We heart DVN: Spring 2013

Dries Van Noten has always been one of our favorite designers and his collection for spring is another one to love. Moody florals set against plaids and paired with slouchy yet sharp blazers, cool Linda Farrow (for DVN) sunglasses, clutches and a fuschia lip...What more could we ask for? Lady grunge:  works for us.

Style Salute: The Army Jacket

An "army" of girls via jak and jil

The army jacket  (either surplus or inspired) is a cool, slouchy alternative to the classic jean jacket, and it definitely gets a lot of play in our (especially Kristin's) wardrobe. Although it is essentially a tomboy-ish/garçonne look, you can 'femme' it up with the right accessories and clothes -- including a bright red or orange lip!

Here, we present a few options:

Future's So Bright: Illesteva Shades

Lee Ann strolling the grounds of La Quinta, Palm Springs in her Illesteva Leonard sunglasses 
(lovely matte pink frame)

Kristin in her Illesteva Leonard 2s (interesting greenish grey clear frame)

It's almost time for spring (!) and so, time to dream about road trips, longer days...and sunglasses! We both enjoy a nice frame and one of our favorite lines is Illesteva.

Pronounced "ill-est ev-a" (haha), this super cool sunglass company started in 2009 and was a 2012 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist which makes them no longer a best kept secret. We still love them though! Handmade in France, Italy and Germany, the styles are timeless and classic but with a chic twist that's hard to put your finger on. 

How do you like to frame your face?

Style Staple: The Blazer

(From left to right: Martin Margiela, Isabel Marant, Ann Demeulemeester)

Speaking of Patti Smith, you'll seldom see her without a blazer (that goes double for Lee Ann). We've read that Patti favors those from Ann Demeulemeester – the coveted prototypes for that borrowed-from-the-boys look. They are slouchy but flattering = perfect! Kristin found one on eBay. Also check out Yoox.


As much as we love blazers, here in California, people don't wear them much (and regard them as ‘office wear’). However, one photo of Vogue Paris editor Emmanuelle Alt will snap anyone out of that misconception. Voilà! She shows you how it's done, without looking uptight or conservative (it's no secret that Parisian girls always get it right).

Cool with a t-shirt, white button down, or cashmere sweater – and we think best with jeans – a blazer can make you look effortlessly chic and perpetually pulled together.

Emmanuelle again via stockholm street style

Emmanuelle via jak and jil

Monday Mood Lifter: Layer like Patti

  

  Robert Mapplethorpe, 70s

Annie Leibovitz, 00s

Patti Smith is not only the high priestess of punk, she is also an inspiring style icon. 

Patti has remained true to her aesthetic over the years, masterfully layering t-shirts, white button downs, blazers and 'garconne' coats -- without fussiness, with an ease we aspire to recreate for ourselves.

Let's Layer

Look 1
Kristin is wearing an Isabel Marant coat, Demylee cardigan, J. Crew vintage cotton t-shirt, Current/Elliott roller  in Daybreak, Isabel Marant Dicker boots in Gris

Look 2
(minus the coat, of course)

Look 3
Everything is the same as above except for the scarf which is by Épice.

Living in California, where the weather goes from winter to summer in the same week, wearing layers is key. And it just so happens that we both like to dress this way! These are looks that you can build to take you from season to season or from morning to night, where the weather is unpredictable as it is here.

Brace-let's!

jak and jil

Lee Ann's bracelet mix, "This is for when I'm feeling adventurous."
(from bottom to top: Cartier Panthère, Shourouk, Aurélie Bidermann, Federica  Salvatori Franchi, vintage citrine paste)

Kristin's bracelet mix, "I like to wear jewelry in odd numbers!"
(from left to right: crystal thread, Sydney Evan evil eye, Cartier Panthère, silver ID, Shourouk, vintage Fiorucci rubber bracelet, Aurélie Bidermann

So, how do you layer your jewelry?