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.