this week we take a gander at a signature pieces of clothing from our own wardrobes and talk about what we see as defining fashion in the other person's wardrobe.
a signature piece, a defining fashion moment, can come in any form...dress, jeans, a ring, scarf, shoes or coat. you may not even wear it that often but when you think of what really nails down your style in a single item, it is what pops to mind. it's something you would never get rid of unless forced by disaster.
doing this "fashion exercise" in your own wardrobe may help you figure out what your look is outside of trends. it also never hurts to ask a friend what they think really brings out the rita hayworth or sarah jessica parker in you. in these economically dicey times, where we may wish we could hop on the latest fashion bandwagon but simply can't afford to, this might help you figure out where a dollar spent is a dollar you'll keep wearing for many years to come!
el's take on el: most defining piece
my most defining piece is a simple black diesel dress i got when i was 21 years old (i am almost 28!) from my favorite fort collins boutique kansas city kitty. if you have known me for longer than 6 months, you have seen me in this dress. it's a low v neck front with a few embroidered details around the v, like the diesel 9 in red. the back has a really cute detail of an inverted triangle with black and white stripes. it hits just below the knees and is a strait cut. i have worn this dress for years, with everything i own. i've dressed it up, down and sideways. i've worn it just as a dress with heels, with boots, with flats, with sneakers. i've worn it over jeans with a cardigan, i've worn it with long shawls, i've worn it with pearls. i've taken it to berlin, prague, switzerland, minneapolis, all around colorado, i've taken it on dates, to birthday parties, to get drinks at the corner bar. my 20's would not have been my 20's without this dress! it's getting kind of threadbare these days so i hardly bust it out at all for fear it will one day rip. i don't know how i'll ever find it's equal. i think i love it so much because it is just your basic black dress, it makes me feel a little like audrey hepburn. plus it's totally versatile and you can rock any accessory you want with it. long live the dress! here is (a little more inky black then it is these days) back when we first met:
el on kendall: most defining piece
this is a hard one because kendall is so hot! but in all seriousness, i think what defines kendall as the fashionista i know and love is color, especially BLUE. kendall is not afraid to wear 17 shades of blue at once and pulls it off like it's nothing! i was always afraid to wear more then one color of blue at a time but kendall has helped me break free of my blue shyness. i think she does it especially well when she wears her big blue scarf, it really makes her face and skin look healthy and bright and it always makes her lipstick pop! so do as kendall does and bust out your blue loud and proud. remember, color doesn't cost a dime.
k's take on k: most defining piece
sifting through a closet full of stuff i don't really care about (I just counted and i have 23 dresses!), stuff i shouldn't even own anymore (there was a hot pink guess tube top i finally put in the goodwill pile) and stuff that i love but never wear (a whole row of heels that are lucky if they've seen daylight once), i'm thinking my most defining piece, or pieces rather, are my killer camel-colored leather boots. now, i am a big animal lover, and i refuse to buy leather brand new, so you can imagine my delight when i found these at a thrift store for $16. they're not waterproof, so i have to be careful in bad weather (even though i was wearing them when el and i got caught in this horrible rainstorm--i thought they were going to shrivel up and die!) i love them because they are stylish, the lining is torn and they are well-worn which makes them all the more comfy, and they go with everything (i think). i wear them with skinny jeans or leggings when its cold, knee-high socks and dresses when its warm, and when i move to new york in a couple months i can imagine them sashaying down the street like they own the place. versatility is something that i really love, which is why i think they are my most defining piece.
k on el: most defining piece
ok, so i'm a little shoe-obsessed lately, but i'm going to have to go with el's frye boots! i still remember the day she found these boots--i think she called to tell me about it. since then i've seen her wear them pretty much....yep, everyday. with rolled-up jeans, with casual dresses, with nicer dresses, and she looks like a badass every single time. it just goes to show, when you find your soul mate, you just know it.
until next time...
cheers!
