Let’s not talk about the weather for once, shall we? We all know by now that when the weather app says 60 degrees, it means 54 degrees for an hour at two in the afternoon. Accept it and move on. Chicagoans have proven time and time again that true style remains through even the most finicky weather.
This Fashionista serves as major inspiration as my style starts to take a more minimalist turn. When paired with a structured camel coat, a large gray scarf and black accessories, her lace dress adds a dash of interesting complexity.
I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of lace. Just when I think I’ve seen enough lace insert T-shirts and black lace dresses to last a lifetime and a half, a curveball is thrown my way. For example, Tadashi Shoji’s spring 2014 presentation of plaid lace or For Love and Lemon’s cool black lace overlay, and just like that, the love affair is reignited. Lace may evoke visions of Victorian doilies or yellowed curtains, but it can be styled in manifold ways in to bring it into the modern age. Shed the layers; add a fringe vest and some heart-shaped sunnies and boom, a flower-child look perfect for Coachella.
If hippie love guru isn’t exactly your style, go modern with an edge by switching out the camel coat for a leather jacket and slipping on leather espadrilles. Or, layer on a chunky knit, ripped tights, and classic Chucks for a chill grunge look. Layering a shirt or sweater over a dress is one of my absolute favorite tricks. Another trick is building your wardrobe around solid neutrals; it gives so much flexibility in terms of mixing and matching.
Prints and patterns certainly have their moments in the sun, but at the end of the day I find my solid pieces are the ones I keep going back to. Continuing the simplicity trend, this Fashionista kept her jewelry delicate: an expert move. Don’t be afraid to mix silver and gold! That is one of the many fashion “rules” you should push to the wayside. If you like it, wear it and work it.