Four Ways: 60s Suit

I ran across this Irish wool 60s suit at one of my favorite vintage spots a couple of weeks ago and couldn't resist the amazing fall colors. When I got home, I put it on and looked in the mirror. Much to my disappointment, I looked too much like I was wearing a 60s costume - nothing modern about it. The colors that were so beautiful hanging on the rack were now completely overwhelming. Dismayed, I hung it in my closet where it's been teasing me ever since. So here's a little look at what I did to break up the pieces.

• First I paired the skirt with my go-to combination: a belted cardigan and boots (with a beret, of course). T-shirt: James Perse, cardigan: thrifted Abercrombie, boots, belt & beret: vintage, purse: vintage John Romain
• For a casual everyday sort of outfit, I paired the jacket with jeans and boots. Sweater: H&M, jeans: Superfine, scarf: H&M, boots & beret: vintage, purse: vintage Coach

• Next I paired the jacket with a simple black mini dress, a slouchy cardigan, tights and boots. This is my version of comfortable. Dress: H&M, boots, cardigan & beret: vintage, purse: vintage Coach
• Last I paired the skirt with a short sleeved sweater and big scarf. Sweater: vintage cashmere, scarf: H&M, beret: vintage, shoes: Seychelles, purse: vintage

Four Ways: 60s Suit

I ran across this Irish wool 60s suit at one of my favorite vintage spots a couple of weeks ago and couldn't resist the amazing fall colors. When I got home, I put it on and looked in the mirror. Much to my disappointment, I looked too much like I was wearing a 60s costume - nothing modern about it. The colors that were so beautiful hanging on the rack were now completely overwhelming. Dismayed, I hung it in my closet where it's been teasing me ever since. So here's a little look at what I did to break up the pieces.

• First I paired the skirt with my go-to combination: a belted cardigan and boots (with a beret, of course). T-shirt: James Perse, cardigan: thrifted Abercrombie, boots, belt & beret: vintage, purse: vintage John Romain
• For a casual everyday sort of outfit, I paired the jacket with jeans and boots. Sweater: H&M, jeans: Superfine, scarf: H&M, boots & beret: vintage, purse: vintage Coach

• Next I paired the jacket with a simple black mini dress, a slouchy cardigan, tights and boots. This is my version of comfortable. Dress: H&M, boots, cardigan & beret: vintage, purse: vintage Coach
• Last I paired the skirt with a short sleeved sweater and big scarf. Sweater: vintage cashmere, scarf: H&M, beret: vintage, shoes: Seychelles, purse: vintage

Four Ways - Doc Martens

A couple of weeks ago when I posted photos of my recent vintage buys I included a pair of perfectly broken in Doc Martens. Several of you commented that you would like to see ways to style the boots so... here you have it.

• On a day when I want to be 100% comfortable, say going to a thrift store to dig through piles and piles in search of that one perfect find that makes it all worth while, I'd throw on a pair of vintage Levi cut-offs, a beat up old tee and a slouchy cardigan. I'm not much of a sneaker-wearer so the Docs are the perfect alternative.
• Now this is cheating a bit. I personally love this look, however, I don't think I could leave the house in this. It's not that I don't think it's a good combo, I do. It's just that the one rule of fashion (if there are any hard and fast rules) that I tend to follow is that if you wore it the first time around, you shouldn't go back. I think I literally wore this outfit when I was a sophomore in high school (yes, I'm that old!). But just because I've already lived my grunge years those of you that weren't even born in 1992 shouldn't miss out. And since I won't be wearing it out of the house, you can buy it here. ;)
• OK, this is more my speed. I think the trick for me will be to mix feminine pieces with tougher pieces like this floral dress with my motorcycle jacket. The girly dress balances out the tougher pieces in the ensemble.
• In the same way, I like to pair skinny jeans and a black tank top with a feminine sweater to balance things out. If I wore my motorcycle jacket with this outfit I'd feel a little too biker-chick.

Four Ways - Sweater Vest

I suppose it would be more accurate to title this post "Four Looks" rather than "Four Ways" since there's really only one way to wear a sweater vest. But in interest of continuity, "Four Ways" it shall be. This is one of my recently thrifted items that I can already tell will be a staple of my wardrobe come cooler weather. I'm looking forward to pairing with just about every thing from dresses to jeans, from button downs to t-shirts. Once the weather really cools off, I'll be piling even more layers on top, pairing the vest with blazers and my beloved faux leather motorcycle jacket. Here's a breakdown of what you see here:

• With a patterned vest like this one, you can layer it over a solid basic like a little black dress and let it be your pop of color. A belt wrapped around the waist gives this look a little shape.
• Sadly, the subtleties of this pairing have been lost in the photo. I've paired the vest with a herringbone skirt and a tiny polka dot blouse. Not that you can tell. I was trying to demonstrate mixing patterns and textures but the details just didn't show up. Well, I guess you'll have to use your imaginations on this one! ;)
• A vest is always a sure thing paired with jeans. My basic skinny jeans and favorite tee become a little something more when layer with the vest.
• I also like to wear it with a pair of wide leg jeans and a little boy's button down. With the wide leg of the jean, I like the shrunken fit of a little boy's shirt to keep the proportions in check.

Four Ways - Flower Clip

This is just a little mini-four-ways post I thought of today as I was getting dressed. I swear I've worn these little flower clips some way or another everyday since I got them. As a matter of fact, they're in my hair right now! Some days they decorate my favorite hat, giving it a little extra touch of summer. Other days I've clipped them to my vest or the straps on a tank top as a brooch. They've even been clipped to a pair of peep toe shoes. I'd really love another pair in pink or red or maybe cream. I haven't made it out to the craft store yet but it is certainly on my list of things to do.

Four Ways - Sheer Bow Blouse

I know, I know! It's been far too long since I've done one of my Four Ways posts. Forgive me! ;) Several of you have been asking about them so I thought it was due time to bring them back. For those of you new to the blog, this is where I take one piece from my closet and show four possible ways to style it. Simple as that! Today we tackle a great new basic - the sheer bow blouse. I've seen them popping up all over the place - from street style sites to fashion blogs. It's a really versatile piece for anyone to have in their closet. This one happens to come from H&M.

• First, I styled the blouse with a pair of military style denim shorts and a boyish vest. Then, to counter a bit of that boyishness I added a fun pair of printed tights.
• Next, for a more sophisticated look, I mixed the blouse with a high waisted taffeta skirt and a pair of fun tights and high, high heels. I would loved to have topped the look off with some sort of feathery hat or hair comb, but that's one thing that's missing from my closet. Mental note: must remedy that soon.
• Then for a more casual look the blouse gets paired with high waisted jeans and skinny suspenders (or braces, if you wish). Complete the outfit with a classic straw fedora and your favorite pair of brogues.
• Lastly, for a girly, romantic feel layer a floral print dress over the blouse. For a little more frill, let a lacy slip hang out from the bottom hem and stick a flower in your hair.

**Thank you to reader Market Publique for reminding me that I forgot to mention one of the most important parts! When you wear a sheer blouse, of course you need to wear something under it. A lot of people make the mistake of always wearing white under something sheer (like a white bra under a white tee shirt). But really the best thing to wear is something that closely matches your skin tone. That way it just blends right in! I'm wearing a simple "nude" colored tank with a built in bra from Old Navy.

Four Ways - Rompers

One of the best things about summer is wearing easy, comfy outfits. No more layers, no more worrying about the cold. A simple way to accomplish this? A romper of course! But how do you get away with wearing a romper without looking like you belong on Romper Room?

• Since we're not quite into the hot days of summer just yet, I've paired the romper with tights. This works well for a dressier look, finished with a pair of high heeled oxfords and my favorite shrunken blazer.
• It doesn't get any easier than this! Pair your romper with classic Chucks or Keds, throw on a pair of fun sunglasses and you're ready to go.
• Staying just this side of too cutesy, pair the romper with a fitted cardigan and matching sandals for a girly look.
• A day of flea market shopping in the sun? Martinis at lunch with your girl friends? Just match your romper with comfy wedge sandals and a wide brimmed hat and you're off!

Four Ways - Inspired by Lou Doillon

First of all, thanks so much for all of your suggestions after my last Four Ways post. I got a lot of great ideas that I will be incorporating into some future posts. Now, on to today's post...

In a recent post I cited Lou Doillon as a great wardrobe inspiration and many of you agreed. I think what's so special about her is she always manages to look both classic and completely modern without ever looking like she's trying too hard. It seems that she achieves this by mixing vintage pieces with newer ones and always throwing in one of her signature men's wear inspired flourishes. Namely, a pair of suspenders and a fedora. She also seems to favor neutral tones and high waists. I realized that I have a lot of these items already in my closet and I'm not utilizing them. I rummaged around and threw together four looks that are inspired by Lou. This isn't meant to directly mimic her as much as it is to show that you can put together a look using basics you already have hanging in your closet.

• First I paired a lacy white vintage dress with a little boy's blazer. I finished it off with black tights, socks and oxford heel and of course the fedora.
• Next, a wardrobe basic of jeans and a tee get taken up a notch with a high waist and suspenders.
• Another fun, casual look pairs high waisted vintage cut-offs with black tights and flat boots. I topped this off with super soft layers of vintage shirts.
• Last, my favorite jeans get a little girly with a flowery vintage blouse and frilly heels. The hat and suspenders give the look a little edge and keep it from being too sweet.

Four Ways - Black Vest

I was feeling a little blank when it came time to do this week's Four Ways installment so I went for the most trusty piece in my wardrobe: my little black vest. I know there's nothing revolutionary about this piece, but I can't tell you how many times I reach for it to finish off an outfit.

• Any day I don't want to put any real effort into thinking about what I'm going to wear I throw on jeans, a t-shirt or oversized flannel and top it off with the vest. It instantly takes a jeans and tee look that could be bland and gives it a little something extra.
• You can thank Alexander Wang for this one. His grunge inspired F/W runway show was one of my favorites. The monochromatic palettes of black and grey, the men's inspired pieces, the grungy boots - I loved it all.
• I'm feeling very Bonnie Parker meets Annie Hall in this one. A high waisted wool skirt topped with the little black vest is one of my favorites.
• I have several flowery spring dresses that I'm dying to wear but it's still just a bit early to pull out of the closet. Until then, I'll be pairing them with black tights and my vest and hoping for warmer weather.

Alright ladies - I'm coming up a bit blank on what to feature next. I'd love to hear from you about what you would like shown. Is there a piece you bought that you're not sure how to wear? Something that you've seen on the runway that you'd like to work into your wardrobe? Let me know! :)

Four Ways - Black Pencil Skirt

One of the most versatile pieces I have in my closet is my stretchy, black cotton pencil skirt. Mine happens to be this one from American Apparel but I've seen loads of them for sale in stores and on other sites.

• Any day I don't feel like wearing jeans, I can throw on this skirt and a pair of tights with whatever I would usually pair with jeans. Lately I've been living in oversize flannel shirts, this faux-leather jacket and vintage boots.
• You can vary the length of the skirt by turning it down at the waist. I look forward to wearing this once the weather warms up a bit.
• This is where it becomes really versatile. Whenever I wear a sheer dress that needs a slip but I don't want any straps to show, I pull the dress up and wear it as a, um, "tube slip?".
• I've also been known to wear it as a tube top in the summer. I think most strapless tops are too short so this works out nicely.

*Apparently American Apparel really liked this post! ;)

Four Ways - High Waisted Pleated Pants

This was a tough one for me and I'm still not convinced that I got it 100% right. I definitely figured out that one key element to keeping the pants from becoming too mumsy is the length. These happen to be petites so they are naturally too short for me which worked out perfectly. The other pair I got, the light grey ones, come down to my ankles so they are going to have to be altered.

• First I paired the pants with a plain white v-neck tee and an oversized cardigan. A vintage locket and black high heeled oxfords complete the look.
• Next I went for a casual, layered look using a simple long sleeve black tee and a slouchy grey striped tank. I added a purple beret for a little color and vintage black and white patent shoes.
• Then I paired the pants with a lacey top, vintage shoes and locket. I'm not sure whether or not a belt would have helped this look.
• The last look layers a vintage rock tee, vintage woven vest, a black blazer and my favorite ankle boots.

Four Ways - Navy Blazer

A navy blazer is one of the most versatile items you can have in your closet. You can dress it up, dress it down, wear it when it's cool, wear it when it's warm. They are all over the runways right now, but you can easily snag one for mere dollars at a thrift store.

• The first outfit has a nautical feel thanks to the classic navy and white stripe tee. Throw on a colorful vintage scarf, a pair of skinny jeans and some white oxfords and you're ready to go.
• Don't be afraid to mix black and navy. Layer the blazer over a comfy, oversized flannel shirt with a pair of black jeans for an everyday, casual look.
• On warmer spring days wear the blazer with a simple white tee and a pair of high-waisted shorts.
• For a dressier look layer the blazer over your favorite dress and add a faux fur collar.

Four Ways - Ethnic Print Dress

With spring fast approaching one of my wardrobe "must haves" was a little cotton ethnic print dress. Since I can't wait until the weather warms up to wear it, I've found ways to layer until I can wear it on its own.

• First I've layered the dress over a white tee and grey skinny jeans. Pair with some vintage boots and a big crocheted scarf and you're ready for those chilly pre-spring days.
• For another cool weather option you can layer over a pair of tights and boots with a shrunken sweater.
• When the weather starts to warm pair the dress with a vintage vest, over-the-knee socks and a pair of flat oxfords.
• Finally, for those nice spring days, tuck the dress into a pair of baggy old cut-offs and pair with pretty wedge sandals.

Four Ways - High Waist Skirt

Sometimes I wonder what the point is of all this blogging. Don't worry, I'm not going to get all philosophical or anything. I just mean that sometimes it feels like all the random thoughts in my head are spilling out into the blog and there's really no rhyme or reason as to what ends up here. I'm going to try to introduce a few regular topics to post about weekly. The first feature I've come up with is showing ways to style a wardrobe basic (like a high waisted skirt). If you have any ideas about things you would like to see here, I'd love to hear your suggestsions.

OK, here we go. I picked up this pink and grey checked skirt on a recent thrifting trip. A piece like this can go a long way if you mix and match with things you already have in your closet.

• The first outfit (working from the top, left to right) is a super casual take. Pair the skirt with a vintage t-shirt, a demin jacket and a pair of sneakers and you're ready for running errands or better yet a day of thrift shopping.
• Second I paired the skirt with an oversized off-shoulder sweatshirt, a vintage belt and boots and topped it all off with a crocheted beret. I would wear this for a casual night out with friends.
• Third I've paired the skirt with a girly, lacy blouse, a delicate gold belt, grey tights and strappy heels. Throw on a cardigan and you're ready for the office.
• Last but not least, you can transition into spring by pairing the skirt with a tube top and strappy sandals. Top it off with a floppy sun hat and you're ready to go!