Reno in a Red Skirt

One of things I love about this skirt is that it not only works for retro but it is on trend for Fall 2011. Well, to be fair, bright pants are the real trend, but why wear pants when you can don a cute pencil skirt instead?

So the hat is a vintage piece (more on felt hats to come), but everything else in this outfit is actually modern. Well, reasonably modern, as in a few years old. I believe both the skirt and top are Ross scores, and the shoes are my favorite Miz Mooz. I'm actually not hugely happy with the fit of this shirt but I'm too lazy to tailor it and it is, I believe, one of only three button up shirts I own that I actually didn't have to sew the buttons closed over the Rack. A rare thing indeed. What do I love most about it? The cherry print.

I love wearing cherries. It's almost as much fun as wearing bows. I have no idea why. I suppose I am obsessed with food, and fruit in particular. I even like to smell like food, so why not wear it? And, before you ask, yes that certainly does influence my descriptions of Ivy Hisselpenny's hats.

The difficult thing about a red skirt, and mine in particular, is that they can leak into sex-pot easily. That's fine if you are shooting for a vah-vah-voom look, but, most of the time, I'm not. When one has the Rack of a stripper one should try to avoid dressing like a stripper, least people start throwing money at you. Wait a moment . . . I may be going about this the wrong way.

My inclination is to go for a less sexy but still retro look by pairing a red skirt with something slightly prim and librarian ~ a button down shirt, pussycat bow shirt, or a knit sweater top.

That last being the stunning Charlotte of Tuppence Ha'penny.

Note the different lengths and materials? Well below the knee for a 40s look (remember the rule for a midi skirt length, only do it if you are going to rock some seriously high heels otherwise dowdy dowdy dowdy), at the knee for a classic timeless take, above the knee for something modern and, my personal favorite, just below the knee for solidly retro. As for fabrics, I'd go for something blended, with a good stretch to it, but thick enough to . . . well . . . hold everything in.

The cool thing about the red skirt right now? It's a great transition piece. It'll go from summer to fall and back again with no issues at all.

The other good thing about a red this intense is, if you don't like reds for your skin tone, this skirt is far away from your face and can work with black tights, so you don't have to concern yourself with complexion issues. Come to think on it, that holds true for any brightly colored skirt. This trend means you can add an intense pop of color to your outfit for fall without fear! That said, a bright will draw attention to your bottom half, so if that is your problem area best to put your brights on your top or as accessories.

Some summery street chic takes on the red skirt. Belted and flowery with flats, tough and sexy from Miss Amelia with plaid and oxfords, and casual easy with a drapey grey t-shirt. (I have a shirt just like that and may steal that look.)

Some transition pieces with layering for early Fall. I do like red paired with black and white. Note the twists on "too matchy" with the brown belt and grey undershirt in the second image or the pink top and neutral shoes in What I Wore's shot? It's this kind of thing that takes the red pencil from retro to modern.

And some winter looks. Aren't you just dying of love for those dotted peeps? Again note the brown belt, and I love the embellished t-shirt. Although, I'm cautious of white on the Rack, wouldn't want it to look any bigger. So I might go with grey instead. Speaking of which, I was at Sears recently and they have some nice drapey tops in their French Connection collection.


A Quick Word On Black Tights

TIGHTS, mind you, NEVER leggings. Shudder. Leggings. Ugh. Give me a moment. OK, I'm better.

I do love me a nice pair of opaque black tights, and they are very slimming. I shell out good money to get mine from dance stores ($20-30). They tend to have better quality, more comfortable fits, and last for years. Look for tights that have a seam that goes all the way up the back of the legs and stays divided over the but (that is, one seam over each cheek, not to be crass). I don't know why but it is a sign of a much more comfortable fit.

And what to read in your red pencil skirt? I'd be remiss if I didn't suggest my recently launched first ever self-published short story. I know, I know, but this is my blog. I can shill sometimes, can't I?

B&N Nook Edition
Amazon Kindle Edition
Smashwords Everything Else

Cover Copy:  

The warrior Mithra must repel a Roman legion alone and armed only with a very peculiar weapon. To protect her lands and her tribe, Mithra comes up with a sticky solution to an impossible problem. 

Written in 1998, this short story was New York Times Bestselling author Gail Carriger’s first professional sale.