Twirl

Blouse (Forever 21, similar here), Skirt (Banana Republic - old, similar here and here), Shoes (Zara - old, similar here), Necklace (Dogeared), Bracelet (Asos - old, similar here)

There is nothing quite like twirling your skirt when you're in a twirly skirt. I don't know about you guys, but I've been twirling for as long as I can remember—probably since I came out of the womb. It is a lower brain kind of thing for me; I find myself wearing something twirlable, and I can't help but shoot my arms out to the sides, and start spinning (I've also been known to twirl in pants...and shorts...and basically everything else). That urge to spin is one reason a twirly skirt can serve as a rather effective mood lifter, especially in the middle of a mid-week slump (or slog, as it were). Not to mention, you just feel instantly more playful and swishy the second you put one on. I say, punctuate your wardrobe every now and then with something that twirls, and then Mary-Tyler-Moore the shit out of that thing, all the live long day. 

Cha-Cha-Cha

Blouse (Zara, similar here and here), Shorts (Zara, similar here), Shoes (Zara - old, similar here), Clutch (Ted Baker - old, similar here), Necklace (Dogeared), Bracelet (Asos - old, similar here)

(You knew it would come to this:) "Hello. My name is Carlee, and I'm a Zaraholic."

It is no secret, that I, like millions of other ladies and misters on this earth, am head over heels in love with—nay, addicted to—Zara. I have sung its praises ad nauseum to many an uninterested listener, and I will continue to do so (mostly, unprompted). Why? Because Zara comes correct. The Spanish-founded, fast fashion juggernaut is a devastating force of democratization within the fashion world, and its ability to radically redefine the notion of what it means to be "fashionable," places the brand squarely at the head of the pack of "Game Changers in Fashion" (I assure you, this pack exists).

Appropriating and building upon runway trends that most of us have little or no access to (beyond a merely voyeuristic relationship) and interpreting those trends through the lens of a ready-to-wear aesthetic for the fashionable masses, is what Zara is all about, and lucky for them (and us), it's what Zara does best. It is a benevolent force of change and empowerment for the everyman/woman with style.

Beyond that, the clothing is just beautiful. Plain and simple. The pieces are always thoughtfully designed, forward-thinking, unique in their aesthetic, and above all, affordable. Most importantly, the brand offers enough diversity, and leaves plenty of room for individual interpretation of their pieces, leaving the agency of the consumer, and the ability for one to define their own style, firmly in the hands of the individual. People wear the brand in their own ways, and no one has to worry about looking like a Zara cookie cutter. In short, for lovers of looking good and spending less, Zara is mecca.

Ok, waxing melodramatic about pants is fun and all, but if I'm ever going to talk about this outfit, now (or maybe 5 minutes ago) is the time. This outfit feels like an easy, breezy, Carmen-Miranda-meets-Alexander-Wang kind of Spring to me. And who wouldn't love that?! Leather shorts in April? Why not. White cha-cha block-heeled sandals? Sure. Blanket-blouse? Done. The amount of aeration taking place here is astonishing, which is the main reason this will be my go-to for warm summer nights (I made that up, these don't happen here in San Francisco) and salsa dancing exploits over the coming months.

The New Tuxedo

Trah-lah-lah.

Blazer (Zara - old, similar here and here), T-Shirt (Urban Outfitters, similar here), Overalls (Zara, similar here), Shoes (Asos - old, similar here and here), Necklaces (Forever 21 and Nadri, similar here), Bracelet (Asos - old, similar here)

Turns out, people in the street don't actually spit on you when you're wearing overalls. In fact, more than spit, I was met with a kind of confused wonder from passersby when I first took these babies for a spin—and yes, I did in fact wear this exact outfit to the office. ON A FRIDAY! Calm down.

I won't spend too much time extolling the good, the bad, and the crotch problems of overalls (trust me, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks and the inability to bend over gracefully), plenty of people have already done that, and demonstrated masterfully just how on-point a perfectly styled pair of overalls can be (Man Repeller has been talking about overalls since Day 1 (whenever that was), and Danielle of WeWoreWhat has shown us why shag coats and overalls should be serious friends). But for me, the recent, and more intensely embraced comeback of the denim onesie was something of a refresher course in head-to-toe denim dressing—a class I hadn't taken since the 5th grade (seriously, I don't think I had worn a pair of full-length overalls since then). 

And what fun it was to be back in those dropcrotched pants of my youth! And in heels no less! Incidentally, this is the key to wearing overalls as an adult (and I have said this many times before about elements of personal style): you can not take yourself too seriously (<—that's italicized so you know it's important). You've got to have some fun with it; hence the leather from Leandra and the bombastic shag coat from Danielle. And really, I've gotta say, it felt great to be back in a denim parachute suit out in public; warm and familiar, breezy and liberating...like a riding a bike, or eating Dunkaroos again. 

The other key to the success of a grown-up overall undertaking is pairing them with something(s) from the other side of the style spectrum i.e. this is the part where you mix your playground pants with your ballroom dress...or something like that. All I'm saying is, wearing a thing like a tuxedo jacket, or a rhinestone necklace, or 5-inch strappy sandals, or say, a shag coat with the denim choice of most farmers is what fashion is all about.. Taking risks, blending new and old, high and low, having a sense of humor, and sometimes—sometimes—making people laugh uncomfortably at the sight of you.

Potato, Poh-tah-toh: Wild Ones

(Left) Nicholas Kirkwood for Peter Pilotto here, (Right) Zara Multicolored Lace-Up Sandal here

I. LIVE. FOR THESE. SHOES. Livvvvvvv for them. They are everything: mixed prints, stiletto heel, lace-up, textural, higher than 4 inches, oh and motherfraggin' FEROCIOUS. Owning these two pairs would mean I could tap out—I could stop buying shoes altogether right then and there (Lying! I will never stop buying shoes).

Still, the fact is, this gloriously noisy duo is (upon deeper thinking) a paradigmatic representation of the harmonious relationship between high fashion, and what we call "fast fashion" today. Brands like Zara, J.Crew, Club Monaco, and Topshop, not only take cues from the pedestalled designers of the "1%," and make runway-ready styles available to and affordable for the masses (thank you!), but what makes these brands in particular stand out, is their ability to build on that inspiration, and create inspiring pieces and set trends of their own.

Case in point, the Zara sandal on the right that is clearly inspired by the Kirkwood pair; it's also borrowing that canary yellow from the Louis Vuitton Spring '13 collection, and that monochromatic patterning from the Marc Jacobs Spring '13 show, and then it's building on those quoted themes—that cerulean and the sort of tribal feel of the shoe are all its own. All the elements are blended together expertly to create something that is "inspired by" but still wholly unique and statement-making in its own right. (OK, I'LL SHUT UP ABOUT THE DAMN SHOES, NOW.) Bottom line, both of these pairs are fantastic in their own way, and if I don't manage to make it to the Nicholas Kirkwood/Peter Pilotto Promise Land, those Zara sandals will get me there at a fraction of the price. Hollah.

Born to Mack

 Workwear, redone.

 Remember these guys?

 It's hard to pull off "gangster" in a pencil skirt, but I manage.

T-Shirt (Urban Outfitters - I will never have enough early 90s rap reference Ts), Skirt (J.Crew, similar here) Shoes (Charles by Charles David, last seen here), Necklace (Dogeared), Bracelet (Asos - old, similar here), Watch (Fakety-fake-fake $20 at BP. here)

Nothing says, "I'm a productive and stylish employee who should be taken very seriously" like a Too $hort "Born to Mack" T-shirt. Hence, my wearing this cheeky little number to the office the other day. Sure some people got it, while others just stared at me blankly—confused, probably wondering where my pantsuit from Macy's was, but this is Startupland, Sillicon Valley, USA, I'm a 20-something with style and a sense of humor, and it's the 21st century damn it! I want to break free of my young-professional-after-work-boxy-blazered-networking-mixer bondage and LIVE! And by live, I of course mean wear what I please and never take myself (or my outfits) too seriously. 

I say, push the workwear envelope where you can. Those unspoken rules (pah!) of dress codes for young professionals in the workplace are more plastic than you might realize. Plus no one looks good in a polyester pantsuit. NO ONE. Don't let "The Man" keep you down, guys...(or something). Those ill-fitting pantsuits of the late 90s, conference-going, schwag-collecting young professional from days past are designed to smother the youthfulness and creativity in all of us. And they do a GREAT job of it. Dressing with some levity, and nudging—I said nudging them—the boundaries here and there where you can (note: this does not mean slutting it up), will not only inject some fun into your look, but it will also bring some lightness to your work day, and maybe—and this is what dressing with style and purpose is really all about—make some of the people around you smile. 

Photos © Rose Garrett

Potato, Poh-tah-toh: Mesh Bootie Makeout Sesh

 (Left) B Brian Atwood Michelet Mesh Bootie here, (Right) BCBGMAXAZRIA Gamma Bootie here

And then there's these guys...

(Left) Nicholas Kirkwood Metallic Leather Slingback Ankle Boot here, (Right) Forever 21 Mesh Paneled Peep Toe Bootie here

Very lately, my shoe cravings have been of the shootie persuasion (i.e. shoe-booties), and for warmer weather styles, designers look to lighten up the heavier, more enveloping and protective winter styles of close-toed, strapped-in, all-weather-wear boot badassery. This Spring, that means mesh paneling and cut-outs in the form of peep toes and slingbacks. But that doesn't mean that any of the drama of the winter styles has been lost.

To the contrary, that first set of booties up top packs quite the kick-ass punch, and while the bcbg booties aren't a total steal at $275, they still give the $500 price tag of those B Brian Atwoods a run for its money. And while the second set is a bit more delicate in its delivery, the statement is just as fierce (Danielle of WeWoreWhat demonstrates this expertly). Those Nicholas Kirkwoods are supple and cinderella-like, but they're still statement-makers nonetheless, and while they're definitely un-duplicable (make no mistake about it), the cheapies from Forever 21 actually do a pretty great job of capturing some of those key elements at a much, MUCH lower price range. Long story short: I want all of these.

Hello, Moto

Jacket (Asos, similar here), Blouse (Forever 21, similar here), Skirt (Zara), Shoes (Zara, similar here), Necklace (Nadri), Bracelets (Asos and Marc by Marc Jacobs)

It seems that the leather motorcycle jacket is one of those sacred staple sartorial treasures that will never go out of style (see also: the tuxedo jacket, and the high-waisted trouser), with an enduring quality that reads as classic, essential and never stale. Since the time of Marlon Brando a la The Wild One (swoon), designers have found a way to re-imagine the moto jacket each season (whether it be through silhouette, material, cut, color, occasion, or all of the above) and present it anew, making it ever the more covetable (last Fall there was a metallic emerald cropped motorcycle jacket from Rebecca Minkoff that I just lost it for). This Spring we're seeing moto styles in unexpected hues like crisp white and lush blush and oversized motorcycle vests are once again, on the hit list for the season.

Sure, this chopper topper has its hiatuses, but it's always there; always comes back to the runways; always shows up on some stylish lady who's owning it in the streets; always hanging in your closet resolutely, ready to be worn and make even the least bad-assy of girls (me) feel like Marlon Brando.

Photos © Rose Garrett