I’ve been absolutely obsessed with layering lately, and not just because it’s winter (though that has at least a little to do with it). Layering lets you reinvent your clothes and outfits in new ways each time you wear them, like adding a turtleneck under a dress, or a sheer, mesh shirt over a worn tee. Adding different layers to a look adds more dimension, substance, texture and style- so, needless to say, I am into any collection that presents me with new layering ideas, which is just what the Christian Dior Pre-Fall 2019 did with a collection that included all kinds of warm-toned, incredibly-wearable looks sprinkled with whimsical, sheer dresses layered over various pieces, all inspired by artist Sonia Delaunay.
Scrolling through this collection, I was absolutely delighted by all of the use made of these dainty, ethereal dresses- layered over briefs with knee socks or knee-high boots, layered over turtlenecks acting as a second skin, layered beneath jackets, adorned with gold and gorgeous, fairy tale-esque embroidery- my inner fashion fiend was practically salivating at all of the different ideas presented in this collection. Not to mention, it was all very romantic with a lot of throwback charm (which directly speaks to my old-fashioned asthetic), but made modern with the sheerness and the styling (isn’t the bare leg just so chic?). And it’s nearly all black, which I don’t usually gravitate towards when it comes to fashion shows, but works really well with all of the warmth and dainty detail of the collection.
I’ve always been a sucker for sweetness and fantasy, so these intangible-yet-tangible, dreamy dresses hit the spot and make me crave a good, sheer dress for my own wardrobe. Check out some of my favorite looks featuring sheer dresses and skirts below:
All photos from Vogue.com, courtesy of Christian Dior.
One of my favorite aspects of fashion is the story behind it. After all, it’s a visual art form just like painting or theater. The stories that can be told and the characters created with a simple combination of pieces of clothing is amazing, and it’s so much fun to image who might wear an outfit when I put it together.
The inspiration for this collection of outfits I styled comes from my deep love of sci-fi and dystopian literature. Sometimes we feel like our world is crashing down around us because our lives aren’t going exactly as we planned, which is why it’s fun to escape into universes where the world IS ending, so we don’t feel so bad anymore. Plus, it’s really interesting to see other artists’ and authors’ ideas on what they think the future may have in store.
Check out the outfits I created, which I paired with short stories to get your imagination flowing:
When the World Is Destroyed By 1000 Nuclear Bombs
The world is a wasteland, the air absolutely un-breathable. You walk through the wastes with two outer layers and a scarf to cover the back of your neck so the relentless sun will give your tired skin a break. You don’t have a gun, but your trusty knife always has your back, and a good pair of boots will always take you where you need to go. In the new world, there is no room for luxuries, you take what you need to survive and you do just that.
When You Live In a Perfect World Where Everyone’s the Same
You wake up to the sound of your television screen telling you it is time to do your morning calisthenics. Every morning the same, you take your ration of “vitamins” and wait for the blonde instructor to start her graceful movements. The girl next to you does the same, blonde hair up in a tight bun. The girl next to her is the same. They assign you colors to differentiate you, yours is blush pink. Your necklace keeps track of you and your bracelet bears your name, so you and the other identical girls in your wing can be told apart. You smile until your cheeks hurt, your arms unfurled, ready for the day to begin.
When the World Is No Longer Habitable, So You’re Travelling the Galaxy to Find a New One
They sent five ships out into the abyss, equipped with enough concentrated rations to last the rest of the crews’ lives. Their only objective was to find somewhere else humans may call home, as Earth is quickly becoming desolate. You dress warmly, carry a gun in the rare case you may find intelligent life that isn’t too fond of you. Your only personal possession you allowed yourself was a bracelet your mother gave you before you left and you never take it off, lest you forget about where you came from. Home.
It took me a surprising amount of time to style these looks and create the images, but it was also a lot of fun! I really want to keep creating these unique looks with fun stories, so keep an eye out for the next one!
sending love through the airwaves in a mustang convertibleĀ blue as an eye as an ocean as aĀ dream. Delilahās voice rocks us to sleeping- here it is, a songĀ for the ages of 18-21, young bloods looking at a starred sky in their hearts. a thousand light years away- something explodes. the salty air bleeds into our kiss, the music glistening against pink affections slipping on cherry-flavored tongues. weāre a whim, the dust of a million years of moonlight.
Submit your original poetry to anna@theyoungeclectic.com to be featured! Poetry is very important to me, so I would love to take any chance I can get to share the work of other poets and creators!
It’s freaking 2019 people! And that means award season is once again upon us. While I hold the genuine opinion that awards shows are insufferable in general (they bore me), I usually take a cursory glance at the red carpet looks because fashion or whatever, so I figured I would compile a list of my favorite and least favorite styles of the night just for fun!
Red carpet glamour is supposed to be one of those things that the average person gets to see only but a few times a year, which makes it really special and fun to talk about. HOWEVER- now that I work at a company that makes websites for prom and pageant retailers, a lot of the dresses just look like overpriced prom dresses to me, so the red carpet has lost its appeal, to say the least.
But, enough with all that ~negativity~ – without further ado, let’s take a peep at these looks!
HOTS
Lady Gaga in Valentino Haute Couture and Tiffany & Co
Of course, my number one would be Lady Gaga in her incredible, custom periwinkle (thereĀ wasĀ someĀ talkĀ ofĀ lavenderĀ orĀ “lunarĀ blue”Ā butĀ P.P.Ā PiccioliĀ confirmedĀ itĀ is,Ā indeed,Ā periwinkle)Ā Valentino Haute Couture gown. Just look at it! And that diamond necklace! The sleeves! The train! There is nothing I don’t love about this, except for maybe the hair. Anyways, Lady Gaga will always win in my heart!
Leslie Bibb in Schiaparelli
I love this look because it’s so simple- the straight hair styled with the neutral makeup pairs perfectly with the nude, tulle dress with black lace foliage cascading gracefully down. I would wear this to prom if my prom didn’t happen like five years ago!
Allison Janney in Christian Siriano and Roger Vivier
This dress makes Allison Janney look incredible! I love the sleeves and the classicly-draped neckline. She looks like an old Hollywood starlet, but the fresh blue makes it modern.
Gemma Chan in Valentino and Christian Louboutin
There is something so refreshing and appealing about this bright red lip paired with the rich, deep blue and luxuriously-draped dress paired with shorts under the skirt. She must have been a little chilly though!
Lucy Boynton in Celine
All that glitters IS gold in this chic look. I think my favorite part is her piecey, platinum bob with that crisp center part. As someone who recently joined the bob club, this look is major inspiration for sure!null
Saoirse Ronan in Gucci
Sleek, sleek, sleek! Saoirse shimmers in a silver gown from one of my faves. It’s not surprising that she’s on my hot list, though. She always manages to look great at every occasion! null
Indya Moore in Louis Vuitton
This dress is going galactic with its space-age inspiration and styled with the bod, red lip, everything pops! I love seeing stars choose looks that are a little more unconventional for their red carpet struts, and this look definitely has an interesting story to tell!
Laura Dern in Valentino
I’ve already written about how much I like the Valentino Pre-Fall 2019 collection, so I won’t bore you with the details. The red is just so crisp and cutting, and I love the texture of the skirt and sleeves- it’s so decadent that my eyes are lucky they don’t gain 10 pounds just by glancing at it!
Judy Greer in Alberta Ferretti
This look is my entire 2019 mood- power, power, power! I love the proportions of the jacket paired with the pants. It’s definitely a fashionable take on a menswear staple and she looks incredible!
Cody Fern in Maison Margiela
What can be said about Cody Fern that hasn’t already been stated by pretty much everyone else in the world? These are the kinds of champions we need in men’s fashion today. He dismantled the old expectations of the suit with high-waisted pants and a shirt with sheer panels to show some skin. And that hair? Simply fabulous.
NOTS
Amber Heard in Monique Lhuillier
Nothing against Amber Heard, this dress just goes down to such an awkward place and squishes her boobs up in such an unflattering way. Her smile looks gorgeous though!
Lili Reinhart in Khyeli and Christian Louboutin
As I said in my intro, I’m not too fond of dresses that look like prom dresses to me, so this poofy, tulle gown just didn’t strike my fancy. I do like the color, though!
Marin Hinkle
I don’t mean to sound rude, but there’s really nothing to like about this dress. The green seems a bit out of place and the gown itself lays in such a way that it looks poorly constructed. But her hair looks amazing!
Julianne Moore in Givenchy Haute Couture and Chopard
I freaking love Julianne Moore but this dress looks a bit matronly, especially in the way it fits in such an unflattering way. I do think she looks great in white though, to contrast her vibrant hair!
Julia Roberts in Stella McCartney and Chopard
Apparently a lot of people liked this look, and that’s all well and good. At the end of the day, I just found it bland, and it didn’t look like something special enough to wear on the red carpet.
Emma Stone in Louis Vuitton
Okay, hear me out. I adore Emma Stone and this look definitely isn’t bad, I just had some qualms with it. It seems like it doesn’t fit her well enough because it’s hanging loosely like a night gown, making it look cheaper than it is. That’s pretty much my only issue though, I love the color and the shimmering embellishments!
Well, I think that rounds out my list! Is the concept of having “Nots” too mean spirited? I can’t decide. I try to be constructive only in my criticism of the looks and would never attack a woman or her body, only the clothes! Until the next award show, this is Anna signing off!
Thrift, charity, resale, vintage, second-hand, hand-me-downs- no matter what you call it, thrifting is when you acquire something that has been owned and used by somebody before you. For some, this may not seem like the most appealing idea and I, too, held this opinion at some point in my life because I was averse to the smell of thrift stores and often felt like the items were dirty. But, sometime while I was in high school, I changed my tune after discovering a ton of “thrift haul” videos on YouTube (thanks @grav3yardgirl!), which basically just entailed the YouTuber showing off their thrifted finds. I was always so entirely impressed by all of the things these vloggers were able to find, it almost instantly became an obsession of mine, and my wardrobe ballooned in size with all of the pieces I was finding for what I felt like were nickels and dimes.
Being someone who had no money and loved new clothes, my transition into thrifting seemed obvious and inevitable, especially after I realized just how many completely unique and charmingly-fashionable items were really available that people were just throwing away. I’ve acquired so many vintage blouses and quirky sweaters that I would have never been able to find in stores that had a level of quality that I would never be able to match for the price. It has so completely informed my personal style and attitude towards fashion, I can’t imagine finding a bulk of my clothing at regular retailers. In fact, if I’m shopping at a regular store, I often think “I could just thrift something like this,” if I come across something I like that seems too expensive.
Not only is thrifting a great way to find seemingly one-of-a-kind pieces to add dimension and flavor to your wardrobe, it’s also one way you can reduce your environmental impact. Fast fashion retailers like Zara, H&M and Forever21 may be cheap and accessible, but they pollute so much and create a ridiculous amount of waste, not to mention rely on underpaid workers to create their pieces. If you still want a cheaper option for clothing that doesn’t have such an impact, thrifting is an amazing way you can do this- and it doesn’t even have to be at places like Goodwill and Savers, which rely solely on donations, so their stock is not always the best. Resale stores like Plato’s Closet and Buffalo Exchange buy people’s used clothes, so they stock quality pieces that are in line with today’s trends. (I highly recommend Buffalo Exchange! *cough cough* please sponsor me š )
I didn’t mean for this to be so long-winded! I’m just so passionate about thrifting and want as many people as possible to know how magical and vital it can be!
Check out some looks I created below, which are styled entirely from thrifted finds:
Grungy Gal
This turquoise and purple flannel is honestly one of my favorite layering pieces in the winter- the colors are just so eye-catching! I paired it with a grey mock-neck sweater and denim midi dress, with my Derek Lam platform slides finishing everything off!
Flannel, mock-neck sweater and denim dress are from Goodwill. Derek Lam platforms are from Buffalo Exchange.
Chic in the City
I usually don’t dress this ~chic~ but I wanted to show off this incredible skyline sweater that is my favorite thrift find of all time! I dresses it up with a plaid mini, knee-high socks and some basic black boots.
Sweater and boots are from Goodwill. Plaid skirt is from Buffalo exchange. Socks are from Forever21, unfortunately not thrifted, but who thrifts socks??
Denim Daze
There is literally never a bad time to break out the double denim looks, especially since this oversized denim shirt is one of my favorite layering pieces because it goes with literally everything and will make you look like an effortless cool girl. The shimmering, cropped sweater is a gorgeous vintage piece I couldn’t leave without, so here it is- I thought it would look good with my sparkly party boots (was I right?).
Denim shirt is from Goodwill. Jeans and boots are from Buffalo Exchange. Vintage sweater is from a vintage booth at a city-wide garage sale event in Austin, Texas.
Business Meets Pleasure
So many fun details in this outfit- a blazer covered in pastel motifs, overalls I thrifted from a friend’s closet and customized by cutting the calves open, and a vintage white blouse with a pearl-embellished collar- too fun and so practical! I could definitely wear this to the office and feel like a professional with a fun side!
Blazer from Goodwill. Vintage blouse from Savers. Fanny pack and platforms from Buffalo Exchange. Overalls from a friend.
I would love to see your thrifted looks! Tag me @annkatpip on Instagram and I’ll check them out and give you some love! Stay tuned for my next editorial shoot!
Hot on the heels of their charming Spring/Summer 2019 show, which was presented in a diner with their bouffant-ed and prairie-clad models slinging plates of classic American cuisine (mostly french fries) and looking appropriately disruptive, the eyes of the fashion world are turning toward Batsheva. And if Batsheva is anything, it is that- disruptive, or a playful reprieve from the usual, all-too-similar sleek and chic looks that sashay down the runway season after season. Featuring whimsical, prairie-inspired prints and silhouettes, Batsheva manages to hearken back to fashions from various past decades, while still feeling fresh. But that might just be because I’m a huge sucker for brands that cash in on the playful aesthetic (remember Mira Mikati’s technicolor treats?).
Will “Dance Like A Mannequin” be the next “Dance Like An Egyptian?” Stay tuned to find out! (photo: Vogue.com)
This season’s lookbook saw supermodel Coco Rocha transformed into various jaunty characters/dolls/mannequins- and she imbued personality into each and every one. While the concept of the lookbook was, in and of itself, appealing enough to make note of (I mean, how fun are these photos??), the clothing and styling also left me utterly delighted with the charming vintage silhouettes and cheery prints/color combinations. One of my favorite looks in the collection is actually the very first one- a pastel yellow/powder blue dress with an exaggerated, nearly-humorously huge Peter Pan collar styled with only one leg covered in tights/stockings, something I definitely took note of for my own styling repertoire. The ’70s inspired floral print sprinkled throughout various looks also managed to draw me in, especially when paired with the Raggedy Anne-ish gingham.
I would definitely wear these clothes and gladly reminisce on the times I would play house as a little girl dressed in my mother’s kitchen apron and a pair of heels much too large for my little girl feet, all while rejoicing in the fact that this fashion exists not for daily practicality or professionalism, but to ignite the imagination and to transform you into a cherubic darling that belongs in the Swiss Alps, singing about edelweiss and searching for four-leafed clovers.
Check out my favorite looks from the collection below:
I feel like 1000 people have been here already said the words I have to say in 1000 shades of white a winter storm of loving affections I can’t get out of, can’t even see the horizon, ground or sky- just this so I’ll say it anyways
your hair, your smile, those perfect teeth lined up like all of the people waiting for a slice of you oh, love, why do you give it all away? I wish to hoard you in my heart, lock you away and burn the keyĀ in the acid of my oceanic stomach. I have swallowed worlds for you, for you I gobbled up every bad taste. Every day that I wasted swells within my bowel, sour.
Love love (see this) maybe my hands have forgotten sadness, forgotten want. Maybe I’ve become spoiled with gold and milk toast, warmed and caramelized under the heat of your loving gaze and I, have eaten of it, become fat with happy joy, each breath now alive in me, in you.
Sometimes I swear I can’t sleep because you have burrowed into my bones so deep, I thought I could feel you manufacturing my blood cells one by one, each bearing your fingerprints,Ā your gentle touch. Sleep evades me, I curl away, a caterpillar unwilling to give up eating such ripe, honeyed sweetness.
I love I love I love and everything else falls away, falls away into night, into day, into endless years and manufactured forevers. We stand and receive, weep and celebrate, never letting go or even wanting to.
Submit your original poetry to anna@theyoungeclectic.com to be featured! Poetry is very important to me, so I would love to take any chance I can get to share the work of other poets and creators!
I haven’t eagerly torn through a collection as ravenously as I devoured the newest Gucci offerings in a very long time. And it’s not because it’s anything new or revolutionary, no- Alessandro Michele has an established style that he masterfully weaves into all of his collections, so you know there are a few things you are always going to get: boisterous prints, loud colors, interesting embellishments (this installment gave us cherries and cats) and an insane amount of layering. All of this to say- I don’t mind it. In fact, I can’t get enough of it. IN FACT, I would go as far as to say Michele’s ~aesthetic~ speaks to the very heart of this operation- eclecticism. The bringing together of many, seemingly-unrelated parts into one glorious, sensational whole.
And thus, my unquenchable thirst for gingham was born. (photo: Vogue.com)
Each outfit in this collection seemed more bombastic than the last, each image beckoning me onward through the massive 86-look lookbook. While collections this large usually bore me somewhere along the way, scrolling through these looks didn’t feel like a chore. I’ve been quite taken by the concept of innovative layering in fashion, and I’m always trying to think of new ways to wear my old clothes, so it was stimulating, to say the least, to see so many interesting clothing combinations in this collection. Blazers were layered over dresses were layered over pants, which were layered over tall, slouchy, tiger-striped or gingham boots. Even disparate prints were mindfully married within looks, inviting the eye to linger lovingly over every detail, including the crisp, ’80s-inspired tailoring (hello oversized blazers and broad shoulders).
And what can be said of the styling? Magnificent, of course. Enough giant sunglasses, brightly-colored socks and jaunty berets to leave you wondering if you can pull such silly, yet altogether pleasing things off (pro tip: you can.)
In the New Year, I vowed to myself that I would wear what I wanted, no matter how stupid the world might think I look, because I like it, because I dress for me and not to impress the ruthlessly-judgmental entity of humanity. And if this collection has given me anything, it’s more inspiration to continue on my path of sartorial bliss and eclectic dressing. And also an intense need for gingham.
Check out some of my favorite looks from the collection below:
New Year’s day always feels so bright and fresh and new like the pink scar flesh under a scab. There is nothing but possibility and promise in a new year, a fact many cash in on with endless lists of New Year’s Resolutions meant to shape you into someone better, because there is no better time than the advent of another year to finally start making yourself into the person you always wanted to be. Unfortunately, according to an article by U.S. News, 80% of all New Year’s resolutions will fail by the second week of February. That’s… a staggering amount of failure. And starting off a year feeling dejected about the resolutions that could have been but never were is a great way to begin things on the wrong foot.
But why do we fail at resolutions? Why do resolutions make us feel so bad? Our lofty goals of saving a certain amount of money, or losing a certain amount of weight (the most popular resolutions after the excessive indulgence of the holiday season) can seem overwhelming, leading us to consciously or subconsciously give up before we even try. That’s because we try to change our behaviors on a dime without changing what really matters first- the thing at the core of it all- our mentality, our attitude, our outlook. Failure or feelings of dejection are inevitable if we don’t start small and figure out how to change the way we change ourselves.
Writing down a list of goals can seem like the first step to making improvements in your life, but it really isn’t a requirement for cultivating a meaningful, positive experience for your 2019. All you need for that is an adjustment in your own inner vision.
I’ve lived a life of pessimism and creating distant objectives for myself like “lose 20 pounds” or “get a book published” that do nothing for my self-worth but degrade it. And in the age of social media, where everyone’s best moments and personal triumphs are plastered across 5 different mediums, what you see as your own personal failures begin to feel monumental. This is where the change in perspective comes in, something that I’ve chosen to embrace for myself in the coming months because I’m tired of living in a swirling miasma of negativity. The first thing you have to do is quit seeing anything as a failure. While some things may not go according to plan, “failure” is a reality of life and only serves to improve you as you move along. Every “failure” is a triumph in disguise, even if that triumph is small. For example, if your goal was to find a better job, but none of your interviews panned out, you still triumphed because each interview you had was practice for the next. Just re-framing your thoughts like this can do wonders to improve your confidence and overall mood.
Another way to ensure a productive and successful new year is to start small. Resolutions like mine have been in the past seem so impossible because there is no clear pathway to achieving them. Small, bite-sized goals like “I’m going to make my bed every morning” are much more easily achieved and will lead to a positive, uplifting attitude that will make achieving larger, more challenging goals seem more realistic because successfully achieving goals, no matter how small, will cultivate higher confidence. It also helps to split up these tougher resolutions into smaller bits. Like, if your goal is to save more money, put into place a simple, achievable monthly plan like “I will save $200 from every paycheck.” You would be surprised how much this helps!
While goal-setting can be an important part of reaching where we would like to be in our lives, it isn’t necessary for self-improvement. In the past couple of months, I decided to stop pressuring myself too much, and to appreciate myself for what I am and what I’ve already achieved. While I didn’t lose the weight I wanted, my body is healthy and works so hard at carrying me through life, something I fail to recognize. While I didn’t write enough articles one week, that’s alright, time moves ever-forward and I have an opportunity to do better next week. Improvement isn’t instantaneous and doesn’t always have to be obvious. Like I said before, a simple change in outlook can make you feel like a new person, no resolutions required.
I love the way this collection layered classic, preppy pieces like a sweater vest, over flowing, boho styles, creating titillating combinations that delight the senses. (Photo: Vogue.com)
While the flowing, print-laden styles synonymous with bohemian fashion have never really piqued my interest, this collection made me realize that there is so much more you can do with it, like pair a flowing, printed dress with a structured blazer, or throw on a lush, velvet dress over a clean white blouse and slacks duo. There is so much playfulness and freedom in these combinations- including the rich juxtapositions of deep colors and lively prints- that it excites and delights the senses.
The details of these outfits weren’t lost on me, either. The tiny, box bags have so much charm paired with the snakeskin block-heel boots and fluttering neck bows. Some of my favorite looks included high-necked lace collars that may have enticed Shakespeare himself, which is what caught my attention in the first place.
Everything about this collection screams “eclectic,” which is exactly what we’re all about- new and exciting marriages of styles, thoughts, ideas, art forms- there is no limit to what we can create and I appreciate that this collection reminded me of that.
Check out some of my favorite looks from the collection below:
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