Styling together an outfit is all about mixing together complimentary patterns, textures, fits and colors. I don’t always mix more than one pattern in one getup unless they are similar enough without being overwhelming (maybe one is muted down a bit). However, when the same is all considered in the production of one garment, things can get even more interesting! Patchwork is one of those fun mixed-media ideas in terms of designing a piece, and perhaps brings a bit of nostalgia, either from grandma’s quilts or recycling fabrics to make a perfect pair of bell bottoms in the 1970s. It’s a cool category in the denim industry that is always around, but seems to poke its head out from time to time every few years as a new trend. It can be used to portray just about anything from a bold, rebellious street style to a laid-back, friendly aesthetic. It’s been awesome to see how brands get creative with all the ways to create a unique pair of jeans in such a saturated market, and patchwork is always a bright go-to when stuck in a style rut or when you’re just feeling stylishly playful.
The Popularity of Overalls is Still Going Strong
Image: Anthropologie. Levi’s Skinny Overalls
All of us remember the classic overalls from our childhood years, even if you weren’t someone who owned a pair. I did! At the time I didn’t care at all about fashion, and wore them mostly for the convenience and comfort. I still remember my short pair. As we all know, trends seem to pop up from nostalgic times of the past—just look at all the styles that have re-emerged from the ’80s and early ’90s over the last few years! In 2014, the overall made a huge comeback, and although its popularity wavered since then, it appears it’s still going pretty strong. However, it’s evolved a lot since that re-emergence, now coming in more refined, skinny and fashionable options rather than the typical frumpy outdoorsy workwear look. I’ll admit I do not own a pair, as it’s one of those trends that I’m not sure about personally. That doesn’t matter to me much though, because it’s still awesome to me to watch what gets released every season, and I will say that there are some people who truly can rock them (I’m looking at you, Kate Bosworth and Miranda Kerr)!
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Get Into The Groove with the 70s Edit at Revolve
Image: Revolve. Blue Life Gypset Jumpsuit
“’70s chic. It’s a thing.” I’m sure you’ve noticed, vintage styles have come back with a bang over the last few years. It seems the explosion of the popularity of music festivals and “boho style” certainly helped, but I prefer to stick with the idea that these classic styles simply re-emerged due to their versatility and timeless grace. Simplicity is often key in fashion, and less is almost always more. Maybe it’s the yearning for the golden days of yesteryear as we dive into more complex times, or just the realization that many of the fashions back then were definitely worth bringing back. Not only were they rooted in the notion of a free spirit, but they also captured femininity and playfulness. I personally love them, and they feel strangely nostalgic to me even though I wasn’t even around yet. Either way, I absolutely love ’70s style, whether we’re talking fashion or even home decor and architecture.
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My Current Most Unique Picks in Premium Denim
Images: Shopbop. Zadig & Voltaire Boyfix Deluxe Jeans in Bleu, R13 Sashah Jeans in Leyton and SJYP Front Cutoff Jeans in Denim Blue
As I’ve mentioned countless times before, one of the reasons I love denim so much is that it seems virtually unlimited in what you can do with it. It is an art form of sorts after all, and it’s amazing to me to see the endless stream of new cuts, washes, and designs that come out every season from the industry’s top contenders. Every now and then I love window shopping all of the latest looks in denim, from all price ranges. I find it sparks my own creative juices, and of course, it gives me ideas on what to write about next! When it comes to denim fits, most of us think of the obvious: skinny, bootcut, flare, straight…you get the picture. However, brands continue to push the limits and come up with their own every now and then, and sometimes you’ll see one that makes enough of an impression to become a new thing across the board. Old styles are always coming back, whether as they were remembered or as rehashed versions—we’ve seen culottes and overalls make it back on the top trends lists, for example. I even remember when the now all-too-familiar boyfriend jean was new. You never really know what the denim industry is going to churn up next! View Full Post
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Chic and Casual Jumpsuits for Night or Day
Image: REVOLVE. Bobi BLACK Zip Front Jumpsuit, Young, Fabulous & Broke Chrissy Jumpsuit and MONROW Sleeveless Jumpsuit
When the weather warms up and the wine starts flowing, I love my maxi dresses. There’s something about that lightweight, breezy, flowy feel against your legs as the sun bears down on your shoulders that gets me dreaming of summer all year long. As someone who usually prefers wearing pants over skirts (because without a thigh gap, there’s always going to be some sort of chafing going on by the end of the day which is exacerbated by the stickiness of sweat), I’m surprised I never really considered the maxi dress alternative: the jumpsuit. Rompers, its shorter-leg cousins, are usually pretty prevalent in the California town where I live, which makes sense because we’re pretty warm thoughout most of the year, but I never could see myself in one. It’s not like I don’t wear shorty shorts or mini skirts when it’s hot enough either…I think it has to something with the fact that I have a fairly short torso as it is, and I fear rompers will only make me feel or look blocky. Jumpsuits, on the other hand, keep that elongated, svelte look (as long as the fit is right), and seem like something I would have work at some point by now. I guess I just hadn’t seen one I liked.
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Olive Green is the Color of Spring
I know, I was just as surprised as you are, I guess. Usually Fall is the time for earthy, neutral colors such as browns, burgundies, and olive greens…but I’ve seen more than one retailer pushing the latter as a new Spring color. I’m fine with it, as I’m not much of a bright pastelley color person at all, and olive happens to be one of my favorite colors. It’s nice to find more toned down alternatives! Most people probably associate olive green as a military shade, and military pieces are indeed included in these new Spring marketing campaigns. They are also usually more lightweight which offers more breezy options for the warmer weather!
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Faded Black Denim for Fall
When shopping for black jeans in the past, I was always looking for the most jet black, dark and saturated (wash wise) pair I could find. I mean, it’s fair to say that’s a fundamental piece for anyone’s closet, and I do own a pair or two of those. However, I always end up saving those only for special occasions for fear of washing them and having them fade. Now, I know I have posted in the past about some pretty awesome fadeless black jeans from brands such as Level 99 and DSTLD in the past, but I haven’t owned any of those yet and still was afraid to wash the nice black pairs I have and love.
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Velvet is the Fabric for Fall
Velvet is the Fabric for Fall
It happens every year…and somehow I still don’t own one velvet piece! I know many people might see it hard to pull off as a grown-up, like overalls, corduroy or culottes. However, there’s no mistaking that it’s an ultra luxe, beautiful, and soft fabric that emerges every year as temperatures drop. It also helps that it also always comes in several of the best jewel tones for fall! I absolutely love these colors, especially the dark blues and burgundys. Oh, and black never hurts either. It’s easy to rock a velvet blazer, but there are so many other great items made from this popular, timeless fabric!
I decided to go on a hunt for some of the most gorgeous velvet pieces I could find, after my interest was sparked by a newsletter from J Brand’s latest releases! I was not disappointed. No longer is a velvet pant just a velvet pant anymore—check out that amazing disco-ready BLANKNYC Flare in Burgundy Lush and the Rag & Bone/JEAN RBW23 Velvet Skinny Pants in Navy which features zipper details! I’m also crushing on the AG The Super Skinny Velvet Pants in Super Black and J Brand Mid Rise Super Skinny in Emerald. I was initially going to stick with jeans and bottoms but there were so many totally cute tops and shoes, and these DRESSES. Before I drool on myself (again), I’ll stop here and let the photos below do the talking.
Images: Revolve. J Brand Maria Flare in Twilight Purple, J Brand Mid Rise Super Skinny in Emerald and BLANKNYC Flare in Burgundy Lush
Images: Shopbop and Revolve. Rag & Bone/JEAN Skinny Velvet Jeans in Loden, Rag & Bone/JEAN Skinny Velour Jeans in Wine Velvet and BLANKNYC Flare in The New Black
Images: Shopbop. M.i.h Jeans Marrakesh Velvet Pants, Rag & Bone/JEAN RBW23 Velvet Skinny Pants in Navy and AG The Super Skinny Velvet Pants in Super Black
Images: Shopbop. Only Hearts Long Velvet Slip Dress, Free People Rumpled Velvet Jumpsuit and Mes Demoiselles Valentina Velvet Dress
Images: Shopbop. Free People Velvet Doran Washed Tee in Black and Tibi Stretch Velvet Turtleneck in Navy
Images: Shopbop and Revolve. Tibi Velvet Cami in Navy and BLANKNYC Blazer in The New Black
Images: Shopbop. Vince Blair 12 Sneakers in Black, Charlotte Olympia Dolly Platform Pumps and Steven Pavla Velvet Pumps in Burgundy
What do you think of this popular Fall fabric? Shop more pretty velvetey things below!
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Return of the Flares at Free People
Return of the Flares at Free People
It would be silly to assume that amongst the hundred or so (or more) jeans I currently own in my ridiculous collection, there wouldn’t be a flare style or two. Flares are tough, I think…and to me, always look best on the tall, svelte model type. However, they also do well at accentuating one’s curves. But it’s always annoying, at least to me, to get the length right. I always stick with skinnies for the most part, because the same pairs can be worn with flip flops, boots, sky high heels, you name it, without looking odd. I don’t wear or own a ton of bootcuts, flares, or wide legs because each pair has to be cut for a specific shoe or shoe height, so they don’t always have the right flexibility for what I feel like wearing on any particular morning. But man, I do love vintage style, and bohemian, and the flare, when done right, can look amazing! Free People is one of those stores I rarely visit, because…well, I always want to buy the whole store! They also have a sweet partnership with Citizens of Humanity, in their denim department of course. Speaking of Citizens, the one flare review I did for Denimology was the Citizens of Humanity Hutton in Palais Royal! While it is a wide leg, I felt it was a whole lot more like a flare, and I felt pretty awesome rocking them. Free People is no stranger to the flare jean, but they have a brand new line that has me falling back in love with the look. Check out these awesome printed, wide leg, corduroy, skinny flare and even overall styles below!
Skyler Seamed Skinny, Citizens of Humanity for Free People – Along the Border Printed Flare and Dittos Breana Skinny Flare
The Indigo Stripe Flare below has me itching, as well as the Skyler Seamed Skinny above and the two at the very top of this post! I like a lot of contrast, so as well as we’re skinny from the hip down then big from the knee down, I’m game! Also, you always have me at printed denim…
Personally, I don’t really like super wide leg styles, but look how fab they look on the models! Body type is key…or maybe just the right sense of style to match the look…Baggier pants always work best with a tight top, in my opinion! I’m still not privy to the overalls, but I never have seen a flared overall so…here you go!
Shop the entire flare collection from Free People right here!
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Stockings and Overalls are Big in 2014
Photo: J Brand
Stockings and Overalls are Big in 2014
Before the year 2000, skinny jeans were mostly limited to male rock stars or punk rockers (except for Audrey Hepburn in the ’60s)…it wasn’t until the early 2000s when it spread to men, women, and kids. Then suddenly, the fashion world decided skinny jeans weren’t skinny enough, and the jegging was born in the mid- to late- 2000s, much to the ire of many (it took some time for them to grow on me, but they had some room to be perfected when they were a new concept!). Then came the “ultra skinny” or “super skinny” within many brands when shoppers wanted the jegging feel but with a more “denim-ey” fabric and feel to them. But trends never truly die, nor do they level out and become stagnant. Premium denim brand J Brand has pioneered a brand new super skinny, curve hugging style: the Stocking Jean.
