Style Story: Femme with an Edge

I don’t know about you but for me, one of the most beautiful and sexiest silhouettes is a bias-cut dress. Whether long or midi; the way it softly skims the body is absolutely dreamy.  This dress is one of my favorites, Asos. It’s long with almost full body coverage except for the opening at the bust and the upper back. The pleating detail above the empire waist and long bias-cut body makes my extremely short waist seem in proportion and my short 5’3” body look long and lanky.

It’s pretty chilly outside; a few chunky knits will provide warmth and the bit of edge that I’m looking for. I start with a wide ribbed beanie, H&M, in a light grey, and a charcoal crochet cardigan, Gisele Tune. Both of my knits, although heavy in weight look soft and washed down because they are heathered. It’s the tiny white yarns, (the ones that don’t take the dye) within the knit that makes all the difference. My short lug boots, Sorel, in shades of green give me height and just enough edge to help tone down the femme. This vintage boucle’ bag in multi shade of green pulls my colour story together. I especially love how the tortoise handle picks up the brown in the dresses print.

For me, a little femme mixed with a little edge creates a much more interesting look than ether would be on their own. Keep in mind that colours don’t have to match and fabrications don’t have to be the same. As long as your colours are within tonal range and your item placement is balanced you can create some great looks with the help of your contrasting pieces.

*style-tip: the enemy of a bias cut dress is clutter and line breaks so keep it simple and minimal.

Style Story: Black on Black on Black

An all black look screams strength, boldness, and always makes a statement. My all black look has an uptown/downtown/eclectic vibe with an item mix of weight, texture, and classification. This is one of the few styles of dressing where I don’t need my blacks to match – actually, it’s better if they don’t. I started with a pair of cropped slim tuxedo trousers, Zadig Voltaire. The subtle contrast stripe on either side of the leg inspired my choosing this satin top, H&M. The twist detailing at the neck allows the fabric to reflect more light and gives dimensional contrast next to the my matte black pieces.

I brought in a simple black lather belt, Banana Republic. The silver buckle has the same reflective tone as my blouse – remember, black reflects as silver which is why it’s the best choice in a black monochromatic look. The leather belt strap is somewhat thick and heavy and has a similar finish to the leather from my boots, Dr. Martens. My furry bucket hat, H&M, is all about the attitude so I went with a more oversized jacket, Calvin Klein. It stands up to the hat and is a nice dimensional contrast over my slim streamlined items. I finish my look with a zebra print fur baguette, Fendi. It partners with my hat for the perfect amount of funk and edge.

style-tip: balance is key to a monochromatic look; without it it can seem flat or off. When we consider these elements: placement, proportion, fabric, weight, and texture we are able to create cohesive effortless looks that are always balanced.

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