets and t-shirts (classic cartoon characters abound on those—fun and on trend!) and mens’ belts, shirts, jeans, and sweaters. These areas are often overlooked, but boast great basics.
3. Be an aggressive sale shopper. When those sales at the bigger retailers go up, it is time to pounce. The key is to go early and be aggressive. Look through each rack thoroughly, pick up anything that catches the eye, and try everything on before considering buying it. This may be the hardest part, but it’s worth it to know that you are getting your money’s worth. Even the sale items at these retailers may be pricier than your average thrift store find, so make sure that they really live up to their value before purchasing. Usually, these great sales occur after major holidays (December 26 is a veritable bonanza).
4. Think flexibly.That skirt in Goodwill that had a great print but was a weird length. That belt that had too few or too many holes. That shoe with a damaged sole. These are the stuff of miracles! They may seem ill-fitting or damaged, but before passing them off, really evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. Is it a flattering color? Is the fabric high quality? Does the
   

   Take note of the jeans in the mens' sections of thrift stores. They make great cutoffs! Photo by Sharon Weissburg

   general shape work? Will it look great with the rest of your clothes? If yes to any of these, this poor orphaned article may be worth a little sprucing. Many repairs (take-ins, let-outs, hemming, re-soling, etc) are either DIY-able or very inexpensive. With a little bit of work, it’s easy to turn trash into treasure. Do not, however, try to repair or alter things that are either beyond fixing or too expensive to change. If the shoes are too small, they are too small. If the sweater is itchy, it will remain itchy.

5. When the right time comes to spend, spend. There are some things that one just can’t get from thrifting and penny-pinching alone. When necessity, ability, quality, and opportunity converge, sometimes a girl’s gotta splurge. Don’t skimp on an essential if you can’t get it right anywhere else. Quality must always be key.

With these tips in mind, finding a bargain will be a breeze. Go forth and thrift!

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1. Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs sent out wild Pilgrim-inspired looks in bright colors. | Image from Style.com.

The ever-innovative designer of Louis Vuitton as well as his eponymous line produced a series of fantastical looks at this season’s show, inspired by, of all things, pilgrims. Models were clad in outlandishly proportioned, jewel-toned, balloonish silhouettes topped with enormous hats and finished off with dark lips and buckle shoes. The looks, though their shapes recalled Plymouth Rock, were rendered in brilliant greens and purples, often in head-to toe-monotone. It was certainly a madcap showing, but great fun nonetheless.

2. Prabal Gurung

This slightly lesser-known Nepalese designer is a favorite among magazine editors. His collection this time around was entitled “Heaven and Hell” and featured a progression of looks running the gamut from dark and hellacious in black and blue to angelic and delicate in white and gold. Gurung also made use of some very interesting textiles (an iridescent purple-and-green, for example, popped up on a few garments) and sumptuous, unexpected doses of fur.

DKNY's burgundy stunner of a look showcases a key trend of the season. | Image from Style.com

3. DKNY

DKNY, Donna Karan’s wildly popular offshoot line, is renowned for mixing a tough city-girl aesthetic with a feminine look, and this collection certainly fits that mold. The models stomping down the runway were clad in sharp, urbane looks that projected the DKNY girl to a tee, but the high point of the show came when two all-burgundy looks glided out, one after the other, rendered in the richest leather and fur you ever did see. The effect was strong, glamorous, and forward-thinking.

4. Thakoon

This Thai-American wunderkind displayed a vibrant collection that stood out against so many other, moodier shows dominated by black and burgundy. Brilliant reds, pinks, and iridescents were layered with one another—peplums, cropped tops, and midi skirts—creating interesting silhouettes elevated by sharp, clean lines. Exuberant and fresh.

5. Jason Wu

Determined that his collection not be overshadowed by the enormous success of his collaboration with Target, Jason Wu presented a surprisingly tough and unsurprisingly gorgeous group of looks. Burgundy was, again, prominent, in addition to military motifs and liberal deployment of fur (on arms and peplums, no less). This represents a departure for Wu, who has in the past favored clean, feminine dresses and separates. An unexpected and totally badass turn of events.

The season has yielded much food for thought and some tantalizing new trends to try out. While some of the madness displayed is definitely only for the runways, many of these trends are great for daily inspiration! Try out some of the burgundy goodness that so many designers showed in the form of tights, a dress, or a jacket–it looks great paired with chocolate brown, navy blue, and ivory. Or inject a dose of fur (faux or otherwise) into your outfit in the form of a vest or hat! Only time will tell how long each trend lasts, but the Fall/Winter Ready-to-Wear collections were certainly a thing to behold.

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1. Tangerine

Pantone's Color of the Year, Tangerine Tango, made waves this season on the runways. | Photo by Sharon Weissburg

It’s official: Pantone has named “Tangerine Tango,” a juicy orange with a splash of red, the Color of the Year for 2012. Tangerine is a sunny color, ripe with juice and optimism, and, as a bonus, looks incredible on virtually everyone. Wear it alone in the form of a dress, lipstick or a statement-making accessory; mix it up with neutrals; or pair it with—gasp—more color! Tangerine looks gorgeous set off against khaki and grey, especially when paired with gold accessories. For the more daring fashionista, pairing tangerine with hot pink or cobalt blue makes an arresting mix. Avoid pairing this hue with white or silver, however—this would bring a not-so-great construction-worker feel to the ensemble.

2. Pepto Pink

Pepto isn't just for your bellyache anymore. Try it in your outfit! | Photo by Sharon Weissburg

Girly girls, rejoice! Pink is having an enormous moment right now. This season’s pink is at once chalky and saturated, and it really lights up the skin. While the idea of the color may conjure up visions of Barbies and crinolines, this supremely girlish color is not being applied to similarly feminine silhouettes; instead, designers are lending the color either to sharp, modern, minimalist pieces like a beautifully cut buttonless blazer, or badass staples like a studded leather jacket. Try out the hue in this understated way, always pairing it with something to offset its Barbie reputation—a spiky cuff, black accessories, a simple, menswear-ish white top. This way, it’ll look fresh, interesting, and au courant.

3. Minty Fresh

Freshen up your palette with a dose of this cool, minty hue. | Photo by Sharon Weissburg

Lady Gaga had it right in her “Marry the Night” video when she dolled her nurses up in Calvin Klein and spearmint-green hairnets—mint is huge for 2012. This is not the preppy sort of mint green that reigned over sweaters and polos in ages past. This mint is bold in its creamy pastel brightness; it is assertive, loud and never washed out. It looks incredible set off against any neutral (or a mix of a few; mint is to die for with a striped breton top) and downright revolutionary when mixed up with more brights. Start with accessories, which will prove much more versatile than they seem, and then move on to skirts, dresses, tops—the sky is the limit! Freshen up!

4. Laser-beam blue

This blue is not afraid of anything. It’s bright, it’s saturated, and it won’t take no for an answer. Cobalt blue seems to resurface often on fashion’s radar in the form of makeup, clothes, or accessories. As of right now, cobalt is enjoying a moment in the spotlight in the form of smart, snappy pieces that work for both day and night. This strong color is unbelievably stunning on its own, but when paired with camel or white, it takes on a subtlety and grace unexpected from so bold a color. Inject a jolt of energy into almost any ensemble with a shot of this hue; it’s so shockingly bright that it almost achieves the status of a neutral.

There’s much to love about those easy, chic, neutrals like black, grey, camel, denim and white—of course, one should never forsake them. Why not inject a little whimsy into them this winter with some of the most fun, happiness-inducing colors? Be bold and brash in the application of these juicy hues, and enjoy the thrill of the unexpected and the spontaneous when getting dressed.

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