Kat is wearing:
her own pink lace top, a-line skirt from Anthropologie, her own alice&olivia for payless pumps.
Kat Harrison has all the qualities of a wholesome girl from the midwest; she lives in a house in Park Slope, loves Brother Jimmy’s BBQ, and writes for Observer Playground, the New York Observer’s magazine for parents.
She also has a tattoo of a tornado on her arm, a streak of hair that constantly changes colors (from purple to pink to bright red), and one of the most eclectic personal styles I’ve ever seen. Kat’s closet and accessories drawers are overflowing with brights, bows, and bouquets.
I chose Kat to model this “urban housewife” look, because although she does not have any children, her style reminds me of the mothers I see walking around New York. She is wholesome, yet she has some edge.
I’m usually not a fan of mixing lots of bright colors in an outfit, because I think it can be overwhelming. However, the colors in this skirt look a lot more vibrant when paired with a bright pink or purple top. The purple shoes are probably my favorite part of the outfit; although I adore towering shoes, I’m glad kitten heels are making a comeback.
Photography by Marc Hall
Christine is wearing:
-Express dress, her own heels, lace gloves from Aldo, hat hair pin from Aldo, ring, earrings, and necklace gifts from my mother
While on lunch break one day at work, I found these lacy gloves and hat accessories at Aldo, and thought, “this would look perfect with my new Express dress.” The dress itself, with its curve-hugging qualities, exudes sex appeal, but the accessories keep it classy, making the outfit more versatile. I loved how the accessories reminded me of a tea party and completely transformed this typical going-out dress into an outfit with subtle glamor. I decided to go with loud, statement pieces for the jewelry, like the flower cocktail ring, which really stands out against the lace gloves, and cubic zirconia earrings, which add some sparkle on top.
Christine’s gray heels really complement the blue hues in the dress, and the boot shape kicks up the edginess in the outfit, making it appropriate for a night out.
While the dress itself is fabulous, it’s definitely the accessories that make this look, and the total for all was under $100. This goes to show that any girl can look glamorous on a budget; all we have to do is accessorize. (Scroll down for more photos).
Photography by Marc Hall.
Nora is wearing:
beaded tunic dress from Haute Hippie ($100 at showroom sample sale), yellow pumps borrowed from KJ Kramer, jewel earrings from my mother
A few years ago, after Sienna Miller and Jude Law broke up and she became famous for her “bohemian style,” I discovered Urban Outfitters/Anthropolgie’s sister store, Free People, and immediately fell in love. The bohemian dresses, the gladiator sandals, the headbands, and the jewelry were all just what I needed for my first summer in the city- trendy, colorful, lightweight, and freeing to wear.
A year or so later, I found Haute Hippie, a company which, according to their blog, designs for “a citizen of the world who does not feel the need to conform to trends.” If Free People represents Sienna Miller’s breakout style (bohemian, colorful, trendy), Haute Hippie represents her style while impersonating Edie Sedgwick in the movie Factory Girl. It is glamorous, detailed, and extravagant, yet the clothing’s shape and structure maintain the “oh, I just threw this on” simplicity of hippie culture.
For this shoot, I paired the beaded tunic dress with jeweled earrings to create a glamorous going-out look, with yellow shoes to add some fun and complement the gold in the dress. While the intricate beading gives this dress a glamorous touch, the tunic shape makes it more bohemian, and the designers at Haute Hippie are experts at mixing these two styles to create a more versatile dress. I’ve also worn this dress in the daytime with a pair of sandals, and it looked just as good. (Scroll for more pictures)
Photos by Marc Hall
Make-up by KJ Kramer
Chelsea is wearing:
-her own shirt, faux ostrich feather skirt from Haute Hippie, heels from Steve Madden, feather hair accessory borrowed from Kat Harrison, bird cage shelf prop from Urban Outfitters
I found this amazing skirt at a Theory/Helmut Lang sample sale which featured a small selection of Haute Hippie pieces. Among the racks and racks of gorgeously crafted Helmut Lang dresses and breezy cotton Theory numbers, the ostrich feathers stood out and I thought, “I have to have it!”
Of course, like any shopaholic, I celebrated my excellent find by wearing the skirt at the very first opportunity I had- to an Animal Collective show at PS1, and I could not count the number of comments/compliments/looks I received from the fellow fashionable concert-goers. While some say “you are what you eat,” this skirt truly made me feel “you are what you wear.” Dancing inside the PS1 art installation filled with electric music sound waves produced by a man who calls himself Panda Bear, I began to feel feisty, confident, and free “as a bird.” A large bird, which cannot fly, to be specific, and just as an ostrich hovers awkwardly over his peers, I stood out amongst the jeans and summer dress wearing concert-goers, but I loved every minute.
Chelsea Brett, my model for this shoot, beautifully embodies the awkwardness of the faux ostrich feathers. She is tall, even towering in the 4.5 inch heels, but she has a demure stance and soft features which contribute to the bird theme. I decided to be very literal in the styling and pair the feathered skirt with feathered hair clip, and green eye make-up, which give the outfit just enough color and eccentricity without going overboard. (Scroll down for more photos)
Make-up by KJ Kramer
Photos by Marc Hall
