This Christmas found me once again in the city by the bay. The sheer beauty of San Francisco never ceases to amaze me, but no matter how many times I visit I’m never, ever, prepared for the weather. My collection of Los Angeles-style cold weather clothing just doesn’t cut it. I reach for that sporty, warm, down-stuffed and quilted windbreaker that all the natives seem to be wearing and realize, oh, I don’t have one. Instead I have a collection of glamorous faux fur coats. Well, they’ll have to do! Continue Reading →
Tag Archives | denim pencil skirt
Denim Pencil Skirt – I love you!
If you follow my blog then you know I have a “thing” for jean skirts. Currently I own two: the blue one I wore here and here and the white one that I wore here and here. I’m so in love with denim pencil skirts that I was surprised to read that the blue jean-loving author of Eat, Sleep, Denim doesn’t like them. (Let’s Discuss:The Playful Denim Skirt). I’m on a crusade to bring my favorite skirt trend to the world because if they go away I won’t be able to find any more, and I really want to buy some colorful versions of this practical yet sexy take on the classic jean skirt when I can squeeze it into my budget. So I’m doing it again. Here’s yet another outfit post featuring my newest obsession: the denim pencil skirt. Continue Reading →
A Chic and Summery Denim Trend to Love
Denim. I just can’t seem to get enough these days. White denim, blue denim, chambray, colored denim, and printed denim pieces have recently found homes in my closet. Could it be a trend? Well, yeah. But it’s a trend that really works for my lifestyle and is perfect for the more casual atmosphere of the summer months.The trick is to find a way to wear these super-trendy pieces so they look chic rather than trendy.
The perfect white denim skirt has been a “holy grail” item for years. I love wearing white denim in the summer months and a skirt in the fabric has always seemed like the perfect blend of informality and city chic. Unfortunately white jean skirts have been in short supply in recent years. Even The Gap, my “go to” store for denim basics, was without this summer classic for many years and if they did have them they were of the super-short mini skirt variety. So earlier this spring when I bought my blue denim pencil skirt I asked about a white version and was told to head to their website to check it out. I rarely buy clothes on-line, but this was an exception.
The Return of the Bustier
One of the things I like about being a certain age is seeing trends I loved in high school come back into fashion. Burgundy lipstick, neon colors, tight zipper-bottom jeans, shoulder pads, peplum jackets and yes, the sexy little bustier have all been enjoying a resurgence recently. The plaid bustier I’m wearing in this post does not come from the era of Madonna and Cindy Lauper. It’s new. Well, it’s new for me anyway. I purchased it on the cheap at a local resale store.
I have all sorts of happy memories of bustiers I owned and loved in the 1980′s. There was the bright turquoise cotton one and the elegant black velvet one. I so wish I had kept them because they would probably look fantastic now. Moral of the story? If you have something great and it goes out of fashion keep it! Store it in a bin at your grandparents house if you have to, but keep it. One day it will all come back.
Back in the day I wore my bustiers with jeans. That would still be a great look today, but I wanted to try something more refined for this outfit, so I paired it with one of my most exciting finds of the year: a high-waisted knee-length denim pencil skirt. Denim skirts are not easy to find at retail, so as soon as I saw this I picked it up no questions asked. It was a little chilly so I threw on my other most exciting find of the year: an Ann Taylor black blazer that I found at the Goodwill for $24.
Here’s the second moral of the story. If you’re on a budget seriously consider browsing your local thrift and resale stores. You never know what you might find. If the idea of wearing used clothing gives you the willies, take it straight away to the dry cleaners.
Credits: These photos were taken by my husband Hugo at The Disney Center in downtown L.A. The raspberry beret has been in my closet since the early 1990′s, the sunnies are by Fendi, the jacket is by Ann Taylor via the Goodwill, the bustier is by “Silence + Noise” and it was purchased used at The Buffalo Exchange, the skirt is brand new from J Crew and the shoes are by Nine West. In some of the photos you can see my new favorite black clutch peeking out behind me. It will be featured a lot in upcoming posts because I’ve been wearing it with everything!
I also want to thank all my readers who left such kind comments on my last post. Like most women (maybe all women?) I too struggle with issues surrounding body image and self-confidence. The post was actually very cathartic and I feel like I can move past a lot of issues and concerns I spoke about. So thank you again for your support!
What do you think of the bustier trend? Are there any trends happening now that you remember seeing the first time around? If so do you intend to try it out again?
If you like this look I’ve found some similar pieces at Lyst.com:
