Style roots.

So... hiiiiii! I've been MIA because I have been dealing with my life. I constantly have ideas popping around in my head for entries, but the pesky details of being in my 20s, single (and dating), attending university full-time, working full-time, doing volunteer activities, and trying to squeeze in a few hours of sleep here and there kind of got in the way. Add to those factors that I maintain this blog, my personal blog, and am writing a book at the moment and I've been somewhat busy.

Sincerest apologies and thank you to those who have checked in :)

The other day at work I was flipping through magazines to find images to cut out for my employee sales for the past pay period. As I scanned the shiny pages, I saw the same commentary pop-up over and over: minimalism vs. eccentricity.

A friend of mine (Hi Hannah!) has described my style as minimalistic on a number of occasions, but I honestly do not feel that is an accurate description. I feel the things I am most attracted to are fairly quirky, accessorized, etc. That being said, after careful reflection on my style-- because yes, this is something I take seriously-- I realized, she's right. I do tend to dress in a simple, functional style that is slick and efficient. It's not that I don't love accessories, because I do. So why do I dress as I do?

I came up with a lot of theories. The thing is, this is a vital part of my own personal style exploration. Why dress myself any way other than as I feel? What causes me to refrain from adding three more necklaces to any number of ensembles?

My first thoughts went to finances. Let's get real. I devote entirely too much of my income to shopping as it is, but I really can't engage in a full-fledged shopping spree because I have too many responsibilities. I have full faith once I graduate and can get a legitimate job, that will change. I also have faith I will someday hold a position that furnishes my clothing, as I am conveniently sample size. My motivations for getting a degree in fashion are pretty transparent, as you can see.

The second theory falls in line with what so many of our adult behaviors get blamed on, good or bad: my mom. I do not say that in a negative way at all. Despite her utter lack of confidence in anything she wears, my mom has polished, clean American taste. She's very classic and makes an effort. I have never seen my mother go out in public looking anything less than dressed. She is traditional that way. Her influence has had two very large impacts on me. One, I am the only one of my friends who considers it a landmark occasion when I leave the house in sneakers. Two, American style is hardly noted for its eclecticism; moreover it is recognized for being easy to wear and pared down.

A great deal of our choice in life are shaped by our parents. As children we often try to be as like them as possible, then by adolescence we are doing our best to defy them. When adulthood hits, it seems we suddenly start noticing all the things that make us like them; it's the time when we begin using the phrase "I'm turning into my mother/father."

My childhood and adolescence phases were kind of flipped in terms of my mom. As a very little girl, I did my best to defy her. When I got into my teen years, I gradually became closer to her, though of course maintaining a general distaste for her opinions because, hello, I couldn't let my angst go that easily.

So, as a child I did the typical dress-up thing; I spent any number of hours in a child's sized purple satin evening dress and white plastic heels bedecked in feathers. I distinctly remember pictures being taken of me posing with an ivy plant, a moment that epitomized my extremely chic persona. This was nothing like my mother. She would not be caught dead in an uber-glam, attention-grabbing ensemble. She prefers to look fabulous in a less obvious way.

As I got older, I morphed into a couple of different styles. My closet was composed primarily of... well, to be totally honest, nothing worth noting. I had a cute top here and there, but mostly I did not have the confidence to let myself embrace fashion. Simultaneously, my propensity for glitz had not fully disappeared, which explains why I attended prom in an aquamarine dress with a plunging neckline-- we're talking below the belly button here, folks-- and slim links of rhinestones keeping all my pieces and parts hidden behind the sea-colored fabric.

Just under two years ago I had a moment. I realized I was selling myself short; why didn't I deserve to have fun with style as much as the next person? Why did I insist on never indulging my fashion sense? I was living in a vicious cycle: I didn't go out and have fun because I never had anything to wear. I didn't have anything to wear because I never let myself shop. I never let myself shop because I didn't want to spend money. I made less money because I was living on tips and my attitude was dropping substantially as a result of my negative vision of self.

As I said, my mom has very nice style. The problem is her confidence in it... and my problem was my lack of confidence in myself.

Style is as much believing in yourself as a person as it is believing in your ability to wear 4.5 in. platform heels for eight hours at work because they make your outfit fabulous. For me, fashion and style are about taking a few risks. Sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone to keep your look current with your point of view.

After all, I think we can all identify with change in our life causing drastic style consequences. Who hasn't gone to the hairdresser after a breakup, change of job, or too many pieces of cake and asked for a completely new look? I know I have. That irrational mindset is precisely what led to any number of poor hairstyles in my past: my stint as a brunette (with blonde eyebrows), too many close encounters with a crimper, a cut that was a handful of layers away from being a mullet. Thank goodness I have someone doing my hair now who is a friend and will thus be subjected to me complaining if I look a hot mess. She reins me in when I am tempted to do a bit of emotional snip-snip on my 'do, but still obliges me by mixing it up in a rational manner.

That same logic needs to applied to apparel and accessories. It is important to indulge in a bit of exploration while still remaining true to yourself. Examples include the highly dorky glasses I purchased a few entries back, or the turband (a headband/turban) I've been prancing around town in. I stay loyal to me, though. Hey, I am a nerd, so the glasses make sense. I am a bit of a hippie, so the turband is in keeping with my personality. I wear these things, among others I've added to my wardrobe since realizing I do not dress as well as I could to reflect my sense of self, with things that take me back to my safety zone. I do not wear the glasses with hipster jeans and a concert t-shirt. Instead I opt for a pencil skirt and classic button-down. The turband is paired with designer denim or a maxi-skirt in neutral tones, not a hemp necklace and a fistful of incense sticks.

My style has evolved and continues to do so... and along with the simplistic taste of my teen years, there is still a bit of that purple satin costume dress in my life. The difference is these days I pair it with black pumps instead of white feathered heels. In fact, that was precisely what I wore on New Year's Eve this year-- and now the dress was accented with black lace, because this little girl is all grown up.

FYI

I bought the silly glasses. They make me laugh and I decided that made them worth forking over the equivalence of three vodka martinis.

Over & Out.

A Four-Eyed Frenzy: Meow!

When I was in third grade, I started the year off with perfect 20/20 vision. Over the course of the following six months or so, my eyes changed drastically and suddenly the optometrist was mentioning things like, "astigmatism" and "legally blind".

Initially I was fairly excited about getting glasses. Not only were they an accessory, the most popular girl in class wore glasses. Naturally I assumed wearing them would make me equally cool. That didn't really work out. It turns out there are any number of not-so-friendly nicknames that can be associated with wearing glasses. There are also special phrases, such as, "girls who wear glasses never get passes." What delightful ways to brainwash us into thinking glasses are not a worthwhile accessory.

In fact, glasses are a very easy-- and potentially practical-- way to play with your style. Rocking a pair of simplistic, classic frames certainly gives a different impression from a pair decked out in rhinestones.

I myself am fond of cat's eye glasses. This is nothing new. It is arguably the sexiest style of frames for women. I prefer plastic frames, because they are lightweight and more youthful. I also tend to gravitate toward classic colors, such as black or tortoiseshell. Everyone I have come into contact with in the past three months has heard of my obsession with Prada's Rectangular Cat Eye sunglasses, and a similar look is what I'm currently on the prowl for in the standard eyeglass arena.

The following are some of my favorites at the moment. In case you miss it by the watermark defiling all but one image, they can all be purchased at eyewearbrands.com.

Gucci GG3146 791 in Havana Prada PR16NV 1AB101 in Black

Ray Ban RX5226 2034 in Black Tom Ford TF173 "Nikita" 01B in Black

Realistically, I cannot drop a wad of cash on glasses at the moment. I am, as they say, a poor college student. As a resourceful young lady, I am constantly on the hunt for the perfect budget-friendly version of these gems. Case in point, the following image of me trying to decide if I should pick up a particular pair of frames to have prescription lenses into them. I sent this to a handful of friends who all instantly said "YES GET THEM!" but I'm still unsure... they are awfully enormous. Please disregard the high level of dorkdom being presented by my facial expression.

Yes I know how classy the tag hanging on them looks.

We shall see. Considering they ring in at $24.00 and are undeniably amusing, I may get them just for fun.

Oh please find your ways into my closet!

Not all together, of course, but this is fantasy shopping, so whateva!

Christian Louboutin Patent Leather Platform Slingback Sandals in Ivory

Winter Kate Silk Crepe Top in Ivory Floral Multi

3.1 Phillip Lim Belted Twill Shorts in Stone

Matt & Nat "Hendrix" Bag in Ikat

Real vs. Imaginary Women

A conversation about style inevitably becomes a discussion of fashion. While some people may want to pretend fashion and style do not influence them, we are surrounded by it. In turn, the industry contains a breadth of hot debate topics, ranging from quality and a question of taste to eco-responsibility and social norms. The "norm" most frequently discussed is size.

In the case of men, the number stitched into one's pants label does not seem to be as much of a discussion. Some men pride themselves on their 32-in. waistband, while others subscribe to the "bigger is better" mentality. It seems whichever side of the line they fall under, men embrace their natural physiques with greater ease than women. There are certainly any number of guys who lust to identify in the looks department with such gentlemen as Ryan Reynolds circa Blade Trinity, or the ever classic, Brad Pitt in Fight Club... but I somehow doubt they are standing in fitting rooms crying because they have to go up a size in their pants.

I'm not judging women who do, but I am judging those who refuse to accept their correct size because they are convinced they deserve/ought to be another. What fuels the mindset that a woman must be a certain size? What causes us to believe if we go up numerically, we are a failure? Those are questions I do not believe we will ever truly find answers for.

Some people place blame on society: do we raise young women to believe they must be eternally petite Daddy's Little Girls? Do we encourage females to remain lithe and tiny so as to appear more defenseless and thus, desirable damsels in distress?

A more popular point of view is to attack fashion and the images projected by designers. After all, we are constantly thrown images of long, lean Brazilian bikini models, so naturally we assume we must all look just like them. To me, that logic is the same as saying if you watched Avatar a few times you might draw the conclusion that your skin being any color other than blue makes you a freak.

Such rationalizations might be easy to draw as a child; naive and impressionable, little girls would be easy to convince. But as women? As adults? I think it's time to own up to a little maturity and start asking bigger questions than, "how can I get my stomach as flat as that Victoria's Secret model's?"

The big picture is, what matters most is not what a label defines you as being. That's true in regards to brand names and it is also true for size. Style should not be dictated by how many designer tags you have hanging in your closet, so why do so many people insist on associating it with the size on those tags?

Interestingly enough, that concept is beginning to be embraced in a much more aggressive manner and replaced with a new one: the idea of "real" women, or rather, women who exceed size 10. While many people are more than happy to denounce previously held notions regarding the necessity to be a small size, a great number of them are then clinging onto a new physical expectation: unless you are on the larger scale of things, you are apparently not a real woman.

Some other commonly associated statements with this new neurosis include, but are not limited to:

"Real women have curves."

"Men want a woman with meat on her bones."

"Normal women are not a size 2."

Do people listen to the words coming out of their mouths and consider what they actually mean? First of all, it is entirely possible to be both small and curvy; I am a testament to that. Further, why is it necessary to devalue those who are small in terms of sex appeal? More importantly, why should men get so much say about our physical dispositions? Last, what is so abnormal about being a size 2? I say this because I hear those comments on a regular basis at my job. I am a size zero or 2, depending on the garment. I am also an hourglass figure and not only eat lunch, but also breakfast and dinner and usually I like to top my meals off with dessert. Nevertheless, women have no problem coming up to me and asking me where the Real Women Sizes are.

"The what?"

"You know. The Real Women Sizes. None of this little girl stuff. Where do they keep the stuff for us fully grown girls?"

Ahh. So not only am I abnormal, my growth is stunted. Is that the message I am supposed to take from those remarks? Frankly, I suspect people would get fairly angry if I suggested they push back from the table so they can fit into the Imaginary Women Sizes. I don't believe food is the be-all end-all of what creates our physical stature, but since it is apparently okay to imply such an idea, perhaps I should get on board.

This discussion is something I think about often, but particularly jumped to the forefront of my mind in reaction to a recent post on The Sartorialist. He made a comment about a girl he photographed being curvy and was immediately berated. I feel this portion of his reaction was quite succinct:

"[This] post [was] hijacked over the political correctness of the words. So help me understand; what is the modern way to speak about size?"

I will be the first person to admit I am judgmental. Who isn't? The truth is, I am as bothered by the sight of a grossly overweight woman as I am of a malnourished and frail woman. I prefer a look of health, and to be totally honest, it is infinitely more fun to dress. I find when dressing women of the other extremes, they are never truly comfortable in anything I put on them. I am sure there are any number of reasons for that, but the one that jumps out at me is they are uncomfortable in their own, unhealthy skin.

In reality, no single size or body shape/type is healthy. What is healthy is entirely dependant on the individual and we all need to take responsibility for the health of our insides so our outsides can reflect it. That is not only relevant to physical health, but mental.

I propose we all stop categorizing bodies by "real" or, my personal favorite, "anorexic"-- because it's so easy to see a brain disorder just by looking at someone, right?-- and instead start focusing on ourselves, the individuals. The snide remarks, the nasty slang words; let's just get rid of them. Instead of relegating fault, how about we start taking responsibility for perpetuating body image negativities?

I, for one, believe style is personal. I believe it is about dressing well for who you are, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Embracing style should be a way to express ourselves, not an opportunity to belittle what we see in mirrors and around us. "Normal" is an irrelevant term and I hope someday use of the word "healthy" will no longer reflect a comment on one who fits one specific shape or weight, but rather, the body type most suited for the individual.

Oh My Galoshes!

Spring has sprung (supposedly) and it is high time we all start dressing for it! Despite the aggressive chill in the air and the fact that I am still needing to wear my heavy Winter coat, warmer temps and rainy days ought to be right around the corner.

As a little kid I remember seeing my dad wrap extremely odd looking rubbery things to his shoes during inclimate weather. Through the wisdom that comes with age (or google), I later came to find out he was putting on what are known as galoshes.

This picture makes them look infinitely more stylish than they actually are.

"Galoshes" is also a more entertaining word for rain boots. We've all been wearing thick, weather-resistant boots for the past few months, warding off the potential for a slip with heavy tread. Mine are by The North Face (trust me, I'm judging me more than any of you possibly can for that) and are insulated fleece with so much tread they look like I took the teeth of a monstrous beast and attached them to my boots. They have been wonderful for colder temperatures, but as we creep up to warmer weather-- which despite all reason to believe otherwise, we eventually will-- I know I will need something else.

Rainboots are typically made of rubber... and that's that. They're rubber and do not breathe, which in turn means they will protect my feet from wetness. Unless, of course, you count the wetness that is inevitable when it's a hot rainy day and I'm trekking all over campus in rubber shoes-- do I really need to explain the smelly consequences of such a choice? Rain boots are a necessary evil, though, and typically unattractive at that.

In my quest for all things stylish, I have tried to find rain boots that do not offend my eyes. My selections are as follows:

Jeffrey Campbell "Marsha" Over the Knee Rain Boot

Jeffrey Campbell "Voom" Rain Boot-- essentially a shorter version of the Marsha with a more traditional shine.

Cole Haan Air "Melanie" Suede Rain Boot

Tretorn Shoes "Emilie" Rain Boot

I realize some people like to do crazy patterns on their boots, flash the classic Burberry check, or wear their favorite sport team's emblem on them. I, however, do not. I do not need, nor do I want, more than one pair of rain boots. Let's face it, these rubbery beasts are pretty much going to be the bane of my existence come April (whose abundant rain showers are expected to bring May flowers). Limiting my boots to a single pair is ideal. I want something basic that will go with everything, not something I have to try and coordinate a handful of go-to outfits with. For me, they need to be sleek and simple, a mere addition to my wardrobe-- not the things that causes me to go shopping to make them work.

What's important to keep in mind is not everything that is waterproof is a suitable Spring rain shoe or boot. Many things are made waterproof to protect our feet, but will promptly look like absolute trash if used repeatedly in precipitation-heavy weather. The above mentioned Cole Haans are actually intended to be the exception to that rule; I have no idea what they do to the suede to make it water-resistant, but apparently they can handle major puddles.

It is also worth it to consider shoes that are water resistant, such as Aquatalia by Marvin K. These shoes are not necessarily always the most forward-thinking fashions, but they are quite weatherproof. In my opinion, they are an excellent option for someone looking to get something to wear from the car to the office without destroying their typical kicks in the rain.

Happy shopping! Truth be told, I'd much rather be getting these:

Vince Camuto "Malaya" Pump

Getting back to it!

A couple of weeks ago I posed a question:

Is it more stylish to wear something with a specific intention or to wear something out of natural desire?

The point of that inquiry was to get people thinking: what is the motivation behind what we, and anyone else, wear? Naturally when comments of style come up, a series of names and major impacts come to mind: from Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, and Madonna to flappers, Dior's New Look, and mini-skirts.

What it got me thinking about was why some people get a place in our history books of style, whereas others are swept under the rug and may or may not receive a single line blurb about their kooky looks.

Often in today's modern culture, however, we revere people who reflect a certain shock value influence on style. Lady Gaga leads the pack for modern line-pushing, but plenty of iconic people led the pack before her.

Isabella Blow

Who of course brings up a discussion of Philip Treacy, or rather, his hats!

Grace Jones

My point is, though I love her, Lady Gaga's eccentricity is hardly a new idea. She gets a great deal of attention for sampling music, but what about sampling style? The lack of exposure generations as of late have had to icons who think outside the back is somewhat stunning. Part of it is a result of our society not particularly valuing what is removed from our concepts of aesthetically pleasing, or rather, what is pretty. Following the grunge era-- which in truth, was merely a brief vacation from the images of style = beauty in the '80s-- we have been bombarded with images of women who don't necessarily look like the every day girl, but certainly look like someone we would not have a problem running into. I suppose that description is especially accurate in terms of men desiring to have a casual rendezvous with a teenage Britney Spears clad in her pink tube tops or Shakira and her glittering belly chains.

Currently, though immersed in the neverending media parade of bathing beauties a la Victoria's Secret's swimsuit catalogue, we are experiencing a culture of ugly. I do consider the works of art Lady Gaga wears to be beautiful, but that is out of respect for the garments. It also is likely a direct result of my imagination working overdrive: while other people may have found pearls attached to her face to look like a skin disorder, I thought of a sea princess arising from an oyster shell.

I now ask you to consider other such artists as Ke$ha (and yes, I realize in this case I am using the term "artist" loosely).

Ke$ha in all her blue lipstick glory.

The funny thing is, I actually chose the most flattering image I could find. Some of Ke$ha's trademark look is revered. For example, her perpetually messy hair could be associated with the much sought after look of bed head, aka The Sexed Look. Ke$ha's mane, however, is more on par with what I can best describe as being the I've-Been-In-Many-Beds head. It's not what our culture generally considers attractive, yet all over the place people are emulating her. Blue lipstick has made a mild comeback, something I never expected when I tossed out my tube of it from Bath & Body Works back in the '90s (and to think, mine was actually dual-sided in both blue and green!).

Though not ranked on the same influence level as Gaga, Ke$ha has had an impact. Why? Her shock value! In and of itself, it is a surprise anytime we see a woman doing something other than making herself pretty-- or dying trying. Our traditional references for style are and remain people like Grace Kelly and Brigitte Bardot not because they were such shocking innovators, but rather, because it's what we like to remember. Isabella Blow's influence on modern style reaches far beyond her personal appearance. She is the woman who put Alexander McQueen on the map and brought Sophie Dahl to the forefront. Everyone knows who Alexaner McQueen is and you may not realize it, but you know Sophie Dahl, too.

Who can forget her infamous YSL Opium ads?

I'm pretty sure that shocked more than just my 13 year old self. Isabella Blow made an enormous dent in our modern style and brought new innovators to the forefront. Her contribution to the fashion world as we know it today is undeniable, yet she receives little attention. Lately, however, we are seeing people who are obviously inspired by her work end up as major icons of today. The real question is, will today's new "out there" stylistas end up in the history books themselves? I hope so, and I have faith in that possibility.

I believe today's concepts of style and fashion have been blurred far past the ability to select a well-fit blouse and style it with a beautifully tailored skirt. We demand more. We want lights, camera, action! "Action" being the most important part of that bit. Women in particular have an opportunity right now that was seemingly inconceivable in the past; it's okay to be a little ugly. The idea of moving away from sexualized beauty being the only option has come to the forefront. Women no longer need to be pretty all the time; just look at Heidi Klum's Halloween costumes and you will see just how much we have moved away from that expectation!

While mainstream dressing remains dictated by the hallmarks of beauty, we are seeing movement in the upper ranks. I don't expect us to all start prancing down the street in six inch heels and our heads topped in exquisite hats resembling sea creatures. Nonetheless, a quick glance down any number of runways will reveal our interests and values shifting. It's as much about comfort and beauty as it is about statement. The trickle-down theory means inevitably we may see some new proclamations in fashion being made.

So ask yourself:

Why are you wearing what you wear? Is it to please someone other than yourself? Are you eliminating looks from your wardrobe because your significant other does not care for them? And more importantly, is satisfying someone else's opinion of your apparel more important than keeping with your own?

You don't have to wear a latex body suit or create a headdress orb of beads to surround yourself to make a statement. You also don't have to stifle your expression by suiting it to fit someone else's beliefs. Look to the people making "worst dressed" lists for their wacky ensembles a inspiration to style yourself for every shade of your personality-- from the neutral shades of calm to the experimental tones of neon.

After all, aren't we always saying beauty is in the eye of the beholder? Sometimes I wonder if I missed the addendum to that adage stating, "except when your boyfriend/husband/significant other says otherwise."

But hey, give yourself a break sometimes... I mean, there's a reason we go shopping before a first date and it isn't because our closets were ransacked by wardrobe thieves. Think about it.

Skirting the Issue.

I am not a pants-wearing girl. I spend the vast majority of my time wearing skirts and dresses, occasionally slipping into pants for shock value. Nearly every time I wear them to work, I am bombarded with amused comments, typically guessing when the last time was anyone saw me in anything that required me to step in, one leg at a time: "what has it been, three months?" I have been trying to branch out. After all, I've even purchased designer denim in recent times. That, for me, is quite a landmark in my shopping history as of late.

I blame my affinity for all things mini, maxi and everywhere in between on my size. Standing a strong 5'2" and wearing sizes considered little, my body would seem simple enough to dress because, well, people generally assume every body type but their own is easy to dress. The truth is, my legs are not what you would consider long and though my hips are average size, my rear has just enough bubble to it to be annoyingly out of proportion with my waist. While alterations can be a beautiful thing, I am typically an instant gratification shopper: I need to walk out of the store knowing I can wear my purchases immediately or months later, whichever I prefer. That means no hemming and no nipping things in at the waist.

Skirts alleviate that issue.

Most of the time, I don't have to deal with any issues when wearing skirts. They just fit. Perhaps it is as predictable as falling into a stereotype: I have a feminine body, skirts are associated with traditional views of femininity, ifso facto skirts work on me. In addition to a vast collection of dresses, I have a wide array of skirts. Lengths aside, they have a variety of waist locations (low-riding, high-waisted), prints (tribal, floral, striped, even solids), and fabrications (silk, cotton, linen, and the Fabric That Shall Not Be Named, poly-blend). I'm a huge fan.

Yesterday, while helping a close girlfriend of mine shop for pieces to add to her wardrobe (hi Alanna!), I snatched up a few items for myself as well. While I realize Forever21 is the bane of many's existence, as a poor college student/fashion fiend, it is a necessary evil. Along with a wonderful, silky taupe maxi skirt, I purchased this wonderful paper bag waist skirt.

Abstract Floral Print Skirt from Forever21

I love the print. I'm pairing a rose colored burnout tank with it. I want a cream button down blouse to tuck into it over that tank, but I'll leave it open down to the belly button and roll up the sleeves. The waistband is my favorite detail.

The nice thing about the paper bag waist is it creates an exaggerated line. While it can be frustrating to deal with dressing curves on one's body, an hourglass figure is aesthetically appealing. The paper bag detail on this skirt creates a highly defined waistline, then flares both up and down to create full curves. Perfection.

In related news, here are a handful of skirts I am currently in love with.

Trina Turk "Shaye" Skirt

Marc by Marc Jacobs "Iris" Knit Pencil Skirt

Donna Karen Essential Jersey Drape Twist Skirt

BCBG MaxAzria Flared Faux Leather Skirt

Excuse me, Madame Mother Nature?

Perhaps this is not such a challenge in places in the south or, you know, the wardrobe-to-season-ratio Bermuda Triangle that is California, but here in the middle of the country we deal with more temperature variability than we ought to. We wake up in the morning and get ready to gallivant about town, all the while wondering what to wear-- and not because of the typical "closet full of clothes with nothing to wear" scenario. It's the fact that we have no idea what to expect from the day. After all, the forecast says it should be sunny and in the mid-60s, but it looks as though it's going to pour at any moment and there is a serious chill in the air.

How in the world are we supposed to dress in this weather without looking like a complete nomad with the level of layers we pack "just in case"?

I for one hate the idea of wearing my Winter clothing even an hour past the first day of Spring. To me, the time change is a preview and the actual day is intended to be more significantly a celebration of seasonal change in my wardrobe than a glorification of rebirth in nature. It's not that I don't enjoy the earth and the wonderful world around me... it's that I enjoy it so much more when donning a silk maxi skirt and fabulous sandals.

Each season rolls around and we have those things we covet, those items we know we must have in our closet to make our wardrobe for the coming months fit the image we have in our minds. For me, this past Winter it was a beautiful Mackage coat I obsessed over for months. It was black, puffy, and had an enormous hood. When I speak of it I tend to get that far off look in my eyes not entirely unlike the one drug addicts get at the mention of a magic eight ball-- even when it's a reference to the toy. I love my Winter coat and am actually somewhat sad to say goodbye to it until next year.

At the moment I am trying to decide what my exciting Spring wardrobe maker will be. As it takes so long for Spring to truly show up here, this seasonal piece tends to roll right into Summer.

It doesn't have to cost a great deal of money, nor does it have to be a "hot item" in every magazine's recommendation column. It's that piece that seems to capture your mood for the season. In my case, as it is tremendously apparent, my mood is lost somewhere between Studio54 and fields of wildflowers.

So, as I consider my wardrobe signature this season, I ask the climate:

Please commit. I will commit to those Prada sunglasses or any number of DVF dresses I am obsessed with (or more realistically, the style of either) as soon as you get your act together. This whole "pack a sweater and coat to be prepared" nonsense is getting old fast. The time is ripe for swingy silk maxis, not extending the life of my gray wool mini.

Style does not end with what you wear.

We have all seen that woman who looks almost perfectly styled. Her outfit is phenomenal, you love her shoes, her makeup is perfectly applied in that "is she really wearing any?" kind of way-- with the exception of her obviously-but-fabulously painted lips, of course. Even so, something isn't quite right.

It's her hair. Yesterday you saw her in a Theory suit and today she's in trouser jeans, platform wedges and rocking a sunny yellow t-shirt with layers of red stone necklaces around her neck... so why hasn't her hair changed?

Style is as much about what you wear on your body as what you do with the things you're born with. Hair is all about manipulation, even if you're not doing anything to it with products or styling tools-- yes, honey, dreads are a manipulation too. And, incidentally, not one I'd advise.

Anyway, it's important to embrace your style head-to-toe. Often people perceive that as a direction to buy fabulous shoes, and by all means, do so! But it also means remembering to take it to the top; the hair on your head needs to be addressed when embracing your style.

It's not that the woman you saw who previously had on her work look can't switch it up to a relaxed ensemble and leave her hair the same. I am certainly guilty of doing just that. But... why not mix up your look and change it to something that fits the vibe of your overall appearance? A neat top-knot is perfectly fitting with a pair of slim dress pants and your leopard print Equipment blouse. Toss on a few layers of rosy pearls and you will be impossibly chic.

But is that 'do the best you can do for a look that fits an entirely different facet of your personality? I think not, my friends.

I am a big fan of good hair. I don't remember who said it, but I once read a quote about how if your hair looks good, you probably look good; I stand behind that statement 100%. Whenever my hair looks bad, I feel off. Now, the same can be said for my outfit; if it's not my ideal, I get grumpy. My hair, however, can transform a look that would have been otherwise thoroughly unspecial. It's as though that extra oomph of volume and bounce is enough to also amp up my confidence otherwise.

I am lucky enough that my hairstylist, Emily, is a good friend of mine. She knows my style, my life, my interests. A lot of people believe taking a picture of the hair you want into a stylist will be enough. I respectfully disagree.

The thing is, unless you're taking in a picture of your doppelganger, the likelihood of you leaving the salon looking the way you hoped is slim. Further, it's not just about face shape; is your hair as thick as whomever's style you covet? Is it the same texture? Do you have the attention span to take it past the cut and style it like your favorite model/actress/singer? So much has to be take into consideration. For that reason, I sent Emily a series of pictures of the attitude and style I'm looking to convey with my hair. She was amused, as at least one of the pictures involved someone wearing a hat, but all the same she got it. She understood what I was after.

The keywords I used in my e-mail to Emily were "Earthy, touchable, 70s cool" and "free-spirited, funky, fabulous".

As seen in the picture here on my blog, my hair is pretty long. It is also poker straight and pretty lifeless without a bit of manipulation on my part. I have always desired that beachy, relaxed look of wavy/curly hair. I have tried at least a dozen products and how-to videos via YouTube to get that look, but alas, nothing has ever worked.

Until now. Emily recommended a fantastic Paul Mitchell product that I am now obsessed with.

Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Texturizing Sea Spray

As directed by Emily, I comb my hair out with a wide tooth comb and let it air dry to a point of dampness. Then I spray this liberally through my hair and tousle it lightly. At that point, I can already see a curl forming. Followed by blow drying with a diffuser on a high heat, low intensity setting, I end up with fabulously curly/wavy hair and a ton of volume. I don't even need hairspray! I have received numerous compliments on this new look, as I typically have very straight, sleek hair and this gives me more of a loose and funky style. I am 100% sold on this product and highly recommend it to anyone whose look this Spring/Summer identifies with the wild and carefree sensibilities of the '70s!