Look For Less: Olivia Palermo

The weather has been on the colder side lately, but I'm not complaining as I really enjoy bringing out my cozy coats for an encore before they disappear in the back of my closet until next year …and I'm really gonna miss them. A good winter coat is a fashionista's secret weapon, you can throw it on over anything and look put together and glamorous in an instant, and one one demonstrates that better than  Olivia Palermo:

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Olivia's gorgeous Tibi shearling coat is a dream, but since it retails for over 3 grand a dream is all it's ever gonna be. I did, however, find a pretty cute and affordable (it's on sale!) alternative that's also gonna keep you warm:

 Jakke Coat / Topshop Sweater  / Topshop Jeans  / Vans High Tops

Just throw it on with some skinny jeans, a simple sweater,  and your comfiest sneaks.  I swapped Olivia's Max&Co. canvas high tops for some metallic Vans, because I definitely think that leather is a  more weather appropriate choice  …and they just happen to look really cool with the coat. 

Peace, Love, and Lobsters
Laura  

Get the Look: Plaid on Plaid

I love plaid anything, but I always thought that plaid skirts can be a little hard to pull off when you're in your 20s.  They either look too schoolgirl-like or too matronly – but there is one way to fix that (as proven by Olivia Palermo): add more plaid!

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Pairing a plaid skirt with a plaid shirt, makes the school-girl staple look effortless and stylish. There are however a couple of DOs and DON'Ts:

DON'T: 
Go matchy matchy, you want a contrast!

DO: 
Repeat colors!
The secret lies in matching the colors, and not the patterns. If your skirt is blue with hints of red, like Olivia's, reach for a primarily red shirt.

DON'T: 
Get a skater or a pleated skirt,  you'll look like you're 12 (or going to a costume party).
Simple minis and pencil skirts are your friend!

DO:
Keep it simple on the bottom,  that means nude or black flats.
(Or pumps if you're opting for a longer skirt.)

Aéropostale Plaid Shirt  / River Island Skirt / Jeffrey Campbell Bow Flats

Topshop Flats / River Island Wool Skirt / Maurices Plaid Shirt

Are you a fan of plaid on plaid? 

Peace, Love, and Lobsters
Laura

Rosewood Fairytales

Remember my post about making the best Met Gala looks your own? Well, since it happens to be one of the most popular posts on here, I figured I'd do the same for my favorite Pretty Little Liars Prom looks.  And let's be real the fairytale themed Rosewood Prom made the Met Gala look boring.  

Whistles Midi Skirt 

Turn Alison's Belle inspired princess gown into an every day look by opting for this gorgeous yellow skirt. Dress it up with the matching top and heels, or go casual with a denim jacket and simple sneaks.

Max C Floral Shorts 

From the little bow headband to the floral skirt, Aria's Snow White look was perfect. But floral print looks just as enchanting on a pair of shorts.  Pair them with a royal blue summer sweater and some edgy flats, et voilà: casual Snow White, Aria style. 

ASOS Skater Dress

I might be biased because I wore seashells in my hair for my own prom, but Spencer's Ariel inspired look was hands down my favorite (I wish I had closeups of those gorgeous rings!).  And all it takes to bring the Ariel look back to to the beach,  is this little skater dress with a similar neckline. It's easy to wear and the perfect canvas for these necklaces, that even Ariel herself would be jealous of.  

Which was your favorite look from the episode?  

And more importantly, what are your finale predictions?

Peace, Love and Lobsters
Laura

pictures: ABC Family

Summer Black

I did not own a black piece of clothing until I was at least 16,  which is maybe why I am making up for it now. While everyone else is pulling out their white jeans, I'm loving an all-black look for summer, and no one does that better than Emma Stone:

No matter if it's super casual...

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 …or all dressed up:

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There are two secrets to rocking all black ensembles in the summer: minimal accessories and a good amount of skin. The key is to keep it as light as possible, no heavy shoes, chunky necklaces, or over the top bags – just because it is black does not mean that it can't be airy.  When it comes to dressier looks, it is all about cut-outs, sheer panels, and bare backs. 

And no matter if you're opting for a minimalistic racerback tank or an embroidered statement top, there is nothing more versatile than the "little black top":

New Look, Zara, H&M

What's your take on wearing all black for summer? 

Yay or nay? 

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Blue Cat Blues

Leopard print is my favorite neutral, and I strongly believe that almost every outfit is better with a touch of leopard.  That being said, I'm not the biggest fan of colored leopard, as it can easily slip into juvenile or tacky territory.  But there's always an exception, and after seeing this picture of Emma Stone I feel like I might change my stance on the topic:

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Emma's Scarf is from Louis Vuitton (Yes, it's the blue version of that famous piece of fabric that Alison Mosshart used to wear all the time),  but you don't have to splurge to get the look: 

 Whistles / Hallhuber / Maison Scotch / Pieces 

Who says wildcats can't be blue?

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

A penny in a diamond mine

Style inspiration is a funny thing. Personally I would describe my style as very classic and preppy (and I own enough chambray shirts and  navy cable knit sweaters to prove it), yet I would never refer to the Blair Waldorfs and Sarah Vickers of the world as my fashion idols. Don't get me wrong, I love them but I believe that the best inspiration can be found outside one's comfort zone.

And for me that's in Alison Mosshart's closet:

She is the epitome of cool, has collaborated with fashion and music icons alike, and fronts not only one but two of my favorite bands (The Kills and The Dead Weather). Oh, and she was on to the whole leopard thing years before it even was a thing. 

Her look is simple: skinny jeans or leather pants, tattered tees and silk shirts, well worn boots, and great jackets (she seems to have an endless collection of vintage fur and leather jackets, with the occasional Burberry Prorsum trench thrown in for good measure).

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My favorite thing about it is the way she mixes high-end pieces with thrift store finds. It looks so effortless, so easy and playful – which is exactly why her iconic look  is so hard to imitate. Still, that doesn't mean we can't at least try to take a couple of hints from Miss Mosshart.

The first and only rule is to wear what you love and to wear it all at once. It's all about finding your favorite pieces, and mixing them in unexpected ways: A simple hoodie under a vintage fur coat, a designer scarf with your rattiest shirt, or two crazy patterns at once.  Basically, the idea is to reach into your closet, pull out something random, and look amazing – and a touch of leopard never hurts (for me that means my favorite pair of riding boots).

via polyvore

Who's your biggest style inspiration?

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura