Would You Wear...?

 

Would You Wear...?

Plaid on Plaid

        Welcome to our new “Would You Wear…?” column! This column introduces trends that would perhaps challenge the status-quo (as far as wardrobes are concerned). It will usually feature a style that is either unfamiliar to you or requires a bit of daring on your part.

 Blair Eadie from www.atlantic-pacific.blogspot.com
 

        Fall is my favorite season of the year. Hands down. Yet, when I take a stroll in the park I’m beginning to feel more of a winter nip than an autumnal one. Hurricane Sandy ravaged the East Coast and snow already graced the streets in N.Y. Is an early winter our fate? Maybe. But, I refuse to say “toodle-oo!” to autumn until it’s officially over (December 21^st marks the beginning of winter).

       Until December 21^st, I’m going to revel in everything that’s considered a hardcore autumnal cliché. This includes apple cider, crunchy leaves, and of course the subject of today’s post: plaid.  The question isn’t if you would wear plaid in general (because of course you would!). It’s “would you wear plaid on plaid?” Would you channel your inner Scottish spirit and double on this print? If the answer is a hearty yes, then behold the bagpipes are playing in ye honor.

Graphic Sweatshirts

         

It’s Just A Little Bit Graphic...

        Graphic sweatshirt. What is that reminiscent of? Weekends spent on the sofa with beer and chips? Your middle-school pajama top? The one that  proudly boasted your Backstreet Boys fandom? (Ah! Those were the days). But let's rewire our attitude towards this "lazy Sunday" staple. 

        The graphic sweatshirt has debuted as one of the season’s hottest trends. Believe it or not, slipping on your college or bird-print sweatshirt is actually au courant. My fellow “creatures of comfort”: Our dreams have finally come to fruition. It turns out that fashion CAN be deliciously comfortable.

 

        Those who consider this trend to only be “teenage-friendly” should realize that graphic sweaters look surprisingly sophisticated when paired with knee-length pencil skirts. Many S/S 2013 Fashion Show’s attendees paired a Kenzo Fall 2012 sweatshirt with a ladylike skirt and polished heels. The result was a fascinating balance of spunk and spiffiness. I love that.

 

Let's take a look at some of Fall 2012's graphic sweatshirts!

Prelude to the post: Dear East Coasters, wishing you and your loved ones plenty of safety and sanity over the next few Sandy days. (Alliteration much? Try saying that sentence ten times fast). Let's hope this "Perfect Storm" is more hype than harm. Seriously...I'm praying we don't lose power. We hope you enjoy the following post.

  Get Your Geek On!

        

 

         Autumn, like a romantic lover, is a soothing companion: There is hot chocolate to quietly console your throat, a gentle wind to whisper sweet nothings into your ear, cashmere to caress the smoothness of your skin, and leaves to satisfyingly crunch under your boots. Yet, there is another characteristic that I attribute to fall, and that is the annual resurgence of "Geek Chic." The mesmerizing color of trees and the rejuvenation that lingers in the crisp air symbolizes the fresh start of the academic year. Being that I recently graduated college and am no longer in school (at least for now), I become nostalgic when I see students striding to the library, clutching their textbooks and lattes, a twinkle of determined resolve in their eyes... Trust me; I am far from envious of their burdensome jumble of exams, reports, and presentations. I just simply miss collegiate ensembles, studious looks, and all forms of Geek Chic.

 

 

         Being that I usually ascribe deeper, "psychological" reasons to my Personal Style, I must mention why I am continually drawn to the classic schoolgirl fashion. Although I despised the itchy mid-length uniform skirt and prison-striped button-up that I wore everyday in elementary and high school, I’ve developed a peculiar attachment towards them. How can I not? I’ve worn that desperately dull outfit for the majority of life--so whether I like it or not, schoolgirl panache is now and forevermore “my thing.”

COLOR CODING

         Have you ever ogled an exquisite emerald green shirt only to neglect it on the rack because you were thrown by what color to pair it with?  Is black your best friend and beige your bosom buddy? The day has arrived for you to bid a temporary adieu to black and neutrals and bestow a welcoming hug to the fanciful universe of color. After all, “color war” is an activity we left behind in camp (along with bunk-raiding and daddy long-leg squashing). We are now officially at ease with color. In fact, we kind of love it.

         In the monthly “Color Coding” column, a color that is inspired by either seasonal motifs or runway trends will be featured. This column will also include the various ways in which one can wear the featured color.

         This month we present the OXBLOOD hue a.k.a. burgundy. Yes, yes—I know Fashion publications already showcased fall’s proclaimed love affair with oxblood, but what many of them haven’t included in their pages is HOW to wear this deliciously luxe color. Read on to discover how oxblood/burgundy can become your wardrobe's new neutral.

    
Rework it!

Getting the Maximum Out of Your Maxi

Elle.com/Global Street Style

    

     So while you were bidding a weepy farewell to your gauzy floral dresses, bright cotton t-shirts, and well-worn sandals by shelving them in the back of your closet, I was sitting by my desk, chewing on gummy worms, and writing an article advising you not to do just that. Alas, telepathy isn't our speciality! What a shame. Because, you see, now you are just going to have to "unshelf" all that spring clothing and bring it to the forefront. After all, they were getting lonely back there.

     Why am I so adamant about not burying your spring/summer garments in the dusted coffin of time? Simply because I believe that adapting them into your fall/winter wardrobe is:

1) A GREAT penny-pinching tip and,
2) Motivates creativity and thinking out of the proverbial box.

Who said autumn and winter were only about leather, tweed, and wool, right?