Finding Soul Balance: February 2011

Monday, February 28, 2011

Reader Pictures

My favorite two readers jumped at the chance to have their pictures along with their Soul Style posted on my blog.

Soul Style - modern casual fancy

Soul Style - beautiful lovely fancy

Yes, I have two "girly" girls who both had "fancy" in their description.

I saw a lot of you at church yesterday, and you all looked great! So, send me your pictures along with your Soul Style. If a whole outfit is too much for you, send a picture of your favorite shoe or accessory. I want you to help inspire others. (Read the instructions here.)

Sunday, February 27, 2011

rest.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Finding Soul Style Challenge

Now that we have been through an inspiring week or two of Fashion Week (depending on whether you followed New York Fashion Week or just mine), I am issuing the first ever **Finding Soul Style Challenge**. It officially starts on SUNDAY (that's tomorrow). Here are the rules:

1. Describe your Soul Style in 1 to 3 words. It can be something like -
"relaxed elegance"
"comfy cool"
"Australian neutral hipster"

Whatever phrase means something to you.

2. For the next 7 days, wear an outfit that expresses your style that you described in #1. Even if you are just driving your kids to school or going to the gym, wear your soul on your sleeve.

3. Send me a picture of one of your outfits along with your Soul Style description, and I will post it on my blog. My email address is meredith@findingsoulbalance.com.

I describe my Soul Style as "Parisian edgy chic" - not that I'm trying to imitate French women but rather be inspired by the beauty of Paris itself. The "edgy" and the "chic" balance each other out, so I don't go too far in either direction. That phrase just gives me a feeling that I want to express, and I have used it for the last couple of years to dictate what I buy.

So, this is what I'm going to wear tomorrow...

What are you going to wear?

Friday, February 25, 2011

Shoe Update

I got the shoes!

These are the shoes I showed in my post this morning. I ordered them yesterday, and they arrived at my house today. Zappos, baby! The shoes are Nine West, and they come in a million different colors.

Fashion Week Part 5

My final look depicts one of the biggest trends I saw on both the Spring and Fall runways - Bright Colors!

The Limited shirt and vest, Nordstrom belt, Banana Republic pants, Michael Shannon shoes

I would be remiss in my Fashion Week report not to tell you about two huge trends (of which I currently own none) - ankle straps on shoes...

More DKNY...

More Giuseppe Zanotti...

More Nine West...

(I may own these very soon.)

...and FUR, FUR, FUR! It showed up on almost every runway. I'm not sure how long PETA is going to let this trend last.

More Ohne Titel...

Come back tomorrow to take on the **Finding Soul Style Challenge**. (Are you excited?)

Clarification - The Fashion Week that just took place in NYC was for Fall/Winter of 2011, so these looks are really for Fall fashion. However, there is usually a lot of carryover from the Spring shows that were in September 2010. (I know, it's confusing.) I'll talk more specifically about some Spring trends in future weeks.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Fashion Week Part 4

Calvin Klein stayed true to its streamlined aesthetic by showing a lot of simple sheaths in neutral colors with no accessories. In an interview on http://www.style.com/, the designer Francisco Costa agreed that he is "obsessed with the pursuit of perfect simplicity". Here is my simple sheath in navy.

I.N.C. dress, Nine West shoes

Come back tomorrow for my final Fashion Week interpretation...

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Fashion Week Part 3

This outfit combines the metallics shown in the clothes by Alice + Olivia with the plaid shown by L.A.M.B. in a ladylike Carolina Herrera way.

Top by moi, Express skirt, Alfani shoes

What looks did you like at New York Fashion Week?

Check back tomorrow for another one of my favorites...

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Fashion Week Part 2

I have always hated lace - until now! The current edgier styling of lace with metallics was one of my favorite looks from Fashion Week as seen in the show by Alice + Olivia.

Come back tomorrow to see another look...

Monday, February 21, 2011

Fashion Week

Over the next few days, I want to pay tribute to New York Fashion Week by showing you interpretations of my favorite looks I saw on the runway. It will be a little FSB (Finding Soul Balance) Fashion Week.

Almost all of the items I will be wearing this week were purchased at least 2 years ago and some over 10 years ago. It proves that the fashion cycles are moving faster and faster now so that everything re-emerges every few years. You can wear almost anything now - it just depends on how you style it.

Last week in New York, both Carolina Herrera and The Row created some very ladylike fashions with their belted dresses and jackets. They showed cropped pants but longer hemlines on the dresses (to the knee or more). If you want to view the actual collections, go to http://www.style.com/.

Benetton dress, Banana Republic belt, Alfani shoes

During FSB Fashion Week, think about your own signature style, because on Saturday I am going to issue a Finding Soul Style Challenge.

Check back tomorrow to see another one of my favorite looks...

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Rest...and think

In case you are not aware, New York Fashion Week was last week. To many people, fashion is a religion and Fashion Week can be a worshipful experience. Because of my love for all things creative and beautiful, the "top 1/3" of my soul is tempted to follow after this ever-changing (and expensive) god. I have to admit that the debut of the Fall/Winter collections in New York is one of my favorite weeks of the whole year (and in this coming week, I'm going to show you what I loved about it.) But in the end, it doesn't satisfy the "bottom 1/3" of my soul - the deepest part.

What satisfies the "bottom 1/3" of your soul?

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Ladylike Style

My friend Amy is wearing a below the knee tweed skirt with knee high boots and a belted coat that is in tune with the classic, ladylike style that several designers showed this week in New York Fashion Week.

Notice the cute bow detail at her waist -

...and the beading on her sweater -

She is wearing all neutrals, but every piece has texture or detail that makes the outfit interesting. (And bravo to Amy for always being well-dressed even though she has a 3 month old baby and 2 older children!)

Friday, February 18, 2011

More stripes

Since most of the striped pieces shown in my previous post are no longer available for purchase, I thought I would show you some of my favorite pieces that are currently in stores. (Sorry that the links look long and strange. The software wasn't cooperating with me today.)