We’ve been eating a lot of blood oranges lately and they leave these shockingly bright red-orange stains on everything. This skirt reminds me of them.

I go through phases with color – sometimes I wear a lot of bright, flashy colors – yellows and reds and hot pinks and greens. Other times, I feel drawn toward more muted colors – dark plum purples and navy blues and tans. But I am, at heart, a black is best kind of gal. My mama has great style, but it’s subtle. Her closet is a sea of blacks, browns, navy blues, and crisp white blouses. She has an eye for details and appreciates really beautiful design. My grandmother, on the other hand, has a very theatrical style – she has entire matching outfits of bright purples, pinks, leopard-prints. She comes from the era of bright lipsticks, perfectly coiffed hair, and matching shoes and handbags. My grandmother, even at 90, always makes an entrance in her bright colors and high heels.

So any color I incorporate into my wardrobe feels like a grand gesture, a nod toward the fun of theatrical dressing, of play. Black comes naturally to me; it’s timeless and dependable and always chic. But when I wear bright colors I feel like I’m dressing for adventure.

And I like that.

I guess this is all to say that when I wear color, I usually pair it with a neutral, like black. I like the juxtaposition and I feel like that one bright burst of color makes more of an impression.

For me, fashion is about wearing clothes that makes you feel beautiful, that makes you feel like the best version of you, that are fun, playful, irreverent, and interesting.

As a literary scholar, I tend to see stories in everything, and clothing is no exception. My clothes tell a story – about me and about the people that influence me. They’re just as much about where I come from as they are about who I want to be.

Shirt: Mikkat Market (similar shirt in blue)
Skirt: BCBG Max Azria pleated chiffon skirt
Shoes: J.Crew
Bag: J.Crew, worn as clutch
Accessories: vintage Gaultier sunglasses (used to be my mama’s), louloudo pouch necklace
Nail Polish: essie watermelon
Lipstick: NARS Heat Wave