1.28 // Spring Staples

Hi all - sorry I haven’t posted in days.

This spring, all you need are a few basics to spruce up your dusty old pieces… that crazy printed skirt you haven’t had a clue how to wear it? Tights, a baggy tank, killer heels and a blazer. That oversize grandpa sweater? Perfection with leggings and vintage sunglasses. And the classic blazer has many hats to wear this season - be it fitted, masculine, baggy, slim, or oversize…

via Karla’s Closet

Ok, let’s get to it. We’ll work from the bottom up, starting with - yay! - shoes.

Simply stated, go crazy with your shoes. Anything is fair game - anything meaning anything chic, meaning anything non-ugly. For heels, go sky-high and wildly coloured, metallic, snakeskin - anything goes! (You’ll need a basic pair of black heels, of course.) Wedges are great too - again, go wild. You can do (almost) no wrong.

Photo via Chictopia. Marni-esque patent wedges? Oui, s’il-vous plait!

Photo via Chictopia. More Marni-ish wedges. (Love them to death!)

Photo via Chictopia. Lace-up red booties… of some sort… but cute!

Photo via Chictopia. Givenchy-esque Gojane.com heels… love! (I’m actually planning to order these soon…)

Photo via Chictopia. More basic black boots… Hmm, how about something a tad more exciting now??

Fendi // Spring 2009

Christian Dior // Couture Spring 2009

Nicholas Kirkwood. Electric blue sharp cutout wedge. OWWWW. (In an amazingly fantastic glorious sort of way.)

For flats, oxfords are huge this season among those in-the-know; the older and more worn in, the better! Nothing is cuter than a great pair of scuffed up, soft leather oxies. (Oxies? Haha. Not sure where that came from.)

Photo via Chictopia. Not only are her oxfords perfect, look at the rest of her outfit!

Photo via Chictopia. Heeled oxfords are great too!

Stay away from: …well, ugly shoes.

Moving up: tights, socks, etc… Subtle patterns, lace, florals, zebra, leopard, and neutrals are all great for tights. Socks, opt for a great thigh-high or knee-high neutral/darker sock… of course, this is subject to interpretation

Photo via Chictopia. Target socks.

Photo via Chictopia. Tights, AA. Love denim cutoffs and tights; that’s a good way to, um, de-slut an outfit: if you’re wearing shorts/a mini and feel too exposed, just slip some cute tights on. I also like layering tall socks & tights for a nice layered effect.

Then there are the leggings, reminiscent of the 80s and 90s. Love? Hate? Go with whatever you feel most comfortable in. If you go for it, go all out - heels, oversize on top. You just have to be careful with these, particularly the sequined, sparkly, or patent-y leggings: you don’t want to be slutty. (I hope.) Also watch out for an over-80s-esque air.

Photo via Chictopia. Here, she paired shiny black leggings with a voluminous top to balance it out. (Note the non-sluttiness of this look).

Shorts: getting longer and higher. For a more refined look, pair a neutral or richly-coloured satin short with tall socks and oxfords, and some top (your choice!) If you don’t feel comfortable with high-waisted, a short with a wide waistband also works.

Photo via Chictopia. High-waisted black shorts = perfection with kneehighs and black booties!

Basic shorts.

Simple black shorts with (ripped) tights and oxfords… a nice classic look (with a bit of a twist in the tights - ripping/shredding is occuring in fashionistas’ rooms everywhere, thanks greatly to Monsieur A. Wang).

Skirts: short (but not too mini) or knee-length seems to be the overbearing trend; pouffy and girly, or leather and rocker-chic… your call. Pair a girly skirt with heels, tights, and a blazer - you could go wild (haha) and throw on a leather jacket, that’s a really easy way to toughen your look without scaring people off.

Photo via Chictopia. Nice basic grey skirt, with a bit of volume - the sort of essential for every wardrobe!

Photo via Chictopia. Skirt, Target. A little different skirt, a little pizzazz…

A short little disco skirt. (A bit too short for my liking, but each to her own…)

Pants: we’re seeing a lot of neutral bottoms, simple trousers, drop-crotch harem pants, and wide legs… aka, simply chic and - wonderfully! - comfortable!

Photo via Chictopia. Wide-legged trousers, Express.

Photo via Chictopia. Pants, Cubus. A basic black dropcrotch/harem pant is a great staple for winter & spring.

Photo via Chictopia. Pants, Forever21. Again, basic baggy trousers.

Dresses: either basic belted shifts (vintage ones are nice) or wildly patterned, out-there dresses.

Photo via Chictopia. Nice basic black dress (and you’ve got to love her hair, too!)

Photo via Chictopia. Vintage dress. Love the girliness of a nice vintage lace dress.

Photo via Chictopia. Not exactly crazy, but a nice floral number will do nicely with a green jacket. Very Secret Garden-esque.

Coats: trenches and capes are big.

Photo via Chictopia. Coat, H&M.

Photo via Chictopia. Coat, H&M.

Ah, we’ve reached my favorite element: blazers. I simply can’t get enough! Any weird cut I’ll take. Strange patterns? Please! Wrong size? So?

Anyway. Blazers are, (sort of) arguably, the most versatile item you can own. You can dress it up or down and wear it with practically anything. So, without further ado…

Very oversized wool blazer - so chic, especially in that peachy nude colour! Paired with leggings and a tee.

Fitted and striped, nice… Worn with jeans, a nice simple look.

Shrunken-yet-oversized navy blazer with leggings and heel oxies, and a shredded (easy DIY, just a tad time-consuming) tee.

Shrunken grey twill blazer with a simple black dress.

Piped blazer with a skirt and heels… see? All these looks are so chic, yet so simple - just throw a blazer on and it instantly adds chic to your outfit.

Alrighty. Since it’s been a while since the top of this, here’s a quick review:

Shoes: go crazy with sky-high heels, platforms, and wedges; flat and heeled oxfords sont tres chic.

Tights, etc: Floral, animal print, ribbed, patterned, and lace tights are great. Knee- or thigh-high socks in neutral colours work with shorts, dresses, and skirts and heels. Stock up!

Leggings: …just don’t go SLUT on me.

Skirts: short (but not too mini) or knee-length (really a personal preference.) Patterns and colours of your choice.

Pants: wide-legged neutral trousers, often high-waisted. Drop-crotch and harem pants (usually black or grey). Baggy, and sometimes pegged, trousers.

Shorts: high-waisted neutrals in rich materials.

Dresses: go one way or the other: crazy patterns or nice, more subdued neutral/vintage lace. (Of course, there are infinitely more dress possibilities than that, but I’m running out of time… hence the rather sad ending to this post).

Coats: trenches, trenches, trenches!! Capes and caplets, too. They add a nice Victorian touch to your outfit, particularly vintage dresses.

Blazers: …get some.

As I said, sorry this is sort of a rushed ending - it’s getting late (relatively) and I still have stuff to do… blech. If only I didn’t have school… it’s become such a chore. Mais c’est necessaire, donc qu’est-que je peux fais? *sigh*

Ici est notre look du jour:

A swan-like headpiece from Chanel’s Spring 2009 Couture collection.

Chanel // Spring 2009 Couture.

~ r

1.23 // Trend: Belt It Out

Haha I don’t know why I’ve been using cheesy titles… but whatever.

To the point: big belts around your waist - that’s high waisted, mind you - are a Thing now. Marc Jacobs & Fendi are the two most noted designers to sport the huge cinched waist look, but a myriad of others have sprung up along the way.

I really love belts just under your chest - it accentuates your waist so much and gives you such a clean, streamlined silhouette, no matter what your size! Wear it over a dress, cinch in an oversize blazer or top, pair it with a great tank and high-waisted skirt and killer heels… it’s a win-win look: cute and figure-flattering.

Fendi // Spring 2009. Note the unique belt - get one (or more!) that really stand out. Of course, a basic neutral leather belt is great too.

Marc by Marc // Spring 2009

Both, Marc Jacobs // Spring 2009. Sorry, not a big fan of the straight/taper-leg floral capri… thing… but I love the kimono top (2nd) and the shoes in the first photo. His obi belts are sensational and have appeared in Vogue, Bazaar, etc… already… hit a good note with those, he did. Good news? They’re so easy to replicate!

Temperley // Spring 2009. Speaking of unique…. studs are a good way to roughen up an otherwise very girly frock. (Love the bright blue colour too - it seems to be popping up everywhere this season!)

Aquascutum // Spring 2009. Again, not a big fan of the romper/jumpsuit - although the lace overlay on the pant does set it apart from the others - but the belt helps. And is it just me, or does this model look over-tanned/just-got-out-of-a-fistfight? (Her face seems very discoloured…)

Marios Schwab // Spring 2009. Again, a little unique - the rope/chain approach. Also easily duplicated.

On the street, it’s catching on like wildfire to a petrol-soaked jumpsuit:

Love the studs + floral minidress.

Not a big fan of the maxi dress, but you see the Marc-esque obi? All you really need to do is get a swatch of cool fabric and some nicknacks/ornaments, and as long as you can tie a knot you’re all set!

Over a jacket over a dress; you can work it over a cardi too, that’s cute.

And this trend isn’t just for us girls, guys can rock it too - but you have to be seriously stylish to pull it off. Perfect example:

All street style photos via Chictopia.

If you’re in the mood to buy a fantastic belt now, check these out:

Forever21, $8.80

Forever21, $8.80

Lulus.com, $10

Etsy.com, $60. Dramatic red, I love this one - if I had $60 to drop, I’d spend it on this! PS: Etsy is a great place to find cool vintage & handmade stuff, I frequently check it out if I’m looking for something a bit out there. Great for vintage lovers such as myself.

Etsy.com, $50. A more basic leather belt, but a bit unique. This reminds me of a saddle for some reason.

Topshop.com, £25.00

Topshop.com, £22.00

So there you have it.

And random Burberry shoe that I love the heel of:

Burberry // Spring 2009

Look du jour:

Fendi // Spring 2009. So springlike and Valentine’s-y.

Ciao,

~ r