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I have had this dress for about twelve years and it is still one of my favorite things. As a redhead I usually avoid orange, but this piece is more of a hot coral that is so wrong on me, it's right. The cut and fabric are impeccable. The rounded hem is slightly shorter in the front, making it just a little unusual. This dress plays on my love of good construction and quirky details. The color keeps it from being too simple and I can dress it up or down, accessorize it for winter or summer. Strappy sandals make it warm; black tights make it cool. It never fails to get complimented when I wear it.
I am a firm believer in the power of the LBD (little black dress). My all time favorite is actually a jersey tank dress, but this is a close second and my current staple (the tank dress is too big). It is also jersey, a material I love because it is usually washable and the drape can flatter your figure like nothing else. This piece is a little shorter than I usually wear, but I think it's balanced by the relatively high neck. I am a firm believer in the sexiness of tastefully showing skin in only one major area. If you look closely, you can that it is not just sleeveless; the dress has a little inset sleeve that caps the shoulder. Again, just one unexpected detail takes a simple style to another level.
Every couple of years Leopard print reappears on the radar. However, I am of the mind that when done tastefully, it should always be part of my wardrobe. I have three different leopard dresses, one I've had since I was 16. It's too short to be age appropriate, but it looks killer over fitted cropped black pants. The dress above is about 6 years old and is the exception that proves the rule that I shouldn't wear cross-front tops. The tailoring is such that nothing falls out, partly due the high waist. With the slight flair of the skirt and fitted waist, the dress shows off my figure perfectly and I love the flirty little bows on the shoulders. The chiffon keeps the print from being too severe and the pattern has an organic feel to it. Elegant, yet fun.
Before you get the mistaken impression that I have a safari in my closet, let me clear some things up. I do like leopard when it's done well. Giraffe can be fabulous, but I've yet to see anything worth my funds. As for zebra, in general I find it to be troublesome. If not done well, it looks very cheap. Plus, you have to deal with the stripe issue: is it going to make you look wider. However, this dress is a rare exception. The stripes are done well so that they elongate. But the real killer here is the design: the cut, with the v-neck, fitted waist, and slightly flared skirt fits me like heaven. It's made out of jersey and hugs me without being tacky. It literally fits like someone looked at me and made the most flattering dress possible for my figure. If it came in any other color or pattern, I would buy it. 
This dress is a relatively new addition to my closet and I am obsessed with it. I love the Asian print and the extreme length. It's screened mesh lined in gold, which gives it a slight sparkle. My husband loves the fit, which is body conscious without being tight. And it helps that I am exactly the right height to wear it: two inches shorter and it would drag, two inches taller and it would be awkward. It represents my love of fit and ethnic prints, especially Asian.
If you haven't figured it out by now, I love prints. Even more than that, I love mixing prints. This dress has the fun quirk of having an a-symetrical hem and neckline. Adding my own printed flower pin detail in the same tones is very much Me. Cynthia Rowley talks in the book Swell about how fabulous it can be to have things just a bit off. I usually avoid being matchy-matchy if at all possible because it just isn't my style. So I'll throw on a mixed pattern accessory or pair of heels just to keep it interesting. In this case the muted colors allow for that little mix without looking tacky.
I include this dress not because I still wear it, but because it is one of my LOVE posterity pieces. There is no reason not to keep a few pieces you love even if you know you will never wear them again. This dress was worn to my first Prince concert when I was 18. You may notice that it is similar to some of my other favorite things, even as dated as it is: the v-neck and the screened mesh. Honestly, f it were minus the red trim and about two inches longer, I would probably still wear it today. As it is, it has place of honor in my closet.
If my closet seems dress heavy, that's because it is. I love wearing dresses more than anything. That does not mean, however, that I am sans separates. This piece was an ebay score that is so beautiful in person, sometimes I just look at it. It is completely sheer, which makes it a super versatile piece. I can wear it over a black tank, as a jacket with that LBD above, or over my red Cure shirt for something really funky. The embroidery is like Swiss Miss with an edge and the cut is unique. It is one of those pieces that turns up the volume of whatever else you happen to be wearing.
I have a confession: I love rock t-shirts. In fact, it's almost an addiction. Cher, David Bowie, The Cure, Prince . . . not to mention my love of literary rock star shirts: Jack, Charles, Hunter--love them! But this Kinks shirt is my all time favorite. The color is amazing and always makes me look healthier (blue can do that). The design is just a touch, well, kinky. Made by American Apparel, it is super soft, perfectly fitted, and has just a slight scoop to the neck that flatters me. I love to mix these types of shirts with fun printed skirts.
Another variation on a classic t-shirt, this one features oragami pleating that is thankfully popular right now. The hang is casual yet chic and the color is vibrant. Also notice the v-neck, something we now know is one of my signatures.
This shirt is my lucky charm. The print is youthful, but sophisticated and varied enough that it doesn't look dated (the shirt is about 8 years old). I love the ruffle detailing and the of course the neckline. It looks great with jeans and even better with a black pencil skirt.
This is another example of a t-shirt I love. The cheeky message ("I wish I was a Jaguar") and play with animal print make this so much more than just a gray tee. It doesn't hurt that it is soft as the bunny is shows.
Out of all my skirts, this is perhaps my favorite. The color didn't translate well in the picture, but the soft lavender is a perfect fit the the soft tulle without making it seem costume. Again something that transends seasons depending on styling, this skirt is a favorite go-to piece that always makes whatever shirt I pair it with seem a bit more special.
These pants are included to demonstrate how even a basic can be something you love. In this case, these tailored black pants have a satin stripe that make them a little most exciting and can be dressed up with a blouse or down with a tee. The tailoring is fab and the details just enough to make them unusual. 
You are looking at the best $20 I have ever spent. This vintage carpet coat was just hanging out in a thrift store waiting for me. Some people love it, some people hate it. I can't imagine winter without it. The pattern, the weight, the plushness, the dramatic collar--it is the perfect vintage gem. It does need a new lining before winter, so I am thinking a royal purple would really pop. This is another piece that is just so me I can't stand it.
So what did I learn about myself? I love vintage inspired or vintage pieces, amazing patterns and prints, quirky or flirty details, v-necks, fitted waists, a-symmetrical, rock t-shirts, dresses, jersey, and good tailoring. But this is only one part. Coming up we will see how the details pull it all together.
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