What I wore today: 11/11/2014 (Bien Fait)

 

When Ryan and I went to Mood while we were in New York (photos, video), I told him how occasionally I'll see the same textile used for wildly different products from different brands, and I like to imagine that Mood was the source for both. Two different designers, each living in New York and shopping at Mood, see the same textile and give it two separate lives, each as far reaching as the other. 

I once spotted a really lovely pattern I recognized from an Anthro top used on a Crosby record player.  These pants happen to share their fabric with an Anthro top as well. When I first saw the top, I loved the pattern, but I didn't really love the shape. I even thought that I would prefer the fabric as pants. Then, a few months later, there they were at Madewell. Thank you, Mood.

Everly ankle boots – Jeffrey Campbell, Urban Outfitters

"Delancey Slouch Trousers" – Madewell

Lace and leather shirt – Prabal Garung for Target

Necklace – J.Crew Factory

Belt – Madewell

November Wish List

As the weather turns quickly colder, I find myself coveting leather skirts, wool jackets, cashmere scarves, and plaid everything. I've also been on a bit of a skincare and haircare kick lately, no doubt inspired by the ravage of harsh winds and dry air.

01. Anthropologie, 02. Madewell, 03. J.Crew, 04. Madewell, 05. Amazon, 06. Madewell

What I wore today: 10/20/2014 (High Line)

This fall, I bought myself my first ever nice wool coat. I think my taste has finally evolved to the point where I can invest in something like this, and I'm really happy with my choice of this lovely bi-tonal coat from Madewell. Lately, I feel like I could just live in Madewell. 

Ryan took these photos of my on the High Line, the lovely new(isn) green space that runs through Chelsea along an old rail-line they were going to tear down. It's a real coup too because, other than Central Park, New York is really lacking in good parks. I guess it's hard to keep any space in Manhattan from quickly turning into a building. 

As far as green space goes, I'm really spoiled living in Northside here in Cincinnati because there are several preserved forests within the city just walking distance from my home as well as an incredible cemetery/arboretum. Anyway, the High Line is really special. I'd like to run on it the next time we go to New York. 

Coat - Madewell

Hat - Anthropologie

Sweater - Phillip Lim for Target

Jeans - Gap

Boots - Free People

Bag - thrifted

What I wore today: 04/25/2014 (Monarch)

On Friday, I accompanied my friend to the DAAP fashion show again to see her sister's collection. It was a fun night out, and I got to wear a dress, which is something I haven't been doing a lot of during the long hard winter we just had.

Yellow silk "butterfly petals" dress - Leifsdottir, Anthropologie

Black leather jacket - Elevensees, Anthropologie

"Everly" ankle boots - Jeffrey Campbell

Quilted bunny bag - Asos

Dinosaur bone ribcage cuff bracelet - Noir

What I wore today: 08/09/2013 (Leather Pops)

I so love a pop of leather that sometimes I may overdo it a little, turning what used to be a "pop" into an overwhelming statement. And sometimes that statement might be interpreted as "I am a dominatrix," though I doubt it since dominatrixes (dominatri?) usually don't wear leather baseball caps that they bought from their shoe repair guy. And least not that I know of.

Other notable things about this outfit: This is Day Two of trying to take badass self-portriats for outfit posts. See Day One here. Also, these Jeffrey Cambell "Everly" ankle boots are new and they might just be my new God. They are so comfortable and stylish and exactly the right height to wear with AG "Stevie Ankle" jeans, of which I have two beloved pairs (the plum ones seen here and the polkadot ones seen here).

Seriously, these boots are so perfect, I might name my first born after them...

"Well, Everly, when I was 25, I fell in love with a pair of boots."
"The ones you've worn literally ever day for as long as I can remember?"
"Those are the ones. They are your namesake. One day they will be yours. But not until you pry them off my cold, dead feet."
"You are a very strange person."
"I know. My mother was strange too, and, one day, I became her. One day, you will become me."
"That is the most terrifying thing I've ever heard. I thought you agreed to stop telling me scary stories before bed. I hate you. I'm running away."

Yeah, I'm gonna be a great mom.

Leather peplum top - Urban Outfitters

Plum AG "Stevie Ankle" Jeans - Anthropologie 

"Everly" cutout black leather ankle boots - Jeffrey Campbell, Urban Outfitters

Leather baseball cap - Clarence Shoe Repair

Studded-bottom bag - eBay

How to Cultivate Eclectic Personal Style (a Cheat Sheet)

I was flipping through this book recently, and was struck by the way the author described "eclectic" style. She broke the book down into chapters, each featuring a different style: "Bohemian," "classic," etc. But, when she got to eclectic, she described it as being a combination of different styles.

Basically, you go through life, experimenting, changing your style every few years. Maybe you're a bit punk in high school, but by college you are more Bohemian, and after that you start to get into minimalism. Eventually, you have your own, unique, "eclectic" style comprised of all the best parts of each genre. You kept the leather jacket from your punk phase, and your favorite maxi skirt from your bohemian phase, and now you wear them both with a breton top from your minimalism phase. That's eclectic style!

Wow, I thought, that's such a good description of how personal style can evolve!

I have so many reference points for my own style, from designers to movies to characters in books! Sometimes I full-on embrace the character I'm feeling that day and dress 100% nautical or 100% grunge. But, more often than not, I combine a few seemingly contradictory references into one outfit.

Here are some of my favorite examples from past outfit posts.

Farmer meets Rockabilly

The rockabilly elements of this outfit (leather, nipped-in waist, saddle oxfords) are grounded by the country sensibility of a gingham button-down.

Heidi meets Western

The heidi braids are a nice contrast to the denim-on-denim look of this "Texas tuxedo."

Punk meets Romantic

This is a combination I wear a lot. I love to tone down a tiered dress with a leather jacket or dress up a band tee with a floral skirt. As opposites, these two styles work together in perfect, balanced harmony.

Military meets Garden Party

A casual, olive-green jacket makes a silky floral dress more appropriate for daytime. Add tights, and you've got a way to wear a summer dress in the colder months. 

Casual meets Glamorous

Another great example of how contrasting elements can make an evening piece daytime appropriate: a white t-shirt is the perfect counterpoint to a sequin skirt. 

Sporty meets High Fashion

What can I say? Sometimes, you get the urge to wear Versace to the tennis court. Versace for H&M, but still. 

'20s meets '50s 

Era mixing is a great way to keep vintage clothing from looking like a costume. Here, a '50s cardi gives shape to a fringed flapper dress. 

What I wore today: 02/20/2013 (Horizontal)

I bought this coat at a thrift shop a couple days ago and added the horizontal zipper myself. (Stay tuned for a tutorial, coming Friday). 

One of my favorite unexpected color combinations is red and mint, and I like the way the flecks of red in this coat play off the mint stripes on my shirt. 

It's very cold today. I'm staying in and studying French. Hope your week is going well!

Vegan leather pants - Urban Outfitters

Brown leather boots - Journey's

Black, white, and mint striped marinière shirt - Anthropologie

Black cashmere pashmina - Nordstrom Rack

Horizontal-zipper coat - DIY

Bag - Lauren by Ralph Lauren 

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What I wore today: 02/13/2013 (Leather Layering)

You've already seen this look featuring the black lace shirt I found on my Prabal Gurung for Target mission. This blouse is my other find. The colors and mirror-image symmetry of this print are really special. I'll be able to show it off to its full potential when it gets warmer out and I don't have to layer a sweater over it.

As for the pants, I've wanted some leather pants for a while (or vegan leather, anyway), and that desire has become much more intense since pinning these Emmanuelle Alt looks and drooling over her effortless Parisian chic. 

I narrowed down my search to these two pairs on Urban Outfitters. I had trouble deciding which I liked better, but Ryan liked the ones with the biker zippers. I'm sure now that it was the best choice. The zippers make them look tougher, more like leather pants and less like wax-coated jeans.

How do you feel about leather pants? Rocker chic? Parisian chic? Not chic at all?

Vegan leather pants - Urban Outfitters 

Quilted-leather boots - Corso Como

Printed blouse - Prabal Gurung for Target

Black V-neck sweater - Target

Necklace - J.Crew Factory

Bracelet - J.Crew

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What I wore today: 02/11/2013 (Prabal Gurung for Target)

I checked out my local Target yesterday, and their supply of the new Prabal Gurung collection was already pretty slim, but I was able to scoop up the obvious stand-out piece that I'd loved since I first saw the collection as well as this surprise piece that I hadn't really noticed until I saw it in person. The leather collar really makes it. And, of course, I just couldn't resist changing into it immediately and layering my favorite necklace over the collar. Gotta love those tiny details that push a simple outfit over the edge into stylishville. 

 

Black shirt with lace accent and leather collar - Prabal Gurung for Taget

Skinny jeans - Pilcro and the Letterpress

Quilted black leather boots - Corso Como

Necklace - J.Crew Factory

Glasses - Urban Outfitters

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