I love visiting (Sfera) in Barcelona. It’s such an amazing store–imagine Zara but higher quality and more affordable prices. Too bad there are no stores in the US.

I remember purchasing a small suede handbag for 10 Euros and wanting to purchase everything in the store–except I had no money at the time.

Here are my favorites from their summer collection:

Beautiful white embroidered dress.

Light summer skirt.

Chanel-esque jacket.

Burberry Prorsum from last season? Same draped skirt + trench look.

I wish they’d come to the states.

tforia.com

Rhinestone studed felt hearts on top of soft pleather flats.

…at Bergdorf’s.

The staff was taking down and setting up new windows…mannequins propped up against the wall–Narciso red dress with translucent rubber band like belt…

Textured leather…

Chado Ralph Rucci flesh toned dress and matching jacket.

Big cat head helps sell kids clothing.

Mary Jane peekabo Louboutins.

yummy.

Strange flapper exhibit.

Another Herve Leger–they sell like Coach bags.

Hieroglyphic dress.

Leathers.

Carmen San Diego coat.

When blacks don’t match:

I love Diners!

Fancy entrance to a restaurant in midtown.

Tiered layers on dresses can make you look like a tablecloth, wedding cake, or old fashioned curtains. To avoid having your dress look like anything but a dress, make sure you pick out a dress that uses the tiering effect in a flattering way.

Here are two dresses that work:

The two dresses use the volume from the tiers to make the waist look smaller. This is effectively done by having the tiering start at the smallest part of the waist downwards. Oscar de la Renta silk-faille bustier dress (available on Net-a-Porter.com) includes varied tiers, tiers layering over other tiers to create a more textured look. Not saying the only way you can get the tiered look is by paying $3k, but this dress shows a variation in the tiering.  The Topshop big frill sundress is a basic dress that shows how tiering should be used to accentuate a woman’s body.  It is also much cheaper and easier to own (no dry cleaning needed since it’s 100% cotton–great for summer!).

Below are mass produced accidents:

Just from a glance, the JCrew “Tiered Linen Playa Dress” looks awkward. The model looks like she’s wearing a funnel. The flaps of cloth are way too long and their is no structure to this silhouette. It only looks okay on a skinny model, but in real life, it can turn any regular, non overweight, woman into looking like she needs to immediately go on a diet.

Upon first glance, the Express “Tiered Halter Dress” looks decent enough, but the playfulness of the frills from tiering takes away from the sexy alter neck. I would buy the dress if it were simply the alter neckline with no extra special design done to the bottom half. I wonder why mass manufacturers must add more frills and combine trends that don’t really work together? I’m counting on finding sales racks full of these dresses later in the year.