At the end of October, Manhattan was amongst the places slammed by super-storm Sandy. Those of us up on the Upper West Side fared quite well, but many of those residing on the southern sweep of the island were without necessities such as electricity and hot water. On the bright side, this lead to an influx of new people and fresh styles on the Barnard/Columbia campus. This week’s advice comes from Madeline, a New School student, who escaped to the Upper West Side for a few days until power was restored.
Madeline has embraced a fully black ensemble, which can be disguised as either formal or informal, and can last you throughout the day and a bevy of activities. All black outfits can sometimes feel too extreme to wear in the warmer weather, but during the fall and winter (and especially in New York), this is a very chic choice. If you are traveling in the near future, either to go home for Thanksgiving Break or just get off campus for the weekend, packing black pieces insures for successful mixing and matching, and can keep you from over-packing as well.
As for the pieces showcased in this look, this Fashionista has layered a tunic with leggings and a sweater. This tunic was purchased from Sarah Jessica Parker's ill-fated clothing line Bitten, but similar styles can be purchased at Nordstrom. If you find a simple tunic or dress shape that lacks the bow detail, you can replace it with any kind of silk or cotton scarf. Madeline also wears a black sweater, which is a definite staple in anyone’s wardrobe. Sweaters like this are available at the Gap. Also, keep in mind the length of the sweater when pairing it with a tunic. While a shorter sweater that came to the waist would cut off the line, the longer sweater complements the length of the tunic and creates a more streamlined look. As for the leggings, from afar, they look just like that pair of simple black leggings we have all learned to love and adore – yet these have theatrical velvet piping up the sides. Although there are definitely more expensive versions out there, Madeline's leggings are from the Simply Vera line at Kohl's.
Lastly, Madeline’s ballet flats add a timeless Chanel like simplicity to the whole look. You can buy iconic and budget friendly two-toned ballet flats at Me Too, and variations are widely available, as seen by these pointy-toed stunners at Valentino. If you’re on the hunt for something a bit more current, lookout for styles like this with subtle studs or spikes to add an extra dose of youth and trendiness into an otherwise classic outfit.