The other day, I was out shopping with a friend who is having a fundamental style awakening. Her body is changing, her outlook on life is changing and she's encountering a financial revolution. If we were speaking strictly style, she might be in a bit of a tailspin. During our conversations, we began to exchange style philosophies. If you've never delved into the core of who are and really examined where your fashion choices come from, I encourage you to do so. It can be very eye opening.
As we were quipping back and forth, something that I said while winding in and out of the accessory racks at H&M has been echoing in my brain ever since. When I see something I like, I buy it. It doesn't matter the season, the color, the designer, the fabric or the texture (all within reason, of course). The more I read advice from stylists, designers, editors and bloggers, the more this rings true. If you see a piece that stirs you, one that makes you close your eyes and imagine all the places you will go while wearing it, you should take it home - no questions asked. While some people believe in a beautifully edited closet, one that may contain 30 pieces or less, I believe in buying pieces that either fill a void from your current selection (ie, color) or are so moving that you cannot imagine your life without them.
While this philosophy does apply to clothing, where it is most applicable is to accessories. Shoes, handbags, jewelry, hats - the works. A great bracelet or pair of earrings can be just as chic 10 years from now as it is the moment you first wear it. I love to look at my closet as a collection that tells the story of who I am. Almost as if it's the history of my being - where I've been, where I've lived and what I've loved. New purchases are part of my collection, each deserving a special place alongside it's peers.
Don't get me wrong, there is something extraordinary to be said for editing. Each day, I browse the flash sale sites, looking for something that piques my interest or a piece that I've been hunting for. 95% of the time, I close the tab without even flinching (please note: this does in no way apply to any Chanel sales. I always flinch. And whine.). Sites like ShopBop may make me wish that I had wealth far beyond my means, but that doesn't mean that any of those pieces truly belong with me.
That's been one of my favorite things about the personal style blogger revolution. We get to take a peek into the closets of seemingly ordinary girls and become inspired. Of course, before they became so sought after, their acquisitions were uninfluenced and pure. It never mattered if the item was brand new or a hand me down from their mother. The photos stirred something in our soul.
Whenever I pass an impossibly chic girl on the street, I wonder to myself: what is her story? What led her to wear that jacket today? Where did that handbag come from (and more importantly, where is it going?)? All of these thoughts naturally lead me to my question to you, dear reader. What is your style philosophy? Do you collect or do you edit? What does your closet say about you? I'm dying to know!
My feeling about Eva Mendes have always been mixed. She's an absolutely beautiful woman with respectable acting talents, however I find that her outfits can sometimes border on unnecessarily sexual (though I'm sure her male fans and Calvin Klein intimates don't mind). The olive green full circle skirt that she's rocking in the photo above is a nice departure from Herve Leger dresses and underwear-inspired ensembles.
Plus size retailer Roaman's has announced a "new look" for this spring. Already available on 
Snapped today while filming Gossip Girl on the Upper East Side, Leighton Meester's character Blair Waldorf looks like a modern Carmen Sandiego. Perhaps she's doing a bit of sleuthing?
