Posts tagged ‘dolce vita’
The Beauty of the Suit
Topshop suit | Equipment blouse | Lulu Frost necklace | Michael Kors heels | Seiko watch
Allow me to make a generalization: I have often thought mens clothing to be very boring. Obviously the likes of Simon Doonan, Hamish Bowles, and Johnny Depp are excluded from this proclamation, but given the “everyday man” in his suit and tie (hey Justin!), there’s just not a lot there. Or so I thought.
In the last year however, I have accumulated several suits. Plaid, velvet, grey, and black, these coordinated two-pieces have become my sartorial savior in many a fashion bind. Do I wear them together all the time? No. But neither do men. I have seen my brother pair his grey blazer with jeans, his matching grey slacks with a navy sweater, and I have also seen him wear both pieces at the same time with a crisp button-down and tie. So much versatility with just two key pieces! Bananas!
As a preview to one of next week’s post, I have decided to show a not so neutral suit that pairs with essentially everything in any girls wardrobe. Here we go:
Behold the above image — a suit paired together for the classy, work-focused lady. With a silky white button-down, standard black pumps, and a slightly eccentric necklace, this girl could easily be going to the office or attending happy hour with friends; my guess is she’s the white wine type.
Below we have the cool girl who probably lives somewhere in Brooklyn or the East Village. She works at a creative ad agency, has a lot of guy friends, and has one of those sexy raspy voice because she likes to smoke Parliament Lights in between glasses of Jameson on the rocks. Her laid back t-shirt and beat up chucks may give off the vibe that she’s messy, but M-F she’s got her head in the game as is evident by her designer bag.
Topshop pants | R13 shirt | A.J. Morgan sunglasses | Anya Hindmarch bag | Vita Fede bracelet | Converse shoes
Then we have the California transplant (or maybe she lives in LA right now, but I’m in New York and I just picture her here). Never one to let go of her easy breezy Pacific lifestyle, she’s brought all her doily vintage inspired dresses with her. But to add a bit of edge to her west-coast-best-coast flair, she tosses in a bold lip and cozy flannel to fight off that New England almost-spring air.
Topshop blazer | Proenza Schouler bag | Dolce Vita dress | Mac ‘Ruby Woo’ lipstick | Jacquie Aiche earcuff | Ralph Lauren shirt | Asos boots
And lastly we have the mix-master who can essentially wear anything and look put together; which also happens to be the beauty of the suit. Here we have the grunge factor — flannel, boyfriend tee, converse — but the combo of the tailored blazer and matching trousers make her look like the type of person who would leave a note if she hit your car pulling into a parking spot. She also probably has a really hot boyfriend, which is where she got that boyfriend shirt and flannel. Just sayin’.
Topshop suit | R13 shirt | Converse shoes | Ralph Lauren shirt | Vita Fede bracelet | Seiko watch
Stay tuned for next week’s post where I replicate all of the above with the pieces of my own wardrobe and not the world wide web. Goodbye.
Flashback or Flashforward?
I have been sitting at my computer eating multiple bowls of Raisin Bran for the past 20 minutes trying to think of something to say about this outfit. Attempts at discussing my qualms with polka dots, need for color during the dark days of winter, and that the above photo kind of looks like I’m scratching my butt have all been made; but what’s really going on here is an outfit that came together when I was running late for a runway show last week.
That instantaneous panic moment when you realize that you have hit snooze 8 times too many and have about 30 minutes to turn your bedhead self into something remotely presentable for the outside world has me running around my apartment like a chicken with her head cut off. And while this situation usually forces me to reach for the classics (white blouse, black jeans, leather jacket, et al), there was something about that morning that told me to ignore my running late dead chicken routine. So instead I honed in on the colors that were speaking to me and how they matched up with multiple pieces in my closet. Tomato reds, navy blues, and woody browns came together to produce an outfit that a preppier Sonia would have worn in college had she not thought ripped t-shirts and smudgy eyeliner the end all be all of fashion. So what say you? Too preppy magoo for me to pull off or something I should emulate more often? Tell me all your thoughts.
Paul & Joe coat | Romwe sweater c/o | C.Wonder shirt | Gap jeans | Dolce Vita boots | Mulberry bag | Karen Walker sunglasses
// Photos by Emily Malan
A Week in Review
{ More biking with Topshop – detailed post coming soon! }
I can’t believe that the end of summer is so near. Doesn’t it feel like it was just May? Blah.
To grab hold of all that summer has left to offer, I’ve made out of the city plans for every single weekend up until New York Fashion Week — which is so freakishly close it’s, well, freaky! This weekend I’m going back to Connecticut as it’s my Mom’s last weekend before heading back to San Francisco.
And now I have to throw some stuff in my weekend bag before hopping on the train to work! Until Monday…
{ Bringing some California palm to my daily life visa vie my keys }
{ Woowoo! Antibiotics! …. }
{ Skull tequila bottles that need to come home with me }
{ Summer’s still going strong! A new floral dress from Dolce Vita }
Cropped and Bare
Let’s keep the whole cropped trend going here, shall we?
First you saw the swan pants and now I share with you the swan cropped top. I have been known to wear them together but it’s so hot outside that the sole thought of wearing pants is frightening. What can I say, I like a breeze on me knees.
The whole “cropped top” trend scared me at first. Bare tummy? Hell no. But then I remembered the delightfully high-waisted pieces that are slowly taking over my wardrobe. You’re telling me that instead of doing the peek-a-boo-look-at-my-belly-button look, I could do the sliver of skin peeking out between my top and skirt? Deal.
This has since been a pretty go-to look for me (I even cut a t-shirt in a moment of frustration because I didn’t have enough crop skin sliver tops), and have to say that extra bit of breeze on the upper midriff is as good as it feels on the knees.
Even the arrow points at my midriff!
Topshop bralet | Zara skirt | J.Crew belt | Kate Spade purse | Dolce Vita sandals | Vintage sunglasses | 2 Bandits ring
// photos by Emily Malan
Miami Vice
This jacket is a weird buy for me. Aside from the fact that I really don’t wear non-blazer jackets (except in the fall and winter), the print and shape makes it look like I could have bought it at a souvenir shop at the airport in Hawaii.
When I saw it, however, I immediately started fantasizing about all the outfits I could create with it. An asymmetrical black shirt and jeans, a bright red dress, or in this instance, an all white ensemble. I figure that if you can think of more than two outfits for a piece you’re not so sure you should buy then you should pull the trigger and buy it. Chances are if you have two looks up your sleeve you’ve got at least five more in there.
I can’t wait to see how it translates into the colder seasons which, unfortunately, feel like they’ll be here before we know it. *sad face*
Zara jacket | Gap shirt (cut to crop top) | Levi’s shorts | Dolce Vita sandals | Proenza Schouler bag | Vintage sunglasses | Alexander McQueen skull bracelet | J.Crew belt
