Chanel famously once said that women should have ropes of pearls. Ropes of pearls. The phrase immediately inflames my imagination, conjuring up abundance and drama. Who doesn’t want to feel that from an outfit? And how to get there? Chanel explained her meaning by example, wearing multitudes of pearls to give consequence and chic to a simple look. Layering jewels in this way always elevates an outfit, granting elegance to a little black dress and making a simple sweater into something far more intriguing. The latter look is the one I particularly wanted to explore – Chanel’s ease, translated into the more casual style of today. A bold jewlery look like this makes a strong statement that can be highlighted by setting it against a minimalist backdrop. Despite that, subtle variations can give the same theme slightly different vibes. The basic pieces are ridic easy: black sweater, blue denim. But exactly which black sweater? A chunky, slouchy version gives this look a street-style cool-girl vibe, especially when paired with cuffed boy jeans. A refined cable iteration creates classic chic that's enhanced by combining it with straight denim. Toss a button-down underneath for an extra touch of polish. A strong-shouldered or blouson-sleeved piece conveys sophistication and modern femininity when matched with slim or skinny jeans. Pick your passion...or try out all three ;).
Ok, now the crucial (and mad fun!) part: pearls -and tons of them! Grab whatever you have - the more lengths, the better! Combining multiple millimeter sizes is a definite yes. Mix it up: throw on one opera-length piece at full length, double or triple another...or two. Try a collar, a 24" piece and a 36" piece layered together. Include necklaces with pearls set in stations, and/or with chain in between. These designs are especially good for counteracting the formal aspect of pearls and giving a jaunty attitude to a look, so I love them with the chunky sweater/boy jean iteration. If you don't have such a piece, np - just layer in a long plain chain (you can also twist it around a pearl necklace of similar length) or a couple shorter ones in a matching metal. The striking gesture of multiple layers is enough to spice up the classic cable sweater, but feel free to throw in another twist by using multiple colors of pearls, or creating the look of a pendant by putting a knot in a long pearl strand (36" or longer will work). Ditto for the feminine piece with sleeve or shoulder details. Alternatively, play up the vintage vibe or add a dash of glam by pinning a pearl, metal or crystal brooch among your layered necklaces. Cement the vibe of each variation with your shoe choice: black ankle booties with the chunky sweater, classy pointed flats with the cable, simple black pumps with the ladylike piece. I hope this inspires you to try turning Chanel's phrase into your outfit of the day (or dayS :)) sometime soon! XO Zendaya’s Oscars look really lit up my world! It was a stunning execution of a piece in a distinctive and unusual color. That got me wondering why it is so unusual. Why don’t we see more brown in fashion? The world raves over black and beige, but rich, gorgeous brown takes a back seat. And it doesn’t seem to me that it should. It’s a color of luxury, decadence and nature: chocolate candy and cocoa, coffee, mink fur, maple syrup, tree bark, antique wood. It’s the lush, warm variant of black, made for anchoring jewel tone looks and grounding fiery bright shades and has the intriguing quality of being both opulent and a comfort color. I gravitate toward iterations created with gold, burgundy and amber hues, as I find them much easier to pair up than cooler taupe tones with a lot of gray or black in them. Try chocolate, mahogany and coffee tones with crimson, garnet, coral, peach, mango yellow, amber and ivory for complementary looks, or contrast the warmth with cool cobalt (Wendy at Wendy’s Lookbook does it beautifully here), forest green or vibrant eggplant. Play up the earthy side of these hues with 70s-referencing or bohemian-tinged pieces, or slant your look to the sophisticated side with preppy-leaning combinations. Accessorize it with pearls – their soft glow melds perfectly with the earthy, elegant vibe – or gold metal pieces. Definitely also give your rose gold pieces a chance to play here too – blush and chocolate is in incredible pairing! Brown is also dynamite with leopard print. While black enhances the cool tones of the spots, brown pulls forward the warm glow of the backdrop. Don’t forget about doing accessories in the shade, either. Brown leather boots are ultra-classic and chic, especially paired with simple classics (think ivory cable sweater and blue denim, or a tweed hunting jacket and leggings). Crushing on brown yet? Maybe it's time to have your own Zendaya moment! ;)
The classic silk scarf is a beloved accessory for good reason. It’s an easy way to add a dash of color or finishing touch to a look and always brings a sophisticated vibe, whether it’s used as a counterpoint or exclamation point. Whether you choose a single swathe of solid color or a gorgeous print, a silk scarf represents a piece of wearable art. Many major fabric and couture houses, like Hermes in France, Etro in Italy and Liberty in London, collaborate with artists to produce unique and beautiful designs, while the Metropolitan Museum of Art creates magnificent pieces based on items in their collection, allowing you to wear a replica of Monet’s Water Lilies or Louis Tiffany’s stained glass. Scarves become a wonderful way to liberate art from galleries and allow it to beautify real life. Because of this association with art, many scarves transcend decades, staying relevant over many years. This is especially true of pieces that are classic in genre to begin with: neutral shades, solids, stripes, florals, leopard, paisleys. While there are currently a variety of avant garde shapes being offered (infinity, triangles, diamonds), the classic scarf is usually one of two shapes: square or rectangle (always called “oblong”). The oblong shape is my favorite for versatility (especially long ones in the 70” range), followed closely by large squares (36”x36” or more). The light weight of silk fabric creates a number of folding and twisting options without bulk: wide oblongs can be rolled to create a skinny style or knotted at various places to form a necklace. Smaller squares (and many oblongs too!) can be folded to double as pocket squares or rolled and tied to become a bracelet. In addition to the color and beauty, one of my favorite aspects of scarves is how much functionally you get form a single item. It makes them a practical wardrobe addition, as well as an enjoyable one. Here are a few that I love:
1. Sheer Rose Print Scarf by Vince Camuto (*Note: this item is a viscose/silk blend, not pure silk) 2. Scroll Print Silk Foulard by Saks 3. Geo Trellis Silk Oblong by Echo 4. Poppy Leopard Silk Scarf by Vince Camuto 5. Roxanne Square Silk Scarf by Ralph Lauren 6. Bloomsbury Silk Square by Echo 7. Chevron Stripe Silk Scarf by Ralph Lauren 8. Ombre Leopard Silk Scarf by Vince Camuto 9. Solid Silk Oblong by Echo PS Many silk scarves are listed as 'dry clean only'. If that's a consideration for you, I will add that I've hand washed many of mine in cold water and air-dried them without any issue. I received an important reminder this morning about the importance of styling -that it's not just what an outfit is comprised of but also the manner of the comprising that's important. The approach to the pieces is as critical as the pieces themselves in communicating a look and creating an impression. Along with what you choose, the way you put pieces together is an integral part of the essence of style. I had planned to wear a ruffled blouse and velvet blazer which I had not previously put together and when I got it all buttoned up and checked the mirror, I had that dreadful "uh-oh" feeling. It looked like a stuffy vintage tuxedo. Ugh. "Stiff Victorian gentleman" was so not the look I was going for. Drawing board - stat! First, I unbuttoned the blazer. That helped a lot. It loosened the vibe up and made it feel less masculine. Then I unbuttoned the top two buttons of the blouse. That was better yet, creating a much more relaxed connotation. Next, I added a simple belt and took out my bun, going with a half up-do instead, which was much softer. With these styling changes, the look metamorphosized into "chill, fancy femme". Phew. Because my typical time crunch made a whole new ensemble out of the question.
I needed similar tweaks with another recent look which paired a coffee chino blazer with a blue silk blouse. I had intended to wear the blouse with a full tuck and the jacket unbuttoned for the fancy/chill contrast, but the cut of the jacket made that look much too casual for the office meeting I was heading to. Buttoning the blazer was a huge improvement, but I missed the strong shot of color from the blouse. I ended up leaving the silk piece fully un-tucked, allowing the hem of the shirt to show below the jacket. That carried the color thought the look, as well as creating an artsy handkerchief-hem effect that appealed to my sartorial sense. It’s so fascinating to me that the same items in different hands, or styled differently, can have totally distinct vibes, based on the way they are worn. Finding unique and interesting ways to place, layer and utilize items can even become the trademark of a style aesthetic. One of my favorite modern style icons, Jenna Lyons, is known for just that. She was constantly fully buttoning denim jackets to pair with with ball gowns, leaving shirt tails peeking from beneath blazers, flipping back blouse cuffs, tying belts and working the slouchy half-tuck. While surprising pairings and proportion plays are also crucial elements of her signature, her multitude of ways to express casual fanciness and polished chill were the exclamation points that made her style so infinitely enviable and accessible. For fun, I put Jenna’s looks side by side with another of my favorite fashion goddesses, Audrey Hepburn. I love both ladies’ style, but their looks could never be mistaken for one another, even when they’re wearing similar elements! :) There are few things more classic than an LBD topped with a glamorous statement necklace and finished with little black pumps. It’s just the kind of look to recreate if you’re a fan of classic style. Then again, I suspect few of us have even the slightest of reasons to be strolling up 5th Avenue at dawn in an evening gown…which doesn’t at all mean we shouldn’t give that a try sometime :). But it does lead one to wonder if maybe the vibe couldn’t be re-imagined via a somewhat more accessible pathway for the daily lives of the non-Holly-Golightlys of us. Result of wonderings: I think it can. How? With the end goal of retaining the sophisticated vibe of the Little Black Outfit, but in a less fancy way, I metamorphosized the classic LBD into a more versatile pairing of a slim cable sweater and wide leg pants. The movement of the wide, straight legs carries an ineffable chic that elevates simple pairings, while offering more freedom than a long gown. From there, it's the accessories that make this look. I chose a pearl torsade as a subtle homage to the Tiffany statement necklace and added a crystal collar for a bit more oomph. The simple canvas of the black monochrome pieces can balance out a super bold choice like this. Next, I tossed in a shot of trend in the form of white accessories: a white belt (which could be optional or exchanged for a black one) and white ankle booties. Black booties or pumps could 100% work, but I loved the crispness and au courant feeling of the bright white. The booties also serve as one more way to bring the look more toward the casual side. I finished the styling with a simple, but sleek up-do, or half up-do. Oversize sunnies are encouraged as well :).
Pearls have been revered for thousands of years for their soft iridescent beauty. Once the exclusive province of the very wealthy, they were made more accessible by cultured variations and became a hallmark of chic, due to being the choice of style mavens of various eras. Chanel was a devotee and often wore multiple layers of them. She adored costume jewelry and, through her example and design aesthetic, popularized faux pearls. The gems experienced another resurgence in the 1960’s when Jackie Kennedy was photographed with baby John Jr., wearing a three-strand necklace – also a faux creation. She also wore a single strand collar on her wedding day, helping to make pearls an integral part of the fashion of that era and beyond. In addition to their classic aura, pearls have a chameleon-like ability to be appropriate for any occasion, making them a must-have for every fashionista’s jewelry box. Pearls are measured in millimeters. As a guide, a 6mm pearl will just fit inside the curve of a large paper clip, while a 14mm pearl is about the same diameter as an AA battery. As a general rule, the smaller diameters are the right scale for petite women, while larger pearls work better on Rubenesque frames. Naturally, the rule can be skirted around ;) – layer small pearls to get a bolder effect, play with lengths and simple strands to make large pieces work for a smaller build.
Prologue: vintage faux pearls often have an ivory shading, giving them the patina of heirloom real pearls, which tend to become creamier and develop a more beautiful luster as they worn. Check for collectible fashion jewelry on eBay and Etsy…or in your old box of dress-up clothes, or your Mom’s/aunts’/grandmother’s jewelry collections – assuming they’re amenable to lending or parting with them ;). I have an opera-length necklace of my Mom’s faux pearls, which I adore, both because the beads are gorgeous and because it was hers. I love pearls in general and go through periods of being obsessed with them, but – like Chanel – I’m especially attracted to the idea of “ropes of pearls” and consequently go wild over extra-long strands :). Here are a few more of my faves (note: all are either faux or man-made): 1. 12mm White Pearl & Sterling Silver Necklace by Majorica *Majorica is a brand that specializes in cultured pearls. They can be a little pricey, but the pieces are of excellent, collectible quality. 2. 10mm 72" White Pearl Rope Necklace by Carolee - I LOVE the length of this piece - it's opulent! Here is a slightly smaller-scale version by Ralph Lauren, featuring 8mm pearls and a 60" length. 3. Sicilia Necklace w/ 14mm Cultured Pearl by Majorica - I'm so in for the casual feel of the black leather cord. 4. 10mm Man-made Pearl Stud Earrings by Majorica 5. Two Row Adjustable Choker by Carolee 6. Pearl Spike Steel Necklace by Majorica - I'm wild over the danger-meets-femme vibe of this piece :) 7. 8 Row Torsade Necklace by Gemma Layne - the luxe vibe of a torsade is a worthwhile addition to any pearl collection! 8. 10mm 18" Pearl Necklace by Ralph Lauren, also a 14mm version, and a 16" 6mm version 9. 60" Convertible Double Strand by Carolee - this piece is amazing! The circular beads and clasp allow it to be converted between 1, 2 and 3 rows, as well as into a lariat. It's like four necklaces in one. I adore that kind of practicality in a beautiful piece! 10. 10mm Pearl Studs by Ralph Lauren 11. 6mm Pearl Studs by Majorica. Not shown: 14mm Pearl Studs by Carolee I can't resist including this piece by Nadri, as well; it's a lovely homage to Jackie's three-strand necklace. |
AuthorBrie (Hi!) More re: me under About. I'm the moving spirit behind this little life-meets-fashion fairy tale world, the home of my non-wrestling-related style musings and loves. Archives
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