Street Style, Life's Real Runway Show

I was fortunate enough to find my street subject across the street from my house smoking a butt, readying up to head to a friend's birthday dinner with my neighbor.  It was easy approaching Nichole since we shared mutual friends.  However like me, she was not much of a picture person, so you won't catch her looking at the camera much nor smiling in these pics, although she was a super cool person and completely flattered by my appreciation of her style.  Thank goodness it was a warmer day out because her black scarf which covered the details of her blazer and necklace, didn't allow us to get the full scope of her stylish pairings.

I've mentioned before my love for street style so what first  drew me to Nichole's outfit was her approach to color.  Though red and aqua are not colors that would typically be blended together, she brought them together nicely with a neutral colored top with a floral pattern that contained the same color palette.  The floral pattern was also a spring 2013 trend that Nadege of "Style to the Nines" (http://styletothenines.blogspot.com) had mentioned on one of her previous blog entries.

Street Fashion of Nichole Richard (East Boston, MA)

Her black blazer's stand collar which is very reminiscent of a military jacket, was softened with shirred shoulders, a trend which has been seen for the past 2 seasons.  The black of the blazer also helped to further neutralize the bright colors of her red platform shoes and aqua leggings, while still matching the colors of her flower pattern on her top.

Floral Print Top

Blazer, Floral Top, Printed leggings & Platform Heels

What I found most fascinating was the print seen on her leggings.  It turns out that she bought the pair from a local thrift shop and had her boyfriend, paint and draw the design onto them.  The alien like creature featured on her right leg is a character in which he draws up in many of his 'galactic' pieces.  While the creature was drawn in with both a pen and sharpie, the splattered blots of black dots all throughout the pants were used with black paint and sponge.  The contradicting features of an alien on her legs, paired with a dainty floral pattern as her top, was a nice touch as well.

 

Close Up of Alien Creature, Artist: Juice

Blotted dots, Artist: Juice

  

The personalized drawing on the leggings could be an example of "trickle-up" if it were to be picked up by designers.  Printed pants have made their way into the scene this past year, however this approach brings the element of rawness to the pants that has not been seen or mimicked just yet.

Neutral Clutch

Nichole had mentioned that she wanted to tone down the loud colors of her outfit with minimal accessories.  She wore plain silver hoop earrings, a drop long silver necklace, 2  silver rings, and a neutral clutch purse with silver metal details, making the main piece her red platform heel.

Nichole Richard

Thanks again to Nichole Richard (I know you said you'd take a look at this), my street subject who was shy but flattered, and took the time to allow me to snap some pics of her.