creeper: taylor momsen, is that you?

{see the story here}

lauren jerdonek.

current: christmas in july

Am I the only one who constantly looks forward to the arrival of heat-induced summer days all of spring & within two weeks of sweating & sunburns crave the first snow of the year & wool earmuffs? I've subjected myself to a never-ending mental cycle of always wanting to wear Espadrilles in three inches of snow or hating that cashmere & dark skinnies aren't appropriate for 104-degree weather: le sigh.

However, as with most of my logic, there are always exceptions. 

Enter, Christmas in July.

Growing up, Christmas in the Jerdonek residence has been nothing short of an extravaganza. In fact, it wasn't until a conversation freshman year of college that it dawned on me not everyone had a Christmas elf named Hermie or that the enforcement of a strict present color palette wasn't completely normal. Both of which, at twenty, I still eagerly anticipate without an ounce of shame. Another aspect of the Christmas season that's so highly appealing is that, to me, "Yule time" & "guilt-free accouterments" are pretty much synonymous with one another. I'm talking hot coco with no caloric worries, adorning the green/red combo with no clashing anxiety, & most importantly wearing lots of sparkle & not feeling tacky about it at all.

So--  today, I am encouraging you all to break out your finest shimmer & shine pieces in honor of Christmas in July. Below lay some compromises between "dazzling dashing" & well... a Christmas tree topper.

{contents: 1. topshop sequin t-shirt dress + 2. dolce & gabbana cropped jacquard pant + 3. topshop black metallic boucle short + 4. metallic bronze short + 5. anya hindmarch glitter clutch + 6. diane von furstenberg twill metallic short + 7. essie "nothing else metals" + 8. essie "penny talk" + 9. essie "good as gold" + 10. million ballet flats

lauren jerdonek.

current: 2012 london olympics

Recounting the absence of my athleticism seems to be a theme here on twic, but alas I must brief the delusional stint in my youth where dreams of being a gymnast seemed as realistic as the idea of me getting picked last for soccer, kickball, basketball (etc, etc), which ten years of P.E. class proved to be very realistic. 

But, if there's one thing greater than my bitterness toward my gym classmates it's my love for the red, white & blue! In fact, against the requests of my friends, I'm always looking left, right & under couch cushions for an excuse to wear an American flag in [literally] any form and thankfully, the 2012 Olympics is making that search much easier.

Although I'll never be an Olympic athlete, I will spend the next four weeks channeling my inner Shawn Johnson with structured shoulders, metallic sport jackets & nothing but patriotic hues. 

What follows is my top designer picks that allow you to subtly, yet not-so-subtly, rep the States & a "thank you" to London via accessories for hosting my nostalgia for forward rolls & cartwheels.

{content:} 1. rag & bone jeans + 2. london flag clutch + 3. narciso rodriguez top + 4. duvetica vest + giuseppe zanotti gladiator sandals + 6. big ben iphone case + 7. iro sequined jacket + nars jungle red

{contents} topshop blouse + asos metal frame clutch + topshop snake metallic leggings + mossimo cobalt blue heels + h&m blue skinny jeans + essie really red + topshop gold booties

lauren jerdonek.

boyfriend: florence street style

Dear boyfriend,

I'll keep this brief because I've heard there is some sort of major chess playoff game (or something) tonight, but I wanted to let you know that wearing baby pink cartoon whales all over your hats, ties, t-shirts & shorts makes you look like a 12 year old girl & pastel bow-ties do not make you look like a Brooks Brother but a horrible reenactment of Pee Wee Herman.

& with that, please take in as many tips from the gentlemen below from Florence's men's Fashion Week as you possibly can.

Love, girlfriend.

 

{photo cred: Tommy Ton}

lauren jerdonek.

current: little black jacket

I'll be the first to admit that both of my parents have it goin' on up in the ole noggin. And, as most parents do, they did all they could to inflect their wealth of knowledge & bounty of intelligence onto my brother & I.

However, growing up, the moments in which I would leave the land of boy bands and Barbies were rare. Although my obsession with Justin Timberlake's corn rolls and choreographing multiple routines of Aaron Carter's "Aaron's Party" consumed most of time until recently (no shame), not all of my parents' wisdom went to waste through one ear & out the other. 

Perhaps one piece of advice that resinated the most with me resulted from a phone call to my mom after an office blunder that I've since forgotten; "It's okay if you have to cry, just wait until you get outside." Since that day, every meeting gone terrible, phone call gone ruthless or friend gone friendless has yet to initiate my tear ducts (I've also stopped buying waterproof mascara for an extra incentive)

But there's always an exception.

And its name is usually "McQueen."

On a quick gallivant to NYC last summer, I forced my roommate into to Met Museum for Alexander McQueen's "Savage Beauty" exhibit for what would be the most incredible, magical and fulfilling 90 minutes of my life (no exaggeration) & sobbed the whole way through. Alas, Alexander had broken the public meltdown spell.

Although every morning I rip another day off my countdown to the Big Apple move in a few months, I was feeling especially nostalgic of my Savage Beauty afternoon when Karl Lagerfeld & Carine Roitfeld's "Chanel: Little Black Jacket" exhibit came into town last week.

The exhibit is in celebration of Mr. Lagerfeld's book which features over 120 ways to wear Chanel's classic tweed black jacket on the likes of everyone from Sarah Jessica Parker to Theophilus London. A simple, fitted black jacket is by far the most timeless & essential piece every man, woman & child need in their wardrobe. It is the every-transforming "it" item for every outfit having the ability to dress-up or edge-up companions as casual as the pajama. Magic, I tell you.

Take a look below of my favorite shots from the book & exhibit as well as my favorite black jackets of the moment.

{contents} 1. red valentino + 2. helmut lang  3. see by chole + 4. oscar de la renta

{photo cred: karl lagerfeld}

laren jerdonek.

current: chevron print

Chevron isn't a new pattern. In fact, Italian fashion powerhouse Missoni has been bringing us the zigzag print for decades now.

However, chevron did catch us off guard this season as a mega-trend. From dresses to accessories, nail art to apartment decor, style-savvies everywhere are giving the classic stripes an update.

One of the most fun things about chevron is that the print can literally be taken in any direction. Paired with neons or wide bottoms, the print becomes retro; paired with a skinny jean & pump, the print transform into an unreal level of chic.

{contents: 1. topshop belt + missoni luggage, gifted + haute hippie maxi + ruche shorts + asos stackable chevron rings}

lauren jerdonek.

narcissist: a dainty oxymoron

I've never been a guy's girl. 

In the fourth grade, I had this short sprint of mentality, thanks to Mary-Kate Olsen's character in the 1999 blockbuster hit "Switching Goals," that if I were to play soccer during recess with the boys (& sweat a lot), I would become a lot cooler & desirable than the girls who were making up dance routines to Destiny's Child's "Jumpin' Jumpin'" & practicing their high jumps & toe touches on the playground.

That theory was put to rest when pretty quickly when I was called out for picking up the ball with my hands, crying over a broken nail & someone commenting on how red my face was, all within twenty minutes.

Still, at 20, the only sport I seem to excel in is pinning a dozen swoon-worthy guys to my "gentlemen con swag" Pinterest board in less than a minute. (I'm trying out for the USA Olympic team next week, keep your fingers crossed!) However, even though every pore on my body exudes excess amounts of girl, I'm finding ways to include some masculinity into my wardrobe. Enter, the military jacket.

The military jacket has saved my outfits countless times since its purchase. Although I have worn it with pretty much every piece in my closet, today I played one of my favorite games called "Fashion Oxymoron," in which I pick the two most opposite items in my sight & wear them together. The outcome is always successfully repelling.

I'm all about tease mid-photo shoot.

Every photo set needs a "she looks like an asshole" pic.

Oh, stoooooop it!

This is a military-inspired look...

{contents} Forever 21 military jacket + Forever 21 lace dress + Urban Outfitters belt + 

Vince Camuto heels + Vintage Gucci}

lauren jerdonek.