Links You’ll Love
Fashion:
My Spring cleaning urges are clearly starting to kick in early this year – Check out Gala Darling’s Blog On, Babe: Get Organized! for some great ideas for organizing your work – Whether you’re a blogger, a writer, or any other creative type.
Did you enjoy my recent organizational tips & recommendations for closet cleaning {Closet Organization}? If so you’ll love these suggestions from Apartment Therapy – Get Sorted: 5 Functional Shoe Organizers.
I’m in an outerwear state of mind these days – Between San Francisco being colder than I can ever remember and a trip to New York City scheduled for two weeks – I’m determined to find the perfect coat. Stylish but warm. Leave it to Olivia Palermo to have all the answers to our statement coat questions – How To Rock: The Coat.
It’s just about time to start daydreaming thinking about planning your Spring vacation. So why not take some advice from stylist-to-the-stars Brad Goreski – How To Travel In Style.
In the market for a new lipstick? Get the right one with Cupcakes & Cashmere’s Lipstick Guide to help you through the process!
Health & Fitness:
You know that coconut oil is good for you and I’ve shared some tasty ways to get coconut into your diet, but have you tried using it in your beauty routine? Glitter Guide has the scoop in their piece 10 Ways To Add Coconut Oil To Your Beauty. Routine
Whether you’re gluten-intolerant, following a paleo/primal diet, or just interested in eating a healthier diet kelp noodles are a great new food to try out, you should read Choosing Raw’s Kelp Noodle 101: How to Prepare and Serve Kelp Noodles.
I’m always interested in learning how my nutrition affects my health & how my body feels, and clearly I’m not the only one. Check out Purely Twins’s – Day 18 interesting reads about fructose malabsorption & hormonal acne.
As we grow up we need to pay attention not only to our overall health, but to our bone health at all. You may think that eating a calcium rich diet or taking supplements is all you need to do, but staying educated and aware is what you really need – Best Foods For Your Bones.
If you’re interested in strengthening your thighs than FitSugar has the answers in their Inner Thigh Exercises post – Work it!
January 27, 2013 | Categories: Fashion, Fitness, Food, Links You'll Love | Tags: Apartment Therapy, Blogger, Blogger fashion, Blogger Street Style, Blogger Streetstyle, blogger style, Brad Goreski, Celiac, Choosing Raw, Closet cleaning, Closet organization, Coat, coconut oil, Cupcakes & Cashmere, Easy vegan recipe, easy vegetarian recipes, Fashion, Fashion Blogger Fashion, Fashion Blogger Street Style, Fashion Blogger Streetstyle, Fashion Blogger Style, Fitness, Fitness Blog, Fitness Blogger, Food blog, food blogger, Gala Darling, Gena Hamshaw, Glitter Guide, Gluten intolerance, Gluten-free, Gluten-free noodle, Gluten-Free Pasta, health, Health & Fitness Blogs, Health Blog, Health blogger, healthy living, healthy pasta, Hollywood stylist, jacket, kelp noodle, Lifestyle Blog, Lifestyle Blogger, Lip color, Lipstick, Lipstick Guide, Mr. Brad Goreski, Nutrition, Olivia Palermo, Oliviapalermo.com, Paleo, paleo diet, paleo eating, Paleolithic, Primal, Primal diet, primal eating, Pure2Raw, Purely Twins, Quick vegan recipe, Quick Vegetarian recipes, raw diet, San Francisco, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, San Francisco Food, San Francisco Food Blogger, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco Streetstyle, San Francisco style, SF, SF Fashion, SF Fashion Blogger, SF Food, SF Street Style, SF Streetstyle, SF Style, Shoe organizer, Statement coat, Street style, Streetstyle, Style, The Real ol, Travel in style, traveling, Vegan, Vegan food blogger, Vegan living, vegan recipe, veganism, Vegetarian, Vegetarian living, Vegetarian recipes, vegetarianism, Winter, Winter Lipstick, Winter outerwear | 4 Comments
Closet Organization
Is there a more intimidating or thankless project than cleaning out your closet? I have to confess that I usually have it on my To Do list for weeks before I get up the courage and fortitude to tackle the project. Don’t get me wrong, I adore a well-organized closet and am somewhat OCD about keeping it clean day-to-day {bf chuckles}, but a full-on cleaning can be intimidating.
I’ve found that approaching the project with a three-fold plan of attack is what works for me. That and spending days hours on Pinterest drooling over beautifully organized closets to get me in the mood… ❤
- Love It or Leave It – First you need to go through every single piece in your closet and decide whether you want to keep it. Tears optional.
- Share The Love – Once I’ve created a pile of pieces that need a new home I set up a Closet Party with some friends and after that any remaining items will be donated to the Goodwill.
- Live The Dream – Finally, when your closet is filled only with the pieces you’ll be holding onto, it’s time to sort, organize, rearrange, and plan for the future.
Need more details? Read on…
Love It or Leave It:
I become somewhat attached to inanimate objects so after years of carrying clothes that still have the tags on them from one apartment to another, I have had to set rules for myself. If I haven’t worn it in the last year – It has to go. End of discussion.
You may have a home with more storage space or larger closets and be able to keep more clothing and accessories, it’ll be dependent on what you have available to you and how much of a “clothes horse” you are. In general, if you can’t remember the last time you wore something, you probably don’t need to hold onto it. If your shoes are falling apart, you can probably let them go. If a piece has needed hemming or tailoring for as long as you can remember and you still haven’t taken it in, you guessed it, you should probably put it in the “out” pile.
Share The Love:
My favorite thing to do once I’ve created a pile of things that I’m not going to keep is to plan a closet party – I invite some friends over for cocktails or champagne and free reign of my closets. It’s been a tradition for a few years now and I love to include new friends, it’s a fun bonding event. And what’s left over after the closet party gets dropped off at the donations center of Goodwill.
Living The Dream:
Now that you know what you’re working with you can figure out how best to approach the cleaning of your closet. I like to tackle the reorganizing process in three steps:
- First I rearrange by type & color {i.e. pants with pants, solids from black to white, then prints}
- The second step is to consider the season and organize your closet so that the clothes & accessories that you’re wearing now are most readily available. This can mean deploying under-bed organizing trays or boxes to be stacked on shelves out of reach in your closet if need be.
- Finally, after all of that work, I like to take stock of what I have and how it’s arranged and implement some changes to make getting dressed run more smoothly – Like adding accessories holders, changing hangers, or separating work clothes from play.
{All photos from MCLV’s Closet Porn… Board on Pinterest}
You can find some other tips and suggestions in Sincerely Jules’s Details or Cupcakes & Cashmere’s Closet Clean-Up or her Operation Organization: Closet Edition.
So tell me, how often do you overhaul your closet(s)? Do you have a specific process whenever you get started on this project?
January 16, 2013 | Categories: Fashion | Tags: accessories, bags, Black dress, Black Pants, blacks, Boudoir, Button down, button down shirt, casual, Chanel, Clean, cleaning, closet, Closet cleaning, Closet organization, closet organizers, closet organzing, closet party, Closets, clothes, Coat, Coco Chanel, colors, day dress, Donating, donation, donations, Dresses, formal, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, girls night out clothes, gloves, going out clothes, Goodwill, handbags, Hangers, Hats, heels, high heels, how to clean, how to clean the closet, how to organize, how to organize the closet, interview clothes, jacket, jewelry, job clothes, Julie Sarinana, LBD, Little Black Dress, long-sleeved, low-key, motivating, motivation, nighttime clothes, office clothes, Office dress code, Office fashion, office shoes, Office style, Office-appropriate, office-appropriate clothing, organizers, Organizing, organizing accessories, organizing jewelry, organzing, organzing clothes, outerwear, pants, Patterns, Pencil skirt, pieces, prints, pumps, purses, scarves, separates, shoe carriers, shoe holders, Shoes, shoppers, short sleeved, Sincerely Jules, Slacks, sleeveless, striped, Stripes, Summer clothes, summer dresses, Sweater, totes, velvet hangers, work appropriate clothes, work clothes, work dresses, work fashion, work pants, work style, work-appropriate, Wrap dress | 15 Comments
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 Jacket – Express, Siren Skinny Jeans – Victoria’s Secret, Black Tunic Tank – Club Monaco, (faux) Patent Leather Chainlink Bag – Express, Gold Geometric Bracelet – BCBG & Over-The-Knee Seude Boots – Chinese 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?
November 8, 2012 | Categories: Fashion, MCLV Style | Tags: Aldo, Aldo Sunglasses, Asos, Asos.com, bag, Ballet flats, BCBG, BCBG Max Azria, BCBG Ring, BCBGeneration, BCBGirl, BCBGirls, BCBGMazAzria, Benzinger, Benzinger Winery, Black Pants, Blogger, Blogger fashion, Blogger Street Style, blogger style, boots, Bow ballet flats, bow flats, British fashion, British style, Capri pants, capris, Chinese Laundry, Chinese Laundry boots, Cigarette pants, Club Monaco, cocktail ring, Cropped leggings, Cropped Pants, Embarcadero, Eric Ross, Eric Ross Winery, Express, Express For Her, Express jacket, Express outerwear, Express Women, Fahsion, Fall, Fall 2012, Fall 2012 Accessories, Fall 2012 Boots, Fall 2012 clothes, Fall 2012 Clothing, Fall 2012 Coats, Fall 2012 essentials, Fall 2012 Fashion, Fall 2012 Jackets, Fall 2012 Must Haves, Fall 2012 Outerwear, Fall 2012 Style, Fall 2012 Trends, Fall accessories, Fall Boots, Fall clothes, Fall Clothing, fall coats, Fall Essentials, Fall Fashion, Fall jackets, Fall Must Haves, Fall outerwear, Fall Style, Fall trends, Farmer's Market, Farmer's Market fare, Fashion Blogger, Fashion Blogger Fashion, Fashion Blogger Street Style, Fashion Blogger Streetstyle, Fashion Blogger Style, Ferry Building, Ferry Building Farmer's Market, Ferry Building Market Place, FiDi, Fig Cafe, Financial District, Geometric bracelet, Glen Ellen, Glen Ellen Restaurant, Gold bracelet, H&M, H&M Ballet flats, H&M Coat, H&M flats, H&M Jacket, handbag, High Street, High Street Fashion, jacket, Leggings, Leopard, LEOPARD KNIT MOTO JACKET, leopard print, Leopard Print Jacket, local farmers, London Fasjhion, London Shopping, London style, Miss Selfridge, Moto Jacket, motorcycle jacket, North Beach, OASAP, OASAP bag, OASAP handbag, OASAP purse, Over-the-knee, over-the-knee boots, Purse, Restaurants in Sonoma, San Francisco, San Francisco farmer's market, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco Streetstyle, San Francisco style, Sergeant Pepper, Sergeant Pepper Coat, Sergeant Pepper jacket, SF, SF Farmer's Market, SF Fashion, SF Fashion Blogger, SF Street Style, SF Streetstyle, SF Style, Sgt. Pepper, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, shopper, Shopping in London, shoulder bag, Simple Elegant Celebrity, Simple Elegant Celebrity Zipped Shoulder Bag, Siren Skinny Jeans, skinny jeans, skinny pants, slim pants, Smile For Style, Sonoma, Sonoma restaurant, Sonoma Square, spike, Spiked, Spiked bracelet, Spikes, Star cocktail ring, Star ring, Street style, Streetstyle, Style, sunglasses, Tank top, The Embarcadero, The Girl And The Fig, TopShop, Tortoise Shell, Tortoise Shell Sunglasses, tote, tunic, Tunic Tank, UK Online Stores, UK Retailers, UK Shopping, UK Stores, Victoria's Secret, wine tasting, Winter 2013 Boots, Winter Boots, Zipped Shoulder Bag | 1 Comment
Links You’ll Love
Health & Fitness:
I was quite the little baker this Summer and I have to say that this was one of the tastiest and most creative recipes that I tried out – Dark Chocolate Cherry Zucchini Bread.
A short, energizing yoga workout is a great way to de-stress and stretch out after a long day at the office in your desk chair – Women’s Health yoga video.
Love Thy Self! Gala Darling agrees and wants to help you – 10 Radical Self Love Exercises To Boost Your Summer Lovin’!
A vegetable stir fry with either a grain or soy, tempeh, or tofu is one of my favorite quick & easy mid-week dinners so I enjoy finding new sauces and combinations to try out, like Peas And Thank You’s Szechuan Broccoli and Quinoa.
You don’t need a full hour for a workout to be beneficial, fit in some walking and short bursts of exercise whenever you can! Before work, during your lunch break, before a class starts – Get Fit In Only Fifteen Minutes.
Fashion:
Being able to break out all of your jeans is one of the fun things about Fall dressing. Check out FabSugar’s The Ultimate Fall Denim Guide — Every Trend, Cut, Color, and Fit.
My favorite part about Fall is the outerwear – I love full ankle-length coats, peacoats, trenches, blazers, basically anything that I can get my hands on – Coat Check: How to Take Your Look in a Ladylike Direction.
Most of us wish we could get more sleep, so why not save a few precious minutes in the morning by speeding up your beauty and makeup routine? How To Do Your Makeup In 5 Minutes (Really!)
Dressing for work doesn’t need to be boring, from colorful separates to chic suits to fabulous sheath dresses, Harper’s Bazaar has the answers – Stylish Work Clothes.
Celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness month with some stylish pink finds – From beauty products to accessories and jewelry, no matter what you’re in the mood for you can support this great cause. Mama’s A Rolling Stone – Our 6 Favorite Breast Cancer Awareness Products.
October 7, 2012 | Categories: Fashion, Fitness, Food, Links You'll Love | Tags: 15 minute workout, Alexa Chung, Alexa Chung style, Amanda Seyfried, ankle-length, ankle-length coat, Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor LOFT, Ashley Olsen, beauty, Beauty products, beginner fitness, beginner workouts, beginners fitness, Beginners Guide to Running, Beginners workouts, Between You & Me Lipstick, blazer, blazers, Blogger, Blogger fashion, Blogger Street Style, Blogger Streetstyle, blogger style, Boudoir Chemise, Breast Cancer Awareness, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Breast Cancer Awareness products, Broccoli and Quinoa, Brulee, cashmere, Chloe, Chocolate Zucchini Cake, Coat, coat check, Cosabella, Dairy-free, dairy-free milk, dairy-free recipe, Denim, denim guide, denim skirt, Denim Trends, double-breasted coat, energizing yoga, Evan Thomas, Everyday Minerals, Fabsugar, Fall 2012 Collection, Fall 2012 dressing, Fall 2012 Fashion, Fall 2012 Fashion Week, Fall 2012 RTW, Fall 2012 Trends, Fall clothes, Fall Clothing, Fall Dressing, Fall Style, Fall trends, Fashion, Fashion Blogger, Fashion Blogger Fashion, Fashion Blogger Street Style, Fashion Blogger Streetstyle, Fashion Blogger Style, Fitness, Fitness for beginners, flax egg, Food blog, food blogger, Gala Darling, Giuliana Rancic for LOFT, Gluten intolerance, gluten intolerant, Gluten-free, gluten-free cookies, gluten-free cooking, gluten-free desserts, gluten-free diet, Gluten-Free Food, gluten-free meals, gluten-free recipe, gluten-free recipes, grain-free, grain-free dessert, grain-free muffins, grain-free recipe, harper's bazaar, health, healthy baking, healthy life, healthy lifestyle, healthy living, Hope In A Jar, jacket, jean guide, Jean jacket, Jeans, ladylike coat, LOFT, Love Thy Self, makeup, Mama's A Rolling Stone, Marcie Satchel in Paradise Pink, Mary-Kate Olsen, Nutrition, office clothes, Office dress code, Office fashion, office shoes, Office style, Office-appropriate, office-appropriate clothing, Olsens, outerwear, peacoat, Peas and Thank You, Peas and Thank You: Simple Meatless Meals the Whole Family Will Love, Philosophy, PINK, pink beauty products, pink lipstick, pink pieces, pink products, plaid, Pretty coat, quick beauty regime, quick makeup, quick morning routine, quick routine, quinoa\, Radical Self Love, Radical Self Love Bootcamp, Radical Self Love Exercises, Refinery 29, Refinery29, San Francisco, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, San Francisco Food Blogger, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco style, Self Love, SF, SF Fashion, SF Fashion Blogger, SF Food, SF Food Blogger, SF Street Style, SF Style, short workout, Short workouts, short yoga workout, skinny jeans, Slim jeans, slim pants, soy, statement necklace, stiryfry, Street style, Streetstyle, Style, Stylish coat, stylish outerwear, Stylish work clothes, Suave Tube, Szechuan, Szechuan Broccoli, Szechuan Broccoli and Quinoa, tempeh, The Olsen Twins, The Radical Self Love Project, The Wannabe Chef, tofu, Trench, Trench coat, tweed, Vegan, vegan baking, vegan dessert recipe, vegan desserts, Vegan food blogger, Vegan life, Vegan living, vegan recipe, Vegan recipes, vegan stiryfry, veganism, Veganism for beginners, Vegetarian, vegetarian baking, vegetarian dessert recipe, vegetarian desserts, Vegetarian life, Vegetarian living, Vegetarian recipes, vegetarianism, veggie stirfry, Women's Health, Womens Health Mag, wool, work clothes, working out for beginners, workouts, workouts for beginners, Workwear, yoga, yoga video, zucchini, zucchini bread, Zucchini cake, Zucchini Cookies, zucchini dessert, zucchini recipe | Leave a comment
London Fashion Week Spring 2013
Today I’m going to be sharing reviews of some of the lovely collections that came off the Spring 2013 London Fashion Week catwalks – From the big names like Burberry and Mulberry to the well-loved but somewhat less established designers like Matthew Williamson and Christopher Kane.
Enjoy!
Burberry:
Color, color, and more color. The Burberry runway show was a veritable rainbow of color-drenched trench coats, dresses, and separates. Christopher Bailey also played with textures and fabrics including shimmering metallics, tinted plastic, and shiny holographic prints – Giving the classic brand a fun, futuristic twist.
Capes, hotpants, puffy capsleeves, swimwear, cropped jackets, leather, dramatic belts, lace brilliant metallic handbags, and colorful open-toed heels added to the brilliance of the collection.
Mulberry:
Fabulous outerwear seemed to be the name of the game in London and while Burberry was bright and festive, Mulberry was a bit more demure, however no less ornate. Bronzy gold, peachy cream, minty green, and blues from pale to midnight.
The brocades, embroideries, and patterns were phenomenal, very earthy and flora based, something of a mix between Fall and Spring. I loved the use of florals on the clothing, handbags, and shoes simultaneously, rather than be over the top it was totally chic. I also loved the outerwear – The oversized silhouettes and large, upturned collars were perfection.
Acne:
The clothes at Acne were bold – Dramatic stripes, bright colors, graffiti prints, colorblocking, black leather, straps & buckles, adapted gladiator platforms, and parachute silhouettes.
All in all a very wearable collection of interesting and eye-catching separates perfect for the Acne girl. I especially liked the maxi skirts, vertical stripes, and buckle adorned vests.
House of Holland:
This 90’s grunge inspired collection was one for the books – The dark, moody colors were perfectly suited to the dramatic checkered patterns, graphic tees, beanies, skater shorts, and maxi silhouettes.
These were great pieces that immediately made me nostalgic for the music of my Junior High and High School days – Especially the shrunken baby tees, slouchy knit caps, and midriff bearing tops.
Erdem:
Python prints on retro silhouettes may not sound like a winning combination, but Erdem proved that it could work and even infused the collection with hints of neon and lace.
Little details make this collection really pop – Driving gloves, sheer lace, pleats, floral applique, cut-outs, high-necklines, coat-dresses, and intricate beading. Overall the collection was prim and proper but with a fun, wild side.
Pringle of Scotland:
Pringle started as a knitwear brand and this season they returned to their roots showing a lovely collection of separates which included a number of variations on their typical belted twinset.
When you say Pringle of Scotland what comes to my mind are clean lines, a preppy vibe, belted separates, and argyle, and this collection showed great versions of all of those staples.
Matthew Williamson:
Fun prints, brilliant colors, and dramatic details are what we’ve come to expect from Matthew Williamson, and this season’s collection really delivered.
Easy separates appeared in tie dye prints and with eye-catching embroidery and beading. His party girl clients will live in the float a-line silhouettes, mini skirts, and jeweled dresses paired with gem-encrusted belts and his new shoe collection.
Peter Pilotto:
Print lovers will have something amazing to look forward to from Peter Pilotto come Spring – Digital prints, mixing & matching patterns, and bright, bold prints.
Dramatic, eye-catching, and one-of-a-kind. The pieces shown at Peter Pilotto were extraordinary, I especially enjoyed the pants, oversized peplums, and dramatic, Latin-inspired ruffles.
Preen:
Preen made a triumphant return from the New York Fashion Week with a blue and white collection highlighted with hints of yellow and red, and covered in all-over prints.
The patchwork-like use of swatches of prints, combined with the tailoring, dramatic slits, verticle white stripes, and long, lean silhouettes gave the collection an architectural, structed feel.
Christopher Kane:
The Christopher Kane show was surprisingly delicate and sweet – A full 180 from previous collections full of black, slashed fabric, and safety pins.
Pale colors, light fabrics, dramatic drapes & folds, sheer pieces, clear plastic, and slits & cut-outs that somehow appeared elegant and refined despite the skin peeking through.
Mary Katrantzou:
The Queen of Prints returns! Taking banknotes and stamps as her visual inspiration she put together a unique and dramatic collection of dresses and separates covered with intricate patterns.
These pieces could never be confused with having been created by another designer – They were utterly one-of-a-kind – Simultaneously exotic and modern but with an old-fashioned air. I adored the matching pant & tunic sets, they were divine and I can’t wait to see how Hollywood interprets them to the red carpet.
Temperley London:
The Temperley London collection was all about bright colors, fun prints, nautical stripes, and retro silhouettes for this coming Spring – All the pieces fun but a little formal, and utterly wearable.
The sundress was reworked with a 50’s vibe and paraded down the runway in a variety of colors, patterns, and fabrics. There were also jumpsuits, lace & embroidery covered dress & gowns, shirt dresses, sweater sets, and too chic for words sun hats.
Sources: Style.com, Fashionologie, The Stylist, & Tom & Lorenzo
Previous LFW & Spring 2013 Collections: New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part I, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part II, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Part III, New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 – Street Style & Front Row Fashion, London Fashion Week Fall 2012, London Fashion Week – Street Style & Front Row Fashion, London Fashion Week Spring 2012 Round-Up, and Streetstyle & Front Row Fashion – London Fashion Week.
Additional reviews, photographs, shows, and videos: The Best Looks from London Fashion Week: Spring 2013 from Harper’s Bazaar, Our 10 Favorite Looks From London Fashion Week from Refinery 29, and Runway Recap: The Best Shoes From London Spring 2013 from Fashionlogie.
What’s your favorite thing about London Fashion Week? The chic outerwear, bold, innovative prints, or the retro, ladylike touches?
October 2, 2012 | Categories: Fashion | Tags: 1940's, 1990s, 40's, 40's inspired, 50's, 50's inspired, 50's style, 50's sundress, 50s daydress, 90s, 90s inspired, Acne, Acne Ready To Wear, Alice Temperley, Alistair Carr, animal print, Atelier Versace, Balenciaga, Balenciaga-ish, banknote, Best bags, Best looks, Best shoes, Blogger fashion, Blogger Street Style, Blogger Streetstyle, blogger style, Boris Karloff, British fashion, British Glamour, British style, Brocade, Burberry, Burberry Ads, Burberry Body, Burberry model, Burberry Prorsum, Burberry trench coat, Button down, Cara Delevingne, Casualwear, catwalk, Céline-ish, Celine, chinoiserie jacquard, Christopher Bailey, Christopher De Vos, Christopher Kane, Coat, Collage, collections, Corsets & Capes, Corsets and Capes, Cupcake, cupcakes, Darwin Centre, Designer collaberation, Digital Fashion Show, Digital Show, digital-print, Donatella Versace, Electric Angels, embroidery, Emma Hill, Erdem, Erdem Moralioglu, Fall 2012, Fall 2012 London Fashion, fantasy, Fashion, Fashion Blogger, Fashion Blogger Fashion, Fashion Blogger Street Style, Fashion Blogger Streetstyle, Fashion Blogger Style, Fashion month, Fashion Week, flora, florals, Frankenstein, Gianni Versace, giant poodle in a peacoat, Gold, graphic print, Grunge, halter-strap sundresses, harper's bazaar, Henry Holland, House of Holland, IFB, Independent Fashion Bloggers, Italian fashion, Italian Style, jacket, Jonny Johansson, Jourdan Dunn, Justin Thornton, knits, knitwear, Kurt Cobain, lace, late-1950s, Let Them Eat Cake, LFW, London Fashion, London Fashion Week, London Fashion Week Fall 2012, London Fashion Week Spring 2013, London Street Style, London style, Marie Antoinette, Mary Katrantzou, Matthew Williamson, Matthew Williamson Shoe Collection, MBFW, MBFW Pins, model, Model fashion, Model Style, Models, Mulberry, Mulberry bag, Neil Young, neon, New York Fashion Week Pins, Nirvana, NYFW, NYFW Pins, outerwear, pastel floral lace, patchwork, Peter Pilotto, Pinterest, polished elegance, Poppy Delevingne, Portofino chic, postage stamps, Preen, Pringle of Scotland, python, Refinery 29, Refinery29, Regent Street, reptilian, resortwear, Retro, retro silhouette, Runway, Runway recap, Runway show, Runway trends, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco style, Sci-fi, Science fiction, SF Fashion, SF Fashion Blogger, SF Street Style, SF Style, shirt dress, Shirtdress, shows, snake skin, snakeskin, Sophia Loren, Spring 2013, Spring 2013 Bags, Spring 2013 Collection, Spring 2013 Collections, Spring 2013 Handbags, Spring 2013 LFW, Spring 2013 London Fashion Week, Spring 2013 on Pinterest, Spring 2013 Pins, Spring 2013 Ready-To-Wear, Spring 2013 RTW, Spring 2013 Runway Shows, Spring 2013 shows, Spring 2013 trends, Stamp print, Street style, Streetstyle, Style, sundress, sundresses, Tallulah, Temperly London, Thea Bregazzi, Travelocity Gnome, Trench, Trench coat, twinsets, versace, Versace Couture, vintage, Vintage inspired, white button-down, white shirt, wide-leg leather pants, World Travelor, Wrecking Ball, Zenna Henderson | 4 Comments
The Man Behind The Camera
Other than my dear friend Liz, the remainder of the MCLV Personal Style photographs are taken by the current boyfriend Sean. He has written a guest post for us in the past and trained me in the ways of CrossFit, but has never been featured on the blog for his fashion prowess before.
That is, until today.
True, he spends the majority of his waking hours in workout clothes, but when he does deign to put on street clothes, he has a great personal style.
When we initially met in our senior year of high school he was extremely preppy – Polo shirts, button downs, and wool or cashmere collared coats. But over the years his style relaxed, becoming more and more low-key, and when we got back together two years ago he wore very little other than t-shirts, jeans, and flip-flops.
But miracle of miracles, over the last two years his sense of style has begun evolving again. And more than that, he has actually started to enjoy clothes and fashion more, like he did when he was younger. Now he shops online, asks for advice on putting together pieces in his wardrobe & picking things out, and genuinely has an interest in shopping and expanding his wardrobe.
These days he prefers to keep his daily look low-key and minimal, and primarily wears black, white, and navy. Jeans are usually his preference and he traditionally pairs them with a Lacoste Pima V-Neck, a button down, or a Polo shirt. As for brands, we’ve found that the shirts that fit him best are Express for Men and Lacoste, they both have slim fit versions that work well for his frame.
When it comes to shoes he’s tried virtually everything, from boots to slip-ons to boat shoes to loafers. He loves slip ons and its all I can do to make sure he doesn’t wear his rubber soled slippers out of the house. The most worn pair of shoes he has are his tan, lace-up Banana Republic loafers, but he did just get a new pair of slip-on boat shoes that are very versatile.
They can even be worn with pink!
And a style post wouldn’t be complete without mentioned his creativity, he picked a kick-ass Halloween costume last year that suited him quite well despite being an incredibly last-minute choice – The Travelocity Gnome! 🙂
In the mood for more? Check out my Let’s Hear It For The Boys post filled with tips, ideas, and inspiration for putting together a complete and stylish wardrobe.
What do you like most on the men in your life? Are there certain styles that appeal to you more than others? When it comes to mens accessories, do you think less is more?
July 26, 2012 | Categories: Fashion, Fitness, Food | Tags: American River Crossfit, ARCFit, Banana Republic, boat shoes, boy clothes, Boys, Button down, button down shirt, cashmere coat, casual, casual clothes, casual clothing, Coat, collared coat, CrossFit, dress clothes, dress shirt, dress shoes, Express for men, Fasting, Gap, Gnome costume, gym, gym clothes, Halloween, Halloween costume, Intermittent Fasting, intermittent fasting and meal frequency, Intermittent Training & Stubborn Body Fat, jacket, Jeans, Lacoste, loafers, Low-Intensity Fasted Cardio, low-key, male clothes, Martin Berkhan, men, mens clothing, mens style, Menswear, online shopping, Pima V-Neck, polo, Polo shirt, relaxed, Sacramento CrossFit Gym, Sacramento gyms, shirt, Slacks, slip ons, slippers, Street Clothes, street fashion, Street style, T-shirt, tee, top siders, Travelocity Gnome, v-neck, wardrobe must haves, what a man should have in his closet, Wool coat, working out, workout, workout clothes, worn jeans | 2 Comments
Fashion Inspiration
Fashion isn’t just about what you wear, what goes on your body. It’s truly an expression of yourself that extends far beyond your clothes.
“Fashion is everything. Art, music, furniture design, graphic design, hair, makeup, architecture, the way cars look – all those things go together to make a moment in time.” – Tom Ford
And just as fashion isn’t limited to the cloth that we wrap ourselves in, inspiration can also be found in many forms.
I began clipping pictures from magazines as a pre-adolescent, not so much fashion photos, just pictures that caught my eye, things that I found eye-catching or memorable or mesmerizing.
As I became interested in fashion however, my clipping habits became more focused. And while I don’t confine myself to photographs of clothing and accessories, I’ve found that my love of fashion gives this activity more direction and purpose. I’ve found that even without context, pictures can serve a creative function.
They excite. They encourage. They inspire.
The beauty and artistry captured by a photographer can be moving, regardless of the medium. Advertisements, promotional materials, editorials, art, home decor…
I’ve found that by keeping these images available to myself I can stay out of a fashion rut. They provide new ideas and inspiration, get my creative juices flowing, and motivate me to grow and evolved. I highly recommend creating and maintaining a Look Book, a collection of images that make you smile, that invigorate you, that make you push your boundaries.
Whether it’s a physical book filled with clippings like mine are, or Boards on Pinterest, this is a great creative and inspirational outlet. Keeping pictures of looks that you like, styles that call to you, photos that take your breath away, can all be great tools to keep your approach to fashion fresh and interesting.
What’s your favorite way to get inspired?
June 27, 2011 | Categories: Fashion | Tags: accessories, advertisements, adverts, Ali Larter, Amy Adams, Ashley Olsen, bag, beauty, Birkin Bag, blazer, Bohemian, boho, boho chic, Burberry, Burberry Prorsum, Celebrity fashion, celebrity style, Chanel, Chanel bag, Chanel beauty, Chanel beauty products, Chanel bracelet, Chanel perfume, Coat, Coco Chanel, Coco Madmoiselle, corporate fashion, corporate style, cropped blazer, designer, Dolce & Gabbana, editorials, elbow-length gloves, Elle, Elle UK, Fashion, fashion advertisements, Fashion inspiration, Fashion Magazine, fashion model, Fashion photos, Flats, Hair, hairstyles, handbag, harper's bazaar, Harper's Bazaar UK, heels, Hermes, Hermes Birkin, Hippie, hippie chic, inspiration, InStyle, jacket, jane birkin, Karl, Karl Lagerfeld, Karlie Kloss, Kate Hudson, Kate Moss, Layering, Lily Donaldson, look book, Lookbook, Louis Vuitton, Louis Vuitton bag, Louis Vuitton duffle, Louis Vuitton Trunks, magazine, magazine clippings, Magdalena Frackowiak, makeover, makeup, Makeup routine, Margarite Missoni, Mary-Kate & Ashley, Mary-Kate Olsen, military inspired, missoni, Model fashion, Model Style, Models, models adverts, Nicole Kidman, office clothes, Office fashion, opera length gloves, outerwear, oversized bag, Paris, pearl collar, pearl necklace, pearl necklaces, pearls, Poppy Delevingne, Purse, Rachel Zoe, red hair, redhead, reese witherspoon, Retro, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, San Francisco shopping, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco style, Sasha Pivovarova, scarves, Seine, SF Fashion, SF Fashion Blogger, SF Shopping, SF Street Style, SF Style, stacking, Street style, Style, Stylist, The Seine, Updo, vintage, vintage clothes, vintage gold jewelry, Vintage inspired, vintage jewelry, Vintage style, Vintage trunks, Visual inspiration, Vogue, Vogue UK, work clothes, work fashion, Workwear | 4 Comments
Let’s Hear it for the Boys!
In my opinion men’s fashion can be more classic and long-standing than its female counterpart, the cuts are more enduring and the underlying style more deeply rooted. This means putting your money into well made, classic pieces is the best way to approach your closet, since you’ll be able to wear them for years to come.
So what, do you ask, should today’s modern man have in his closet?
- Once you’re out of school, a good suit is a must. Interviews, weddings, funerals, work/charity events, and perhaps even the occasional date (think Valentine’s Day/Anniversary) can all call for a suit. Black, navy or charcoal are all a good choices, though I must admit that I’m a sucker for a great pinstripe suit. I’m also a fan of a classic three-piece suit, I love how they still manage to look clean and put together even with the jacket off and the sleeves rolled up.
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Button-downs are extremely versatile and have a place in any well-rounded wardrobe. Pair with slacks or a suit for (semi) formal affaires, with jeans and dress shoes for Friday night cocktails or untucked over well-worn shorts with loafers (sans socks) for summertime. Like I said, versatile.
So invest! Stripes, solids, pastels, black, white, slim fit, logo, patterned, linen, cotton… Whatever suits your build, coloring, and lifestyle, it’s time to put your money where your shirt is! 🙂
- T-Shirts are somewhat of a touchy subject for me. While basic shirts can be a great staple for a man’s closet, they should not all be graphic or novelty shirts, nor should they be riddled with holes and look like they belong in a rag pile. I don’t care how many memories they hold! (Does that sound like a line I’ve used before? Cuz is it is…)
Depending on your build and lifestyle, different styles will suit you best. For his downtime my brother loves vintage rock shirts, like the one above, and with his build (tall & muscular but lean) they suit him perfectly. My dad favors the Robert Barakett shirts that Nordstrom carries because they’re soft with a relaxed fit and can keep up with him whether he’s walking around downtown or gardening (oh, the joys of retirement). And while he may respectfully disagree, I have to say that in my humble opinion my boyfriend looks the best in the Lacoste V-Neck Jersey Tees.
So take your significant other, sister, mom or friend shopping with you and try on some different styles. To each their own!
- Polo shirts are a great middle ground between a t-shirt and a button down. They can add a bit of structure to a look while retaining an overall low-key air. Throw one over jeans with loafers or pair with shorts and flip-flips. You can even pop that collar if you’re in the mood.
Like t-shirts and button downs, these come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Once you’ve found a brand that fits you perfectly, you can order online to your heart’s desire, but you should definitely put in the in-store research before getting mouse happy.
- A complete closet should contain a few types of bottoms, namely slacks, jeans and shorts, if applicable to your climate. At least one pair of black slacks are a requirement, however depending on how often you dress up you should consider investing in multiple pairs. Charcoal, navy and a neutral color like khaki or tan are right behind black in importance. Wool, cashmere and linen for dressing up and seersucker, cotton and linen blends for play.
When you hit the store for any pants shopping be sure to take the shoes you’ll most frequently wear with them. A good pair of slacks or jeans can be expensive, so you don’t want to buy them too long and ruin them in a matter of weeks by walking all over the hems. Also, keep in mind the tailoring is a great option, it’s fairly inexpensive and can make your pant last much longer.
- I adore accessories for men, you gentlemen prefer to buy one or two great ones and leave it at that (none of the female shoe insanity!) A black and a brown belt, same for shoes, a pair of sunglasses, a wallet and a large silver, gold or leather band watch and you’re done. Easy peasy! (Obviously, this is not applicable to rappers)
The key for mens accessories is finding quality, classic pieces that can be worn season after season. Unfortunately this may require trips to multiple stores. I know – I’m sorry! Take the time though, as much as it takes, and you wont regret it.
Now before I leave you to your shopping adventures, I’d like to make an introduction.
If you’ve never heard of The Sartorialist, let me introduce you. Boys, meet Scott Schuman, the brilliant and fashionable photographer behind the wildly popular street style website The Sartorialist. These days Mr. Schuman focuses his energies shooting photos of the unique and fashionable men & women he sees on the streets. New York, Milan, Paris, Sydney, Buenos Aires, London, Rome, Beijing… If you have any questions about pocket squares, popped collars, sleeve length, outerwear, hats, color combinations or men’s jewelry, he is your man!
One of my favorite men that Scott sometimes features after his trips to Milan is this oh-so-stylish Italian man
Love the aviator sunglasses. Love the v-neck shirts. Love the gold watch. Take notes kids, this is how it’s done!
{Click on images above to visit the original source}
June 20, 2011 | Categories: Fashion | Tags: 1970s, 70's fashion, 70's inspired, 70s style, accessories, Adam Gallagher, American style, Aubrey Road, Aviator sunglasses, aviators, baggy, Banana Republic, belt, belt & shoes, Black, black belt, black shoes, black suit, blazer, blue pants, blue suit, boat shoes, Bohemian, boho, bolo tie, boots, Boys, brown belt, brown shoes, Button down, button down shirt, Button Downs, California boy, California style, cashmere coat, checkered, checks, class ring, classic, Classic American Style, Classic Wayfarer, classics, clothing inspiration, concert shirt, concert t, cowboy, cowboy shirt, cuff links, cuffed, cuffed pants, dress pants, dress shirt, dress shoes, dress up, dress up coat, dress up shirt, dress up shoes, dressing up, Edward Honaker, Edwards Hair, Fashion, Fashion Blogger, Fashion Rising, Flats, formal clothes, formal clothing, free spirit, Gap, Gentleman, Gents, Gold, grey suit, guys, Hippie, Hipster, hipster style, holey jeans, horizontal stripes, I AM GALLA, Iconic, Iconic American Style, inspiration, inspirational clothing, Italian fashion, Italian street style, Italian Style, jack spade, jacket, Jeans, jeans with holes, lace up, lace up boots, lace up shoes, leather, leather belt, leather shoes, Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin shirt, loafers, Lookbook.nu, loose fit, low-key, man bag, man purse, men, men on the street, Men's acecssories, Men's fashion, Men's pants, Men's shirts, men's street style, Men’s suits, mens accessories, mens clothing, mens stying, mens style, Menswear, Milan Street Style, Milanese fashion, Milanese men, Milanese style, modern, modern suit styles for 2012, navy, online shopping, pale blue pants, pantaloons, pants, patent, patent leather, pinstripe, plaid, plaid suit, pocket tee, polo, Polo Shirts, pressed shirt, put together a wardrobe, Ray Bans, Ray-Ban Folding Aviator, Ray-Ban Large Classic Wayfarer, relaxed, Retro, retro clobber, retro shirt, Retro sunglasses, Reyal Fashion, ripped jeans, rock n' roll, rodeo, rolled, rolled hems, scarves, Scott Schuman, shades, shirt, shoe snob, shopping, shopping ideas, shopping online, silver, simple, Slacks, slim fit, slip ons, slippers, Street style, Stripes, Style, Suit, sunglasses, sunnies, T-shirt, tailored pants, tailored shirt, tailoring, tan pants, tan shoes, tee, The Jig Is Up, The Sartorialist, The Urban Gentleman, three piece, three piece suit, top siders, torn jeans, traditional, trousers, vintage, vintage t, Wallet, wardrobe, watch, Wayfarers, western, western shirt, western style, what to buy, White, Wool coat, worn jeans | 2 Comments