Idiosyncratic Style

Image from My Vintage Vogue

Once upon a time, you wouldn’t have dared to leave the house without your hat, but in more recent history the once great wardrobe staple has been reduced to an occasional trend of passing fancy, a bare necessity for noggin warmth or relegated to it’s weakest form, the baseball cap.

However, current runway collections and street style websites indicate the triumphant return of the hat and not just the chapeau du jour, but hats in general. So right now is the perfect time to bring a stylish topper into your wardrobe mix.

Erin Fetherston S10 | United Bamboo S10

Vena Cava F10 | Monique Lhuillier S10

Donna Karen S10 | Ralph Lauren S10

Elie Tahari S10 | Alberta Ferretti S10

The Sarorialist | Style Sighting

Temperley London S10 | Style Sighting

Shop around and experiment with different types to find the perfect head piece that compliments your face and showcases your idiosyncratic style. Can’t find the right hat? Try making your own with a Threadbanger’s DIY Pillbox Hat Video Tutorial. The right hat can also be a fantastic way to break a fashion rut, by inspiring you to  build a new ensemble from the top down.

It doesn’t matter what hat you wear, the point is to simply to wear one… I dare you!

Floral prints definitely hit highs and lows on the trend cycle, but right now they are ripe for the picking. Even if you think you are not a flower kind of girl, considering all the different ways to style them, you might discover something new for spring.

Anna Sui Spring 2010

Boho Babes - look for retro palettes, bolder prints in comfortable silhouettes.

Ralph Lauren Spring 2010 | Barbara Tfank Spring 2010

American Classics - look for timeless shapes and delicate prints.

Cynthia Steffe Spring 2020 | Christian Cota Spring 2010

Cool Chicks - look to add a floral bouquet within your casual separates.

Christian Dior Spring 2010 | Chanel Spring 2010

Flirty Girls - look for softer palettes and sheer fabrics.

Betsey Johnson Spring 2010 | Yohji Yamamoto Spring 2010

Edgy Girls - look to florals to keep your look unexpected and try distressing them

This spring, stop and smell the flowers, even if only for a moment… I dare you.

Twenty8Twelve F10

The daring combination of orange and black is synonymous with Halloween which makes it a little scary for most style civilians and normally overlooked as a possible option in everyday ensembles. There are probably untapped outfit resources sitting in your closet right now, making this a great fashion dare for those who embrace a little wardrobe risk with big returns.

Philosophy F09

The bold pairing has popped up on recent runways, so it’s a great time to dabble in its striking powers. Esoterically, orange is used to attract helpful people and ignite a career, whereas black is used to welcome wealth and knowledge, so it’s the perfect color combination for job interviews, corporate events and networking parties. It is also a wonderful sartorial choice for hosting dinner parties with intelligent conversation because the orange evokes warmth and appetite coupled with blacks ability to attract intellectual depth and intuitive insight.

Paul Smith F10 | Central Saint Martins F10

So layer some orange and black pieces together to tap into the powerful force of these two spiritually charged colors of attraction, I dare you…

Images by Facehunter.com

With holiday parties well behind you and wedding season a while away, don’t let your cocktail dresses fade into the dark corners of your closet. Re-invent them for casual use, giving your wardrobe a little boost to battle the mid-winter blues.

Images by The Sartorialist

9 ways to downplay your finest dresses
Layer on a blazer or cardigan to cover bare arms
Add a comfortable t-shirt or long sleeve tee to raise a neckline
Cover your legs with opaque knit tights or high-rise socks
Experiment with wearing it over your favorite skinny pants
Mix it up with tough pieces like denim and leather jackets
Make it practical with a classic trench or anorak coat
Anchor the look with casual flats, motorcycle boots, oxfords or sneakers
Play around with your casual accessories, especially different belts
Keep your hair and make-up natural in favor of a no-fuss look

Images by Chictopia

Images by The Sartorialist

(l) Vera Wang Spring 09 (r) Y Kei Fall 07

(l) Jin Bora and (r) Kim Kardashian

Show your favorite party frocks that there’s more to life than sipping cocktails, making pleasant chit-chat and dancing the night away, give them a glimpse of the real world and take them out in the harsh reality of daylight… I dare you!

You’d be remiss to dismiss the whiter shades of pale this winter…

Ralph Lauren F09

In fact, the bogus myth that white isn’t worn after Labor Day is still upheld by many fashion civilians, so applying clean whites and creams to your cold season repertoire would surely draw attention to your higher sense of style.

Clockwise- F09 from 3.1 Philip Lim | Rick Owens | Chloe | Tory Burch

If you are not quite comfortable draping yourself completely in white, try anchoring the look with some pure black to add a little contrast that will make it an easier look to adopt as your own.

Clockwise - F09 from Max Azria | Michael Kors | Burberry Prorsum | Erin Fetherston

It is a new decade and time to throw out antiquated ideas about there being any sort of universal fashion rules. It is also the perfect time to let go of your white-phobia, the fear of wearing a shade that will dirty so easily.

Francisco Costa @ Calvin Klein F09

Cheers to 2010, a fashion decade free of rules and fears… I dare you!

All too often we move ourselves to the bottom of the list, especially during the holidays. This year, do yourself a favor and add some glamour to your style. The quickest and easiest way to go glam is to enlist the time-tested aid of classic beauty enhancers like red lipstick and luxe lashes.

Red Lipstick has a long history filled with possibilities of elevating one’s beauty status to iconic, so applying even a little bit is bound to make you feel like an old Hollywood starlet. Choose your hue carefully with The Coveted to make sure you don’t miss the mark and end up at the circus or in the red light district.

If eyes are the windows to your soul, make sure your drapes are just as gorgeous as the view. Falsies can add the length or thickness that your mama didn’t give you, but they can also be used just to add a little sparkle. Application can be tricky, get tips with Guide to Faux Lashes or Eyelash Trial.

While you are glam-ming it up, try wearing your costume jewelry to run errands, do your hair even if you aren’t leaving the house, sip water from champagne glasses or wear luscious lingerie under your skirt suit to the office… I DARE YOU!