A Vintage Affair

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending Resurrect at Retromended Vintage. It combined all of my favorite things: local artists, hot music, delicious treats, and vintage fashion. Could it be any more perfect? This was my first time at Retromended Vintage and it was just as cute and quirky as I expected.

Taking Care of Business (with my Christian Louboutin)

You might remember from this post that I was surprised on my birthday with a pair of Christian Louboutin Rolando pumps. Since then, I’ve been debating when and where to debut these beauties. After all, you can never have a “first time” again, so it had to be special. I wanted it to be an event where it would really stand out among the crowd. After much debate, I decided the perfect occasion was my profession’s annual conference. It is typically known as a conservative and professional gathering, but why not spice it up with some unexpected red soles? When I slipped the pumps on, I felt an instant burst of excitement and energy running from my toes to the top of my head. It was official, I was ready to network, discuss research ideas, and negotiate contracts. I was unstoppable. When I crossed my legs during seminars there weren’t eyes in the room that didn’t gravitate towards those red soles. Who can blame them? It’s definitely not a pair of shoes for the shy at heart. And I definitely was not feeling shy. I was equipped with my power suit and my Loubis. I was ready to stand out and use that confidence to my advantage. In the end, it turned out to be a great conference with new contacts and potential clients. Was it because of the Louboutins? Or my confidence? Or a little bit of both? I guess I'll never know!

Chantilly Lace: Not just your grandma’s lace

My grandmother’s table doilies and her Sunday church dress are the first things that come to mind when I think of Chantilly lace. Gentle, soft, and feminine – just like my grandmother. But it’s time for a new outlook on this traditional lace. I’ve been determined to step out of my comfort zone and re-evaluate my preconceived notions. With this new approach in mind, I decided to reinvent how I wear lace. In fact, this time lace would not be so delicate. This time there would be a twist.  Lace will now have a tougher look. Now it’s Chantilly lace with an edge. Probably not grandma approved but sometimes a girl has to break out of her obedient role and introduce a little bit of mischievousness and defiance into her life.

Naughty or Nice: Lace and Leopard

Sugar and spice, naughty and nice, that's what little girls are made of. How do you dress the two sides with one stunning outfit? Masquerading, versatile lace. Feeling subtle, timeless and romantic? Swath yourself in an ivory lace embroidered with delicate beads.  Stepping out for the night in a much more dramatic look? Slip into a black lace with silk accents. No matter how you're feeling or where the night will take you, lace will turn your ensemble from naughty to nice (or vise versa!). And what woman doesn't need an outfit that can express her two sides? 

Though my inner courtesan longed to wear this lace to a grand masquerade ball, I wore it to my office holiday party. Not as grand but still elegant (alas, no invite yet to Orlando's costumed ball).  For this outfit, I paired a black Chantilly lace with an asymmetrical satin shirt and a thin leopard print belt. A touch of class, a touch of wild, all Iris. How do you incorporate lace into your outfits?

Fashion tip: Remember that simplicity is elegant. For a more refined look, I opted for minimal jewelry, my pearl studs and wedding rings were all that I needed. The leopard print speaks for itself.

What I’m Rockin’:

Blouse – A’gaci

Skirt – Gemma via HauteLook

Belt – Forever 21

Shoes – Charles by Charles David via Marshalls