I miss wearing peep-toe shoes and the cycle of getting pedicures on a regular basis.  I miss the blossoming flowers and  the grass turning green instead of the dirty, brown slush that used to be snow.   For me, the Easter holiday always marks the return of Spring and as a little girl,  my biggest treat was buying an Easter Sunday dress.

Now, I am older and no longer go through the bells and whistles for Easter celebration, but a colorful dress always signifies spring weather to me.

I am feeling a sense of this when looking at pieces from Chicago-based designer, Jess Audey, and her Audey line.  Jess is also part of  the Chicago Fashion Incubator program (a yearlong mentor ship  that assists up-and-coming designers) and is a graduate of Columbia University Chicago.   Her “About” page describes the look and feel of her cocktail  dresses perfectly:

Dresses that are at once whimsical and romantic while maintaining the highest level of quality.

Looking at her S/S 2010 Preview pictures makes me wish spring would hurry up and arrive so I can wear my cocktail dress and peep-toe shoes.

I was able to get one of my most anticipated purchases which was the harness belt from Angie’s iheartnorwegianwood’s shop.  I’d been eying the belt all summer, and I finally bit the bullet and bought it.  Since I’m a bit on the er, busty side, I contacted Angie and gave her my measurements and she was able to make one that would fit especially for me.  Here it is after I threw it on over the dress I was wearing that day after I immediately ripped the package open:

And I love it.  I’ve worn it twice already since I kept it on that day and on my birthday when I went to get my driver’s license renewed.  This was definitely a purchase that was well worth it for me.

I’ve also picked up a few “classic” tops that I can pair with dress pants or pencil skirts:

This top that I got on sale at Ann Taylor.

And this top that I saw at H&M.  Hm…something about bows for me this season, huh?

Plus, today I went on a mad dash to scoop up this cardigan from Akira boutique:

All in all, I think I’m pretty close to being done for my fall shopping.  I still want a pair of Dr. Martens, and a couple of warm sweaters and that’s about it.

How is your Fall shopping going?   Have you gotten everything you’d like or are you still searching for the right items?

Tell me a bit about your background.
My fashion background consists of a degree in Media Management from Columbia and several years in retail. I worked as a manager and merchandiser at stores including: Lacoste, Prada, and Adriano Goldschmied.

What inspired you to start The MidWasteland?
I got into fashion blogs in early 2007 before a big trip to Europe. Facehunter and Stil In Berlin are two that I really liked. When I was there I saw the most amazing style. When I came back I saw things differently so I picked up my camera and started capturing Chicago street style in July 2007.

Why did you name the blog The MidWasteland?
It’s been a while so I can’t remember the process but I know that I wanted a name that let people know that this wasn’t a blog you wanted to take seriously, like The Sartorialist, for example. I wanted to create a place for people, like me, that know firsthand that most Midwestern stereotypes ARE true. Though, on the same token, also know that style exists within our region, which is why I think The MidWasteland fits nicely. We’re all about having fun here.

Where in Chicago do you take most of your street style photos?
When I first started in 2007 I mostly shot in Wicker Park because that’s where I lived and it was always easy to spot a stylish person there. Now I take my camera everywhere I go. There are stylish people all over the city so I can’t say just one neighborhood.

What Chicago neighborhoods do you think have the most style?
I’ve lived here my entire life. I find beauty in every neighborhood in the city. From Hyde Park up to Andersonville and everything in between, I think each has their own individual style. Of course, not every neighborhood has the most mainstream or “style setting” aesthetic but I don’t think that matters. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

What do you think sums up Chicago style at the moment? Any specific looks or trends?
To be frank, I think everyone has started to dress like a “hipster”. The indie aesthetic has hit the mainstream and now it’s the thing to do because it’s everywhere. Girls in every subculture are wearing skinny jeans, scarves, and fedoras. Boys in every subculture are wearing Chucks, nerd glasses, and vests.

When taking street style photos, what look inspires you to take a photo of them?
I love interesting details and people. I also veer towards great ensembles. It’s rare that you see someone in a “complete look” but when you do, you know it and it’s a wonderful thing.


What has been a favorite look of yours to photograph so far?
I’m not sure if you mean one person in particular or a specific style. In general, I am not biased. I love taking photos of both men and women in every walk of life as long as they are eye-catching.

How would you describe your own personal style?
My style is pretty eclectic, maybe a little eccentric. I’m not really afraid to wear things that make me stand out like sequins, vintage fur, and bright colors. Though, my daily uniform is generally a basic dress/romper or jeans and a tee paired with a combination of funky accessories. Scarves, necklaces, handbags, big rings, and tons of bracelets. I love it all!

What are your recommendations for some cool Chicago shops?
Some of my favorite shops include:
Eskell: Beautiful vintage-inspired clothing and amazing accessories run by two great gals.
Pivot: Pick up eco-friendly fashion which includes my very own vintage collection, Elegantly Wasted
Hejfina: Out of my price league but super modern and fashion forward clothing.
Penelope’s: Cute and colorful pieces for girls and guys.

Images Sources: The MidWasteland

Beauty, Style, & the Blogosphere

Edited by Ashe Mischief

Beauty and Style come in many forms, and this weeks Links á la Mode choices showcase the many discussions entering the world of fashion blogging at the moment: excessive judgments, the value of personalities, and cultivating your inner beauty as well as your outer beauty. Bonne-Vie challenges the values of the show “More to Love” and Fivve Blog shares model sensation Lara Stone. Newcomer Jaka’s Tea Party calls to action with the Wholestyle Manifesto and Betsey J asks “Are we too judgmental as fashion bloggers?”

Not to overshadow this weeks Links á la Mode with too heavy of discussions, we’ve also go a great roundup of make-up tutorials & inspiration, along with great DIY projects & giveaways in the forums!

Links à la Mode : August 20th

• Ask ThinkThru: – What Can You Wear From the Office To an Event?
• Betsey J: – Have we become too judgemental when it comes to fashion & style?
• Bonne Vie: – Fox is doin’ it wrong with new reality show “More to Love”
• BRICK MY LANE: – 3-in-1 DIYs: Ripping, slashing andd patching everything, rock’n’roll style
• Broke & Beautiful – International Indie Designers can be found with Novica, plus an opportunity to REALLY make a difference by shopping.
• Confessions of a Fashion Editor – Fed up of emails from big fashion brands demanding interviews, I decided to speak to a young, bright and new designer instead.
• Denim Debutante: – How to Clean & Care for Your Premium Denim
• fivve blog: – If you have a fashion mag addiction, then you probably have seen who W Magazine is calling the “fashion it-girl” Lara Stone.
• Independent Fashion Bloggers: What’s so great about Gravatars?
• Jaka’s Tea Party – A mission statement for a new movement that believes style isn’t about the clothes you wear, it’s about being a whole person.
• Little Miss Makeup: – Pretty makeup is an evergreen fashion trend. Get the low-down on how to get the look!
• Meilily: – Highlights the debut collection of Project Runway phenom Christian Siriano for VS Makeup.
• pie wacket: – yesterday I worked with Kiehl’s to create a wonderful late summer giveaway and shot an original beauty story to demo the products.
• Rags to Reverie: – 2 days ago Space 15 Twenty’s Pangaea Pop-Up makes deka ray’s architectural jewelry available for the masses
• Retro Chick: – Why we buy – One woman’s journey in fashion and the decisions we make every day.
• sweet archivia: – Anthropologie’s Secret Code – In-House Brand Guide
• THE COVETED – The Coveted: Make that a double: Take Off Your Clothes Double T-Shirt Dress
• The Demoiselles – Jennifer Nicole uncovers the secrets behind the new PETA ad, which degrades women based on weight.
• The Fashion Planner: – The Fashion Planner’s Guide to Chicago offers great places to eat, shop, and more.
• The Midnight Feast: – Did I really just put on black lipstick? How to tackle this trend: a guide for those who would prefer to leave the gothic look in the 90s.
• Unfunded – Unfunded: White Rabbit Inspired Baubles
• Wit & Whimsy: – First Look: Michael Kors Goes Hollywood Glam with the launch of VeryHollywood.com

And this is definitely my favorite with the belts:

Source: The Fashion Spot

1.  The majority of my clothing is either black/navy or bright colors like yellow, pink and purple.

2.  I love, love, love colored denim.  I love jeans that are green, purple, gray or anything other than regular blue denim.

3.  The only sneaker I wear outside of the gym are my Converse low-top red shoes.  Since they’re Converse, I consider them to be classic and almost not even a sneaker, really.

4.  For some reason, I consider purple to be the perfect Fall color.  It’s bold and dark, yet very subdued.

5.  I only paint my nails during the Fall, and when I do, it’s a dark color such as black, purple or chocolate brown.

6.  If I had the dough and money wasn’t an objects, the brands I would wear would be Dries, Marni, Ann Demeulemeester, Rodarte, McQueen, and Hussein Chalayan.

Dries Van Noten, Fall 2009 RTW

7.  Cardigans are a mainstay in my wardrobe in all seasons.   For me, the longer the cardigan, the better.

8.  I also wear flats most of the time.  Whether they are dressy flats for a more formal occasion or casual for everyday,  I don’t wear heels often at all.

9.  I’ve only recently gotten into wearing vintage, and now it’s playing a much bigger role in my everyday personal style.

10.  I don’t like looking too “matchy” and I prefer to mix my colors up.

What are some of your personal style “staples”?

Sources: Style.com, TFS, Amazon.com

I think one of the biggest unspoken rules I’ve broken is wearing flat shoes with dresses.  Especially dresses that are made for heels.   And I love heels.  I really do.  But I love my flats and sometimes, I love feeling comfortable as well.   I admit feeling a little  vindicated once I started seeing photos of Michelle Obama wearing flats and/or kitten heels to her much more important events:

I also used the wonderful Looklet.com to put together some other outfits that break some rules that I’ve heard of.

Wearing blue and black together in an outfit.

Wearing beige and black together.

Mixing Prints

Wearing boots in the summer

Should some of these rules be “enforced” or can they work given the person wears them right and with confidence?

Source: TFS

I know I’m a bit late on this since it was announced in late May that Veronique Branquinho would be closing down her shop and forced to liquidate due to the current recession.  I’d written about  Branquinho’s work in a previous post and noted that she was always under the radar when it came to the fashion world.

However, Branquinho was meticulous in her attention to detail and was a pro when it came to her use of fabrics.   She was one of the designers that I said I’d buy a piece from their line once I “made it”, because I knew that it would last forever in its stylish form.

Plus, her shoes were always on point:

Now, it’s one less designer I’ll be looking  for in the stream of Fashion Week photos and reading the runway report on Style.com.  Not that I ever got the feeling that she was the highlight of their reviews, anyway.   As for what’s next for Ms. Branquinho, she  will likely focus her time as the artistic director of Belgian leather-goods brand Delvaux.

So as we bid adieu to another talented designer who had the goods, but couldn’t stay afloat during these economic times, I leave with this video from of her Paris 2008 Fall runway show.

watch?v=ZAPjWbZxT4U]

These adverts and images are at least a couple of years old or more, but I can still find inspiration from some of them and I remember why I saved them.  I will say this, I must have been in a romantic reverie, because these images come off as incredibly romantic and idyllic in my mind.  Soon, I hope to update this and show what imagery currently inspires me.

Both images from The Fashion Spot.