I Still Get Lucky

I’ve discovered that the simplest way to cancel an unwanted magazine subscription is to close the credit card that’s being billed. Now, I no longer get InStyle.

But the Lucky bill was paid before I cancelled the card, so I’m still getting that magazine. And I still find inspiration.


Blazer, Odds ‘n Evens (thrifted). Blouse, Forever 21. Skirt, thrifted (no label). Shoes, Sigerson Morrison for Target. Bag, Nicole Lee. Tassel pendant, Epcot Morocco. Arrowhead pendants, thrifted. Spiked wrap bracelet, thrifted. Sparkly bracelet, Birch Hill’s. Silver bracelet, Deb. Tights, We Love colors.

I saved this page from a recent issue’s How To: Wear Color section.

Lucky’s “How To” and “What I Want Now” features are often my favorite parts of the magazine. I’ve been inspired to copy ensembles from those pages many times.

Today's inspiration page was intended to help black-lovers incorporate some color into their wardrobe. Obviously, I don't need any encouragement to wear color, but I did like the outfit shown on the right enough to create my own version.


Lucky’s styling and mine.




Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Glamorous Safari

Today’s outfit was inspired by Lucky’s Glamorous Safari spread. My take:


Jacket, Charlotte Russe (overdyed – it used to be pale khaki). Tank, swap. Skirt, Talbot’s (thrifted). Shoes, Fioni. Necklaces, vintage and thrifted. Bag, Colini Handbags (thrifted). Bamboo bangles, Garden of the Gods gift shop. Golden bangles, Epcot Morocco. Hat, Betmar.

Lucky's take:

I love Lucky magazine, but the prices can be outrageous. Let’s compare the prices of the pieces in the magazine with my own…

Khaki pencil skirt. Lucky: $260. Me: $5 (thrifted).
Hat. Lucky: $195. Me: $25.
“Ivory” necklaces. Lucky: $295 to $395 each. Me: less than $40 total.
Oxfords. Lucky: $325. Me: $24.99.
Bamboo bangles. Lucky: $15 each. Not bad, but consider…. Me: $1 each.

Saved: $1403.01

I’d love to spend those savings on the Tibi silk blouse pictured ($284), but I contented myself with substituting a coral tank I got for free. The jacket Lucky pictures would be unflattering with my ensemble. I far prefer the fitted little blazer that I dyed myself.


Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Despite the over-priced pieces, Lucky editor Eleanor Strauss picked a great theme for this spread. I’ve found the safari look to be a constant source of inspiration. Past, safari-esque ensembles:


Nothing says "safari" like a zebra-print dress!
Because khaki tends to wash me out, I like to use olive green or orangish-red as an accent color.

Do you do the "safari look?" What are your key pieces for an African-inspired theme? Do you choose an accent color to perk up your complexion?

Like This

When The Like’s latest album came out, the mod stylings of the album art landed the girls on multiple style blogs and interested many in their music. They even earned a spread in the latest issue of Lucky. That page inspired my outfit today.


Jacket, London Jean. Dress (worn as a top), Jones New York. Skirt, thrifted, shortened, and dyed. Belt, Wet Seal. Shoes, Two Lips. Earrings, Merona. Bag, Express.

I’m not mod, but I’m bold and graphic.


I first heard the band when they opened for Tori Amos in 2005. Then, the girls were all skinny legs, waist-length hair, and short, baby-doll dresses. I liked them then and like them even more, now.

Laid-Back Bombshell

This outfit was inspired by an old Lucky How-To: Laid-Back Bombshell. I chose to copy the look on the right. According to Lucky, the ingredients are: “a solid wrap sweater over a printed blouse with a below-the-knee pencil skirt and peep-toe heels.” I adapted the requirements to what I had in my closet: a printed sweater instead of a printed blouse and a button-front cardigan instead of a wrap sweater.


Cardigan, INC. Blouse, Forever 21. Skirt, Banana Republic. Heels, Wild Diva. Purse, Apt 9. Earrings, Express.



Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Guess where I am today...

Maxxinista

There’s a TJ Maxx downtown. It’s dangerously close to my office. I have spent more than a few lunches shopping the Carew Tower location instead of working out. It doesn’t help that my good friend Erin is also a fan. In fact, she bought this dress for me after I’d admired hers.

Jacket, stolen from New Gate. Dress, London Times. Belt, Cappel’s. Tights, Apostrophe. Booties, Madden Girl. Bag, Nicole Lee. Gloves, Cejon. Bangles, Body Central. Fishy earrings, gift. Feather clip, 100 yen store.


This outfit was inspired by one of the ensembles Jessica modeled for Lucky Shops.


I tried belting the jacket, like in the inspiration photo, but it looked terrible. I suppose the view was alright from the front, but from the side, the jacket flared out over my butt like a giant peplum. It made me wonder whether my inspiration outfit looked good from any angle other than straight on. Those stylists are tricky.

The most expensive item I’m wearing is this velvet scarf. I bought it for about $100 US in an Amsterdam boutique in 1996. It was a huge splurge for me at the time (I was still in college), but it’s proven to be one of my most beloved souvenirs. Thirteen years later, I’m still wearing it.

The Worst Give Away Ever

Shirt, NY & Co. Skirt, vintage, thrifted, shortened, and embellished. Necklace, Zad. Ring, Jan Michaels San Francisco. Brass bangle, World Market. Wooden bangle, swap. Sandals, Franco Sarto. Bag, MCI (thrifted).



This outfit was inspired by a how-to in the May 2009 Lucky:



My skirt used to be the length of Lucky’s dirndl skirt, but I shortened it.
Back in April, I offered to give this skirt to an interested reader. A few people left comments, here and on flickr, expressing interest. And then I never followed through.

Truly. The. Worst. Give away. Ever.

I’m going to try again. You have one more chance to leave a comment. In a week, I’ll draw names from this post and April’s. I hope to redeem myself.

More Lucky Love

Cardigan, J Crew (swap). Dress, vintage (shortened and swap). Belt, Body Central. Tights, Merona. Boots, White Mountain. Bag, Target.

Like academichic, I enjoyed the March Lucky’s orange and gray spread. I got this sweater from a swap months ago, but I’ve found it hard to wear. I can’t decide if the main body is gray or beige or just some sort of odd in-between shade. Let’s pretend it’s gray today.


Funny, crazy hair.

Simple

Vest, Old Navy. Gingham dress, Giorgio Fiorlani (thrifted). Earrings, Panagea. Wedges, Montego Bay Club (i.e. Payless!)

This very simple ensemble was inspired by a “lucky how-to” in the May issue.



The lightweight outfit was perfect for a hot, muggy Memorial Day. I thought it fitting that I wore this dress to the very thrift store I bought it from. This time, though, my haul was all jewelry.


All this for less than $5.