How to Wear Something Crazy

This is not the first time I’ve written about wearing something tricky or bright (I almost wrote Hard and Loud….teehee) or sparkly, and how to do it in a way that (hopefully) doesn’t make you feel self-conscious. But it being spring and new collections dropping and all, I thought I’d bring the topic back. And for this one, I shot in my store. We have a lot of new things in, and I need a break from my own clothes, and I was swamped and it just worked out that I shot there, but I also like shooting there because it’s pretty and fun and silly in there! If you like anything you see you can email me - [email protected] - to enquire about sizes or pricing and/or all of it, or you can book an appointment to shop here. But I’ll also include links.

And while I’m talking about the store, I’m doing a trunkshow with fine jewelry designer Jennifer Alfano (I AM SO DEEPLY INTO HER WORK!!!!!!) and one of the very VERY best t-shirt and sweatshirt brands I’ve ever found, LEEN, next week on March 18th and 19th from 10-5 at the store. NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED!!! COME SEE ME! (427 n Canon Dr Ste 209)

So here we go, how to wear something that’s bright or sparkly or fluffy or a little bit ugly in a good way.

SOMETHING SPARKLY

You’re going to have to watch the video for the full how-to, but let’s do something sparkly!

This skirt is by Ashish, one of my all time favorite brands. I finally met him this week in Paris, and he is the kindest, most talented person. Every piece he makes is hand-sequined in the patterns he designs, every piece is one-of-a-kind and joyful and special, and I’m so thrilled I get to carry it in the store. It is bright, patterned, and sparkly. All tricky things, all things I love.

My number 1 rule about wearing something crazy is to wear it with something else that’s crazier. That way the crazy thing has a friend to help it feel at home. If you wore a white tee with this skirt the skirt would scream twice as loud. This sweatshirt is just a sweatshirt, but because it’s oversized and has a terrycloth texture it helps meet the crazy in the skirt. A simple jersey sweatshirt wouldn’t do it. The shoes are Ann Mashburn and they’re old (bring them back Ann!) but these are also very good.

Next step up? Putting it with another print instead of just texture. This striped tee from Kallmeyer picks up some of the colors in the skirt, and the graphic lines of the shirt also work with the lines in the skirt. But you could pretty much choose any print or pattern here and because the skirt is so batty, they’d probably work together. You can see where the leopard carpet meets the skirt that leopard works with the plaid too!

And to really drive the point home! How about wearing it with something sparkly that doesn’t match! Like this Ashish cardigan jacket! I wore one in Paris this week and felt A++++++++++++++++++++++. Both the top and the skirt are singing so loud they start to harmonize.

SOMETHING SPORTY AND NOSTALGIC

They’re also young. I love these pants, but they’re definitely not super intuitive if you’re not part of the cast of Blue Crush (or Gen Z).

The pants are by Made Some, and I love them so much. We had them in white in the fall and sold them so quickly and to such a surprisingly wide range of style types, I was very excited to get them back in the store. But they’re bright red, and sporty, and they tie under your belly button, and they feel very youthful and kind of Y2K! The entry level way I wear them is with an equally bright shirt that has the same kind of casual vibe as the pants. The pants and the shirt are on the same wavelength. I like that the shirt is also a bright color, and then the shoes (Herbert Levine! [email protected]!) are also yellow, and this bag is from a brand called Valesque that I love. We just got these in.

This is kind of a similar idea, but punching up the color a little. The colors meet each other in terms of volume, and the shapes meet each other in terms of vibe. Both are summer casual. The shoes are Sezane, and they just happened to be what I was wearing that day! I don’t carry them at the store. And this bag! It adds in a little more color, plus this great shiny texture. It’s a very special French brand, and I just got a little restock in the store, so if you were interested when we got the first batch but didn’t order, now’s your chance.

But then what happens if you switch up the vibe and go opposite! It works! The lace camisole is very feminine and formal in the satin, and the unexpectedness of it meets the sillyness of the pants and voila! You have to watch the video. I explain it better there.

SOMETHING FLUFFY

Chanel had little tufts of feathery fluffs all over the fall runway (and for Spring) which makes me feel justified in my passionate love for these thingies. Mine are from Indress in Paris and I have a TON of colors in stock - [email protected].

One of my favorite ways to wear these is tucked under the lapel of my blazer. I like them just peeping out a little! And yes, you can meet these crazy pins with more crazy, but I also wanted to show how wearable they can be to add a little bit of color and texture to your outfit. This whole look is kind of traditional, and then the little fluffy puff gives it juuuuust the right amount of interest.

Ok and now we’re meeting crazy with crazy! I love this worn with the dress in a similar color. I wish I had put the feathers up a little higher on my shoulder, but I love this. I love it even more with a green sweater thrown over my shoulder, which I only show in the video.

And then!! I struggle with brooch placement, and I feel like that’s pretty common. I like to wear my feather puff like this on my hip, or over where my belt would go, too. It’s nice as an accent there, and then I brought back the textured sweatshirt to meet the texture of the feathers, but the white jeans really help here. If I went with blue jeans they would match the sweatshirt and the button down too closely and it would all feel like blue with one little blip of green. Instead, it’s just a bunch of different colors all galloping along.

That’s it!

All of these things, except the Sezane and Ann Mashburn shoes are in the store. Come see me!

Your friend,

Laurel...