Winter in Bloom

Under all my winter layers I have the secret to brightening up a winter wardrobe. The perfect floral dress is just the thing to making dark pieces a little more interesting. I love the ethereal blooms that cascade across this silk Intermix Libby Lace-Up Dress, the lace up front details, and the beautiful movement of the hem and sleeves. When I bought it in December, sure I dreamed of wearing it on a summer day, but I have never been very good at waiting....so I didn't.

Intermix Exclusive Libby Lace-Up Dress

Dark florals are perfect year round, flourishing with dark backgrounds and vintage-inspired blooms that make them the perfect thing to pair with darker winter pieces. Layer a cozy sweater over a dress to give the appearance of wearing a floral skirt. This Milly sweater has edgy leather sleeves that play well off the dark florals of the dress. Wear tights and your favorite pair of boots, like these Alexander Wang Anouck Boots. I love these so much--they look like a fashion god took a bite out of the back of them. Also, a leather jacket is always a great way to give this lovely dress a cool factor that is beautiful for both day or going out at night.

Florals and leopard? Yes please. The Clare V. Leopard Calfhair Foldover Clutch has been leaving the house with me a lot lately. The dark and light leopard spots play beautifully off of the dark pattern in the dress. My Pièce à Conviction White Open Square Ring is a find from Olivia Kim's shop within a shop at Nordstrom called SPACE. SPACE carries pieces from up and coming designers that have been curated personally by Kim and her stellar team. The ring, by designer Ghislain Ryckebusch, holds two Murano glass spheres that look like they are floating on your hand and comes in different colors and sizes. 

My Madewell x Biltmore Felt Fedora has been the world's best rain hat this year. Biltmore is a nearly hundred year old Canadian haberdashery and this collaboration with Madewell is a match made in heaven. I think this is seriously the most flattering hat I have ever owned. The coat is a lululemon Savasana Softshell II that is water resistant and has a very chic silhouette. Here is this year's version. 

This time of year I love rocking a bold colored lip to give my face a little light and lift. Sometimes dark reds can be a little harsh is you have lighter coloring like I do, but burgundy is a great alternative to red. I love MAC's cult lipstick shade, Diva especially. I tend to layer lip colors to make my own colors, starting with a light shade and building on it. The matte lip is a beautiful look for winter and you can't get prettier than Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Damned, which I wore for this shoot.

I can't tell you how awesome it has been to revamp my blog this past year and work with my photographer Krissi, who is the perfect partner. There have been a lot of things that have helped shape west fulton street, including my work at Vanguard Seattle, and all the relationships I have made in fashion and beyond. Writing and seeing and talking and living in the fashion world has inspired me to be more myself. I made me realize that it doesn't matter if I am 23 or 53 or 83, I have a relevant voice, and the more time that passes the more it matters to me to be true to myself. Fashion and style have no age and no limits, they are an extension of how we perceive ourselves and how we want the world to perceive us, and the parameters of this are set only by you. I have realized that there are no limits to the possibilities of what I can do if only I allow myself to take the chance, and that is the most freeing and beautiful feeling there can be. 

Here's to making your own garden bloom, my friends.