"How You Like Me Now?" - The Heavy

I am seriously digging the funky, retro sound of "How You Like Me Now?". The choice to sample Dyke & The Blazers' "Let A Woman Be A Woman - Let A Man Be A Man" was absolutely genius and gives it an infectious beat that I love. There aren't a whole lot of subtleties to this song; the title itself gives it away. And who doesn't dream of seeing that certain someone from a past life and impressing them with how cool/smart/mature/awesome you are now?

Like the song, this outfit has few, if any, subtleties. How appropriate, then, to include the Giuseppe Zanotti sandals designed by Kanye West, a man known for many things, but none of them subtlety (let's count how many times I can use the word "subtlety" in this post). I wanted the rest of the ensemble to speak to the retro-inspired nature of the song, adding some modern cat-eye shades, a little leopard peplum, and some cavity-inducing sweet bubblegum leather skinnies.

I suppose this look could be considered over-the-top, but so is the message that's being sent, so I think it fits.

Listen to the song here.

"C'est la Mort" - The Civil Wars

When I first saw looks from Rodarte's Fall 2011 collection, I remember being especially impressed with this gown. The entire show had an overwhelming Americana feel, but this one took that theme so much more literally yet still remained modern with its elegant draping and silhouette. When I see this dress, I think of visiting South Dakota and climbing hay bails. I haven't done that since I was 9, but somehow the memory for my still has a romantic sense to it. It reminds me of exploring through woods and fields and imagining what it would be like to live in a different time.

I picked up The Civil Wars' debut album Barton Hallow shortly after it was released. I consider myself to be an avid Contemporary Folk listener, so it was no surprise that I was quite fond of this album. But no track has taken by breath away quite like "C'est la Mort". It's all about an unconditional love that will never die - one of the most beautiful notions there is, really. The repeated phrase "please, don't go without me" hits me every time. 


This song and that dress being the standouts within an incredible collection make it only fitting that they be paired together. And of course the Americana translates through both as well. 


Listen to the song here.