Da Fashionista.com

NEW FEATURE: DEAR DIABOLINA

Fabulosity emailed me a few weeks ago:

Hi Diabolina,

Thanks for giving us your e-mail address, I've been waiting for that.

I purchased this skirt and top but haven't worn them because I don't know what to pair them with.


If you could help me I would really appreciate it. Thanks.

The Dear Diabolina Answer:

I immediately wrote Fabulosity back and told her that this was a yummy conundrum for me but that I would need some time to get her the "right" answer. Have been thinking about it as I shop and peruse other sites. Even decided to put together my first little Polyvore set to respond to her questions. (I've been avoiding this site and playing with it like the plague since I hear it's the ultimate way for a fashionista to get lost in an online time vortex. Mr. Diabolina already complains I'm on the computer to much!)

So let's start from easy to hardest F21 piece.

The tunic is like so many tunics that I sport regularly. It's got great detail at the neckline and the color makes it an easy blank palette. The only problem is that it looks quite voluminous with the pleating and the swingy cut. This means it's easy to look preggers.

With this in mind, I'd suggest keeping the rest of the outfit quite fitted. Showing your shape via your limbs is key. You can do skinny jeans (colored ones if you are feeling daring) or simple calf length leggings (I have ones in black, brown and electric blue.) You might also be able to pair it with a simple SHORT demin mini if you've got good legs and know how to use them ;)

I think you could throw on a fitted jacket as well to give the look a bit more structure and make it more formal/work appropriate. Remember to please keep it fitted and show your shape.

With anyone of these bottoms you could do flats or heels. And I would suggest fun earrings or a bracelet since you won't be needing a necklace. Here are some of my faves from Polyvore:

Now for the short tiered skirt. It's a look I did quite a bit in junior high but not much since. Not because it isn't adorable but because I hit 14 and became way too hippy to pull it off. I think it is a look best saved for straight and narrow hipped chicas.

I found a few examples of how the fashion wizards styled this type of skirt at Forever 21.


Think thin fabrics that can tuck into the sheer material of the skirt or hang over it delicately. Think fun and feminine.








Last night, I was catching up on my regular blog reads and found that one of my fave fashionistas Fashion Toast has the exact Forever 21 skirt!!!

I HEART this girl's style (and writing.) I read her daily even though half the looks she puts together would never work on me given the fact that I am about 3 sizes bigger than her and 6 years older. Wah.

Really loving how she toughens up the skirt with a little leather jacket and cool fugly nurse shoes. She is very Kate Moss, very French magic.



One final note on this skirt. If you are feeling adventurous, you can wear it as a top with fitted pants and maybe a little jacket. I used to do this in college with skirts that no longer quite fit. Haven't tried it in a while but did it for fun at a resale store with a Marc Jacobs skirt that was a size too small. Wah.




And now the pleated sailor skirt. This one is also a toughie for me since it's not a look that works on my body at all. Again I am too thick in the middle to pull this high waisted look off. The buttons and the pleats would just draw too much attention to my problem areas. This sailor dress is about all I could pull off in the boating wear family.



So though I am kinda talking out of my ass, I would suggest wearing thin tops tucked in to the skirt much like the ones you'd pair with the guazy tiered skirt. They can be finer t-shirts, button downs or tanks. Just make sure if the top has buttons they don't fight the skirt's buttons too much. In other words, make sure it's not too button busy.


The deminy look of the skirt is terrific because you can dress it down or up depending on the top and the shoes you chose to pair with it. Very versatile. Think you'll get get alot of use of it once you crack the code of what to pair it with in your closet.


When I close my eyes, I can see it working with a nice thin scoop neck pristine white tee and a puffy sleeved fitted black jacket and round toe black heels and a killer red bag and red lips.

Hearts and thanks for the challenge, Fabulosity. Send pics of how it all works out ;)