This week, Style Fetish looked to the streets for inspiring examples of personal style among our fellow Durangoans. Street style is important – one can see fresh trends, get ideas and inspiration for yourself, observe how certain styles work (or don’t) on those with similar body types as yours and just marvel at the creativity and confidence of your community.
I snagged Gina Buchanan to ask about her well-fitting and well-balanced outfit. She was on her way into the Palace Restaurant for a business-casual lunch in a simple outfit of dress, cardigan and boots. Gina looked comfortable, classy and perfectly appropriate for the day.
Wearing a dress, even the most comfy and casual one, is an easy way to fancy-up your outfit. Dresses also require less decision-making when choosing your outfit. Gina says she “wears dresses 24/7 and hates pants!” Good call, girl, because you look awesome today!
Gina’s dress is from Eureka! on Main Ave. (I love it even more now. Shopping for clothing at locally-owned shops gets you better service, more interesting choices, supports non-corporate commerce and helps Durango remain heavy on the individuality.)
The print is excellent, a knit version of woven Japanese Ikat fabric in complimentary orange and blue. Prints can be more flattering than solids, as they break up your silhouette and can serve to camouflage the topography under the garment, if need be. Dresses such as this in medium-weight fabric and darker colors can work year round, too. When it’s cold, layer like Gina did with a sweater and boots, tights, even leg-warmers. The knit fabric rules for its flattering stretchiness – form-fitting with drape. A lower scoop-neck (or V-neck) draws attention to the face and feels more flattering and fun than a high crew-neck (and visually reduces The Girls, if they happen to be, ahem, prominent.)
Gina’s pthalo-blue cardigan is without closures, a feature that keeps a nice vertical line up the front to create visual height. The over-the-knee boots are retro-’90s, adding a bit of sexy edge to Gina’s look. Her use of blue tights helps balance the whole outfit, allowing the eye to swirl around without one element, color or area being too obvious. Gina bought her cardigan from TJ Maxx and her boots are from Famous Footwear, places at the Durango “Mall of the Damned” that are large corporate chains, sure, but also convenient, reasonably-priced, employing local folks and certainly still have their place in the broad style ecosystem.
Thanks for sharing your style with us this week, Gina Buchanan!
Heather Narwid owns Sideshow Emporium, a vintage and second-hand clothing store recently relocated to downtown Durango from Dolores. She thinks you look nice today. Ask her anything at [email protected].
