This dress saddened me because I am obsessed with Theory. A white button-down Theory shirt was one of my first investment pieces for my wardrobe. I bought it when I was still an undergrad at Michigan State, and used to have to drive all the way to Troy to visit the Somerset Collection mall to shop at Neiman’s and Saks. Most of Olivier Theyskens’ designs for Theory are swoon-worthy – but this was not one of them. It was just so funny that both of us had the same experience with that dress looking great on the rack and then terrible on our bodies.
Shae Peppler of the fashion blog Vanilla Fringe and I met up last week so I could photograph her for my blog. I first met Shae in April at a fashion show to benefit breast cancer research and to increase awareness of the disease, which you can read about here. Shae is a sports reporter and has covered Chicago teams for big networks like ABC and the Big Ten Network.
Shae’s current love and infatuation in life is Vanilla Fringe. Like most fashion bloggers, she will tell you that blogging has completely taken over her life. She has a really strong sense of personal style and is a pro at putting together really interesting outfits.
You can follow Shae on twitter, @vanillafringe, and make sure to ‘like’ Vanilla Fringe on Facebook too!
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)
