Saint Laurent Supreme

The classic le smoking jacket is just one of the defining pieces that solidified Saint Laurent's profound effect on the way we view women's wear today. Besides being visually appeasing, the smoking jacket paved the way for women to wear more masculine styles. The french designer created, and the whole world took note ;) 

I was contacted by the chic UK-based Farfetch.com a few weeks ago and asked to style a Saint Laurent fit around the iconic "Fashion fades, style is eternal", designer's smoking jacket. The reason being to honor the exhibition at The Bowes Museum that will present fifty garments, including some iconic pieces from the Russian Collection, the Mondrian dresses and the Tuxedo. The show will also open up a dialogue with the museum's collection, creating a unique sense of narrative around the history of fashion.  If you are in the UK at all this summer this is a MUST see!

aint Laurent has always been a designer whose aesthetic is very similar to my sense of eternal style. The black, the skulls, the one pop of color: nothing says #SkellyKelly more than the above outfit. 

1. I paired the iconic smoking jacket with the ripped black Saint Laurent skinny jeans. Since this designer was the one that made dressing androgynous socially acceptable I figured it would be wrong to pair this jacket with anything but a pair of a pants.
2. Secondly, skulls. In order to be true to myself I had to pull the skull print shirt. What goes better with a black jacket and black pants other than skulls? That's right. Nothing.
3. All black everything needs a pop, specifically a pop of Saint Laurent's 'sac De Jour' Tote. I'm not necessarily feeling black + blue but this fit sure does look like it, and I'm not talking bruises!
4. Lastly, my favorite accessory of all: 'babies 90' Boots. Skulls, sparkly 90's boots, and Saint Laurent - your girl is in edgy, provocative heaven!

The real question now: Is Saint Laurent the same without Yves? What do you think?

XOXO

part(y)ing is such sweet sorrow

Blazer: Theory; "The Bags Under My Eyes Are Prada" Tee: My Own; Black Jeans: J.Brand; Necklace: Maxwell; Sunglasses + Shoes: Prada

..but wouldn't it be nice if it didn't always have to be?

This post is a bit more personal than usual. Personal as in I do not normally talk about the people in my life via my blog as I try to keep it strictly fashion oriented, however I felt this necessary to speak on. Change is constant, change is hard. I am rather adaptable to changes, but that doesn't mean I sail through them with great ease either. In my opinion, there are no happy endings, to me, endings are the saddest part. I am thankful for a happy middle and a very happy start. 

This week I celebrated leaving my corporate job in Silicon Valley so that I could pursue my dream of design in NYC. I have been blessed the last year and a half to have been surrounded by not only great co-workers, but people that I am proud to call friends. A special thanks to Shenna Huynh for planning this "Farewell Fashionista Party" on my behalf; your positivity and generosity never cease to amaze me! Obviously, I had to leave "in style" ;) 

These amazing humans that I will miss having in my life everyday: Dave, Patrick, Allene, Marc, Iain (NO HANDS!), Jamie, Gehrig, Rachel, Matt, Or, Lauren, Myself, Shenna (LADY IN RED), Steph waving goodbye to me!

A completely skull themed table, perfect for #SkellyKelly. My move to the bEAST coast is starting to feel real: the car has been sold, my apt is devoid of all furniture except a bed, goodbye parties have been had, and boxes have been packed. I am so excited for this next chapter but I can't help but feel a little sad/scared about everything I am leaving behind. I suppose I should consider myself lucky to have such good friends that I am going to miss so much. I also think that being scared means I am doing something right. To be this young and feel "comfortable", is not what I want for myself or my life.. (queue sailing off into the sunset)

XOXO, all my love.

fashion changed my life

ABOVE PHOTOS: Start Up @ 320 High St, Palo Alto, CA.

Earlier in the week I had the incredible opportunity to watch @julieb.70, Julie Bornstein, COO of @stitchfix and former CMO of @sephora speak. Location: Downtown Palo Alto @ a local start up (bay area basic, yet this talk was anything but). What an accomplished, visionary, and impressive woman with a striking amount of genuine warmth and enthusiasm. Julie had warmth about her that is rare to see in women so accomplished (at least in my experience). She was essentially the first person at Nordstrom working on launching their e-commerce business. After that massive accomplishment she went on to Sephora and launched their renowned loyalty program, "beauty insider" all the while raising a family. Before watching her I really questioned if I could have my career (1st priority) and a family at some point, should my maternal extinct kick ever kick in, after this experience I'm sure I can. I am inspired!

ABOVE PHOTOS: Delineating my inability to ever be serious + extreme excitement at getting to watch Julie. Long Sleeve: Nordstrom Rack, Black High Rise Jeans: J. Brand, Necklaces: Urban Outfitters + J.Crew, Open Toed Heeled Booties: Schutz

Mixed with her ability to relate, empathize, while at the same time being an assertive, confident woman is remarkable. It is rare for me to find women in life that I truly admire and look up to, but I can say confidently she is now one of them. I creepily overheard Julie telling someone her email and the next day I emailed her telling her how watching her talk and hearing her story inspired me. Her response gave me the feeling you get when you're walking on the street near dusk and the light post turns on right as you pass it:

“Kelly, Thank you for your really kind email. It made my day! I remember you in the audience- I wish you the best of luck. Sounds like you’re at the start of an exciting journey. You already have one talent I can identify, which is sharing positive thoughts with others. That goes a really long way. All the best to you, Julie.”

— Julie Bornstein

Afterwards, I was extremely inspired so I went home and sketched this Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton dress from their F/W 2013 collection

Into the frame that email from Julie goes when I get my new place in NYC in a few short weeks. What do you think? Can women really "have it all?"

the unique unicorn

Location: The Mission District, San Francisco

Photo: My own

It's officially been a week since I became a, well take a pick of the names I've garnered so far: mermaid, fairy tale character, or unicorn (on the outside!) I have to say life has been different, in the best way possible. It's as if I have freed myself on some perennial higher level by dying my hair lavender - is that normal? Probably not. My "blonde" life is gone, like a scarf out the window of a fast moving car. Can't say I miss it either, as one of my favorite authors stated once, "There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind." Thanks C.S. Lewis. I will say, having to think about clothing colors and if they will "match" my hair is a welcomed challenge. That alone needs it's own post!

Corduroy Dress: Banana Republic (via Goodwill); Sunglasses: Nordstrom; Shoes: Nike;

Photos by: Justin Lobo

I've never thought of San Francisco as a "destination city" or somewhere that people would want to visit for a good time. It's as expensive as NYC but nowhere near as interesting. Much to chagrin I will admit that it is quite an artistic city (as clearly evidenced in this post.) Perhaps, being from the Bay Area I never really appreciated it the way others have. I am also a person that yearns for discovery and to constantly be having new experiences, therefore a "hometown" or even a "home state" will not be high on my list of places to be.

Moving right along, What do you think of this dress? I was SO HOT, something that almost never  happens in da city by the bay, that I bought this piece at the Goodwill on Mission St. for $7. Talk about Insta-Fashion!