Almost everyone we know that runs a fashion blog – or wants to – has one thing in common: they love to dress up.  Sometimes, though, it’s hard to know whether the outfit you like in theory works in practice…or so we think.  “Careless” is an opportunity for the two of us to post photos of some of our favorite outfits throughout each week, then tear them apart.  We’ll tell you what inspired us to create the look, whether or not that look breaks the “fashion rules” for our body types, and most importantly, how much we enjoyed wearing it!

This outfit came together, oddly enough, because I forgot to do laundry.  It’s cold and dreary in the Pacific Northwest, so I’m wearing a lot of pants, but when all of one’s slacks are balled up in the hamper, one must improvise.

The Outfit: The basics of this outfit are very “Mad Men” - very early sixties - which is an era I’ve always felt comfortable in.  The idea of mid- to high-waisted skirts, classic tops and a pair of pumps just screams “sexy” to me, without being overly raunchy or forcing me to adhere to some trendy standard.  Those classic cuts also allow me to play with accessories, giving the outfit whatever “mood” I want to depending on the day.  Feeling upbeat, I went candy-coated, but imagine if I’d gone for a faux python belt and bangles instead: the outfit would have gone from “cute” to “predatory” in a heartbeat.  (…and now I need a faux python belt.  Damn it.)

The Body: If there’s anything my short, long-legged hourglass figure should be wearing, it’s this.  Mid- to high-waisted skirts allow me to accentuate my waistline, and a high-neck top with detail at the shoulders and neckline is interesting without screaming “Hey, look at my boobs.”  The late fifties and early sixties were a great time to celebrate T&A, and the clothes inspired by that era fit a busty, hippy girl better than almost any other.

The Trends: It may not look like there are a lot of trends going on here, but for me, it’s all in the details: that top has a big, chunky, visible zipper in the back – very industrial without being inappropriate for the office – and the tights have an awesome cheetah-like pattern…but it’s only really noticable if you’re admiring my gams.  (Gentlemen: feel free.)  While I like playing with trends, I also like knowing I can wear a top for years without it going out of style.  With this blouse’s pretty pleats, soft shoulders and classic cotton weave, I can, even after the zipper trend is out of style.

What do you think of the classic skirt-and-tights look?

Top, Skirt, and shoes: Banana Republic (sale section!)
Tights: Steve Madden via Ross
Necklace: Ann Taylor Loft
Belt: Unknown

To contact Jennifer Nicole, the author of this post, please send e-mails to jen@thedemoiselles.com or use our contact form.

Browse Timeline

• « Beyond Basics: Alternative Apparel from Mapel
• » Sexy: Approach With Caution

Comments ( 6 )

Add a Comment