Latest Obsession: Jason Wu's Pre-Fall 2014 Collection

           Just as everyone is getting over the S/S14 collections, Pre-Fall pops up with a fresh perspective. While shorts and sundresses are far in the future for most of us, this handful of shows brings us back to the reality of layers and earth tones. We can actually apply the styling to our current outfits and gather inspiration for our winter shopping.

           That's why I'm loving Jason Wu's Pre-Fall 2014 collection. I has everything I want from a fall/winter wardrobe, by balancing thick knits and leather with thin lace and silk. He applied simple layering techniques that all of us on the East Coast can appreciate, like wearing a big sweater over a flowy dress. Nothing is too complex about his pieces, just clean, comfortable clothes that are beautifully understated. His gowns are divine! Who wouldn't want to wear one to a holiday party? And I'm all about his sweater and leather jacket combo. You get the rigidity of a leather moto jacket, with all the cozy warmth of a sweater.

            Another thing I really like, while subtle, is his pairing of neutrals. For anyone who doesn't believing in wearing brown and black together, Wu proves that it can be done. Breaking the "rules" can be refreshing, especially in the winter when your biggest concern is staying warm. Lastly, the pointed toe is here to stay and his double buckle, ankle strap heels and booties are a must-have.

photo credits: Fashionista.com

Brunch at Foothills

           This week has been one of those first fall weeks when it isn't quite cool enough to start wearing sweaters, but there's definitely a chill in the air. I've felt the need to make a slight transition from the carefree clothes I wear in the summer, yet I want to wear sandals for as long as I can. I recently added a lot of black to my wardrobe, although it was completely accidental. I wanted to add leather, edgier pieces to my fall wardrobe and it just happened that everything I brought to the register was black!

 Top - TJMaxx

Skirt - Charlotte Russe

Sandals - TJMaxx

Clutch - vintage

Ring - H&M

            This top was a recent purchase. I love it because it's casual and comfy but has leather at the shoulders to make it a tad bit more intriguing than a typical tee.

           These sandals were a $7 steal at TJ Maxx. I won't be able to wear them for long before they go into spring storage, but I sure wasn't going to let them slip away at that amazing price!

           I found this vintage, beaded clutch quite a few years ago and it's been the perfect little bag to take out whenever I need some extra class in an outfit. I've been looking for a chain ring like this one for a while, so I was happy to add it to my ever-growing ring collection.

View my outfit on Lookbook:

Reconstructing a Shirt into a Skirt

       The last piece in my Summer Reconstruction series is a velvet shirt that was desperate for a makeover. When I found this top, I really liked the color and texture. The velvet has a cool squiggly imprint, however the style of the shirt was all wrong. Using this fabric for a top is outdated, so I realized that what this garment really needed was a total re-purposing. I envisioned a piece that I could wear going out or on a date and created a simple, fitted miniskirt.

 

        To transform this shirt, I cut the top half off just below the sleeves. This left me with a piece of fabric almost ready to wear as a skirt, but in order for it to fit better, I needed to do a bit of sewing. I put the skirt on, pinned one side to fit against my leg, and sewed a seam there. Next, I folded the raw edge of the waist and sewed it for a clean waistline. Because the fabric is very stretchy, I needed to take in each seam a little more than most fabrics.

Thank you to Naomi Kolok for taking and modeling in the photographs featured in this series! 

Reconstructing a Skirt into a Dress

      My favorite piece that I've redone this summer is a skirt that I turned into a dress. I had a bit of difficulty deciding on the style I wanted because the skirt had so much fabric to work with. There were many ways I could drape it or add sleeves, but I finally decided to stick with a very basic style that could be worn a few different ways. This way, I could wear it with or without a belt, move the straps to one side, or wear it without straps at all.

 

       The skirt originally had a lining, so I cut it all off to make the material lighter and easier to work with. Then, I added straps at the waistband with thick, black ribbon. Lastly, I cut a long piece of thin ribbon to use as an optional belt. 

Thank you to my beautiful cousin Naomi Kolok for modeling in these pictures!

Reconstructing a Skirt

         For my second reconstructed piece, I altered a vintage skirt. I fell in love with the pattern and colors but when I tried it on, it didn't look quite right. I decided it would only need a couple adjustments before it would be a piece I'd be wearing all the time. 

         Skirts are my favorite things to get in thrift stores because they come in cool, unexpected patterns and there are a lot of ways to turn them into modern fashion. A few years ago, I bought a skirt in the same style as this one and simply pulled it up over my chest and belted it to make it a dress (see that post here).

           This skirt was a little big around my waist, so the first thing I did was take it in on the side. Then, I cut a slit on one side that reached about halfway up. Once I sewed all the necessary seams, it was finished! A very easy way to make an old skirt more wearable!

Thanks to Naomi Kolok for helping me with this photoshoot! She'll also be modeling in reconstruction posts to come! 

Moving on to Asymmetrical Ruffles

      In the past couple years, hi-low skirts (often nicknamed "mullet" skirts) were all the rage. They dominated the streets, particularly among 18-21 year old college students. But this trend is fading and is quickly being replaced by asymmetrical ruffles. Working in a clothing store helps a lot when it comes to spotting trends. This spring, I worked at Club Monaco and ruffles were a major adornment among all the minimalistic styles. I then began to see them more and more as I looked through S/S 2013 runway pictures.

      What I really like about this trend is how feminine it is, without going overboard. Too many ruffles is never a good thing, but one clean line of ruffles becomes even more flattering when it's tilted at an angle. Asymmetrical ruffles are like the younger sisters of the ultra cool peplums -- they look the best when they're structured, stiff, and come in a thick fabric.

Gucci SS13

     This style can be worn a multitude of ways. Tops with a slanted, ruffle neckline are super chic right now. A pencil skirt with a ruffle right above the knee is a great way to incorporate it into office wear. The key to pulling it off is to have one large ruffle taking center stage. Any more and you will look like a bird! Also, don't wimp out with tiny ruffles. Small ones look dowdy and outdated. Here are some styles to pull inspiration from...

Balenciaga SS13

Givenchy SS13

Chloe SS13

Here are some runway inspired pieces for the real world. To see the products I used, see my Polyvore set here.

August Wishlist

     I easily get sucked into sites like Ebay, Urban Outfitters, and Victoria's Secret for three reasons...1) they always have new things to discover; 2) the possibility of finding something cheap is guaranteed; and 3) there are so many wondrous things that it's impossible to look at just one! I spend so long browsing on those sites, I really don't want to know the total hours I waste every week shopping online. The one thing that saves me...I don't have a job, therefore I have no money...which means whenever I see something I like online, there's no way for me to impulsively buy it! Do I wish I could? Heck ya! But I'm probably saving myself a lot of trouble by not getting into that habit...yet!

      So instead of actually buying the things I lust after, I settle with making a wishlist. That way I can get them out of my head with the intention of getting them someday, while in the back of my mind I know I'll soon forget them and find new things to marvel at!

Eat, Pray, Love-Elizabeth Gilbert

$12.99 on Amazon

There's been so much buzz about the movie, but the general consensus seems to be a let down. To me, it sounds like a really interesting story and I don't understand how a movie with Julia Roberts AND James Franco (wink, wink...I love him in case you didn't know!) could be bad. I've been debating whether to read the book first or rush to the theater. Either way, I still want to read it because it sounds like a novel with more substance than the ones I normally read for fun.

I also thought these perfumes were cute because they're inspired by each country Elizabeth traveled to. 

You Don't Know Jacques-OPI

$8.00 from drugstore.com

I've wanted this color for the longest time and since fall nail color trends don't seem to be straying much from this beautiful "mushroom" color, I still have time to try it!

Guest texturized flats-Enzo Angiolini

$49.99 on Solestruck

I recently got a pair of gorgeous Enzo Angiolini heels from a thrift store and they are my absolute favorite shoes now. They are well crafted, comfortable, and the type of shoes that make you feel like you're taking every step in luxury. I need a nice pair of black flats and these are perfect. "They" (being fashion experts) always say that the items worth splurging on are the basics that will last you forever. I couldn't agree more!  Enzos are classy, versatile, and well-built shoes that I trust to keep me happy for a very long time.

Eppi Casual Kellybag

$82.99 on storets.com

This looks a lot like one of my past school purses, so I must have a thing for short-handled, wide bags with a bit of posh. The simple design goes with anything and the minty color makes it fun and unusual.

Open Stitch Sweater-NY & Co.

$24.95 at New York and Company

Aside from a few bulky sweaters I've been craving, this is the one sweater I need for my cooler-weather wardrobe. It could be worn layered or alone with a good pair of jeans to make any autumn day better!

Sateen Boxer Pajama Set-Victoria's Secret

$25 on victoriassecret.com

I love wearing boxers to bed. They come in so many cute and comfy styles that they are no longer just a staple for men! This pair from VS is unbeatable and comes in three different colors, plus a matching v-neck. You can't go wrong with that!

Zip Short Denim Skirt-Vero Moda

7.49 € on veromoda.com

Most denim skirts are the same mainstream minis or boring knee-lengths, so when I find one that catches my eye I really want it! Denim is currently the coolest fabric for clothing so I think designers are becoming more creative with the ways they can use it. I like a lot of the acid washing and bleaching I've seen lately and this skirt is a perfect example.

Classy-Derek Blasberg

$16.99 on urbanoutfitters.com

Yet another much-talked-about book to read! It's such a clever idea to base a book on and I have a guilty pleasure for do's and don'ts! The illustrations look hilarious!

Lily Camel Haircalf Leather purse-Mulberry

995 € at mulberry.com

It's a bit on the pricey side, but I just love to look at it! Leopard is a hot print this fall and this is a good use for it. Having it on a purse makes it easy to incorporate into an outfit with just an accent of the busy print. An added bonus? You can tuck the straps inside to use as it a clutch for more formal, night looks.

Query suede bootie-Jeffrey Campbell

$97 + free shipping on Ebay

I've acquired a new obsession with Jeffrey Campbell and these shoes in particular. The black booties that I've had for the past two winters have succumb to much wear and tear, so I really want to get a new pair...they are a must-have in my wardrobe! I am in LOVE with these! The ruffles, the twisted "unicorn" heel, the black suede, all make for a very powerful shoe!

 

PS:

Make sure you guess who belongs to these shoes!