Winter Style

It hasn’t been cold enough for snow in the NW, but its getting chiller. Here’s what I’ve been wearing pretty regularly. Often, these looks include gloves, a coat, and sometimes a warm hat. How is your style fairing in the cold months?

Chan Luu scarf/shawl, j.crew sweater, JBRAND skinny cargos, HOPE ankle boots (similar)

Marc by Marc Jacobs sweater coat, GAP long sleeve t, Vince skinny jeans, Isabel Marant dicker boots

Karoo by Mark Eisen dress, GAP long sleeve t, j.crew tights, Chloe Susanna boots, Rachel Nasvik handbag

For Shoe

(my personal photo)

I went a bit wild and purchased a few pairs of Alexander Wang shoes during this recent sales blitz: Two pairs of Inna heels and one pair of the most perfect bright cherry tomato red Ruby oxfords. I love bright red with shades of grey. And I have a lot of grey in my closet.

The Inna heels are perfection for gals who hate wearing anything over 3 inches (or less). I’d done the back and forth and spent countless $$$ on heels only to wear them once, chuck them, and proclaim “never again!” But lets face it ladies: Even at my most tomboy (i.e. – my usual uniform), I still want to look like a woman however subtle it may be. And heels are about easiest way to elevate a look from androgynous to feminine. The Inna sandals are padded and so comfortable I don’t realize I’m wearing heels at all. A very good sign. I’m hoping to extend their lives by rubberizing the soles though I think the quality on these is very good indeed. I hope I never have to buy or worry about heels again!

The Ruby oxfords were not unplanned but they were not entirely planned either. Red flats were not on my “must” purchase list but back in the recesses of my mind when I saw these I knew they’d fill a gapping hole in my shoe collection. Namely, I was in need of an upbeat color to brighten my usual somber outfits. I will always love my classic neutral looks but sometimes I need some color in my life too. While these do not intimidate me, I admit it may take me a few tries to wear these without feeling too Ronald McDonald…however stylish my interpretation might be.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!

Prints Charming

   YSL cocoon cardigan, j.crew cafe capri, Balenciaga jodhpur booties

My love of neutrals is constant but I also find myself drawn to seemingly loud/strange/inventive prints from time to time.  While the notion of minimalism in both sartorial and lifestyle choices is very appealing to me, I can’t deny the occasional impulse or random item purchase when it just feels right. I am by no means claiming to be an expert on this subject. I think it must take years of soul searching (and plenty of purchasing mistakes) to fully understand your body, personal style, and lifestyle.  And its very likely mistakes will still be made. Who’s perfect anyways? But mistakes are minimized by critically thinking about your purchases. This does not mean you can’t have fun with fashion. You can and certainly should but not at your pocketbook’s expense. This post is rapidly turning into a “mulling/rationalizing over one’s purchases post” and I’m not quite ready for that. So back to the prints…

I’d been eyeing these pants for a little while and when the holiday sales started I snapped up a pair. I was immediately intrigued by the colors. Red is rarely a color I wear. This is not because I dislike red, quite the contrary but like so many bold colors, its difficult to find the right shade of red. Often it’s too orangey for my taste. The robin’s egg blue color tones down the red without watering down the entire print too much. Next I was drawn to the actual print – part flower power, part mosaic, part Euro-hippie. At first glance I liked the print because it reminded me of Prague and Europe in general. Now, being as I’m a shorty this pant is supposed to be a capri but lucky for me it actually hits right at the anklebone thus pairing well with booties, pumps, or flats. And the fact that’s these are 100% cotton, comfy, and look great with all my neutral tops makes this a win-win for my wardrobe.

Any prints attracting you lately?