Chicago + the Machines

whoever doesn’t love the sweet, sweet crooning of Florence + the Machines can stop reading right now and head back to your people.com page of kardashian krap pictures and fashion. i won’t even capitalize the names. running to the beat of her own drum, Florence Welch and her team of soulful rockers have been slowly spreading their UK hippie fashion around the country, thanks to their debut album becoming one of the best-selling for 2009 and 2010. just listening to her makes me want to dye my hair red. looking at her affirms it simply won’t work on me but i can go after her clothing with a much better outcome.

Florence Welch

in the interest of emulating her sexy rocker chic look seen here, head over to Barneys. in their CO-OP section, which is their lower priced but terribly awesome selection of clothes, you can easily find pieces to mix and match to get this look. by mixing and matching pieces rather than purchasing a SILVER SUIT, you can get a lot more for you money b/c hopefully, the pieces you purchase proceed to properly pronounce your style. i just wanted to see if i could get a weird rhyme in there, but basically, if you get things that mix and match you can wear them with stuff you already have. so Barney’s CO-OP has a Diane von Furstenberg ‘Geo Blazer’ for $465.00. it’s a well tailored ivory jacket with a, wait it’s color is called CHALK. ok it’s a chalk colored blazer with a clean top-stitched mock-shawl collar lapel. it’s pretty gorg. if you don’t have the splurgability to get this little gem, i know H&M has a pretty ivory shawl collar tight armhole blazer for $70 right now just to the right of the front door at the Mich Ave store b/c i used it for a shoot the other day. it’s a very similar contender, and has a wide-leg trouser to match which is fun for this summer if you’re over 5’2″ which i am not.

DVF from Barneys

you’ve got the blazer, which btw you can wear over all your summer dresses with sandals or boots, with tanks and jeans and wedgies out on dates, etc… now lets find sexy blouses. Bloomingdales has some great tops right now. long or short sleeved and tanks galore. pick out a fancy one with a print to give some interest to this look. you can go monotone if your skin tone allows, but a sheer print works just fine and dilutes itself so you don’t look like a walking wallpaper ad.

Element Zooey Printed Chiffon Woven Shirt

this one is only $42 so that’s great news there, you can wear it over a tank or a lacy bra if you’re feeling schlutty. i like the schlutty approach personally. *Target sells great bras with lightly padded cups (opaque for the tata’s) and lacy sides-looks great under sheer tops and they’re like $13… get them in black, charcoal, maroon, plum, etc. they work great under sheer tops and also racer-back tanks.

Lacy side bra. schultty

now you need pants. i know, such a pain. the law requires it in most public spaces. so let’s go to Urban Outfitters and see what they have…

just kidding

HA these are available right now, for this season, at UO, for $190!! hahahaha. i just got my Sunday morning laugh in. ok for reals. these pants, also at Urban, are from House of Dagmar called the Lola Track Trouser. they’re pricey, $328, but they’re pretty cool as the girl who plays Miley Cyrus on SNL would say. you can justify this purchase if you are also taller than 5’2″. i like to live vicariously through my readers’ height. if you’re short and poor-like me, check out the other option, jeansssss!

House of Dagmar Lola Track Trouser

BDG Skinny Mid-Rise Jean

BDG Cigarette High-Rise Jean - Purple

once you’ve found your perf pant to go with your blazer and sheer rocker top lets get some shoesssss i heart shoes. lets gaze lovingly at all these…

Naia by Miista

um, they’re called Miista which makes me want them #1. #2 they’re only $199-pretty cheap for a great pair of shoes. #3 they’re navy.

Anthology Sandal by Seychelles

pretty flat sandal, $94, great for this look and probably all the rest of the outfits in your closet. ps. i refuse to wear flip flops to anywhere besides on the beach, i dont even like to wear them to the beach, only wear them on the beach. there is no excuse to see flip flops in public. it’s like wearing Juicy sweatsuits to Jewel. DON’T DO THAT.

Cutout Heel

for only $58, these are fashionably fun for this summer. i like to get inexpensive shoes i know i’ll only want for one season b/c i don’t have to spend a fortune on them, i’ll wear them ’till they’re dead, and throw them away once i’m finished and not feel bad. you can wear these with your Florence look, with jeans and pretty tops, with summer dresses, or with your bathing suit at the pool, if that’s your thang.

all of these shoes and jewelry pieces are available at NeedSupply.com, my new favorite store.

so now that you’re all Florenced out, and make sure you keep it Machine-y and not Henderson-y, enjoy your fun new look. and make sure you don’t wear any feather stuff b/c this is not Coachella people, this is Chicago.