Being quintessential fashion bloggers, naturally we started off by photographing each other. I love being photographed by Andrea. She makes me comfortable in front of the lens like no other photographer can. We headed over to Cafe Ba Ba Reeba to dine on tapas and celebrate new friendships after the quick photo shoot along a tree-lined street in Lincoln Park.
My outfit was inspired by the idea of French casual chic. Hanging out with other fashion bloggers places a lot of pressure on me to look good. The stakes are high! I challenged myself to move outside of my comfort zone of sportier looks. I decided to venture into “girly” territory.
The starting point for my look was the Rodarte x Opening Ceremony skirt. This is the first beige colored garment I’ve invested in, ever. I am not a fan of neutrals but I really liked the cut and drape. The design is super flattering and the fabric provides an interesting texture.
I also broke away from my streak of flowing, dolman sleeved tops. This shirt is much better suited to layering than on its own for obvious reasons, although the fabric has a divine stretch to it. And is there anything more French than ballet flats? I needed one predictable piece!
For jewelry, how cute is the Cynthia Rowley ribbon ring? At only $8 its an easy and adorable way to spice up any outfit with a dash of color. I love that it references that old-fashioned habit of tying a red string around one’s finger as a reminder. I’ve also been rocking my new charm necklace a lot lately. Look at how similar it is to the shape of my Olympus PEN camera! I picked up this adorable piece of jewelry while shooting street-style for Refinery29 at Pitchfork.
GET THE LOOK:
Skirt: Rodarte x Opening Ceremony, reverse pleated skirt, $161
Shirt: James Perse, casual tee, $50
Shoes: Barney’s Co-Op ballerina flats
Ring: Cynthia Rowley, ribbon ring, $8 (1653 N Damen)
Sunglasses: Alexander Wang for Linda Farrow, cat-eye sunglasses, $355
Necklace: Ornamental Things from Austin, Texas (purchased at Pitchfork)
*Special thanks to Andrea Kerbuski of Blonde Bedhead for photographing me
This outfit was obviously inspired by Africa. In building the look I began with my new Suno shorts from Ikram, which fit me like a glove. The combination of animal print fabrics in a pelt-like design is a clever way to reference the wearing of skins. Next, it was easy to choose my lion necklace by Chicago jeweler Elyse Marie Vieni. You can find this design exclusively carried at Sarca. This necklace is one of the most personal pieces of jewelry I own. It reminds me of both watching lions during my Kenyan safari and the idea of collecting powerful amulets for protection.
Maasai villagers who live close to the Fairmont Masai Mara resort camp made my bracelets, which I purchased on one of our morning jeep adventures. The pattern on these Maasai bracelets adds a measured dash of design to even my most casual outfits.
The navy blue Vince shirt is billowy with perfectly cut dolman sleeves, and is easily my favorite shirt at the moment. I so love the way the fabric feels against my skin, especially the way the cloth drapes when just the front is tucked in. Although this version is no longer in production, you can purchase a similar top here on ShopBop.
Personal style wouldn’t be personal style without a wildcard, and in this look it’s the Maison Martin Margiela ketchup red replica sneakers. These shoes are identical copies of the 1970 German army trainers aside from the artfully deconstructed hand painted exterior. These shoes were selected for me at Ikram. What they say, goes.
Earlier this week my friend Andrea from the blog Blonde Bedhead came over to hang out. I showed her my new walk-in closet/workspace at my new apartment, and then we headed out to take some photos of each other. Andrea makes me feel really comfortable in front of lens, which is a rare gift. I don’t think I would prance for anyone else – I barely even smile in photographs! Part of the reason I became a street-style photographer is because I am highly critical of photos of myself, but it’s a hang-up I’m slowly getting over.
Expect to see more photos of me and my personal style here and there on Chicago Street Style, so you guys can get to know me and my point-of-view on fashion better!
*Interesting side note: This is the outfit I was originally supposed to wear for the search engine commercial. I chickened out because it was cold, but I was later told by my friend who styled me that I should have worn it anyway. Lesson learned my friends, lesson learned!
Outfit credits: shoes, Givenchy from Ikram; top, Suno from Ikram; skirt, H&M; bracelets, Erin Gordon for Sarca; white bracelet, “Y’Eyes” from Ikram.
