LA Story: Playing with Layers

Layering is a great way to express our personal style. Classic layering always looks neat and put together. It can also be provocative and interesting by mixing day and evening pieces in different fabrics and textures. I started with a milky white long slip, vintage, that has a pleated ruffle at the bottom. I knew that my fitted sequin midi-skirt, Zara, over it would force the eye downward to the lace and ruffle detailing darting out from under. One of my favorite colour combinations is grey and camel and my distressed oversized v-neck sweater, Elon, is the perfect shade.

To reenforce the colour story, I tied a charcoal grey cardigan, Barneys NY, around my shoulders and brought in a grey snake/suede clutch, Vintage. My neutral toned kitten heel sling-backs, Sebastian Milano, work back to my v-neck, colourwise and are a little quirky like the look which makes them the perfect choice. I’ve kept my accessories small and simple with a baby pearl necklace, Gorjana and a Mariners chain ankle bracelet, Gucci.  As you can see, my items are not a perfect match, (nor should they). We don’t want to look contrived or too, matchy matchy. They should be within the range of both colours so the look, feels organic and effortless. Creative layering is another way to use what we own, that means we’ve got to really know what we have in our closets.

*style-tip: good layering is about styling with intention and that requires a clear understanding of item placement and proportion and styling with intention.

LA Story: Tonal Tune Up

I love combining gradient tones of camel. They are so easy on the eyes and together have a somewhat calming effect. With that in mind, I chose solid garments of similar length to keep the eye from darting around. My breezy silk tank dress, Mia Meli, is light as a feather. Its uneven hem is slightly longer on the sides but the bottom of my 3/4 trench-coat, H&M, meets it almost perfectly. I’m wearing a brown leather/pearl necklace, long, so it’s in the vicinity of the brown tortoise shell buttons on the coat. This way my browns are all in one place and the eye absorbs it with the whole look.

Same goes with my handbag, vintage Coureges, that I’m wearing crossbody to line up with the necklace and buttons. My light neutral toned sling-backs, Sebastian Milano, work right into my tonal look and their kitten heel is trending for Fall. This look combines soft fabrics of similar length and movement. Each piece almost works into the next without any harsh line breaks or strong individual items to draw attention away from the whole look.

*style-tip: monochromatic dressing in neutral tones give the eye a nice break from the energy of colour.

*please treat your wardrobe well. many people worked very hard to get it to you.