Sunday, June 30, 2013

Painterly Dress





As mentioned in this post, I have a new appreciation for Macy’s thanks to some of the finds I’ve made on their website. I really love their MADE Fashion Week for Impulse creations, especially this solar system one and the painterly one I’m wearing in this post. Not only do they come in fun colors and prints but they are the most comfortable, no fuss dresses….so easy to throw on and head out the door in. I’ve always liked dropwaist dresses so the shape of this dress is another plus in my books. One thing I should note is that both of the MADE Fashion Week for Impulse dresses I have are really short (and I’m definitely not tall) so I can’t see wearing these without leggings or at the very least opaque tights. 
Outfit Details:
Shirt (old) - from some dance store
Leggings (old) - Forever 21

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Style Inspiration Drawn from Children’s Literature

Style and fashion inspiration comes from so many places, but for me one of the most enduring might be literature.  Literature from childhood, timeless stories, especially continues to have an impact on the pieces of clothing that I’m drawn to. I’d been thinking about the influence of literature and film/TV on fashion a lot lately…you can’t help but notice store windows and magazine covers showcasing looks inspired by The Great Gatsby, Mad Men, Game of Thrones, and so on.

Recently, I visited the New York Public Library’s exhibition The ABC of it: Why Children’s Books Matter (blog post here).  It got me thinking about how important children’s literature is for adults, as much as it is for children. We grow up on the words and images found in children’s literature, our imaginations expand, our personalities develop….perhaps, that’s why those stories stick with us. So, it’s not surprising that they resonant with other parts of our lives as we age. From Haute Couture on the runway, to Polvore sets and Pinterest boards, it’s clear that many of the characters we grew up with are still inspiring our wardrobes as adults.
In terms of style, I may not wear a whole Alice in Wonderland costume/look on any typical day of the year, but I certainly find myself wearing details reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland. Tulle skirts, smocked dresses, frilled socks, an over-sized bow, polished Mary Jane shoes, checkboard tights, a heart shaped locket, sometimes just a particular color combination…these are storybook details brought to life in fashion.
Here’s a look at some of the children’s literature that have had the biggest impact on my personal style.
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
"Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
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LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE
"The real things haven’t changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong." Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie
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GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES
Example: Little Red Riding Hood (actually referred to as Little Red Riding Cap in the Grimm’s version)
"Once upon a time there was a sweet little girl. Everyone who saw her liked her, but most of all her grandmother, who did not know what to give the child next. Once she gave her a little cap made of red velvet. Because it suited her so well, and she wanted to wear it all the time, she came to be known as Little Red Cap." Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Little Red Cap
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LITTLE SNOW WHITE
‘Oh, Queen, thou art fairest of all I see. But over the hills, where the seven dwarfs dwell, Snow-white is still alive and well. And none is so fair as she." Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Little Snow White
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THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ
“‘If we walk far enough’, says Dorothy, ‘we shall sometime come to someplace.’" L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
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HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN FAIRY TALES
"There was once a King’s son who had a larger and more beautiful collection of books than any one else in the world, full of splendid copper-plate engravings." Hans Christian Andersen, The Garden of Paradise
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Illustration from The Garden of Paradise and Other Stories by Hans Christian Andersen
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THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA
"Once a king or queen of Narnia, always a king or queen of Narnia." C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
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ANNE OF GREEN GABLES
"It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will." L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
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POLLYANNA
"Just breathing isn’t living!" Eleanor H. Porter, Pollyanna
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NANCY DREW
"I don’t promise to forget the mystery, but I know I’ll have a marvelous time!" Carolyn Keene, Nancy’s Mysterious Letter
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MADELINE
"In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines, lived twelve little girls in two straight lines." Ludwig Bemelmans, Madeline
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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Restyling an Old Sundress









I’ve had this navy/almost black sundress for about 15 years. I remember buying the dress in Athens following an archaeological excavation I was on with Brock University.  It was (is!) the perfect lightweight dress for travel….easily packed, wrinkle resistant and great for throwing on over a swimsuit. I still like the look of the dress but it’s pretty sheer and on its own doesn’t feel very appropriate for work.  Today I decided to turn this simple sundress into a more complete look by pulling on a blouse over top and wearing it with a pair of leggings. When the A/C kicked in, I pulled on a light cardigan. The neutral beige and navy coloring found in the dress and cardigan hold up well when paired with the splash of color from the blouse and the punchy colors of the embroidered flowers on the cardigan. It always feels good when you can find a new way to wear an older item in your closet.
P.S. If you are ever in Hell’s Kitchen, check out Schmackary’s at the corner of 9th Ave. and W 45!
Outfit Details:
Dress (old) - The tag on the dress says H&M but I didn’t even realize that store existed then…I guess well before store came to North America (similar idea here)
Leggings (old) - Kensie
Necklace - purchased at MoMA Staff Sale

Ruffles on Ruffles






Quick photoset of yesterday’s outfit… 
I notice this neon speakeasy sign with the eyes (reminds me of The Great Gatsby) every time I walk down this street and thought it would make a good backdrop for this particular outfit.
I’ve had this skirt for a few years and tend to only wear it a few times each summer…it’s slightly out of my comfort zone but that’s partly why I like it. Also, I love ruffles! On this skirt the ruffles also stand-in as a peplum design which gives the pencil skirt structure a unique twist.  Of course, my favorite part is where the skirt gathers in the front with 3 little airplanes near the waistband.  
I paired the skirt with a neutral t-shirt that also has some ruffles. On the t-shirt, the ruffles run in the opposite direction from those on the skirt which keeps the look fairly balanced. The t-shirt is completely sheer so underneath I wore a sparkly tank with a Broadway scene that I’ve had forever. I like the slight edge the tank brings to the outfit, sort of like graffiti peering through the sheer top. At work, I wore a green cardigan with white piping and a pair of heels in neutral tones which helped to make this look a little more professional while still playful. For accessories, I opted for a beaded collar and sunburst earrings that seemed very nature inspired, and well suited to all the shades of green I wore.
Figuring out what to pair with a somewhat offbeat piece takes a little trial and error but at least each time you’re guaranteed a unique look.
Outfit Details:
T-shirt (old): I can’t find this t-shirt online but it was purchased at Anthropologie on super sale (similar here and here)
Tank (old): Le Chateau Jr. (not even sure there is a Le Chateau Jr. division anymore?)
Shoes (old; worn in the office): Seychelles Ringsend Heels, from Anthropologie (FYI: These are the most comfortable and sturdy heels ever! I actually bought in two colorways because I loved how comfortable these are. I’m often on my feet at work and can wear these for 8-10 hours straights without any discomfort. If you can track these down, you should definitely buy a pair!).

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Lost in a Storybook















After work today I headed over to The New York Public Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman building to check out their latest exhibition, “The ABC of it: Why Children’s Books Matter.” I’ll write a more detailed post of the exhibition on Jackie Times as soon as I get a chance to. The New York Public Library always puts together great exhibitions and this one was no exception. I loved seeing some of my favorite childhood books and the installation itself was so playful. The exhibition is on until March 23, 2014 so there’s lots of time to go and see it. I’ll definitely be returning a few more times…there’s so much great content and special surprises that it’s impossible to take it all in the first time through.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how literature has influenced my own style, and how it has influenced fashion. I’ve been slowly putting together a post on this topic and visiting this exhibition also served as inspiration for that. It’s really satisfying how even the glimpse of a treasured book cover or a verse from a well-read book can capture the imagination as if seeing or reading the words for the first time.
The New York Public Library has a quote on its website by W.H. Auden that says, “There are no good books which are only for children.” I agree with all my heart.
Outfit Details:
Necklace - My nana’s pearl necklace
Earrings (old) - ceramic rosebuds, Anthropologie (similar here)