ad astra per aspera

As some of you may remember from your high school social studies classes, today is Kansas Day - the anniversary of the Kansas Territory joining the United States as a free state back in 1861. This was a very controversial move and regarded by many historians as a tipping point for the tensions between Northerners and Southerners prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. However, Kansas's entry into statehood as a free state is one of the several reasons why I love this state. (I also really love our inspiring state motto, "ad astra per aspera" - to the stars through difficulties.)

Kansas is now celebrating its 151 year of statehood and surprisingly the important and controversial issues have not changed. We still fight over the right of the states verses the federal government, the rights of men and women, as well as environmental law. Another problem that has not changed in the midwest is the terrible weather - ignoring this incredibly mild winter.

Our temperatures fluctuate so much that it can be a sunny 70 degrees one day and a snow-packed 9 degrees the next. I remember those mornings when I was in college that I would leave my dorm room with a winter coat and head back in the afternoons wearing a t-shirt while dragging my now obtrusively heavy coat behind me. I really think we might have it the worst here! As a native midwesterner, one of the things that you have got to learn is how to transition your wardrobe to accomodate for these fluctuating temperatures - meaning layering.

Below I have given several ideas on how to wear one item (a chambray shirt) throughout all four seasons. I find that a button-up shirt is the easiest piece in my wardrobe to incorporate all year long. It goes great with skirts, shorts, and pants, can be doubled-up as a jacket, and worn under sweaters. That's pretty dang versatile! Do you have any pieces that you can wear through out the year?

Chambray - Spring & Summer by historyandhighheels 

Madewell chambray shirt, $68
Agent Ninetynine long shirt, $30
Bottega Veneta cotton skirt, £180
Short shorts, $48
American apparel socks, $8
Miu Miu platform high heels, $710
Burberry Prorsum blue handbag, £695
Diane von Fürstenberg mini clutch, €375
Jigsaw bangles jewelry, £39
Gold heart necklace, $215
Fausto Colato buckle belt, $159

Chambray - Fall & Winter by historyandhighheels 

Madewell chambray shirt, $68
Doo Ri cropped shirt, $662
CALYPSO ST BARTH long sleeve t shirt, $299
Maje short skirt, £168
Fogal lace stocking, €24
See by Chloe leather booties, £115
Forever 21 strappy wedge sandals, $23
Snakeskin clutch, $895
Mimco flower necklace, £139
Cubic zirconia jewelry
Basic Ribstop Cargo Pants, €70
Stamp Camp Big Stamps page 20, $13

Style Icon: Carrie Bradshaw

Choosing to write about one of my favorite style icons, Carrie Bradshaw, (yes she's fictional, but so what?) was an easy choice for me. Her fun, flirty, and outrageous style that complimented her independent, loving personality kept viewers hooked for 94 episodes and two movies. This post idea came to me through a series of events this weekend. On Friday I went out with a few close friends for a happy hour down at Maker's Mark where I consumed a few Sex & the City martinis - they were delicious! Then I read on Saturday that the CW has ordered a TV pilot to be made of The Carrie Diaries, a prequel to the Sex & the City show when Carrie was in high school. I cannot wait to see it!

Carrie Bradshaw is a role model of mine for numerous reasons. Her fashion is eye catching and incredibly daring. She indulges in frilly, girly pieces (remember the white tutu skirt from the show's intro?), but can rock pinstripe suits and men's ties. While Carrie is known for her love for expensive pieces, she still knows how to artfully wear a simple white t-shirt. She is a woman who stands up for what she believes in, does not compromise her morals, and does not settle for less than she deserves and wants (remember Aiden?). Definitely someone who I aspire to be like. Essentially, I love Carrie Bradshaw because she makes fashion FUN. Because really, we have one life to live. Any day you are not in the grave is a wonderful day. So embrace the excitement of life and don't hold your style back!

Style Icon: Carrie Bradshaw by historyandhighheels 

Mango dress, £23
Rupert Sanderson high heels, $685
Brahmin flap handbag, $295
Jon Richard pearl crystal necklace, £25
Ben-Amun post earrings, $180
Miu Miu genuine leather belt, £120
Calla Lilly Bouquet, $295
Xmas Background Branch LED-Lichterzweig — bei heine.de, €189

Fashion Police: The Golden Globes

The best and worst dressed of the Golden Globes 2012!

These actresses wore their dresses the best:

Claire Danes caught everyone's eyes in a stunning J. Mendel column dress with a dramatic back. The contrasting monochromatic colors popped on the red carpet and against her bright red lipstick.

Elle McPherson embraced her ultra-feminine side with this light silk tiered tulle Zac Posen gown. I loved how she channeled her relaxed Aussie roots with the multi-colored bangles, loose curls, and golden make-up.

Octavia Spencer dazzled in a pale lilac Tadashi Shoji gown that draped in a way to accentuate her curves and highlight her waist. She showed that you don't have to be stick thin to rock a gown on the red carpet!

Reese Witherspoon fired up the red carpet in a blazing sweetheart Zac Posen gown. I particularly loved the cut of the bodice. She was a perfect mixture of casual and chic with her loose waves & diamond bracelet.

Julie Bowen wore a blush Reem Acra gown with jeweled cap sleeves that brought out her girly, sweet side. It really reminded me of the dresses from Mad Men and I definitely think Betty would wear it at fancy social occasions. It's just fun and adorable!

Honorable Mentions: Charlize Theron & Viola Davis

These individuals have just received their fashion citation:

Rooney Mara disappointed in a black cut out Nina Ricci gown that matched her dark and harshly pulled back hair. Her washed out make-up only added to the underwhelming look.

Emily Deschanel wore a one sleeved BCBG Max Azria gown that did not flatter her figure at all. The draping of the fabric on her chest made it look disproportionate to her body, while the color of the dress made her look unhealthily pale. So sad for such a gorgeous girl as Emily!

Lea Michele boldly wore a Marchesa silk and silver sequin gown that did not fit the general style of dresses worn at the Golden Globes. It was just too much and would have done better at another awards ceremony that wasn't geared to classic style.

Dianna Agron was also a disappointment in a laser cut Giles Deacon dress that somehow made her look like she has gone through McDonald's drive-thru too many times. It's a shame that her natural beauty was completely overwhelmed by her gown.

Jodie Foster wore a strapless teal Armani dress with detailed beading and tiny rosettes along the bodice and ruffle. However, it looked like she was wearing a 12 year old's swimsuit cover-up, rather than a red carpet gown. Not good.

Supreme

Yesterday was the anniversary of the last concert Diana Ross & the Supremes performed (January 14, 1970) and I thought it was very convenient for me to write about this group! The Wichita Art Museum is hosting a new exhibit of the Supremes clothing and famous dresses that they performed in throughout their long tour. I went with my family over the Christmas holiday to see the display and was gobsmacked by the intricate handiwork that went into creating their pieces. So, for this reason here are 8 reasons I love the Supremes:

1. They were the first all black women's group to embrace a feminine image and show America that black women were just as beautiful as white women.
2. They were proud, strong, and unafraid. These women became a shining beacon to girls throughout the nation.
3. The Supremes' costumes were bright, colorful, and showstopping. In fact, they became just as famous for their high-fashion as for their voices.
4. They were featured on the Ed Sullivan Show 20 times - more than any other pop act.
5. The Supremes are to date the most successful vocal group with 12 number one hits and in doing so, lead the way to the popularization of black R&B.
6. These women adapted to fashion's fluctuating styles by changing their hair, makeup, and performance outfits. My favorite is their detailed sequined gowns with high necks and an intricate criss-cross pattern throughout the dress.

Another favorite of mine that I wanted to take from the Wichita Art Museum is the dress below. This embellished sheath dress completely dazzled me and still would look stunning on anyone today. I have been totally inspired by this dress and am now on the hunt to find a similar item. Let me know if you run across one!

7. The Supremes originally began from nothing and became superstars. They met at school in Detroit and formed a group in their public housing projects called "The Primettes." From there they signed on with Motown records and skyrocketed into fame. A true rags to riches story we all love to hear.
8. They have inspired many artists and movies, including one of my favorites Dreamgirls.

For more photos of the dresses displayed at the Wichita Art Museum click here.

Supreme. by historyandhighheels

Matthew Williamson cut out shift dress, £495
Burberry coat, $1,495
Christian Louboutin red sole pumps, £375
Dolce Gabbana tote hand bag, £1,309
Suzanna Dai vintage jewelry, $225
Metallic jewelry, $9.99
Fendi silk shawl, €307
ASSOULINE Chanel Set, $75

Columbus' Mistaken Mermaid

Tomorrow, January 9 is the anniversary of the date that Christopher Columbus mistakes three manatees for mermaids in 1493. He was sailing near the present day Dominican Republic when he saw these creatures swimming amongst the fish and misidentified them as mermaids. While he may have been delirious at the time, to his credit it is noted that he commented that they were "not half as beautiful as they are painted." This description hardly comes as a surprise to us in the modern era, especially after googling manatee pictures.

I ran across this story on the History Channel's 'This Day in History' online segment and knew I had to share it with you all. It's because of stories like these that I was drawn to history in high school and college. These kinds of tales have a way of poignantly reminding us that the renown men and women of history were just like us, apt to make mistakes and say excessively silly things.

I was also pulled to this story because I think at this point in the winter we are all wishing to be merpeople. To laugh and bask in the sun's warm glow on the sandy beaches simply sounds divine right about now. However, unless you are just raking in the money and have the means to take a holiday to the shore, you cannot fulfill this fantasy directly. Yet, since spring is soon to come (and by soon I mean in a couple of months) try channeling a bit of their lifestyle by remembering to enjoy those calm, easy moments and wear some fun pastels items! This spring the color mint is all of the rage on the runway, it's the chartreuse of this season. So try that out! I just bought a mint cardigan at J.Crew outlet and it really works with almost anything! Just don't wear all pastels, because no one wants to think you are the Easter Bunny. The easy way to balance pastels are to wear them with darker neutrals like grey or chestnut brown. These aren't harsh against the pale colors like black would be, but rather blend to highlight the hue. This is a good way to start!

Mistaken Mermaid by historyandhighheels

Leather coat, $396
Maxi skirt, £130
KG Kurt Geiger shoes, £69
Many Belles Down shoulder handbag, $75

Chambray in the Work Place

This weekend I went on a little shopping trip with my brother and we went to my favorite store, J.Crew Factory Store. Not only do they have great J.Crew styles and some items that can be found in regular stores, but nearly all of their items are 40% off! Seriously, I could go there every weekend. While there, I bought a light blue chambray shirt that is the perfect weight. It isn't too heavy and feels super soft against my skin. It also layers wonderfully and will look perfect with my spring skirts and mint colored shorts.

One of the challenges with buying a casual button up is how to wear it in a business setting. I'm at my job 45 hours a week and therefore it's important that most of my wardrobe is blendable with my work attire. The way I made my fun chambray shirt fit in was by dressing it up with more standard and functional pieces. I put on my brown tweed pants (new and on sale from Gap, only $30!) and added my chartreuse cardigan. As a final touch I threw on my skinny leopard print belt and multi-strand pearl necklace to add a classy, but fun touch to the whole outfit!

Oh and p.s. if you haven't noticed, I cut my hair over the break! I was inspired by the looks of Alexa Chung and Olivia Palermo. It was definitely time for a change when my split ends had split ends! My hair feels so much healthier now.

Spring Style 2012

Now that the holidays are over, it can be hard to find something to look forward to. We have months left of this cold winter and it seems like summer is a long way off. However, one aspect I can find joy in are the new spring fashion trends. As I've perused the fashion shows of the top designers, I am heartened that sequins are still popular, denim/chambray shirts are definitely in, and mixing daring prints/fabrics is very hot. (For my thoughts on how to best combine different fabrics, see this post.)

A new fashion trend I have discovered is the combination of neon colors with surprising but sophisticated neutrals. This look is fun, because of the bright hues, but keeps you from looking like a 1980's pop icon. The way to pull this off is to let the neon do all of the work. Wear it on a place you like to feature. For example, if you are pear shaped, wear a neon top. If you are top-heavy, wear a bright skirt or pants. The key to this is not overdoing it. Go natural with your make-up or at most wear bright red lipstick. Combine these colors with a rose blazer or tan cardigan and you are sure to turn heads (in a good way)!

Spring 2012 by historyandhighheels

Camilla and Marc jacquard dress, $660
Chiffon shirt, £109
Maison Martin Margiela wool cardigan
Stella McCartney twill jacket, £732
Almost Famous skinny leg jeans, $30
Wedge shoes, $195
Rebecca minkoff wallet, $125
Sparkle jewelry, £55
Crystal jewelry, $20
Marc by Marc Jacobs gold costume jewelry, $56
Neon Nail Polish, $6