stock market

images via pinterest

i've had a pair of taupe birkenstocks for at least 7 years now - i actually can't remember when or why i bought them. potentially for a high school trip to greece? but  since i never ended up wearing them (sorry mom), they are essentially still in mint condition. i pulled them out last summer just as the ugly-shoe trend began in earnest (and after i saw mary-kate olsen wearing some with jeans), but after spotting these photos above, it's clear my suede slides won't be making the cut this season. i love the stark black and white leather versions with a super simple outfit, like a cotton dress or blazer - and a nice tan wouldn't hurt either. now i just need to decide which ones to buy. they even come in patent leather! and the comfort factor cannot be beat.

coat check

when you work in fashion, you tend to get excited about something new every day. givenchy's floral prints, m2malletier bags, blinged-out tibi mules, the perfect sporty-chic sneakers... the list goes on (and on and on). so when you suddenly realize your very up-to-date wardrobe is actually devoid of a classic, seasonless piece, you feel like a total fool. 

i kicked myself when i saw everyone wearing chic, simple, and rich-feeling camel coats in between shows at fashion week. how, how, how do i not own a camel coat?  

so now i'm on the hunt -- even though winter is almost over. it may not be the best time to buy a new coat, but there's really no reason to talk myself out of it. these coats will undoubtedly look just as chic next season. and the season after that. and after that.

a few of my favorites include this cool zipper coat from asos, this incredible bejeweled j.crew stunner (worth the investment!), this toggle duffel coat (on sale!), this fur-collar coat, this super simple style, and this classic double-breasted peacoat. some sartorial inspiration below...

images via style.com, collage vintage, and caroline's mode

chloé pre-fall 2014

images via style.com

the chloé pre-fall look above is exactly what i want to wear once the temperatures warm up. this long-sleeved, flouncy leopard-print day dress could be my perfect throw-on-and-go uniform, not to mention the covetable bag. i've been a huge fan of chloe handbags for years, but have yet to splurge on one, and the saddle shape, pop of python and pale blue leather on this one make it extra tempting. (ps - i found this budget friendly alternative to the dress as well as this floral-print variation, and will likely be adding both to my closet within a day or so.)

i think if i could buy the entire chloé pre-collection i would be content for life. i love how clare waight keller mixed super-feminine ruffles and chiffon with oversized coats, sharp blazers and clunky ankle-tie heels -- it's precisely how i want to look. and those blanket-y wraps have already become a street style staple, as evidenced by plenty of couture-goers this week.

bead it

i have zero need for another clutch in my wardrobe (i've recently lost count), but i am constantly falling for all the chic options out there. this one from asos reminds me of a certain must-have stella mccartney clutch -- i love the colorful embellishments, and the price tag is much easier on my wallet. i would wear it with matching red lips and my favorite easy basics:

{ proenza schouler top, $280 // acne jeans, $250 // mac lipstick in lady danger, $16 // dannijo necklace, $524 // asos clutch, $65 // audrey brooke booties, $39 (i bought and love!) }

II emily

style 101 c/o tommy ton

when you work in fashion, you see a lot of things. a lot of beautiful, amazing, way-out-of-your-league things. you start to rationalize spending hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on "that perfect sweater/bag/shoe/etc" because hello, it's perfect, while at the same time you start to feel like you have no style whatsoever. (not to be dramatic or anything...) try it out: surround yourself with a few dozen fashion editors, lithe models, and chic new yorkers in general, and you will feel like you can't compete!

this rings especially true when you click through tommy ton's street style photos (also mentioned in my last post). if you get snapped by the elusive tommy, you deserve a cupcake or seven because you are one stylish gal. me? i'm still waiting to make the cut. but i can certainly learn a thing or two about adopting a unique sense of style by checking out his latest crop of images, taken at the spring '14 shows in new york, london, milan and paris. 

let's begin.

LESSON #1: wear a slip dress, and wear it with an oversized sweater.

in case you are seriously living under a rock, you should know the 90s are back and, in some ways, they're better than ever. take my advice and forgo the acid wash mom jeans, neon high-tops and crop tops; instead, try the most elegant and understated piece from that wonderfully terrible decade: the slip dress. it's demure, it's sexy, it's minimal. but don't underestimate the sweater. without a chunky sweater (or a loose blazer, or a sweatshirt, or whatever else you're feeling – as long as it's substantial) the look veers into neglige/baby spice territory. don't channel baby spice. hanneli mustaparta, above, looks stunning in her printed louis vuitton slip, but I have my eye on this (crazy-affordable) black zara one (this one is good too).with a little black dress, giant sweater/sweatshirt/jacket possibilities are endless. 

LESSON #2: mix it up. 

there are few things i want more right now than this bedazzled 3.1 phillip lim "i heart nueva york" t-shirt. it kind of captures this precise moment in fashion, and as such i want to wear it like the girl above – with a mash-up of other unexpected things, like a flippy tulip skirt, tough leather jacket, a stack of bracelets and probably some mirrored sunglasses, too. less can definitely be more, but in this case, it pays to pile it on.

LESSON #3: when all else fails, wear all black and/or copy emmanuelle alt.

i don’t know if you can get away with it everywhere, but black-on-black-on-black is really the easiest way ever to get dressed, and it will always look chic, 100% of the time. the reason i don’t think this is necessarily a universal rule is that i never even considered wearing all-black in my hometown of indianapolis; it would read as dark, moody, even a little "goth." if you wear all black in indiana, chances are your friends will ask if you're heading to a funeral. but in new york? london? paris? chicago? LA? not the case. but be bold. wear black wherever you want! chicness knows no bounds. mix up the textures and try this quilted jacket, kitten heels like these or these, and cuffed jeans for a look similar to emannuelle's, above.

LESSON #4: go grey early.

as stated above, all-black is always awesome. it is perennially chic. it is flattering. it is powerful. but maybe i want something a little softer, a little more plush… enter: all-grey. i love this look above -- it's everything i want to wear this season (chunky sweater, structured skirt, giant clutch and subtle heels). i would pair this knit (a size or two up) with this skirt for the ultimate winter minimalist outfit. 

LESSON #5: think (baby) pink.

pale pink is my favorite color, but i'm not the only one -- i could hardly click through style.com or any blogs without seeing someone decked out in the cotton candy hue. pale pink coats are huge for fall (i snagged the perfect one from zara that is now unavailable, but you can get a similar one here, here and here) and alexander wang is doing pale pink bags and accessories for spring. it is universally flattering (your skin will glow next to, say, a pale pink cashmere sweater) and it goes with a range of colors -- like burgundy, navy, black, and dark gray as well as other pastels like pale blue, lilac and dandelion. avoid looking like an infant with some sleek accessories, or dress it down with some ripped denim. 

all images via tommy ton for style.com

ice ice

i don't consider myself much of a "blue person" (unless you consider jeans, in which case i'm highly dependent) - i tend to stick to warmer tones. but after i picked up these sandals from j.crew, i've been picturing them with strictly cool shades. pale blue, turquoise, royal blue, navy, aqua... anything! plus, a metallic silver shoe is great with a variety of looks, from a sleek blazer to a loose, ultra-casual peasant top, as seen here:

{ j.crew blouse, frame jeans, madewell sunglasses, jules smith ring (love anything gemini), c.wonder earrings & bag, j.crew sandals } 

II emily

style crush: marlien rentmeester

the premise behind le catch is surprisingly simple: marlien rentmeester finds chic (and often very affordable) pieces online, shares them with her readers, and gives them ways to wear them with curated outfit collages. it's like an online, click-able magazine, and considering marlien was one of the founders of lucky, that kind of makes perfect sense. 

i look forward to seeing marlien's picks every single day, and i always find something i want to buy (like these jeans and these shoes). her styling gives me endless new ideas for everyday outfits, i.e. pairing sexy lace-up heels with crisp white jeans, or mixing different tribal prints together. on the rare occasion marlien shares photos of herself (or, rather, photos of her appear on other blogs, like this one), the inspiration is even greater because you can see those outfits IRL! she never looks like she spends hours choosing her outfits, and her penchant for slouchy sweaters, boxy jackets, great denim, intricate embellishments, and unexpected details speaks directly to my own personal style. it's totally accessible, but so original that everyone in the industry covets her style. 

see for yourself below, and be sure to check out her blog here - but don't say i didn't warn you. it's totally addicting.

images via glitter guide, le catch & pinterest

II emily

pearly whites

i've been looking for an oversized pearl necklace for at least a year now (mostly because of the chic ways blair eadie wears hers, like here and here), and until now i'd never found a reasonable option. this stunner from zara has a slightly beachy vibe, so it goes perfectly with preppy and laid-back pieces alike -- or you could mix them all together in an outfit like this:

{ zara t-shirt, skirt, necklace and clutch, gabriela artigas diamond earrings, j.crew metallic sandals }

fruit punch

images via pinterest

as summer finally (finally!) approaches, i'm loving bright color combinations, like pink and orange (or orange and yellow, or blue and green)... the bolder the better! subtlety is reserved for the winter months. go all out this season with my favorite pieces below:

{ from top left: miss selfridge necklace, baublebar triangle earrings, loeffler randall bag, michael kors watch, butter london "teddy girl" nail polish, nars "barbarella" (sheer peach) lipstick, adia kibur earrings, clare vivier clutch, topshop skirt, loeffler randall woven sandals, tory burch bow sandals }

II emily

the look for less: acne pencil skirt

images via pinterest

the minute i saw a new york fashion editor wearing her distressed acne pencil skirt with silver manolo sandals, a white peplum top & neon dannijo necklace last summer, i was hooked on the trend. i love how the women above styled the same skirt with crisp, structured shapes for unexpected contrast. the skirt would look all wrong worn with equally edgy items - like moto boots or a biker jacket - but with unexpected pastels and glinty accessories, it's perfect.

however, the acne skirt is no longer available and was very pricey. this one by miss selfridge is strikingly similar, but for a fraction of the cost. i'd wear it with a classic striped tee, raffia clutch, a little sparkle and easy flats: 

{ j.crew tee, miss selfridge skirt, j.crew necklace, bop basics bag, jeffrey campbell flats }

the new boho

asos jacket

i spotted the jacket above in this month's lucky magazine and promptly tore out the page, stuffed it in my purse, and solemn swore i would order it as soon as i got my hands on a compter (i was on a plane at the time). lo and behold, it's sold out in nearly every size, but i'm holding out hope for a restock...

this sweet jacket was featured in lucky's shopping guide appropriately titled "the new boho." like this jacket, the editorial was all about a fresh new brand of bohemian -- think less hippie flares and tunics, more embroidery, pom poms, structured silhouettes, bold patterns, cute sneakers and pops of metallic. it's exactly what i want to wear all summer long, and this jacket is a fantastic starting point (assuming it comes back in stock one of these days...) i especially love the red trim and slightly spanish vibe in the embroidery.

check out full looks and pieces from the lucky spread here, and see how i would style the  jacket below...

{ asos jacket, miss selfridge skirt, juicy couture earrings, 

christopher kon clutch, zara sandals }

II emily

b&w

asos clutch

lately i've been on a constant hunt for oversized, flat clutches in every color, pattern & texture. they add a little edge to any ensemble -- from a dressed-up nighttime look or a slouchy sweater during the day. i've amassed quite the collection, including a metallic gold one from the neiman marcus x target collab, an embroidered antik batik bag, a silver glitter case from ann taylor, and a neon pink one by c.wonder. 

this black & white animal print clutch would be the perfect addition, plus it's wildly versatile. it's minimalist and clean, but adds extra interest to a neutral look. it would look great with my standard everyday outfit of skinny jeans, a loose tee, flat sandals & glinty jewelry:

 { james perse tee, j brand jeans, jenny packham earrings, michael kors watch, marc by marc jacobs ring, asos clutch, tory burch card case, rebecca minkoff sandals }

II emily

spring pinspiration

some of the pretty things inspiring me this season.

you can see all of my pinterest boards here.

xx

{ everything i want right now: a signet ring (this one is also great), mirrored nails & a ysl arty ring }

{ a simple black+blue jeans outfit with clever details: studded pumps & a braided updo }

{ a sweet everyday makeup look: hot pink lips and shimmery shadow }

{ i love this refined-yet-casual look: black shorts, strappy sandals & a striped tee }

{ can't wait to buy this giant 2-inch curling iron to get soft bended ends }

via the beauty department

{ a cute denim-on-denim update: super wide flares }

{ everything i could want in a room: pops of hot pink, some ethnic patterns & gold accents }

{ this hair color is pretty much perfect }

{ showing some love for retro high waisted bikinis }

II emily