Ain't A Hope In Hell Nothin' Gonna Bring Us Down

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of meeting luxury plus-size designer Anna Scholz at a blogger event she held in collaboration with Simply Be, for whom she also designs a unique collection. They gathered up some of the most stunning yet down-to-earth women I have possibly ever met at Scholz's London offices to show us the Spring/Summer collections for both Simply Be and the independent e-commerce site. Now, I know juxtaposing the terms "luxury designer" and "plus-size" seems to create a paradox -- some kind of inexplicable, impossible thing whose existence may actually make the world explode (or so mainstream culture media would tell us, anyway). But there are actually many incredible, higher-end brands designing with curvy women in mind. Lala Belle, Vince Camuto, Eileen Fisher, Igigi and Marina Rinaldi are just a few to come to mind. And, of course, Anna Scholz.

Refreshing. 

That would have to be my word of choice for Scholz's designs. See the dress I am wearing in that first photo? It's part of the new Black Label, priced at $627. Scholz and her team let us bloggers try on some of the apparel, and this was the one piece that really stole my heart. The psychedelic butterflies are mesmerizing, and I feel like if I did own it, I would wear it constantly just to have something trippy to look at to get me through mundane days. Most of the high-end collection has a $300-600 range, with the exception of sale items here and there. But I have to tell you, this dress is by far one of the nicest things I have ever worn. Made of 95 percent silk, it is painfully smooth, and the cut-out shoulders are actually really flattering and experimental, which I like.

Waiting until this mint jacket is released, and definitely splurging on it!

It's honestly somewhat overwhelming to find a designer who is plus-size herself, who saw the lack in high-quality clothes for fuller-figured women and then did something about it. Sometimes I think it's easy to write about size acceptance and equality in fashion for fuller-figured women, but much harder to make a big impact with it. That may just be my own self-doubt playing up, though. But to me, Scholz is really transforming the way the industry thinks of plus fashion -- and maybe, in turn, the way the mainstream thinks about voluptuous women.

Because I am a blogger, and believe wholeheartedly that bloggers have a huge impact on the world this day in age, I also really appreciated that Scholz's event brought a group of curvy bloggers together for the evening. I finally got to meet some of the ladies I've spent time Tweeting and writing about in the past, like Callie Thorpe of From the Corners of the Curve and Georgina Horne of Fuller Figure Fuller Bust. But I met new and inspiring ladies as well -- among them, Nancy Whittington of Sugar, Darling?; Ulrike Bartos of Miss Bartos; Isha of An Autumn's Grace; Charlotte of Apple Charlotte; and Gemma Norris of Pink Gemma. Being part of a group of confident, thicker women coming together for the love of one common goal was really moving and quite frankly, humbling. And I'm not trying to be cheesy, here.

This line is everything a quirky, experiment-loving curvy chick could ever want. The patters are bold and unapologetic -- the colors bright and showy. There is no fear in these designs. There is no, "I'm bigger so I need to cover up." Every piece, whether for Simply Be or Anna's independent site, is brave and boisterous and irrevocably stunning.

She's A Sunflower, She's My One Flower, She's The Flower Of My Heart

Something I worry about perpetually is losing sight of who I am. I don't know if this is an inherent characteristic of most introverted, book worm types, or of all humans at that. But it's a thought that plagues me time and time again. Then again, that worry would suggest I know myself to begin with, and how much do any of us know ourselves really. It's a tricky thing, but I guess what I mean is that the idea of losing the notions of my self that I happen to possess is frightening. I mention all this because my basically-mother-in-law made a comment the other day that really got me thinking about identity and self-understanding. She noticed that most people tend to give me clothes as presents, and asked whether in turn it becomes tough to maintain a unique identity when it comes to fashion. Her wording I can't recollect verbatim, but the point was... when you're wearing so many different genres of apparel, how can you stay true to your style?

Whenever people ask me what my "style" is, I'm at a loss. The decades I draw most inspiration from when thinking of fashion, film or music are definitely the '20s and '40s-'60s. That being said, I am not exclusively a vintage fashion blogger, obviously. Just as I am not a street wear blogger, or a punk blogger or an organic blogger. I shy away from defining my style because I don't like being constricted inside a little box. I don't want to identify as a solely vintage blogger, and then feel the pangs of guilt whenever I feature something other than a swing dress.

At the end of the day, I believe we should choose our clothing based on what makes us happy. For some, that is a "niche." For me, it's experimenting. It's combining trends of different decades. It's doing the '90s grunge one day and the flower power the next. What I will say is that I am a dress and skirt lover, through and through. But am I girly girl? I don't know. I love femininity and sparkles and feeling like a princess (spoiled?). I love dressing up and finding the next-perfect-dress. But at the end of the day, the dresses I pick, the leggings I pick, the coats I pick, I pick because they're me.

This dress, for instance, is so me it kind of hurts. My love for sunflowers is something I have always had, and shared with my sister. They were her favorite flowers before they were mine, and maybe they're my favorite because they were hers, or maybe it's something we just shared intrinsically. Who knows? But this dress... this dress just makes me smile. A piece of clothing featuring your favorite flower or musician or landscape may not seem like a big deal. It may seem fun, and that's why you buy it, but you may not think it really matters all that much. But then you have those moments, like the kind I had with my almost-mother-in-law, and you look at what you're wearing, and it's a sunflower, or The Ramones logo, or Johnny Cash's face or the Eiffel Tower, and you get just a little reminder of who you are. And sometimes that can go a long way.

Get the Look:

Skater Dress in Sunflower Print, $47, ASOS

Wetlook Quilted Crop Jacket, $65, Simply Be

Classic Dr. Marten's, $100, Dr. Martens

Jewel Necklace, $45, Simply Be

My thanks again to the mesmerizing Rachel Crittenden for these shots -- one of the only people who I've really encountered in a long time that I've felt I can actually be me with. I fan-girled Rachel in my last outfit post, which you can read here. But just take my word: she is incredible. She is beautiful. And she'll make you feel beautiful, too.

So Save The Plastic For The Toys; Come Out Your Shell, Just Make A Noise

I'm not one to post a lot of beauty reviews on this site -- mainly because I haven't ever found a beauty product that has blown me away. My young adult life has primarily consisted of M.A.C. lipstick and liquid eyeliner, Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser, and Organix Biotin and Collagen shampoo and conditioner (though this just in, people with curly hair apparently shouldn't use shampoo at all!). These are the staples of my hair and beauty regimens.

When it comes to makeup and skin, though, I have experimented with so many brands and foundations and scrubs over the years that if I were to try and make a list, it would consume the remainder of my graduate career (note: I graduate in September). Part of the trouble, I fear, lies within how picky I am. It's nearly impossible for me to be happy with foundation, be it in liquid or powder form. I HATE color lines, for one, and most liquid foundations (if not matched to irrevocable perfection) will leave a sticky, gunky line of color right where face meets neck. And I'm sorry, but I just don't like the "it looks like my face went through a hideous spray tan experiment" look. Up until this point, NARS has probably produced the powder foundation I feel most comfortable with, but even that is far from light and airy. Because I love the natural look, light and airy are pretty essential. Remember that episode of Full House when Becky tells a teenage D.J. that the key to makeup is looking like you aren't wearing any (yeah, I'm a '90s kid)? Well, when it comes to my foundation, that is the rule I try to live by.

Then there's my skincare. I've (knock on wood!) never suffered from acne. The thing that plagues my skis is often excess oiliness, but luckily the worst that does is cause blackheads on my nose. Most skin products I have tried (even those that claim to be oil-free), only make that oiliness worse, and make me feel like a grease monkey. I also have really bad dark under-eye circles that no cream or gumf have ever managed to save (though Paddy thinks they make me look like an owl, which I take to mean wise).

So anyway, when I received an exclusive press makeup bag by Mark Fast for bareMinerals, meant to help fashion bloggers and journalists survive the series of Fashion Weeks that just roller-coaster-ed away, I didn't know what to expect. Friends (both in the fashion/beauty world and otherwise) have been recommending bareMinerals since I was 14 (ALMOST 10 YEARS!). I've been told time and time again that it's the brand for "people like me" due to its ability to emphasize natural beauty and not be incredibly over-the-top. But because I have a slight tendency to disregard things that I am told are just "for people like me" I had been skeptical to try BM. Since getting the makeup bag, though, (an empty version of said bag is actually being given as a free gift upon purchasing TWO bareMinerals products at Selfridges in Manchester [sorry U.S. readers!], at bareMinerals boutiques or online at bareminerals.co.uk), I've totally reevaluated my thought processes and hopped on the bareMinerals bandwagon.

Inside the press bag were lots and lots of goodies to try:

• READY Foundation
• READY Touch-Up Veil
• Stroke of Light Eye Brightener
• Well-Rested Face and Eye Brightener
• Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss
• Precision Face Brush
• Renew and Hydrate Eye Cream
• Active Cell Renewal Night Serum

First off, I have to say that I was pretty stoked that there were skin products to help rejuvenate and hydrate the face after wearing makeup all day. I am such a believer in letting your skin breathe and relax at night, and though Kiehl's has always been my face wash of choice, the renew and hydrate eye cream has been a blessing for my perpetual dark circles, and the night serum has definitely stuck true to its name and left me at least visibly less tired-looking in the mornings.

But the makeup... oh the makeup. Seriously, I couldn't be more thrilled about how natural both the powder foundation and finishing powder look on my skin. I'll leave it to you to decide if I am exaggerating, but honestly, I don't feel like it's super obvious I am wearing any makeup other than my staple cat liner and lipgloss (speaking of which, the Moxie lipgloss is sort of like a Burt's Bees -- the kind of thing that makes your lips feel instantly less chapped):

See... natural. As someone who truly believes that all women possess natural beauty, a makeup brand that believes the same (which I know sounds like an oxymoron considering makeup is meant to alter/cover the natural look, but in the case of bareMinerals, really isn't) is such a great thing to come across. The foundation and touch-up veil still let me look like me, and that's something that no foundation has ever managed to do so perfectly. I will say that the Stroke of Light Eye Brightener does a good job at hiding my dark circles, and thus (I guess) altering my appearance more so, but it still isn't overwhelming or obvious. I didn't get as much out of the Well-Rested Face and Eye Brightener, but that may just be because it's SO light that there was no visible difference after it had been applied (although maybe it's working it's magic beneath the surface?). 

All in all, these are products I definitely see myself incorporating into my beauty routines from here on out. After toying around with foundations for nearly 10 years (Cover Girl, M.A.C., NARS, Estée Lauder, Rimmel, Maybeline and even Bobbi Brown), I'm ready to stick to bareMinerals. Nothing has ever felt so comfortable, and in the end, comfort is my first quintessential fashion and beauty rule.

Half Of The Time We're Gone, But We Don't Know Where

In my last post, I mentioned the lovely Rachel Crittenden, New York based photographer, writer and all-around creative extraordinaire. When I was in the city last and looking for someone to shoot with, I just knew it had to be her. I'd stumbled upon her work on Facebook and fallen in love. Though I've technically known Rachel since sophomore year at N.Y.U., we'd never had the chance to properly hang out (which I am totally regretting now because my undergraduate career would have been WAY more interesting had this incredible woman been in my life!).

Before meeting up, I warned Rachel about my camera-shy ways. I know it makes no sense that someone socially awkward who is susceptible to red light fever would run a blog, let alone one based predominantly around personal photos, but hey. Anyway, I shouldn't have worried because Rachel has so much fun with her photography that you can't help but feel at ease instantly. There is no arrogance or that whole "intellectual" pretentiousness thing so many photographers seem to be inherently cursed with. There's no, "You HAVE to pose this way and that." There's no discomfort. At all. And I felt my shyness dissipate more and more with every passing second so that all we did was giggle and mess around and totally enjoy ourselves. As well as get some great shots in the process.

Rachel is as honest with her photography as I remember her being with her writing back in the days of creative writing classes. She knows people are beautiful in their own, unique ways, and rather than hide the idiosyncrasies or fine tune the imperfections, she builds off of the au naturale. I totally recommend that if anyone is in the NY-area and needs some pictures for any occasion, this is the girl to go to.

But I will stop the fan-girling and move on to the clothes. I was feeling the grungy, 90s vibe for this look. Sometimes I really do miss that decade. Good boy bands (not ashamed!), Dr Martens, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Lindsay Lohan as a red head tween. These leggings are probably my favorite part of the ensemble, but unfortunately they sold out within a few days of being released on Fashion to Figure. So guess a lot of other ladies felt the same. The striped bra top, however, is still available on FTF for only $19. It's a little shorter than your average crop top, so a little risque/out-of-comfort-zone, but you guys know I am all about embracing the curves and taking risks.

I accessorised with some unique vintage/handmade bits and bobs, like these incredible sunglasses by Lora Lock on Etsy. I know, I am obsessed with Etsy. Lora has a variety of beautiful and quirky sunglasses all around $50 (as well as some insanely rock chick clutches), but the uniqueness of these products is well worth the little splurge. As for my coat, it was a bargain Ebay find. Authentic vintage Levi's can go for hundreds of dollars, but d2Vintage has some epic deals. I love sheepskin-lined coats. They're just so perfect for the cold, and so perfect for the nostalgic '90s kid. I also re-styled this wetlook crop jacket by Simply Be, which was part of my blogger challenge with them. All around, it was a pretty good addition to the look, and meant I had something light and cute to wear underneath the bulky coat.

I've linked to all products except my good, old Docs. Classic Dr Martens forever <3

Don't hesitate to get in touch with Rachel if you're after some NYC-photography. Her prices are totally reasonable, and she's fun. Literally the perfect combination.

Email: rachel.crittenden.photography@gmail.com

Website: Rachel Crittenden Photography

Go Inside For Your Finest Inspiration; Your Dreams Will Open The Door

It's funny, but until I started blogging, I wasn't really into fashion. Sure, I enjoyed shopping and I dedicated a decent amount of time to cultivating a personal style, as most people do to one extent or the other. But it was through writing about size acceptance and body confidence that fashion became a medium for legit self expression and for attempting to put my mantras of curve love into action. And honestly, I couldn't have found this passion at a better time, when multiple brands are really giving plus-size women more options than they have ever had before -- when plus-size bloggers are becoming known on a global scale that surpasses the prototypical micro celebrity of the 21st century -- when women of different sizes are embracing the features they've been told to believe are flaws. I know there is a long way to go before fashion and let's face it, society as a whole, are as accepting of women over a size 12 as they are of those under it, but with all the advances we're seeing, I can't help but be hopeful.

Since moving to the U.K., I've really become obsessed with Simply Be. From AX Paris Curve to Grazia to Anna Scholz, Simply Be carries over a dozen aesthetically unique, daring and fashion forward designers. But what's more is that they interact with real people. They interact with the women shopping their styles. They interact with the bloggers showcasing their ensembles. They care about human connection, and that makes them more than just another company.

I was thrilled when I was asked to participate in SB's blogger challenge -- an opportunity for a select group of bloggers to build a Fashion Week ensemble from head to toe based solely around items from the latest collection. As you guys know, I bounce back and forth between the U.S. and the U.K. pretty frequently, and Fashion Week is no different. It's NYFW now, British Plus-Size Fashion Weekend this weekend, and London Fashion Week next. So suffice it to say, I'm certainly bouncing. 

I feel like one of the misconceptions of any Fashion Week, whether you're in Manhattan or Sydney or London, is that it's all about going ultra-glam. It's all about the furs and the eccentric makeup and the asymmetrical everything. Though I adore all these things, and have no qualms with incorporating them into my look every so often, I think a huge part of all FWs is the elegant simplicity -- the ability to balance the casual, easy-going aesthetic with that of the budding fashionista. I tend to steer clear of anything super impractical when it comes to my outfits, and FW is no different. I want to look cute, I want to look network-able, I want to stand out, but I also want to be comfortable. 

When I was choosing these pieces, I knew jeggings were going to be an essential. I'm normally a dress and skirt kind of gal, so it was out of my comfort zone and different to what I normally do, but true to my style. Because I am a fan of Peter Pan the boy and Peter Pan the shirt-collar, this flower-print top seemed the perfect match. It's extremely spring/summer, and that was a must considering all the upcoming fashion shows are about the S/S collections. My glam factor came in via this wetlook quilted jacket, which has a "rebel without a cause" feel to it whilst not being super-overwhelmingly-dark-and-broody. And to add my necessary vintage feel, I went for rose kitten heels: retro, girly, cutesy but with a hint of sex appeal (I think?).

 

Obviously Simply Be is known for its clothes, but a huge part of fashion comes in the accessorizing as well. I've been getting really into statement jewelry lately, so this oversize jewel necklace seemed to call my name the moment I saw it. It's definitely a stand-out piece, but goes nicely with the flower combo of the top. And of course, the handbag: a girl's best friend. It had to be a clutch. Clutches are classic. They're stylish. They're practical for lugging around 12-hour days. And the colors of this particular handbag really blended with the overall look. My favorite part of Fashion Week is honestly more the street style than anything else. I love seeing people walking around, whether they're heading to shows, dreamily stalking the shows, or having nothing to do with them at all. And my Simply Be choices, as well as my choice to shoot on an actual street, were an attempt to represent that.

On a photography note, it's time to give a shout out to one of the loveliest ladies I know, both inside and out. Rachel Crittenden, New York and Hudson Valley-based photographer, was an absolute delight to shoot with. I've known Rachel for a few years after meeting at our very first creative writing class at NYU, and I've essentially social-media-stalked her work ever since. I was so drawn to her photography because it has a certain realness that's increasingly hard to find these days. She loves natural light. She loves showing the beauty in people and scenes as they truly are. And that's something I will always appreciate in any art. Genuineness. I say all the time that I'm incredibly awkward around humans, but Rachel has that special ability of making you feel comfortable right from the get go and putting all her care and attention into getting the best shots. I highly recommend this woman for anyone looking for a photographer in the NY-area. For more info, definitely check out her website or email her at rachel.crittenden.photography@gmail.com. 

Get My Fashion Week Look:

Print Peter Pan Collar Top, Simply Be

Regular Skinny Woven Jeggings, Simply Be

Wetlook Quilted Cropped Jacket, Simply Be

Catwalk Pointy Court Heel, Simply Be

Jewel Necklace, Simply Be

Color Block Clutch Bag, Simply Be

*Nothing/no one says fashion-forward like Madonna, especially circa 1990 when "Vogue" was released for the I'm Breathless album. I mean, for real. Thus this post's featured song.*

Found My Way Upstairs And Had A Smoke; And Somebody Spoke; And I Went Into A Dream

There's been something of a trend as of late involving semi-casual suit-y type separates of the same pattern. When I first started seeing this pop up in places like ASOS or Topshop, I wondered what was the point. The majority of the separate combos weren't formal enough to serve as work suits (not that I would ever wear a proper suit anyway), but certainly not laid-back enough for your average day. And if a top and skirt, or top and shorts, are of the same pattern, why not just go for a dress and avoid awkward creases? Featuring the Jackie Kennedy-inspired ensemble a few weeks ago was sort of an experiment. I figured I shouldn't belittle the trend until I tried it. And I actually kind of get it. Having the separates allows for a lot more versatility.

Anyway, I received something of a similar nature from Tesco's clothing line, F&F. For my U.S. readers, Tesco is sort of like the upscale Walmart of the E.U. Though primarily a grocery store in the U.K., they do also sell electronics and bedding and yes, clothes. My assumption prior to just recently was that the clothing was probably pretty...well, crappy. Possibly cute, but likely to only last a few weeks and one or two washes (like Walmart!). But these pieces actually seem to be of decent quality. The elastic of the skirt has loosened a bit after two wears, which is something of a disappointment, but otherwise everything is holding up (and because I have the worst tendency to tear, stain and utterly destroy clothing due to a lack of balance and coordination, it's a good sign in my book).

This particular jacquard set is a bit more formal than I'd wear to university (unless I was still studying at N.Y.U., in which case, anything goes), but that's the beauty of the separates. I paired the skirt with a sea foam green polka dot crop top the other day, and was pretty pleased at how good of a pattern-mixing look that created (sorry, no pictures unfortunately). I'm certainly keeping it on the rack for a fancier-type dinner or night out in Manhattan when I next return, though. Oh, and it's got a hint of '60s glam whilst being form-fitting and curve-highlighting, so I was bound to love it.

*Sorry for the not-so-good quality of the photos and the fact that they have been taken indoors. But this is England. it rains perpetually.

This is what happens when, for whatever reason, Paddy asks me to make a jelly fish impression. Clearly, I do not spend enough time with jelly fish.

Get the look:

F&F Chain Embellished Jacquard Shell Top, $16, Tesco

F&F Monochrome Jacquard Tube Skirt, $23, Tesco

Catarzi Exclusive to ASOS Classic Fedora, $49, ASOS

Jacques2 Double Buckle Shoes, $104, Topshop

If You Knew Peggy Sue, Then You'd Know Why I Feel Blue

My love for vintage is something I write about often. On my blog, for Bustle, in the micro-writing-platform that is Twitter. I take any opportunity presented to me to address the love I feel for cat eyeliner, '50s dresses and Marilyn Monroe. When I moved to the Manchester area, I lived in fear that this romance I am in with all things retro would be perceived as bizarre. I try not to waste too much time thinking about what others are thinking about, but when you relocate to a new environment, you always wonder: how will my quirks/style/abnormalities be taken? Honestly, I don't know what I was so worried about. The vintage comeback is as much a thing in the UK as it was back in NY. Maybe even more of a thing. Manchester is all about being daring and bold and grungy and different. It's a small city, but it has as much diversity in its fashion as it does in its fickle, fickle weather.

Through one of my favorite bloggers, Georgina Horne of Fuller Figure Fuller Bust, I came across HMS Vintage -- a vintage makeover studio right outside Manchester city center, specializing in recreating the looks of decades past both in their fashion/beauty products as well as their use of setting, background and props. Photographer Ian Brooke told me that remembers being a kid and just intrinsically finding beauty in old photography, old fashion, old looks. Needless to say, I totally got where he was coming from.

Luckily, I was able to go into HMS for a review shoot, which I will be writing about in VIVA Magazine this week. But I couldn't resist posting the final photos here as well. It was just such a lovely afternoon. I was greeted by an "afternoon tea," which consisted of a beautiful, tiered platter of goodies, from red velvet cupcakes to grapes to scones, and of course, tea (this is England, after all). Getting my hair and makeup done with Eva Baberska, head stylist at HMS, was also incredible. As someone who is painfully awkward with humans, she made me feel comfortable right away. It probably helped that her beautiful baby girl had come to work too. Eva was so patient with me despite the fact that I have the knottiest mess of curls on both sides of the Atlantic, and that's something I rarely find in a stylist. It's always, "Why don't you brush your hair more," or "Don't you know you can end up with dreads?" But not at HMS.

The wardrobe selection was a whole other heap of impressive. Before arriving, I was worried. Would they carry plus-sizes? Would anything fit over my super wide hips? But it wasn't an issue at all. There were dresses for everyone... there were accessories for everyone... there were shoes for everyone. Every piece of clothing that fit me, I wanted to steal. It was obvious to me that the staff truly cares about scouting out the best pieces of vintage and vintage-inspired dresses, and that dedication to their business was part of what made the day so beautiful.

For info on how to book a shoot with HMS Vintage, email hello@hms-vintage.co.uk

Be Running Up That Road, Be Running Up That Hill, Be Running Up That Building

I have been following Bow and Drape since they first launched and started producing some really high-quality, DYO fashion. As not-a-very-huge fan of do-it-yourself activities in general (I prefer to get things ready-made -- maybe due to a lack of time, maybe because I'm sort of lazy when it comes to my shopping), I was initially skeptical. But after customizing a Jackie Kennedy-inspired dress, I was convinced. The fabric was soft to the touch and comfortable, and I actually loved the design process. It opened my eyes to a new and potentially exciting development in my list of fashion-y hobbies, and ever since I've tried to add something unique or aesthetically different to most things I wear. Even if it's just in how I accessorize a certain piece or wear my hair.

Anyway, B&D has some gorgeous new items. For a new-ish company, they really expanded heavily in 2013, and 2014 will undoubtedly follow suit. A sucker for elephants, though, I had to get something with this boozy elephant applique. I mean obviously: my favorite animal drinking a cocktail. It was a match made in heaven, really. Because it's been so hideously grim and typically British outside the past few weeks, I thought I'd go for this Billie Sweatshirt, and I assure you it's one of the warmest things I've worn in ages. Don't be fooled by the light look of it, the fleece lining is a beautiful thing. To throw in a bit of my native language, I customized my elephant with the word "salud" -- a.k.a. "cheers." This was an attempt to be slightly cultural while keeping the sweatshirt fun. 

Amongst the style-spirations for B&D's clothes are classic icons like Audrey Hepburn, Coco Chanel and Simone Signoret, as well as modern fashion mavens like Florence Welch and Victoria Beckham. I find the mixture of the old with the new subtle yet distinct. Unlike a lot of brands that really strive for this mixture, but fall short, Bow and Drape nails it every time. For me, this is really perfect because I love the fashion of decades past but enjoy inserting modernity's twists into most things I own. 

Side note, you guys know I struggle with pants. Tights and leggings, those are my staples. But these faux-leather skinnies by Lauren Conrad are one of the best things I've ever wiggled my assets into. I feel so beyond comfortable, and feel they really do wonders in the curve-accentuating department when it comes to my thighs and derrière. 

But back to Bow and Drape, you can read my interview with former PR girl Christa for more info. And in the meantime, use coupon code MIGGMAGNEWYEAR for 15% off anything! (Valid until the end of the month.)

Get the look:

Customizable Billie Sweatshirt, $58+, Bow and Drape

Lauren Conrad Faux-Leather Skinny Pants, on sale for $32, Khols

Deep Burgundy Ankle Boots, $65, Boohoo

Jewelry, H&M