Twenty-Three

Dress, DVF.  Shoes, Zara.  Jewelry, Alexis Bittar.  Headband, Skylark.

I recently celebrated my 23rd birthday, and it just might have been the best birthday I ever had- thanks to the wonderful people in my life and the FABULOUS gifts I was given :)

Example of how lucky I am:  I found this DVF wrap dress at Wasteland a few days ago, and debated getting it.  I loved it, but thought it was too long and too loud and passed it up.  Of course I regretted that decision the second I got home and figured I'd swing by Wasteland later in the week to finally purchase it for myself.  I lamented my poor judgement to my friend Annika (http://annikadotbenitz.blogspot.com/) and she told me that I should definitely go back to get it.  

Well, I went back on my birthday and the dress was gone!  I was pretty bummed out and was kicking myself for not buying it right away.  Later that night, Annika handed me my birthday gift- the DVF dress I'd been talking about non-stop!!  

 Example 2:  My man and I had been exploring the shops on Abbot Kinney a few weeks ago when this amazing kitty carry-all stopped me in my tracks.  I knew it was perfect for me, but I'd been on a bit of a spending spree and had to leave it.  I was excited beyond words when my guy surprised me with it on my birthday-- 23 may be too old to carry around a bag like this but I don't care!!  I feel incredibly blessed to have people in my life who know me so well :)

Of course I had to wear both gifts as soon as possible, and I felt amazing all day.   The wrap dress is, as always, the most flattering article of clothing in the world, and my cat purse added some playfulness to the look.  A spiked headband, Alexis Bittar jewels, and black Mary Jane pumps all gave the outfit a little more pizzazz. 

Is this not the most amazing cuff you've ever seen??  The dragonfly is so quirky and fun- a must-have! It's from my favorite jewelry designer, Alexis Bittar (of course).  

These pieces will always feel a little bit more special to me because of the thoughtfulness and love behind them.  Thank you to everyone who made my birthday a day to remember!!

Back in Black

Hello, readers!  I'm so excited to be blogging again.  The past couple months have been extremely busy...full of really high highs and really low lows, and so many of those experiences and changes in my life have influenced my style lately.  I'm starting to live my life differently, and so of course my wardrobe had to be revamped to accommodate my new lease on life!

I can't deny that I've been feeling pretty aggressive as of late :) I think I'm letting out my aggression in the way I'm dressing- black, leather, studs, skulls...all good ass-kicking clothes that say "You don't want to mess with me."

Today I wore jeans that I just picked up at Forever 21 (their fall collection is actually amazingly cool), a Zara men's belt and Zara suede wedge booties (affectionately called my "witch boots" by a friend), a vintage Dior lingerie tank, and a vintage vest and fedora.   All topped off with some amazing Alexis Bittar jewels!!

These earrings kick started my style switch.  The second I saw them I knew that they belonged on my earlobes, and hardly a day has gone by that I haven't worn them.  The long fringe feels very 'bohemian rocker' and when I wear these I feel like a slightly-more-glamorous Janis Joplin.  

Here's a detail view of the look:

The beyond-gorgeous necklace I'm wearing is on my wish list at Alexis Bittar- so stunning and I can't wait to own it one day!!

I wanted to throw a bit of ladylike contrast into the outfit, so I paired my jeans with a lacy vintage Dior camisole I've had for years.  It's actually lingerie, so I threw a menswear vest over top of it to tone down the sexy vibe.  I even went way out of my comfort zone and tried out a fedora, and guess what?  I love it!  

I've always felt that when you look the part, you act the part, and you can become whoever you want.  Changing up my style helps me evolve as a person.  It might sound silly, but the right outfit can be downright empowering- and who couldn't use a little extra empowerment once in a while?  Give it a try!

Collar ID

Shirt, Forever 21.  Skirt, DVF.  Shoes, Zara.  Bangles, F21.

 Whenever something in my life changes, I feel like I need a full wardrobe makeover to go with it.  I recently let my favorite hair stylist Matthew chop my locks even shorter than he did last time, and my short, swingy hair has opened up so many new sartorial doors!

When deciding what features I want to flatter as I get dressed every morning, I usually think about how to play up my waist or my legs.  I wish I had known earlier that accentuating my neck and collarbone would make such a huge impact!  Pretty detailing on a shirt's collar draws all the attention up towards my face, and there are tons of different ways to try out this trend.

A few weeks ago I assisted on the set of a 60s-themed photo shoot, and this Forever 21 lace top was on the wardrobe rack.  After staring at it in between shots, I decided that I needed it in my life and bought the top the next day!  I've worn it countless times since, and I get so many compliments on the punky/pretty mix of fabrics. I paired it with a favorite gold tiered DVF skirt to play up the sweetness of the lace, and added simple black pumps to finish off the look.

Dress, H&M.  Shoes and Bangles, F21.

Soon after my collar obsession started, I spotted this amazing dress at H&M.  The swingy, asymmetrical skirt is the perfect foil for the silver studded collar, and studded suede booties gave it a badass, rocker feel.   

The best part about the embellished collar?  No need for jewelry or accessories.  I added a few bangles to this look to break up the all-black ensemble, but earrings or a necklace would just be excessive.  

And just because I've been away from blogging for so long, I'm going to include a THIRD collar-ful outfit!

I was definitely one of the crazies that lined up at Target at 6AM this Sunday to buy up the adorable Jason Wu for Target collection, and I ended up getting all of the pieces I wanted and then some!  This red shirt wasn't on my must-have list- but once I tried it on, the simplicity and versatility changed my mind.  I have a feeling this red silk top will soon be on constant rotation in my closet!

Shirt, Jason Wu for Target.  Skirt and shoes, Zara.  Collar, Alexis Bittar.

I paired it with a simple black pencil skirt from Zara, and then topped the look off with le piece de resistance- my fabulous lace collar from Alexis Bittar!!  This collar/necklace hybrid has been taunting me from the cases of Alexis Bittar for months, and I scooped it up as soon as the AB 50% off sale hit.  It manages to be simultaneously elegant and punky, classic and fresh.  I am going to wear it over absolutely everything I own!!

Now that I know how a cool collar can transform an outfit, I'll be on the look out for more pieces that utilize this trendy trick.  I can't wait to share more collar-crazy looks with you!

Pink Lady

Dress, vintage.  Shoes, Zara.  Bangles and belt, F21.  Headband, Deepa Gurnani.

 It's been a whole year since I started Hell or High Fashion!  It began as a New Year's resolution to document my style as it evolved, and this blog has done that and so much more.  Having a blog makes me really think about what I'm wearing and what it says about me, and it's also saved me from a few style ruts that I'd gotten myself stuck in.

On New Year's Eve, I decided to treat myself to a new dress (new year, new clothes!) and I found this vintage beauty at Wasteland.  I love the contrast of the pink dress and my red lipstick, and I upped the contrast by adding a light pink belt to the mix.  

Bag, Betsey Johnson.

I accessorized with my Betsey Johnson bulldog bag, some bangles from Forever 21, and a headband by Deepa Gurnani.  

I love the ribbon piping through the corset and the detail on the cap sleeves: both offer a slimming effect and simultaneously draw the eye upward, so people will be noticing me before they notice the dress!

Shortly after I hung this dress up in my closet, the closet rod fell down from the weight of all my clothes!  Therefore, my New Year's resolution is to do less impulse shopping.  I'll have less new clothing, but hopefully the pieces I do buy will become wardrobe staples that I'll end up getting more use out of.  

Here's to a new year full of sartorial surprises!

Out With the Old

Jacket, Jack.  Boots, Joie.  Dress, Alice & Olivia.

Lately everything in my has been changing, and I thought I'd document some of those changes with my first blog post in almost two months!

My first west coast winter has officially begun, and I'm surprised at how quickly my body forgot what cold actually feels like!  A breezy 60-degree day that previously would've prompted me to pull on shorts and sandals now chills me to the bone, so I've had to stock up on some light layering staples- like this amazing Jack coat I found on the sale rack at Urban Outfitters!

Vest, DVF.

A jacket is usually appropriate in the morning, but by midday the sun is out in full force and I need something a little lighter to throw on over my minidresses.   That's where this amazing rabbit fur DVF vest comes in!  I scooped it up last year when I was working at Diane von Furstenberg, but never got much use out if because Spring was just starting.  It's proven to be the most functional layering piece in my closet!  It keeps me super warm and cozy, but since it's sleeveless I'm not overheating when the sun decides to show up.  

I've also been trying out a new clothing silhouette.  Usually I love the always-flattering 50s hourglass look, but lately I've been gravitating towards short, swingy tent dresses like this cute little number from Alice & Olivia.  

And you know what?  I'm loving the new look!   I can get away with wearing a much shorter skirt when it's paired with a loose and swingy shape up top, and it's fun to mix it up and accentuate my legs!  

I bought these over-the-knee leather boots from Joie to go with my miniskirts- they make a sexy statement that's still covered-up.  I'm obsessed!

Bag, BDG.

After trying out a super-short skirt and loving it, I thought I'd try out super-short hair.  I just chopped my tresses this morning at Vidal Sassoon, and I love the results!  A new haircut always leaves me feeling fresh and ready to start over again, which is just what I needed!

Here's hoping that my new look will inspire me to blog more :)

  

The Power of Python

Pants, H&M.  Shoes, Missoni for Target.  Top, Theory.  Belt, Pierre Cardin.

Very rarely will you catch me wearing pants.  For me, nothing beats the ease of a dress- a whole outfit in one piece!- or the femininity of a skirt.  But the second I slipped on these sexy snakeskin pants, I knew my days in dresses were numbered.  These trousers have been on heavy rotation in my wardrobe for the past two weeks, and I've never gotten more compliments on a piece of clothing before- which is saying a lot!!

I've worn these python printed pants to styling gigs, video shoots, and to my retail day job and they've been praised by rockstars, stylists, and housewives alike.  I never want to take them off!!

I decided to pair them with a simple black Theory shirt that wouldn't steal the spotlight.  A red belt from Pierre Cardin served to break up the black-and-brown color palette while highlighting my waist and accentuating my curves.  

To finish off the look, I added my new and highly-coveted Missoni for Target pumps!  When the M4T line launched, I missed out on all the goodies here in LA- every Target in the city was sold out by 8:10AM!  However, my generous Momma in New Jersey was able to find a few amazing pieces left on the racks back east and scooped up these zig-zag printed heels for me.  They paired perfectly with my pants!

I also can't get enough of the detailing on the back pockets- they're topped off with the softest strips of leather!  

I grabbed my snakeskin Lulu Guinness clutch to add to the reptilian retro look.  

It seems python print is powerful enough to change my stance on pants!

Puppy Love

Dress, H&M.  Shoes, J Crew.  Necklace, Alexis Bittar.  Bag, Aldo.  Dog, Monkie.

I can't believe it’s been a whole month since my last post!!  A combination of a broken tripod, a broken computer, and a crazy work schedule kept me away from Hell or High Fashion, but now I’m back and ready to blog!

I found this adorable Scotty-dog-printed dress at Wastleland a while back, and couldn’t believe the price tag: $10, previously from H&M!  The color scheme is so my taste- I'll buy pretty much anything if it's black, white, and red- and the precious printed pups sealed the deal for me.  This piece is more shapless than most of my clothing, but I thought the hard, angular black trim on the collar was a strong enough feature to balance out the billowy cut. 

 I decided to take the dress for a spin while walking Monkie the dog. 

Or rather, Monkie took me for a spin!

I recently started working at the Alexis Bittar boutique in Hollywood, and fell head over heels for the amazing jewelry Alexis creates.  I found this Alexis Bittar pearl necklace on eBay for super cheap and won a bidding war to get it into my hands and onto my neck!  I'm obsessed with how chunky the pearls are- it takes away some of the delicacy and makes them the perfect companion for my funky ensembles.  

 I added my favorite J Crew heels to keep it classy!

Sunnies, Ralph Lauren.

For me, this is the perfect daytime outfit.  It's casual, yet pulled together; a little crazy, but subtly so; comfortable and appropriate for pretty much any errand or occasion that might pop up.  

Monkie is such a model!  Look at him posing with my tassled Aldo bag...this could be an editorial photo!!  

Monkie and I love this dress!!