I Have a Serious Style Crush on this Girl
by mswen - November 13, 2008
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She's Miroslava Duma. Um, who? Yeah, I know. I don't have a real clue, either. But she stopped me in my tracks as I was wandering around the internets and I practically fell in love: she's adorably pretty, and has a brave-yet-girly style that's totally her own. An obsessive search revealed that she maybe sort of possibly works for Harper's Bazaar. And is Russian. And then I went upstairs and set fire to my closet. OK, not really. But it's times like this that I want to. Times like this when I say, "I need a change." Times like this that make me feel like a frumpy soccer mom, even though I am no such thing. But I'm also not a Russian fashion magazine employee. How would one on a non-fashionista budget attempt a slightly pared-down version of Miroslava's look, I wondered? (Because, face it, I'm living in Massachusetts, people.) So, I chose the biggest key elements of her style and ran with them.
1. Dresses and skirts, oh my
For the most part, Miroslava is a dresses and skirts kind of girl. And why not? They’re the easiest way to look put-together and feminine. But rather than let them wear her, she owns the look by pairing her dresses with unexpected accessories (see number 2) that express her personality.
This is why a closet full of pretty frocks in black, grey, and — well, more black is a great base to build on.
Anthropologie
799 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116
Who, pray tell, can beat Anthropologie for dresses that scream pretty and hip rather than dull and dowdy? Season after season, they churn out great stock of myriad dresses to choose from for virtually any situation. First date? Check. Wedding? Check. Dinner where your ex and his new flame will be in attendance? Check. And lest you start to get all shy and un-creative on us, Anthro’s catalog and website are chock full of impeccably styled models wearing the goods to inspire you out of a cookie-cutter rut.
Who, pray tell, can beat Anthropologie for dresses that scream pretty and hip rather than dull and dowdy? Season after season, they churn out great stock of myriad dresses to choose from for virtually any situation. First date? Check. Wedding? Check. Dinner where your ex and his new flame will be in attendance? Check. And lest you start to get all shy and un-creative on us, Anthro’s catalog and website are chock full of impeccably styled models wearing the goods to inspire you out of a cookie-cutter rut.
2. Don't be shy with the accessories
The best thing about accessories is that you can invest in a great wardrobe of somewhat basic clothes and use accessories to enhance, update, and change their look quite cheaply. Is purple the “it” color for this year? Rather than buy a zillion purple things that’ll look dated next year, add the trend to your wardrobe with a scarf.
Miroslava takes it to the next level. Her accessories are big, bold, and are the point of her outfit. Scarves rule, sure, but so do rings as long as the finger they’re on, a wrist full of bracelets, random belts, and glasses that border on the ugly. They all work, because all they’re doing is adding a bit of edge to an otherwise pretty or basic outfit (rather than totally competing with it).
Throw this capelet (from Etsy seller Nanda Handcrafted) over a basic dress and you’ve got a totally new outfit.
Etsy
When it comes to shopping for accessories, stop, drop, and roll yourself to Etsy where you’ll find one-of-a-kind, handmade goods that are so renegade, you’ll be dripping in coolness as soon as you place your order. Excellent, modern jewelry; knit scarves; very non-belty belts; you name it. When you want something different and completely fabulous, you WILL find it here.
3. Rock the tights
Come fall and winter, tights rule my wardrobe. And this season, they seem more popular than ever, what with the tons of colors that dressed the legs all over the runways.
Regardless of the trend, I have a feeling that Miroslava would wear ’em anyway. And with all of the dresses and skirts she sports, they not only add an extra layer of interest to her outfit, but also keep those gams warm.
Nordstrom
290 Speen St, Natick, MA 01760
Tights are tricky. You want the best quality possible, but you don’t want to max out your credit card on something that can snag or rip with the errant wave of a ring-wearing finger. Nordstrom, hands-down, offers the best of both worlds: they have a great selection of well-made tights (check out their house brand) at great prices.
Tights are tricky. You want the best quality possible, but you don’t want to max out your credit card on something that can snag or rip with the errant wave of a ring-wearing finger. Nordstrom, hands-down, offers the best of both worlds: they have a great selection of well-made tights (check out their house brand) at great prices.
4. Cute, high heels are your friend
If you’re a girl, you love shoes. It’s genetic. But I think one of the biggest reasons I’m in love with Miroslava is how she wears shoes — how she throws the rules on the ground and steps on them in her olive green platforms.
Forget about matchy-matching your shoes with…well, anything. And tights with peep toes? Gasp! But it all works, because her shoes always compliment what she’s wearing without looking like part of an outfit.
Throw the rules out the window and wear your cute peep toes (like these Viki shoes from Aldo) with tights.
Aldo Shoes
415 Washington St, Boston, MA 02108
Aldo’s shoes are always sexy and of-the-moment, and many times verrry similar to what you see on your fave celeb. (This is a good thing.) Even better is the lack of a $400 price tag, but without sacrificing quality — I’ve always found their shoes to be well-made (albeit a bit on the small side…so try before you buy). But, oh, the pain is worth it when you’re rocking a hot heel, no?
Aldo’s shoes are always sexy and of-the-moment, and many times verrry similar to what you see on your fave celeb. (This is a good thing.) Even better is the lack of a $400 price tag, but without sacrificing quality — I’ve always found their shoes to be well-made (albeit a bit on the small side…so try before you buy). But, oh, the pain is worth it when you’re rocking a hot heel, no?
5. Lug around statement bags
Though I certainly can’t afford to drop $3,000 on a Hermes Birkin bag, I firmly believe that a bag is an investment. With that said, if I were to drop even a few hundred on a bag, I’d make damn sure that I would be using it for years to come. And while that means picking out something decidedly non-trendy (avoid logos and lots of crazy hardware), it doesn’t mean boring. Buying a classic shape in a color that’s a neutral yet slightly off ensures longevity and wearability, but also that you don’t look like everyone else.
A roomy tote in an interesting color, like this layover tote by Kenneth Cole New York (at Macy’s) can be a go-to bag.
Macys
Saugus Square Mall, Saugus, MA 01906
Oh, Macys. The last bastion of designer (but not TOO designer) handbags at your local mall. And its almost like they know that we’re depending on them, because they’ve really amped up their selection, to the point where it’s thisclose to being out of range for even the most free-spending splurger. And what seems like a flaw is actually a good thing: Macys is still relatively mainstream, so they tend to carry a great array of bags that aren’t totally kooky and overly trendy.
Oh, Macys. The last bastion of designer (but not TOO designer) handbags at your local mall. And its almost like they know that we’re depending on them, because they’ve really amped up their selection, to the point where it’s thisclose to being out of range for even the most free-spending splurger. And what seems like a flaw is actually a good thing: Macys is still relatively mainstream, so they tend to carry a great array of bags that aren’t totally kooky and overly trendy.
6. Get envy-inducing hair
Here’s the thing. Miroslava’s long, glossy locks (and those killer bangs) suit her to a T. But we all haven’t been genetically blessed with that hair, and bangs do not work on everyone. So the key here isn’t to copy her look exactly, but to find something that works just as great on us…and then upkeep, upkeep, upkeep. Because as she clearly shows us, healthy, amazing hair is a key part of your look.
Escape Salon & Spa
305 Boston Rd, North Billerica, MA 01862
Before I moved away, Escape’s fantastic owner, Vicki, cut and colored my curls (try her dry cut — it’s super fast and THE best way to cut curly heads), until the fateful day I decided I was sick of frying my hair with the flatiron and booked a 3-hour straightening procedure with her called thermal reconditioning. It turned my frizz into sleek, shiny, and straight hair and was totally permanent (only the roots grew back with my natural curl). Ultimately, I stopped due to…ahem…the fact that it was excruciatingly expensive; but I’m now seriously reconsidering it because I want bangs. Bad.
Before I moved away, Escape’s fantastic owner, Vicki, cut and colored my curls (try her dry cut — it’s super fast and THE best way to cut curly heads), until the fateful day I decided I was sick of frying my hair with the flatiron and booked a 3-hour straightening procedure with her called thermal reconditioning. It turned my frizz into sleek, shiny, and straight hair and was totally permanent (only the roots grew back with my natural curl). Ultimately, I stopped due to…ahem…the fact that it was excruciatingly expensive; but I’m now seriously reconsidering it because I want bangs. Bad.
A perfectly-fitted, flattering dress is half the battle; the other half is if can take you from the office to a party with the switch of a pair of shoes.
Sure, this dress is fabulous enough to wear on its own. But Miroslava makes every outfit her own by adding unexpected and sometimes unconventional flair to each one.
Style is all about confidence. When someone can pull off an accessory that is borderline ugly, you know they’ve got it.
Even in cutoffs, Miroslava looks pulled-together and feminine by smartly-chosen accessories. Those shoes are KILLER!
Grey tights and a cocoa-colored bag are examples of classic accessories in that “off” neutral that make them a smidge more modern and make you stand out.
Sure, money can buy anyone a gorgeous dress, a fabulous coat, and amazing shoes. The difference here? The tights worn with the peeptoes, and the bag that doesn’t match exactly. Pure perfection.
And, hello, can I have that hair? Thanks.
A twisted belt, a dramatic ring, and very non-prissy shoes give this otherwise frilly dress an unexpected edge.
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“…and then I set fire to my closet” Ahahaha! Girl’s got serious style. Thanks for the guide!
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Cute cute cute! Glad to know I’m not alone in the style crush category.
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OMG, mswen! I have been obsessed with her as well (maybe because I check Sart’s website 3x’s a day and keep several folders of inspirations based on his photos)! I love how she has a “real girl” body – it gives me hope that I can look fabulous without leg extensions and starving myself for, um, at least 6 years. Thanks for your tips . . . let’s get bangs
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