Author: Polina

Is Blue On Your Grid?

/ Polina / Leave a comment

Bright blue hues are my weakness. Royal blue, cerulean blue, cornflower and steel blue – I think I have them all in my wardrobe. My very first painting purchase has been of something blue and surreal (I was 16 or 17 at a time so don’t hold it against me). And even though I filled my closet with a variety of other colors over the years, I am still partial to blue – the fact that an entire shelf of blue shoes will confirm.

This blue butterfly silk top is a recent purchase from one of the flash sale sites. When it comes to embracing bright colors, there’s hardly a better way to let them stand out than pairing them with a monochrome piece. My white checkered skirt is a true veteran of my closet but I found some alternate options (suggestions below).

Continue reading →

Five ways to wear a military vest

/ Polina / 2 Comments

I am a huge fan of layering pieces. Any outfit, in my opinion, looks more sophisticated and put together when multiple layers come into play. Think of a white t-shirt, for example… it’s nice and crisp but it looks plain on its own. Try layering it with a blazer or a vest and you have yourself a fashion outfit (plus or minus various accessories and awesome shoes). Speaking of vests – they are some of the most versatile pieces of any wardrobe. They provide layering flexibility on warmer days when a jacket or a blazer may be too warm to wear.

Recently I found a great military vest that I’ve already worn on multiple occasions. It has all the attributes of a perfect layering gem – it’s neutral in color, made of natural quality fibers (cotton with a tiny addition of spandex), features a cinched waste that gives it a flattering shape, and it fits just below the hip for the effortless but elegant look. With this vest, the outfit combinations are infinite and here are 5 to get your started:

1. In the Office 

The trick is not to go completely “blah” with any neutral clothing and especially when it serves as a top layer. A longer vest, like this one, with nothing to pop underneath will completely consume your outfit, so go with brighter colors. Plus, colors are always fun! 🙂 I paired the vest with a pinky-purplish skirt and a mint silky blouse for a more feminine look.

 Outfit details: Banana Republic vest, J. Crew Factory skirt, Elie Tahari blouse, M. Gemi Cammeo pumps, Target Cut-out handbag

Continue reading →

Pink blazer and other obsessions

/ Polina / 2 Comments

Have you ever been obsessed with an idea of something or a particular item that you are simply dying to have? You look for it everywhere you go, imagine yourself having it, asking people if they’ve seen it… Yeah, that was me with a pink blazer. But not just pink, hot fuchsia pink! I saw it once on a photo of a celebrity and immediately fell in love. To me, it was a perfect article of clothing that encompassed everything I like about a good wardrobe piece – it was bright and colorful, easy to be dressed up or down, could be worn with jeans or an evening skirt, perfect for layering… the list goes on. And let me tell you, when you really-really want something, you will eventually find it! So when I accidentally came across this Mural Blazer, I bought it without a second thought.

RLO-PinkJacket-2 Continue reading →

Sunny mood

/ Polina / Leave a comment

We’ve had a horrible spring so far, as it’s often the case in Chicago, so rare sunny days are such a treat! I am a huge fan of bright colors year round! And a sunny day certainly calls for more brightness despite of how cold it still is. In the past, I found it somewhat challenging on occasion to incorporate really bright, summer colors into my cold weather outfits. I noticed that a heavier weave mini skirt with opaque tights (a must with any mini skirt, in my opinion!) adds enough “warmth” to the outfit. Pairing it with a cropped orange leather jacket elevates it to the right brightness level for me. And a yellow bag adds an additional dose of sunshine to the whole look.

So there – a bright spring look on a cold but sunny day! Who wouldn’t shed their winter blues looking at this?

Enjoy your spring!

RedLipstickOptional-SunnyMood-02
Continue reading →