Pink Pearl

I love the color of this coat - it's so unusual, and she pairs it perfectly with the brown ankle boots. I'm so obsessed with color it's not even funny - sorry to disappoint those of you who love the monochromatic styles or shades of neutrals and black. Color is where it's at.

~ The Style Phile

Sorry

It's been forever since I've posted. In fairness, my birthday was this weekend. And while I don't like making these posts personal, I had a kickass birthday. So to keep a birthday post still relevant to fashion, here are the fashion-related presents I received:

Bracelet from two of my roomies:

Bracelet from the third roomie... she MADE this:

Anna Sui for Target dress that I've been lusting after, courtesy of Dad:

Wristlet from parents:

My birthday outfit (new clothes!) :)

Anyway, back to actual PSF stuff by the next post.

~ The Style Phile

Day and Night

People I creeped on randomly. I really hope they don't mind.


Sometimes I don't know why I want to take a picture of someone. Usually it's the outfit: I see it, and something about it "pops" to me. But sometimes that feeling isn't as sharp; it's just the vague idea that something about the way someone looks or is dressed appeals to me. I can't put a finger on it and tell you, "this is what I like about this outfit." I can just say, hey, look at this, and see if you like it too. Also, I badly needed more guys' photos on this blog.

However, for a modicum of clarity, I'll try to talk about these pictures a bit. In the first, I love his posture and the way the colors sort of shift from white-dominant in the upper-left corner (the stands and the shirt) to blue in the right (the stands and the bike). It helps that the shadow follows that gradient as well. I also liked the scruffy-looking, faded red shoes and the aviators... the whole mini-scene just had a certain vibe to it.

In the second, I just think, "baggy." Now, baggy is horrendous in excess (just think about how the Olsen twins usually look like they're wearing garbage bags). Sometimes, though, baggy works - usually on people who have no intention of trying to make it work. The baggy on this guy follows a very linear motion, from the bag to the jeans to the rainboots. His slight slouch emphasizes it perfectly. And while "baggy" isn't much of a fashion notion to go by, it's one idea (out of many) that we should consider when thinking about style.

~ The Style Phile

PWIB Event: Aysha Saeed

I don't think attendance was as high as they intended it to be (very much an understatement), but it was pretty interesting. I think a lot of the girls present could identify with her story - there's this huge pressure to do the whole corporate thing if you want to go into business, but there's also a point where you just get sick of it and want to do what you're really passionate about. Because let's face it: i-banking is soulless. Now she's successful doing what she wants to do, but I have no doubt she'd be making more money in the corporate world. It all comes down to what you want more - money or happiness. Actually, I think she's found a good mixture of both. Not as much money as she could have, but definitely a life she loves, from what I got out of it.

Here are some (really shitty) pictures:





The sample sale was alright - the prices were right (although they definitely could have been lower). I appreciate that her fabrics are actually from Italy (that's where high quality fabric and handiwork comes from, period) instead of the BCBG "Made in China" blasphemy. You could tell that the clothes were well-made. I didn't end up buying anything because nothing particularly stuck out to me as being gorgeous enough for me to drop >$100. But I appreciated the designs nonetheless. As Rach said, I can see how they'd work for a woman in her late 20s to early 40s. The line just wasn't "young" enough for me.

Pictures (again, crappy) from the sample sale:




Now, if only we could get Thakoon Panichgul, Alexander Wang, or the Mulleavy sisters to come speak...

Rock the Tote

A bag is a great statement item, and as cliche as it sounds, this is a great example of how a lively bag can make an otherwise simple outfit more exciting. Notice how she brings out the whites, greys, and purples of the bag in her outfit. A tote can be great inspiration for an outfit, especially if you chose it based on the color scheme. I personally love LeSportSac - not just because of their ethical philosophy (no leather), but because their patterns are so damn cute. Try creating an outfit based around a tote by bringing out its colors in other ways. I recently got a neon green tote from Aritzia (they were promoting their new store in Jersey - more on that later) and it's had me dying to pair it with black and some crazy other neons. Speaking of which, I'm off to the Street now... perhaps wearing just that.

~ The Style Phile

The White Stripes

I probably shouldn't brag about my own picture, but here goes: I love this shot. Not everything about it, but definitely the pattern composition. I didn't even realize it at the time, but white stripes are echoed in everything: her dress, her shoes, the pavement. I'm guessing the pattern coordination in the outfit wasn't intentional, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate it. Normally, I'd suggest wearing a pop of color with an outfit such as this, particularly in the shoes, but these shoes fit so perfectly well with the outfit that I can't complain.

~ The Style Phile

Licorice and Gumdrops

It would have been so easy to do the skirt and the purse with white... but she did it with black and that's what makes this outfit stand out. Also, you can't see it from the picture, but she's got an adorable pink fruit pendant on a gold chain as a perfect complement to the outfit.

~ The Style Phile

TrendWatch: Look Smart

Get a look as sharp as your mind! Okay, cheesy, but I couldn't resist. Great news for Princeton this fall, folks: Prep is back in style. The focus is on smart but overall subtle looks, with maybe one or two sharp pieces to help you stand out. Remember, this blog is directed toward college kids who are on a low budget, so if you're looking for designer delights ranging from the hundreds to the thousands, there are plenty of other sites and blogs that are perfect for just that.

But before I dive into the trends... here are a couple treats for those of you who still want to hold on to the summer:

Tea-Party Vintage - $26

Get it here.

Summer Sandals - $10

Get them here.

Now, on to those trends...

1. The Cropped Jacket
Versatile and eye-catching, these are great investments. Throw one on at night to instantly dress up a daytime outfit. A cropped jacket looks great with jeans, a sparkly tank, deep blue wide-legged denim, and black heels. I'd also try it with a high-waisted skirt and a tank.

Simple but sweet - $20

Get it here.

Showy shoulders (vintage) - $46

Get it here.

Memories of Michael - $80

Get it here.

2. Word to the Nerd
Again, great for Princeton: geek chic isn't in full swing anymore, but it's still quietly permeating the runways. As always, subtle is best. So save the suspenders and pocket protectors and opt instead for geek glasses in front of bright eyes and an otherwise simple outfit. A great contrast would be to wear a light, flowery dress, cute sandals, and the geek glasses to mix it up. Another option would be saving the glasses for later in the fall and pairing them with black or plaid coats and boots. Keep the hair simple, as the glasses will draw attention to the face.

Classic Specs (I know, the name on the website irks me too) - $6

Get it here.

Channeling Burberry - $7

Get it here.

3. Big Bows
Headbands take on a new twist this fall with ridiculously large bows that can instantly liven up an outfit. Keep it Blair Waldorf-style with other girly accessories like pearls and lace, but don't go overboard. Add flair to the simple jeans-and-flats routine with a bright pink bow. Or, for the wilder among us, bring out a brief color in a blouse or dress with the headband as an accent.

Rabbit Ears (I dunno, this makes me think of floppy rabbit ears! It's cute though.) - $10

Get it here. Doesn't Urban have the best sales?

Think Pink - $5

Get it here.

You can also DIY this look with a plain headband, thick satin ribbon or fabric, and super glue. If you want to be creative, add lace and/or feathers to the mix. This also works great on a belt.

For more DIY love, visit Carbon Couture. She doesn't post very frequently, but when she does it's brilliant, because she takes runway looks and does a DIY replication of them. An invaluable resource for the budget fashionista.

That's all for now, folks. It's 2:00 AM and thank goodness I have no classes tomorrow morning.

~ The Style Phile

Study Abroad in London

This is why it should be a requirement for anyone who wants to learn how to dress well. Paris is classic, and you can't go wrong learning how to work the black, but London is where it's at. They have the European class to work the classic looks + black attire, but they also have a creative spunk to go radical with the outfits and pieces. This is probably one of the most inspiring slideshows you'll see in a while. Gorgeous people, hairstyles, accessories, shoes, clothing, and overall photography. Yum. See the slideshow here.

~ The Style Phile

The Blues

Denim as a classy, casual look can sort of be hit-or-miss; it looks great on Right. The shoes tied the outfit together perfectly. I also love how Left's colors complement the photo so nicely.

~ The Style Phile

Classic Prep

More from Lawnparties:
Not as adventurous and flamboyant as some of the guys' lawnparties outfits, but a great range of styles present here. You can't go wrong dressed like this. Middle's bowtie and shorts caught my eye, and the shirt, the belt, and the Sperrys couldn't be better chosen.

~ The Style Phile

Preppy with a twist

From Lawnparties:
I love the two looks together: one very casual, the other very dressy. And both work for the occasion. The hat completely sold Right's outfit for me, although the blouse and the skirt could stand on their own. Very classy.

~ The Style Phile

Welcome to the Style File

This is the first and only blog dedicated to fashion on the campus of Princeton University (well, at least insofar as a Google search could determine). The fact that it's taken 263 years for any sort of documentation of Princetonian style to occur is kind of ridiculous. So I'm here to correct that error. I hope to turn this blog into a full-fledged fashion magazine, so if you follow this and you're interested, send me an email. I'm looking for fashion designers, models, photographers, stylists, artists, graphic designers, and writers, as well as a whole slew of business and advertising directors to make this project successful. Until then, I'll be embarrassing myself on a daily basis by walking up to complete strangers and asking if I can take their photograph. If you find your photo up here and you don't want it to be, just shoot me an email and I'm happy to take it down. However, I hope you see its insertion in this blog as a testament to my admiration for your style. Finally, to anyone reading this, thank you. I don't consider myself a fashion expert by any means, just a girl who lives her life with a healthy appreciation for the visual aesthetic. Hasta luego <3

~ The Style Phile