CINNAMON SWIRL 

30 January 2022 

Hello my lil cinnamon buns, 

last week has been full of data migration because mom got a new phone (Android to IPhone migration is some rather big PAIN, can’t recommend but then again can recommend because the camera is - - - - !). Besides, I’ve been looking at a whole lot of Star Wars memes. I am indeed quite late on that train, too, I guess, but rather late than never? ANYHOW If you never watched Star Wars, like me, do that. Besides R2D2 and C3PO being the cutest roboters in history, the costume design of Natalie Portman in Episode 1 - 3 is exquisite. 

Back to this weeks’ theme! Which I named “Cinnamon Swirl”, based on the swirls in my pants, but also because of the colour palette of the look. As you can tell from the pictures it was one of those lately rather rare days with blue sky, so I opted for a cheeky but stil not-freezing-to-death look. That is what this post is about - all those lovely sheer fabrics, that show a little bit of your body, but aren’t particularly warming, and how to style and combine them.

How to work with sheer clothing...

You’ll find sheer pieces in every form - capes, trousers, blouses, jackets, you name it. So you don’t even have to go all in with sheer pants, like I do here (if you want to though, read on a bit more down there where I’m giving tips on how to).

A sheer blouse over a lace-bralette or a simple top will do the trick, too. And the trick is basically what I’m talking about in every second posts - find a balance between normal pieces and something that adds contrast. The contrast-carrier in this case is the sheer clothing. Which makes it perfect to combine with pieces that are rather “conservative” on their own.

Take a sweatervest, for instance. Combined with a cotton blouse you’ll get an well-behaved look. Combine with an organza-blouse you automatically turn the look around and look less like a schoolgirl who’s always turning in homework in time and more like the lolita-vibes our beloved Britney is giving us in … baby one more time. OK maybe thats a bit over the top - but you get the point. If you take a sheer cape or jacket you can add an interesting layer on top of an otherwise plain outfit = creating contrast. And so it goes on. 

Another big plus, if you get yourself sheer pieces, you can, as usual, style them up and down. For everyday use I’d always recommend to pair them with muted pieces. But if you drive to a festival, take all of your sheer pieces, put them together and you got 1. Your festival looks solved 2. The upstyled version.

Now nice fun and games Yoko, but momentarily the degrees are somewhere between 0 - 5°??? Yes, they are. And yes, my nippies are showing that I was a bit cold here, either. But firstly, I've been running around 1 hour in the cold to take these pics and secondly,

there are some tips and tricks on how to make your sheer pieces winter-suitable, if you can’t leave them in your wardrobe until the degrees are finally climbing up again, like me.

1. Tights, tights, tights.

As for usual. A recommendation I’m giving every second winter-post here, too. Preferably with some warning fleece inside.

2. The Onion

- layer, layer, layer. You want to wear a sheer blouse or a sheer jacket? Nice! Then put a top underneath, or maybe even two, and on top a very warming coat. If its a jacket, leave the coat open, so you’ll see the tiny bit of fabric floating out. If its a top, be happy that there are heatings - thats what they are for.

3. Socks

Now that comes in weird, but most of our body temperature is regulated by the extremities and if your feet are warm, the rest of your body tends so, too. Luckily in winter we wear boots and you can perfectly hide your wool socks in there. 

Thats it. I wouldn’t recommend wearing full-on sheer pieces in winter, that is rather a summer thing. But one piece here or there doesn’t hurt. 

Onto my look!

I opted for some tulle-pants with a funky swirl pattern that I bought at ZARA last autumn. Since they combine colours of green, orange, brown and white I decided to match the rest of my clothing according to the statement piece.

Therefore I went with a white turtleneck, to keep me a bit warm. On top I added a loose beige sweater-vest. The turtleneck and pants are quite figure-hugging, so I decided to loosen the shape up via the vest. On top I added a camel coloured coat (speak that three times, fast. It’s a tongue breaker.).  For accessories I went with a lot of golden necklaces, paired with a pearl-necklace to pick up the conservative vest and the loafers. The loafers are bringing me to the black part of the look - I wanted to add a tiny bit more contrast, so I opted for dark shoes. You’ll find the matching black piece in the underwear I chose to combine with the sheer pants and the sunglasses, that are a deep, deep, almost black, brown, bringing the colours together. Cherry on top of the look is the beige bag, and, as usual, a bright lipstick to at least bring SOME colour into this dark winter. Voilá!

Lastly, Yoko Drip Tip: 

This TED-Talk about “The Art of being yourself”. I’ve had a very interesting conversation about the authenticity of characters to a friend of mine lately, which made me reflect over and above the topic a bit longer. Am I authentic? Why am I? Why am I not? In which situations? Why do I perceive some people as authentic and others as put on and plastic? 

Now you’ve got two weeks to tell me your ideas of authenticity, slide in my dms, I’d love to talk about that. And or show me your sheer looks. Would love that too!!! 

Xxxxxxx, sending much love and sunshine during these dark days

Yoko