Wearing a Shawl Like a Parisian: Comfy and Chic

This post surfaced from my desire to wear both a plaid shawl and a long sleeve, striped shirt. About two years ago, I saw a ModCloth ad for a reversible poncho, bought the one I'm wearing in this photo, and regret nothing! Best purchase ever.

Ponchos, have so many great uses; but for me, the appeal lies in its blanket-like shape. I really just wanted to be super warm on my way to work. Following my layering rule—as per my previous post—I choose a light, long sleeve black and white striped shirt from Banana Republic to go underneath. Paired with my maroon beret (also from an earlier post), the pair make for a cute Parisian look.

While I love dressing borderline costume-y, I also try to rock a sensible style for the office, especially because I work with college students, and want to look older (haha!). The shawl helps balance the Parisian top, with a more down-to-earth let's-go-take-a-break-in-an-abandoned-cabin feel.

Of course, the ModCloth librarian skirt is the perfect length for the winter. According to one my coworkers, I looked like a model from Stitch Fix, honestly one of the best compliments. When I was younger, I use to imagine myself as a personal stylist—helping women of all ages and sizes find their everyday fashion—which makes the comment all the more perfect.

A tiny accessory that goes slightly unnoticed in the full photos is my mother's vintage opal ring. My birth stone is actually garnet, but wearing my mother's jewelry makes me feel like an adult. Plus, I get to carry a bit of her with me wherever I go!

Comments

Adulting with a Twist

Continuing our series on adulating, I’ve matched a sweater with a high-waisted skirt with pleats. But wait, isn’t that what I wore yesterday? Why yes, keen eye my friend, it is. After all, most people wear a variation of the same outfit everyday. I know, Kate would label us all ‘outfit repeaters.’ However, just because you wear the same type of outfit, doesn’t mean you can’t spice it up a bit with a little character. Notice the addition of strategic accessories in today’s outfit. The scarf, a French twist on the red, white and blue motif, screams, “I’m a working adult, who pays their bills.” Or, for some, it screams flight attendant. The dark navy of the scarf pairs well with the black, above-the-knee skirt from H&M. Similarly, the beige sweater—also from H&M—offsets the dark neutral tones in the skirt with the lighter whites, without being too matchy-matchy. For a bit of personal flare, I’ve included a beige, wool beret from Urban Outfitters that is indicati...

Wearing a Slip Dress to Work

Provocative as this title might sound, I try to keep everything PG at the office. I'm lucky that the dress code at the non-profit I work for is business-casual (a complicated term that I'm still trying to define). I've taken the suggested dress code to mean that I can still experiment with cute fashion trends without selling my soul to corporate culture. Case-in-point, I showed up to work in a slip dress. Now for those who have somehow messed the retro-90's fashion trends that have slowly taken over social media, the slip dress was a 90's statement that graced the slim bodies of models like Kate Moss. The look was elegant evening wear that reminded everyone of nocturnal activities. Not exactly work appropriate. My favorite example of the slip dress comes from Jennifer Garner in 13 Going on 30. The confused actress shows up to work in nothing but her night wear and a fashionable coat. Of course, in Hollywood a woman can get away with this, but what about tho...

High Waisted Jeans CAN Be Flattering!

For some of us, this might not be news. High-Waisted jeans, shorts, and bathing suit bottoms have been a long time trend and occasional style staple for the fashionista—especially if you rock vintage looks. But, I have to be honest. Sometimes I wonder if high-waisted mom jeans on a pear-shaped-wide-hipped-woman (like myself) are a good look. Sure on a tall and thin model, the high-waisted jeans emphasize what I like to call the ideal ‘hip-to-thigh ratio,’ making them look not too feminine but not too masculine—perfect androgyny. There’s no mistaking my feminine figure. Now I love my body—thunder thighs and all—but the worst feeling is when you don’t feel as if your clothes flatter your natural shape. After all, you spent hard-earned cash on them; they should fit your body shape, not the other way around. Sometimes we fashion pioneers feel think this means we have to avoid certain styles. Short girls beware the maxi dress that makes you look like a child; only the flat che...

Fabric, Frills + Lace

Search This Blog