My Fashion Must-Haves: Inspired by Mary Kate

Mary Kate by bbailey12 on Polyvore.com

Yeah, I know a lot of people mock Mary Kate Olsen for some of her eccentric looks, but I have no problem admitting that I am a huge fan of her fashion forward thinking. Sure, sometimes she looks like she woke up in a garbage can, but who hasn't had one of those days in the past? The tabloids obviously print the most absurd outfits so that more people will read their magazines, but what about the cool cutting edge outfits that she rocks the other 99% of the time? What I admire most her the Olsen twins' mind-set of "We don't care what you think." It isn't about pleasing anyone else, rather it's about what they feel artistically inspired to wear and what makes them feel good. I relate to that feeling by living in an area where fashion trends don't catch on until years later. By being in the moment & wearing what I feel is current and makes me look good, I've gotten a lot of looks and comments. So, I would like to focus on MK's looks & attitudes towards wearing creative ensembles, while still keeping it to something that can be worn in the real world... because not all of us have billions of $$$ and live the Hollywood lifestyle where almost anything goes.

1. Slim Cut Black Pants - these classic staples should be stocked in bulk. From leather, satin, cotton, and denim: there is NEVER enough in your closet. I repeat, never enough. They slim you down and when you're shorter (like MK) a slim cut lengthens your legs. On top of that, they go with everything. The ultimate in versatility! From day to night, the same pair of pants can do it all.

2. Plaids - mostly thrown over jean shorts in the summer time, this look is perfect for fall & winter as well. An over sized plaid shirt over leggings gives the appearance of being effortlessly cool. The Olsen's Elizabeth & James line has tons of over sized plaid shirts that range up to $200 and I have invested in a few, but for those days where I really don't want to wear my nicer pieces I bought several men's plaid shirts at sporting goods stores for around $20 each. They don't fit the female form as well, so I simply belt them to give myself a little shape. It's economical & they have a ton more selection of colors & prints.

3. Big Black Sunglasses - yes, I understand that most guys are against the trend & many people say it isn't flattering, but if Jackie O wore them, then I'm always going to be on board. It's that high class chic vibe they give off that I adore. They are also life savers on those days where I don't have time to put on make-up. I don't understand how anyone can live without them.

4. Leather Jackets - another piece that MK wears constantly, as do I. A leather jacket takes a plain black outfit and really gives it an edge. I'm a fan of jackets with a lot of metal hardware to give a little texture and pop to the look. They are such tough pieces, but have the chic quality to them. Always an eye catcher!

5. Black Boots/Booties/Platforms- so the Olsens are very short girls... I am the exact opposite. At 5'11" I spent most of my life in flats, but I finally have turned that around and now constantly wear heels. I decided not to let my height restrict my fashion choices. The one thing that I almost always do is buy shoes in black. For every pair of brown shoes I own, I have 3 black pairs. They don't go out of style and go with practically everything in my closet. Sure, my husband complains and says they all look alike, but when I want peep toes for a cocktail party, or platforms for going out, I'm all set.

6. Hats - an easy fix when you need a little color or your just too tired to try and fix your hair. A cool beret will always set you apart without making too big of a statement. My favorite that I constantly wear is a black matte sequin beret. It gives my outfits a bit of shimmer & adds this cool 1990's Brenda Walsh vibe to my look. Plus, on a bad hair day, a hat is a complete life saver!!!

7. MOST IMPORTANTLY: WHEN IN DOUBT, WEAR BLACK- Look at her pictures... even when MK isn't wearing all black she's in dark jewel tones. Maybe its because I'm fair skinned and can't pull of most bright colors, but I strongly believe in the majority of my wardrobe being black. You just can't go wrong with it. I can wear most of my black clothing to work & then transform it into something completely fun & different for night. Example: Oversized black tshirt with dress pants, black pumps, and a black boyfriend blazer for work... same shirt, switch the pants for leggings, keep the shoes, ditch the blazer and add a ton of gold bangles and you're ready for the night. It's all about accessorizing when you're wearing all black, and I happen to be an accessory junkie. I'd rather blow a lot of money on a bag and jewelry than clothing. And wearing all black allows me to layer a lot more bracelets, wear bright colored purses, and more funky shoes. The best part is that black never goes out of style or out of season, so you can invest more money into key pieces that you'll be likely to use for years to come.


So thanks, MK, for being an inspiration and always wearing what you feel regardless of what others think or say. I think that is an admirable quality that is hard to find these days, and while I don't always agree with your fashion choices (but mostly I do), I highly respect your boldness & consistency in being true to yourself. Because nothing looks better on a girl than confidence.