LA Story: Black Magic

Wearing all black really is magic, don’t you agree? It’s the universal colour that’s flattering on everyone and makes us look slim. My all-black Summer look is light and easy and includes only few knit pieces. This vintage short sleeve cardigan, Claude Barthelemy, combines a solid knit with a beautiful crochet pattern. The crochet exposes a lot of skin but gives enough coverage so I don’t feel like I’m dressed like a teenager. The gorgeous scalloped edge adds a level of sophistication that in no way looks fussy or contrived and is one of my favorite things about it.

I’m pretty nuts about my, blacks, matching but with this kind of top it doesn’t matter because of the placement of the crochet. When putting together a one colour look that consists of only a few items, balance and dimension are extremely important. To achieve that, I went with my black knit Ponte low-rise cropped flared pants, Vince. Their shorter flared bottom exposes my ankles and feet and somewhat mirrors the look of my top. And with the openness of these black sandals, Sam Edelman, the eye will stay focused between my ankles and neck. You can see that it doesn’t matter that my blacks don’t match because of how both garments line up. I grabbed a black crochet backpack, Temma Dahaan, to keep the through-line going for my all-black knit easy Summer look.

💕style-tip: magic happens when we take a minute to consider fabrication garment style and the right placement.

LA Story: Black and Navy Chic

I love the sophistication of black and navy worn together.  I don’t see much of it in LA, maybe this playful spin will inspire more of you to give it a try. I’m wearing a navy and white stripe boatneck top, Juicy Couture, with a pair of black high-waist wide-leg woven trousers, Marc Jacobs. Since I’m going for a fun uptown/downtown feel my supporting pieces are key in making it happen. I’ve always been a big fan of wearing sneakers with men’s suits and trousers. There’s something about taking down the seriousness and stuffiness of a suit that really appeals to me.

I know trainers are all the rage, but I much prefer a simple pair of, Chucks.  My white bucket hat, Kangol, adds another white element and together with my shoes create a frame around my garments.  I could have gone with a predictable handbag in black or white, but this look is about fun and whimsy. Instead, I went with a little black satin opera bag, Vintage, and pinned a white flower to it, Chanel. My black cashmere sweater, Bloomingdales, will not only keep me warm on this gloomy day it lends another solid black element to pull together all of my separate pieces. As for jewelry…it had to be these large South Sea Pearls. The Baroque misshapen style represents the same concept as a suit worn sneakers – playful and carefree. A strand of large oversized faux pearls would also suffice.

style-tip: attention to detail and garment consistency are key to achieving a cohesive and effortless look.

 *please treat your wardrobe well. many people worked very hard to get it to you.