Tag Archives: leopard print

Into the Wild Summer Solstice

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Soak in the sunshine because this is the longest day of the year. It’s the official start of summa summa summa time, time to sit back and unwind.

I was wild about this dress when I spied it on the racks of the thrift store safari that is Salvation Army. I swiftly pounced on it like my prey before another shopper could have the chance. Not only was this dress animal printed, but also the print was a mix of three different animals: leopard, cheetah, and tiger. To top it off, it had the animals lounging on the hem of the dress. With tiger and leopard accessories to match, I created the perfect wild look that could scare the summer solstice daylights out of someone.

Unfortunately it was feeling more like winter during my photoshoot. It was bitingly cold, and so I tried to think like an animal in the wild. What would the leopard do? The cheetah? How about the tiger? And just like that, I struck a pose in the cold wind like a beast. Am I worthy of being America’s Next Top Model? Maybe. Oh, except that I haven’t quite mastered the art of smizing. Sorry Tyra, I have failed you.

thrifted dress (similar) / cardigan (old, similar) / thrifted necklace (similar) / bangles (old, similar here + here)

Into the Wild

Chic Chambray

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Chic Chambray

When I first met the chambray button up shirt, I didn’t care for it too much, thinking that it certainly would clash with all the denim jeans I owned. Who wants to wear head to toe denim? Not I. Yet, slowly but surely, chambray found its way to my heart. Suddenly I longed to make one mine and looked forward to creating all sorts of beautiful outfits with it.

So, what exactly is chambray? Originally made in Cambrai, France, true chambray fabric looks rough and uneven. It is traditionally woven with blue threads and a white horizontal thread to give it that mottled look. However, now chambray can also refer to blue dress shirts or shirts that are denim in color.

Old Navy chambray (on sale! cuter option here) / Unisa espadrilles (similar here & here)   vintage Lord & Taylor jacket (similar) / vintage envelope clutch (similar)

I am surprised at how much I like denim on denim. The key to this outfit is to wear different shades of blue. The casual fit of the shirt felt a bit matronly on me, but nothing that a skinny belt can’t fix. To add some flair to an otherwise plain blue denim palette, I incorporated a leopard urban turban and a similar wild print in my espadrilles. I decided to pin a 1960s flower brooch on my shirt instead of my jacket to help break up the monochromatic look. Even in this balmy spring weather, a lightweight jacket is a must. I chose this peach colored vintage Lord & Taylor jacket to complement my blue-clad ensemble. And what look wouldn’t be complete without a purse to hold my essentials? This woven straw envelope clutch adds a punch of texture to my outfit.

Chic Vic in chambray. This shirt is sure to be a staple in my closet for the warm spring days ahead. Oh hey, can you say chambray all the way?

Connect the Dots

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When I was a kid, connect the dots was my favorite amongst all the games and puzzles in my Highlights magazines. There was something magical about transforming what looked to be a bunch of haphazard dots into a recognizable image with just the trace of my pencil. Although I have outgrown those puzzles, I still have an affinity for dots.

The dot design has been around since medieval times. It gained popularity in the mid 1800s when polka music was trendy. During this music and dance craze, everything and everyone and their mom was decked out in dots, and the name “polka dots” was coined. Anything with polka dots instantly conjures up a retro vibe, and reminds me of the 1950s, when it gained widespread popularity again.

I don’t think my outfit lives up to the polka, but rather should be more aptly called wallflower dots. It lacks the boldness of the polka dot and isn’t quite equally sized and spaced, but has a charm and daintiness about them none-the-less. Because of the relatively neutral nature of my patterns, I was able to mix and match them, and layered in different fabric textures as well. The dot theme is constant, but you will have to look closely to see. I threw in a cheetah print scarf to add an organic element to the otherwise structured graphic dots. The studded booties also make for an interesting 3-D take on the dot and are an edgy contrast to the overall feminine look, topped off with a retro cloche.

I promise to feature more polka dots in future posts, but don’t connect my dots please.