LA Story: Tie One On

Scarves, in my opinion, are one of the most multifunctional items we can have in our wardrobes – they’re the chameleons of fashion and style. I mean, how many other items can become something else depending on how they’re tied? Think about it, from wraps to belts, pareos/sarongs, and so much more. Coming in an endless assortment of fabrications, patterns, colours, shapes, sizes, and let’s not forget about the broad price range; for these reasons and more, scarves are the perfect item.

My oversized drop-shoulder t-shirt, Uniqlo, a pair of metallic gold/white snake-patterned pull-on stretch pants, Bevy Flog, and gold metallic snake-embossed sandals, Sam Edelman, get a bump of cool with a big triangle side-tied scarf. Aside from it giving my body a slimmer, longer appearance, it makes my casual look seem like I’ve put in some effort.

I brought in a few straw accessories to reinforce the laid-back vibe. This crochet bucket hat, Mango, and oversized bag, Bohemia Marrakech, are playful, quirky, and make all of my separate pieces feel like a look. Also, they add a much-needed natural element to balance out the gold metallic shine.

I’m wearing a few short, layered necklaces, Gorjana, a small pair of hoops, an easy everyday bangle, Cartier, and a vintage gold link watch, Omega. These few simple pieces are just enough. Anything more would take away from the relaxed style that I’m going for.

Style tip: scarves are a great investment! start with a small summer capsule in assorted sizes and prints, then spend some quality time finding ways to tie them on and into your wardrobe.

LA Story: The Temperature’s Risen’

… and I can’t wait for summer. Here in LA, our weather’s been all over the place, but today it’s hot like summer’s actually here. I don’t know about you, but I tend to fall into my favorite uniforms during the hot months with pareos and slip dresses at the top of my list. Today, I thought I’d expand my horizons and wear a proper dress, and I’m glad I did.

This dress reminds me of Paco Rabanne’s famous chainmail dress from 1966, even though it’s not made from silver metal squares held together by metal hoops. On my dress, Lela Rose, each individual fabric square stands away from the illusion fabric (transparent) it’s attached to; similar to the space between the metal squares on Rabanne’s iconic dress. I particularly love the retro style of the fitted bodice with fuller skirt that falls just below the knee – so lady-like.

I styled it with a long strand of pearls that I’ve knotted at my waist. It speaks to the dress’s retro style and helps give my body some length without disturbing the textural pattern.

To make this look feel more like me (because that’s always the goal), I pulled in a headscarf, The Original Vera. The stripe pattern adds another geometric element to the squares from the dress and the roundness of the pearls, so my look stays cohesive. The scarf’s hot bright colours create a distinct contrast which actually helps in settling the eye. Without the scarf, the eye would keep scanning the white dress in a desperate search for a point of contrast or a resting place. For that same reason, I went with my orange sandals, Sam Edelman. Obviously, they’re a lot more subtle than the scarf, but they do add another point of contrast. Together, both colour placement points at the top and bottom make my look feel more finished and complete.

*style-tip: understanding how to place colour is a game changer when it comes to styling a look

 *please treat your wardrobe well. Many people work very hard to get it to you.