Model off Duty

Not so long ago in a land not so far away, the phrase 'model off duty', or M.O.D., became the buzzword du jour of the fashion flock. The catchphrase became synonymous with the look of cool-girls-on-the-go that typically featured a monochromatic palette, sharp leather jackets, gossamer-thin t-shirts, and distressed denim.

The origins can be traced back not so surprisingly to none other than Alexander Wang himself.

Wang exclaimed, following his critically-acclaimed spring 2008 show, that his customer is his muse: the aforementioned elusive cool girl with inherent style that transcends the trends. At the time, he was referring to supermodel Erin Wasson, whose I-woke-up-like-this look of disheveled hair and smudged kohl-rimmed eyes were the epitome of model off duty.

This outfit was inspired by the models off duty shebang but also by literal model off duty Candace Swanepoel, below. And because it would've been obvious to use T by Alexander Wang (his line of the perfect basics) in this outfit post, I found a cool take on a black tee from Carven and the dopest distressed denim from Saint Laurent.

Add a two-tone pump with a twist (the touch of transparency on this Gianvito Rossi shoe is hella chic) and a sleek jet black belt with a bling-bling Gucci logo. A glossy red top-handle bag gives the perfect pop to a black-and-white look. 

Because it's freezing outside, add a streamlined black topcoat - I love this one from Zara. And feel free to tie a denim chambray shirt around your waist like Candace and you're good to go!

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THE LOOK

Gucci leather belt, $330  /  Carven cap sleeve top, $170  /  Gianvito Rossi 'Plexi' pumps, $745  /  Saint Laurent jeans, $890  /  Saint Laurent bag, $2,750

THE LOOK FOR LESS

ASOS belt, $9  /  H&M t-shirt, $10/  Carlos by Carlos Santana pump, $80  /  H&M jeans, $15/ Maykool bag, $24

A Sartorial Solution to Chilly Winter Temps

While pondering the coming of winter (hayyy Game of Thrones!) and more appropriately what one wears for said coming, I may have discovered a sartorial solution.

Cable knit sweater + skirt + thigh-high boots = an outfit functional and fashionable for chilly temps. Cable knit sweaters have been paired with skirts by fashion girls for quite some time but adding these Stuart Weitzman thigh-highs make the look winter-ready.

Plus, if you plan on GTFO'ing winter by heading to some tropical destination, the skirt will pair pretty with your new Kiini bikini and silver gladiator sandals. A seasonless skirt that does double-duty is a smart wardrobe investment and this Marc Jacobs marigold floral pleated option is pretty pickings (plus, marigold had a major moment at last night's Golden Globes when Jennifer Lopez absolutely slayed on the red carpet).

THE LOOK

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J. Crew cashmere sweater, $328. Marc Jacobs skirt, $720 (was $1,200). Miu Miu bag, $2,325. Stuart Weitzman boots, $798.

THE LOOK FOR LESS

Joe Fresh sweater, $19. H&M skirt $18. Zara bag, $39. Zara boots, $70.

Altuzarra for Target - EVERYTHING UNDER $100!

Joseph Altuzarra is the newly-crowned design darling of the New York fashion circuit. His eponymous brand Altuzarra was 'born out of the desire to make the sophisticated modern woman feel seductive, strong and confident.' His spring 2015 collection was a tour de force of subverted glamour: adding sex appeal to a picnic print (see my Instagram!), sending down a slew of slender beauties in vixen looks worthy of a fetish fantasy not even Anastasia could handle, and finding that infallible interplay between provocative and pretty. And while his designs cost a pretty penny (most clock-in at around 2 grand!), now is your chance to snap 'em up on the cheap thanks to this phenomenally phenomenal Target collab of phenomic proportions (phenomic is not a word but for the purposes of exaggerative exaggerations, it will be henceforth!).

The Altuzarra Target collection has a haute emphasis on sprucing up your work wardrobe so you can be the belle of the ball from 9 to 5. But because I kind of am obsessed with playing with fire in terms of styling, I concocted this look envisioning a woman on-the-go darting from cubicle to cocktails. And at $35 for the skirt, buy it now or regret it later! Shop this Outfix below and note how everything rings-in for under $100!

T-shirt by H&M, $10  /  Skirt by Altuzarra for Target, $35  /  Sunnies by Warby Parker, $95  /  Handbag by Zara, $26  /  Heels by Zara, $90