An ongoing love affaire with all things fashionable, tasty and fun

Posts tagged “Express

MCLV Style: Animal Prints

Nothing in the world is easier and more comfortable for a Saturday full of errands than leggings and a tunic. The main pieces in this look are the definition of basic black.

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{You can shop similar pieces by clicking these hyperlinks: Zipper Tunic – Alfani via Macys, LeggingsExpress, Clutch – BCBG, Flats – Nicole,  Necklace – Sasha Maks Vintage, Bracelet & Ring – JewelMint}

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{You can view this outfit on Lookbook.nu and Pose}

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{Check out outtakes from this shoot here – Just log into Facebook to view}

In order to keep the look from being boring I spiced it up with my new oversized orange+cheetah BCBG clutch, zebra print smoking flats, and a vintage elephant pendant. Cheetah, zebra, and elephant, you say? Now that’s not so basic!

Are you a fan of mixing prints? What about mixing animal prints like I did here? How many different prints is too many in your opinion?


MCLV Style: Embellish Me

Fun accessories and embellished pieces are a great way to take a basic look to a new level. So next time you’re putting together a nighttime look be creative and layer on the extras!

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{You can shop similar pieces by clicking these hyperlinks: Pleated Leather SkirtThe Limited, Embellished Top – Zara, Oxblood Knit Tights – DKNY via Bloomingdales, Spike Embellished HeelsThe LimitedBlack Patent Clutch – MICHAEL Michael Kors via NordstromRing – BCBG Max Azria & Bracelet – Forever 21}

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{You can view this outfit on Lookbook.nu and Pose}

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{Check out outtakes from this shoot here – Just log into Facebook to view}

This outfit could have just been black skirt + black top but with the addition of brightly colored tights, an embellished collar, fun jewelry, and spiked heels it’s a more one-of-a-kind look. But I did discover that the downside of this too-cute pleated faux leather skirt from The Limited is that it wrinkles sooooo easily. And quickly. Thus the absence of straight-on shots!

What’s your favorite fun extra this Winter or the piece you’re most excited to try out?


MCLV Style: Lazy Stripes

Sometimes what a girl needs is layers. And lots of them. This was a look that I threw together for a CrossFit competition a few weeks ago – The keys for that kind of day are :(1) Comfortable, (2) Easy to move in, and (3) Warm! The third ended up being especially important as the venue had a huge open door and it started raining when we first got there!

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{You can shop similar pieces by clicking these hyperlinks: Striped Sweater Tunic – H&M, Leggings – Forever 21, Cropped BlazerBanana Republic, Studded Ankle Boots – C Label via Piperlime, Patent Satchel Express, Skull Pendant Asos, and Bracelets – H&M, Asos & JewelMint}

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{You can view this outfit on Lookbook.nu and Pose}

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{Check out outtakes from this shoot here – Just log into Facebook to view}

I have a confession to make. This blazer is one of the oldest {non-heirloom} pieces in my closet. My mother bought it for me SEVEN years ago when she took me on a shopping trip to equip me for interviewing and starting my first post-collegiate job. When people say “classic” or “investment piece” this, my friends, is what they’re referring to!

Do you have any classic, it’ll-always-be-in-style pieces in your wardrobe? What’s your favorite investment piece that you’ve bought over the years?


MCLV Style: New Years Eve

Deciding what to wear for New Year’s Eve can be tough – Weighing the venue and the weather and the guest list and the dress code… You usually can’t go wrong with a chic Little Black Dress or a fun, on-trend cocktail frock, but this year I was determined to spice things up a little bit so separates seemed like the way to go!

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{You can shop similar pieces by clicking these hyperlinks: Petal Skirt w/ Sequined Trim – Zara, Leopard Print Moto JacketExpress, Lace Cat Ears HeadbandAsos, Spike Embellished Heels – The Limited, Gold Pouch – Marc Jacobs via Neiman Marcus for Target collaboration & Gold Cuffs – Forever 21}

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{You can view this outfit on Lookbook.nu and Pose}

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{Check out outtakes from this shoot here – Just log into Facebook to view}

I’ve had this Lace Cat Ears Headband from ASOS handing from a mirror on my closet vanity for weeks – Just begging for the perfect look to break it out. When I saw this eye-catching sequins + tulle look over at My Precious Confessions I knew that New Years Eve was going to be my chance to make my Cat Ear dreams come true!

How was your New Years Eve? Have you made a list of New Years Resolutions for 2013?


MCLV Style: Lady of the Night

If you’re a MCLV regular you’ve probably noticed that most of the personal fashion featured on my site is either work-related or geared toward daytime styling – I’m not much of a late night girl these days. My weeks are filled to the brim with stress, deadlines, To Do Lists, and social obligations, so when the weekends roll around I’m much more interested in sleeping in, running errands, and relaxing than I am in partying the night away. Clubbing, dancing, and all-night bar hopping are things of the past it would seem.

But every once in a while there’s a social obligation or outing that requires dressing up and getting off my laptop for a night of fun and frivolity – And I definitely enjoy those evenings!

{You can shop similar pieces by clicking these hyperlinks: Printed TrousersZara, Narciso Rodriguez Sequined Top – Kohl’s, Blazer – Aqua via Bloomingdale’s,  ClutchExpress, Ankle Strap HeelsFendiSkull & Spike Bracelets – Asos.com, Chainlink Bracelet – JewelMint, Star Ring – BCBG, Swarovski Crystal Ring – Gift & Elephant Pendant – Sasha Maks Vintage from her recent Holiday Trunk Show}

{You can view this outfit on both Lookbook.nu and Pose}

{Check out outtakes from this shoot here – Just log into Facebook to view}

That being said, on occasion I relish the opportunity to enjoy a night out on the town – Whether it’s a date night, a girls night out, or just dinner and drinks in the neighborhood – Sometimes it’s fun to get all dressed up and enjoy some cocktails & laughs.

When I get dressed for a night out I like to pair something fun – And maybe new – With my favorite tried and true pieces. This blazer is one of my all time favorites {Aque via Bloomingdale’s} and I’ve come to love this tank for its layering capabilities.

I’m a skirt & dress girl through-and-through but I’m absolutely mad about all of the great pants for Fall and Winter this season. Prints, brocades, plaids, lace & stripes… Are you stocking up on pants this season as well?


MCLV Style: Animalistic

Northern California is all about layering during the Fall – The mornings may start off foggy with a chill in the air only to end up in the mid seventies with the sun beating down on you by lunchtime. Since moving to San Francisco I’ve become something of a self-taught layering expert.

{You can shop similar pieces by clicking these hyperlinks: Leopard Knit Moto JacketExpressSiren Skinny Jeans – Victoria’s SecretBlack Tunic TankClub Monaco, (faux) Patent Leather Chainlink BagExpress, Gold Geometric Bracelet – BCBG & Over-The-Knee Seude BootsChinese Laundry}

{You can view this outfit on both Lookbook.nu and Pose}

{Check out outtakes from this shoot here – Just log into Facebook to view}

This ended up being the perfect amount of layers, I could easily unzip the moto jacket to get some air, and take it off completely when it got too warm. We spent the day wandering around Sonoma Square and enjoying wine tastings, window shopping, and a tasty lunch at The Girl And The Fig.

Do you like to wear multiple lighter-weight layers when the weather starts to get colder in the Fall/Winter? Or do you prefer to wear thicker outerwear during the chillier seasons?


MCLV Style: Pardon My French

I fell madly in love with this sweater when I saw it online and knew that it had to be mine – Totally fun and perfect for Fall! First I tried pairing it with flirty, pleated black skirt but I ended up deciding on my favorite cropped black pants.

{You can shop similar pieces by clicking these hyperlinks: Pardon My French Sweater – Forever 21, Cropped Black PantsJuicy Couture @ Bloomingdale‘s, Patent Leather Chainlink BagExpress, Vintage Inspired Gold Bracelets – JewelMint, Spiked BraceletAsos.com}

{You can also view this outfit on both Lookbook.nu and Pose}

{Check out more outtakes from this shoot here – just log into Facebook to view}

I wore this for my company’s End Of Summer party two weeks ago. It was a great night filled with games – skee ball, bouncy houses, golf, mechanical bull, even a zip line – an open bar, lives music, tons of food, and a great view.

I have to admit that it’s been a while since I wore a top that had writing across the front and I’d forgotten how nerve-wracking it is when you feel like everyone’s staring at you trying to read your shirt!

How do you feel about wearing a shirt or a sweater that has writing on it?


MCLV Style: Ditzy Fox

“Are those foxes?”

“Yes. Yes they are.”

Who was it that said that boys don’t pay attention to women’s clothing? Well maybe you just need to wear something as eye-catching as a ditzy fox sweater… 🙂

{You can shop similar pieces by clicking these hyperlinks: Faux-Leather Velvet A-Line Skirt – Nicole Richie for Macys Impulse, Ditsy Fox Sweater – Forever 21, Tan Heeled SandalsMadden Girl, Chainlink HandbagExpress, SunglassesThreadSence, Studded Bracelet – H&M, Spiked BraceletAsos.com, Bow Ring – French Connection & Bee Ring – JewelMint}

{If you like this look you can HYPE it on Lookbook.nu or Pose}

Check out more outtakes from this shoot here – just log into Facebook to view

This was the perfect look for this past weekend – The sweater and velvet kept me warm while the skirt and open-toed heels gave an appropriate nod to it being an end-of-Summer weekend. Trading in my Summer brights for neutrals, browns, and blacks is a time-honored tradition for me when I’m making my Summer-to-Fall transition.

How do you adjust your daily looks when it comes to seasonal changes? Do you reorganize your closet so that you can more easily find your cold-weather pieces?


MCLV Style: New York City

New York City BABY!

As I’m sure you picked up, I was beyond excited for this trip – Seeing my best friend, attending IFBCON, and getting the chance to spend some quality time in NYC, a city that I’ve been having a love affaire with for years now.

{You can shop similar pieces by clicking these hyperlinks: Embellished Striped Top – Zara, Zipper Detail ShortsZara, Ankle Strap HeelsFendi, Oversized Crocodile Clutch – Express, Silver Art Deco Bracelet – JewelMint, Silver Bow Bracelet – Forever 21, Silver Chainlink Watch – Vintage & Ring – Tiffany’s}

 

{You can HYPE this look on Lookbook.nu}

Check out more outtakes from this shoot here – just log into Facebook to view

When I was packing for my trip to New York I found myself in a quandary – it was going to be extremely hot and humid but I’m a fairly formal dresser. Luckily for my internal body temperature this was the first Summer that I’ve worn shorts since Junior High, so I packed a few pairs for the trip. But how to style them? Shorts & a tank might be an appropriate bathing suit coverup, but for walking down the streets of New York City? Definitely not!

So with that in mind I paired my exposed zipper shorts from Zara with a striped tee with a rhinestone embellished collar, tons of chunky silver jewelry, ankle strap heels, and an oversized envelope clutch. I was comfortable temperature-wise, but still felt stylish enough to strut my stuff all over Manhattan! 🙂

Interesting in more fashion from my September trip to New York City? Check out these previous posts:

Did you have fun wearing shorts over the Summer? What’s your favorite style of shorts to wear when the weather heats up?


Links You’ll Love

Fashion:

Here’s a serious, fashion-forward French manicure that’s perfect for your next big event – DIY Nail Art: A Modern French Manicure Inspired By Marchesa.

If you love the current reigning queen of fashion, Diane Kruger, as much as I do, you’ll adore this interview from the Wall Street Journal – Diane Kruger: 20 Odd Questions.

I’m a huge devotee of ballet flats, they suit my classic and simple, but feminine style to a T, but I love to mix things up. This summer has been all about topsiders, smoking flats, and Oxfords. Don’t believe me? WhoWhatWear – How They Wear Summer Oxfords featuring celebrities like Audrey Tautou, Jessica Alba, and Rihanna, and fashion insiders like Olivia Palermo and Annabelle Dexter-Jones.

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Shoe porn anyone? How about closet organizing and gorgeous shoe storage? Thought so… Be Frassy – Shoescribe & Frassy.

Health & Fitness:

If you’re like me and enjoy trying new and interesting ways of eating in order to find the best way of eating for yourself, then here’s another to try. Paleolithic, primal, caveman – These have all been used to describe the high protein, gluten-free diet known as Paleo. Check out this health nut’s experience –30-Day Paleo Challenge: I Tried It!

If a gym membership is too pricy for you right now or even if you’re just not in the mood to head to the gym, it doesn’t mean that you have to skip your workout. Try Women’s Health’s Work Out At Home for great body weight moves you should incorporate into your workouts.

Some new duds always motivate me to get my booty to the gym, but that doesn’t mean you need to break the bank! Get Your Om on For Less: Yoga Tops Under $30.

Not sure about you, but I whole heartedly believe that there are healthy desserts out there that you can indulge in without guilt. And while I wouldn’t say it’s my life’s goal to try them all, that statement wouldn’t be too far off. Case in point? The Fitnessista’s Sweet potato chocolate chunk cookies – I made these with a few little adjustments, MCLV Mange post to come soon!

Whether you’re a native San Franciscan like I am or new to the City By The Bay, if you’re looking for some great places to workout look no further than the FitSugar headquarters – Work Out Like a Local: San Francisco Edition.


MCLV Style: Workin’ That Tee

Last year I published a post called What NOT To Wear To Work where I discussed, among other things, whether or not a T-shirt could be considered appropriate office attire. Ultimately my conclusion was that while casual graphic and burn-out tees were out of the question unless you work in fashion-forward industries like fashion, music, or film, there were appropriate possibilities out there if you looked hard enough and styled them properly.

 

To make this type of look work you just need to keep the pieces clean and simple, and go for a thick, well-made shirt in an appropriate cut, color, and silhouette for the occasion.

In this case I went with a royal purple Zara Basics t-shirt with cap-sleeves paired with a basic black pencil skirt, round-toed pumps, and a vintage-inspired gold belt.

Tee – Zara Basics, Pencil Skirt – Zara, Pumps – Franco Sarto, Bracelets – JewelMint, Vintage, & Forever 21, Rings – Vintage, Multi-Strand Gold Necklace – Express, and Retro Gold Belt – BCBG

You can HYPE this look on Lookbook.nu, shop similar pieces on ASOS Style Finder, or click the hyperlinks above for some comparable pieces that you can buy.

And believe me, I’m not the only one who enjoys a good tee. Mixing high and low, like adding a basic shirt into a work or night out look, is an art form practiced by many.

A loosely fitted highlighter colored t-shirt can keep a slouchy black suit from being boring or too business-like.

Old-school denim overalls are perfect for a hot summer day and a little white tee is the perfect finishing touch.

If you’re going to work a layering look nothing beats a basic t-shirt. It’s the perfect building block!

You can even roll up the sleeves of your basic t-shirt to give it a more unique and one-of-a-kind feeling.

What better than a basic white tee to pair with denim cut-offs and a vintage style leopard print coat for a walk on the streets of New York City.

Even high-end designers like Oscar de la Renta can’t help but enjoy a good striped tee.

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Are you creative when it comes to building new and fun looks using your favorite tees? What do you think about wearing a T-shirt to work – ya or nay?


MCLV Style: Pleats & Peplums

Happy – it’s almost the end of the week – Thursday! To celebrate I’d like to share some of my recent looks so that I can show how hard I’m working to meet my June fashion goals.

I have to confess, one of my favorite parts about having a stand-up desk at work is that I can wear pleated skirts to the office without having to worry about the pleats getting squished by sitting on them all day!

It’s the little things in life. 🙂

SkirtVince Camuto from Bloomingdale’s, Wide-strap tank – Zara, Cardigan – H&M, Mary Jane’s – Merona from Target, Rings – JewelMint, Vintage & Juicy Couture, and Watch – Vintage

You can HYPE this look on Lookbook.nu or shop similar pieces on ASOS Style Finder or by clicking the hyperlinks in the outfit breakdown above.

When I saw this skirt I knew that it was going to be mine, I loved both the stripes and the pleats. It’s also a fun length, almost like a cheerleader skirt (which I’ve never worn.,I swear). This whole look was inspired by the brightly colored, stripe-filled Jason Wu for Target Collection. And my love of stripes, of course.

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I also recently made my first peplum attempt of the season. I’ve seen so many cute variations of this trend lately – from simple peplum tops to fun & wild peplum dresses – and I wanted to give it a try as well.

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Liz from Late Afternoon has a fabulous and one-of-a-kind style, she frequently appears in my Looks of the Week posts, and I took her peplum outfit above as the inspiration for the look that I put together below.

Floral Dress – Vintage from Belle Cose, Peplum top – Zara, Patent (faux) Leather Oxford Booties – Wild Diva, Necklace – Express, Rings – JewelMint, Vintage & Juicy Couture, and Bracelets – JewelMint & Forever 21

In these photos is doesn’t appear that my body type is ideal for the peplum trend, but I decided that it was just the silhouette of the dress I’d chosen to wear under the peplum top. Besides, as far as I’m concerned the highlight of this look is the jewelry anyway. The finger-length floral ring is a recent acquisition from JewelMint and I’m madly madly in love.

Peplum Attempt Take II

Peplum Top – Zara, Pencil Skirt – Zara, Black & White Jacket – Zara, Round Toe Pumps – Very Volatile, Tweed Handbag – Kate Spade, Necklace – Asos, and Rings & Bracelets – JewelMint, Vintage, Forever 21 & BCBG

You can HYPE these looks on Lookbook.nu or shop similar pieces on ASOS Style Finder or by clicking the hyperlinks in the outfit breakdown above.

“I’m a Zara girl, in a Zara world…” I was definitely singing Barbie Girl in my head all morning. 🙂 The pencil skirt did a much better job of complementing the volume of the peplum top than the floral dress that I chose the first day. I’m glad that I gave this another try and didn’t give up after the first attempt was a disappointment!

What do you guys think? Are you willing to try interesting new trends each season? Or do you prefer to stick to your tried-and-true personal style?

A special thank you to my friend Liz for her help with these pictures, I’m an awful subject because I’m so uncomfortable in front of the camera, and I appreciate her never-ending patience with me!


MCLV Style

Welcome back to another MCLV personal style post, I hope you enjoy these shots of some of my daily looks and of the place where the magic happens – cue the dramatic, swelling music…

I’m not going to lie, this walk in closet – along with two hall closets – was about 75% of the reason that I picked this apartment. A girl’s gotta be able to spread out. Purses need their air.

Dress: Zara, Pumps: Franco Sarto & Jewelry: Vintage

Sometimes polka dots are really the only option! 🙂 I love this mini to death, it’s fun and flirty, but the long-sleeves make it appropriate enough to wear all day long. Perfect for errands and lounging after work!

Shirt: Zara, Jeans: Juicy, Jewelry: JewelMint & Rachel Roy and Shoes: Asos.com

Clearly I love stripes just as much as I love my polka dots. Definitely couldn’t pick between the two. Sophie’s choice!

And those shoes… I was trying to find the perfect shoes to wear to an upcoming wedding and since the bride-to-be is one of the coolest chicks ever and the wedding is going to be a ridiculously good time, I thought something fun like polka dots would be perfectly appropriate. Then they arrived and I KNEW, I just knew. They were destined for this wedding. Destined I tell you.

So now I’m just breaking them in. Promise.

Dress: Zara, Shoes: Very Volatile, Tights: DKNY, and Belt: BCBG

Typical work look for me, a dress in a flattering silhouette paired with pumps,and accessories. It’s the shoes, belts, headbands, scarves, and jewelry that’s the fun part for me – I like playing with the extras and adding them to my classic basics.

Dress: Vintage, Coat: Unknown (bought it in Rome years ago) & Shoes: BCBG

Chanel pendant, Manila pearls, JewelMint, Tiffany’s & Express

I frequently tend towards solid colors, but some days I really crave color. And patterns. This look is a double whammy – A colorful, floral patterned vintage dress with a traditional looking black & white plaid coat.

Dress: Banana Republic & Shoes: Franco Sarto

Pendant: JewelMint, Leaf necklace: Vintage & Ring: Rachel Roy

I love wrap dresses – from H&M to Zara to Diane Von Furstenberg. I have a couple of these faux wrap dresses from Banana Republic in different colors and patterns. They’re comfortable, flattering, and perfect to throw on during a hectic morning when you don’t have time to put mix and match separates.

Along with my personal style snaps I wanted to share with you a new obsession that is just too juicy not to spill – Emm Kuo accessories. These handbags are just divine, I adore the classic, structured styles and the versatile but unique and one-of-a-kind colors, fabrics, and patterns. From dramatic shoulder bags to the perfect day bag to envelope clutches for every possible occasion – they’ve got you covered.

Enjoy the bag porn!

You’re welcome!

Interested in my personal rules on business wear? Check out What NOT To Wear To Work.


MCLV Fashion & Lessons In Self Portraits

While I originally strove for the impossible here – i.e. decent looking self portraits – I decided to give this another attempt this past week. I’ve been having a lot of fun with my fashion choices lately and wanted to share it with you guys as best I can.

Pocket tunic - Express, Pants - DKNY, Sweater - Banana Republic, Boots - Can't remember & Jewelry - Vintage (Belle Cose)

A tunic over slim pants is one of my favorite silhouettes and I adore layering vintage gold jewelry so I really love this type of look. These boots, that I got years and years ago, are my current favorites – I like the thick heel because they’re incredibly comfortable, while the buckles give them a bit of a rock n’ roll feel.

Dress - BCBG, Jewelry- JewelMint & Vintage, Wristlet - Mango & Shoes - MaddenGirl

This colors in this dress are perfect for Spring while the subtle pattern is fresh and eye-catching. Styling it is fun because of the different ways that you can go – In January I went with a bright red coat, tights, and black pumps during the 10 Day Style Challenge. These new MaddenGirl shoes are really comfortable and I’m absolutely mad about them right now.

I always feel like Inspector Gadget when I wear bucket hats! 🙂

Coat - H&M, Booties - BCBG, Jewelry - Tiffany's & Hat - GAP

A belted jacket is such a great, classic look when its chilly out. No matter the occasion, day or night, a great coat can finish your look. It gives your outfit an overall air of polish.

Skirt - Zara, Tank - Anthropology, Booties - Max Studio & Bag - Givenchy

I love pleated skirts and excitedly picked up three for this Spring season. This black one is incredibly versatile, it can be worn with tights and boots when its colder out or with sandals and a tank during warmer weather.

Unfortunately we’re still suffering through day after day of rain here in San Francisco, so despite my desire to pull out all of my Spring clothes I’m still very much in winter mode from a wardrobe standpoint.

Have you switched to your Spring clothes & accessories yet?


10 Day Style Challenge – Part II

Welcome to Part II of Freckles in April‘s 10 Day Challenge: Winter Edition. In an attempt to keep my personal style interesting and steer clear of fashion ruts I’m participating in this fashion challenge. Each day Kayla provides us with a theme for our outfit and we dress accordingly, then share the pictures.

If you’d like to catch up on Day 1 & Day 2 you can see them here.

Freckles in April

Day 3: Embrace A Trend

Sometimes it’s easiest to just stay in our own little comfort zone of classics and basics and ignore passing trends. But for tomorrow I want you to pick a trend that intrigues you and go for it. Neon nails? Sure! Faux fur? Heck yes. Red pants? You know I love ’em.

This is such a great prompt, it really makes you face your fears and try something new and unusual. I stood in my closet and spent some time on Style.com weighing the pros and cons of various trends. Would this one be flattering? Am I brave enough to try this? And you know what I decided to go with?

STAR STRUCK!

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As much as I’ve adored the Dolce & Gabbana star-studded gowns that have made it to the red carpets lately, the key to making this trend work for me was going to be translating it into a day-to-day, wearable format. Sadly that meant the hotpants were out too. Tragic really.

Tunic - Zara, Cigarette Pants - Juicy, Bag - Express, Jewelry - Vintage, JewelMint & Tiffany's, Scarf - Zara, Flats - Lucky & Blazer - Aqua

Slim pants and a tunic is one of my favorite silhouettes, so taking a style that I’m comfortable with and than amping up the trendiness with prints, accessories and jewelry kept me from feeling completely out of my element. I was amazing by how many star-studded pieces I’d accumulated and it was fun to pair them all together in one look.
 

Day 4: Channel Someone

For tomorrow I want you to channel someone. Alive or dead, fictional or real, famous or regular Joe – doesn’t matter. The trick here is to keep your outfit from looking costumey. You don’t have to copy them exactly…just try and capture the flavor. Pick something they might wear. Give their hairstyle a go.

When I saw this prompt my brain went into overdrive! Audrey Hepburn. No – Grace Kelly. No – Jackie O. No – Twiggy. No – Someone original, someone no one else will pick. To save my pride I’ll lie about how long that little conversation in my head went on for and just say that it went on for a while.

So where did I end up?

Source & Source

I really wanted to channel a 60’s-era Mod girl but since Twiggy is a bit out of my range size-wise, I went with Jean Shrimpton who not only had some curves, she also had long hair with straight, dramatic bangs.

E Voila!

Dress - Burberry, Boots - Zara, Coat - H&M & Purse - Vintage

Pretty simple, I wanted the focus to be on the key pieces so I didn’t add a ton of accessories. The perfect little black shift dress, my Sergent Pepper coat and some go-go style boots to finish the look off.
 
This challenge is turning into one of the most fun and creative outlets that I’ve found in a long time, I am really, really enjoying myself. So stay tuned for the next two looks and I promise to keep posing like a mad woman! 🙂

Fashion Crushes

 

 

When I think about fashionable and memorable looks that I’ve enjoyed recently two individuals immediately come to mind – Red carpet darling Zoe Saldana and Michael Fassbender. Does the latter not sound familiar? Perhaps you know him as Magneto from the recent X-Men First Class – I saw the movie in theaters months ago and am still thinking about his wardrobe!

Zoe Saldana:

What I adore about Zoe’s style is her ability to mix pieces and she’s a master of the high-low, which make her looks much more accessible to those of us not making millions per picture. Thanks Zoe! Another thing she’s fabulous at? Accessorizing! She always has gorgeous jewelry, enviable shoes, and to die for bags, whether she’s on the red carpet or running errands on her days off.

{Not only is the color phenomenal on her, the lace back and sweet accessories pull the look together perfectly! The floral earrings might seem over-the-top on some, but she makes them look stylish.}

{A little black dress is anything but boring when Zoe gets her hands on it. This Barbara Bui mini is sleek, sexy & fun and those Balenciaga heels are to DIE FOR.}

{This Express dress was all the rage last summer but I loved the way Zoe made this dress totally her own by belting it and adding a chic cross-body bag.}

{Only Zoe could make this Balenciaga shorts suit looks so chic – I love that she paired the printed, embellished suit with a basic white tee. The red carpet never looked better!}

Michael Fassbender:

Boys – The costume designer for this latest installment in the X-Men franchise, Sammy Sheldon, is an utter genius! Not only are these clothes gorgeous and tailored to perfection, they’re right on trend for this fall. In case you’ve been sleeping all summer, Mad Men is all the rage – See Banana Republic’s Mad Men-inspired collection here and I promise you wont be disappointed.

Please proceed for some much deserved eye candy and menswear fashion porn.

{This linen suit is the perfect Summer look paired with a white collared shirt – It couldn’t be further from the stiff formality of the white suit made infamous by Mark Twain or Colonel Sanders – And evokes hot Summer nights is Havana!}

Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Caleb Landry Jones, Jennifer Lawrence and Rose Byrne

{Turtle necks can be a great layering tool during the Fall & Winter, as can a chic leather jacket. Invest is both!}

{Retro sunglasses are always going to be in style – Find the shape that suits you best and stick to it!}

I can’t be the only one who saw X-Men and immediately wanted to take my boyfriend shopping, right? I mean, the actor is cute enough, but those turtle necks and three pieces suits – Swoon!

Who are your fashion crushes? Is there someone who you always looked to for fashion inspiration over the years or who helped your personal style evolve?