Ugly Duckling To Awkward Swan

1. Acne boots

2. Geren Ford top

3. Pamela Love bracelet

4. Citrine By The Stones cuff

5. Karen Walker sunglasses

6. Acne skirt

7. Proenza Schouler bag

8. Jennifer Meyer rings

9. Kora Kite earrings

STORYTIME! In middle school, I was pretty awkward. Scratch that. I was downright unattractive. Sure, everyone goes through a weird phase, but I was seriously clueless. One day, I had waist length hair, the next, I had a pixie cut. Super short. Then I got glasses. I still thought it was cool to wear bellbottoms and smiley shirts from The Limited, Too. Let's just say, I cannot pull off the androgynous, geek chic hippie. Next time, I'll tell you all about my failed attempt at disco punk in high school. Sigh.

SOOO now I have a much better idea of what works for me, and I don't feel the need to hide my love of all things girly. So here is my A Girl And Her Ruffles outfit. These acne booties are natural linen and have the perfect shape. I always find it difficult to feel comfortable in booties when it's really warm outside, but Acne has found a way to make them easy and summery. As you can probably guess, I love neutral colors like this and mixing and matching them in different textures always works. The top is by Geren Ford, who I love. I think I have enough ruffles in my wardrobe to put the entire Victorian era to shame. Maybe that's a bad thing...but I don't mind. The skirt drapes perfectly and has a cute little clasp in the front. Leave it up to Acne to incorporate subtle details in a basic to make them phenomenal. I love tiny rings, and I think I could stack about 30 one on finger, if only I didn't have to actually use my finger. Both cuffs are statement making, yet basic, so I like to layer those too for effect. The earrings are so different and interesting, I wish I wore them more often. I have a serious new love affair with tortoiseshell and the perfect way to complete this ensemble? Some color. By way of Proenza Schouler. Duh. Turns out that turquoise is perfect for every season. And if you don't believe it, I'll just brainwash you til you do. 

It's All In The Details

1. Maurie And Eve dress

2. Anya Hindmarch bag

3. Elizabeth And James sunglasses

4. Hermes shoes
5. Reiss leather shorts
6. Deborah Lippman nail polish in Pretty Young Thing
7. Julie K Handbags belt
8. Citrine By The Stones cuff


Newsflash: It's super hot out. And believe it or not, leather does not feel good in these conditions cause it chafes. Don't laugh at me. You all know what I'm talking about. So I put on my Basic Is Not Good Enough For Me outfit, and feel super cool and confident for about 28 seconds until I start to sweat profusely and the chafing begins. The silk shirt starts to cling. Closed toed shoes were a bad idea. Even the cuff feels confining. My makeup ends up on my neck and my hands and eventually on the bag, who knows how. I can't explain these things. But guess what? After 8 hours outside, looking and feeling like that, I am still super stylish. STY-LISH I say.

SOOO this outfit is full of basics with interesting details. This shirt's neckline is certainly an interesting detail and is actually a dress, but a size too small, so it ends up being short enough as a top. Of course, I tucked it in the leather shorts, because these aren't just ANY leather shorts...no, silly reader...they are high waisted with incredibly flattering pleeting in the softest, smoothest leather ever. I found out the hard way that I cannot possibly bend myself into a position to rub my cheek on the leather while the shorts are on. So I may actually enjoy these shorts even more when they're off. And no that isn't a sexual joke. Well, kinda. The tote is magnificant. It features girls from a Go Go Pageant in the 1960s, with a smaller screen print on the inside, with pockets labeled 'phone' and 'lipgloss'. I'm always a sucker for labeled compartments. Always. It's sad. PLUS Anya Hindmarch is one of my favorite bag designers, can you guess why? Can you?? The logo is a freaking bow. I'm such a girl. These sweet sunglasses are different and unexpected, yet simple enough to be a staple. The belt is not a normal gray belt, but a double wrapped gray snakeskin skinny belt. LOVE. Okay, so the cuff doesn't have any special detail, but who can argue with a gold cuff? Besides, it's called a wonder woman cuff. That's right. I'm a super hero. The polish? Peachy pink = perfect summer color every year. Finally, the shoes. Hermes. Ballet flats. With bows. Did someone say bows?? God, I'm so easy to impress.