school daze part 1

As someone who went to a Catholic school with a VERY strict dress code--no nail polish, dangly earrings, personality, etc. You would think I would never want to think about anything uniform-like again. My plaid skirt+socks with shoes combo wasn't this cool though...

tickled pink

I like the idea of pairing girly pink with a neutral background and some tough shearling booties. I'm obsessed with the borrowed-from-the-boys desert boots--with a platform heel of course.

coming undone

I prefer cold weather dressing because I like to mix colors/textures and I also feel like you can get away with much crazier shoes for some reason? I like can't function in hot weather. All I can think about are $1 sundaes from McDonald's. Summers too undone with the tank tops and cutoffs and flat sandals...

the editrix

I've decided I'm going to walk around Chicago like a femme fatale fashion editrix in a crazy sculpted coat, with a skintight pencil skirt, and 6 inch platform ankle boots like,

"Oh, this old thing? This is just my outfit to go buy toilet paper at Target."

shrink to fit

I heart a big cozy sweater as much as the next gal. Oversized, boyfriend, chunky knit, slouchy...

But I am craving something a little different this season. A borrowed from the boy...'s section kind of fit. Really shrunken with the perfect 3/4 length sleeves but still sweet and cozy.

summer time blues

After a record breaking summer, I am so ready for fall. Fall/spring are probably the shortest and most fickle seasons in Chicago but I am ready for it to NOT be 90 degrees. Last fall, I was all about the sheer black tights. Sheer black tights with a back seam, with polka dots, with diamonds, with lace. This fall, I will be all about the gray tights. Opaque gray tights, chunky knit, sheer, etc.

sweater coat

Why do you torture me, Stella??! Back in 2005/2006, I was working at H&M. During that time, Stella McCartney designed a capsule collection for them and it had the MOST AMAZING SWEATER COAT OF ALL TIME. NO LIE. Alas, it was not meant to be and I have been on the hunt for perfect one ever since...

the simple pleasures

Sleeping in till noon.
Eating takeout in bed while watching a movie with my hunnie.
A roomy but slinky sweater dress in the perfect shade of navy.

feeling 90s part 3

Cargo pants.
Cropped top.
Dog tags.

'Nuff said.

feeling 90s part 2

I need a dishwater-colored thermal, a gauzy chiffon baby doll dress, an thick wooly coat with an oversized collar, some slouchy thigh highs, and a chunky pair of boots to appease my grunge appetite...

feeling 90s part 1

For some reason, I've been feeling really nostalgic about all things 90s. I'm listening to 90s pop music, playing my favorite 90s game (Starcraft, duh), and craving 90s fashion (unwashed hair, light wash denim, excessive layering.

OCD

I obsess over little details like how my belt is buckled or how many buttons should be left open. Cause let's face it, only Chloë Sevigny can get away with the buttoned up look.

white lightening

We got some relief from the heat in the form of rain!!!

....Too bad it caused flooding in our basement.

Just can't win with Chicago weather...

my head's in the sky

I AM SO OVER THIS WEATHER.

There's something about oppressively hot/humid/disgusting weather that makes me just UNINSPIRED and BLAH. I just want to lounge around in my husband's baggy clothes. For one thing, I hate sweating and the feeling of clothes sticking to my body. Another thing I hate is seeing people half naked. People should wear clothes. Like 10 layers. O_O

and we all fall down

A softly draped leather jacket can really transform an outfit. Digging longer hemlines thanks to Louis Vuitton F/W.



I recently chopped off 10 inches of my hair to donate. But when I had long hair, the topknot was my friend.

i want your horror, i want your design

Sorry for the lack of posts. Life, blahblahblah, work blahblahblah. The usual.

And straight to the point:




!!!!!!!!

Shoes by Dsquared.

jumping the gun: fall preview

SERIOUSLY. I KNOW. IT'S JUNE. I'M SORRY.



I subscribe to approximately 5 million fashion magazines and they're doing all this fall preview stuff so I can't help but be excited. Can't wait for simple camel backdrops and gray knight tights...

daisy dukes, bikinis on top

Happy start of summer! Today, I will be eating lots of delicious food and getting BBQ sauce on my white clothes!

it's a wrap

wrap dress + wrap belt + wraparound shoes + wraparound bag

size does matter

I am fairly certain I buy more clothes for my husband than for myself. I am also fairly certain that I am guilty of borrowing and possibly of stealing. Gulp.

americana part 2

The secret to a Texas tuxedo that looks cool:

1. Contrast in the washes
2. Fit of each item
3. Attitude

americana part 1

There's nothing more American than the combo of denim and plaid.

Please serve with a side of apple pie. Ala mode.

under distress

Last year was the summer of the shredded tee. This summer it's all about the cut out tee (preferably cut in the shape of the spine)...

fairy tales

As a fashion illustrator/designer, I draw inspiration from a lot of the beautiful costuming in television and movies. But probably the most common inspiration for people who love fashion are fairy tales. It's something about fantasy dressing that really ignites people's passions.

Here are my interpretations:



1. Little Red Riding Hood
She is a character that represents innocence. An oversized, dramatic cape over a cotton candy pink scalloped dress emphasizes her sweetness. Socks and dress shoes always remind me of dressing up as a little girl (my socks were ruffled and my shoes were patent leather but still).



2. Alice in Wonderland
Alice is mischievous. Trouble always seems to be finding her. My version of Alice doesn't wear white tights and doesn't take herself too seriously.

i'll be dreaming of you tonight...

Alexander Wang
via Tommy Ton
via style.com


via my DREAMS
I NEED A NEW HOBBY!!!!

the blogger pose

Is it a requirement for fashion bloggers to master the art of crouching in 6 inch heels? If I drop something when I'm wearing some crazy shoes, it's staying there...

spotted

Maybe these past few days of sunshine have partially fried my brain but leopard is the new neutral.

free floating

I've been watching Burn Notice and it makes me want to live in Miami. A loose shirt dress would be perfect over a bikini during those humid summer days...

may flowers part 2

When I get a concept for an outfit/design in my head, I become obsessive with all the possible variations...

During spring/summer, I always feel more boho thus all the fringe and uncombed hair. I always go through this phase after I get my hair cut that I want my hair perfectly blown out and straight. But then the alarm goes off at 5:45 AM and... mehhh.

may flowers part 1

There's something so quintessentially spring about the mix of denim and floral. Floral is tough to wear because it can look too matronly or conversely look like it belongs on a 7 year old... Denim toughens up the look and makes it look more of the moment. Throw on a pair of flat boots and you're good to go!

underwear as outerwear

I'm a prude and I'll admit it (Ain't no shame in my game). I really like the idea of lingerie inspired clothing but have trouble imagining myself wearing it. For me, I'd need it to be more frilly than flirty. And more opaque/substantial (silk dupioni) than filmy/transparent (chiffon). And perhaps just a peek under an oversized cardigan worn off the shoulder and some tough little booties...

pumpkin spiced peas

I am not the greatest at picking out prints to wear. I tend to favor design elements, textures, and colors. Preferably all in a blinding combination. I love 99.9% of colors (NOT brown, but cognac is acceptable). Since summer isn't arriving til July, I really love the idea of wearing a flowy pea green dress with a long, chunky pumpkin colored sweater vest to anchor down your dress (for those stiff Chicago winds that will blow your dress right over your head). Cinched at the waist with a bright colored belt (turquoise suede perhaps?) and grounded with chunky wooden sandals. And some Nicole Richie hair to top it all off. Voila.

When I describe colors for design/clothing inspirations I tend to use food comparisons (eggplant purple, zesty lemon yellow, etc). For some odd reason, fashion bloggers seem to also be obsessed with food. My fixation with food is the same as fixation I have with fashion. I like learning how something is made, dissecting it, and re-creating it (sometimes I even finish a project).

And I like to eat, too. Thus a flowy dress.

i love rock and roll...

Must be all the Coachella pictures, but I'm really feeling asymmetrical t-shirts and leather pants...

fluttering...

My heart flutters when I see any of the Spring/Summer 2010 Miu Miu platforms. Used in a magazine. Worn on a fashion editrix on a blog. Painted on the inside of my eyelids. Monster platform+the perfect shade of baby pink+birds?!! SOLD.

borrowed from the boys...

I am fascinated by my husband's GQs. Every one of those guys have perfected the art of the rolled pant leg. The hem is rolled in such a way that it shows the perfect amount of ankle and looks cool and unfussy.







MUST LUST LIST
1. skinny cargo pants
2. fluorescent bra
3. 6 inch blush colored pumps
4. the prefect striped navy top
5. gray jean leggings

rainy days

Blargh. Chicago during the spring is probably one of the hardest cities to dress for. It starts off cold, then it's 70, then it's raining, then it's sleeting... Then you have to account for air conditioning at full blast, being outside in the blistering sun, sitting on a crowded bus... And this could be all in ONE day.

The solution?

LAYERS. I also prefer to wear my boots until it is really screaming hot out because I hate getting my feet wet.

balenciaga fall 2010

I BLEED FOR THESE. Collection previews are the fashion equivalent of torture.

prim

Prim... done properly.

au naturel

My obsession with all things nude/blush started last summer when I purchased a pair of magical strappy sandals that just went with EVERYTHING.


This summer I want to take it to the next level.


1. Head-to-toe. Tone-on-tone. Gaga-pink-lips.


2. Punched up with blindingly bright accessories.

PS... I love you.

Proenza Schouler... I love you.

pencil it in... part 3

Pants aversion is hard work.

Wearing a Pencil skirt 3.0



A la a modern day version of The New Look with a below the knee skirt, over sized collar jacket, leather gloves, sheer hosiery, and nude platform heels.

pencil it in... part 2

Pants aversion is hard work.

Wearing a Pencil skirt 2.0



Wear it ultra femme to work in shades of pink. Working in the corporate world makes you appreciate a dose of unabashed girliness...

pencil it in... part 1

Pants aversion is hard work.

Wearing a Pencil skirt 1.0


Wear it casual with a super soft tee and your boyfriend's sweater.

Further proof that I am a trendwhore:I'm kinda loving the hoof-like clogs and drawstring bucket bags?

prep school

Maybe I'm rebelling from my days of having pink hair and a lip ring...
Maybe it's from watching too many episodes of Gossip Girl...
Maybe it's from browsing the JCrew website til my retinas burn out...



BUT...
I really want to button my collar all the way.
And wear thin socks with heels.
And own a dove gray sweater vest.
And a navy blazer with SHOULDERS (can't be too preppy).

spring coat...

Like any real Chicagoan, I am cursing March/winter/this weather!!!!! A girl can only take so much snow+cold+wind. A couple of 50 degree days are nice and all but....

The second the stores put out their spring collections, I was over winter. I need sunshine and 70 degree weather STAT. Why must they tease us????

Since we do have a looooooooooong (and wet and windy) transition period here in Chicago, I am on the hunt for the perfect late winter/spring coat.



I am totally obsessed with finding the perfect hunting/anorak/surplus jacket. Preferably in a charcoal gray. My 19 year old sister has this awesome army green version and I feel too old wearing something that my teenage sister does... BUT I AM ONLY 20 **cough**. Also, in need of a little wood handled clutch that would fit like $5 and my keys and nothing else.


I may not be a teenager, but I still feel too young for a full on khaki trench coat. I am hunting down the perfect cropped red trench with oversized collar and gold buttons. Is that too much to ask for?? And since I love blinding people with my disregard for color "rules" I would totally pair it with one of those romantic blush pink dresses this spring.