Nylon Blogs

Yesterday in New York the weather forecast had rainstorms slated throughout the day–which, generally, means outfit suicide. How can you properly dress to be drenched and still look good?

Mary-Kate Olsen has an answer to that. We’re calling it the bad weather mullet, because it’s business on the top and party on the bottom. She skips the thigh-length trench and goes for a shin-grazing length one instead. Functional, especially for a day out in the city, right? But then she goes and pairs it with impossibly high, beautifully beaded heels. And when it ended up being a much nicer day than anyone anticipated? While everyone else trudged around the city in their bulky rain boots, MK looked as stylish as ever.

Here’s how to get her bad weather mullet look:

MUST: Forever 21 Zippered Skinny Jeans – $29.80

TRUST: Miss Albright Backbead Heels – $79.95

LUST: London Fog Long Trench Coat – $238

You need not be a fervent fan of Peter Pan to appreciate a Peter Pan collar; the scalloped collar adds just that right mix of retro femininity to any outfit (yes, even a pair of ripped-up cut-offs).

Of course, just how much retro-femininity you want oozing out of it can be controlled by the rest of the outfit. Taylor Swift takes it to about 8 with this outfit–on the one hand, you’ve got the pleated eggplant skirt and matching berry lipstick (major feminine points there), but on the other you’ve got the borrowing-from-the-boys lace-up oxfords and classic black shades that help to temper it out. Replace the skirt a trouser and you’re closer to a 5 on the retro-girly scale; sub in a pair of Mary-Janes for the brogues and you’re at a 9.5.

If you think Swift has it just right, here’s what you need:

MUST: Merona Peter Pan Collar Blouse – $19.99

TRUST: Von Zipper Luna Sunglasses – $80

LUST: Alice + Olivia Pleated Leather Skirt – $495

Imagine that you and your boyfriend of three years work together. And then imagine that you break up with said boyfriend–but still have to keep working with him. That first day back in the office, wouldn’t you want to look so drop-dead gorgeous that, whether you want the guy back or not, he spends all day secretly side eyeing you?

Now, we’re not saying that Nina Dobrev wore this bright blue, lace-up, body-con Versace dress to yesterday’s CW Upfronts (that is, when the channel unveils their fall schedule and shows off their lineup) to make ex Ian Somerhalder jealous, but we’ll be the first to say that The Vampire Diaries star looks damn good in it. The color brightens her face, and the cut is super flattering, but nothing screams trying too hard–she ditches the fussy jewelry and look-at-me makeup for something more subtle. But that understated look? Totally makes a statement, and we love it.

Even if you’re not in the midst of a break-up, here’s how to get Dobrev’s look:

MUST: Guess Mipolialy Black Sequined Pumps – $49.99

TRUST: Style Stalker Love Me Do Dress – $133

LUST: Versace VE4230 Sunglasses in Black – $190

At one point, Emma Stone was just a fresh faced girl who stole just about every movie she was in–from Super Bad  to Zombieland. And then she became a huge star and suddenly turned into this glamorous woman who dresses as if actresses like Katharine Hepburn still existed.

Of course, we love it. And not just because there are few people in Hollywood we root for quite like Stone; it’s also because we appreciate someone who takes dressing up for events–even, in the case of Stone, a stroll around New York City–seriously. This outfit looks as right in 2013 as it will in 2023 (and as it would have in 1963).

To inject a bit of edgy timelessness into your wardrobe, we suggest:

MUST: Express Color Block Top Handle Satchel – $59.90

TRUST: Asos Double Collar Duster Coat – $118.79

LUST: 7 For All Mankind Skinny Gold Medallion Print Jeans – $158.40

David X Prutting/BFAnyc.com

Fun fact: You don’t have to be a hippie–or at least, on the boho side of things–to wear tie-dye. You just have to be smart about how you style it.

Take Chloe Sevigny, who is among our NYC It Girl icons for her usually edgy style; at the launch party for Absolut Elyx, she donned a Rodarte fall ’13 acid wash silk and satin dress that we could totally imagine worn to Woodstock (if it weren’t dry clean only, that is). The key to making this more Lower East Side than Haight-Ashbury? Everything else she wears with it. There’s a tough-girl headband, some sky-high black boots, and a little bit of black legging peeking through.

You could listen to “White Rabbit” while you wear something similar–but “Gimme Shelter” or “I’m Waiting for the Man” would sound even better. Don’t want to wait until Rodarte’s fall collection hits stores? Here’s how we’d do Sevigny’s peace-loving rock look right now:

MUST: BCBG Max Azria Spike Covered Headband – $26.60

TRUST: Guess Coreline Booties – $89.99

LUST: Daryl K for Steven Alan Tie-Dye Empty Dress – $329

We’ll admit: We had to do a double take when we first saw this photo, because we didn’t believe it was Rita Ora. Red lips? Gone. Done-up hair? Disappeared.

Instead, we have her in what just might be our all-time favorite look from the British musician. Granted, she was out to dinner with her boyfriend, DJ-producer Calvin Harris, in London so there’s a reason she’s glowing, but we also love how fresh her all-white look, punctuated by a boldly colored sweater, looks. No muss, no fuss–and the end result is pretty darn close to spring dressing perfection.

You don’t need the high profile BF to pull it off yourself–just follow along with our picks:

MUST: Rodebjer Tom Sweater – $110

TRUST: DKNY Mini Saffiano Leather Crossbody Bag – $143

LUST: True Religion Julie Skinny Jeans – $196

Everyone always talks about the LBD, but don’t ignore the little lace dress–LLD for short.

From backyard BBQs to late-night dance parties, there are plenty of places this prim-without-being-too-severe look can go. And yes, it even works on the red carpet. Check out Sienna Miller arriving at the British Television Awards for proof. The actress dressed up a barely-blue frock (Matthew Williamson fall ’13, in case you are dying for that exact one) with a Charlotte Olympia clutch, multi-toned pumps, and a smile that says, “Yeah, I know I look good.”

Not destined for some big event arrival? You can still rock this look all season long–here’s how we’d do it:

MUST: ModCloth Isn’t It Iconic Dress – $57.99

TRUST: BCBG Max Azria Thea Clutch – $99

LUST: Diesel Juliay Dress Shoe – $130

In case you weren’t already convinced that you need black and white stripes–somehow, somewhere in your wardrobe–please turn your attention to exhibit a: Gwen Stefani.

Because don’t you kind of wish that the No Doubt frontwoman (and NYLON cover star) invited you along when she went shopping earlier this week? Or that she let you borrow her hot pink shades and even offered to tote around your phone in her oversize white purse because you left your bag in the car? Sorry, we’re getting ahead of ourselves here–we’re not besties with Stefani just yet, but in the meantime we can give you our advice on how to work the look yourself.

MUST: Urban Outfitters Sweet Like Candy Sunglasses – $9.99

TRUST: Hudson Krista Super Skinny in Black and White Stripes – $154

LUST: Guess Large Textured Leather Satchel – $171

Sophie Sumner, the British model who landed on Britain’s Next Top Model and won America’s Next Top Model, has been dubbed the next Alexa Chung–and not just because she’s gotten into presenting (that is, the British term for hosting a TV show). The blonde also has a knack for throwing together effortlessly cool outfits.

And it was no different this week when she attended The Cinema Society’s screening of The Great Gatsby in New York. In a never-fail leather jacket/girly dress/black boot combo, she may not have looked throwback but certainly borrowed Daisy’s Buchanan’s glow.

Want to too? Here’s how to do it:

MUST: Joe Fresh Crochet Dress – $59

TRUST: Matisse Pricilla Boot – $153.95

LUST: AStars Keely Moto Jacket – $154

The big complaint we’ve heard about this week’s Met Ball? That the punk theme was interpreted very, very loosely. (Or, in many cases, not at all.)

The thing is, red carpet dressing and a rock’n'roll rebel look don’t have a lot of overlap. Which is why the way more punk looks came at the after-parties. Take Amanda Seyfried: The actress swapped her vintage Givenchy gown (see it here) for an oversize tee, a Givenchy Rottweiler clutch, and a pair of black-and-white heels. Yes, oversize tee–it’s a little gutsy but you know what? We love it. And it reminds us of what Debbie Harry used to wear to gigs in the early Blondie days. Which makes it way more punk than most of the gowns worn to the party.

Pull out your favorite XXL band tee–or check out our picks;

MUST: The Walart Mad Dog Wallet – $15

TRUST: Billabong First Love Dress – $39.50

LUST: Steve Madden Insink Sandals – $89.95