On men's style

Since I'm on the topic today, I thought I'd post my ultimate male style icon: Tom Waits.

Man Makeover

The boyfriend forced me to go shopping with him, after which I styled and photographed him. I'm not as comfortable with men's fashion. My take on men's fashion is generally pretty simple: jeans, a t-shirt and Chucks (the grungier and I-don't-care-how-I-look-or-dress-ier, the better) and you'll have me swooning as long as you're comfortable and confident and sincere. You could pretty much wear jeans and a t-shirt every day of your life, really. But...it's nice to have a little fun sometimes.

Outfit 1: I like khakis and think there is a way to wear them without looking like a total yuppy prep, even when worn with loafers. So I rolled the pants up and threw a plaid shirt on him. Plaid shirts are always in style and make me grunge nostalgic - when I see plaid, I see Kurt Cobain. 

Outfit 2: Again, how do you avoid looking like a preppy asshole when wearing chinos and a dress shirt? Throw on something a bit tattered, a bit loved and with a bit of edge. Like a favourite army jacket you picked up at a flea market.

Outfit 3: I had to, right? Jeans and white tee = my favourite man outfit especially when worn with rockin' boots and a James Dean-esque smoldering look + cigarette dangling out of the mouth. You can't see the belt, but it's a favourite of mine. He's had it forever, this ridiculously old and worn studded belt with half the studs missing. Also, the skull necklace is a Tu-Linh original. It had a white skull too (whittled from Moroccan stones or something), but...alas, boys break and lose things.

Outfit 4: You can't really appreciate what I like most about this look due to my shoddy photography and my editing that fades out detail (I like the polaroid aesthetic ok?). 1 - The fact that it's a grey suit over a black vest over a white t-shirt - I have no explanation for that, I just like it. 2 - The suit pants are tucked into the same boots as the last outfit. Even when you have to be business or formal, don't forget you're a rocker at heart.

Here's a close up on the belt and boots:

Final thoughts: Boys, you can care about how you dress or look but don't care too much. Don't question it too much or fuss over your clothes - just keep it simple and be confident in your own skin first and foremost. Cultivate a style and not an obsession - nothing is a worse turn off than excessive man vanity. (Um, manity?)

Crochet, all the way

Some inspiration:

Crochet on Kate Bosworth (at Coachella = love) and on Karen

Some ideas:

Topshop knitted crochet dresses $110 and $80

Forever 21 crochet sweater tunic $27.80

Some me:

River Island dress 40 euro

Now if only I had those biker boots I was talking about the other day...

Love this styling

I'd like to thank Emmanuelle Alt for this Vogue Paris editorial. Messily layered and heavily accessorized, the styling is perfectly balanced. It's got a cool (I know I used the word nonchalant in the last post AND I'LL USE IT AGAIN IF I WANT TO) and nonchalant panache I wish I could exude daily, with one sleeve rolled up and the other down in a way that says: "Yeah, just like that. I look this good."

Feel free to click on the images and zoom in on the genius.

(via I love Wildfox)

Chanel Resort 2011

So I'm vacationing in Saint-Tropez, playing pétanque with Diane Kruger and Vanessa Paradis, at sunset, barefoot on the grass in a chiffon maxi dress, delicately pastel printed, holding my coral sandals nonchalantly in one hand as I toss the metal boule with the other...just a typical evening on the Riviera. Also, somehow, it's the 70s - we've all gone back in time and Mick Jagger is serenading me.

= my life story if it were penned by Karl Lagerfeld.

Back to reality, to sunny (finally) Amsterdam, a starving artist sitting cross-legged on the floor in jean shorts and a tee, drinking from a mini keg of Heineken. This isn't so bad at all...I really don't think I'd have it any other way. 15 year-old me would look at present me and think I was the coolest person ever. That's always a nice thought.

Biker

Many years ago, I bought a pair of $30 brown faux leather biker boots, even before Frye really blew up. Those boots graced my little feet through 7 Canadian winters and were by far the warmest, most comfortable, most worn, most commented on and simply the coolest boots I have ever owned. I parted with them before my move to Europe and now it's time for an update. I think I'd like to switch calf for ankle and brown for black. Here are some inspiring looks.

The girls at Fashion Squad, Lina di Moda, Fashion Toast and Caroline's Mode.

Rag & Bone moto classic boot $550 at La Garçonne

Aje biker boots $525

Opening Ceremony cropped harness cowboy boot $330

Jeffrey Campbell for Free People Harness Harley boot $216.93 at freepeople.com

Deena & Ozzy Perf Harness boot $58 at Urban Outfitters

Major Girl Crush

Bambi Northwood-Blyth. Yes, I'm aware that she is all over the fashion blogs right now, but instead of admitting to being redundant, I will audaciously claim that my post has the best, most comprehensive collection of pictures of Miss Northwood-Blyth. Love her, love her big eyebrows, love her nose ring and love that she's only 5'7".

(pictures from a-j-e.com.au, tfs, knight cat, the sartorialist)

Today's Inspiration

Soft polaroid-esque colours. Happy Thursday, lovers. xo

Katie Fogarty by Dan Martensen

I love the effortless layering here. Soft pastels of the shirt & blazer mixed with rock n' roll tie-dye tee & cut-offs = brilliant. This is the outfit I wish I was wearing today.

Carmen Kass by Ezra Petronio for Self Service

Chloé colours on Carmen. The photography makes me want to take more polaroids.