Monthly Archives: March 2013

Good, it’s Friday. Best if it’s Sunday.

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Bargain hunter I am. Egg hunter I am not.

Easter is around the corner, and the only egg hunt I’ll doing will be for cage free ones at the grocery store. While I do not celebrate the occasion, I do find it necessary to sip bottomless mimosas at brunch whilst wearing my Sunday best. And a Sunday best would not be complete without some sort of headpiece.

I recently stumbled upon All Things Vintage, a darling vintage boutique nestled in one of Oakland’s neighborhoods. Walking into the shop, I felt as though I took a step back into the ghost of fashions past. They had tons of hats, and a pretty floral pillbox one caught my eye. Although I was looking for something sturdier, made of wool or felt, the floral arrangement on this look-at-me red was too adorable to resist. After a quick lesson by the shop owners, Lucy and Claudia, on how to wear the hat (I do what with the combs? Is the hairpin optional?), I was ready to begin mixing and matching outfits to wear with it.

I wanted to keep my ensemble interesting, without taking attention away from the busy hat. I chose a high waisted red pencil skirt and an open knit white cardigan to go with it. Alas, Easter wouldn’t be complete without a peep of yellow, in the form of a silky blouse. I love how it peek-a-boos through the cardigan, creating the illusion of a printed pattern while also adding textural depth. Except for the blouse and shoes, everything is thrifted!

Hey Cadbury, where my peeps at?

Peachy in Shades of Grey

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Although I do not own many shades of grey in my closet, instead preferring beiges and creams, grey is certainly a versatile neutral that can be worn with almost anything. My favorite hue to go with grey is peach. I accidentally paired these two colors together one day, and now they are inseparable.

I am an absolute cardigan fanatic, so when I spied this grey number at Ross (do you love it?) with all the loop-de-loops, I just had to have it. It goes in perfect harmony with the vintage peach colored blouse with grey polka dots from mommy dearest. I tied a thrifted navy blue scarf in an ascot knot to offset the light color palette and secured it with a vintage scarf clip. The floral pattern at the ends of the scarf also adds another element of fun to the outfit. What shoes should I wear to trek around in the forest? Grey suede heels of course!

Peachy in Shades of Grey

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Okay, this is what I aspired to for my new year’s style resolution, but have failed miserably. However, Frivolous Fringe has hit the nail on its head! I love the layering of different metals, materials, and styles to create an eclectic “I just thew this together” look.

I have 281 days left of 2013 to work on having more arm candy. Stay tuned.

Day to Night

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Oh yes it’s ladies night and the feelin’s right.
Oh yes it’s ladies night, oh what a night.

How to transition an outfit from the 9-5 daily grind to an after work happy hour or girls’ night out? You can dress up a daytime casual piece for the evening, but my trick is to downplay an evening dressy piece for the daytime. I am ready to be your wingwoman.

Unless I was a cocktail waitress or Samantha from SATC, I would never wear this open back dress to work because it shows so much skin. My solution is to wear a blouse underneath the dress. Voila! Instantly work appropriate. I chose my momma’s vintage sheer blouse because the fabric is thin enough to be worn under the dress. To keep my look ultra conservative, I decided to wear black opaque tights and a pair of classic black pumps. My favorite detail is the unexpected cutout on the heel.

For the nighttime look, all I have to do is peel off the layers underneath, and change the shoes and bag. I’ll be ready faster than you can say TGIF.

Thank Goodness It’s Fashion!

Business in the back, party in the front

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The High-Low Skirt

Asymmetrical. Waterfall. High-low. Mullet. Whatever you call it, we can all agree that the party is definitely in the front. Just don’t walk over a steam vent because no one can do it like Marilyn.

You may have seen this type of hemline in increasing numbers during the last two years, but did you know it has its origins in the Victorian era? Back then, it was called a fishtail hem, and it was a popular style on dresses and formal gowns.

A friend asked me, “What should I wear with a high-low skirt?” Although I do not own such a skirt, my answer to that would be to wear whatever your heart desires. Because these skirts are usually made with a lightweight material, you can choose a flowy soft top to maintain the feminine style and keep it dressy. Or pair it with a cotton tee for a downtown casual look. Whatever you choose, make sure you keep calm and party on.

The mullet skirt: because it’s better than getting a mullet haircut. Do you love or hate this trend?

Green with Envy

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day! The only time of the year when Elphaba can feel comfortable in her own skin.

Unless it is my favorite lovable funny Irishman, Chris O’Dowd, I would prefer not to get pinched by drunken strangers. Not a problem, as I already have a stylish solution that will make you green with envy. Just call me Chic Shamrock.

Chris O'Dowd

When I first laid eyes on this skirt, it was love at first sight. Being a petite gal, I was pleasantly surprised that it was the right fit in the length – no hemming needed! I knew it was the one because I instantly imagined the countless combinations that I could wear with it. The rich green color and the pleats had my name written all over it.

To get in the spirit of the shamrock, I almost went monochromatic by pairing the skirt with my momma’s vintage muted mint green blouse. And before I knew it, I was paying homage to the Irish flag with cream and a hint of orange in my cardigan (okay, so I cheated with the white). The details in the accessories added the final touch; I especially like how the iridescent chunky beads contrasts with the soft knitted yarn bow made by a friend.

I toast my Guinness to corn beef, cabbage, riverdance, and Chris O’Dowd’s lucky charms.

St Pattys

The rain in Spain falls mainly on the windowpane

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Alex Trebek says: This gridlike pattern is one of spring 2013’s hottest trends. (hint below)

Windowpane
Windowpane by chicvic featuring tibi

Answer: What is the windowpane print.

I purchased this windowpane printed poly blouse last winter at my local Out of the Closet thrift shop. I was not particularly crazy about it, but I do have a penchant for semi-sheer blouses, and a weakness for twofer deals (the tie came attached!). I channeled my inner Eliza Doolittle with a 1940’s twist. I decided to go modest with a wool midi-skirt, with the blouse tucked and belted in. I recently acquired this wide brimmed wool hat from Uniqlo (finally, a hat to add to my collection!), and it complements the outfit’s color palette and silhouette quite nicely. Added to the mix is a pair of old maroon pumps from my momma that match perfectly with my hat. Eliza’s look wouldn’t be complete without a bouquet of flowers! I feel like singing in the rain now.

If I were a poor flower girl, I’d still know how to look dapper on a dime. Oh Professor Higgins, I’m a real fair lady now, aren’t I?

Mar. 2013: Windowpane

Cat in the Hat

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I am not much of a cat person. Neither am I really a hat person. I am not fond of cats in hats. But recently, I’ve been searching for the perfect hat. I think I’ll leave it at that.

Maybe I should leave the whimsical rhyming to Dr. Seuss.

I seldom think of adding hats to my outfits, and with good rationale. Usually it is not cold enough for me to wear one. I also have no easy solution to cure hat hair. Since I am indoors most of the time, I also feel silly keeping my noggin covered. These are all the reasons why I am not a frequent hat wearer. However, I was inspired after writing my recent post on Jackie O, and now I am on the hunt for a classy pillbox hat. I am a little bored with recycling the same hats in my posts: my beloved French/Monica Lewinsky beret, my nubby knit beanies, and my cloches. The only hat I will wear at all times is my fashion blogger hat. I think it’s time to add some new silhouettes to my collection.

What kind of hats do you like to wear? And if you have a solution to hat hair, please let me know.

Hats
Hats by chicvic featuring sun hats