Tarot Girls: The Major Arcana

Photo by Lilly1975 Everyone seems to have their own interpretation of tarot cards. Something about those little pieces of paper seems so mystical, so omnipotent, and every card seems to have a life all of its own. Some cards are tiny girls with swords unsheathed, some are boys with electric manes like lions - nevertheless, these seemingly harmless cards can be potent parts of our lives; fortune tellers and iconic figures. They can be girls and boys who we know and recognize - maybe best friends, maybe strangers; they can be ourselves - and whether we lay out ancient spreads every morning or play "pick-a-card" with our baby niece, tarot cards can spill their secrets to those willing to listen. Each card has a life of its own, and through this on-going series here on Cocoa I'll share what each card says to me in lullaby highs and hushed lows. This is the story that the Major Arcana tells. The Fool

- A daydreamer - Full of potential and possibility - Almost blind to impending dangers - Childlike - Optimistic - Naive Emily believed that the absolute best way to calm a charm bracelet of jittery nerves was with a big bowl of chocolate gelato and a night spent whizzing around the nearest roller rink. The gelato wasn't hard to find - there were tiny gelaterie everywhere, boasting spectacular names like "Michaelangelo's" or "La Dolce Vita", tucked away in the sullen corners of sleepy city streets. The roller rink, though - that was a whole different story. In this glorious age of twenty first century thrills and chills, she found that most folks had long ago traded in childhood classics like roller rinks and ice skating for more the age-appropriate pursuits of Blackberries and pub crawls. While other women her age spent their weekends picking out Yves Saint Laurent lipstick in deep raspberry shades, she sucked down ballerina pink cherry sodas and gazed dreamily at glossy magazines, transfixed by the fizzing whirlwind of electric color. She realized that in this ever-changing marquee of a city, even children weren't allowed the luxury of childhood - it seemed as though everyone had already grown up before they even had the chance to be foolish and wild. Staring wide-eyed at her favorite childhood roller-rink, plywood nailed to the doors and neon spray-painted pictures of high-rises and superheroes thrown across the walls, Emily vowed that she would never fall victim to the disease that is adulthood. With one hand on her magazine and another over her heart, she swore to swing through the childhood that, much like her favorite roller rink, everyone else had abandoned. The Magician

- Self-confident

- Powerful

-Skillful/talented

- Provides the tools for change

- Creation

- Smooth-talker

- Open/revealing

The very first trick Kate learned, at the all-grown-up age of eleven and a half, was to make a coin disappear. After French lessons and piano practice and college level calculus taught by a charmingly tousled tutor - a sweetly awkward English twenty-something to whom Kate felt superior to in every way - he would lead her out onto the peppermint-scented lawn for a lunch of mushroom pate and warm baguettes and pineapple salad and chocolate mint eclairs and, between the rows of honeysuckle and baby's breath, he would show her magic. He palmed coins and produced scarves and turned cards into flowers, and deep down inside, rumbling with the aftershocks of not fully understanding something for once in her life, Kate burned to do the same. Her head, with its world-class education and radiant sharpness, purred that these simple parlor tricks were child's play and could be deconstructed into their smallest parts, and so snuck quietly to her room, her tutor's coin in hand, and practiced until the sky darkened and her hands ached. After the next morning's Mandarin and classic literature and viola lessons in the parlor, she pulled the coin from her dress and, like a seasoned magician gracing a crowd with mysteriously foreplay, waved her hands until the coin shimmered out of existence. Her tutor, a glint of pride in his eyes, clapped politely, but it wasn't until he began searching for his coin (of which he assumed she had palmed or slipped into her sock the way children often do) that true confusion began to set in. Opening the piano seat, peeking behind keys, plucking at each taut string until they confirmed, with a polite D, F, or G minor, that the coin was not there, he turned his gaze on her and demanded the coin. I made it disappear, she declared, smoothing out her dress - isn't that the trick? The coin, by now most likely tarnished by age, was never found, and even Kate can't quite account for the items that she makes disappear. All she knows now, standing on stages and in front of tail-coated gentry, is that she found her magic, and no textbook could ever teach her the same.

The High Priestess

- Beauty

- Mystery

- Omniscient

- Intelligent

- Psychic powers (intuition and secret knowledge)

- Secretive

- Eccentric

- Insightful

- Unpredictable

Sadie was a curbside prophet, a Saturday-morning dreamer who spent every weekend exploring the city that she loved like a first-time lover. She would wander barefoot through farmers markets that blocked off entire roads and come home with funny hats and bohemian scarves and vegetables still wet with morning dew. She would watch passion plays in the park and sing along with every musician she passed, beating with them on bongos or slapping at her thighs. She bought tickets to independent movies playing at theatres no bigger than her flat, only to give them away to strangers on the street right before showtime just so she could stand under the marquee and its hundred-year-old bulbs and watch the crowds rush in. At night, she would swing through cafes that seemed aglow with dim electric light, sipping cafe au laits and holding existential conversations with complete strangers, only to slip out quietly when they weren't looking and do it all again somewhere new so that when they turned back around they could only wonder if she was there, with her wild hair and crow-black eyes, or if she was just a strange and wonderful dream.

Always,

Penelope ♥

Frida Kahlo Photoshoot

Frida Kahlo has been one of my all-time favorite artists since before I can remember. Something about her eye-poppingly vibrant yet deeply emotional pieces captivated my art-loving heart and still hasn't let go to this day. The first time I paid a visit to the MoMA in New York City, I remember literally running through the Chicano and Latin American section, searching wildly for a piece of hers, any piece of hers, to no avail. I dreamt of throwing myself at her stories and tales, her vivid, palpable, heart-thumping emotions meticulously carved out on each and every canvas. I'm sure that if I had found a painting of hers I probably would have been thrown out of the museum promptly for running my fingers over each and every brush stroke, feeling for the thought and emotions behind them.

In their March/April issue, Dujor Magazine featured an absolutely stellar photoshoot inspired by Miss Kahlo herself that I think truly captures both her uniquely Mexican style and the electric color that filled her life, through good times and bad. Kahlo was a testament to the strength of womanhood, exemplifying to us all that even through the hard times, the mistakes, the accidents and the unavoidable flaws, there is beauty everywhere to be had.

Always,
Penelope ♥

The Cocoa Guide To Tutus

Photo by Abby Lanes

"I see you like tutus! Any recommendations for really nice ones? I've been on a hunt for vintage-styled ones, but the best I've come across thus far are right here and I figured it couldn't hurt to ask if you, perhaps, had suggestions!"

Only recently have tutus become style essentials for unconventional, eccentric, and all around fabulous girls, but their history stretches all the way back to the dawn of ballet and beyond. In the 14th century their brethren, the petticoat, were worn under huge creampuff dresses to create a more desirable shape, but strangely enough, in modern times the terms "tutu" and "petticoat" have become interchangeable, meaning short, fluffy skirts made of tulle, crinoline, or silk. Nevertheless, these swingin' circles of sugary-sweet fabric have captivated so many and still somehow hold the power to make any girl the center of the room. Looking for your very own tutu or, for you DIY girls, directions on how to make your own? Look no further - here's the Cocoa guide to the sparkling, shimmering, cotton candy joy that is tutus. 

♥ Making A Tutu

For the No-Sew Girl

As crazy as it sounds, no-sew tutus are incredibly easy to make and require so much less time and effort than full-blown tiered ones do. All you need to make one of these fabulous, fluffy skirts is a few yards of tulle your favorite color (or colors!), a pair of scissors, and a piece of elastic long enough to fit around your waist with room to spare. Simply knot the two ends of the elastic together so that it makes a neat little circle, cut the tulle into strips, and tie them one right next to another on the piece of elastic, as shown here. Easy as that! You can embellish your brand new tutu with just about anything you can think of, if a plain and simple skirt is a little too boring for you - tie pieces of silky ribbon in-between the strips of tulle, hand-stitch a loop-de-loop design around the bottom, or even make flowers out of the remaining scraps of tulle and stitch them into elastic!

For the Sew-Happy Girl

Take it from me, sewing your own tutu is not a good idea unless you're both super experienced with sewing and extremely patient. I took the plunge and made an attempt to sew my very own a few months ago and, while it came out with only a few little flaws, it took about seven hours and bundles upon bundles of tulle. If you have the time and experience, though, the possibilities are endless - you can make tutus from just about anything, from old t-shirts to kids bed sheets to your favorite curtains to vintage kimonos. There's a fabulous tutorial on how to do exactly that over at Instructables, covering all of the basics and displaying some amazing tutus to jump-start your creative juices, as well!

♥

♥ Finding The Perfect Tutu

Believe it or not, vintage tutus are everywhere - the trick is to know where to look. Antique shops, vintage clothing stores, and even thrift stores usually have these tiny gems hidden in-between 1970's aprons and pencil skirts, sometimes even dangling from the ceiling like gauzy halos of tulle. Not up for a hunt? My all-time favorite tutus come from the online retailer Sock Dreams, featuring everything from victorian-style petticoats to sweetly short crinolines all for a super-reasonable price. In terms of the mainstream, Hot Topic has a genuinely funky selection of tutus that are just short enough for us under-5'5'' girls to pull off without looking weighed down by our huge skirts, but if you have the cash to spend and want to go all out, Lacey's has a gorgeous collection of super-pouffy bubblegum colored tutus perfect for any eccentric fashionista.

 

Always,
Penelope ♥

Style Essentials for the Unconventional Girl

Photo by Trixie Bedlam

Let's face it, fashion isn't the same for everyone. While some girls run their fingers over glossy magazines, slipping into teeny weeny slips of haute couture and super-slick Manolo heels, others burrow into vintage floral wraps found at rummage sales and electric yellow go-go boots. Yet whatever your personal style may be, some things are simple style essentials that look good on almost everyone - so for the front-page fashionista, thrift store starlet, and everyone else in-between, here are those certain items that every well-dressed girl should keep stocked in her wardrobe at all times!

♥ Pashmina Scarves
If you're from New York then you should have absolutely no trouble finding one of these beauties - they're sold on street corners all across the city for as little as $5 and they come in the most dizzyingly beautiful colors and styles. The pashmina scarf is one of the most versatile pieces of clothing for the sole reason that it can be worn so many different ways - from a full body wrap to a simple winter shawl to a sari-esque skirt to just a plain old scarf. It's a must-have for anyone who braves brisk winters (or for those who just want to look like they do!) Having trouble figuring out how to wear yours? Here are nine basic tying techniques!

♥ Tutus
Crazy as it seems, tutus really are absolute must haves for any modern girl who loves bringing funkiness and fun into everyday life. It may seem a little too wild at first, but tutus and petticoats can easily be paired with seemingly simple fashion staples and make you look effortlessly charming and chic. Try wearing them with oxford button-ups, long sleeved shirts layered with tank tops, and knee-high socks. For an everyday look, avoid high heels and instead opt for simple sneakers or flats.

♥ Black, Ankle-High Skinny Pants

I reference it constantly on this site, but there's one particular scene from my favorite movie, Funny Face, that cemented my love of skinny pants. In it, Audrey Hepburn's character Jo performs an interpretive dance in a smoky French club to thoroughly explain the concept of dancing as a form of release to Fred Astaire. She prances around the club in a black turtleneck and black skinny pants, swinging and swaying and throwing herself left and right, dancing with French poets and beatniks amidst the club's hazy lights. It's a classic scene that created a classic staple, and even today I still see the most amazing women pull a similar look off with so much flair. Pair them with a horizontally-striped shirt for a Paris-a-go-go look or a button-up shirt with flats - anyway you choose to wear them, these pants will never let you down!

♥ Thigh-High Socks

Thicker than tights for cold winter days and very schoolgirl-esque, long thigh-high socks can really do wonders for an outfit. I suggest going with darker colors like an eggplant or navy, but whites and creams can look just as good when worn correctly. Wear them with mini-skirts, dresses, or even shorts and a good pair of heels!

♥ Wide-Brimmed Hats
Although in modern days the big, classically simple sun-bathing hat has become more and more rare, it will always hold it's rightful place in a well-stocked closet. Audrey Hepburn pulled it off effortlessly in Breakfast At Tiffany's, pairing it with a little black dress, a pair of sunglasses, and a string of pearls, and I firmly believe that anyone can give it just as much character and charm as she did. Go with a tan one for casual summer days, wearing it with a white tank top, a filmy button up, and a rolled up pair of jeans, or for those more formal occasions wear it the Audrey way, black dress and all!

♥ Ballet Flats

For quiet, casual engagements or those days when you simply don't feel like wearing heels, a good pair of ballet flats are the next best thing - they're stylish and simple, making you look professional and chic without being too dressy. A good black pair is always in style, but it's worth it to invest in as many colors as you possibly can. Mix and match and see what comes of it!

heyrabbit

♥ Faux-Fur Coats

Fur coats create such a wonderful silhouette and add a great finishing touch to any outfit, but faux-fur is the way to go both ethically and practically. Fur coats have been associated with women of luxury for a good reason, for a real one will cost you a fortune, not to mention the fact that you'd be perpetuating the practice of killing for fashion with bona fide fur. Faux-fur is cheaper and just as stunning when worn, so try topping off any outfit with one, from silky buttercream dresses to denim jeans and turtlenecks.

♥ A Great Pair of Jeans

This goes without saying, but every girl absolutely has to have that one perfect pair of jeans to complete her  wardrobe. Jeans are so versatile and can be dressed up for semi-formal engagements and dressed down for runs to the supermarket. The possibilities are endless when it comes to what to wear with them, so get yourself a pair and experiment!

♥ The Good Old Fashioned Little Black Dress

What would a girl be without the incredible little black dress? Think about how many classic outfits have been perpetuated by that one plain and simple idea of a perfect black dress? Discovering your dress is one of those classic moments of womanhood, like tumbling down the rabbit hole and into this strange and wonderful new world of style, so when you discover it don't let it slip away. A flattering dress never goes out of style!

Always,
Penelope ♥

Daily Outfit - Halloween Edition!

Halloween is upon us, my chocolate bunnies, which means spectacular parties, incredible costumes, and all kinds of wicked fun. Like most girls with a thing for dressing up, Halloween is by far my favorite holiday and I hate to say it but this is the first year in a long time that I haven't gone all-out with my costume. No, this Halloween I'm playing it simple - I'm a modern day fairy, complete with cowboy boots and a winter coat.

My wings didn't stay up very well!

+ Handmade babydoll dress

+ Faux-fur coat from a second hand store

+ Pink wings from Target
+ Boots (not shown) from Clarks

In celebration of this glorious holiday and in keeping with the festive spirit, I bring you this tiny little Halloween trinket that I found while scouring the great big internet. Those of you with a gushing crush on Bollywood will be especially ecstatic!

So how was your Halloween, cupcakes? How did you celebrate, who were you with, but most importantly what did you wear?!

Always,
Penelope ♥

Lucky "My Denim Transformation" Challenge

I've always been a huge fan of Lucky Magazine and right now they're running an incredible contest with some even more incredible prizes. Ironically enough, they've paired up with Lucky Brand Jeans for the "My Denim Transformation" stylist challenge - a contest where all you have to do is show off exactly how you would "style" your jeans for a night out. Simply send a photo of yourself all dolled up in your favorite jeans and submit it on the Lucky Style Spotter site for a chance to win a trip to my favorite city in the world, New York, a chance to be featured in Lucky Magazine, and the great and wonderful prize of getting to personally style a Lucky Brand ad. For any fashion majors out there, or just budding fashionistas, I don't think I have to tell you what a fantastic opportunity this is - plus you get to dress up, which is, in my opinion, the most thrilling thing a girl can do alone!

I know Polyvore sets aren't allowed, but my look would be something along these lines... think - Catwoman goes to the circus! Meow!

Now I'm sure you can come up with outfits way better than mine so show me up and enter! Go forth and submit, kittens, and don't forget to show me all your gorgeous styles!

Always,
Penelope ♥

Tales Of The City

Those of you who have managed to read through this curious little blog regularly may have picked up on my fluttering love of a few certain things - the adorable, the embellished, the imaginative - especially when it comes to fashion. I'm a little girl at heart who secretly craves big wedding cake dresses frosted in pink and white, a modern day princess who dreams of falling asleep in a wardrobe filled with rose-water cakes and rocking horse shoes. I love everything over-the-top and frosted with fairy-tale grandeur, which might explain why six years ago I was instantly drawn to a sleepy little movement in Japan called, quiet simply, Lolita.

Lolita is based on the fashion, architecture, and aristocratic lifestyle of 18th century France, a period which historians have dubbed "Rococo". From France to Japan, the Lolita movement took the Rococo idea of filling life with everything sweet and delectable and drew it into the twentieth century in the form of candy-colored dresses and a positive outlook on life.

A slew of brands emerged, propelling this moment out of obscurity and into history. My personal favorite, one that I feel truly represents everything Lolitas believe in, one that paints its stores pink and fills them with everything that little girls could only dream of, one that sells the most beautiful and child-like dresses that I've ever seen, is a little-known brand called Baby, the Stars Shine Bright.

Last night, through some magical twist of fate, I stood in the presence of the CEO and head designers of Baby.

Remy and I rode the F train to Bryant Park with the intent of making our way to Kinokuniya, an incredible Japanese bookstore that sells everything from manga to magazines. It's one of my favorite spots for picking up interesting gifts, as well as catching up on Japanese trends, so I always make a point to go there whenever I'm in town.

We wandered upstairs, threading through isles of comic books and figurines, only to find the café section of the store blocked off. Instead of the usual brood of business men and twentysomethings pondering over newspapers and noodle bowls, a panel of Lolitas perched carefully in the dining area with a camera crew in tow. These quiet American girls dressed in full Lolita garb nibbled on salads and sipped down lemonade, huge slices of strawberry cake in front of them, while four alert Japanese women and one man sat across from them. I peeked through the chest-level glass dividing the cafe from the rest of the store, eyeing the scene curiously, when suddenly the translator caught my attention. "We here at Baby," she spoke, hands folded, "are completely open to American suggestions and would like to know if you have any questions or comments." I slammed my face against the glass, covering my mouth to quiet my incredibly obvious gasps. I eyed the Japanese panel carefully and realized that in this city of nearly nine million people, in this world of more than six billion, I was standing before Akinori and Fumiyo Isobe, creators and current CEOs of Baby, the Stars Shine Bright.

I stood behind that piece of glass for more than a hour, ecstatic and thrilled and uncontrollable in my mental backflips and jumping jacks. Here I was, dressed most un-Lolita-like in a simple blue dress and a faux-fur jacket, staring down the prince and princess of a sub-culture that redefined my life.

While these American girls chattered about how Baby's clothes were too small, for most of them couldn't fit into them, and too expensive, for most of them spent about $6,000 a year on dresses and the like, I felt this incredible ping of jealousy deep down inside. These girls, these upper east side eighteen year olds, could not only afford a closet full of Baby wears, but they were also seated right in front of Mr. and Mrs. Isobe themselves, yet all they could manage were complaints.

And that's when it hit me like a lemon-soaked dart: being a Lolita is not about being able to afford the dresses - it's not about wearing Baby every day and always taking tea at three o'clock on the spot - it's about being yourself, whoever you may be. Lolitas come in all shapes and forms, and shockingly enough not all of them can be found in Vivienne Westwood shoes or Baby frock. Lolita is a mindset, not a conscious choice - maybe not all Lolitas can afford sparkling dessert-like dresses or lace-covered cutsews, but that doesn't make them any less passionate about the lifestyle or, for that matter, any less Lolita.

I am a Lolita. Sure, I didn't get a council with Mr. Isobe, and sure, I may not own a single thing from Baby, but I am still a Lolita. And I will find my own drum to march by in my unique, Rococo-dusted world.

Because I am a Lolita, and I always will be. And I never needed a dress to give that kind of passion to me.

Always,

Penelope ♥

Daily Outfit - September 23rd

So the whole "daily outfit" thing has definitely turned into a not-so-daily outfit, especially since my last update in this vein was back in June. But! I have two brand-new and beautiful Betsey Johnson dresses that I'm absolutely dying to show off, so I figured I would document what I wore with one of them today (along with a few pictures of the other!)

+ Librarian sweater from Evie

+ Betsey Johnson dress (Eek!)

+ Jeans from the Gap

+ Gladiator sandals (which, regrettably, you cannot see) from Marshall's

I'm so incredibly thrilled! Usually Miss Johnson's luxuries are waaay out of my price range - but through the miracle of designer outlets, I managed to get both of these stunning gems for a total of $180. (The price tag on the blue one alone was $379! Eek!)

But here's the catch - I'm one of those kooky girls that thinks owning a beautiful dress isn't worth anything unless you give it an equally beautiful name - something to distinguish it, personalize it, give it a life all of its own - and because I'm such a fan of Betsey Johnson's designs I want to give each of these extra wonderful names. I've decided that since a lot of you are way bigger fashonistas than I could ever be that I would ask you incredible bunnies what you think the perfect names are. Audrey? May? Sabrina? Whatever you think fits, let me know! Get to it, go-go girls, and name these gorgeous dresses!

Always,

Penelope ♥

How To Wear Loud Pants

Photo by Andy van der Raadt

"I know you don't run a 'style blog' or anything of the sort, but I was just wondering, if you had a pair of really loud pants, how would you wear them?  By loud I mean like yellow and green stripes or purple stars on neon pink, or being really specific a pair of skinny jeans that are black and yellow checker. I just bought them and now I have no idea what to wear with them with aside from the obvious solid yellow and black and that's just boring."

There are always those zany, out-of-this world impulse buys that seem like such a stellar idea while standing in front of the dressing room mirror, those cardigans all held together by tiny bows and those houndstooth wraps with fringe on the bottom like an old time flappers dress, and when we wear them we feel fabulous in so many ways - like this is the piece of clothing that defines us as a person, yet somehow when we get home and neatly unfold our tiny treasure, it seems like we can never bring ourselves to pull it back out of the closet and to wear it again. They're the kinds of pieces that we could stare at for days in loving admiration, starstruck by the way they seem to say everything about us while they say nothing at all, yet in all our thinking and all our planning we can never quite figure out what to wear with them. It's a tragedy, sure, but one that can be avoided - all it takes is a few simple tips, a little bit of courage, and a great pair of pants.

Wear Solid Colors
Patterns and vividly bright colors just complicate your look if you're already wearing something that's prominently vibrant. For shirts and jackets, use pastels and neutrals to soften the explosion of color. If you are going to wear a pattered or bright top, try to wear something plain over your pants to break up the colors. For instance, wear a little pair of shorts or a wide belt just to draw a line between the two pieces of clothing. I have to warn you, though, this usually only works if you're wearing solid colored pants with no pattern or design on them. If your pants are checkered or dotted with little pink stars or gingham or plaid striped, a plain shirt is the way to go.

Introduce Another Color
When wearing something very bright, people tend to be afraid to introduce any more color into their outfit for fear that it will be too over the top. The truth of the matter is that using just one or two colors, no matter how bright they are, actually makes your outfit look very bland. Use the color wheel to find a complementing color to your pants (one on either side of the color closest to that of your pants) and incorporate items of that shade into your outfit. If your pants are patterned with two different yet equally vibrant colors, pick the more noticeable of the two and go from there.



Add More Color Through Accessories
Afraid of wearing a green shirt with your blue pants but worried that a neutral top is a little too boring? Accessories are the absolute best way to add that extra punch to what you're wearing without going too over the top. Stick to a neutral shirt and try spicing things up with a pair of bubblegum pink sunglasses or some vibrant bracelets. Even something as simple as carrying a purse that complements the color of your pants really works.



Wear Longer Tops
Although some a reluctant to "hide" their super cool pants, the ultimate fail-safe is a longer, tunic style top. It'll allow just enough of your pants to peek through and show that you're funky and vibrant without making you look silly. This is for dire emergencies, though! I say, if you've got the will and the pair of pants, show them off!

Always,

Penelope ♥

The Cocoa Guide to Rococo Style

Photo by Nett

Rococo is an art term that designates a specific period of French culture, namely during most of the 18th century. Marie Antoinette? She's the Rococo goddess herself - a queen of everything light, sweet, and lovely. Rococo design treats every room, dress, and person as an individual work of art, decorating them accordingly. By using gentle curves and pastel colors contrasted against vivid golds, a sweetly beautiful yet undoubtedly aristocratic effect is created.

Rococo style, both architecturally and artistically, is generally looked down upon by the art world and thought to be merely "frivilous and extravagant," but when looked at closely it's clear that there's incredible history behind everything from this period. The style itself says worlds about French culture at that point in time and in modern day society it reflects a carefree and whimsical attitude. If you daydream of masquerade balls and flower petal baths and shimmering pink hair ribbons and sugar-iced cupcakes, chances are you'd firmly disagree with those art historians.

Authentic Rococo style is vividly reflected through most Japanese "Lolita" brands such as Baby, the Stars Shine Bright (which I would kill to own anything from!) and Metamorphose, but for Western city-dwellers it's not impossible to transform the lavish and extravagant into something a little more everyday. 

Embrace Florals...

Flowery prints and nature-themed fabrics were commonplace in the 18th century and although they may not be quite as popular today, that doesn't mean they're impossible to find. Even if not conventionally vintage-looking, most anything with a simple floral print can be construed as Rococo when paired with the right accessories. Even something as silly as floral printed combat boots can give you that babydoll edge if worn with something sweet and bubbly.

...And Pastels

Color is your friend! The only time you would see black or white in Versailles was during either a marriage or a funeral. The message behind Rococo itself is to never take life too seriously and embrace the sweetness around you, and that means filling your life with loads of color!

Work Off of a Theme

Dress yourself up like a butterfly garden or a hand-spun web of cotton candy, the summer sky or a neatly wrapped birthday present. Buy butterfly clips for your hair or powder your face and dab on baby pink blush. Pick a new theme everyday and stick to it! Your theme doesn't have to be perfectly apparent to others but do try to go the extra mile, even if it means just doing something as simple as buying lipstick in a shade that you wouldn't normally wear or using ribbon instead of a belt. You are a work of art! The french treated everything as an individual masterpiece, whether it be a room or a hair-do. It's a vital part of this lifestyle to do the same to your daily wardrobe!

Don't Be Afraid to Clash

Contrast and juxtaposition in color is what makes everything Rococo incredibly alluring. Think Betsey Johnson! That kind of incredible dash of color and life can bring any outfit out of mediocrity and into the realms of history. 

Never Doubt the Power of Accessories

Since most Rococo dresses were incredibly complex, adapting the same sort of style to a more everyday outfit involves a great deal of accessorizing. Gold is the metal of choice for jewelry, being an old-school sign of both privilege and femininity (not to mention a key aspect of Rococo decorating), but just about anything from ribbons to pearls can be adapted accordingly.

Always,

Penelope ♥

Alice in Wonderland Photoshoot

Despite the fact that it's  from 2003, I just recently stumbled upon this absolutely gorgeous photoshoot that Annie Leibovitz did for Vogue.  I love how modest and childish it is - instead of blatantly stumbling into a world of high-fashion and even higher price-tags, Alice is just a pretty girl in babydoll dresses, making her way through the whimsically curious Wonderland.

(I'm in love with this dress. If I had something as gorgeous as this, I'd never take it off. Really. You'd see me brushing my teeth in it and wearing it to bed.)

Always,

Penelope ♥

Dressing Like Your Heroes

Photo by Super Emily

Inspiration always has to come from somewhere and the matter of style is no exception. When it comes to fashion, inspiration can come from the strangest of places - coffee shops with funny names or tiny boutiques, old antiques that look nothing like their modern adaptations, fizzy ice-cream floats that change colors before your eyes.

But usually that warm fuzzy that is a sense of style comes waltzing over to us from other people. It’s a gift that’s passed on, even from people we’ve never spoken to, moving quietly from person to person like a Grecian muse in ballet flats. These people that pass on their gift, they can be anyone in the world that happen into our day-to-day lives, even those characters that only exist on paper and on screen. Our TV-heroes can change the way we look at clothes, the way we look at ourselves, and make everything in our lives just a little bit brighter.

Behold! Some of my favorite inspirational fashionistas, both real and imaginary.

Wednesday Addams

When the Addams Family movies came out, I was so utterly thrilled! The television show had been my absolute favorite all throughout childhood (even though it was way before my time), and Wednesday Addams was by far the coolest little spunkster on the show. On television she was far more cutesy and childish, but I loved her more gloomy and all-too mature appeal in the movies. I think a grown-up Wednesday would be just as sour but with way more style, making oxfords and ribbons an absolute necessity! But just because she’s older doesn’t make her any less of a little girl – if you plan on dressing like Wednesday, don’t forget the bows!

Carrie Bradshaw

Like many other tomboys who thought they were way too cool for such a girlie show, I refused watch Sex and the City when it first came out. Later, after watching my first episode on syndicated television and instantly falling in love, I slapped myself in the face for this lapse in judgment. Imagine my surprise when I found out the show was incredibly witty, fun, and most importantly, far from average! I started watching religiously, and although I still haven’t seen every episode (All six seasons are on my birthday list! Cross your fingers!) I find it just as relatable and thrilling as the rest of the women who watch it.

Everyone has their favorite character on the show, that lovely lady who they try their best to emulate in both fashion and chatter, and mine just so happens to be the incredibly Miss Bradshaw.

Carrie is all about having fun and adding that extra dash of flavor to your wardrobe. Her motto is to dress up in the latest couture while still staying true to yourself and your tastes, no matter how crazy they may be, which is what makes her so likeable. While the other characters struggle with either too much fashion or too little, Carrie always manages to look fabulous for the occasion. I remember reading somewhere that the stylists for the show said Carrie’s look was all about mixing high fashion and thrift store finds, making Carrie even more eclectic and daring. Dressing like her is only a matter of being bright, being outgoing, and never being afraid to wear heels!

Wes Anderson

Wes Anderson, famous director and notorious auteur, just so happens to be the only real person on this list and at the same time the biggest character. When I first saw his movies, I felt like I was riding a carousel in some alternate universe where the people are a strange and eclectic bunch with hand-painted family portraits and lewd conversation over the dinner table. I had to know - what kind of an eccentric could live in a world like this and, more importantly, why aren’t more people like this!

Enter, Wes Anderson – a thrilling sir who’s all about the unusual. Decked out in an all-vintage wardrobe, he’s is a scotch-drinking kind of man who brings back the old by presenting it in a scathingly dry modern light. There’s no term coined for Anderson’s style and when searching for the words, one finds it practically impossible to describe him in both film and fashion. All in all, the best way to put it is that Anderson has a taste for the flawed. He takes the trashy, the old, the passé, and the trick of it all is that he makes those things American culture gave up on so long ago interesting again. When dressing like Anderson, everything has to be considered, no matter how outdated it may seem, because just like with his characters, he believes that everything deserves a second chance.

Penelope Wilhern

I know, I know – irony abound! But the recently-released Penelope really is one of my favorite movies! From the moment I first saw Miss Penelope, with her charmingly kitschy wardrobe and absolutely gorgeous playground-like bedroom (she has a swing in her room! How swanky is that!) I have to say I fell in love. The movie itself is like a fairy-tale, set in a hybrid of all the greatest cities where everyone knows each other and modern day magic is not amiss, and even the worst of characters are still semi-lovable.

Penelope herself is a style-icon, though, for everything about her dress is very conservative and old-fashioned but with a funky, fairy-tale edge. Color is an absolute basic, with Anthropologie-esque dresses and lots of patterns, but she stays on the mild side with oxford pumps and pattered tights. She’s half adult and half child which I admire in unspeakable amounts, a girl who wants nothing more than to explore the world and be herself, maybe finding love and friendship along the way. But she’s not afraid to be a little girl, even when she’s not anymore, and won’t let anything get in the way of her being herself.

So the question, my lovelies, is who inspires you? (And more importantly, what do they wear!)

Always,

Penelope ♥