YVES SAINT LAURENT

It has been said many times that "everything will change in 2013" and so far it seems true for the direction of the Fashion Industry. As we slowly everyday are heading into the future the fashion industry is moving at a light year speed. Incorporating technology into fashion has been on the rise and is evolving behind the scenes everyday. Just 4 years ago the "Fashion 2.0 Awards" launched which is the only awards celebrating online innovation by fashion brands whom embrace social media and online technology.

There's something resolutely American about Tom Ford. The six foot tall Texas-born designer, who became well known for heading the powerhouse Gucci, knows how to sell sexy clothes and get to the bottom line. He has his own brand, after his own name. It could be the sign of an egotist, or a supremely confident man.

He carved a niche for himself, as an actor in television commercials before he became famous for his clothes. He had the dark and brooding good looks. He had charisma in spades. Dropping out of NYU and hanging out with the "fabulous people" at Studio 54, he came to several conclusions: one about his sexuality, and two, about his passion for fashion design.

Gender bending Yves Saint Laurent is the star of a new exhibit at the ING Cultural Centre in Brussels, Belgium up until May 5th. The exhibition, Yves Saint Laurent: A Visionary, focuses on his work from the '60s and '70s and includes approximately 100 display items some of which have never been on public display. The visionary unisex designer worked for Christian Dior when just a teen. Famous celebrities flocked to his shows during the sultry Studio 54 decade and luminous women like Catherine Deneuve were among his closest confidantes. He has had numerous experiences to draw artistic lifeblood from and even served in the French Army. Of the Dior fashion house, he explained: "Dior fascinated me. I couldn't speak in front of him. He taught me the basis of my art. Whatever was to happen next, I never forgot the years I spent at his house." St. Laurent revolutionized fashion with the tuxedo jacket and safari pants. He was one of the early designers to broaden the spectrum of known beauty. He used the elegant and haughty model Pat Cleveland. One of his main inspirations are drawn from ballet design. Some of his sketches are included in the exhibit. Learn more about the designer here.

Take the practicality of ballet flats, add sleek details or outrageous features, and you have a more refined version of the classic shoe. Smoking slippers are quickly replacing everyday flats as the go-to shoe for stylish women on the go. Like their predecessor, the different routes you can take when selecting your pair of smoking slippers are endless; below are four of the main categories of the new shoe trend!

It’s been reported that YSL creative director, Hedi Slimane plans to make a re-branding initiative to the fashion house that has people up and buzzing. According to WWD, the iconic French Yves Saint Laurent name will be changed to Saint Laurent Paris by the time that Slimane’s first collection for spring 2013 with the company hits the shelves.

We've taken the guesswork out of stylish sunnies so you can stop squinting and achieve serious sartorial style this summer with our favorites from this season's men's collections. This necessary accessory adds a finishing touch to any outfit, regardless of how you define personal style. Check out our top picks for your next pair.

Luxe: Most sunglasses tend to be made out of some combination of plastic and metal, but luxury designer Linda Farrow has added new exotic materials like snakeskin to her designs. Linda Farrow is a top sunglasses designer in the industry and has collaborated with brands including Alexander Wang, The Row, and Dries Van Noten. Her designs mix classic shapes with innovative materials and details. In her own designs, Linda Farrow always shows bold pieces that are perfect to wear year-round. One amazing pair is the Luxe Titanium Snakeskin Aviators in a classic aviator shape, modernized with snakeskin coated temples.

In the midst of a sparkling spring season and looking (desperately!) forward to summertime, it’s time to get you reading list ready. Whether you’ll be lounging by the pool, burying your toes in the sand, or enjoying a shady breeze at the park—your day won’t be complete without an intriguing read. From books that will put you on course for style superstardom to the shoe lover’s bible, and even the best coffee table toppers, here are our top picks for fashion biographies. The best and most inspiring stories are true ones, so pick one (or all!) of the fabulous finds and spend your next lazy afternoon really getting to know your style icon.

Big bangles are the latest fun accessories hitting the streets for this spring and summer. We saw them on the runways during SS ’12 FW, as designers everywhere decorated their models with big, bold, bulky bangles. From Fendi, to Yves Saint Laurent, to Chanel and Donna Karan, big bangles were a themed accessory. Chanel opted for gold gemmed cuffs, while Donna Karan chose bulky wooden bangles.

As the weather warms, bangles are appearing everywhere. This accessory really makes a bold statement with striking colors and daring patterns. Wear them alone, or pile them up to create a fierce look.

Youthquake! The 1960s Fashion Revolution

Just as the ’60s were a revolutionary period for politics and youth culture throughout the world, the era redefined fashion. "Once only the rich, the Establishment, set the fashion. Now it is the inexpensive little dress seen on the girls in High Street," British designer and boutique owner Mary Quant has said of the transition. London's mod scene and American hippies began setting trends—dressing for self-expression, blurring traditional lines of gender identity, embracing sexuality and new silhouettes. Youthquake! explores the decade with an exhibition that showcases garments and historical footage. (NYCGO)

A departure from the dark, savage beauty that is classic Alexander McQueen, the Fall 2012 collection embodies qualities Sarah Burton describes as "a beautiful future, positivity, optimism." Fanciful and undeniable works of art, the collection was designed to bloom or “explode” as the presentation progressed, in volume as well as hue ranging from chaste white and blush to rich reds and black. The first flouncing dresses featured gathered skirts with hemlines hitting above the knee and fluffy fur caplets. Decorated with tiny floral blooms, the cherry blossom frocks then gave way to a graphic black and white design created by laser-cut ponyskin on leather. Finally, the collection exploded into billowing ensembles of shaggy goat fur, ostrich feather, or Mongolian lamb weightlessly floating down the runway in cocktail, tea, and full-length gowns. Amidst the feathers and fur there were sheer confections of layered chiffon covered with countless godets creating floating “dandelions” waiting to be whisked away by the slightest breeze. Futuristic visors and architectural, brushed metallic belts served as weighted accessories to the airy collection. We also saw McQueen’s signature heel-less shoes, detailed at the ankle with the same whimsical furs. The usual dark romanticism may not have been present in this season’s offerings, but they most certainly reignited the flame of our Alexander McQueen love affair.