the sweatshirt dress

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As I enjoy a sweater dress, so I enjoy a sweatshirt dress. This combination of a bundled up top and unprotected legs is exactly the kind of contrast I love. The bulkier on top, the better, which means this look will just keep getting better the more coats and scarves I have to pile on top. Eventually I’ll need to incorporate tights, but bare legs are superior because: correct! More contrast.

In my world, contrast = good.

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This is another lovely pearl necklace on loan from Lilia’s Treasures Etsy shop, a long strand of golden pink ripple pearls. There are swirling wrinkle-like corrugations all over the surface of the pearls, which are themselves beautifully metallic and reflective. Ripples, like keshis, are yet another option for the modern pearl consumer.

I love longer strands:

You can double them up.

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You can knot them or, if the strand isn’t long/small enough, gather them with a broach or ribbon

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And they look great loose, too, though you may have some Thoroughly Modern Millie moments.

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I’m not always interested in showing much leg – it can be in questionable taste or outright trashy – but with a look like this, the more leg, the more contrast, so all of my favorite shots were those revealing maximum thigh. The legwarmers change the skin:clothing ratio, and somehow that expanse of thigh doesn’t seem as risqué as it otherwise might to me. Somehow, I don’t think twice about it. But then, I do have this trashy streak.

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Sloppy Joe dress from Hush, H&M leg warmers, necklace from Lilia’s Treasures, Spektre sunglasses, Steve Madden shoes, Breil Milano watch.

I really like pink and gray together. And cream and anything together.

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This post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own. Featured pearls are on loan from Lilia’s Treasures.

weekend distraction: Chanel Spring/Summer 2014

Chanel is a leviathan*, of course, but Lagerfeld maintains such a consistent vision that I don’t feel I’m in much danger of missing something if I’m a few seasons off in my fashion reading. This season I loved the eye look so much, though, that I browsed through the collection.

*Here’s an interesting series of short films outlining the history of the brand.

Chanel is doing some beautiful things with shoulders for S/S 2014.

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See what I’m saying about the eyes?! Also loving these giant asymmetrical pearls.

Other highlights:

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The shoulder is one of my favorite parts of the body to showcase. It can show delicacy or strength, depending on the shoulder, and there is always an element of vulnerability. It is also, to me, one of the most elegant ways to show a large expanse of skin. [Another being the back, but you already know my preferences in that regard.]

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This off-the-shoulder suit is my favorite, I think. The cut here frames the shoulder so beautifully, and in a way that is entirely distinct from the slouchy Flashdance approach (which has its own appeal, to be sure).

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You can browse the full collection at chanel.com.

images from chanel.com