Style Stories: Power of Style & Leopard Forever
LA Story: The Power of Style
When we really develop and cultivate our personal style it comes through with everything we wear. There’s a consistency in our choices no matter how different they appear or how they’re put together. I for one cannot just put clothes on; more than likely it’s because my parents had a strong sense of style and instilled that confidence in me. I believe that you can either wear fashion or use it – I choose use.Today, I’m wearing a bit of a mashup of grey tones and a transparent neutral. There’s a green/grey undertone in my sheer lace skirt, Forever 21, and that color tinge is what inspired the rest of my choices. I wanted to follow the straight line of the skirt, so I went for a grey bias-cut turtleneck sweater, Vince. Both pieces are similar in weight and lay flat against each other.
The volume and the fun come with a grey shaggy vest, Hawke and Company. I love the visual and textural contrast between it and the other pieces. The vest is dramatic and playful and with the weightiness of my lug boots, Sorel, creates a perfect balance. Even though the vest is the focus piece, it’s the skirt that makes this look come together. As you can see, my greys don’t match. The boots and the vest have more green in them and my sweater has more a blue but together with the skirt – it all works. You may not be able to see but I’m wearing a turquoise glass teardrop earring with a chartreuse green rim, Stefanie Wolf Designs. This is a strategic choice to join each different grey tone together. Many believe there are no rules when it comes to fashion. I disagree. When we know the rules, we also know how to break them with style.
LA Story: Leopard Forever!
Leopard has become a neutral solid. Most of us don’t even refer to it as a print anymore just like how jeans were once called blue jeans – now both are nouns, fashionably speaking. Our leopard items, like this skirt, Mango, have visual dimension to look like fur so I wanted to build my look around that concept. I’m sticking to all black and I’m layering different textural elements that balance easily even though the skirt is lightweight and sheer. I started with a men’s mock-neck sweater, Banana Republic. The boxy shape against the slim skirt creates a contrast in shape and dimension. The shorter length of my boxy vegan leather jacket, Mango, is similar to the shape of the sweater and its large flap pockets add some bulkiness that play well with my handbag, Carla Mancini.
I layered a thick cable knit wrap over my jacket for more bulk but the longer length of it lines up with my skirt and keeps it from looking sloppy. With the heaviness and bulkiness up top I need to balance out the bottom and these textured alligator loafers, Patrick Cox, felt like the right choice. Had I gone for a bulkier shoe I’d look really heavy and squat. I love that these short cashmere socks have a scalloped edge; it’s a subtle similarity in shape to the leopard. These minute yet substantial choices are a way to change it up and keep my leopard and black combo. from looking basic.
style-tip: details matter especially the subtle ones.
*please treat your wardrobe well. many people worked very hard to get it to you.
Felicia Arlin
Felicia Arlin’s work as a stylist and costume designer has been featured in print, tv, film and on the red carpet. As a 20+ year veteran designer/merchandiser in the LA/NY garment industry her work has graced the racks of every major department store and specialty chain in the country.
She is passionate about helping women look and feel confident no matter their age, shape or socioeconomic status. Her hope is to empower other women by sharing some of the things she’s learned along the way to better cultivate and express their own individual and ageless style.
