Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Sweater Dress.

The weather is finally changing here in Pittsburgh, and it's time to adjust the wardrobe accordingly. Buy new socks, dust off hats. Which brings me to the piece that has always been a little confusing to me: sweaters. When I was in high school, I wanted nothing to do with them. They seemed bulky and uncool, unsexy. I still don't own very many, but have the sudden urge to stock up.

Image via lookbook.

This season they have come into a new light. Oversize styles in lightweight cashmere or crochet. Cropped styles in heavier knits. They seem suddenly chic, less business, more cool.

And they are everywhere.
Images via lookbook, fashiontoast, and shopbop.
And so, we played dress up with some of the sweaters that we have in the store.

Revamping a gown. Just throw a sweater over it. Loving the long skirts trend, and this is a super-easy solution for a long dress that you thought you'd never wear again.

And then it started to rain.


Stay warm, stay chic. Until next time!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

A girl like you.



Raechel came into the store today rocking a Mary Kate prep-inspired ensemble. I swear that I didn't put her up to it! This is her take on the casual sweater/long skirt combo. She's awesome at making vintage look new, at doing totally different looks but keeping her sense of personal style. She's a great source if you want to find local Pittsburgh vintage, resale, and antique spots.

I love seeing local Pittsburgh girls who love fashion, girls like me.

There's an ongoing misconception that Pittsburgh girls are all a bunch of 80's haircuts and hometown t-shirts, and it's simply not the truth.


So here's Raechel. Introduce yourself, and let's start the style movement in the 'burgh.

Friday, September 17, 2010

The Persistence of Prep.




The original preppy handbook "Take Ivy" was re-released last month after being a treasure of fashion insiders or fashion lovers with deep pockets for the past four decades. Prep is the style that never goes out of style. The cuts are classic, the materials luxe. It is certainly something to be celebrated.


To me, prep does not mean dressing head-to-toe in Lilly Pullitzer or Brooks Brothers, but embracing classics and dressing with ease without being a slave to every passing trend.


Yes, I admittedly love a dress with cutouts, designer collaborations (Lanvin for H&M soon!) and every sky-high it-shoe. But there is something to be said about dressing for comfort, investing in pieces that will never be "out".







"I never wanted to be 'in fashion'. Because if you are 'in fashion' you can always be out." -Ralph Lauren


The inspiration:



Mary Kate from Teen Vogue always nails it. So effortlessly chic. It's becoming rare to see such a beautiful young girl look like such a lady. (Images via the sartorialist and garance dore)


A style icon for all ages, Jackie Kennedy. Street chic preppy in stripes. (Both images via Unabashedly Prep)


Here's what you'll need.

Cableknits and cashmeres (easy to find on resale), knee length or longer hemlines, flats, neutral or primary colors, and leather. I am especially fond of the circle skirts that are coming back this season (see Mary Kate in the second image above). Prep prints last forever also, stick with herringbones, plaids, and stripes for a classic look.










And to think that I used to loathe the dress code.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Just a few words.

Found these two little inspirations reading Real Simple magazine. Just bought it on a whim at RiteAid. I love it. Has never really stood out as a must-read, but the magazine is really well done and has beautiful, simple images and great tips.


"Style is a very simple way of saying complicated things."
-Jean Cocteau
"The woman who is chic is always a little different. Not different in being behind fashion, but always slightly apart from it."
-Emily Post, Etiquette

Friday, September 3, 2010

Finding outside inspiration.

After a while, the magazines can all start to look the same. Everything seems in season, on trend. I subscribe to too many online boutiques and webzines, follow all the major Tweeters that WWD and Rachel Zoe tell me to follow. Don't get me wrong, I love them all. But sometimes, the amount of information can leave even the biggest fashion junky feeling overwhelmed.

Sometimes in the morning, the closet can be daunting, and it's nice to take a fresh look at things. To step away and think about clothes a little bit differently.

I received this bouquet the other day:
I love to play with colors and textures. A floral arrangement can show how unexpected colors can look beautiful together. The heights of the flowers add interest. I am continually inspired by different patterns and pairings in homes, in architecture, in gardens. Even a salad can show how vivid colors and shapes can work together to make something visually stunning.

So taking a note from the flowers. Here's how I dressed our girlfriends:
I am dying over the purple stones necklace, and I love how it adds a tough look with the army green to the pretty pink chiffon.



Tie-dye, and tweed, and florals, oh my!

So go out, be inspired. Open your eyes, and have a happy holiday weekend everyone.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Let's hear it for the boys.

Lately I have seen a lot of female shoppers dipping into the men's section of the store to take a peek at the shirts. A few have been brave enough to purchase menswear. And why not? What is more versatile for early September than a lightweight buttondown? Too hot for a jacket? Can't find the right cardigan? Get creative. Tuck it, tie it, belt it. The buttondown is the catch-all of clothing.






In the picture above, you've got my picks. A navy plaid Martin+Osa on the left, and the classic men's blue stripe Brooks Brothers on the right.



And then I styled them for the ladies:




Brooches are my favorite accessory for Fall. I want to cover everything in them: coats, hats, shirts, belts. They add feminine charm and a bit of quirkiness to any ensemble. I'd add some brogues and socks to the left, ballet flats or structured heels on the right.




So run to your boyfriend's, husband's, or brother's closet and try it out.* Just don't tell them that I sent you.


*Or be safe and stop in to the store to stock up.