the TREND: Statement Jackets

{fig. 1} Nathan Jenden runway {fig. 2} street style SUNO jacket via ASOS Blog

I love jackets with a passion. Maybe it's because I grew up in Seattle where a jacket was a perennial necessity. Therefore it made more sense to splurge on outer layers than inner layers since the weather always dictated keeping that jacket on. Nowadays I live in Los Angeles where jackets are accessories instead of being necessaries. All the more reason to make it a statement! I love the print on the yellow geometric and floral SUNO jacket. It's loud in all the right ways. Plus, there's no easier way to spice up your favorite basics. Just throw on a jacket that shouts instead of whispers.

floating upon the surface for the birds

{dress} All Saints Poseidon dress in bird and butterly print {makeup by} Julissa Gonzalez for MAC Cosmetics

It's 11.11.11 make a wish! Make three wishes! Now that I'm done marveling over the date, let me tell you how much I'm loving All Saints right now. The print on this All Saints dress is so amazing, I'm speechless. The colors are insanely vivid and the images of birds and butterflies are artistically crafted it's like wearing pages from a book of natural curiosities. Being a fan of Charles Darwin and his finches, this dress satiates both my love of evolutionary biology and fashion. The images on the fabric seem rich yet antiquated as though found amongst the pages of a heavy leather-bound tome buried away under layers of dust in a mad scientists library.

The make-up was inspired by neon trends. Hot pink eyeshadow is a brilliant way to brighten the eyes. It adds a touch of edginess and is really unique and unexpected. The amazingly talented Julissa Gonzalez from MAC created this spectacular look using MAC pigment powder in Neo-Orange.

technicolor girls

{top} blue ruffled silk, Zara {skirt} cream leather pleated skirt, Zara {platform mary janes} Forever21 {model} Chelsey

It used to be that leather skirts brought to mind those ill-fitting tacky high waisted skirts that were a little too long or a little too short, a reject from the early 90's. Leather skirts are back with a vengeance, and no longer are they frumpy dominatrix wear. The new breed of leather skirts are buttery soft, come in a variety of colors not just plain old black, and have flattering shapes, from a-line to pleats.

The pretty ruffles and the electric blue color of this silk Zara top both softens the look of leather and adds a fun punch of color. I love the contrast of leather and silk. Plus, bright tones are all the rage right now, especially royal blue. I love seeing so much color in the shops. Everything from hot magenta to brilliant emerald green. I had so much fun styling and photographing Chelsey in this outfit. She has the perfect attitude to pull off this look!