Showing posts with label how to wear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how to wear. Show all posts

{ print } on print







the summer of mixology sizzles on at full steam! i've been meaning to post these pics/tips from shopbop for a while now ~ better late than never, non?

anyway, today they're especially timely, for tomorrow i begin my polka-spot series, wherein i will attempt to live for five days in dots...

{ anthropologie's mixologies }

all of a sudden, it seems like everyone is hopping aboard the mixology bandwagon! do you think they've all finally discovered this blog or something? ah, to dare to dream...
anyway, anthropologie is the latest proponent of the mixery mentality. their newest catalogue offers quippy tips on how to get the look, like:

1. when experimenting with patterns, anchor your look in a single color like crimson.
2. similar prints, different scales? mix subtle and substantial.
3. a dotty, black-and-white dress makes a crisp canvas for bold, brushstroke flora.
4. when rendered in complementary hues, a zippy plaid meshes with thin, delicate stripes.
5. flowers and stripes also go together ~ especially when they share a common color like navy.
6. when cross-pollinating floral patterns, use earthy neutrals to ground neon brights.

{ pics + tips via anthropologie }

much as i may jokingly try to claim credit for this terrific trend, i'm simply just thrilled the movement is going mainstream (whatever the reason)! mastering mixology is the best way to add mileage and whimsy to your wardrobe. i will continue to report from the front lines ;)

{ in the mix }


based on the number of readers and friends who forwarded this story to me, i assume many of you have already seen the new york times' guide to mixology. for those who haven't, i think they gave some great tips, which bear repeating:

1. vary the scale. mix a small neat print with a splashier one. or an eye-popper with one that’s more neutral.
2. stay within the same color family.
3. mix up the fabrics, the weights — a rough-textured fabric with a more refined one. somehow a nubby, slubby fabric pairs up more naturally with a flat weave than do two smooth-textured fabrics.
4. toss in some polka dots, stripes or even leopard prints, which are easier to mix with other patterns because they’re simple and graphic. and they’re familiar to the eye.
5. consider the accessories. though it’s fun to tote a print bag with a print frock, you can tone down the brights with a great tan leather bag or pair of sandals. straw works, too.

this guide was accompanied by colorful clothes as an economic indicator ~ a story suggesting we are in the throws of a new peacock period in fashion: "the profusion of hothouse colors and patterns popping up on new york streets this month suggests a new buoyancy, as women shake off the constraints of a lingering recession and stock up on fashions more lively and vivid than they’ve seen in years."

{ pics + tips via the nytimes }

what do you think? has mixology made its way into your life and style yet?

{ how to wear } pop of blue


i love how both these ladies have jazzed up desaturated ensembles with electric blue bags. i have the same corto moltedo cassette clutch that giovanna battaglia is rocking on the right. bet you can guess how i plan to wear it next!

{ how to wear } cropped kimonos

a client of mine received a pink glamourwrap from her husband for christmas (lucky lady!). she plans to take it with her on an upcoming cruise, and recently emailed me for ideas on how to wear it (besides the obvious 'throw it over a bathing suit' suggestion). this prompted a search through my inspiration files; here are a few of my favorite wrap stars. these styles can also be exquisitely executed with any cropped kimono you already own:

1/ i love nicole richie's casual evening outfit. with a pregnant belly, she proves this look works on all body types! i think her ensemble would be equally chic if the dress stretched to the floor. wear this to dinner anywhere in the world and feel both appropriate and alluring.
2/ natalia vodianova epitomizes hippie chic in a minimalist white sheath (with sleeves!). keeping her hair and footwear similarly simple allows her to go wild with a patterned wrap and serious statement necklace. this is slightly dressier than richie's interpretation, and would work wonderfully for a wedding.
3/ catherine baba's costume may be too much for some, but strip away a few accessories and you've got a pretty pliable rubric. like our other ladies, she keeps her underpinnings pretty simple, letting the topper do the talking. reimagine this silhouette with leggings, jeans, or ~ in the case of my cruising client ~ a pair of palazzo pants! finish it with boots, à la baba, or a pair of strappy sandals and an obi belt!

{ how to wear } vintage furs

i loved reading last week's swide article on anna dello russo. she's become such a style icon thanks to her unforgettable appearances at the international fashion weeks, so it was interesting to hear how she prepares for these public appearances:

"the styling work (is) the same, only done to myself... it's all planned and thought up in advance... i get ready like six months beforehand. i edit the clothes (about 90 outfits for each fashion week). i think of what would look good on camera." - anna dello russo

fascinating, no? if nothing else, it makes me realize how unprepared i am for the new york shows starting next week! as i begin to get ready, i'll be looking to another street style star for inspiration: the captivating catherine baba:

i love the above images from last winter ~ the way she transitioned her accessories throughout a day, moving the belt outside (and to the side) of her fur coat as she got cold.

fast forward a number of months, and it's great to see the way she's worn the very same coat (and sunnies!) to this year's couture collections, tying it this time around with a simple grosgrain ribbon:

i get the feeling that her looks are completely uncalculated. clearly she thinks quite a lot about clothes, but puts them together in an effortless, freewheeling way. a woman who dresses to suit her mood ~ how modern! how divine!

i have an over-the-top vintage ivory fur that i've been wondering how to wear. voila! now i know. and while we're on the topic, i dare you not to want a fluffy (faux?) fur scarf after peeping this pic:

{ photo credits: jak+jil, hanneli, the sartorialist }
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