9.25.2011

{ grazia }

i'm currently writing to you from milan, where i am honored to be a guest of grazia magazine for fashion week. before coming over, they asked me to shoot a story and share a few words for their website on the topic of grace ('grazia' is the italian word for this). it's a trait i certainly aspire to exude, albeit one i don't always achieve. anyway, in case you don't speak italian (me neither!), i've included excerpts from the piece i wrote below:



{ karen walker sunnies, primary blouse and skirt, forever21 cropped cami, gifted corello bag, alexander wang shoes }

GRACE. Grace is a virtue that’s far-too-infrequently celebrated these days. It’s not about stature or prominence or even glamour. Grace is elegance. It is deference and authority in equal measure. It is good manners, it is kindness and it is a sense of propriety.

But grace is not stuffy. It is being comfortable in one’s own skin, while conscientiously allowing others to feel equally at ease around you. In fashion, this means dressing in a way that is appropriate to your lifestyle and surroundings. That is, embracing your age (at any age
!) by combining femininity with a dose of mystery, plus a necessary nod to functionality.



{ nine west sunnies, club monaco jacket, kelly framel necklace, vintage dress (last seen HERE), corello belt, yves saint laurent shoes }

Happily, graceful is the perfect word to describe this season’s long-skirted look. Full and pleated, or languidly bias-cut, it matters not. Either way, the look is simultaneously timeless and contemporary. It harkens back to the silhouettes of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, but can be paired just as easily with a utility jacket and wedges as a trench coat and pumps. Modern mid-length skirts can veer fairly formal or incredibly casual – this is not a 1950’s sort of femininity. It’s current in that it’s comfortable and it’s elegant because it works in nearly any situation. You’ll rarely feel under-dressed...



{ juicy couture sunnies, halston heritage trench, meg dress, gifted corello clutch, lamb shoes }

please CLICK HERE to read the rest of the article and see many more pictures of these looks on grazia.it. then, CLICK HERE to check out my up-to-the-minute updates from milano!!

79 comments:

Nataly said...

You look great! Love your blue dress and the first one is great, too!

Gorgeous Clara said...

wow! love every single outfit here!

you are so lucky yo be in Milan. Have fun!

Amy Joy said...

Perfection, love the dress movement!

Anonymous said...

How amazing! Loved your words on grace and your interpretations of grace through style. The primary blouse and skirt is stunning.... like wise the Tory Burch love the classic styling with the funky little accessories!

jemappelleshen.wordpress.com

jas said...

love all the outfits!
great top and skirt combo - unusual but it works so well!
love the vintage dress
love the halston heritage coat and lamb shoes

http://jas-tidbits.blogspot.com/

MONI said...

STUNNING LOOKS!!!
XX

HTTP://WWW.MONEASYWARDROBE.COM

David Diaz said...

The first photo is so perfect! :D

Have a Good Day!

David

VirtuallyStunning.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

A very impressive post !
Amazing outfits, so feminine and elegant. Love the flowerprint dress and the electric blue one.

Definately agree with your defination of grace and it's true that it is undervalued nowadays.

www.tripsandtreasures.blogspot.com
lifestyle and my outfits on the Belgian coast

Yuka said...

Love the blouse & the skirt.
you look so beautiful <3

http://dontthinkjustfeel-yuka.blogspot.com/

Giada said...

I don't know which look I love the most: you are stunning!!

Giada

http://giadascarnival.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Your outfit is p p perfect!!

www.sewfreak.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous pictures!

xx Olga
La Petite Olga

Mary Ann said...

Milan sounds fabulous - I've been to Italy twice, but never Milan. I love the muted colors of the first outfit.

Plami said...

All three outfits are gorgeous! You're so lucky! I love Milan!

XoXo
Plami

http://www.fashionthrill.com/

Closet Fashionista said...

Wow I LOVE all these outfits and photos! You look so amazing :D
http://www.closet-fashionista.com/

Joy said...

Gorgeous outfits. They're perfect.

Frannie Pantz said...

How cool is that to be part of something so great as to define grace? You have done a lovely job and as usual, you look amazing. I am in love with your gold dress.

Render Sublime said...

That first dress is just so stunning on you. Lovely colour!!

http://ficklesense.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

I LOVE that Meg dress- Gorgeous! Such a chic trip! xo

http://tryitonmegirl.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous outfits!!! Love your blue dress.
XOXO
Ann

http://hrhladyann11.blogspot.com/

Adrianna Traxler said...

Your outfits couldn't be more perfect. You stand out in such a classy way!

Jill said...

Love, love, LOVE that first outfit! And the other two are pretty great also. :)

jennyae said...

i really really love your choice of colors. the first outfit is focused on all greens and i love how you paired that coat with a bright cobalt blue dress!
what's your must have for this upcoming fall/winter?

http://jennyjkim.blogspot.com/

Camille Beaudet said...

beautiful pictures!

http://ingenuestyle.com

Camille

Eleanor said...

The photos are just breathtaking and I have no words for how amazing that blue dress is!

Unknown said...

I already think you are one of the most graceful bloggers around.. really good story!

meinmode.blogspot.com

Camilla said...

I love the 1st outfit so so much

xo Camilla

Into The Fold

Bin & Belle said...

Out of the blogs I follow, I think I'd like to raid your shoe closet the most... you always have the best ones!

xx from SF
-Robin

teashopsandportapots.blogspot.com

Inhale | Fashion and Beauty said...

love all the looks especially the last one very classic xx

http://inhalefashionandbeauty.blogspot.com/
twitter: @inhale_fandb
bloglovin'

AMELIA ALVAREZ said...

what an excellent perk of blogging! Enjoy Italy.

www.clotheshorsenyc.com

Unknown said...

wow! Stunning! Amazing looks!

http://cappuccinowithfashion.blogspot.com/

SWK said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SWK said...

Those Karen sunglasses are stunning. Very trendy and eye catching. You always look so graceful in your pics. ;)

Angel said...

i swear you could be Jessica Stroup's twin sister from 90210 show! the resemblance is uncanny!!!!

Unknown said...

love these looks, your dresses are super pretty


http://www.vasilievablog.com/
x

Diana said...

so well said! congrats on the feature -- well deserved xo

http://dressedupallligators.blogspot.com/

FashionFlirt said...

Stunning photos and outfits! xxx

Check out my blog if you like:

http://fashionflirtblog.blogspot.com/

Audrey B said...

Bon jour from Paris! These photos are truly stunning! I hope you are enjoying Milan as much as I am enjoying Paris! Xoxo. Www.casualglamorous.com

Teresa said...

Wow your photos, as always, are amazing! Love that your wearing Karen Walker sunnies, I'm from New Zealand and she is definitely one of our best designers

http://teresasglobaladventures.wordpress.com/

..: Curvy & Petite :.. said...

Amazing Style girl :)


Happy Sunday!


Peace & Love.

Jimely Rosas

Madann said...

j'adore toi!

Anonymous said...

these looks are all so fabulous!

xx

http://theparallelmagazine.blogspot.com/

Aubrey and Melissa said...

That first outfit is really something special. The fabrication is incredible! Love everything about it. The article sounds fantastic, they were definitely right in choosing you to write about grace. Beautiful outfits as usual.

Unknown said...

Love all these outfits! The first one if definitely my favorite. The movement on that skirt is amazing!!!

♥ Gina Michele
CrochetClouds.com

Rizzi said...

I love your first outfit. Color palette is beautiful.
xx
Classy and Sassy

alex said...

Hey everyone!
I'd love for you to check out my blog.
www.mauveandmoody.wordpress.com
I'm actually having a contest for a chance to win a $100 american express gift card.
Check it out, comment, like, whatever and tell me what you think :)

Thanks!

Run With Fashion said...

WOW, YOU'RE SOO BEAUTIFUL!! LOOOVE THE DRESS!!
I loove the black sheer on the shoulder area to the back ♥ So beautiful!
I also love your sunnies! :D

Love the 2nd look, you look like an artsy person. :D
I loove the floral dress the jacket, the cool necklace & of course those sunnies! :D


Love the 3rd look as well! You're truely beautiful!!!♥
Love the blue dress, the coat the belt, OMGOD EVERYTHING!! :D

I love your sense of style!♥

-Eliza :)

Vanessa Lu said...

in love with the first look!
http://vanessalu91.blogspot.com

Sugar with Spikes said...

Beautiful dress's U look so stunning!

IRENE
http://sugarwithspikes.blogspot.com/
http://unseenslaughter.wordpress.com/

SAMANTHA said...

This is an incredible post , one of my favorites! I love all of these outfit and you definitely exude grace.


www.dragonnfruit.com

Frank Vinyl said...

oh my gosh this is stunning!!! love the blue
francesca

ADJ said...

These looks are incredible. I really love the first look and the second is lovely. The pop of cobalt is amazing.

www.greeneggsandglam.blogspot.com

Leonie said...

You look stunning in these pictures! Especially the first outfit is incredible.

Under My Umbrella

Unknown said...

THE 3 DRESSES ARE BEUTIFUL!!!!!!
Raque from

ourfavoritestyle.blogspot.com

Cortnie Elizabeth said...

Beautiful looks! Bravo and congrats!

xo,Cortnie
http://stylelustpages.com

Amanda G said...

I love that vintage flowered dress. It really does capture grace in an article of clothing.

The Fancy Teacup said...

Such a fantastic feature, and you are emulate gracefulness in all the lady-like silhouettes of those dresses!

♥, Jamie
www.TheFancyTeacup.com

Miss Monroe said...

You look amazing!!!

Kathy said...

Love the first outfit! It screams fall! LOVE! xoxo

http://hellofridaybypaik.blogspot.com/

Aga said...

You look amazing!

Rachel said...

I totally love your first outfit!

The Eye Behind the Detail said...

These outfits are amazing. The blue dress is stunning especially with the gray jacket. The print on the second one is wonderfully autumn-like, pretty, and very girly, so I like the combination of the utility jacket. It balances the outfit out and makes it look amazing!
The monochromatic look in the first pictures looks amazing on you, too!

Unknown said...

I love every outfit in this.... you are so stylish! can't wait to hear more/see pics from milan!

xxx
www.ladyalamode.com

Meredith M Howard said...

Great explanation of "grace". I am excited that the long skirts and more graceful style is "in". (And I love your Alexander Wang shoes!)


- Meredith
www.findingsoulbalance.blogspot.com

Laura Mortensen said...

Beauty of the world!! Love the first outfit.

Emily A. said...

I ADORE every single one of these outfits!! Just beautiful! I also love what you had to say about grace. Beautifully written.

Cristiana Nunes said...

I like all the dresses, specially the first one, which is perfectly paired with the grean bag and those shoes!

thepinkmateproject said...

all your outfits in this post is just fabulous! You look great!

Vanessa

http://thepinkmateproject.blogspot.com/

Snazzy Dollface said...

Your description of Grace is spot on and was expressed perfectly! btw, all your pics are gorgeous as always :)

Life's a shoe said...

i really love your shoes!

Bravoe Runway said...

Oh my Kelly...You look amazing in every photo! I love every outfit and those green shoes by LAMB are amazing in your last outfit. I'll definitely check out the rest of the looks on grazie!

Contact said...

what a huge honor! i cant imagine, very exciting - congrats!

http://heelsandinspiration.blogspot.com

MissKait said...

omg your blog is amazing, just found it. i love your style, seems so fresh and impeccable.
look forward to more posts!

With Blogging Love,
xo Kaitlin
KaitGirl.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

THAT FIRST DRESS IS BAD AS HELL. I DIE.

<3 ANGIE ROX FOR THE LINT

Jen Umm said...

I love every outfit!!
www.styledecorum.blogspot.com/

Cashmeera said...

lovely outfits!!!

Cate said...

Your description of grace is absolutely perfect.

Megan said...

I adore the blue dress. And also you.
Is this the same dress: http://www.megshops.com/drop-waist-dress.html ? FIngers crossed.
Have a lovely day!
-Megan

Annie_Vintage Diggs said...

I just stumbled upon your blog, and I must say; you look so much like the actress who plays the character of Eric Silver on 90210. I had to do a double take. I absolutely LOVE your style! Gorgeous outfits.

xoxo,
annie

I like this combination of snow bunny - meets hipster - meets lumberjack boots with heels! It's colorful and eclectic and totally works! I also love that the boots are VINTAGE, my fave!

xoxo,
annie

http://vintagediggs.com/blog/