bullseye

This post is dedicated to my friend Melissa, who works for a store with a strict dress code: red top, khaki bottoms. I love a good red-khaki combo, but I am sure this gets a bit tedious. Since the colors have to stay the same, fun accessories and switching up the silhouette are the best tools for keeping it interesting.  On top, a long sleeved henley, a sleeveless blouse, and a red cuffed tshirt make up good, versatile options to accessorize.  Boyfriend khakis, jeggings, and paper bag waist linen pants all fit the bottom bill. The costume designer in me can't help finishing off the nautical red stripes with a boat shoe. This middle design is perhaps the free-spirited employee (dream catcher necklace and motorcycle boots!), and the last look is classic with just a bit of funk. Melissa, you can be all three! 

first look: top, pants, shoes, bracelet
second look: top, pants, boots, necklace
third look: top, pants, loafers, necklace

golden girl

"I know it sounds mental, but sometimes I have more fun vegging out than when I go partying. Maybe because my party clothes are so binding." 

Dudes, I promise I will keep the Clueless quotes to a minimum, but this one rings true. That is why I'm always on the lookout for a cute-but-comfy look that will work for a night out. This flowy shirt gets fancied up with a load of gold jewelry, crocodile print liquid leggings, and gladiator wedges. You can still hold your ground with all the decked out, high-heeled ladies while feeling just a step away from your jammies. Golden. 

shirt, leggings, necklace, earrings, cuff, bangles, wedges

tickled pink

Looking over my blog posts, I thought I should aim today to do something a little less girly: no dresses, no heels or wedges, just a casual day to day look. And then I found all kinds of pink and shiny things, and everything just turned girly in a different way. At least the silhouette is still laid back, with cuffed jeans and a breezy button down, even if it is combined with pink feather hairpins and a bright silver pair of boat shoes. 

shirt, jeans, hairpins, bracelet, bracelet, shoes

bridesmaid revisited

My lovely best friend, Amy, got married in September. One of her main concerns for the look of her bridesmaids was that they not come off too "bridesmaid-y." I think with the mixture of colors and silhouettes, she found a nice balance of showing that we were all on Team Amy, without zipping us into yards of polyester taffeta. As a result, re-wearing this bridesmaid dress is a little easier than some might be. 

But I think the same rules can  apply to most bridesmaid dresses: find a fun combination of textures to layer with your dress. I paired a military jacket, riding boots, and crocheted tights with chiffon for a play on hard and soft (leather and lace, if you will). Another dressier, but not bridesmaid-y, look takes the pale blush color and brightens it up with a coral blazer and turquoise accessories. 

Amy's bridesmaids in chiffon Watters dresses

outfit left: jacket, dress, necklace, tights, boots
outfit right: blazer, dress, necklace, cuff, pumps

Note: here is where thrift and resale shopping become key-- those Frye boots are way too expensive for me (and probably you/everybody). But they are awesome, and there are all kinds of cool, worn-in boots to get second hand to achieve a similar look. Sorry for making you fall for pricey boots though...

dress like vada sultenfuss

I know I am not the only kid in the nineties who wanted to dress like Vada Sultenfuss in the movie My Girl. Costume designer Karen Patch, who also did The Royal Tenenbaums, among others, struck a lovely balance of a tomboy look with feminine touches-- Vada's cute little peasant blouse with overalls-- and also just pieces from the seventies that would be accessible to a modern (1991) audience. I think these costumes hold up well today, and I find that I still want to dress like Vada. I think I'll leave the overalls behind with my 11 year old self though. 

peasant shirt, jean shorts, sandals
floral chambray shirt, khaki shorts, sneakers

Click here for more screen captures of all her looks.

little yellow dream dress

When I was graduating from college, I had my heart set on wearing a sunny yellow dress with a full skirt. And I could not find one anywhere in my price range. (I guess the "it color" yellow hadn't trickled down from the runways to be affordable yet...whatever) H&M is currently carrying this pretty thing though, which inspired me to put together a little belated graduation ensemble. Oh H&M. Just six years too late. 

dress, blazer, earrings, necklace, wedges

monochromatic accessories

My go-to (read lazy) way of making things go together is to wear monochromatic accessories with a statement piece. Some days it is too much work to figure how to style a white summery dress so that it is appropriate for March. Or this cool navy tshirt dress with sequined stripes? I could definitely get stuck trying on every  combination of shoes, tights and jewelry I own trying to get that look right. In a pinch, I just add a black necklace, black tights, and black boots. This also helps to harden up some of my prissier dresses on an average day. If combat/granny boots aren't your style, a simple black flat or riding boot could give the same effect. The recipe is simple: you really only have to add one new ingredient! 

boots, tights, necklace, white dress, navy dress

high-low hemline

Some of the high-low hemmed skirts on the market right now are a little too mullet-esque for my taste. I liked this one from Forever 21 for making the slope from high-to-low really gradual. To keep this look from going into full-on ballerina territory, I paired this wrap top and chiffon skirt with some funky accessories in an unexpected palette. When I am throwing a lot of colors into the mix, I like to ground a look with matching belt and shoes. To quote Cher Horowitz, it "gives [me] a sense of control in a world full of chaos."

blouse, skirt, flats, necklace, bangle

red flare jeans

I have a new rule when making new purchases: I have to be able to make 3 outfits with a new piece. I've recently been into high waisted flare jeans, and I think I can get away with just a standard, dark wash situation. But then I saw these little red numbers on Asos. Determined to prove these aren't just for Matthew McConaughey in Dazed and Confused, I've paired red flares with a few staples from my own closet. 

First look: tshirt, necklace, belt, wedges. Second look: shirt, belt, wedges. Third look: tank, cardigan, necklace, cuff, boots

ulyana sergeenko

Russian photographer, stylist, and designer Ulyana Sergeenko has a look that seems so effortless until you try to copy it. She always looks amazing, but I was particularly drawn to the way she styles a simple tshirt. See more of her prim-skirt-sheer-shirt approach in her debut line and follow up collection. 

black sunglasses, pink sunglasses, black tee, grey tee, floral scarf, polka dot, plaid, red, yellow skirt

only old navy

I once read this quote from Drew Barrymore on IMDB: "I didn’t wear certain designers because I didn’t want any animals to suffer for beauty and stuff, and so I literally was dressed by Old Navy at one point." I remember thinking, it could be worse! Here are three looks that answer the question, what if you could ONLY shop at Old Navy, like poor Drew?

jeans, blouse, necklace, sandals, bag 

sweater, tank, shorts, wedges, sunglasses

dress, shirt, scarf, bracelets, sandals

my very first customer

my sister: the first person who ever let me tell her what to wear

When my sister and I were little, a lot of our livelihood revolved around clothing. Before we played Barbies, we had an auction with all their clothes, each bidding on the items we thought would best suit Barbie's (and our) personality for the day.  ("Anybodyanybodyanybodyanybody SOLD!" was our auctioneer impression).  We put on play after play, versatilely costumed in a collection of our grandma's scarves. And then there was just day to day dress up. It involved a lot of clip on earrings and tutus. 

Lucky for me, my sister still lets me weigh in on her earrings. She has great style on her own, but I am her go-to before online purchases and big events.  She was my very first client and muse. Here are some of the looks I've helped her with. 

Bright and fun for a summer wedding ASOS Cut Out Summer Dress in Color Block

Mardi Gras or prom?
Badgley Mischka Screen Siren Gown

Badgley Mischka Green with Envy Gown, vintage earrings and bracelets

She even obliges me with close-ups