the ascot

It’s a shame how rare it is to see an ascot these days.  Rarer still than seeing a bowtie. Such an elegant way to add a bit of color or interest to a plain shirt or outfit, for men and women alike, with an endearing element of eccentricity. It creates the sense of an additional layer that is really only the illusion of a layer.

Any light scarf can be made serve the purpose.

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This would have been better if I’d worn a shirt that buttoned up farther, maybe. More color this way but there’s something appealing about a small triangle of color peeping out, too. The loose, casual interpretation vs the severe, polished interpretation.  Both have their strengths.

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Silk is a nice way to go. 

The most enjoyable part of wearing a shirt or vest with buttons is the art of leaving certain of them undone. I like the idea of this look with no ascot, nothing at all at the neck, and another button on the shirt undone. Love the looks I’m seeing across runway shows recently (to say nothing of American Hustle, long may it be an inspiration to us all) of extremely deep Vs (front and back). I have many personal aspirations re: the deep V. The smaller breasted of us can wear it relatively innocently, I think. Relatively… It still makes for a potentially distracting eyepath, but one that is much more suggestive than it is revealing.

So much more appealing to me to create the impression of revealing than to literally reveal, which is like explaining the joke.

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Vintage silk scarf from Jones New York, H&M vest, Banana Republic shirt (thrifted), Express jean leggings, Mulberry bag, Trotters loafers. Sunglasses: cheap (retro, no?). On the lips: Shiseido Lacquer Gloss in RS 306.

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I never get it when people with broad shoulders want to disguise them. Shoulders love to be accentuated. They seem to jump at the chance.

But maybe it’s just me, and some lingering 80s influence.

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le moto

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After years (years!) of futile* hunting, I found a pair of knee high leather boots. The leather is gorgeously soft. You can’t quite see but they have a modest heel. They were destined to become best friends with this jacket.

*bootless…

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Boots better folded up or down? Can’t decide…

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This is my new favorite lip color thing.

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So glad the weather for this jacket has finally come around again. Coach knee-high boots (thrifted), Allsaints Cargo leather jacket, Express leggings, J Crew Kiss Kiss tee, Solange Azagury-Partridge Hotlips ring (thrifted), Mulberry bag (thrifted), Spektre sunglasses. On the lips: Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso. This stuff is incredible, it goes on opaque in one intense layer and doesn’t move until you take a makeup remover to it (and it’s stubborn even then) or eat something greasy. This shade, Beso (the name fits the look, no?*), is a lot like MAC’s Russian Red lipstick, a deep, siren-worthy blue red.

*Got tons of compliments on this, and hardly ever get complimented on anything, honestly. A Northeast thing, I think. Even a smile is kind of uncommon on the street, though a certain kind of appreciative stare isn’t unheard of. Not that I am especially interested in feedback (I want to do whatever, wear whatever, because because because because because) but it can be interesting social data, what gets compliments. Even more so here in the land of reluctant social interaction. I realize I note compliments more consciously with perfume, for whatever reason.

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