What to Wear: Back to School

Dear LC,

As I avidly read your blog, I’ve become a fan of your awesome advice when it comes to fashion dilemmas. I find it even more amazing that your posts are sophisticated yet fun, and you are quite young but you write like a seasoned professional. Since we’re about the same age, I think you know what time of year it is. The annoying Wal-Mart commercials telling you how to be cheap but look good for back to school. I need your advice on what to do. Unfortunately, I don’t attend a prep school a la Gossip Girl where I can sass up a uniform. My school is public and though without uniforms, the dress code is still limiting of true style-innovation. What do I do? What to wear?
-Mo of Chocolate Couture 😉

So here brings a post for those lucky (or unlucky, rather) enough to head back to the hallowed halls of public/private institutions in which we learn and thrive in for nearly a third of our lives. Come September all marketing strategies of every consumer business fall upon advertisements labeled boldly “BACK 2 SCHOOL” with a few images of ubiquitous pencils and school buses here and there – a ploy guaranteed a marketing success. Do I sound bitter? I can’t help it; summer ends in little over a week and already the stress is accumulating. But alas, it will be my last year in a public school. Helloooo, senior year!

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But this ridiculously busy month before September, rightfully named us students’ much loved back-to-school season, is the one chance to rid ourselves of burdensome wardrobe that only gathers dust in the closet and start anew. So hurrah for back to school shopping, or simply revamping what you currently have!

♥ Abide by those dress codes, darling. As much as I adore the current sheer blouse/tee/tank with the black-bra-peeking-ever-so-seductively-through trend, that is (clearly) a no-go for school. We must not distract hormonal boys! Repeat with me, dear. “We must not distract hormonal boys!”

♥ Simplicity is key. Simply because we have not the time to worry about whether this sash is still tied in its perfect bow, or if that strap has come undone, etc. And stripping down in the locker rooms would be quite the hassle…

♥ Layer, my love! (1) It allows you to be super chic with your fabulous blazer, leather jacket, sequined cardi, or what-have-you (2) And it is quite the life-saver in world of fickle air-conditioning (or lack of!) in school buildings.

♥ Tone it down (just a tad). The fashion world (or simply the blogosphere for us plain folks) know that this very thing we thrive in is quite different (and often misunderstood) in the real world. I do hate to be cliché, but will the average teenager understand the beauty of the Balmain jacket? I think not. Do try to leave the platform heels for after the last period bell. I promise you, you[r feet] will be much happier, too. And as much as I adore the dark smokey eyes with nude lips, do tone it down so it looks a bit more natural (my new obsession with MAC is giddy with joy at the sound of sweeshugahon’s generous MAC giveaway!).

But fear not! Let not a paper packet of dress codes and an army of tee-shirt/denim minis/UGGs (disclaimer: I have nothing against them at all!) clad girls inhibit you from expressing you! The following is [one of the most impeccably styled editorial  e v e r ] that serves as the perfect back-to-school inspiration. For me, at least.

{Image source:  t h e  f a s h i o n  s p o t }

Tell me it’s amazing. Isn’t it? My point: dressing for school does not mean you should abandon who you are, rather, subdued, as you would for work! My main inspirations come fall for this year: Dsquared² Fall RTW show. Juxtaposing & mixing (rather effortlessly, might I add) “high fashion” and trends with what your-average-high-school-girl would wear. Finished with a walk-able pair of ankle boots.

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bisous,

La C.