One of my favorite pair of heels (wait did I just type that?)… ok so one of the ONLY pair of heels you’ll ever catch me out and about in are a sick pair of Marni wooden pumps that have a subtle shinguard vibe to them. Call it soccer chic. Although clearly the line is not for everyone – Cathy Horyn once wrote she’s “allergic” to their designs. I like the weird, the quirky, and the off-beat, so naturally Marni’s point-of-view resonates with me.
“[Consuelo Castiglioni] aims for a sensuality of the mind”
-Tim Blanks
Marni+H&M is a collaboration I’ll be spending the night outside on the cold, cruel pavement for a chance to purchase some pieces. I know I’ll see some of you there, especially my pal Luis Torres, the blogger behind Chic Overload. I first met him in line at Lanvin+H&M. Although he denies the encounter I only told him my first name and didn’t say anything about my blog, so I can’t blame him. He didn’t say anything about his blog either so we were just two random people chatting about nothing, but I know it was him because he was first in line. I had wandered up to the front to get the DL on rumors floating around about the wristband shopping plan. It was only after we became good friends months later that I put two-and-two together. Yes, it was you Luis and you can’t deny it any longer! 🙂
I gave a speech Thursday night at a Chicago Women in Publishing networking event using street-style photos to illustrate how to be fashionable at the office. Proportion play was one of the ideas I pounded into the audience’s head (and am trying to pound into all of yours as well). Men’s jackets might be getting smaller but for women, the trend is running in the opposite direction. Although I initially chose not to publish this photo because its composition really kind of sucks, I love what this woman is wearing.
Playing with different sizes of clothing in the same look, say by mixing an oversized shirt with tight pants, is one of the least utilized styling techniques in the average American woman’s wardrobe. Not only does it instantly create an aura of chicness, it’s one of the easiest and cheapest trends to pull off. Head to your local thrift or vintage store to find an ovesized blazer, and pair it with a closely-fitted pair of slacks or a pencil skirt for a great, work-appropriate yet totally street-style look. The one caveat is that the oversized piece can’t just be one size too big, otherwise it’ll just look poorly-fitting. You have to go all the way, two or three sizes too big, so that people know you want it to look that way as opposed to just not knowing how clothes should fit.
The golden rule of fashion should be, “Go Big or Go Home.”
