Happy 2016! For the first “She Can Do It” blog post of the New Year, I wanted to share a quick #OOTD that I think is very modern-retro.
So, the key elements of the outfit sound really boring: black pencil, white top, black heels and purse. I know—shocking combination. Well, I decided to have some fun and play around with the idea of black pencil skirt and white top: the skirt is a faux leather midi with asymmetrical cut that results in very sexy slit; the top is a sheer white with black piping and a small pussy bow (yes, that’s what those bows are called). I wore a black camisole under the shirt because I was going to church, but for a night out, I’d wear the shirt with a nice black bra underneath.
I added some small pearl jacket earrings and a pearl leaf comb. My shoes are basic black pumps, but I love them, and their bows, so much! I also had to wear a coat because it’s cold AF, but I don’t think the coat ruined the outfit; it was better than freezing. Also, I was going to wear black seamed stockings, but I ripped them with my nails on accident, like an idiot, so I wore nude fishnets instead; again, bare legs would have been nice but I didn’t want to freeze.
So, yes, the outfit is pretty basic but the small details come together to make it look special. The components are classic and the silhouette of the outfit is very 1940s, but the sheerness of the top and the cut of the skirt make it look very modern; it’s a great way to broach dressing vintage without looking costumey or drawing too much attention. Hope this inspires you to try out some vintage looks! Thanks for reading!
Details (Disclaimer: I’m giving brand names/stores as ideas for where to purchase items; there is no guarantee the items I am wearing are still available. Also, a lot of my “higher end” items come from TJ Maxx or the clearance/sale, so they might not be available any more.)
Top: Forever 21 (December 2015)
Skirt: Forever 21 (December 2015)
Coat: Forever 21 (December 2014)
Bag: DKNY via TJ Maxx (a few years old)
Shoes: Michael Kors (a few years old)
Hair comb: Charming Charlie’s (a few years old)
Stockings: American Apparel (no longer available even though they’re my favorite!)
Earrings: Zara (clearance, summer 2014)