Last night was EPIC, as my friend and oh-so-fab-fashion-blogger-from-the-Bronx Samantha Smikle of Omowrites.blogspot.com would say.
Yes, I said EPIC. It’s one of Sam’s favorite words and because we share the same first name [holler!] one that I’ve newly adopted into my SDV vernacular.
But enough about EPIC — cause what’s really epic are the looks Sam modeled below. Thanks to our synonymous names and my really obvious love for alliteration, I chose to specify Sam’s look with a play on words. It rolls off the tongue, and is easy on the eye to boot.
Some background on Sam: She’s a born-and-raised Bronx girl who went to journalism school at BU in Boston and came back to pursue her NY-born dreams. She rocks a jewelry line [look for her pieces in some of the shots below!] that will soon be debuting for sale at the always-fun Brooklyn Flea. Her blog Omo Writes speaks to her wide-eyed desire to learn whatever she can about fun, life and style — OMO means “child” or “first.” Since it’s her first blog, makes sort of sense, no?
Before we get started — let’s meet Sam in person a la Sammy D TV … and get the sneak peek of what she found below!
Sammy D TV // Episode 17 // Fashion Blogger Samantha Smikle Speaks Vintage from Sammy Davis on Vimeo.
Thanks to Sam’s styling prowess for putting these 7 epic styles together — all pieces available in the SDV collection now, unless Sam grabs ’em first!
LOOK #1: SAM IN SUMMER SEQUINS
It’s a jacket. It’s a cape [depending on your height]. It’s a robe [depending on your wealth]. Whatever it is, it’s awesome, it’s fully sequined, and Sam didn’t want to take it off for a full 15 minutes as we prepped the rest of her outfits. Pimp jacket or sequin starlet? You decide.
LOOK #2: SAM SEEKS SUMMER TRAVEL
I knew Sam would love the double-breasted buttons on this slightly nautical top [it’s the stripes, I can’t help it]. But the best part? Check out the light geometric print of the silk. The top is as pretty in the back as it is in the front.
“I love the finer details on vintage,” Sam said about this top.
LOOK #3: SAM LOVES LUX LEATHER
We weren’t sure if the aqua leather was going to work. We hesitated. We held our breath. Sam even sucked in her tummy a tiny bit for the high-waisted button to clasp. But voila! They worked, they are beauteous, and when paired with a navy silk darling top and some leather gloves in a contrasting purple … I’m not sure whether to call this look lux or just literally awesome.
Sam loved the high-waisted pleats and tapered bottom of these leather darlings. It gave her a fuller figure around the waist that she slimmed with a smart form-fitting navy silk top. No patterns — you want to create a slim line without the breakup from a crazy combo.
More leather! The gloves added the perfect punch of color to a monochromatic look.
Wait, wait … do you see it? The duo-color of these leather ladies? Yes, I shot a picture of Sam’s behind [she agreed] because we just had to show you the trend that has yet to return: double back bottom colors. Calling all fashion designers, love it or hate it, we’ll inevitably see a return of this on the runways in the next 5 years.
LOOK #4: SAM ROCKS ROYAL BLUE
“I went through a blue phase,” Sam told me when were putting on this outfit. “For a period of time, I only bought blue — I’d go to Old Navy and just buy them out of blue tops.” We all have a “color” phase — I remember mine was bright pink, and the color combo of pink/black.
Sam is wearing one of her amazing pieces here. I love chunky necklaces on full-figured shirts. You don’t want to put hardware straight on the skin — it’s like digging a knife into your beauty. Pair a heavy piece against fabric instead for the best effect.
Kudos to Sam for rolling the pants — it summerified the look and kept her cool in these awesome Oxford flats.
LOOK #5: SAM SEES SHEER STYLE
We loved the pants from the moment we saw them, but we struggled with the top. Should we go with a green? A red? A black? But then this sheer little lady popped out of a clothing rack and fell into our happy hands.
Bonus pockets! If only every pair of pants/dress/skirt came with this bonus accessory so frequently found in vintage.
Sam gave Sammy some style advice: Wear one long dangly earring paired with a stud on the other side. It’s an 80s throwback with a modern edge if the earrings are modern, and not ghetto-girl-door-knocker-hoops. Not that you can’t wear that look [I mean, I would] but to keep it chic, go with your feminine jewelry but add some hipster girl edge with the off balance levels.
LOOK #6: SAM SAILS WITH NAUTICAL NONSENSE
I couldn’t NOT buy this when I found it thrifting in Long Island last week, and Sam couldn’t NOT wear it when she noticed it’s fine attention to nautical detail a la sail boats, compasses, and lines of rope. You can’t help but love it for its nonsense design.
Oh, and did I mention the anchors and stars designs?
An upside sail boat — right side up on the back of the shirt, but due to construction, this guy was sinking ship to the forward eye.
Where’s your style direction, Sam?
LOOK #7: SAM’S KISS GOODBYE
It’s her signature pout/kiss/hello/goodbye/look — and you got one compliments of Omowrites.blogspot.com!
There she goes — wearing epic vintage, having epic times & giving epic inspiration. Thanks for visiting the showroom, Sam!
love, love, love look #4!!