Look of the Day — Tribal and Boho Meet Rock-n-Roll

Like most New Yorkers, I’m still struggling to find my footing after the devastation left behind by Hurricane Sandy. I’m thankful for my family’s safety, for having a roof over our heads, for being able to enjoy another day above ground. My heart goes out to all those people who lost loved ones, homes, businesses, memories… The photos of the devastation are not enough to capture the desolation, frustration, rage, and helplessness these people must feel. Those of us who weren’t as deeply and horrifically affected must remember that, to put it bluntly, we simply got lucky, these losses and tragedies could’ve just as well been our own. Sure, some folks lost power or Internet service, but these are such minor inconveniences in the grand scheme of things. So, with that in mind, even as we all try to return to some semblance of normal life — myself included — I think it’s important that we don’t forget the suffering of so many, that we don’t adopt a self-centered frame of mind, that we don’t forget that a long commute or a dropped cell phone call are minor grievances in the larger scheme of things. That being said, then, it’s been difficult to blog about fashion and beauty in the midst of all this chaos since it felt like these were such trivial matters given the current state of affairs. But, at the same time, I think we can all use something to smile about, some form of distraction, some beam of sunshine, if you will, to get us out of this collective funk. And so, as I continue posting, please know that I’m as heart-broken as anyone else in NYC, and that I’m not trying to make light of the matter or trivialize it but, rather, I’m hoping that these posts will, in some way, liven up people’s moods.

So on to the fashion talk… I’d been waiting to post another “Look of the Day,” and I just came across these photos, which were taken two weeks ago. It was one of those hectic weeks when beauty and fashion editors have back-to-back press previews and appointments for a full five days and wind up feeling like the Roadrunner as they dash uptown, then downtown, then back uptown, then cross-town, and so on. With all the traveling I’d have to do in mind, I wanted an outfit that was cute but also practical. Right off the bat, I decided I wanted to wear my Modern Vintage black boots since they’re rather comfortable and have a nice block-shaped heel that isn’t murder on my feet. And, well, I’d been dying to wear a Whitney Eve top I’d purchased online (at Haute Look, I believe), so I decided to build a look around those two components. The Whitney Eve top is really funky — it’s a cropped blouse with short sleeves and a scoop neckline,and it features black pleats near the bottom of the bodice and a colorful geometric print along the top half that reads a bit Southwestern thanks to the combination of turquoise, yellow, purple, black, white, coral red, and burgundy shades. Since I wanted the top to be the focal point of the ensemble, I chose to pair it with a black Fluxxus maxi skirt that really hugs the body — another plus, since I like to flaunt my curves whenever possible! And to cinch the tribal motif, I added a two-toned chain link belt with heart and medallion shapes that falls right along the hips.

Since I’m a sucker for accessories, I continued to work with the world-traveling gypsy theme and added a Eugenia Kim turban in this really rich plum-meets-mulberry shade. I’m so smitten with this turban that I seriously want to buy it in every color possible! Next, I added my Peace Images Gold Cartel Necklace (you can get your own for $40 at PeaceImages.BigCartel.com), my House of Harlow 1960 Totem Earrings (you can cop them for $65 at Amazon.com), and a couple of big chunky bangles, including my House of Harlow 1960 Aztec Bangle ($80 at Piperlime.com), and my Virgins, Saints & Angels PAX Ring, which has a square surface that’s intricately etched with a cross motif at its center.

In terms of makeup, the main element was the YSL Rouge Volupté lipstick in 12, a rich and creamy mulberry shade that’s perfect for the season.

The finishing touch to give the look a rocker edge: a faux leather jacket from H&M in a deep Merlot shade. The result is meant to be biker chick meets Boho babe. You dig?