Blue Door

I realize that I've been playing favorites with the crochet and fringe pieces in my closet, so I gave them a rest with this ensemble...well, except for the headband. Baby steps! While shopping this week, an A-line pleated lace skirt wasn't exactly on my wish list, but when something unexpected catches my attention while shopping, I'm willing to give it a chance if it's affordable and if I can visualize how and where I'll wear it in multiple ways.  For casual days, I'll dress it down with a plain tee, denim jacket or vest, and some scuffed Converse. For now, I'm wearing it with a floral tank, my absolute favorite Sam Edelman boots, and a lightweight cardigan. For fall, it'll accompany dark tights, a drapey tank top, faux fur coat, and some suede wedges.

As the stores begin to stock fall items, I'm making my list of must-haves for the new season: creepers, polka dot prints, boyish tweed blazers, tops with Peter Pan collars, vintage cashmere, mohair, and chenille sweaters, Chelsea boots, frame handbags, capes, Navajo prints, and just about anything from Topshop's Glam Underground lookbook.  Are you looking forward to fall and shopping for next season already, or are you content to live in the moment and relish the warm days of summer?

Wearing: D.I.Y. crochet headband, H&M sunglasses, Forever 21 silk floral tank, bird print cardigan, and lace skirt, (see similar style here), belt c/o Tucker by Gaby Basora, River Island banana necklace, and Sam Edelman Louie boots.

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The Sam Edelman Louie Times Two

The Sam Edelman Louie boots in rose suede that I bought at LF are becoming my cornerstone boots for summer days, so I bought them in black from Nasty Gal. To me, the Louie boots are the poor woman's version of the ubiquitous Isabel Marant Dicker boots, except that the fringe detail, inside zip, and foldover cuff gives them more character.  I can attest to their high comfort factor after being on my feet in them for several hours at street fairs and while sourcing vintage apparel.  I initially chose the rose suede because of its neutral hue and leg-lengthening effects. For fall and winter, the black ones will not only show less dirt, but they'll work well with dark tights.

Two other things I'm obsessed with this week are vintage 501s that I've bought over the past few months and turned into distressed cutoffs, and any ivory or white top that's lace or crochet. My go-to outfit for casual summer days is fast morphing into an iteration of the aforementioned items.

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In Anticipation of Fall

images from asos.com, boohoo.com, topshop.com, rivithead.com & modcloth.com

 

As retailers begin to stock new fall apparel in richer autumnal hues, I'm starting to compile my wish list. (I admit that it's challenging to buy fall items on a hot summer day.  Thick sweaters and faux fur coats are simply not appealing when you're perspiring.) Along with the Teddy Girl/1960s and Mod punk trends, I'm also warming up to the eccentric ladylike theme. Think pencil skirts with thigh-high slits, polka dots (thanks, Stella), bow blouses, mixed prints, Peter Pan collars, and animal motifs. My must-have shoe of the season? Creepers, of course.  Although I haven't bought any yet, there are a few Jeffrey Campbell styles that look promising.  I'm also on the hunt for an adorable sweater with an animal motif.  The face of a puppy, sheep, or bunny, perhaps? So what are you looking forward to buying and wearing for fall?

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Dog Days of Summer

I spent some time this weekend watching dogs compete in agility competitions at a local dog festival and fundraiser at the beach. Somtimes there is nothing more entertaining than watching well-trained dogs run through tunnels, cool off in mini pools, and play fly ball.  The Border Collies seem to excel in the competitions due to their intelligence and boundless energy.  Many dogs were available for adoption, and quite a few four-legged friends caught my eye. If it were feasible, I'd probably have a small pack of dogs at home, but for now, one is enough.

My outfit included my latest addition to the fringe kimono collection, a blue floral number which has a knack for getting stuck on the drawer pulls in my kitchen, and some practical, easy-to-walk-in studded boots that I scored for free at Crossroads after winning the Seller's Raffle.  The kimono/cardigan probably isn't the most practical for cooking, although it made a suitable cover-up for a cool day of watching the dogs at the beach.

Wearing: Ray-Bans, Phoenix concert tee, H&M carrot jeans, Threadsence Silent Sky kimono/cardigan, Ecote studded moto boots from Crossroads Trading Co., H&M fringe handbag, and assorted jewelry


**Please be sure to enter my Jones + Jones dress giveaway if you haven't already. There are a few days left before I choose a lucky winner.

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Kaleidoscopic Kimono

My interest in fringed kimonos probably began around 3 months ago. The hunt began on eBay, where bidding frenzies ran some prices up to the unattainable $300 mark. A trip to the flea market in June uncovered a vendor selling nothing but peasant skirts and colorful fringed kimonos of various lengths for under $60. After trying two styles on, I knew this pink and blue velvet burnout style had to be mine.  Admittedly, the wide sleeves, beading, and tassels make it impractical for everyday activities such as driving and eating, but sometimes fashion has to win out over function.

Wearing: H&M Men's photographic tee and flared jeans, (similar jeans here), flea market fringed kimono, Zara quilted handbag, and Forever 21 hat and cork wedges.

**Also be sure to enter my Jones + Jones dress giveaway if you haven't already.

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Jones and Jones Dress Giveaway (Closed)

In the spirit of giving back to my readers and celebrating the start of my new blog, I'm pleased to announce an exciting giveaway. One lucky reader of The Key To Chic will win a gorgeous LBD by the up-and-coming UK label Jones + Jones. It's called the Line dress and it features sheer bell sleeves, a lace bodice, and a feminine A-line shape.  The dress is a UK size 8, which is equivalent to a US size 4.



Wearing: Jones and Jones Line dress, Forever 21 floral Mary Janes, New Look headband, Asos armour rings, and Primark heart-shaped handbag








The giveaway will run from now though July 29, 2011 at 6pm PST. One lucky winner will be chosen at random and announced on my blog and on Twitter. Sorry to my international readers, but this one is open to U.S. residents only.  One entry per reader please.

Here's how to enter:

1. Follow both The Key To Chic and Jones + Jones on Twitter. (@thekeytochic and @_jonesandjones)

2. Tweet the following: "I'd love to win a @_jonesandjones dress from @thekeytochic  http://bit.ly/qGvT8v"

3. Leave a comment on this post telling me in detail how you'd wear this dress. For example: "I'd wear this dress with suede platform pumps, layered chain necklaces, an oversized snake print envelope clutch, and my hair in a top knot." **Important - please be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you win. Please note that I respect your privacy and your email address will not be used for any other purpose.

(If you are not on Twitter, you can still enter the giveaway by completing step #3.)

Good luck!

**July 29, 2011 update - The winner is Jenny K. I'll be email you/sending you a DM through Twitter. Thanks to everyone who entered!

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Rebel Spirit

Maybe this happens to you when you're shopping. An item catches your eye, but you decide not to buy it. After leaving the store, you continue to think about it. A few days go by and you are still wishing you'd made the purchase.  Such was the case with this maxi crochet cardigan I spotted at Forever 21 earlier this month. The more I thought about it, the more I wished I'd bought it. Fortuitously, the sweater was still there on Friday night, and I wasted no time taking it home and then out on the town.  (It was also the last one of its style, so I feel it was meant to be.)

This summer I'm fixated on quite a few things: white or ivory crochet tops worn with vintage Levi's that I've turned into cutoffs and shredded to bits, feather print tops and dresses, festival-ready flower garlands, sheer printed kimono tops, floral palazzo pants, low-heeled Western ankle boots, anything with fringe, and lace or crochet shorts.  During a brief internet search for the perfect pair of lace shorts, I spotted a tiered style on Ariana's blog.  I found them at my local TJ Maxx and bought both the tan and black colorways because I couldn't decide which color I liked better.  Another thing I've learned from shopping is that if you like something, will wear it often, and it's affordable, go ahead and buy multiple colorways. 

Wearing: Forever 21 tank top and maxi crochet cardigan, Sans Souci tiered lace shorts from TJ Maxx, (my favorite pair available here), Gee WaWa Flora sandals, Primark daisy chain garland, H&M fringe handbag and sunglasses, and assorted jewelry from Love Diva and Forever 21.

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The Steve Madden Shazzam Sister Heels

I'm excited to be adding these '70s-inspired gold glitter platforms to my nighttime shoe collection. I first admired the Steve Madden Shazzam heels on Nasty Gal. In the end, I refrained from buying them online because I wanted to try them on first.  Good things come to those who wait; I lucked out on Saturday when I found an identical pair by Wild Pair at a mall in L.A. for $40-$50 less.  (Same leather/glitter construction and materials as the Steve Madden Shazzam heels, but with a different label and lower price.)

The natural color of the leather straps will give me the leg-lengthening effect I desire, while the 6.25" heel and the 2.5" platform add both comfort and stability.  Unlike some platforms which are heavy and tiring to walk or dance in, I'm pleased to report after wearing them around the house that these are incredibly lightweight.  They are currently the most vertiginous heels I own, and the true test of comfort will come when I wear them to a wedding later this summer and test them out on the dance floor.

Wild Pair Sister WP heels in light tan, $110 (Also available in black patent/leopard combo.)

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No Lifeguard On Duty

Often times the best place for me to go for a respite from the heat is the beach. On warm days, I can usually count on a brisk sea breeze to cool me off and sometimes even give me the chills.  Fortunately, the beach is not far, and there is plenty of easily accessible and vacant beachfront for relaxing, enjoingy the view, and basking in the sun. I consider free beach parking and areas of unpopulated sand to be a luxury in southern California during the summer, and yesterday I was lucky enough to find both.

While taking these photos, I was approached by a curious and amiable German Shepherd who, after dropping the stick she caught, couldn't resist sniffing the flower garland that kept blowing off my head. I hope everyone else is enjoying the summer and finding fun ways to cool off.  I owe a special thank you to those of you who have followed me from my previous blog. My goal here is to create a blog with better and larger photos, more personal style, and whatever else may inspire me...and hopefully, you.

Wearing: Dorothy Perkins flower garland, Xhilaration flag print bikini top, Forever 21 cobweb knit top, thrifted cutoffs, unknown fringe bag, Bass sandals, and tons of Yes to Carrots sunblock.

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Fringe on the Docks

In addition to my recent affinity for color blocking, I'm also harboring a newfound love for anything with fringe and lace. I managed to find both fringe and lace in this cape-like top at the cheapest of cheap high street stores in London - Primark. (They're the best at interpreting runway trends at rock bottom prices and one of my first stops when I visit Oxford Circus.) Seeing how much wear I'm already getting out of it, I'm now kicking myself for not buying the white version. Although I removed the attached cropped camisole that came with it and proceeded to spend a few minutes figuring out how to get my arms through the tiny armholes, the effort was worthwhile. Now I just have to remember not to accidentally get stuck on anything, as the fringe seems to have its own mind and loves to wander.













Wearing: Charlotte Russe ribbed tank top, Primark fringe lace cape top, H&M red skinny jeans, Forever 21 cowboy ankle boots, bag from Native Visions, and assorted jewelry.

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On America's Birthday

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The anticipation felt at the start of summer is one of my favorite memories from childhood. Summer consisted of long, languid days spent swimming, roller skating, and riding cruisers at the beach. Nowadays, it means getting out to enjoy local festivals, long bike rides on something other than a cruiser, and going on occasional road trips to places I love.  Like previous years, I went to a local street fair to enjoy the food, watch the parade of people stroll by in their best flag-inspired attire, browse the wide array of vendors, and watch live music.  It gave me an opportunity to wear my new favorite silhouette - the fishtail (a.k.a. high-low) hem dress, which gives the best of both worlds in one piece that manages to be both revealing and covered up at the same time. I also got to break in my Sam Edelman Louie boots, which I'm pleased to report were still comfortable after about 2 miles of walking. I'm now convinced that a 2-3" heel might be my new daytime staple. Not only are lower heels more restrained in their glamour, but they're infinitely more practical and comfortable, which is ideal when you're on your feet for hours.



































Wearing: Fashion Club floppy hat, Lulu's train station strapless fishtail dress, H&M Conscious crochet vest, Aldo quilted handbag, random beaded bracelets, Forever 21 Aztec ring, & Sam Edelman Louie boots from LF Stores & also available here

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