Jekyll and Hyde?

I think I love fashion so much because trends are completely customizable. You can tailor current happenings to your tastes by picking small details to incorporate into your wardrobe or embrace everything with complete abandon. In either scenario, there is something for everyone in the upcoming fall season of color-blocking, preppy equestrian looks and retro, 70's boho chic. I love all of these, so you know I will soon be posting items I want to jazz up the ol' wardrobe (like how this blog is often my shopping wishlist?).

One trend that I still love is the maxi/midi length dresses and skirts. I have been wearing them at work and at play and want just a little more in my life, so I have been on the hunt for a new item. I fell in love with two dresses online and surprised myself with how different they are:

My dark side loves this Dark Side of Day black maxi dress. The cut-outs are just daring enough without setting off the skank-alarm and it would be perfect with sandals and a statement necklace for a night ambling about downtown.

But my softer, feminine side loves this Sunday Brunch polka-dot dress. I love the demure, neutral colors and the pleats take it to awesome status. I would add my white linen blazer for brunch (the dress is aptly named, yes?) or even to work.
Which one would you choose? And what trends are you excited for either now or for fall?

Gooood Morning!

Monday mornings aren't usually a favorite, but this morning is surprisingly delightful for surprisingly simple reasons:

1- Fresh blueberries. The perfect size and ripeness sprinkled over a bowl of Kashi Crunch cereal makes me feel like one of those people who practices yoga on their balcony over-looking the Caribbean... well, you get the idea.

2- I have the Food Network on while I am "doing online research" (code for procrastinating getting ready for work) and those Neely's are a little over the top, but today they made an amazing-looking spinach artichoke dip and it was definitely something I could make myself...and I will!

3- Part of my online research has involved looking for shorts and skirts that I will love enough to wear (lately the shorts I own that are too short have just sat in a drawer...part of the aging process, I am told, hehe) and although I haven't found any shorts, I am excited that I found this skirt:
Circlets and Stones striped maxi skirt. Funky and fun without being scary, this can definitely be dressed up or down and I think it would transition into fall pretty well, too!

I hope everyone else is having a great (or at least decent) Monday!

Breezy, Printed Layers

While I love the sheer maxi skirt trend (though I don't know why-- it is counter-intuitive to purposefully wear see-through clothing in public), I am not satisfied with just a sheer skirt: there must be pattern that creates the feel of movement! The flowy layer needs to evoke that romantic-yet-slightly-boho/carefree-vibe to instill softness into a bold outfit statement.

I could wax poetic on this 'til the cows come home, trust me, but I would rather just show you looks I am currently loving:

This Juicy Couture tiered maxi dress is really frothy and playful:



Phillip Lim always creates elevated basics of interest, like this simple, Grecian dress modernized with a grid pattern:


I love the vaguely-reptilian watercolor pattern of this Robert Rodriguez dress:



Bellatrix always makes fun, blousy separates and I love this look with the shorts:
This Blain kimono sleeve top is especially cool because of the long back hem:


Andy from the Style Scrapbook always gets it right and I love her sheer maxi-- pattern + soft pleats!!

What is your style-obsession for spring?... (Or for the week if you are a spaz like me)...
Happy Monday!

MAXI-mize Your Skirt Options

I have a new found love of maxi skirts. I have always liked the Rick Owens-inspired look, but being a tall gal means that most skirts end at awkwardly short lengths on me, so I wrote them off and decided to forget them. I did a great job forgetting until I found a long skirt in basic black knit that is the perfect length! Like a breath of fresh fashion air, I have been introduced to a very versatile wardrobe addition. I had previously sequestered the long skirt in the "summer" category of my brain- only to be paired with sandals on the beach. Now I see that it can be a cute alternative to jeans for running errands and love it with short boots and a leather jacket for colder weather (I posted a similar look here).

The way I see it, there are three ways to go maxi:

Simple and Cozy:
The Tumbler Maxi Skirt in Black at Anthropologie (I like that this one can be worn low across the hips, but would also look nice as a high-waisted option-- perfect for looking trim when you are layering up!)



A Bit 'o' Pizazz:
Lace Maxi Skirt at Forever21 (a super girly take that could be made a little goth or a little boho-romantic, a la Stevie Nicks)

























All Out Glamorous:
Chie Printed Silk-Satin Maxi Skirt by Erdem (This one is like a wearable painting that you could dress down for dinner with flat sandals and a simple tank or dress up for a formal occasion or party...Love the colors!)

























Given the choice- and unlimited budget- what would you choose the comfy options, glamourous ones, or somewhere in between? Are you going to be rockin' a maxi this winter?