Saturday, April 20, 2013

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 withnay, addicted toZara. 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.

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