Inspiration

Until about six months ago, I never really thought about copying styles that I like. Mostly, I just saw someone wearing a cute outfit, complimented them on it (or briefly admired it in a magazine/movie/blog, etc), and then didn't think of it again. With my recent addiction to fashion, however, I'm finding a lot of styles that I like and actually want to try.

My biggest source of inspiration comes from www.lookbook.nu-- but to give you a fair warning, it's more "Urban Outfitters" and less "Banana Republic". Since my lifestyle tends towards the more casual side, this style of clothing is probably the most practical. Most of my social circles lean towards the arts and less towards the corporate world, although I'd honestly love a job where I could wear pencil skirts and stilettos every day.

So today's outfit inspiration actually came from Pinterest (the photo above). It's a color combination that I wouldn't have thought of in a million years-- navy and rose. But I have pretty much everything to put the outfit together, so I decided to try it out.

First, I was torn between two blazers that I own: a more fitted pale rose corduroy or a more boxy taupe. Since I found the color combo more important than the fit, I went with the corduroy.

Secondly, I'm not thrilled with the new GAP tees. I loved the old v-necks they had, but these new tees shrink up quite a bit-- even if you lay them flat to dry! So my top, while tucked in, ended up being short enough that it kept untucking itself. Bleh!

I almost went for my high-waisted '70s style flares because I love the rise of the jeans in the "inspiration" photo. I decided instead to go for my skinnies, even though they're slightly-below-waist.

Lastly, I had a bit of an issue with the black boots. I tried my black motorcycle boots and they just didn't work. I thought about my black knee-high riding-inspired boots, but I already knew I wasn't a fan of black footwear with this outfit. Between the navy and the rose colors, brown seemed SO much more appropriate. But then . . . taupe was even MORE perfect. Steve Madden to the rescue!

These shoes (which are the most important part of any outfit-- only slightly more so than blazers/jackets, IMO) have an interesting story. Several months ago I started noticing the lace-up boot trend, and I wasn't sure I was on board with it. It just didn't quite look right to me. When I spotted these Steve Maddens, however, I started thinking I might could be convinced of this trend.

So, being more of a "quantity vs quality" shopper (I'll post more on that another day) I actually started shopping for a more affordable lace-up boot. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything that didn't either scream "Victorian stuffy!" or "Goth!" or "I look like a man's shoe!". When I walked by these Steve Maddens again on my birthday, I knew it was either going to be them, or none . . . so my husband got them for me as a present!

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of '70s inspired fashion, so these shoes fit me just perfectly-- platform sole, 5" heels, awesome buckle. The taupe color is amazing, too.

I really can't wait to try a few more styles I've bookmarked on Pinterest or spotted on lookbook.nu . . . or spotted on a friend and loved so much I have to copy the color scheme/style immediately.

Outfit info: blazer (H&M), tee (GAP), jeans (Express), shoes (Steve Madden).

What are your main sources of fashion inspiration, or do you like to "just wing it"?

The world is in love with 1962

I watched the first season of Mad Men not long after it came out on dvd, and like most people, was immediately enthralled by the costumes and glamor of life in NYC in the '60s. Granted, the characters all make me want to kick them in the crotch, but hey . . . everything is still too interesting not to keep watching.

I think all of us have wondered why no brand has created a line specifically for those of us posting links to vintage dresses on our Facebook pages saying, "I could look like Betty Draper if I owned this!". Of course, Banana Republic finally decided to step forward and fulfill the need. It's about time.

 I'll take the nipped waistlines, 

but the prints are a bit much for my style.

Glancing through the collection online the day it appeared, I admit I was a little bit disappointed that nothing really just reached out and grabbed me. I mean, I liked most of the outfits, and yet I didn't see anything that I couldn't live without. A lot of this has to do with it not really fitting into my own style personality, though, I guess-- I like it on other people, but for me, it's often too floral or something.

I hopped over to BR anyway, to see if I would like any of the styles once I put them on. By the time I got there, I was already pretty sure I didn't want to bother taking anything into the fitting room-- my friend Aline and I were headed back to Anthropologie to check on a pair of pants I fell in love with.

Aline's styling of the tweed skirt + leopard sweater. 

(Pllleeeeeease ignore my gross hair/make-up . . .

I'd just gotten off work).

Of course, immediately when we walked in, I spotted an incredible tweed pencil skirt from the collection that did not look all that impressive online. The skirt felt super fancy, so I knew I wasn't getting out of there without trying it on. Aline picked out a top for me-- we were looking for something a deep, rich, dramatic red, and yet BR had NOTHING that color! Only muted reds and pinks and corals. I tried on the leopard-print sweater (which I shall describe as "fantastically itchy") with the tweed skirt, which seemed like such an odd combination to me, but Aline's instincts were right on that they would look good together.

After that outfit, I went back to my no-nonsense, often boring style and paired the skirt with a random, supersupersuper soft pink sweater. The minimal styling was definitely more "me", but I'm really trying to branch out and embrace more layers/patterns/colors. It was definitely way more interesting to pair the different patterns together.

I don't know which I wanted more-- 

the skirt or The Super Soft Sweater.

Meanwhile, Aline tried on the cream-colored lace dress. We both agreed that it looked cute, but maybe not for normal life. I'm not sure how to describe it. Maybe it just looked good (but it's hard for anything to look bad on Aline), but wasn't either one of our styles.

Needless to say, at the current price points, the skirt was out of my price range for something that it's practical for me at all (I only wish I had an office job). On top of that, the particular BR that we visited apparently closes early, so we almost literally had to drop everything in the dressing room and leave.

Lovely Aline models the lace Mad Men dress.

Honestly though, I felt most of us would have better luck finding vintage-styled dresses on Etsy, from the gorgeous party dresses to winter coats. Below are some of my recent finds.

from Etsy seller mrspomeranz

  from Etsy seller digforvictory
Looks very similar to one of the  dresses from BR.

from Etsy seller DeNovoStyle

But Mad Men isn't the only thing on the screen these days that takes place in 1962. The Help opened last week and I went to see it on Friday. I was struck by how similar and yet how very different the styles were. Definitely more casual, and Skeeter's wardrobe would be easy to pull off-- all you really need are button-up sleeveless (but with a collar) tops, midi skirts and finish the look off with a belt, and you've got the general look. Unfortunately I own neither similar tops nor a midi (I'm really opposed to anything that hits mid-calf on myself), so no official style portrait from me for this post!

And although it's technically 1963, I'm curious to see the costume design for this show:

It seems like everyone is in love with the early '60s, fashion-wise. But the '80s trend is still definitely around, too, if you follow street fashion blogs. While I like a little from both decades, I'm really more of a fan of the '70s. My style isn't boho or anything, but I love the long, super lean silhouettes and the bell bottom pants and the tall heels and the giant sunglasses. I guess that will just have to be saved for another post . . .

So what decade in fashion do you love and why do you love it?

(And thanks to Aline for taking pics!)

Reptiles on Your Feet

A couple of days ago I picked up the August issue of Harper's Bazaar and immediately fell in love with what I later learned was a green Gucci python jacket. I'm not sure how you feel about snakeskin fashion, but I.love.it. Although I do think this get-up is a bit overkill (I mean, I love green, but that's a lot of green):

 Gucci python skirt, $4200

I like snakeskin as more of a statement piece than an "I want to look like a lizard all over" kind of a thing. Also, I liked it better when I thought it was just a print. Wearing an actual snake skin gives me a small case of the heebie-jeebies.

Burberry Exotics Collection, Spring/Summer 2011

That being said, I still love the jacket. I have searched high and low for a price (not that I would EVER be able to afford it), and only found it a few minutes ago.

Gucci python jacket, $9500

So why the sudden interest in having creepy reptiles wrapped around me? Well, I have always liked snakes, but once I saw how stylishly a friend could pull off animal-print pumps with a sophisticated outfit, I thought . . . why not snakeskin?? So my search for the perfect heels commenced.

I never did find exactly what I was looking for (a classic, high-heeled pump in a light gray print), but I found a very dramatic pair on Piperlime.com instead-- half bootie, half classic heel:

 Tinley Road "Cybelle" in black snakeskin print

Yes, it's true they're a five inch heel, so chances are if you like slightly edgier footwear, you're gonna like wearing five inch heels anyway. I love the fact that you can wear them with jeans AND with dresses/skirts. I've actually already worn them both ways. In the images below, they don't even look very tall.

Disclaimer: I am a photographer, NOT a model.

Having worked in retail environments with more of a "dressy/professional" dress code, I used to wear heels quite a bit, so sometimes I can't actually even feel some of my toes. Weird, I know, but worth it, in my warped opinion. After taking a several year break from heels (other jobs where they were not at alllll practical means they were relegated to my days off, if that), I'm reminded how much I love them. 

That being said, it is a known fact that, at some point, all heels are going to cause you some discomfort. For me, I prefer that to be, well, four or five hours after I've been on my feet. Unfortunately, these heels don't pass the test. I made the stupid mistake of wearing them to the mall while I was shopping and it only took about an hour before I was finding a dressing room just to sit down and take them off. Sad to say, I don't really care and I will definitely be wearing them bunches anyway. =p

So what's your take on The Great Snakeskin Trend of 2011? Any plans on covering yourself in reptile print, or already own some pieces? Tell me in the comments.