"Bad For You" - Haley Bonar

This is such an adorable, simple song. The message is clear and concise: everything's bad for you. I listen to it with a smile, having grown up eating dirt along with carrots straight from the garden and spending my time singing and talking to myself in the woods day after day. It's no secret that we've become much more protective of our health and safety in recent decades, and often for good reason, but doesn't it sometimes seem a little excessive? That's what this song means to me: maybe it's not actually all that bad?

I loved envisioning what the wise grown-up singing this song would wear. Very proper, very modest, very smart, but perhaps a little off - she takes everything a little too far, both in her wardrobe and her advice. This Moschino Cheap & Chic dress gives a hint that the wearer is a little off-balance with it's quirky blocks of color and that surprise pop of yellow. The look is put over the top with this outrageous Meadham Kirchhoff faux fur coat, evoking a crazed monster. Everything really is bad for you after all, it seems. 

Listen to a live version of the song here.

Moschino Cheap & Chic lace cocktail dress / Meadham Kirchhoff  faux fur coat / Rupert Sanderson pumps / Alexander Wang leather wallet / Rebecca Minkoff sunglasses
Everything's Bad For You 

"Skinny Love" - Birdy

Oh my, it's been awhile, hasn't it? Let me explain: I've been traveling for work, the end (good explanation). 
To be honest, I've also been suffering from a bit of writer's block. I've been collecting all these gorgeous and unique pieces to put some new looks together and struggling a bit to find the music to match. So really I've been spending most of my time combing through Spotify to find some more songs to inspire me. 

I love Bon Iver. He's become a bit more of a big deal of late, what with the two Grammys and all, and I am happy to have listened to his music prior to his nominations & wins. I can't claim to be a true fan from the beginning, however - my boyfriend likes to remind me that he saw Bon Iver in 2007 at Pitchfork before For Emma, Forever Ago even came out (yes, I am dating a hipster, but a mild one, I assure you) - and I must confess that when someone first recommended him to me I thought they were saying "Boney Bear", but I like to believe that my fandom has made up for lost time. I had the opportunity to see him live at the Orpheum this past fall, and it was one of the best shows I've ever seen. 

I want to do his latest album justice, but it's taking me some time to decipher the lyrics. So for this post I'm cheating a bit and posting a cover of a Bon Iver song (my unwritten rule is to not duplicate artists as I post; this way I can still post from his sophomore album. Hooray for tricking the system that I created and has no real consequence if I break!). I discovered this song on Spotify (yikes, product placement much?) and it really is a gorgeous cover. I hadn't known anything about Birdy until tonight - my, my, this young lady is talented. She's 16 (!!) and released this cover when she was 15. She simplifies Justin Vernon's song even further, complementing her truly lovely voice with piano. 

The song itself is just heartbreaking, much like the album from whence it came. It's about a relationship that is failing/has failed, and the longing for it to last. This ensemble attempts to evoke that longing, with delicate details that allude to the wearer's fragile emotions, as well as some more rugged notes to represent the wearers jaded views coming out of the experience. 


Listen to the song here.

Style Resolution 2012

Yes, it's that time of year - the beginning of it, that is. When we make promises to ourselves to make sure it's the best one yet. This year, instead of swearing to visit the gym more often, I decided to apply my annual promise to my wardrobe. I am challenging myself to experiment even more boldly with print, pattern, and texture. No songs today, just a couple looks put together with this idea in mind. What are your style resolutions for 2012?

This is something that I wish I could wear to work. I suppose I could, without the sweater - a bit too casual for my office. But I would bring the sweater with me to wear as I enjoy a casual drink with friends.

Tucker long sleeve shirt, $306; CALYPSO ST BARTH long shirt, $179; Vionnet lace skirt, £1,089; Steve Madden platform heels, $145; Juicy Couture cross body handbag, £130; ABS Allen Schwartz beaded jewelry, $150

Minnie Mouse was the muse here. I am borderline obsessed with collars.

Kain silk shirt, $189; Shirts blouse, £29; Lanvin sequin pants, $1,555; Kat Maconie flat shoes, $140; Miu miu handbag, $1,495; ASOS sequin jewelry, $27

My favorite master of print & pattern, Proenza Schouler. And that loose knit sweater is just to die for.

KENNY short sleeve shirt, $127; D G slim fit shirt, €169; Proenza Schouler short skirt, €280; Zara boots, $100; 3 1 Phillip Lim clutch handbag, $425; Noir jewelry