Chic – No Matter What the Season!
It’s that strange time of year when your calendar says fall, yet summer is still making its last stand. I came across several local people who are weathering that transition with style.
Carla Murphy wrapped up her summer looking festive and rocker-chic as she was going out on the town for a bachelorette party. She had a bright neon pink sleeveless silk blouse and a pair of denim and lace jean shorts by Free People. Being a partner at a law firm, Carla says her style is like a melting pot. She dresses sweet and conservative but likes to spice it up with accessories and colors.
Carla wasn’t kidding when she said she liked statement pieces. She was wearing a pair of heart sunglasses by Wildfox, a black suede belt with brass detail that she specifically wore because it was Bike Week, and a pair of Bettye Muller skull wedge heels.
She even had on a lot of layered necklaces; all black but made up of different materials. Carla gravitates to different patterns and textures such as embroidery, cutesy heart sweaters, and fringed scarfs. She mentioned that “the only constant you will find is my accessorizing. Jewelry, scarfs, glasses, handbags, etc.; I am definitely accessories-forward.”
Even though Carla dresses professionally and on-point for any meeting or luncheon she attends, her chic, fun accessories make her stand out, have a unique look, and earn her cute nicknames like “the sexy librarian!”
Justin Fritz was looking very sharp as he hosted a cocktail social at his home. Sporting a black and white check slim-cut oxford from H&M with pink JackThreads Bermuda shorts, his outfit was professional enough to wear to the office, but still stylish and comfortable for going out after work. Justin tends to gravitate to a slightly upgraded-casual style. He says feeling comfortable is as important as style is, which means wearing shorts as late into the fall as possible. He prefers pairing a single pop of color – like his pink shorts – with neutral tones like grey and black, keeping the outfit “interesting without being loud.”
Justin completed his look with a pair of black and white hand-sewn multi-knit Sperry’s – versatile enough to wear with any outfit. A professional, comfortable and a classic style indeed! They even have a few specks of color woven in that showcase Justin’s fashion mantra of adding an element of color to every outfit. One of my favorite accessories he was wearing was his leather umber cuff/Fossil watch. A unique dual-acting accessory that accentuates!
Jen Brown was looking old-school Hollywood-glam at a party at a friend’s house in a skirt and top by Rachel Zoe, a pair of coach platform wedges, and a Tibetan lamb vintage shrug. Jen combines an eclectic mix of designer and vintage because she loves to be unique, and is inspired by beautiful elements and styles of the past. Jen’s typical weekly schedule? Attending her son’s lacrosse games at Stevenson, work a full-time job with a creative and executive role at PinnacleCare, and attending social functions after work many nights. So, she goes for a look of “eclectic elegance” that will carry her through it all. “You always have to feel fabulous and confident that your style says everything about you in a snapshot.” She doesn’t believe in conforming to following the latest fashion trends; what’s hot at the moment. Instead, it’s about knowing yourself and making that “wow” entrance that sets you apart from everyone in a room.
She found the shrug and the chain mail necklace from the vintage store Killer Trash, located in the heart of Fells Point. She found one of my all-time favorite accessories – a vintage Whiting & Davis snake belt – from Love Me Two Times in Roland Park. Jen gives really meaningful fashion advice by advising people to “be empowered and drive your experiential style that’s true to your personal beliefs. All of us have a unique image that goes beyond designer brands and makes it your own.” Raise that glass of rosé champagne and say cheers to that, Darling!
