My Style "Rules"

Thrifting at Vintage Garage Chicago

I think it's important to provide my manifesto, that is to say, some of my rules for getting dressed.

I invite arguments to the contrary. The great thing about personal style is that it's an evolution. Part of my quest with this blog is to push my boundaries and find ways I wasn't previously styling pieces. Some of these rules won't exist in a few months or years, and that's okay. For now, they help me get dressed a little faster.

• When in doubt, my favorite outfit combination is a graphic tee, cardigan or other cover-up, and a skirt. Midi and maxi skirts are particularly good for errand running.

• I love vintage. My usual method for working them into my everyday wardrobe is to wear them mixed with newer pieces. 

• Silk scarves are my favorite lazy day accessory.

• I believe in the beauty of floral prints. 

• I believe in colorful tights. Yes, there are situations where you don't want your legs shouting, "Hello, sailor!," but I think they're one of the best methods for adding texture to an outfit without overwhelming it. And other times, you do want your legs shouting, "Hello, sailor!"

• I believe in pattern mixing. Maybe it's one of those things I'll groan over in 20 years, but especially with my predilection for floral prints, it's one of my favorite ways to elevate what could be a basic outfit.

• I go through jeans phases, where I buy several pairs of the same cut and wash from the same brand. I went through a gray jeans phase during college, but for the past five years I've been pretty faithful to Target's black skinny jeans (which I haven't seen on their shelves in months!).

• I love the look of colored pants, but don't own any. I'm still on the lookout for a pair that doesn't make me feel self-conscious about my thighs.

• I've always been on the fence about monochromatic outfits, but I cannot, will not!, wear black on black on black. This is a behavior I struggle with, because I own so very much black (and coincidentally, prefer black pants right now).

• The only earrings I own are clip-ons. I had my ears pierced in second grade, and by third grade, had five different holes in the back of each ear. As somewhat of a needle-phobe, that put the kibosh on my foray into piercings. I've been able to sustain my interest in earrings by poking around thrift stores, and I think I prefer the 'diamond in the rough' discovery of new pairs I like.
  
  Do I sometimes wonder what it's like to wear chandelier earrings? Yes. Am I curious enough to shove two more needles through my earlobes? No.

• I don't like to mix silver and gold jewelry. There's something about it that doesn't look quite right to me. It's a quirk I'm slowly getting over with the help of a rustic silver and gold necklace.

• I usually don't buy high heels. All of you ladies that suffer for fashion, I envy you. I'd love to have your drive. But, I prefer being able to walk. The other setback: I wear a size 10--sometimes 11. Cute shoes that don't look tailored for drag queens are hard to come by. I'm convinced that wherever I live, there's a horde of rich women with my shoe size who clear the stores before I ever get there.
  
  Consequently, I wear the hell out of my shoes. It doesn't matter if the soles start to get bare, or if a seam is coming loose. I will wear a shoe until it looks unseemly, until it can't even stay on my foot. (Most of the time.)