Style: a parody for non conformists

Genderless, androgynous, intersexual..whatever you want to call it,

designers have been creating collections that both men and women can wear for a while now. Infact my last style post was about the dual jumpsuit which I personally prefer on women but still. And we know girls like to borrow their boyfriends jeans .

We also know real style is personal but when it comes to wearing jeans everything goes. Depending on our mood and our body type we can choose from skinny to slightly sloppy boyfriend style, cropped, high waisted, wide-legged and everything in-between. And for purists Levi’s are still #1.

So when SNL recently did a skit on Woke jeans, made for a generation that defies labels, I had a good laugh. Because sometimes we need to take fashion with a grain of humor.

https://vimeo.com/236776084

What do you think?

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style: the Jumpsuit

I’m not even sure the words style and jumpsuit belong in the same sentence, but here we have it.

I’m torn with the same feeling I have for overalls. I’m not a big fan. A catsuit; now we’re talking! It’s sexy. Although a good jumpsuit (a tad more upscale than overalls but definitely laid-back) worn a certain way can carry itself. Maybe this should be entitled “how to style a jumpsuit.”

And let’s keep in mind worn in the desert with combat boots, a fashion statement it does make.

For me a style post is getting harder and harder to do, if only because the best style is personal, and while one person can pull something off, another person can look totally ridiculous wearing. And trends come and go, as we’re well aware.

So when I spotted this jumpsuit on another website, I had to re-think the whole thing. Because it looks fabulous. And in pinstripes; you can’t go wrong. The fact that the model is in Morocco with the sun shining certainly doesn’t hurt.

But honestly, I was interested enough to go online to find out who the manufacturer was. Then to my surprise I found out that the one-piece is unisex no less.

I wasn’t aware that men wore jumpsuits, so this is all new to me.

Honestly, how do you feel about this statement piece?

https://www.marrakshilife.com/desert-collection/drawstring-jumpsuit

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Outerwear: staying stylish while braving the elements

In this case, It’s what’s on the outside that counts!

In the Rain

My friend Colleen always manages to look stylish, rain or otherwise

It’s almost impossible to look stylish in the rain. I live in Vancouver and when there’s a crazy torrential downpour (like right now) all I want is to stay warm and dry. Which leaves me wearing a practical gore-tex jacket (which I’ve tried to retire time and time again only to take it out of hiding at this time of the year) with hood pulled up tight over my face and childlike gum boots or waterproof hiking boots. The only way anyone can tell that it’s me if I’m wearing this getup is because there’s two sheltie dogs ~~dragging~~ tagging along beside me, usually wearing raincoats of their own. This is truly the best (or most useful) dreadful weather dog walking gear I can think of. This is when practical works best.

Love Yellow Gum Boots Credit: Van City Buzz

But when there’s a lighter rainfall it’s much easier to look more put together. I wear a dressier looking raincoat (as if you can refer to a rain coat as being dressy, but I mean one that you can actually wear a dress under), black rain boots (duh) and a fashionable rain hat (because I prefer not to carry an umbrella). I found a great all-weather leather Dooney & Bourke handbag from a vintage fair in Palm Springs. I knew when I first spotted it that it would be my go-to at this time of the year. It pulls everything together.

Here’s another example of keeping **stylish in the rain** – having people fend off the elements for you when you go to Paris Fashion Week. And don’t worry about freezing in your gown because of course there’ll be a warm car waiting for you.

In the Snow

What I remember most about living back East was that even when it snowed it was a lot brighter out. Even though it was cold, the sun was still shining. Not all the time, but a lot of the time.

Home for the Holidays – Cameron Diaz

You have more fashionable options in colder weather. Winter is not my favorite season but I love winter coats because there’s so many choices. It’s the last thing you put on before going out the door and first thing people see you in. You can have fun with them.

The snow won’t ruin wool or cashmere so covering up definitely gives you more options. When I lived in Toronto I had several nice warm and stylish winter coats. From a full length bright red Hilary Radley (Canadian designer) wool coat to a fake leopard fur ¾ swing coat and many others in between. Even some down coats can look stylish (see above). And if you’re not sure you can never go wrong with a long camel coat, preferably in cashmere. And then there’s the boots….but that’s for another post.

How do you stay stylish on the outside in winter?

STYLE

Style: Sweater Weather

This time of the year I’m FALLing for cozy oversized knitwear. From cashmere to wool, crew or turtleneck, be it bright or neutral (my favorite), easy to wear, warm knits are the ultimate casual attire for a cool day. And it appears I lean towards full spectrum shades of grey

Stay comfortably CHIC

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style is in the Bag

THE MULTI-TASKER

GiGi New York Convertible Leather Clutch

Style meets Function

I’m still getting the Zoe Report Box of Style and it’s always fun to unwrap the fashionably curated and useful findings inside each seasonal box.

For Fall 2017 Rachel Zoe and her team have an

exclusive collaboration with GiGi New York

featuring a luxury carryall in unexpected navy which converts from a computer case by day to a chic clutch come night. Made of quality textured leather, it comes with a detachable strap for slinging across your shoulder for casual wear from office to evening. Of course the tassle sets it apart.

“Every woman is so incredibly busy, we need practical yet stylish pieces for every day.” Rachel Zoe

A new favorite fall companion! I’ll tell you about the rest of the box tomorrow.

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style + Beauty = Balmain

A look ahead to…

BALMAIN SPRING 2018 FRANCE INSPIRED shoe/boots:

These high heeled boots were designed with a Sexxxxy lace up front.

Going for Baroque...The swirls on some of the uppers were inspired by the baroque interiors of France’s great palaces. The same swirls also found their way to the mini handbags.

Where oh where will I wear these?

By times we must look beyond the practical. And for many women, this IS their practical. Unless they have little french poodles please tell me they have NO dogs!

Always be comfortable in your own boots

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style: warming up to Fall

An artistic viewpoint: Winter is an etching, Spring is a watercolor, Summer is an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all – Stanley Horowitz

Fall is a chance to get cozy again. Pull out your sweaters, booties, scarves and fedoras.

Here are a few street stylin women whose simple comfy style appeals to me right NOW.

(Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

A little leopard never hurts. AND check out those BOOTS!
(Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

What’s your favourite FALL STYLE?

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style: chic feet

Maybe it’s the influence of a fashionable friend visiting from London or maybe it could be that I’ve always found LONDON WOMEN have a look (aka the London Look) that’s a bit more edgy or funky (for lack of a better word because groovy is what really comes to mind) over the rest of us. I admire the way they experiment with clothing and accessories and manage to pull off something more avant-garde and make it chic and fun. it’s not necessarily anything trendy or something we’re so used to seeing. Which leaves us wondering…hmmm how did she pull it off? For this post we look to the feet.

Feet found on the streets of London during Fashion Week – unfortunately not by me.

MOD WOMEN

Photos: Vogue (UK), Buro (but chosen by me from plenty more images).

STYLE

Style: get a Grip

With all the different options of bags on the market the grip handle bag has always been a ladylike choice.

Grace Kelly with the **Hermès** bag named after her – still in demand.

There are pros & cons to carrying one.

It’s a no-brainer because you just grab ‘n go, it doesn’t mess up your outfit and always looks sharp for a more polished look.

Even though they’ve never really gone out of style (think Lady Dior or the Vuitton Speedy handbags – both best sellers) they lost their appeal for a while.

But they seem to be making a modern comeback.

**Gucci** – found on “Real Real” website

On the other hand if you’re out walking the dog (leash in one hand, phone in the other) it’s just another thing to hang onto. An over the shoulder, backpack or cross body bag is much more convenient in this case.

But when it comes to the beach, most straw bags are hand held. It would look awkward throwing one of those over your shoulder.

**Bag, Staud**. Photo: Atelier Dore. See below for where to buy.

**Bag, General Store**. See where to buy below.

The larger purses that come two-fold (with grip and a strap to fit over your shoulder) are convenient but many of them don’t always look so nice. I prefer those where you can remove the larger strap. Which brings me back to getting a grip on it; as shown in these photos.

Audrey Hepburn from “Breakfast at Tiffanys”

Bag, Staud (Moreau Bucket Bag)

Bag, General Store (handwoven by fair trade Ghanian artists from elephant grass)

Which kind of bag do you prefer to carry on a daily basis?

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style: Personal Collection of Audrey Hepburn

Real Style can now be bought…but we know who wore it best!

Oh, how I’d love to own a piece of clothing that Audrey Hepburn had worn.

**Audrey Hepburn and Mel Ferrer in 1956.** Photo: Paramount / Kobal / REX / Shutterstockon

If only I could afford to…if only I could fit into something – two major factors. Or maybe I could just frame the dress from Breakfast at Tiffanys!

For fans it will be possible to purchase something special with Christie’s upcoming sale of the Personal Collection of Audrey Hepburn. A sneak peek:

**A behind-the-scenes glimpse of Christie’s upcoming sale The Personal Collection of Audrey Hepburn**. Photo: Courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd. 2017

‘It is with great joy that we seek to share her spirit, through this sale, and its related previews’ — Luca Dotti and Sean Hepburn Ferrer, Audrey Hepburn’s sons.

Among this precious cache are many pieces from Hepburn’s personal wardrobe, including a cocktail dress from her friend and favorite fashion collaborator Hubert de Givenchy, a classic Burberry trench, and a rainbow-hued selection of ballet flats.

Photographs, Hepburn’s annotated scripts, and more will also be offered for sale in London on September 27; if the Internet breaks that day, you’ll know why. Decades after her passing, Hepburn’s popularity only continues to grow.

Hepburn’s style is sure to have drawn many to her. “People have always talked about her grace, [and wondered], What was the secret of her elegance? What was her system? What was her style?,” says her son Sean Ferrer who, with his 20-year-old daughter, is writing a fashion book, slated for 2018, that will tackle these questions, though he believes that some answers will emerge at the Christie’s preview, “when people see not just iconic pieces of clothing, but also more intimate things, things that she wore on her off time or at home.”

**Audrey Hepburn’s colorful ballet flats** (estimates from $1,900). Photo: Courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd. 2017

If the sale will offer fans a more complete picture of Hepburn, it sounds like it will free the family to move forward with their charitable efforts on their mother’s behalf. Things, Ferrer says, are static. “As far as moving into the future, I don’t think things will help us, therefore it’s only fair that those who would like to have a keepsake of her can do so.”

It would make for a fabulous keepsake from one of the most loved actresses of all time.

Source for story: Laird Borrelli-Persson / Vogue Runway