It's rare, believe it or not, for me to find a style/fashion blog that I really love. The list is small, especially considering the absolute plethora of fashion blogs out there at the moment. There are some that might mildly fascinate me for a while, but there are truly only 5 or 6 I keep up with on a regular basis.
However, I do keep looking, because I like to see what's out there, and sometimes I am led from link to link to link until every once in a while someone exceptional crops up, as happened today.
What is style? You certainly can't buy it, even if you have a lot of money. You can try to buy someone else's taste, I suppose--get yourself a savvy buyer or personal shopper who knows your body type and what would look good on you--but style is more ephemeral, and if you don't have it, it is woefully obvious.
Those that do, the Kate Mosses among us, are enviable precisely because they seem to grasp some sartorial magic that lets them express themselves through their clothes, so that everything they wear seems intrinsically *them* even if it's not something you would think they would wear. A person with style can making anything her own.
I have no idea who the blogger is behind Views From My Window, except that she lives near or in Barcelona, Spain (one of my favorite places on the planet), that her name is Laura (I think), and that her style is, in my opinion, impeccable (and at the very least, enviable). Someone who can wear something you think no one could possibly wear, and not only that, make it her own and look good doing it--well, that's style. Laura has style in spades.
She's pretty but not supermodel gorgeous, with a very nice figure that shows off clothes that fit her well, and compliment her best assets: those mile-long legs that actually look good in short-shorts, something that hasn't been said about me since I was about 13. And yet if I saw her on the street, she would turn my head. That, too, is style. And style can elevate. Style can take a girl from a 6 to a 10.
The lesson for today is: try to develop your own personal style, whenever and however you can. Some people think it's hopeless--it's not. Like anything, it takes time to learn, and it's good if you know yourself, and your body type and what looks good on you. If you are absolutely clueless, bring in a savvy friend. Looking at style and fashion blogs helps, definitely. Keep track of what catches your eye. Notice what you like and dislike. Figure out why.
Let's take some lessons from Laura. I'm sure if you showed me this shirt she wears here on a hanger, I'd have absolutely no idea what to do with it, and much less how to wear it. Check it out:
It opens on the sides to reveal whatever you're wearing underneath, and it has a bottom tie, and the whole thing forms a batwing-type sleeve. I guess it's sort of an exhibitionist blouse or a chic bikini-top coverup. It is the type of blouse that can easily overwhelm someone, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was purchased on super sale because people had no idea what to do with it. And yet, Laura looks amazing in it. Paired with dark blue H&M cutoffs that she D.I.Y'd herself, with gold jewelry to bring out her skin tone and complement the ivory of the blouse (and gold-rimmed aviators, a nice touch), with kick-ass biker boots that are the last thing you would expect to see on a beach and yet are in a lovely (and also complementary) flesh tone, she has managed to look impossibly chic--and clothed--on a windy beach day. I don't know about you, but when I go to the beach it's usually in a cover-up type cotton dress that I don't mind getting sand all over. I don't high-style it up for the beach. But I am super inspired by Laura's outfit. She's the kind of dresser that if you saw her on the street, you'd go, I want to be her. (Or maybe that's just me.) :) Here are a couple of other pictures (all courtesy of her blog) so you get the full effect:
Gorgeous, right? So yes, you really should check her out.
I'll end with another short-shorts example, but trust me that she wears anything and everything and it all looks fab. So here's our 2nd lesson (no pics because they are private on Flickr, but you can see them here so you know what I'm talking about), where she wears light-colored high waisted denim shorts (just the horror of writing that sentence!--in less capable hands, this look would be a disaster) with what appear to be dark, navy blue tights, a red and navy printed blouse, camel-colored shoes and a matching belt, and a dark brown saddle bag. And let's not forget accessories--a nice pair of black cat-eye shades, with a big, circular black-and-ivory ring. If I could wear this outfit today, I would. I love her attention to detail, and how the navy is brought out in her blouse and tights, complementing the light blue of the shorts. And she doesn't go with a typical shoe color--the camel is not something I would have picked but it works really well--then ties it in with a cute little braided belt. I mean, it's a complete lesson in color and style and how to make your best features work for you. I'll stop gushing now, but I really can't stand it! Total girl/style crush. Big time!
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