Style to Steal: Martha Streck

Photo: Altamira Models Off Duty

Could her hair look any more awesome underneath that hat? I love the texture. My favorite elements of this outfit are the details. For example, how she is wearing sheer dot tights under her cuffed boyfriend jeans. 

Or, how her booties are essentially lace-ups - you can see them looping in and out - but done with leather instead of fabric shoelaces. I also love her retro sunglasses and I have wanted a pair like that for quite a while. 

When I head to New York in  two weeks I will definitely be recreating this look. Here is an inexpensive way to nab her great outfit:

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How to Mix Prints

Mixing floral prints can look great - but also like Bozo the Clown. Here are the keys: keep them in the same color palette, and vary the size of the floral print. 

Like the above - a light blue cardigan and a navy skirt, where the cardigan has a very small print and the skirt is a bigger and more abstract print. 

For the skirt, I don't love the black belt with it, so I would remove it and wear a cream one to compliment the other colors better. Over the cardigan wear a dark gray, or in this case what Madewell calls "heathered blacktop," blazer. 

And the shoes should compliment the palette of the entire outfit. I got so lucky finding these! Gray with blue color-blocking - the perfect colors. Now go and mix some prints with ease!

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How to Mix Prints

Yesterday I suggested mixing stripes, but you can certainly get bolder with more artistic prints. Whereas the key with stripes was different width, the key with artistic prints is color. Keep one half of the outfit in a neutral - gray, black, white, you get the idea - like this skirt. I love the plaid print with lines that look as if they've been drawn in chalk!

The other half can be a fun rich color like this awesome ink-blot top in gorgeous orange and navy with hints of pink. The rest of the outfit should be plain and simple - opaque black tights and black booties will do the trick with this fuller skirt. 

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How to Mix Prints

A great way to start mixing prints is by mixing your stripes. Do this by mixing the width of your stripes - like in the above example - with a thick striped sweater and a thin striped scarf. You can also mix a thick striped cardigan with a thin striped tank top. Just make sure you have one of each. Wear a basic tank underneath the sweater, gray denim, black leather riding boots, and an open black blazer thrown on for some warmth.

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Style to Steal: Alana Zimmer

Photo: Altamira: Models Off Duty

Alana Zimmer has walked for basically everyone. From Alexander McQueen and Louis Vuitton to Banana Republic and Lanvin for H&M. And not only does she rock amazing outfits on the runway, but she shows great personal style off the runway. Here is your way to steal her great style. 

You can't really tell what she is wearing underneath that great double-breasted coat, so I've put this outfit with a white tunic top. If you're going to wear skinny leather pants, or what I've featured here as an inexpensive alternative - the American Apparel nylon tricot legging - I beg of you, wear something on top that covers your butt. It just looks more appropriate.  

For the coat, look for a double-breasted one with menswear tailoring. Like I said, wear a long white tunic top, and a printed scarf like this fun one from Topshop. Wear short flat boots like these from Sam Edelman, black leather gloves, and carry a black quilted bag with a long gold chain to imitate Zimmer's style.

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How to Look Good in Layers

This is the outfit I have essentially been living in lately - with minor variations. Basic white v-necks are my wardrobe staples. Specifically, ones from Madewell with a great boyfriend fit. The day that I heard they had been discontinued was a very sad time for me. 

For warmth, wear a cozy and cute cashmere zip-up. It may mean paying a little more to get legitimate cashmere, but it will absolutely keep you warmer and it is worth it! Over the zip-up, wear a preppy blazer, which will take the outfit in a more structured and chic direction instead of just basic and casual. 

Wear a fun scarf in a pretty color and your favorite skinny jeans - as you all know, mine are "The Stilt" by AG - and a riding boot - my Frye's are my favorite pair that I wear everywhere. In terms of jewelry, I've been wearing a big cuff and a cocktail ring.

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How to Look Good in Layers

Denim jackets are tricky. They can look pretty tacky, but I am actually a big fan and I think they can look really cute. Especially over stripes. It gives a nautical / Americana impression. 

So to stay warm this winter, wear a striped sweater as your base. Put on a denim jacket, and then a puffer coat. I recommend trying on a puffer coat before you commit to the purchase. They can make you look HUGE. However, they are exceptionally warm and if the puffs (is that the right word?) are the right size, I think a puffer can look quite stylish. 

Wear a red circle scarf to keep your neck warm - the picture of this scarf looks very tomato-y but it's not like that in reality which is a good thing. A deeper red looks better with classic nautical stripes. I mean, you don't want to look like an American flag. 

Finally, wear skinny black pants and a black riding boot to polish off the look in a classic and simple way.

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How to Look Good in Layers

I am blogging this as I watch the Golden Globes where the actors are discussing the 80 degree heat in LA. That sounds pretty good right now seeing as I just spent three days in 22 degree NYC and am now in Nashville where temps are around 40. So I can't really visualize myself in a stunning hot pink Calvin Klein - here's looking at you Claire Danes.

What I'm wearing is layers of cashmere, jackets, coats and scarves. The tricky thing about layering is that it is easy to look bulky. And who wants that? Therefore, layering should be considered carefully and pieces picked specifically. Here is an outfit that will keep you warm while still being body flattering.

When layering, try and mix pieces that don't add bulk to the same body parts. I'm not sure that makes perfect sense so let me explain. Instead of wearing a thick sweater under a coat, wear a cropped faux fur vest. A thick sweater under a coat will double the bulk on your arms and could look very thick. 

Therefore, wearing a faux fur vest keeps your upper body warm and the coat keeps your arms warm. Wear a blouse underneath - I like this one in a simple black and white stripe. On the bottom, wear classic black slacks, a simple belt and feminine flats to contrast the menswear coat. You'll be warm and stylish!

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Style to Steal: Karlie Kloss

Photo - Altamira: Models Off Duty

I totally love Karlie Kloss. I got to see her in person during the spring/summer shows and she has amazing personal style. I love her look here - totally cozy and yet still so pulled together and figure flattering. I did my best to find pieces that will create an outfit that is similar at a better price point. 

If you are going to do something similar to Karlie and wear a sweater under a blazer (which is a great way to stay warm and is a flattering way to layer) I recommend buying the blazer a size up so you can comfortably fit a sweater underneath it. Also, this would look great with the blazer unbuttoned and a scarf in a complimenting color - like brown that matches your accessories.

 

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What to Wear With: Faux Fur Vests

Finally, here is a more dressed-up way to wear faux fur vests. 

Wear a body con black sweater dress with opaque black tights so it doesn't look inappropriate - and so you stay warm. 

Over the sweater dress wear the black faux fur vest and belt it with a thick patent leather belt. Do not wear a thin belt, it must be thick or it will not look right with the vest (think the same rule that applies to sweater, the bigger/chunkier the sweater, the thicker the belt). 

Wear black pumps or black booties to finish off this all black look. 

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What to Wear With: Faux Fur Vests

This look is a bit edgier than I normally wear, but it is certainly on trend right now - especially in terms of the flat lace up boots. I wish I could rock them, but I feel like I am too classic and just not the right wearer for them. My good friend totally owns this pair of short, flat, black Frye boots when she wears them, and I wish I could pull them off, just not sure that's gonna happen. 

With a faux fur vest, wear an oversize sweater in a complimenting color - like this olive/khaki green. With an oversize sweater in an open weave, wear a solid tank underneath. This look would be great with gray denim, and as I've discussed - lace up flat boots. Then throw on a statement necklace like this bib necklace with a gold chain and red jewels.

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What to Wear With: Faux Fur Vests

I purchased a faux fur vest from Zara last week, and have been thinking about the various ways in which I can wear it. I have come up with a few: casual, dressed-up, and edgy. Today, we are going to do casual, which is the closest to my day to day look.

My vest is black fur and I love its length, it just grazes my hips which is perfect for me - being 5'10" I often have difficulty with length. I wore it the other day with my favorite AG skinny jeans - The Stilt - a white button down, a pendant necklace made of two vintage keys I purchased at an antique store, and bright blue, pink and black leopard print Lanvin flats. Which is what the above outfit is based off of.

This Rachel Roy vest has the perfect length that my vest has - I have to be honest I'm not a fan of the belt, so I would take that off and leave the vest open. Wear a basic white button down under it - a staple everyone should own. Wear it with skinny jeans and bright flats like these bright blue ones from Steve Madden. Accessorize with funky pendant necklaces like these two: a clock face, and a funny jeweled fish. 

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New Years Non-Goals

Image courtesy of The Daily Green

 

One of my favorite blogs, The City Sage written by Anne Sage, imitated Erin Loechner who writes Design for Mankind, in composing a list of New Years "Non-Goals" - habits and whatnot that you want to continue in the new year. So, inspired by these two women, I am going to do the same thing. 

Dagny, way to follow your passions this year and convince yourself to do something you always thought of, but never pursued - writing a fashion blog. It's difficult to put your ideas out there and I am proud of you for following what you enjoy most: talking about fashion. And, as luck would have it, it is one of the most fun things you do each day.

Dagny, a real strength of yours is your ability to be flexible in your conception of yourself. From thinking you would be a doctor back in high school, to thinking television production, to admissions officer and then assessing your strengths and being honest about what you loved, which has led you to the idea of fashion sales or marketing. Keep following what you love and the right opportunities and people will come your way.

Dagny, 2010 was a big year in that you learned to say no. You saw that saying no is so much harder than saying yes, and even when it comes with costs, sometimes it needs to be said. Setting boundaries makes you a stronger person, and when you can set boundaries in a relationship, that relationship becomes stronger.

Enjoy 2011 and make it the best one yet.