A year ago, I would have told you that I hated skirts. I’m not by any means a tomboy, but there’s something about skirts that always just seemed way too formal for everyday wear. At the time, the only skirts that my friends would wear were rigid, tight pencil skirts. To me, they felt like straightjackets. The only time I dared to wear anything but blue jeans was to church, and I’d rip it off as soon as I got home.
My hatred toward skirts dissolved when I took a dare and picked up a few short, flowy ones for college. Suddenly, everything changed. Why have I deprived myself of this freedom? Where have skirts been all my life? I’m coming to realize how easy skirts are. They’re as comfortable as a cloud (especially full and A-line cuts), and patterned ones instantly match half your wardrobe. I’ve slowly learned to embrace the idea of looking a tad bit more formal when I show up for life every day, and it actually feels kinda nice to look special every once in a while.
Because of this newfound affinity for free-flowing skirts and dresses, Costello Tagliapietra’s collection for fall 2013 was right up my alley. The Brooklyn-based duo’s longtime specialty has been beautiful frocks, and every season brings dresses worth swooning over. The collection revolved around airy, draped dresses in autumnal hues.
Speaking of autumnal hues, purple was a strong color in the collection, and it was especially impressive alongside bursts of magenta and burnt orange. These are perfect examples of pieces that could easily be dressed up or down: wear one of them to work with heels, then amp it up for a wedding with just a clutch and some great jewelry.
As much as I now love the idea of skirts, my true colors shined through when I realized that my favorite piece in the collection was a tan jumpsuit. I guess I’ll never completely lose my love of pants, but at least I’m opening my mind to new things!
See more of my favorite outfits from Costello Tagliapietra’s Fall 2013 collection in the gallery below. Visit Style.com (here) for the full collection.
About The Girl in the Check Scarf:
Sarah Justine is a 17-year-old student/fashion blogger with nothing to wear, who reads The New Yorker, and schemes of going to Paris. She’s been blogging daily for three years at www.thegirlinthecheckscarf.com, and in March of 2012 she was named “One Of The Top 10 Bloggers Under 18” by guestofaguest.com. She is a TED attendee, fashion and technology geek, aspiring trend forecaster, and constant wearer of black clothing. She is currently a senior in high school and resides in Poughkeepsie, NY.
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