Mission Impossible Five-- The CLOG.

* Click to enlarge picture.

Do not misunderstand me: there's nothing I hate more than the American Eagle clog. On this point I must be clear. Though I espouse love to all items of clothing, saying each can be worn stylishly in some outfit, I found it hard to overcome my gag reflex when thinking about this shoe most commonly seen rocked by your local garden gnome (that's right AE groupies, they outnumber even you!)

 

The sad thing is, I once owned a pair of these monstrosities. Not only did I own them, but I often wore them! However, I will say for myself that when I looked in the mirror I was unsure as to why I was perpetrating this fashion crime and confused as to how they became popular in the first place (though I suspected that somewhere an American Eagle staff member was having a good laugh at my, and all my peers', expense).

Coming back to that painful memory was hard for me, as I started in on this Mission Impossible. But I persevered.

 

After only a few minutes thinking I realized the only, singular and sole way one could wear these clogs without looking a tad gauche. AS SLEEPWEAR.

 

They are, after all, the winter equivalent of a Birkenstock which is, without much clever deducing, a SLIPPER. The AE clog is a slipper. It's not very cozy, but it's pretty damn hardy, and, all in all, I think it would be a great one. In fact, you could even go outside to get the paper in these solid little slip-ons!

I paired the, ehem, slippers, with bare and neutral loungewear and lingerie, which is all the rage right now. I also added a little sexiness (something the clogs detract, though they do add a certain level of cuteness) with pin-up red lipstick and a sweet perfume from Mr. Marc Jacob.

 

And that, my friends, is not a bad outfit.

 

And listen, just because it's stayin' indoors, doesn't mean it won't be seen...

 

I'm winking in real life. 

Look at these AE puppies, they ain't so bad I guess. 

DAY Birger et Mikkelsen Knit Cardigan

Cozy Juicy Couture Wrap

Nice Smelly Stuff from Marcy Boy

Vince Linen Lounge Pants

VPL Sexy Sheer Tank Top

Mission Impossible Four-- Something Good.

*Click to enlarge picture.

Making a t-shirt with a bedazzled, winged cross on it look stylish is quite the impossible task.

Thankfully, impossible is my middle name.

The more this Urban Planet shirt, shown above to the left and below, put up a fight, the more determined I became to force it to become the central player in a fashionable outfit.

My breakthrough this time came in the form of funky and urban Matiko Nicki peep-toe wedges in a creamy pink-ish hue. It was the colour that attracted me. I realized that I had to give in to the extreme soft girliness of the shirt to elevate it to a classier position.

I know what you're thinking: the shirt has a big winged cross on it and she's saying it's girly? Well, yes I am. The main reason for that is nothing to do with the main imagery, but the overall feel of the t-shirt: soft fabric, swirly whirly accents, sparkly accents.

So I added leg-accenting black skinny jeans, a sensible crisp white blouse (to be left undone), and a structured blue denim military/band jacket to dress it up.

The Lanvin ear muffs I added on a whim, but once in the outfit I felt they were necessary because they just went along so perfectly with the whimsical, pretty look.

Lastly, I played up the wing and feather aspect of the shirt, as wings and feathers are both actually valid trends this season, (along with anything aviator, or baroque) and added two pieces of detailed silver bird-themed jewelry.

Alice + Olivia Jacket

Elizabeth and James Blouse

Fossil Bracelet

J Brand Jeans

Lanvin Earmuffs

Matiko Nicki Wedges

Minicci Ring (on sale at Payless for 4.99!)

Urban Planet Tee- The Impossible

Mission Impossible Three-- Super Kitsch

I commend this visor.
Mad R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
I r-e-s-p-e-c-t it for being such a hard nut to crack.
Having said that, I think it is evident who has come out of this battle in victory. And I think history shall find it is my name in the books. I slapped this Jersey Shore-type item into submission with the power of Ronnie bashing a man's coconut into the boardwalk with his hammer-hand.
Basically, what I have done to neutralize the super-kitsch/tack of this item is given the visor two classy companions in the form of Marc by Marc Jacobs sneaks in the same colours, only with added brown suede. Basically, Marc gave me the idea for the entire rest of the outfit. God bless that genius of all geniuses. The suede, which I also brought in with the fringe vest, allowed me to bring a little earthiness in to the outfit, which in turn, led me to the jewelry. The jewelry using the earthiness as a platform to jump from, achieved a level of class for the outfit, which is all I could really ask for.
So there you go, when it comes to fashion, this right here, it's pretty much the Situation.

The Impossible: Lids NY Mets Visor

Marc by Marc Jacobs Sneakers

True Religion Suede Fringe Vest

Giambattista Valli White Silk Blouse

True Religion Jeans

Roberto Cavalli Swarovski-embellished earrings

Alexander McQueen four-fingered gothic-style ring

Mission Impossible Two-- Frump to Fashion

How do you do it? How do you make one of the world's most quintessentially mom-like items a hip and fashion-savvy piece of clothing?
I had the brainwave when I saw the adorable Miss Selfridge printed tee.
You inject a little Paris into it! And not a severe high-style chic, but just a little relaxed, oh-so-trendy chic. THAT is what Parisian style is truly all about anyway. Easy style, but spot-on style.
To keep a chic, thigh-fashion edge to, I added some gorgeous, classy and lady-like items in the form of the Giuseppe Zanotti pumps and the Bottega Veneta coat, as well as the Aspinal of London gloves which keep in line with the Parisian chic theme but also add a unique element to the outfit. The ASOS pink rose hair accessory aided in keeping the outfit light and feminine.

Mission: Impossible-- Number One

Is anything truly impossible fashion-wise? I believe no. I believe that every item, no matter how seemingly hideous it may be, can be worn in a stylish outfit- and I've yet to be proven wrong! Take Impossible Item #1: The G.I. Joe watch from Wal-Mart. It may be regulated to army-buffs and young boys for now, but take it out of that context, and put it situated in a quirky collegiate outfit with just enough sport-smart to set it off, and it becomes stylish:

The watch in question

Neon green American Apparel shorts highlight the watch screen

Elizabeth and James Blazer to smarten up the look

Simple American Apparel Tee

Collegiate pins for blazer from Aldo

Topshop: of course

Aldo pin for blazer

Juicy Couture charm bracelet to girl it up!