How To Wear a Slip Dress

How To Wear a Slip Dress

Dec 1, 2017

Location: Chicago, IL, USA

Underwear-as-outwear has become one of the most followed trends as of late. Silk dresses in particular are iconic - giving way to a feminine simplicity easily dressed up, down, and everything in between. Seen in hipster coffee shop corners, music venues, dressed-up afternoon tea, and even on the red carpet, its a versatile piece in its own right.

1 Choose your statement piece:

Your statement piece makes the process of styling the rest of the look infinitely easier. Start with an interesting item and play a little bit of trial and error. Statement pieces can range from shoes to large, ornate pieces of jewelry. One of my favorites ways to dress up a slip dress is layering it over a top. It's an easy, effortless style with enough variations to keep you more than busy. I've seen them layered over white tops and tucked into jeans, paired with thick turtlenecks, draped over edgy logo shirts - whatever you're feeling that moment within your own personal little styling corner (*see overflowing tiny closet and corner bedroom). After a long game of on again off again, I thought to try throwing the slip over a rather baggy ruffled bell sleeve top. Verdict? Hella comfy. Surprisingly chic af. The top did well in showing off the lace trim and detail and adding a bit of flare. Afterwards, it was just a matter of picking a pair of boots. When you're picking your statement piece, don't shy away from something bold or experimental.

2 Add Interesting Texture

Playing with textures is the best way to add some contrast to your look. You'll want to pick a fabric that adds a bit of variation. For example, a silk slip dress with suede accents. Lace, feminine detailing paired with a heavier, textured material. Again, this can be a bit of bold trial and error until you find a look you are fond of. In this case, this slip paired with different fabrics made for two completely different looks. To play up the feminine, lacy details, I wore the dress over a ruffled top with thigh high boots. Alternatively, I dressed the look down by tucking the dress into a pair of high-waist skinny jeans and added an over sized sweater for an edgier, every day look.

3 Play with details

Finishing touches can go a long way when creating the perfect 'I-want-to-look-like-I-stepped-out-of-Pinterest-like-I-didn't-even-try-do-you-know-what-I-mean?' look. Unlike your statement piece, choose little details that will accentuate and add to the look/vibe you are going for. A pair of cat-eye sunglasses, layered necklaces, elegant stud earrings, or a bold cross body.

4 When in doubt, go neutral 

Going neutral is the easiest way to appear instantly polished. Basics in neutral colors will always pair well with the other items in your closet and should remain your priority investments (especially when reconstructing an entire wardrobe. (*see Mouna circa daily since her girly-girl vintage obsession. cry.) Sticking with neutrals guarantees a match with a small window of failure. Alternatively, a single pop of color against neutrals is equally chic - a deep red lip, blue bag, or belt... 

5 Comfort is key

Keep in mind that slip dresses are all about comfort. Whoever started the pajama/underwear-as-outwear trend didn't do so in the hopes of disagreeable encounters or agonizing moments. Even with silky, evening slip dresses, one should pair with simply strappy heeled sandals or pointed toes. The undergarments are delicate as is, so even when going bold, make sure you feel great and are able to move around. The slip dress is made to cling to you in the right places and fall in others - everything about it should seem effortless and regal. Comfort is your best friend here!

Tobi Slip Dress // Shein Bell Sleeve Top // Stuart Weitzman Boots // Prada Moon and Star Cahier Bag

Amazon Oversized Sweater // Vibrant High-waist Skinny Jeans //  Gucci Marmont Belt // Shein Necklaces // Shein Choker 

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The Shift of Seasons

The Shift of Seasons

Nov 14, 2017

Location: Toronto, ON, Canada

Transitions, both extreme and minute, are accompanied with varying levels of acceptance. Perhaps at times they intimidate us, parading around our thoughts like cloaks of anxiety followed by a myriad of worrisome thoughts. Change can be scary, to say the least, and perhaps like the monsters under our bed we used to beg our parents to check for, the bigger the scarier. Other times, transitions are well overdue, greeted with open arms and (at times) an overwhelming sense of relief. The former types are the worst and hardest to accept. We wrack our brains of endless possibilities, what ifs, buts, and how to's until (in my case) all the reading, listing, writing, and wondering is forced to come to a deafening halt.

Just friggin' relax already would ya?

Ahh...finally, time for a little breather - a regain of control, if you will - and a fresh open mind that's ready for major change with open arms, no matter how intimidating it may be. The eagerness to let go, move on, move forward, and embrace it all. Life is moving forward and the easiest things in life are meant to be. Unless, of course, you are in the midst of exam season. Exam season is never easy, but it is always meant to be *cry.*

On the other hand, some change is well overdue (socks and sandals, casual misogynistic input, 3 AM tweets by people unfit in office...you get the gist). My personal favorite change is the change we look forward to, the change we know will soon happen, the change that improves our lives, and the change we bring about with intention. Both our minds and hearts line up and the unison creates the most harmonious of balances. There are never second guesses or regrets, it's exactly what we've been waiting and aiming for.

As I've previously stated, September/fall has a way of bringing about a sort of fresh start/change with both our life-long conditioning *ahem* start of term *ahem* and the change of season. There's no other season that makes me more receptive and accepting of life changes.

In collaboration with the lovely TOBI team, a dreamy shift dress captured during the shift of the season. Its' beautiful blush color inspired me to shoot it against a rich sky blue and colorful leaves. On colder days to be layered over white skinny jeans and an over-sized sweater draped over one's shoulders. Which, according to reports, is perhaps overdue. It'll be thick, fuzzy leggings, and parkas from now on. Chicago, do you feel me?

Tobi Shift Dress

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The Fall Maxi

The Fall Maxi

Oct 27, 2017

Location: Toronto, ON, Canada

Inevitable abrupt cold post-September commonly surprises even the most fall-ready of individuals. One day we walk around in our short skirts, a very light jacket swooped over our shoulders, serving absolutely no purpose other than aesthetically enhancing the current ensemble, until suddenly (and usually within a rainy evening) we step outside to a rather unexpected bitter chill. *Runs back home, grabs thicker jacket*

Nevertheless, fall is perhaps the most rewarding, exciting, and important(?) of fashion seasons. Anticipated layering options finally granted to us, arguably the most beautiful and well designed, structured pieces once again wearable. I’ve found that the (relatively minute) period in between S/S and F/W* dress is approached with mild hesitation. The opportunity to once more indulge in the anticipated ‘sweater weather’ and thigh-high boots is more than exciting. Yet after the humidity and heat of the previous few months, our minds tend to overlook the fact that it gets too cold too fast to truly wear the styles seen in our favorite September Issue spreads.

This outfit was shot during a remarkably warm-for-October day - a well timed exception to the otherwise back-to-back cold experienced in Toronto. The opportunity to layer beautiful pieces for the mere sake of charm. This maxi is from Tobi, a rich maroon and luxurious article in its own right. Usually it would make for the perfect Caribbean vacation ensemble with its deep v-neck cut and (nearly) nonexistent back - however, pairing it with a simple white sweater made for a warm (enough) outfit with just the right amount of that ‘fall-look’ feeling we all strive for. Too bad weather does not always permit…

Tobi Front Slit Dress in Wine // H&M Sweater // Amazon Fashion Heels

*Spring/Summer & Fall/Winter - Referring to two of the four major fashion seasons.

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On Re-Kindling Creativity

On Re-Kindling Creativity

Oct 25, 2017

Location: Half Day Forest Preserve, 24255 IL-21, Vernon Hills, IL 60060, USA

The lists of To-Dos for the mere sake of ‘To-Do’ are perhaps the most willing and gratifying of accomplishments. Yet through the blur of our daily life’s tasks, they become lost, pushed back behind the pressing assignments and responsibilities of school, work, appointments, and bills. Business as usual. Daily grind (as usual).

Still, with our attempts at completing such duties, we tend to fall into ruts. Coming home tired means Netflix is infinitely more appealing. Our minimal free time is spent sleeping an extra hour or loafing around and scrolling through our phones in the hopes of a short lived distraction from our otherwise stressing concerns of every-day life. And then one day, we wake up, and we realize our dreams were left on hold, our passions pushed aside, our skills dwindling through our lack of practiced passion and decreased dedication. A ‘rut’ of sorts either welcomed as a dire lesson well learnt or further overlooked and ignored in the hopes that avoiding such issues and past dedications will rid us of any guilt or remorse - for now. This latter option (your blue pill, if you will) serves nothing but furthering feelings of emptiness, defeat, and loss of control. A zombie-like state in which our true potential and loves are shadowed under life’s obligations and the excuse of no time, no energy, or no point. Through the years, you will continue burying the very evidence of your essence until you are so numb that it has become normal.

Or you can take your red pill. Pick up your paint brush again and paint. Press flowers as you once adored. Read more, write more, dance more, swim more, play music more, join a recreational sports team, get out more, make plans more, create more. Work on yourself more.

Through months and years, we can begin to take ourselves for granted, and in turn that feeling will always reflect back onto us via the outside world. Until you have filled your void(s) or lack, there will be nothing and no one to fill them for you. And how can you fill them? By making time to do the things you love, and in turn, to fall in love with yourself again. There are always reasons why one shouldn’t pursue their passion, pick up a new hobby, or dabble in their favorite art again - but is it really the time constraints that are stopping us or is it the fear?

In simply curating and editing this photo set, I was nervous. “Once upon a time, I practiced self portraits. Once upon a time, I loved photo compilations. Once upon a time, I loved learning photo manipulation.” Once upon a time, all that stopped me from doing what I love was the fear of failure or the induced laziness curated by my own low-level, weak thoughts.

The things we choose to love to do create who we are and (if done correctly) improve our skills and selves. I can’t say that blogging and photography “make you a better person” per-se, but I will argue that I write essays faster with such practice. I can say with confidence that the more I shoot and edit for the sake of experience the more I have pushed capabilities to the point where I occasionally see my work and giggle with excitement.

To push ourselves to create for the sake of learning new skills and bettering our own minds is rewarding enough to rekindle any passions or motivations that have diminished in the past. And through that, we find our love again and our self respect, which in turn will always boomerang back to us from our observed reality. Editing this set admittedly took me several weeks from start to finish. It was my most challenging and demanding self-portrait shoot to date in which I learned many new camera and photoshop skills along the way. Skills I am more than excited to try and master in the near future - and then, try something new again. It’s pushed the thoughts and boundaries of what I thought my blog posts could be and opened a labyrinth of ideas for future projects and possibilities.

Watch this space.

Jacobs Sweater // SheIn Pants // Gucci Shoes and Dionysus GG Supreme Bag

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