Again and Again and Again

Top, Lush.  Shorts, F21.  Tights, socks, and shoes, Target.

The last few weeks of 2012 have been absolutely crazy!  I left my old job, started a new job, began dreaming up a personal shopping business, celebrated the holidays and my man's birthday, and welcomed new friends (and their pets) into my life and home!  With all of this running around I hardly had time to be creative with my wardrobe, and I ended up consistently reaching for one particular sweater every morning. 

 

My sheer striped oversized black pullover from Lush has been working overtime (just like me!) during this hectic period in my life.  It's easy and cozy but still feels pulled together, so I challenged myself to come up with new ways to wear it everyday.
 

I decided to give the sweater a Catholic school girl-gone-bad feel with plaid shorts, fishnet tights, high socks, and Mary Janes this weekend.    When I tried to wear this exact same look again a few days later, I found a busted zipper on these Forever 21 shorts!  I'm glad I took photos to commemorate the look when I had the chance...RIP plaid shorts.

 

 Fashion is a balancing act: even when I'm going for a particular look, I never want to look costumey.  The dangerously short shorts don't seem so short when topped with a baggy sweater, and the thigh highs seem to tame the overt sexiness of fishnet stockings.   The smallest detail (such as this layered legwear) can bring an out-there oufit back down to earth!

Pants, Zara.  Shoes, hat, and necklace, H&M.  Cuff, Alexis Bittar.

 

Faux leather pants and a beanie worked together to lend a casual-cool feel to a work-appropriate look.  While black on black (almost) always looks chic, it can very easily slip into the "boring" category.  My silver capped-toe stilettos, a giant silver cuff from Alexis Bittar, and a sparkly statment necklace added some edge and intrigue to an otherwise basic outfit.

Skirt, Shoes, and Necklace, F21.

 

One of the things that I love about this sweater is that you can really dress it up or down.  I fancied it up a bit with a 20s style skirt (that you can see me wearing here) and some face-framing baubles.  Suede black booties were an unexpected alternative to my typical pumps.

 

There are so many ways I wore this piece that I didn't end up documenting:  with ripped jeans and flats for a Segway tour, with sequined harem pants for a day at work, with leggings and over the knee leather boots for a photo shoot.  And I'm still dreaming up new ways to wear it: layered over a collared shirt, or draped on top of a boho maxi skirt.  I can tell this sweater obsession will last well into 2013!

 

Fashion Tips from "Again and Again and Again":

 

1.  If you have a favorite piece of clothing, don't be afraid to wear it all the time!  If you really test your creativity, you can come up with countless ways to wear the same piece without feeling like you're in a style rut.

 

2.  Balance is key, in both proportion and feel.  If you're wearing a baggy sweater, make sure your shape is still defined with a short skirt, fitted pants, or even a belt at your waist.  If you're drawing inspiration from a character, balance out their style with your own twists to avoid looking costumey.

 

3.  While basic black is classic, it isn't always exciting.  Find ways to work a little extra pop of style into a monochrome look with fun shoes, big accessories, or even a new hair or makeup trend.  A bright pink lip could take the look from boring to BOOM!


 

 

I've already got some resolutions planned for 2013 that I can't wait to put into practice!  Any style resolutions you think I should try?

Well Read

Shirt, F21.  Sweater, Ralph Lauren.  Pants, 3.1 Phillip Lim.  Bag, ASOS.  Necklace, vintage.

A few weeks ago I got a request from a reader for a post on how to wear wide leg pants, which may have actually been the highlight of my life as a blogger!  One of my goals as a stylist is to help people feel more comfortable making their own fashion statements, so if you have any questions at all about how to wear a piece of clothing or try out a new trend, please ask!  I'd love to make Hell or High Fashion as interactive as possible.

 

I picked up these white wide leg 3.1 Phillip Lim trousers at Crossroads (a second-hand shop) a few weeks ago and have been dying to wear them ever since.  Skin tight pants have been popular for so long that wearing such a loose, relaxed pair felt really refreshing!  One thing to remember with a long pair of pants: heel height is everything!  You want the bottoms of the pants to just about touch the ground, so heels are usually a must.  Tailor your pants to a length that works for your favorite high-heels.

 

My white pants seemed to be giving off a sailor vibe, so I went with nautical stripes up top.  The layerd sweater/collared shirt combo was very menswear, so a sparkly tie necklace finished off the look perfectly! I think a feminine touch is important when attempting to pull off a daring pant, and a dainty, sparkly take on a traditional male accessory seems to say, "I may be wearing pants, but I'm still a lady!"

 

The most exciting part of my outfit though was for sure my new BOOK CLUTCH!   I've seen these amazing purses disguised as books everywhere lately; Kate Spade has a collection of classics and Charlotte Olympia has made some too.  Those retail for $300 and over- totally out of my price range.  So when this little beauty popped up on ASOS.com for $35, I couldn't say no! 

 

I am thrilled with my purchase; I took this book-bag to a bar yesterday and got complimented by the bouncer, the waitors, and friends alike.  One girl even thought I was carrying around my Bible!  Love it.

 

Another way to wear wide-leg pants in to pair them with a crop top!  It's recently become acceptable again to show a little midriff in public, so I say go for it.  A look like this is bursting with confidence, and that's really all you need to pull off and out-there outfit.  If you wear your wide trousers and belly shirt with pride, no one will have a negative thing to say!

 

Here are a few other way to wear a pair of pants like this:

 

- Tuck in a fitted button down and finish off the look with a wide leather belt

- A shell blouse (a shirt with a boxy cut) would lay flush with the width of the pants for a cool 60s vibe

- A tight shirt with a shrunken blazer on top is the perfect business-appropriate pairing

 

Fashion Tips from "Well Read":

 

1.  Don't be afraid to wear something weird!  If you fall in love with a piece of clothing that isn't a regular part of your wardrobe, research different ways to wear it- or just ask me!  Never let fear stop you from indulging in fashion.

 

2.  If you're attempting to wear long, wide trousers, make sure the length of the pant is perfect.  If they are too long you'll look like a little kid playing dress up, and if they are too short you'll look stumpy.  Fit is everything!

 

3. Usually all you need to authentically pull off a look that you're not used to is a smile!  Confidence is ultimately the most important accessory- so if you feel cool in your outfit, everyone else will think you're cool, too!

 

 

 

What else do you guys want to ask?  Let me know and I'll do a personalized post for every question I get!

 

Little Red Corvette

Dress, Cooperative Urban Outfitters.  Sweater and shoes, Target.  Bag, Ferragamo.

 

Today's post is a love story.  A story about a love that never gave up- even when times were tough, even when sizes were wrong, even when websites said "Out of Stock".  A story of a girl and her clothes.

 

Seriously, I am in love with this dress!

 

Our saga starts a few weeks back, in New Jersey.  While visiting with my family for Thanksgiving, we all decided to head to our local shopping district and I couldn't pass up a trip to Urban Outfitters during sale time.  This shirt dress stared at me from the sale rack, its floppy bow tie and cartoon car print calling to me.  And it was on sale for only $30!!  I had to try it.

 

Unfortunately it didn't fit- it was way too small.  A quick search of the store confirmed what I already feared: my size was sold out.  I asked the sales people there to track down the dress in the right size at another location, but alas- the dress had no tag!!  There was no way find it in other stores' inventory, and I resigned myself to living a life void of cartoon cuteness.

 

Here's the stock photo of the dress from Urban Outfitters- you can see the car print a little better and really appreciate how necessary it was for me to own this!

 

I scoured the Urban Outfitters website and tried every possible Google search term to find this piece online.  It was nowhere!  Instead of accepting that this dress was gone for good, I re-searched the internet every day for a week.  Finally, just as I was about to give up, it reappeared on urbanoutfitters.com!- but only in a size XS. 

 

Luckily, UO has a convient "Find In A Store Near You" button.  Turns out there was ONE left in my size a few towns away!!!  I called the store, put it on hold, and went to pick it up after work.  To my delight, once I picked it up I found out that it had been further discounted to $9!!!  It was the best find of my entire fashion life.

 

Why do I love this dress so much?  I really can't put my finger on it.  Sure, it has it's flaws- it's not a very figure-flattering shape and it's all white (a sure sign that I will spill my coffee all over it).  But the amazing things about this dress- the vintage cars, the bright colors, the subtle piping along the buttons, and the adorable bow tie- definitely outweigh the bad things. 

 

I paired it with an oversize red sweater from Target to keep me cozy and my navy patent Ferragmo bag added some structure to the look.  The school girl look of high-heeled Mary-Janes paired perfectly with the bow tie!  I felt like a cool librarian all day.

 

 

Fashion Tips from "Little Red Corvette":

 

1.  If you love a piece of clothing, don't give up!   There's a reason it's stuck in your head, so find out what that reason is and hunt it down- I guarantee you won't regret it!

 

2.  Give a loosey-goosey outfit some shape with a structured bag and chunky shoes. If at least one part of your outfit has clean lines, you can avoid looking sloppy in oversized pieces.

 

3.  Playing dress up isn't just for kids. Feeling a librarian or school-girl vibe?  Throw on a men's tie, some knee socks, or plaid for a subtle way to make a statement and make fashion fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laced Up

Top, F21.  Dress, Jill Stuart.  Tights and shoes, Urban Outfitters.

This Thanksgiving, I took a little vacation from Los Angeles and a little vacation from blogging!  I spent a week in upstate New York relaxing, eating, playing Charades, and exploring Syracuse.  Traveling from LA to Syracuse required a lot of outfit planning and I had a rough time whittling my wardrobe down to a week's worth of essentails.  But I had an idea of what kind of activities I'd be doing, what kind of weather I'd be experiencing, and how much I'd be eating (I had to bring lots of stretchy pants!), so I packed my suitcase accordingly.

 

Here's how I made my final selections:  I tried on some cold-weather looks, took pictures of my favorites, and set out to pack based on those photos.  Seeing the outfit laid out head-to-toe in front of me (shoes, jewelry, bags, etc included!) ensured that I didn't forget anything back home. 

 

Of course once I got to Syracuse and didn't have my extensive closet at my disposal every morning, I panicked.  (Side note: I was meeting 20 members of my boyfriend's extended family, so that's why I was extra focused on dressing to impress!)  That panic led me to mix-and-match my preplanned outfits in new and creative ways, and I came up with this little number!

 

 

 

After eating a week's worth of Thanksgiving treats in just a few days, I was worried that some of the looks I brought with me might not be full-stomach-friendly.  This Jill Stuart dress was the perfect dress to over-eat in:  it fits tight around my waist but balloons out over my tummy and hips. I had already worn it early on in the trip, though, and didn't want to repeat outfits!  To switch it up, I stole this lace top from another outfit and layered it underneath.  I was so glad to have packed such versatile pieces, and I'm going to make sure I pack clothes that can work double-duty on my next trips!

 

Here were my orginal looks:

 

Dress, Jill Stuart.  Jacket, F21.

Top and Jeans, F21.  Boots, H&M.  Belt, Zara.

 

Fashion Tips from "Laced Up":

 

1.  If you're packing for a long trip and are worried about how to choose outfits, start planning early!  Taking photos of your outfits beforehand and packing from a visual really takes some of the pressure off.

 

2.  Think of new ways to wear old pieces.  Maybe you've bought a top to go with a specific pair of pants, but explore how else it can be worn.  It could look amazing layered over a minidress!

 

3.  Having an "I have nothing to wear" day?  Turn that panic into productivity!  Open yourself up to new creative possibilites and I'm sure you'll find that you do, in fact, have something to wear.

 

But the biggest lesson I learned this Thanksgiving week is that who you are is more important than what you wear.  I had the most amazing time with my man and his family, and they loved me even when I had to change into my shlubby sweatpants after stuffing myself with stuffing! 

 

 It sure was nice to hear them ooh and ahh over my outfits every morning, though- and that makes the time I spend getting dressed up so worth it!

   

 

 

 



Comfy Cozy

Jacket, vintage.  Dress, Marc by Marc Jacobs.  Clutch, F21.  Boots, Joie.

There is a common misconception that fashion = pain.  This feeling is justified in some cases; high heels generally aren't the most comfortable things, and the torture devices known as Spanx have become a necessity due to the popularity of bodycon dressing.  But fashion doesn't have to hurt! 

It's so easy to slip into sweats and a tee-shirt on days off, but I knew I could find an outfit that was comfortable, cozy, AND chic to wear on my day off this week.  Enter the tent dress!

I found this Marc by Marc Jacobs dress at Wasteland a long time ago.  I almost didn't bother trying it on- even though I loved it, this dress is a size XS (which I definitely am not). I convinced myself that it could work anyway, and I was so happy that it did!  

 The dress has two layers: a plain black slipdress topped with a lacey purple overlay.  This doubled-up feature creates a lot of texture, so the piece looks styled even though I just threw it on.  Just as comfy as sweats!

While I find a swingy tent dress to be comfy, I don't necessarily think this style flatters my body.  To balance out the volume of my dress, I chose a boxy vintage jacket.  The bottom of the jacket skims the top of my hips, creating a slimmer shape amidst the billowy layers.  To top it off, the fur collar kept me cozy and warm while I was running errands! 

I love that the jacket added two more textures to the look:  I mixed silk, lace, fur, and a woven fabric.  To throw a few more into the mix, I added over-the-knee leather boots and a faux leather/suede clutch.  Texture is an oft overlooked way of adding intrigue to an outfit.  As an example,  you could be wearing head-to-toe black but if you've mixed monochrome leather, lace, and denim your look is on a whole other level!

Here's an up-close look at my texture details:

Fashion Tips from "Comfy Cozy":

1.  Challenge yourself to find comfortable ways of dressing that still feel fashionable.  When you feel good, you get more done- it's a fact! 

2.  If you're shopping and you find something you love, try it on!  Even if your mind tells you that it's the wrong size or it won't be flattering, you really never know until you try.  You could be pleasantly surprised!

3.  A boxy jacket streamlines your figure.  Wear one over a flouncy dress to temper a volumionous skirt, or even over jeans and a tee to balance out wide hips.   

4. Spice up your look by playing with texture:  a silk cami under a leather jacket, a tweed blazer over a denim buttondown, etc.  The unexpected mix is just plain cool!

Here's to being creatively comfy!

Doing It Bright

Dress and Shoes, Zara.  Necklace, F21 (customized).  Belt, Vintage.

In high school I wore bright colors exclusively.  I had an obsession with standing out from the crowd, and in my mind black and white were boring and conventional.  The annual choir concert required me to wear a plain white shirt and black slacks for one night a year, and I always fought hard against the dress code.  I'd add a fuchsia flower or a neon necklace to my drab getup to customize it to my tastes.  My, how things have changed!  These days, I hardly ever step out of my black and white comfort zone, and blogging my outfits has made me realize I've been stuck in a serious color rut!

This blue dress from Zara is so basic that it can be styled a million different ways.  Today I wanted to challenge myself to mix and match lots of bright colors, so I picked out my brightest orange belt and a necklace to match.

I love the fit-and-flare cut of this dress; it's great for accentuating curves or even creating curves!  "Fit and flare" cuts are tight throughout the chest and waist, then flare out over the hips.  For curvy girls, this cut shows off your natural hourglass shape in the most flattering way.  Even if your figure is straight up-and-down, this style will carve out a small waistline and add a gentle curve to the hips.  Va-va-voom!

To accentuate my waistline even more, I added a bright orange belt with a delicate gold bow detail.   I framed my face with a colorful necklace that I customized myself!

This bauble used to be a bland grey color.  One day, out of boredom, I decided to take colorful nail polish to the silver crystals and this is what happened!  I absolutely love the result, and it was so easy to do. 

I finished off the look with nude pumps.  Since there are so many colors in this look, any other kind of shoe would have been distracting.  I even thought my regular red lip would take away from the impact of these brights, so I decided to wear an electric pink lipstick that paired back to the pink in my necklace. 


Fashion Tips from "Doing It Bright":

1. Don't be afraid to mix colors.  Just make sure that the colors you are playing with are in the same family: all pastels, all neons, etc.  Pick 2 or 3 hues to focus on and you can't go wrong! 

2.  A "fit and flare" dress is flattering on every body type.  Look for a dress with a waistline that falls in line with the smallest part of your torso.  My natural waist is about 2 inches below where my belt hits, but wearing a belt at your smallest point (rather than your real waistline) creates a whole new, tinier figure!

3.  Get creative!  Buy cheapo clothes and jewelry at thrift stores and see what you can do to make them your own.  If it doesn't work out, oh well- you only spent a couple bucks on it in the first place.





After my last post, someone wrote to me with a question about how to wear a pair of wide-leg pants.  I'll be posting on this soon!  I love getting questions like that- one of the reasons I blog is to inspire people to find their own sense of style- so keep 'em coming!  What should I write about next?  Feel free to comment on the blog with your style questions, or find me on Facebook or Twitter (see sidebar to your right) and ask!

Punk Rock Princess



Vest, H&M.  Top, Urban Outfitters.  Skirt, Tracy Reese.  Shoes, H&M.

Today's outfit is piggy-backing off of last week's Bohemian Rhapsody post, and messing with the  girly + tough formula that I'm constantly testing, tweaking, and perfecting.   My good friend Natalie and I have been talking about how to incorporate tutus into our everyday life, and luckily I had a tutu in my closet to play around with!  I think the trick to wearing a tutu out and about is finding ways to make it casual, a la Carrie Bradshaw in the Sex and the City opening credits.  She pairs hers with a men's Hanes tank top- how genius!

I found my own fashion inspiration for this look when I stumbled upon this picture on Pinterest:

I LOVED how this fashionista paired her tutu with a casual top and a tough leather jacket, and my mind immediately started racing with ideas of how to create a look like this with my own Tracy Reese skirt. 

When you come across an outfit, picture, or print that inspires you, decide what you love about the look.  Is it the colors, the proportions, the actual piece of clothing, or the overall feel of the outfit?  I made a mental checklist of what I liked about this picture: 

1.  The tulle + leather combo

2.  The "statement" piece of jewelry to top off an otherwise simple outfit

3.  The casual vibe

While this Pinterest look was a little preppy, I wanted to go punky so instead of stripes, I added a rock tee.  The leather jacket was a little too heavy for the LA sunshine, I so threw on my trusty leather vest.  In lieu of a statement necklace, I added a stack of bangles and my favorite Alexis Bittar ring.  These AMAZING metallic cap-toe pumps were the perfect finishing touch- the shape is so elegant and ladylike but the metal/black combo is so edgy.  And they were only $30- a must have!!  Blue fingernails and a red lip served as pops of color for my usual black-on-white color scheme. 

Bracelets from top-bottom:  Bedstu, Amrita Singh, F21.  Ring, Alexis Bittar.

Today's tips are going to focus on how to make your own fashion statment based on someone else's look.

Fashion Tips from "Punk Rock Princess":

1.  It's OK to "copy" someone else's sartorial ideas, just make sure you find ways to make them your own.  Personalizing makes all the difference!
 

2.  Decide what you like about a look and think of creative ways to use your own wardrobe to the same effect.   For example: if you liked the proportions of the poufy skirt with a tucked-in top, focus on finding those shapes in your closet.  A high-waisted pair of jeans with a cropped top would actually create that same hourglass shape!

3.  Make a habit of skimming throgh fashion magazines, clicking through Pinterest, or making mental notes on street style you come across.  You never know where your next outfit inspiration will come from (maybe even from Hell or High Fashion?!)!
 

Here are links to some of my favorite places to hunt for high fashion ideas:

whowhatwear.com

thesartorialist.com
seaofshoes.typepad.com
www.cupcakesandcashmere.com
www.olsensanonymous.blogspot.com

Enjoy!

American Girl

I'm a girl who loves to play dress up. I will take any chance that I get to put a little more pizzazz into my outfits, and prime time for this kind of dressing- the winter holidays- is finally here! I'm already dreaming up my seasonally appropriate Thanksgiving outfits and even contemplating how I'll inject the Christmas spirit into my look come December. However, dressing up for the holidays comes with a big challenge: walking the fine line between "holiday cheer" and "walking greeting card". I took this idea for a test run on Election Day!

Jeans, Kill City.  Tank, Principessa.  Shoes, H&M.  Jewelry, Alexis Bittar.

I was so excited to get out and vote on Tuesday!  I mailed in an absentee ballot for the last presidential election, so this was my first time going to a polling place, waiting in line, and marking my ballot in-person.  I wanted the whole world to share in my patriotic excitement, so I put together an all-American outfit to carry me through the day.

The trick to spreading holiday cheer while still looking fashion-forward is picking one "holiday" aspect (color, print, etc) and sticking to it.  For my election day outfit, I shied away from the typical red-white-and-blue theme and focused on a black and grey palate.  Since my outfit had little-to-no color in it, I could mix these AMAZING American Flag printed jeans with a printed tank, no problem!

I think these Kill City jeans are one of the coolest things I own.  You may have seen them already- Wiz Khalifa and Billie Joe Armstrong both have them as well! (Confession: I am wearing men's jeans.)  They bring a grunge vibe to American pride- such a cool combo.

The eagle printed "Freedom" tank was an impulse buy a few weeks ago.  It reminds me of my dad, the most All-American, patriotic guy I know, and his crazy eagle tattoo.  Shout out to Papa Hector!  The slouchy, cozy fit really makes the tank a fashion-forward piece- had this print been on a plain old tee-shirt, I don't think I would've bought it.  Exaggerated armholes and a loose knitted fabric bring a level of design to the look that you just don't get from a standard tee.

The jeans-and-tank combo was a little inappropriate for my workplace, so I made sure to bring a blazer with me.

Blazer, vintage.

A neutral colored blazer tied in nicely with the muted colors of the tank and added a level of professionalism.  I love this particular blazer because it's a "shrunken fit"- meaning it fits a little bit tighter than your traditional suit jacket.  A shrunken blazer is cool instead of stuffy, and adds sophistication to pretty much anything. 

I finished the look off with gunmetal fringe earrings and stack of Alexis Bittar bangles, and of course my signature swipe of red lipstck.  But the best accessory of the day was my "I Voted" sticker!

Fashion Tips from "American Girl":

1.  When dressing for the holidays, don't go overboard.  One color or print will do the trick!  For example, wearing either red OR green (instead of a combo of both) on Christmas will keep you looking chic.

2.  Look for a neutral blazer with a shrunken fit to throw on top of little tanks and dresses.  Voila!  Office-appropriate apparel that's still fashion-forward.

4.  A slouchy tank is a great alternative to a tee-shirt.  If you're a girl (or guy) who sticks mostly to a jeans-and-tee wardrobe, mix it up a bit with a stylized tank every once in a while.  It's just as easy to wear and 10x cooler!

3.  Shop outside the box.  One of my favorite pieces of clothing in the world came from the men's section!  Don't be afraid to take a gander into menswear stores, or even the kid section.  A little girl's XXL jacket could turn out to be your favorite shrunken blazer!!

Stay tuned for my next post, where I take on a tutu!  Also, follow me on Instagram (@jdefino) for more outfit snippets throughout the week.  

Marooned



Pants, jacket, and bag; F21.  Tank, H&M.  Shoes, Prada.

If you are a regular Hell or High Fashion reader, you may remember that I did a post about these striped pants not too long ago (click here to refresh your memory).  If you're a very devoted reader, you might remember my blog post from over a year ago featuring my 8th grade cheerleading varsity jacket (click here for that very old, very embarrassing post).  I'd say my style has evolved quite a bit since then!   Today, I wanted to feature my updated take on striped pants and varsity jackets.

I've said it once and I'll say it again: I love printed pants!  They have all the ease of a great pair of jeans, but add something special to even the most basic outfit.  I've been struggling with coming up with new ways to wear this particular pair, since I don't own a lot of navy or green clothing to match these jeans and I'm (dare I say it!)  getting a little sick of black.  Enter the most versatile color of the season: maroon! (Fashion tip: referring to maroon as 'oxblood' earns you major high-fashion points.)

I wore this same maroon tank in my last post- I just can't get enough of it!  This color manages to be neutral without being boring, and it somehow seems to match absolutely everything while still adding contrast to any look.  Love it! 

This shrunken varsity jacket is going to be my go-to topper when the LA weather turns chilly.  It doesn't sacrifice fashion for the sake of warmth, which is the mark of a good coat in my book.  My Prada pumps from a few season ago matched perfectly and added a girlish charm to what could've been a pretty androgynous look. 

Lately, I've been all about the accessories so I slipped on my high school class ring to compliment the varsity jacket.  The ribbing on my vintage watch mimicked the stripes on my pants, too- it's the littlest details that make the look!

I want Hell or High Fashion to be a blog that inspires people to cultivate their individual style, so I'm going to start doing a recap at the end of each post of the fashion lessons I'm putting into practice.  I'm excited to try out this new section!  Let me know what you think.

Fashion Tips from "Marooned":

1.  Mix up the way you wear your favorite pieces- an unexpected combo might make for the best outfit!

2.  Maroon (or 'oxblood') acts as a "new neutral".  The color is so deep and rich that it can mix and match with almost anything.  Wear it as an alternative to black!

3.  Accessories make all the difference.  Thinking about little ways to inject your personal style into a basic jeans-and-tee look will take your look to the next fashion level!

I hope this post inspires you to make some unexpected fashion choices!

Also,  it's election day!!  I hope you all got out there and voted.  In the patriotic spirit of the day, here's a snapshot of my red, white, and blue Halloween costume from last week:

Happy Election Day!

Bohemian Rhapsody



Vest and tank, H&M.  Skirt, F21.  Boots, Zara.

It's no secret that I have been into a more edgy look lately.  My closet is bursting with black, leather, skinny jeans, skull prints, and distressed tees that are not only fashionable but functional.  As I mentioned in my last post, this type of clothing is preferred when I'm working as a stylist for a few reasons:  jeans and boots allow me to get around comfortably, and black helps me blend into the background.  However, this new style has created a problem for me that I've never had to deal with before:  looking like everyone else.

A few weeks back I helped style a project that called for 5 different wardrobe assistants.  When I arrived to set and met the girls I'd be working with for the day, I was caught off guard by what I saw.  All four other ladies were decked out in their own version of the standard rock-girl uniform: black skinnies, combat boots, a ripped up vintage tank, and LOTS of skeleton prints.  A lot of things went through my mind, a few of them being, "Wow, I love your outfit!", "You all look the same!" and, "Do I just look like a copy of someone else?"  

I love fashion because it allows me to express who I am and how I'm feeling, and it really upset me that what I thought was MY cool, new, edgy look was actually an overdone trend.  Not wanting to give up on my leather jackets and skinny jeans, I had to figure out a new way to rock my rocker duds that allowed me to feel unique & stylish.  The answer I came up with?  ADD SPARKLES!

This 1920s-inspired skirt from Forever 21 has been one of my go-to pieces lately.  The sparkles and sequins jazz up any plain old t-shirt, and the bohemian feel compliments almost all of my rock & roll gear.  As soon as I tried it on, I knew it would be the perfect foil for my black leather H&M vest.  Something about tough leathers against girly sparkles just makes me smile!  And since the skirt is such a statement piece, I wore a neutral maroon tank on top to tone down the shine. 

To me, "bohemian rock" is synonymous with "piles of jewelry," so I added on a few necklaces, bracelets, and rings. 



Bracelets, Amrita Singh and F21.  Rings, H&M.



Necklaces; Marc Jacobs, Vintage, and Kill City.

 

I chose long pendant necklaces to jumble together in a mix of gold and gunmetal tones.  I love mixing metals- if you do it purposefully, you can't go wrong.  The wishbone necklace was a present to myself from Marc by Marc Jacobs in Boston, and the clock pendant is a series of flea market finds that I strung together. I love my lightning bolt necklace- a gift from a music video that I worked on- because it's the perfect subltle statment piece.

 

And voila!  There you have it: an outfit that lets me explore my tough side without blending into the crowd!

 

 

 

P.S. For those who follow me on Instagram, I teased a photo of my next blog post yesterday- check it out and get excited!  I can't wait to share my next fashion adventure with you all.  For those who don't follow me on Instagram, what are you waiting for??  @jdefino

 

Here's the preview of my next post: