Speaking for themselves…

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When I have doth protested that my style is a work in progress, a canvas that I‚Äôm continually reworking and adding onto, what I really mean to say is there are imperfections that I‚Äôm fully aware of and actually rather love about my style.   I may give 100% genuine love to what I wear but I can also later criticise an outfit and say ‚ÄòOkaaay… something went a leeeetle bit wrong there….‚Äô.  In a way, I‚Äôm sort of glad that I do make those mistakes and don‚Äôt strive for perfection the first time round otherwise where would the learning curve be?   

I get why phrases like ‚Äòless is more‚Äô and ‚Äòeffortless‚Äô are revered the way they are but I don‚Äôt think it‚Äôs a crime when I don‚Äôt take those phrases to be biblical style truths.  As opposed to being a slave to those phrases and clutching to them 100% of the time as if they were some sort of style security blanket, I‚Äôd much rather pick and choose as and when I want to utilise them.  A lot of people have called me a ‚Äòlayering queen‚Äô and though I take this as something of a compliment, I‚Äôm not sure I want to be exclusively pigeon holed with that phrase either.   Perhaps this really is about no wanting to be heavily known for being one thing or the other because I feel like I‚Äôm capable of toning it down when the occasion arises.

When I came across this black dress from Public Beware yesterday, it struck me that it would probably have the best impact with nothing much but a pair of stomping shoes so that‚Äôs probably how I will wear this dress on most days.  However, on one lonesome day I will of course also wear it in those layered ways of mine and I‚Äôll do it, knowing that the dress won‚Äôt look it‚Äôs best purely because on that particular day, I felt like making a bit of a mistake, and making it more frivolous and multi-faceted than it needs to be.  For me, allowing clothes to speak for themselves is a ‚Äòchoice‚Äô as opposed to an ‚Äòobligation‚Äô because I like my wardrobe being under my mercy…*wuhahaha*

50 comments

  1. OMG that dress is AMAZING!!! My own recently purchased Public Beware top is infuriatingly too big! But with a belt around the middle, it’ll do.

  3. Wow. So you already know how much I love this dress, right?? Wow. I might cry a little that I can’t pick it up online! You look incredible.

  6. That is a seriously awesome dress–and I agree the greatest impact comes when it is worn plain.
    I get so tired of people who say it should be this way or that, or a certain way is wrong–I don’t need any more rules in my life and I won’t allow any to be applied to my clothes! Part of the joy of dressing should be self-expression, not regimented style. I applaud you for having no rules when you dress. I might look back on certain outfits and think “that was a mistake” but I’m glad I made the mistake for myself, rather than following what everyone else wears and then regretting it! At least my mistakes are my own.
    Hee-hee, your post hit a nerve with me.

  9. Oh my goodness I am the same way, sometimes I am all about the layering and then sometimes I just want to wear one great piece and let it speak for itself. Although you seem to have style wisdom and I seem to just have style ADD

  10. God i LOVE that dress. It does look amazing on its own but saying that i cant wait to see how you layer it!!!

  11. The dress looks amazing the way you wear it, but I’m sure it’ll stretch to being layered too. And it’s natural that your style is still evolving, besides you don’t have to conform to anyone’s tastes except your own.

  13. The dress is amazing- love the biker details.
    I know what you mean about picking and choosing between fashion maxims- one day I’m monochrome minimal, the next full-on ironic sweater, bright trainers and a million different accessories.
    A wise fashion writer (who shall remain nameless) once told me that minimalism was the flipside of chaos… perhaps that explains everything! x

  17. lovely zip !
    outfits is on it’s best when it feels and looks great. Not over and not under dressed.
    juliet xxx

  24. really lovely outfit!
    i love your style, dont change a thing!
    i have never commented, but i have your page bookmarked and kinda stalk your blog. haha, so would you like to link up?
    its ok, if you dont want to, i see you already have quite an abundance of people, but if you dont want to link to me, would you mind if i just linked to you?

  26. the simplicity of this outfit makes it so eye-catching! It looks very cool and edgy especially when you unzipped the front ever so slightly. Plus that ‘V’ slit in the shoes combined with the length of the dress makes your legs look extremely long. Very nice!

  27. I love this look, and it’s nice that you don’t take things too seriously, n fact, it’s quite refreshing. That dress is gorgeous and your legs do look miles long.

  28. I think you ‘re great.
    Go on like this, the personal style today is the key of the success.
    Take care
    Iole
    ps my written english is not so good, I’m italian so please forgive me.

  29. you always look so amazing… i love the way you take risks, experiment and stay true to the idea that clothing should be worn by the person rather than the other way around. you have the most amazing, natural talent of knowing precisely what will work and look great – i am insanely jealous. if i could look half as stylish as you i would die happy haha! so glad i stumbled across this site, you make me wanna live and breathe clothing. thanks susie, style bubble usually brightens otherwise dreary days!

  30. what the heck, what happened to my comment? i wrote that one above mine… so confused right now..

  32. why should you care about how anyone else labels you? Just keep surprising us 🙂 I do confess though I like this minimalist look more, but that’s just my opinion. Fashion is a matter of taste, after all. Kisses

  33. I love that dress. And is the perfect choice, to wear it simple.
    This outfit has a lot of character!!
    love

  34. has anybody else found that the comments they are writing are getting a wee bit screwed up? the 1st one i wrote says it was wrote by someone else… and then there is another one after mine (with my name on it) that i didnt write!! what the?!?

  36. Wow… thanks for all your comments… I guess simplicity works this time…. and it proves to me that it may be that my own personal taste is quite niche…. in that my more layered looks aren’t everyone’s cup of tea…. oh well, I guess I knew that anyway…!
    Anon: You didn’t leave a link!

  37. susie, you are much prettier and attractive than you know. i love the way you look in this outfit, not hiding your youth and beauty under piles of layering.

  39. even when you “tone it down” you are still completely the offbeat susie we all adore. you are always and clearly in control of you clothes.

  42. Possibly in this case layering might be required? Or at least big knickers 🙂

  43. this look REALLY works for you! i thought there couldn’t be anything to live up to the genius layering but i love this, definitely something to experiment with

  44. I have to admit that I prefer this more toned down look to your usual layering, but I enjoy seeing your normal outfits as they are very original and interesting- I’m known for being rather more elegant in my looks but its fun to see how someone else styles themselves within the same trends.

  45. You look lovely!
    And the “layering queen” thing is a good compliment, because not everybody can match so many types of clothing in the same outfit 🙂

  46. the only thing you need to tone down, my dear, is the continuous self deprication. you are fabulous, accept it and stop making excuses for yourself!
    xoxo

  47. i like this look a lot… it’s really great to notice the detailing of the dress.
    unfortunately, it’s too cold to go w/out tights.
    🙁
    for us wimpy californians at least.

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