Time for me to dole out semi-unsolicited style advice again! Yay?

My homies at A-Line passed along this tweet from @kellydobos :

Hey @ALineMagCincy I have to speak in front of major magazine beauty editors in NYC this month, what should i wear? Any tips on styling?

Ooh, that sounds like a fun combination of awesome cosmopolitan adventure (magazine beauty editors! NYC!) + nerve-racking responsibility (public speaking, outfit stress). Let’s see what we can do:

Left: Anthropologie Graublau blazer, $148 | Michael Antonio Musa boot, $59 | Vintage cuff bracelet, $60 | Modcloth B. Jones Style skirt, $89.99 | Gorjana Cleopatra earrings, $30
Right: Farfetch Barbara Bui Blouse, $848 | Endless Dolce Vita Rosetta pump, $170 | Gold chain link necklace, $30 | Blue Topshop trousers $85 | Amrita Singh Georgica ring, $100

This is the sort of occasion where you need to look like you know what you’re talking about and like you just stepped out of the pages of a magazine. No pressure!

Mixing different styles is the best way to achieve both: On the left, a structured blazer (professional), full skirt (feminine), platform ankle boots (fashion-y), and geometric accessories looks polished and pretty; on the right, a softly draped blouse (feminine), tailored trousers (professional), green suede pumps (fashion-y), and bold gold jewelry looks smart and approachable.

This sounds like an exciting opportunity–good luck!

~T

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A while ago, I was talking to my brother about a manuscript he’s been working on for years. As I tried to determine whether he was planning on snail-mailing an actual handwritten manuscript to a publishing house for consideration (people still do that?!), the same thought that pops up whenever I work on the magazine hit me:

Don’t wait for people to give you permission to do what you want to do.

If you want to be a writer, write. If you want to be a magazine editor, create a magazine. If you want to start a conference for people who like to dress up as furry animals, start a conference for people who like to dress up as furry animals. In other words, as a wise man named Michael Jordan once said, just do it.

The ‘net and all of the brilliant (and not-so-brillant) people who congregate online have opened up a world of possibilities for a number of traditional (and not-so-traditional) careers. I explained to my brother that he could start a blog, create an e-book, self-publish with Lulu or Cafepress or Blurb or any of the other online platforms, promote on Facebook or YouTube or Twitter, and sell on Amazon.

It takes a lot of time, a lot of work, and a fair amount of luck, but it can be done. And–pay attention, because sometimes this is the most difficult part to grasp–YOU can do it.

While the web isn’t exactly the great equalizer everyone seems to think*, if you have the heart and can handle the hustle, you can carve out a space for yourself and do what you love.

Are you doing something you enjoy? Or is this all just a pipe dream?

*You still need to be able to afford a computer and internet access, or have the free time to use the services provided at, say, the library. There are still a lot of people who aren’t able to do either, so no, not everyone is included in this “great revolution.” Sorry.

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You know that “closet full of clothes but nothing to wear” feeling? I hate that. I’ve tried many times over the years to do something about it–I’ve tried reorganizing my wardrobe, picking outfits in advance, separating clothing and accessories by style–all to no avail. Some days I stand staring into my closet with no idea where to start.

So now, I’m trying something different: I’m limiting my wardrobe and any future purchases to a defined color palette. The palette consists of my favorites as well as the usual standbys, so hopefully I won’t feel as if I’m missing out on anything. The idea is to develop a wardrobe in which at least 80% of the items can be worn together in some combination and amass a substantial collection of pieces that work with anything.
Top to bottom, left to right: Black, blush, gray (my favorite!), cream, greige (gray/beige), chocolate, mustard (can’t just call it yellow), loden (can’t just call it green), animal print (not just leopard, baby!), red, purple (my favorite actual color), & stripes

Right now my goal is to have all of the basic pieces (tops, trousers, skirts, sweaters, etc.) in black, white/cream, and gray, then add from there. I’m currently on the lookout for interesting/funky/detailed blouses, so if you see anything Margiela-ish or Westwood-y that I might be able to actually afford, let me know.

Tops from one of my Top 10 online shops, Farfetch.com

Surprisingly enough, I don’t feel limited as I thought I would. Conversely, I feel free–no more second-guessing whether this dress or that skirt will fit in with anything else in my closet. It makes shopping easier because there are some items that can immediately be eliminated–I don’t feel as if I’m prohibited from purchasing those things, I feel like it’s easier to determine when my money would be better spent on something else. I’m telling you, so far it’s been extremely liberating!

Of course, this could be an attempt to give myself a sense of control in a world otherwise filled with chaos, as the wise Dionne would say. WHAT-ever!

Have you ever tried to stick to certain colors or is your closet pretty much a free-for-all?

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Dynasty reruns notwithstanding, I think we can safely say 80′s fashion has been in full-on revival mode since the surprisingly persistent return of the legging. Though early 90′s-era grunge has been threatening to take over for the last few seasons, the multitude of shoulder pads on the Fall runways indicated that, at least ’til next February, the 80′s are still the retro decade of the moment.

Images, Style.com

To get in on the bold shoulder action, I of course turned to vintage. Why pay oodles of cash for new Armani when old JC Penney will do just fine?

While thrifting, I found this linen blazer as part of a two-piece set that included a dress I still haven’t had altered due to the fact that I keep convincing myself “I can take it in my darn self.”  Months later, this has proven to be extremely unlikely, so I figured I’d take the jacket for a spin on its own.  Already armed with puffed shoulders, a nipped waist, and an exaggerated peplum, I paired the jacket with simple pieces–skinny black pants, a simple gold camisole–and added a vintage belt and earrings and snakeskin Zanotti heels for interest.

I think the trick to making these jumpin’ jack flashback pieces work is to stick to one retro item and keep the rest as modern as possible.

What do you think? How do you mix your vintage pieces with the rest of your wardrobe?

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After wasting spending time watching reruns of My Name is Earl on Hulu, I was inspired to dress like Jamie Pressly’s character who, let’s be honest, is a l’il trashy. Trashy can be fun when it’s done right, though! Let’s take a look at some of the key elements:

1 & 2 “A-line” Tank top Shown: American Apparel 2. Hanes
To keep it simple, go for the ol’ standby classic: a ribbed cotton wifebeater. If you don’t like the idea of wearing such violent-sounding clothing, try to find something that looks like it was procured at an impromptu roadside biker rally. I picked up my combination tie-dye/bald eagle flyin’ atcha duck! ribbed tank top from a mall in New Jersey. ‘Nuff said.

Bonus points: Tube top or bikini top–anything that opens the possibility of “accidentally” exposing boobs.

3. “Gold” accessories Shown: earrings, girlprops.com
You can’t go wrong with a cheap gold accessory in this case, so I say doorknocker earrings for the win! You could also try hoops the size of a small foreign car–as long as they’re not real gold. Because really, what would be the point then?

Bonus points: Wear a several pairs of said oversized earrings.

4. Cutoffs Shown: Ksubi, LaGarconne
I made my denim cutoffs from an old pair of jeans–my “8th grade jeans” to be exact. I remember roaming the halls of WWMS thinking I was hot stuff when I wore those jeans, but eventually I, er…”outgrew” them. Not to worry! A few rough measurements and handy pair of scissors took care of that in less than two minutes. You can buy ‘em or do it yourself–they’ll fray and fade nicely after a few washings.

Bonus points: Cut the leg higher than the bottom of the pocket lining for a Britney pre-comeback look.

Note: If you stop here, you’ll probably fall into “trailer” side of this look, which just so happens to be all over the runways right now so score! If you prefer to add a bit of chic, keep going.

5. Add a cover up Shown: Lux, Urban Outfitters
I know I said the point was to show skin, but limiting the exposed skin to one body part (legs, shoulders, back, etc.) will keep you from getting arrested while standing on the corner waiting for your bus. I chose a black open cardigan because it’s easy to put on and remove. For when I get hot, not to fool the cops! Jeez…

Bonus points: Wear a well-cut designer piece like Nini.

6 & 7 Keep the remaining accessories sleek Shown: Belle by Sigerson Morrison sandals, Shopbop; Michael Michael Kors belt, Bluefly
A simple black belt with a gold buckle, strappy black sandals, a vintage cuff…I wore these because black leather is always trailer-appropriate, but also because of the streamlined silhouettes. In this case, too many accessories can look busy and distracting.

To achieve style harmony you must balance the trailer and the chic, grasshopper.

Do you ever get inspiration from unusual places? What are your tips for mixing seemingly disparate styles?

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Not that I would claim to be an expert, but I’ve been shopping online since 1999 or so, back when I worked for Victoria’s Secret in the online customer service department. Since then, a lot has changed–some sites have disappeared (remember Girlshop?), sites like etsy have given independent designers a stronger voice, and I’ve purchased many many more pairs of shoes–but there are still shops I consider to be my go-to shopping destinations.

Here, in no particular order, are my top 10:

Topshop: Internationally known fast fashion at it’s best. Plus, there are some really lovely items in Kate Moss’s current collection.

Shopbop: The sheer number of items available means I’ll almost always find something I “need.”

Le Train Bleu: Based in Portland, they carry a great mix of mid-range lines like Eskell and Sophomore.

Yoox: Discount designer goods are always in order, no? Tip: buy now or you’ll regret it later!

Farfetch: Fashionable goodies procured by 20 different boutiques from London to Milan, all in one spot!

asos: An acronym for “As Seen On Stars”, and while I’m not really into the whole “Star Style” thing, the items I’ve received have been great quality and fit. They also carry some name brands–it was the first place I heard of All Saints.

Pixie Market: Hipster headquarters and one of the few US sites that sells Shakuhachi, one of my favorite Australian brands.

Zappos/Zappos Couture: Source of the much beloved snakeskin Zanottis. The service alone is worth a purchase–free next day shipping is almost as good as the instant gratification of brick and mortar shopping.

Free People: Girly-grungy items perfect for this season. Plus, The Boy really enjoys the videos.

Stars and Infinite Darkness: Originally known as Virgin Threads, this was one of the first sites to sell items from independent designers all in one place. Many of the names are now key players in the indie fashion world, so when I’m looking for something different, this is where I go.

Note: I left out the ubiquitous eBay on purpose. The passive-aggressive competition gets my heart pumping, but I don’t want to know if I won an item, I want to know exactly how much it costs and when it’s coming. Now. Up front. Not after bidding has ended.

Which sites are on your top 10 list? Any suggestions? (As if I need another place to shop…)

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I’m not really a math person. As a left-brained creative type, reading, spelling, and language have always been my favorite subjects. However, due to my anal-retentive control freak tendencies and a maniacal need for organization, I do appreciate formulas–as long as they don’t involve numbers.

This translates to my wardrobe accordingly: I like coming up with easy-to-understand combinations–recipes, if you will–for putting clothes together. For instance, trousers + fitted tee + blazer, or this pencil skirt + print blouse + cardigan + boots combo. It makes it simple to get dressed, but still leaves room to have fun with accessories (woo-hoo!) for interest.

Fashion Math really comes in handy when I’m deciding what to wear to work in the morning, especially since mai brane duz not wurk rite before 9am. Today’s equation was inspired by BOY by Band of Outsiders, and is really easy to pull off:

As with real equations, you can use different variables and get the same answer–in this case, the answer is looking good! Another plus (get it? Plus?) is that you probably already have most of these items in your closet, and if not, it’s easy to find inexpensive substitutes:

Left column: Shirt, American Apparel; Blazer, Urban Outfitters; Chinos, J. Crew; Shoes, Net-a-Porter Middle column: Shirt, Old Navy; Blazer, Pixie Market; Chinos, Bluefly; Heels, Steve Madden Right column: Shirt La Garconne; Blazer, asos; Chinos, Urban Outfitters; Heels, Zappos

How do you get dressed? Do you have a process or do you just throw caution to the wind every day?

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