I’m not one to post about recent purchases on my blog. I have nothing against those who do – anyone who is into fashion is inherently materialistic to some degree. The only thing worse than denying it is hypocritically railing against it, which is strangely common among fashion bloggers. Humans have been creating beautiful objects since the dawn of time so materialism in itself isn’t bad, although it seems to carry a negative connotation. Just think about how extraordinary the Venus of Willendorf and other prehistoric artifacts are! I think it’s when people sacrifice everything in their lives to the altar of capitalism and lose sight of themselves, giving up on cultivating a rich inner life through introspection and self-exploration, that it becomes a problem. Humans imbue objects with meanings that go far beyond their monetary values. In fact, the most meaningful objects in our lives have no monetary value; a letter from a close friend, photographs. I just think that generally speaking, what I buy is irrelevant in the context of this blog.

Not so with my new Pamela Love 4-Tier Skull Necklace, which came courtesy of a gift card I received in the mail randomly from Barneys. Talk about a synchronicity. When I gleefully opened the piece of mail, shocked that it wasn’t a bill, I had no idea what was inside. The second I realized it was a gift card I knew what I was going to purchase. I’ve had my eye on Pamela Love’s jewelry ever since she was announced as one of the ten CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists. Her designs are a mix of the macabre and geometric; fractal-like triangles, bird skulls cast in silver, quartz crystals embedded in smooth metals. This necklace in particular reminded me of Hindu goddess Kali, or the red dakinis of Vajrayana Buddhism, so I knew I had to have it.

Red Dakini from Vajrayana Buddhism

My love of skull jewelry only developed two years ago. I always thought they were creepy, and honestly kind of scary. Only after surviving an epic 45 days with appendicitis (it was misdiagnosed twice and required 3 ER visits… its a long story) did I become intrigued by them. In a strange way, it was only after being face-to-face with death that my fear of skulls was conquered. I’ve never heard of anyone surviving that long with appendicitis. It’s literally unheard of. If you’ve ever heard me say I have a “thing” for skulls, now you know why I wear them almost every day. My skull jewelry reminds me about the power of life to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Skull necklaces are common in Hindu and Tibetan (Vajrayana) Buddhist iconography and represent impermanence, liberation, and the urgency of compassion.

Via Instagram (@ChiStreetStyle)

I love beautiful fashion just as much as everyone else, but the most important pieces in my wardrobe – a Suno dress given to me by a special friend, my Thakoon Masai dress – all have an extra layer of meaning. To photograph my new necklace I wore a sheer shirt with lightning bolts, one of the primary symbols of Vajrayana Buddhism. It’s from Forever21 and it’s fantastic. The root word vajra represents the indestructible diamond of enlightenment, which contains the essence of lightning and thunder. I’m also wearing my favorite scarf from We Are Owls, which is covered in Tibetan-style skull designs and mandalas. My array of skull jewelry acts as amulets, good luck charms, and brings a spirit of positive energy by continually serving as a reminder to me about what is truly important in my life (and it’s not things). To me, that is the most powerful form of fashion; pieces that resonate in a deeply personal place.

EDIT: Thank you Pamela Love for re-posting this on your Tumblr!

Zigzag dresses are all over the streets right now. I prefer the subtle interpretations as opposed to blatant rip-offs, which is why I photographed Abbey’s zigzag dress for this post. Her outfit doesn’t scream “Missoni.” Subtlety often heightens the chicness of any look. It’s the whole “less is more” maxim. The long-sleeves make this dress perfect for cold weather, while the short hem keeps it young. My hunch is that the recent overwhelming popularity of zigzag striped dresses this spring is a legacy of the Missoni x Target craze last year, which brought Italian-style fabrics to the masses. It’s Reaganomics for fashion! Only I guess it’s actually trickling up rather than down… this legendary Miranda Priestly speech explains it more poetically than I ever could.

I thought Abbey’s simply adorable look was so great that I selected four great zigzag dresses inspired by her for my readers. Long sleeves don’t work in the summer so I decided to select the inverse. No sleeves and long hems!

These dresses are all around $200 or less. Maxi dresses are here to stay and are the perfect new summer wardrobe investments. I still believe that the solid colored versions are tough to pull off unless accessorized correctly, preferably with a wide belt at the waist. The long length of a maxi dress looks best broken up with swirling patterns or bold prints. That’s why these zigzag-striped versions are the perfect way to rock the maxi dress without looking like you’ve been swallowed by a fabric amoeba and turned into an amorphous blob.

I especially love Trina Turk’s “Avedis” maxi dress [left] because although it’s clearly inspired by Missoni’s signature zigzag weave, it’s different enough with the asymmetrical design and self-belt to stand on its own. The sparkly River Forest x ASOS tank is covered in sequins for a party-ready look, day or night. Yes, I know it’s not a maxi dress but it’s cute and very similar to Abbey’s actual dress. Wear this long tank with leggings (it covers the ass, so you’re good) for a harder-edged take on the zigzag dress trend.

Both of these zigzag striped maxi dresses exude a boho-chic vibe perfect for leisurely strolls through one of Chicago’s gorgeous parks. The Karina Grimaldi “Florence” wrap dress [left] lends a sexier touch with its V-neck design and figure-flattering wrap silhouette. In contrast, the tiered bodice and looser fit makes the Blu Moon “Summer Lovin” maxi dress [right] perfect for girls who want to bring a rock-and-roll edge to their summer wardrobes.