5 Days Of Skirts

In the midst of 5 Days Of Skirts, a conversation with a friend about style made me think about the name of my blog: Hell or High Fashion.  "High Fashion" is very different from run-of-the-mill fashion.  Something can be in "fashion" without being "High Fashion"- bandage dresses and other forms of club-wear come to mind as "fashionable" things that the "High Fashion" world would scoff at.

There are a bunch of subjective definitions of "High Fashion" floating around on the internet (I even found this pretty ridiculous WikiHow article on "How To Look High Fashion"), but the most clear definition I could find was "the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. It is influenced by cultural and social attitudes."  Essentially, High Fashion is art.  It's creativity. High Fashion encompasses the avant garde trends that trickle down to the mass retailers, who then process the trendy content and push out socially-acceptable versions of high-fashion concepts. 

To the layperson, High Fashion is Vogue.  It's the Paris runway shows.  It's clothing that doesn't care about practicality.  High Fashion is not what you find at Forever21- although those pieces are inspired by High Fashion.  

So how come my blog is called Hell or High Fashion (even though I wear Forever21 pretty much everyday)?  Because even though I'm rarely wearing High Fashion pieces, I always aim to incorporate High Fashion concepts into my everyday wear.  In 5 Days of Skirts, I'll show you exactly how I do it!

Day 1

Ostwald Helgason SS14, Stella McCartney FW13

Blazer, H&M.  Set, shoes, and bag, Forever 21.

On Day 1 of skirts, I drew inspiration from both the Fall 2013 runways and the Spring 2014 runways.  Matching sets are a huge trend in the high fashion community right now- I loved Ostwald Helgason's interpretation for Spring- so I reached for my matching floral skirt set from Forever 21.  Even though it's LA, it's still too chilly to walk around outside in a mini skirt and a crop top, so I threw a navy and grey pinstriped blazer from H&M on top.  This pattern and color combo was a huge Fall 2013 trend, most notably at Stella McCartney, and when I saw this blazer for just $50 (compared with McCartney's $1000+ price tag) I couldn't resist!  A cross-body bag and leopard pumps broke up the dark look.

So, even though I ripped trends from the high fashion runways, the look is 100% me.  Why?  I mixed and matched them in my own way!  Combining Fall and Spring trends in a fresh way ensured that I didn't look like a walking ad for the latest runway looks. 

Day 2

3.1 Phillip Lim FW13

Sweater, Banana Republic.  Shoes & Skirt, Zara.  Necklace, Forever 21.

Day 2 was the day that got me thinking about Hell or High Fashion!  I paired a patched-up denim pencil skirt from Zara with a simple black Banana Republic sweater- I loved the way this look mixed street wear trends with a polished silhouette.  When I met up with a friend that day, she (lovingly) teased me about my outfit, saying the skirt gave me "a mom butt" and that I looked like "a 90s Rachel Greene."  Little did she know that this patchwork skirt is actually on the cutting edge of high fashion!

The skirt was inspired by the Fall 2013 3.1 Phillip Lim runway- the designer showed jeans, shorts, and denim jackets covered in biker-esque patches and I loved the idea!  When I saw this (blatantly knocked-off) skirt at Zara, I was excited that I could incorporate the look into my wardrobe on a budget.  My friend and I clearly had different opinions of this piece- but that's why high fashion is great!  The avant garde ideas on the runway aren't made to please everyone- they're meant to speak to a select group of people, who can take those ideas and run with them.  The 3.1 Phillip Lim runway show spoke to me, and I put my own spin on the designer's aesthetic with this look.

Day 3

Burberry SS14

Top and skirt, vintage.  Shoes and Jacket, Topshop.

Day 3 was Burberry day!  When I saw Burberry's Spring 2014 runway collection, I knew it would inspire me to break out some of my favorite vintage pieces.  Burberry's designer Christopher Bailey sent a gorgeous vintage-inspired black and white print down the catwalk, and I actually owned an authentic vintage crochet top with the same print!  Ahead of the trend and I didn't even know it.  

The Burberry show featured a lot of pastel colors, like baby pink and powder blue, so I paired my vintage top with a pretty pink polka dotted skirt (also vintage).  At night I added my floral leather jacket to the mix, but wore it over my shoulders (another big high fashion trend- read my blog on it here).  I love that the Burberry show drove me to wear things I already own in a new and exciting way!

Day 4

Tibi FW13

Turtleneck, H&M.  Sweater & skirt, Forever 21.  Shoes, Steve Madden.

Things got dark & moody on Day 4, because I woke up late & my apartment was freezing.  I wanted to throw something out that was easy and warm, but I didn't want to forget about my 5 Days Of Skirts challenge.  I decided on a cozy turtleneck worn under an oversized, embellished sweatshirt, a leather skirt, and black pumps.  

Like I mentioned in 5 Days Of Pants, turtlenecks are back in a big way!  They were seen all over the Fall 2013 runways, but my favorite turtleneck looks were those from Tibi.  Tibi gave the formerly-square turtleneck a dark, edgy vibe by pairing them with loads of leather and oversized coats and sweatshirts.  Tibi's version was a little too dark for me, though, so I made sure my sweater sparkled and I showed a little more skin than their models!  A leather mini with punky zipper detailing and classic black pumps made the look less "Tibi" and more "Jessica".

Day 5

Sister by Sibling (2) SS14, Burberry SS14

Skirt, Kymehra.  Top, Kate Spade Saturday.  Shoes, Steve Madden.

On Day 5 I debuted my new stylehaus skirt!  I LOOOOOVE this skirt.  I think it marries classic sensibilities with a modern dose of sex appeal and it's perfect.  It also happens to echo some pretty high-fashion concepts from the Spring 2014 runways!

One of my favorite runway shows for SS14 was Sister by Sibling's London show.  A throwback to 50s/60s style, Sister by Sibling updated vintage silhouettes in modern materials, like fishnet, with grungy styling.  Sheer skirts worn over cute undies were seen at Sister (and at Burberry), and my skirt took the trend and made it wearable (skimpy booty shorts are socially acceptable, undies are not).  I added a striped tee with a high neckline and my go-to black pumps to add some conservative touches to the otherwise revealing outfit.

So what did 5 Days of Skirts teach me about my relationship with High Fashion?  While I may not be wearing genuine high-fashion garments, every look that I put together is inspired by high fashion.  The high fashion world is a bag of tricks that I can pull from when I get dressed ("I love the turtleneck look at Tibi") and supplement with my own personal style ("BUT Tibi's runway was too dark for me").  

A lot of people are quick to mock the more out-of-the-box runway looks (Jimmy Kimmel's piece on Fashion Week was hysterical if a little judgmental), but most of the time they're not meant to be worn literally.  If you want to get inspired to expand your personal style, just look to high fashion.  Style.com is a good place to start; click on the "Fashion Shows" tab and go nuts.  You're welcome.  

Wedding Belle

Dress, Zara.  Jacket & Clutch, H&M.  Shoes, Beauty Heel.

 

This weekend I attended a wedding for the first time since I was about 10.  Getting ready posed a challenge: having never been to a wedding as an adult, did I own anything wedding-appropriate?  I enlisted the help of my friend Annika (who's in the midst of planning her own wedding) and got some really helpful tips: absolutely no white dresses and no black dresses!  A trip through my closet proved unsuccessful- I am the queen of the little black dress.  Everything else I owned seemed to be just a tad off: either it felt too skimpy and revealing or it was too crazy and "look at me!" to wear to a wedding.  I was glad for the excuse to go shopping!

 

 

I knew I wanted to take my outfit in a bright neon direction.  I've been super into yellows and oranges for the past few weeks and just recieved these citrus-hued heels in the mail from HauteLook.com that were begging to be worn.  When I came across this fluorescent floral dress in Zara I had to say, "I do!"  Even though it boasts bouquets of neon roses, the black and white patterned base of the dress serves to quiet the loud colors.

 

To keep the look wedding-appropriate, I knew I needed a jacket or sweater to throw on top.  Matching a black, pink, or orange cardigan would've been too obvious, so I decided to riff off of the black and white base of the dress and came up with the idea to rock a patterned tweed jacket.  I found this topper in H&M and fell in love with its little details.  The unique collar, epauletted shoulders, and zipper trim on the sleeves keep things interesting.  I love that this jacket kind of matches the dress...but also kind of doesn't.  That unexpectedness is what makes fashion fun for me!

 

Ring, vintage.  Bracelet, F21.  Bag, H&M.  Nail color, American Apparel.

Now, for the add-ons!  I had so much fun playing around with color here.  Again, the basic black-and-white base and jacket gave me a great jumping-off point: adding little colorful touches didn't overwhelm the look, because the neutral-to-bright proportion was always favoring neutrals.  Neon yellow nails paired with a vintage purple cocktail ring looked picture-perfect with the pop of green on my clutch.  I added a simple silver chain link bracelet to the mix too!

 

My new favorite shoes and matching orange lips were the finishing touches, and voila!:  a wedding-appropriate outfit that doesn't sacrifice personal style.

 

 

Fashion Tips from "Wedding Belle":

 

1.  Dress to the occasion, but there's no need to sacrifice your personal style in the process!  This suggestion directly applies to the men out there:  if you're not a suit-and-tie guy, on dressier occasions you can be stuck wearing something you feel super uncomfortable in all night.  Make a personal statment with your suit to make dressing up fun:  keep your dress shirt untucked and add a pair of fresh sneakers to your suit, or try a funky bow tie instead of the traditional skinny tie.  Fun belt buckles, pocket squares, and different colored pants and jackets are some other ways to keep your suit from feel stuffy.

 

2.  When mixing bright colors, make sure you add a healthy dose of neutral tones as well.  Piling on layers of neons can go wrong really quickly- you can end up looking childlike or just plain tacky.  My mix of yellow, orange, pink, purple, and green isn't overkill because black and white are the main events in this outfit.  Try pairing white sundress with a bright belt and sandals, or adding a yellow tie to a black-and-white suit look.  For another example, check out this post from a few months back.

 

3.  Don't always go for the obvious choice.  Sure, a pencil skirt and button down shirt are a great basic combo- but if you look past the traditional choices, you'll find tons of head-turning options!  Wear that same pencil skirt with a tucked-in tee and denim jacket, or try it with an oversized tank and leather vest.  These unexpected ideas will have people ogling your one-of-a-kind style.

 

 

How do you feel about this Spring's neon trend?  Will you be using these tips to create the perfect colorful combo?

Spring Forward

Dress, Betsey Johnson.  Jacet and shoes, F21.  Bag, H&M.  Sunnies, Urban Outfitters.  Ring, Alexis Bittar.

Tomorrow starts the first day of Spring!  Spring is traditionally a time for renewal and new beginnings, and this yearly fresh start is coinciding perfectly with my personal life!  I definitely feel as if things are changing for the better, and this enthusiasm for what's ahead is influencing my wardrobe.  2012 had some rough patches and I adopted a tougher, edgier wardrobe as a sort of armor.  With all the amazing things that 2013 has brought me, I find myself reaching for bright colors and feminine prints to show off my lighter side.

 

I last wore this Betsey Johnson dress on this blog almost 2 years ago, for my college graduation.  A lot has happened between 2011 and 2013, but classic style still reigns!  A dress like this will never seem outdated or "so two seasons ago" because the cut is simple and the floral print is timeless.  While I love a crazy trendy piece from time to time, I mostly shop with this classic simplicity in mind- I don't want to have to revamp my entire wardrobe when the trends change. 

 

 

That being said, it's a lot of fun to amp up classic pieces with trendy touches!  Members-only jackets have been huge for a few seasons now, and you can find a cool one at pretty much any price point.  There are some amazing leather versions out there (like this one) that can get pricey, but mine was a $25 find at Forever 21.  The casual feel of the maroon/navy jacket toned down my fancy florals and brought it back to weekend territory.  I felt like a super-cool 50s chick rocking her boyfriend's varsity jacket all day!

 

 

 

Another huge trend right now is print-mixing.  I put that fashion-forward idea into practice here with the mix of my floral pumps and rose-printed dress.   These light blue/pink silk shoes are a dulled-down floral, so I didn't feel like they were competing for attention with my dress. 

 

When mixing patterns, I have a couple rules I try to follow. One: make sure there is a common thread.  For example, the two prints I wore here are both florals.  That common thread means I can play with color (blue shoes/red dress).  Another way to do it would be to have a common color.  If I wanted to mix stripes and polka dots, I'd try to have them both based in the same color family.  And number two: add a solid piece to the mix.  Here, I added a strong solid-colored jacket to break up my all-over pattern.  If you're trying out a patterned skirt and shirt combo, make sure your shoes are one solid complimentary color and you'll be fine!

 

 

I added a few fun extras, like these floral-framed sunnies from Urban Outfitters and my favorite scarab ring from Alexis Bittar. 

 

Fashion Tips from "Spring Forward":

 

1.  Invest in classic pieces and don't spend too much on trendy items.  This dress (which has already lasted me 2 years) was a big fashion splurge- I spent around $300 on it (don't judge me!).  Clearly it was worth the price because I wore it consistently for 2 years, and I can see myself wearing it as an eccentric old woman too!  Fads like varsity jackets or crazy printed shoes probably won't stand the test of time, so it's wise to buy these items at budget-friendly prices.  The quality of the cheaper garments won't be great, but when you're only going to wear it for a season or two anyway, who cares?

 

2.  When trying out a new trend, don't go overboard- try pairing a trendy piece with a classic counterpart.  If you're drawn to the neon jeans look, wear them with a classic white buttondown. This mix will keep you from looking like a fashion victim! 

 

3.  Revisit pieces in the back of your closet that you may have forgotten about.  Maybe your own graduation dress would look great with a jean jacket, or (for the men out there) the tie you wore to senior prom could be a great way to dress up a button-down and skinny jeans. 

 

 

Don't forget that Spring also means it's time for Spring Cleaning- the perfect time to clean out your closet and get a fresh fashion start!  Don't know what to keep, what to toss, and what to tailor for a more modern fit?  I absolutely love rummaging through someone else's closet and helping them through that process, and a "closet consultation" is one of my featured services as a personal shopper.  I've recently launched my styling/personal shopping website- jessicadefinostyle.com.  Contact me there if you'd like a consultation or any other services I offer- if you mention that you're a Hell or High Fashion reader, you'll get 20% off the listed price :)

 



Work and Play

Dress, Betsey Johnson.  Shoes, F21.  Hat, Urban Outfitters.  Jewelry, vintage.

I recently celebrated my one-month anniversary with the city of Los Angeles, and I haven't been able to  post a blog since!  I finally feel settled in my new town, but I'm still not used to my crazy work schedule:  one day I'm working retail at Betsey Johnson, the next day I'm shopping 'til I drop for rockstars, and the next I'm organizing a towering pile of receipts.  I'm LOVING every aspect of my job, but focusing on other people's style has put a serious cramp in my own.  

Most days I can't be bothered to throw on anything more than a black tank dress or a vintage rock tee, but when I'm working at Betsey Johnson I'm required to put in a bit more effort.  This purple-y/maroon sundress from Betsey is my usual work wear, but today I put it to good use after-hours for a lovely Sunday in Larchmont with my man (who snapped these pics)!

Backpack, F21.

I haven't been giving my hat collection enough attention, so I took this 20s-inspired topper out of the closet to shield me from the sun.  The cloche fit and straw bow make for the most adorable addition to any ensemble!

In the spirit of switching things up, I opted for a vintage-inspired backpack instead of my usual handbag. This simple switch lent the look a whole different vibe- the backpack made me feel playful and ready for adventure, which is exactly what I needed after a long week!

Floral pumps completed the look, along with a few vintage jewels.

This is the most dressed-up I've looked in a long time, which is weird for me- normally I'm overdressed in a skirt and heels daily!  Putting this outfit together reminded me why I love fashion so much: when I dress better, I feel better, and I hope I can start taking time each morning to pick out an outfit that will make me feel amazing, even in the middle of the most hectic day at work.  

P.S.  Although I haven't posted on Hell or High Fashion in a few weeks, I've been tweeting my fashion observations daily!  Follow @CatLadyFashion for more frequent updates!!

Golden State

Dress, Jovovich-Hawk.  Belt, H&M.  Shoes, J Crew.

Welcome to my first Los Angeles blog post!!  I've been in LA for a whole week now, and I am absolutely loving it.  My days have been spent unpacking, decorating my new digs, and scoping out my new town- especially the best shopping spots!  I managed to do a lot of thrifting damage in just one week, and the Jovovich-Hawk dress and J Crew pumps are evidence of my inability to control myself when up against a good deal!

My new favorite store, Wasteland, is a treasure trove of  used designer goodies.  I scored this sweet little floral print dress there for only $45-- new Jovovich-Hawk pieces go for hundreds!  What a deal!  

I loved the 40s elegance of the puffed sleeves, nipped-in waist, and fringe detailing, and the golden floral print feels very "LA" to me; everywhere I go girls are dressed up in little 90s flower print pieces, and I wanted to get in on the action in my own unique way.  I added an H&M sash belt to break up the print and (surprise, surprise!) whittle the waistline.

While the dress is very conservative in the front, it features a sexy slit down the back which perfectly frames my tattoo!!  I'm a sucker for anything that shows off my ink :)

Bag, Simply Vera by Vera Wang.

I paired it with brand new J Crew pumps featuring feminine detailing, and I threw on a faux alligator skin Simply Vera bag to add to the lady-like look.  

An up-close look at the pretty print and fun fringe:

Here's hoping that the rest of my time in LA is as amazing as this first week!