I've never been shy about my expressing my love for The Blazer as a closet staple ;). To me, blazers are the perfect make-it-come-together piece, forever adding intensity and confidence to any look. Consequently, it should come as know surprise that I firmly feel every girl needs a election of them in her wardrobe...and chic, classic black is the obvious place to start. Like a certain potato chip, you really can't have just one. It simply won't do, darlings :). Where to start? Why, with #1A: The Iconic Suiting Blazer, of course! This is a piece in finely woven wool or cotton, or a blend with a high percentage of one of those fabrics. Choose a stance that suits your figure - higher if an empire-style waist looks best on you, lower if a classic waistline is your preference. This is also a place to think about buttons. A three-button blazer will pull you together and be more structured. It's a wonderful, classy look for a curvier figure, a demure look for a straighter one. A single button is a bit softer and creates an elongated line. A two-button piece is a balance between flow and structure and often, but not always, denotes a closely-fitted silhouette as the buttons pull the fabric close to the body over the entire torso. Consider interesting details, such as satin lapels or leather trim, but -since this is a list of basics- don't go for anything too daring or trendy. This is an investment piece, something you'll have for many seasons (even decades!), so you'll want something that is perpetually stylish. Look for lined blazers, as this indicates a higher quality piece. If you have difficulty finding blazers that fit properly, buy one that fits your shoulders; the rest of the piece can be altered by a good tailor (definitely someone who should be on every girl's list of bff's!). For those of us who live in climes that experience chilly seasons, there's a #1B: The Iconic Suiting Blazer, One Size Up. Really. Ever tried to fit your bulkier, but toasty warm, winter sweaters under your fabulous fits-perfectly-in-summer blazer and felt that frightening tightening at the shoulders? The sudden realization that if you go out like and this and drop anything, you're going to be ordering lilies for said blazer? Yep. Been there. Go one size up and try it all again. Muuuuuch comfier, right? Oui. So, now you have an excuse to buy another pretty blazer. Oh darn. Bet it makes all you tropical birds wish you lived in the icy hills, eh? :) Next on your hit list is #2: The Semi-Casual (Maybe Suiting) Blazer. This can be a suiting piece, or not. Think about a zip-front piece, a banded collar or collarless style, a smoking jacket/drapier/less structured piece or an open design. Consider the material in reference to the design - smoothness or sheen will elevate, nubbly texture or knit will be more relaxed. What you're searching for is that sweet spot of semi-casual: polished enough to be professional or somewhat formal with the right accessories, but not quite as refined as the iconic suit jacket. This is the option you'll choose to tone down a sequin-frosted sweater or elevate a denim workshirt. It's enough, but not too much. Lastly, your most casual of blazer choices: #3: The Informal/Tough. This is the piece that stands in for a leather jacket. It can be black denim, a military piece, a band jacket. It has a bit of edge and attitude - biker styling, lots of hardware. A currently trendy option is the bomber. Caution: this is not an athletic jacket. Resist the stretchy warm-up wear ;). This piece still has shape (possibly cropped) and structure - those are what let it carry the outfit. This piece is for un-girly-ing your tulle skirts, topping your broken-in band tees, giving the rocker vibe to your metallic tanks and giving a careless twist to your LBDs. And that's it - that's all a girl really needs to cover pretty much every occasion in life. ..Unless she wants to add more *devilish grin*...like colors and statement pieces. But that's another post. 'Til then, happy shopping, loves!
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It periodically comes home to me just how much power accessories have in fashion. Even though they are the supporting colors on the canvas of an outfit, they can not only make or break a look, but shift its very nature. The classic example, of course, is the little black dress. The statement made by the piece is generally defined almost solely by its augmentation. However, the theory holds true for other looks, as well. Both denim and lace have been having significant moments in fashion right now and pairing them at some point is almost inescapable. The vibe of their concatenation can be influenced completely by the accessories chosen. Flared jeans, a denim blazer and a lace tee provide a polished, yet casual backdrop on which to experiment and they can appear either fashion-blogger-esque femme or free-spirited, depending on how they are accented. Flower-accented pumps, touches of rose-gold, delicate earrings and an understated bag in a soft pastel shade all bring a quiet grace to the look. In this case, the accessories draw on and intensify the ladylike artistry of the lace. The more workmanlike feel of the denim creates the contrast that tempers the sweetness of all the femininity. On the flip side, the same denim-on-denim with lace combination shifts its focus to the American West with a simple swap of accessories. Tasseled suede ankle boots in warm tan, along with a leather wrap bracelet, fringed necklace and bead-accented backpack bring out the rootsy, desert vibe by playing up the dusty, bootstrap quality of the denim. The lace acts as an additional texture, a frilly softness against nubby woven cotton and velvety suede.
This wonderful ability to adapt a look makes accessories both fascinating and incredibly practical. They're fun to collect and easy to experiment with: seriously, wouldn't you rather buy an envelope-pushing, daring, risky statement ring or bangle than a jacket with the same attributes? When purchased with care and attention, accessories tend to much gentler on the wallet than buying say, a whole collection of boho clothing and then a whole set of feminine pieces. Allowing basics and main pieces to shift between genres and metamorphosize, while also being style-budget-friendly is a definite win-win ...and powerful magic, indeed! ;) I talk a lot about inspiration. That's because I'm constantly on the hunt for it. It's a primal need. Jack London once said "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it...with a club" :). Yep. The cool thing is that it can come from so many places - you never know where you're going to find it. Art, catalog covers, poetry, random cataclysms of clothing landing next to each other, a photo, a friend, a movie. Inspiration can literally be hiding anywhere. For example, in her song Heavy Metal Lover, Lady Gaga used the phrase "dirty pearls". It's an unusual coupling of images and while I understood the concept within the confines of the song, I started to wonder how you would actually create the idea of "dirty pearls" in real life, in an outfit. How do you find a way to convey a grittier aspect to pearls than softness and chic? How do play with the idea of a street urchin with a smoky, beautiful heart and a bit of an attitude holding on to a treasured accessory, handed down from a mother or grandmother, or wearing pearls as a reminder that you can survive tough times and as a talisman for where you're headed? How do you create an outfit that has this fierceness, but with pearls? That was a challenge I tried to take on one day in coming up with an outfit. It led to a black-on-black ensemble with slim, straight jeans, a biker-inspired jacket and a slinky tunic, finished with studded heels. To bring in the "dirty" aspect, I twisted the pearls with a hematite chain. My basic style is fairly classic, but this idea pushed me toward the boundaries of that term and helped me create a look that was fresh(water) :) and different. I really enjoyed how it came out...and that one phrase was the catalyst for the whole concept.
There are two schools of thought in handbags: you adore bags and need toooooons of them or you adore bags, but they're a practical love and you need a more curated collection. One of my best friends is in the former category (honestly, listening to her justify why she needs yet another bag is better than stand-up comedy); I fall into the latter category. My theory is that a girl can pretty much get through life with a collection that includes one bag in each of five categories. #1: The Neutral. The most basic of basics, your 101 piece, the first you should acquire. It will probably be black, but brown also runs in the realm of possibility. Pick your favorite, most appealingly useful style. I'm a fan of the tote. I am, frankly, devoted to totes and own pretty much no other style. Whatever you choose, go for a classic shape here: envelope/messenger/saddlebag, crossbody, bucket, or -as alluded to above- tote/shopper/satchel. I'm also partial to leather, as it's the most durable and this is an investment piece. #2: The 2nd Neutral. Yep. One neutral is never enough. To cover the widest variety of occasions, you'll need an alternate shade for when go-with-everything black just doesn't go :). All the above suggestions apply here as well. #3. The Statement Color. This is where you get to branch out and have a little fun. Do you have a color you go weak in the knees for? How about a color you pretty much live in? That's where you want to find your inspiration for the shade of this bag. This will be the piece that pops your all-neutral outfits, provides the exclamation point to your printed, floral or more exotic color pairings and makes you happy on rainy days. This is the bag that's pure hedonistic pleasure...spiced with the just the right amount of functionality. PS if you can't settle on that perfect color, consider red. It is the most classic of the non-neutrals, a style darling forever. #4: The Casual. No carry-all collection can be complete without one really laidback, chill bag. It's the one you need for spontaneous beach trips, ice-cream-sundae runs and that day your whole crew of best guys bought you tickets to International League baseball because they think you're awesome! (And that young, phenom pitcher just happened to be starting). This one has pockets galore (for your phone, keys, sunscreen, chapstick, toothbrush, needlenose pliers (trust me, the guys will be impressed) and twisty ties (not only practical, but a conversation-starter: "Umm..why do you carry twisty-ties in your bag?"). This is where you choose a non-fussy material like straw, possibly nylon (depending on the style. Gym bag = absolument no) or durable canvas (For real. I have a canvas tote that's over twenty years old and not frayed anywhere.). #5: The Formal. You should always, I repeat *always* have one grab-n-go dressy bag in your stash that you can reach for when you're off to a wedding, a fancy date, the Met Gala...you get the idea. Something special can happen any day, so be prepared! I like to think of it as a good karma-energetic thing that attracts fabulous opportunities to me...like, say an invite to the Met Gala ;). Choose either a multi-color or a neutral - you're looking for a piece that will go with pretty much anything. I especially love metallics (bonus points for multi-metallic like the one above) or black or white crystal-embellished pieces. Two critical caveats: make sure there's enough space for things like your phone, Kleenex, a credit card and for Gaga's sake, make sure the design offers an easy way to carry the piece! You don't want to be that chick who left her crystal-encrusted minaudiere on her seat in Sacre Coeur cathedral... or in the taxi on the way to the Met Gala ;). Happy handbag collecting!
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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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