If I was going to live in any decade – it would be the 20’s. I can’t get enough of that flapper mentality – cutting your hair off, throwing away panty hose, and boozing and dancing all night long. It would have been a great time to be young – rather than during the Bush administration and this lovely economic downturn we have going on. We have to play the hand we’re dealt – but that doesn’t mean we can’t live vicariously through Chanel & Paul Poiret and all that they stand for! Luckily – this decade has been resonating in the contemporary market recently, and I’m not exactly sure where it came from – I can’t think of any notable designers who showed anything that would spark this revival, but that almost makes it so much better.

Some key components of the 20’s were the dropped waist, cloche hats – and an overall androgynous silhouette that freed women from corsets and their inhibitions. If you are in the market to see cloche hats in film – Angelina Jolie’s film Changeling is a perfect example. They were actually created because the forehead was considered unfashionable, strange but true. The dropped waist and shift silhouettes came from an extreme turn around in the fashion cycle, going from very tight Victorian corsets to a liberated, I can do anything as well as a man, fashion standpoint. Women actually used to bandage their breasts to make them appear less womanly. I also recently learned from my love’s grandmother that the saying “the bees knees” came from that period – when girls would put blush on their knees because it was considered an errogenous zone – the most anyone had shown at that point were their ankles. Can you imagine? Ok, we are pretty lucky to be young right now.

Forever 21 $34.80

Urban Outfitters $18

Asos $50

Top Shop $36

Go Jane $32.99

Leighton Meester (of Gossip Girl) has great style on and off the show, both credited to two very talented stylists, Eric Daman for work and Rachel Zoe for play. There are tons of snarky comments floating around the media about Rachel Zoe, but that’s because people love to hate! She obviously knows what’s going on - Leighton always looks fabulous, and that pink dress - I could die!

It’s so easy to get carried away in a sea of black during the winter, and I love black - but there’s gotta be something to break up the monochromatic monotony - and why not pretty hot pinks? If you’re afraid the color is too daring, too much - I like to think I’d rather stick out like a fashionable sore thumb than blend in!

Urban Outfitters dress $78

Hue Tights @ Bare Necessities $9.37

Forever 21 bow clutch $16.80

Girlprops lucite earrings $4.99

Photo taken from People.com

NY Times article “The Way You Wear Your Hat” - Here’s to dressing well!

Forever 21 wool cloche hat $12.80 (flapper style hat - foreheads were unfashionable in the 20’s)

Urban Outfitters leopard cocktail hat $28.00

Target wool beret $12.99

Top Shop felt trilby hat $40

Blazers are great for any climate - for those of us in the South, it’s all we need to go out at night, and gives dresses a smart, tomboy look. For those of us in the North - a lightweight blazer under your winter coat is adequate warmth and coverage, and looks more polished than pairing a cardigan with a bare top. In New York I always hated coat check - wearing multiple layers to stay warm and then having to figure out a way they wouldn’t be lost in addition to your coat (i.e. shoving the cardigan in the coat’s sleeve) - and it’s just too much hassle. At least with a blazer you can wear it as a complete outfit and look effortlessly chic - I for one am SO excited that this day has come and gone (for 2 years at least). And when I say blazers - I mean boyfriend style, preppy, with preferably interesting hardware - not a business suit blazer, one with puffed sleeves, or cropped (yikes!). You want to look equestrian Ralph Lauren, not oldie Liz Claiborne.

Urban Outfitters $48

Victoria’s Secret $59

Forever 21 $24.80

Boho was predicted to be fall’s biggest take-away from the shows, but I haven’t really seen it as much as say, Ralph Lauren’s tartans. Gucci was the only real design house to completely embody it - maybe a little D&G - but on the whole I think bohemian is something that has been happening for the past couple of years, and is more of a lifestyle trend rather than a seasonal fad. I like to wear different fashion hats, and it usually changes depending on what company I work for, but I feel like I’ve always held onto a bohemian vibe through it all. The one design element that has been translated to the masses has been fringe - and it’s not just your typical Minnetonka bootie - it’s dresses, scarves (think Balenciaga), jewelry, and shoes (think Prada).

Bootie $22.99 GoJane.com

Messenger bag $29.99 Urban Outfitters

Chain scarf $29 Newport News

Heel $27.99 Target

Now that I’m in my twenties, I feel like I hear about an engagement every 5 seconds (more often in the South) or (luckily) there’s always somewhere to go where you can get dressed up. The holidays are coming up (I never participate in ugly sweater parties, I dress up anyway) and as you know come Spring it’s wedding fever, so you have to be prepared. That doesn’t mean spending $300 a pop on dresses, because I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing the same one twice - and at that price you definitely would . Once you’re the best dressed one there (out-shining the bride not included), just don’t get too juiced up and do anything I wouldn’t do.

Forever 21 $29.80

Ami Clubwear $24.99

Urban Outfitters $38

Forever 21 Earring $2.80, Ring $3.80

Grand Total: $99.39

It’s really taking everything in me right now to not post red, white and blue fur - eeek! However, it is now November - and I’m already planning my winter-esque purchases for my visit back home to Philadelphia (PA for Obama!). I’ve never lived in the south, barely visited - so my life is extremely novel now (I have a vintage mink hat I’ve been dying to wear since August, and it just keeps sitting, sitting, sitting in my closet)!

(Faux) Fur is so glam - you instantly revert to a 30’s starlet, so Katherine Hepburn. The great thing about fall is that it’s so in between, so temperate - you can get away with a 60’s shift dress and fur jacket, (bangs optional) without any other distractions. Although I know I’m going to miss snow and the strangely nostalgic feeling of being reared in upstate New York (below 0 temperatures) - it’s going to be wonderful to wear a cheetah chubby out for New Years - sans scarf + earmuffs + 2 cardigans underneath.

ASOS $70

Urban Outfitters $28

Catbird.com $60 Leg Warmers

(Sherpa) Close Enough - $74 Newport-News.com

Ok - working there definitely made me a biased Ralph lover for life - but c’mon this jacket is gorgeous! I haven’t actually been wearing too many jackets, but my girls in the NE say I need to address the fact that winter is happening and I’m missing it this year. Tear.

A close replica of this jacket is hard to find…yet - but there are enough jackets with ruffle & peplum detailing to hold you over until it’s at the closest H&M. (For me, sadly, that would be the next plane ride home).

FYI - Commes des Garcons goes live at H&M November 13th!

Urban Outfitters $138

Victoria’s Secret $148

Gap $78

If I were a rich girl…I’d own this 3.1 Philip Lim dress too.

Some UES sleeve interest - or lack thereof. What’s so gorgeous about this dress is the draping & ruching. What’s so great about the contemporary market is that jersey is cheap, and jersey drapes beautifully. What you pick up at American Apparel has very little material difference against Philip Lim - and what difference in treatment it does have, probably costs 5 cents. It is ALL about margin, girls. Gabrielle Chanel was actually a jersey maverick - and began using it in 1916 for women’s suits. Chanel was also living at poverty level for most of her youth - so she definitely would have been scoping out the below. Are you picking up what I’m putting out?
Go Jane $21.99

Urban Outfitters $129.99

Go Jane $54.99