Thursday, 18 December 2008

• One Dress, Five Outfits!

  Guest blog submitted by LisaNYM10

  I love fashion magazines; so much that I've developed a system for reading them. First, I tear through them at warp speed, (usually this is done in the checkout aisle of a grocery store) mentally tallying the number of articles worthy of a more thorough perusal. Then, if the tally is greater than or equal to one, I buy the magazine. For my second read, I adopt a more casual "flip & pause" method; this time, dog-earring certain features, articles, and pictures of looks I want to try and copy. Finally, I attack the dog-earred parts, taking in everything that is to be taken in, and sucking every last juicy morsel off the page, much like a coyote devoring every last particle of meat off a carcass.

  I know, I'm a little nuts, it's OK, I've accepted it.

  Anyway, one of my favorite articles that is a staple to all fashion mags is the "One Look, (Number) Ways." They pick a base outfit (usually a dress) and then, via the power of accessories, show you how you can turn it into like a billion different looks. This saves you money while making it appear like you have a never-ending wardrobe.

  I've always thought it'd be fun to try to do something like that with my own wardrobe. Since it's finals time and I'm procrastinating, I thought I'd make my dream a reality and flex my styling muscles. So, without further ado, I present to you.....

  AMAZING LISA'S AMAZING ONE LOOK: 5 WAYS!

  

   The dress I chose is this strapless, chiffon print that I just bought but haven't worn yet.
  

  LOOK #1: WORK/CHURCH
  

  As you can see, everything is black and white so it's understated. The cardigan makes the strapless element much more conservative, and the jewelry is simple but complements the geometric theme of the dress.

  LOOK #2: DATE NIGHT
  

  
  

  I cannot stress enough how much I love red as an accent color to a black and white outfit. For this look, I used a patent leather belt (which should be worn right under the bust, where the black band is), a red satin clutch with matching satin shoes, red earrings and a statement black bead necklace. This look is probably my favorite. I tried it on and it got rave reviews.
  

  LOOK #3: THE WEEKENDER
  

  
  

  So here we have a variation of Look #1 but with more color and a little bit more of a funky feel. I love mixing contrasting colors and pink and teal are among my all-time favorite combinations. The houndstooth hat is my dearest friend. He's my go-to guy to make any outfit look a little more fashionable. And, while I try to stay away from mixing prints, I think in this look it works because the hat and the dress are both B&W and neither overpowers the other.

  LOOK #4: PUNKed

  
  

  One of the things I love about mainstream "punk" fashion is how it incorporates contemporary trends but makes them edgier, more individualist, and much less "paint-by-number." The finished effect is not only cutting edge; it's interesting and unique, which is very hard to pull off in a trends-obsessed society. As you can see, once again, I'm all about the contrasting hues with this look. The long-sleeved white tee and hot pink capri leggings definitely make what could be a formal outfit much more casual and street-friendly, and the bright green patent leather bag and royal purple flats (another of my favorite color combos) play well off each other.

  LOOK #5: ISLAND GIRL

  
  

  For this last look, I envisioned a beach vacation outfit that was no muss, no fuss. I kept the accessories pretty minimal while trying to give the outfit an "island" flavor. The white cotton headband and white platform wedges are crisp and breezy and the chunky sky blue bangle is reminiscent of the ocean. I tied an animal print scarf to the handbag to accentuate the tropical effect. As you can see, I didn't include a necklace because there is no better accessory to a strapless dress than a nice tan, bare neckline.

  Have you ever done something like this? Is there an article of clothing you can use in many ways? Which one of these looks would you wear?
  

  
  

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