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

An Outfit that Embodies Fall

You probably think of high-waisted, white jeans as the perfect summer pant, easy to match with any floral top. But the great thing about white pants, is they're also great for the winter. Think of all those Fall L.A. vibes, where it gets chilly at night, but the sun stays strong in the afternoon. Now, imagine those pants with a comfy, cable-knit sweater. Voila! You've got an unconventional fall/winter outfit. The first time I wore this outfit to work, my boss—a New York socialite—told me, "you look like the type of person who vacations in the same spots as Audrey Hepburn." Of course, I took that to mean she was calling me cosmopolitan, classy, and pretty, aka Audrey Hepburn. However, I think what my boss was ultimately hinting at was that anyone who feels comfortable enough to rock white when it's 30 degrees outside, is a fashion risk taker. Taking risks pays off. I would be lying, if I said this outfit didn't take some careful planning. The sweate...

Is This What an Adult Looks Like?

First-off, sorry for not having a post on Monday. This weekend I ate something that made me feel really sick, and I took the day off, from work and blogging. I did sport an 'athleisure' look, that I may post on Saturday, and break my cardinal rule of "no weekend" posts. However, today I have the first in this week's series of looks, titled "Adults I Admire." Today my mother is coming to stay with me for 10 days. In my mother's mind I'm still that teenager who she sent off to college in thrifted vintage dresses and Doc Martens. Though the Doc Martens still remain, I'm now an adult, who wears more mature clothes. For example, today I matched a cranberry, cashmere sweater that was a gift from my mother, and a knee-length plaid skirt thrifted from Japan. Sometimes I wonder if knee-length skirts that are high-waisted make my hips and butt look bigger, especially when there's pleats. However, I will say that with the maroon...

Capturing Art Aesthetics

Have you ever walked into an art museum and felt like your outfit game was off? During the summer tourist season, the usual museum-goer opts to wear khaki shorts, sensible shoes, and a fanny pack. However, the average art museum-goer knows that aesthetic is everything--especially when you're all about the Instagrams. This can be tricky for those of us who are new to the whole fashion game. How do you manage comfort and style? I thoroughly believe you should wear what you want to wear, no matter what. But, if you're looking for some tips on navigating the fine line of aesthetics. I've got you covered! For this look, I choose to match a cute straw hat with a pink ribbon that I got from Hawaii, a pink lace-up top from American Eagle, my high-waisted jeans from Monki, and Jack Rogers sandals. All-in-all, a very summer look. However, there is a hidden functionality in this outfit. I choose a hat because I knew I'd be walking to the museum in the intense heat...

Fabric, Frills + Lace

Search This Blog