Leopard // Snakeskin

/ 1.State top via Lord and Taylor / Forever 21 shorts (old) / H&M clutch / Banana Republic wedges (old) / and Michael Kors watch / 

Pattern mixing used to be one of my favorite things to do--stripes and floral, leopard and camouflage, you name it and I would mix and match them. More recently I've been into toning it down a bit (or at least trying to refine the mashup) and this is what I came up with for a more post-grad look to the younger way I would dress before. Choosing two patterns (a sort of heart shaped leopard and colored snakeskin), I kept the prints a similar size and used a neutral top with interesting textures and wedges in a similar color as my silky shorts to pull everything together. 

PS: Sorry the coloring is a bit off--the lighting was a bit difficult to brighten :)

Tuesday Shoesday

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 

If you've been following 85 Dresses for a while, you know that I am every bit a color and pattern type of gal. So, when it came to shoes, I noticed that most of my footwear is the same in that I have nearly every color and pattern present, but with great styles in neutrals, there weren't very many go-to options. For me, if it's going to be neutral, the shape has to be interesting and fun to wear--not to mention, look good in my closet, too! These four options above fit those requirements...even if one of them has a bit of a snakeskin pattern on it ;) (#4)

How are the neutrals in your closet? Stacked up or lacking?

*Sorry for the poor photoshop in the white heel!*

New Uniform

Topshop T-Shirt / Cos T-Shirt / J. Crew T-Shirt / GAP Jeans / Target (Wrangler Mens) Jeans / H&M Tennis Shoes / Nike Tennis Shoes

If there's one thing that I have learned with living with seven roommates while being abroad, it's that I easily pick up on styles that I like and want to try. While I had long admired those who could master the graphic tee + boyfriend jeans + stylish tennis shoes look for quite a while, it wasn't until I came to London and bought my first pair of fashion tennis shoes--the snakeskin ones above (as opposed to ones reserved for the gym) that I realized it's surprisingly a look that I now wear (embarrassingly) too often. Whether it's a comfortable look for a Monday morning lecture, or a cool mix of casual luxe with the snakeskin and a tailored coat, this easy three-part equation is hard to go wrong with.

Is this a look that you would wear? Even if not, take a try at it--I bet you'll like it.

Embellished Americana

/ J.Crew button down (sample sale) / Vintage Levi's from LF / Zara heels / H&M clutch / Illamasqua polish / 

When I would think of classic American dressing, jeans and a white t-shirt would come to mind. As much as I love a good basic, I wouldn't really call them my go-to. Still inspired by the denim and white combination, and the concept of easy dressing in mind, I pulled out pieces that much more suited my sense of style to update the classic pairing. Both the button down and the vintage Levi's are updated versions of classics in themselves. A white button-down can easily seem quite stiff and conservative, and ill-fitted denim can come across as borrowed from your parents--and not in the chic oversized way. However, with a bit of embellished beads and rhinestones and a fitted shape for the top, and a distressed appearance and lace inserts for the shorts, these pieces are still classics, but for a girl who likes her basics--a little less basic. 

PS: Happy Birthday, daddy! I hope it's full of everything you wanted. xo

Ooh La La

/ H&M sweater and clutch / Necessary Clothing crop top / Bebe top / Zara shorts / Sam Edelman heels / Michael Kors watch / Brandy Melville ring / Forever 21 "Ooh La La" necklace / Illamasqua polish

When starting with a classic black and cream color palette, mixing textures, patterns, and fit is key. With the delicate top and faux leather shorts both being on the shorter side length-wise, a light-weight cardigan that acts as a half silky blazer and half nubby knit is the ideal addition to pull the look together. And, while you might feel the need to accessorize, as I did, having a few statement pieces will work, but make sure that only one of them, in this case my snakeskin clutch stands out-even if the necklace is doing the talking-ha. 

How would you accessorize a black and cream look?

Vintage Blues

/ Vintage Dress / H&M Clutch / Zara Heels /

One of my favorite parts about vintage pieces is that they are so one-of-a-kind. As much as I love my fast fashion stores, there really is something special about having a piece in your wardrobe that no one else shares with you. When it comes to vintage, I am quite particular about what I like, and it is usually in the form of devastatingly feminine pieces. This dress is no exception, and is probably one of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe. I knew when I saw it last summer at the since closed Zachary's Smile in New York City's West Village that it was a piece that really got to me. Hard to appreciate the details in photographs, everything from the delicate zipper to the inner construction shows the time put in to make this dress that you just don't find in your fast fashion pieces today. In styling this dress, I tried to complement the silvery blues of the bows that adorned the skirt and shoulders with my latest favorite metallic heels, snakeskin print clutch, and skipping on the jewelry-it clearly isn't needed.

Do you have a favorite vintage piece? One of my other favorites is a 1950's lilac prom dress that I keep hanging in my closet as a daily source of inspiration.

Palm Beach

     Dress: Forever 21//Necklace: gift from Austin, TX, Ring: H&M//Watch: Michael Kors //Heels: Sam Edelman//Phone Case: Vera Bradley

For a photoshop final project, I focused a lot on the style of Palm Beach, Florida throughout the decades. Although I have never been there, this outfit with a combination of cremes, whites, golds, and a pop of color in the lipstick and the landscape--although here, in the form of a decorative wall mural, reminds me a lot of what Palm Beach would be like. When it comes to wearing head to toe monochromatic, it is key to play up textures. From the snakeskin on the shoes to the lace on the dress, there is an interesting detail throughout the outfit. And, in a simple shift style with loose long-sleeves, this is the perfect dress to wear in the Texas summer for a wide array of occassions.

Tuesday Shoesday

J.Crew cites the 'Etta' pump perfectly as "heels for the girls who wear only flats." With it's chunky heel and all around enclosure, these pumps are just as comfortable as they are stylish. I love a fabulous snakeskin, and this shoe, in an untypical periwinkle-blue, combines that classic snakeskin texture in an updated version of itself. I have always had my eyes on a pair of the 'Etta' pump, and this particular pair would look amazing with a pair of army green boyfriend-style pants, to a patterned pencil skirt with a classic denim jacket in a medium wash. With the natural lady-like qualities of these pumps, I would find it best to pair them with pieces that have more tomboy characteristics to even it out, as well.

What do you think of the J.Crew 'Etta' pump?