Long Skirts: Romance or Rack?

Posted by Jenni

This spring, long, swishy skirts are splashed across the pages of all our fave fashion mags, and although the styling is gorgeous, like the outfit idea below...



(Image: The Style Sample http://thestylesample.com/category/vintage-thrift-finds/page/2/)

I'm not sure it's for me. I love long dresses, so I should love long skirts, right? They're romantic, interesting, and hey, if I really hate them so much, I can just pull them up and have a new strapless dress!



(Image: Bachman's Sparrow http://www.bachmanssparrow.com/blog/)

How cute is she? The stripes are nautical with the rope belt, the jacket brings some edge, and the scarf as a headwrap? Swank. Love the nude cutouts - definitely this season's heels to own!

It seems to boil down to creativity: if you have a hankering for a long skirt, find one that you love, and use things you already own to use it more than one way.
Outfit idea: your new (or thrifted!) long skirt worn as a dress, a military-inspired blazer and a skinny (metallic!) belt. We love wedges, but if they're not for you, a gladiator sandal (with a pedicure!) will also be fab. Pinning half your hair up with a pretty barette won't hurt, neither ;)

So, are you convinced that long skirts are worth a try? Let us know here or at longwoodlook@gmail.com.

XOXO, Jenni

Inspiration

Posted by Jenni

So, what you basically know about me is that I really like dresses. I do. I like them so much that it's just easier to tell you that I have thirty dresses than something more meaningful. I really enjoy reading and learning to use the slow-cooker.

One of the most important things to me is music. I'm a voice major, actually, and when I find music that is created rather than recycled, well, it inspires me.



This song in particular is an abstract and literal piece of artwork. The opening whispery tones are muted and intended to create a separate atmosphere - a sphere of sound. Then the driving bass/drum combo comes in, the idea of pursuit. This is the musical representation of the image - the Resistance. It is an entity, and whole.

Like clothes, music is more than an organized collection of sound.

Music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPE9uSFFxrI
Image: Muse, The Resistance

Style Inspiration

She's not a model or a designer or anything. But she writes and she sings and her music changed me and still gives me goosebumps so much that I'm not ashamed to say that if I have daughters, one of them will be named Regina. And yes, that daughter will be named after Regina Spektor.

First of all, the girl's got great hair. She wears the cutest dresses. She's totally sexy but is almost always wearing stockings or boots or hidden behind a piano. And she wears red lipstick like nobody's business. I love her with makeup, I love her without it. And, despite having a career that involves playing the piano all the time, her nails always look great.

I find her to be so unusual but really classic at the same time, and I can't get enough! I think it's a big feat to be able to so effortlessly blur the lines between sexiness and cuteness. I just want to put on my best heels and meet her for tea.

Who's your style inspiration?

<3 Megan

Style Inspiration

Like nearly everyone else on the planet, we're pretty sure you've seen James Cameron's newest film, Avatar. Before you get too worried, we're not going to talk about painting your body. Sorry, Blue Man Group. It's not you, it's us.

What we love about Avatar is Zoe Saldana, who played the role of Neytiri (the princess of Pandora, an alien planet, duh). Even in blue CGI, she's the bomb dot com, but her fashion exploits are what set her apart on and off the red carpet.



You can definitely wear big, funky earrings at night - if you pair them with a simpler top and opt out of a statement necklace. Feel a little bolder? Wear a huge, sparkly cocktail ring. It's fresh! Photo: fashionbombdaily.com



Zoe Saldana mixes architecture with romance in this awesome dress at Glamour's Women of the Year Awards. We love the juxtaposition of hard and soft looks, effortlessly cinched together with a plunging neckline. To achieve something similar, layering is your best friend. Shop around for something lacy, then top it with a cardigan or blazer and belt it around your waist. Tres chic. Photo: zimbio.com/glamour



Never underestimate the power of a red dress. Photo: fashionbombdaily.com

Who is your style inspiration? It can be a celebrity or your four-year-old niece! Let us know at longwoodlook@gmail.com or on our Facebook page.

Style Inspiration

Posted by Jenni

Trust me, if I had 500 days to talk about Zooey Deschanel, I would be just as enamored with her as Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character in the indie film 500 Days of Summer. Aside from being the sister of the beautiful Emily Deschanel - star of FOX's Bones, she is a fantastic singer and frequently stirs up the fashion world with her mod hairstyle, vintage clothing, and whimsical silhouettes.







To be your Zooey-est self, either find an amazing vintage bathing suit, or call up Marc Jacobs for your own personal day dress. Or try a fun color combination with a simple tank, skirt, and tights combination. Pair with flats, like Zooey, or try menswear-inspired loafers to test a newer shoe trend.

Send us your style inspirations here, on Facebook, or to longwoodlook@gmail.com.