FashBlog.com

Let's face it: sometimes we all have a horror of pushing the envelope when it comes to wearing stylish clothing. Yet, at the same time, almost all of us at some point or another have a strong desire to stand out in the crowd. The problem is that most of us aren't fashion designers, and there's no accounting for taste, and it's sometimes really hard to know where to draw the line. How do you look stylish and edgy and fresh... without looking silly and wishing you could go home and start over due to a major fashion mishap?

Honestly, I'm not sure how to answer that question. My only piece of advice is that no matter how silly other people might think you look, if you get caught out in public in a less-than-wise fashion choice, you'd better work it like you love it. But anyhow, that isn't what this post is about.

What this post is about, on the other hand, are a few interesting (quirky, if you will) fashion trends and tricks that I've either spotted on the street, seen in magazines, or done myself. And while these might sound a little odd- in fact, I think I've heard both of these ideas condemned in various articles regarding fashion do's and don'ts- my opinion is that these things really do work. I'll explain why.

Pants beneath a skirt.
I will defend this one until the day I die. I'm not sure why, but I love this look, and I think if it's done right it can honestly be one of the freshest, hippest looks around. And there are so many ways to do it that it's pretty easy to do it correctly as long as you keep things like proportion in mind. The key is to make sure that the skirt isn't too long- anything below your knee and you will start to look drapey and huge- and that the patterns and colors play into each other in a way that looks "on purpose." If you don't watch the styles and colors that you're combining, you might end up looking like you were sitting at home and you got cold in your skirt so you threw some pants on. So make sure to think over the combination before you step outside the door.

When you're trying to do this look, avoid straight-legged jeans. Go for either slim skinny jeans or fitted black leggings; or go the completely opposite direction and try it with bell-bottoms or super-flared jeans or pants. Also, make sure that the skirt has some shape to it- an A-line or flared skirt is best. This will keep you from looking bunchy around the waist and bottom.

Finally, have some fun with this combination. Try layering a long tunic or fitted tee shirt over the skirt, and then throwing on a short cardigan for a punk-rock look. Pair the outfit with ballet flats or chunky boots. Consider mixing up your genres with combinations like blue jeans and lacy dresses, or denim skirts and elegant black pants. Check yourself in the mirror before you leave the house and make sure your proportions and colors are working.

Underwear as outerwear (but not that kind).
Some people are going to read that heading and instantly get the wrong idea here, but I'm not referring to what you might think I'm referring to. No, I don't think that wearing bras and panties outdoors is a good fashion idea. I also don't think that anything that shouldn't be exposed should be shown off in the name of fashion. We're not talking about sleazy or skanky or inappropriate stuff here.

What I am talking about, though, is the use of some unexpected pieces in unexpected places. Specifically, take a look at your lingerie collection. You may have a few silky camisoles or half-slips, and chances are good that they're in soft pretty colors and have lacy trim and spaghetti straps. Great. Have you ever considered using them as part of your daily fashion?

Try putting on a normal white cotton tank top, and then layering two lingerie-style camisoles over it. The boutiques and clothing stores are selling these lacy-looking camisoles for a lot of money as outerwear; there's no reason you can't wear the ones you already have, as long as you're covered- and that's what the tank top underneath is for. This also has the added bonus of creating a fresh layered look that works wonderfully with jeans or a skirt. Throw a cardigan or small sweatshirt on top and you're good to go.

You can also experiment with half-slips and even underslips as dresses and skirts. The key is to layer them- on top of regular skirts and dresses, or on top of other slips- so that they're acceptable for outdoor wear. You'll create a slinky, waif-like fashion statement that will work surprisingly well in a casual environment.

One word of caution: make sure any camisoles or lingerie pieces that you wear outdoors are clean and in good shape. And unless your pieces really do look perfect, you might not want to wear them into an office environment. There are still some people who will accuse you of showing up in your pajamas. But if you're headed out to a concert, an art show or a coffeehouse... try this look. You'll probably start a trend.

Remember- when it comes to fashion, some things work and some things don't. But just because something doesn't work in someone else's book, doesn't mean you can't totally rock it.
-by bjp