Covetable Closets: Taryn Antoniou

I've established a fairly decent wardrobe for myself over the years. It has become sort of a timeline in fabric. I can see how my tastes have changed and matured and which trends I bought into whole-heartedly... and those I probably should have avoided. Because of this I look at my wardrobe as somewhat of an accomplishment. Like a coin collector may glance at his collection and smile, that same sense of delight dashes across my face when I open my closet door (or look over at an entire wall as the case is now). Contrary to what my Mother may say, it is no where near complete, but I'm pretty happy with what I've built so far.

This however, does not stop me from being envious of a few other wardrobes.  So, I think it only proper that we begin to introduce them into the Well-Versed Wardrobe conversation. The way these wardrobes are stocked, I'd have content for days, so for now we'll take baby steps.

I'd like to start my first segment of Covetable Closets by featuring someone who has been mentioned on the Well Versed Wardrobe many times before- (and as you'll see for good reason) Taryn Antoniou. Taryn is a fellow stylist, blogger (The Life of a Paperdoll), and visual artist. I'm privileged enough for her unique sense of style to cross my path 5 days a week, and after over a year and a half of becoming acquainted with her wardrobe in that fashion, I can whole heartedly say its enviable.  I don't think there has ever been a week that has gone by that I haven't secretly wished (not so secretly now) that I could steal something she had on.

The one thing I love most about Taryn's sense of style, is how well she does the whole "High-Low" dressing thing.  She's one of the few people I know who knows just what to pair that Forever 21 shirt with to make it look super chic (even expensive), or how to make those Chanel sunglasses look effortlessly everyday. She's not afraid to make bold color choices, or mix patterns which is another great call out, and with Taryn, every accessory has a home. You may not notice it at first, but she has a ton of them! Whether it be a gorgeous Chanel cocktail ring, or amazingly layered tribal necklaces she knows how to pull together those perfect finishing touches. Though many, they are never overwhelming... not an easy feat!

The other enviable thing about Taryn, she happens to be a great men's stylist. (Something I'm ashamed to admit, scares me to no end). If you haven't checked out the FAMQ (frequently asked man questions) section of her blog yet, you need to! It will help set that man in your life, be it boyfriend, friend, brother or even father, on the right fashion track.

Photo from The Life of a Paperdoll:

Styling by Taryn Antoniou

Scrolling through The Life of a Paperdoll it's easy to see why she's so inspiring.  She not only has a Covetable Closet but, whether it's her own, men's, or even environments she's created, a completely covetable sense of overall style.

Blog Interrupted

I will first  start off with apologies for being MIA as of late. The month of July has been a whirl-wind of travel and festivities and unexpected events. I however, just let life catch up to me and didn't really prepare a head of time. So, here's a quick run through of what you can expect from the Well Versed Wardrobe in the very near future, and a little glimpse as to what has been keeping me so occupied lately.



Taryn Antoniou blogger: The Life of a Paperdoll

 First, as promised from last week, I'll be doing a quick style highlight on the one and only Taryn Antoniou. To close out her birthday MONTH  we'll let her spend a little extra time in the blogosphere spotlight.

Taryn in Elizabeth & James Maxi Skirt

With that being said, her minor obsession with Mary-Kate Olsen is the perfect reason to talk about the clothing line created with her twin sister Ashley, Elizabeth & James.  Taryn has a great assortment of clothing from the collection, and makes the perfect model to talk about the contemporary line. 



South Rim Grand Canyon

And then, finally, this weekend, I tucked away my computer, (and even my phone for a surprisingly large portion of it!) and went in search of a bit of zen. I found it in the Grand Canyon, among painted layers of rock, with legs covered in red dust, watching a sublime sunset that bordered life-changing.

Enjoying the sunset at the Grand Canyon

So there you have it, check back in to get the full stories in the next few days!

** P.S. The photos of the Grand Canyon are my own**

Brief Hiatus

Hey guys! Sorry I have been MIA this week. Unexpected life turns are well... unexpected.  I will return to our regularly scheduled programing next week with tons to catch you guys up on starting on Tuesday!

I know you're sitting on pins and needles, but you'll get a few extra doses of your Well Versed Wardrobe fix next week. Hopefully that will make amends for my brief hiatus.

XOXO
Coleen

A Fellow Moon Maiden Blogger has a Birthday

Today happens to be the birthday of my good friend, co-worker, and super-stylish kindred crab, Taryn Antoniou!

Everyone head over to The Life of a Paperdoll to check out this fun fashionista's blog and send her some birthday bloglovin (pun intended).

Be sure to check back here next week when I do a feature on the Paperdoll herself!



The Circle of Life and Circle Skirt

Summer means a lot of different things for different people.  If you’re a member of the Broderick family summer usually mean lots of travel, and a massive family BBQ at my Aunt Maureen’s house.  As  our family gets larger (and as you will see as you continue reading, “larger” is an understatement) and we all get just a little bit older this gathering only gets more and more fun. It always ends up being one of my favorite and most memorable days of the year.  

My Grandma brought quite the special treat with her this year! In addition to her famous broccoli salad she brought out a Modern Jr. by Gale & Gale skirt she had worn on her honeymoon! It was astonishing on so many levels! First, it was just simply stunning.  The beautiful floral pattern dances across the cream circle skirt in lively hues of lilac, pink and cobalt.  Quilted waves create another dynamic layer to the skirt that you can’t help but to twirl in.

Second, it was in beyond remarkable condition! Even after 56 years (yes, that’s right, 56!) the skirt looks like I could have pulled it off the rack today.  It’s the perfect vintage summer skirt.  There was no way I could leave without trying it on. 

Being in that skirt, standing next to my Grandma and looking across the yard at my brand new nephew (the first in the family) it’s hard not to think about how our family has grown.  It was also hard to wrap my head around the fact that it all started with just two people. When my Grandfather and Grandmother (assuredly looking amazing in that phenomenal skirt) walked hand in hand through the Fountain Blue in Miami 56 years ago on their honeymoon, I believe it must have been hard to imagine four generations later the tremendous (as in both fantastic and enormous) family they would create.

It’s probably easiest to grasp in pictures, so I’ll tell the story that way.

This striking woman, Veronica McNiff married John Broderick in October of 1955.

The expansion of the family quickly began. My dad was the first of EIGHT children to come over the next 10 years.

Then came the in-laws…. Or the “out-laws” as they like to joke.

Then came the grandchildren… in droves. From 1983 to 2009 there was rarely a time when a baby wasn’t being born.

And then, in 2010 we welcomed the first of the 4^th generation, Ethan. Not only is he my nephew and Godson, he’s also the most important person in my life under 3 feet tall. He’s the most perfect little nugget whose two-toothed smile and curly- cued Mohawk melt my heart like no other.  

(P.S. I’ll be doing a post on this dress a little later)

It’s still a little mind boggling to think of my tres chic Grandmother as a GREAT Grandmother...

Or to see my own (also superbly well-dressed) Godmother with my Godson.

But, now I see where I got my fascination with fashion from. I clearly descended from quite the stylish family tree! A tree that all started with an extraordinary woman who is not only someone I look up to for her unparalleled capacity for love, faith, and dedication (hopefully she has passed on a few of those genes this way too!) but as a personal style icon.

A Quarter Century and Lofty Aspirations: Shipley & Halmos is Only Appropriate

The time between my last post and now has been filled with several celebrations.  I celebrated a quarter century of existence while our country celebrated its 235^th birthday.  (I guess relatively speaking, I’m still a baby).  Keeping with the July 4^th weekend, the Paperdoll herself, Taryn and Lesa took me over to the American Girl store for lunch, including the doll who sat in the chair next to me, fake whip cream cake, and embarrassing birthday stickers and song that you could hear across the entire store. It was amazing.  

Later that night, we continued the celebration with good music, good friends, and a few good drinks. While I was so excited to do all of those things, I was equally as excited to  enjoy a perfect summer evening and even hit the beach (if for only a few short moments) in a perfect summer dress.  I had been counting down the days that week not until my birthday, but until I could finally wear this dress.

Every now and then (particularly on your birthday, no matter how old you are) a girl wants to feel like a… well, girl. Not just any girl- a floating, ethereal princess with the slightest hint of audacity  to put a little muscle behind that newly acquired “I’m older, if only by a few hours” swagger.  Shipley & Halmos’ Nomad Cascade dress fits that bill to a T. Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos, the co-designers of the label, have said they feel that, “clothing should never be a disguise, but rather as a means to reflect honestly the character of the wearer.” In my case,  (for that day at least) that happened to be whimsical, playful, and maybe even a little bit cheeky- all embodied in the dress with its soft perforated leather top attached to a delicate flowing skirt with asymmetrical hem and open back detailing.  The abstract burlap pattern in varying shades of sand, rose, and desert rock flows over the cascading layers of silk creating subtle layers of intricacy as you stroll across the sand, waltz down Newbury St… or take things to a more rock star level… clearly the perfect birthday dress.

Shipley & Halmos though a relatively young company has already established a strong foothold in the industry.  Their unique vision, sense of style, and approach to business has already earned the duo the inaugural Young Designer Award from the National Arts Club in 2008 and a nomination in 2009 for the GQ/CFDA Best New Designer Award. These accolades come with good merit.  Shipley & Halmos has earned a reputation for clothing that is smart, warm (in an inviting kind of way, not temperature) and somewhat indefinable (from a style label standpoint…  not surprising given their many inspirations), yet consistently delivering a thoughtfulness in design where form marries function, laced with attention to (often tongue-in-cheek) detail.

Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos (from the Shiply & Halmos Website)

The Shipley & Halmos story goes back a little further than 2007 though. Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos met in Boulder, Colorado while at college. They have been friends and business partners ever since. (Their first venture was the company Trovata which they co-founded with two other college friends).  They moved first to California while developing the Trovata brand and apparent love for Mexican food.  The pair decided to sacrifice their favorite burritos and beaches for studio space on Canal and Green St. in New York City a year later when they started Shipley & Halmos. Starting off in men’s wear, they are now so much more than a fashion line. They are makers of “things crafted with hand, health, and heart” (as their label reads). These “things” include books, art supplies, and even furniture.

The Shipley & Halmos label as it appears on my dress
Image from the Shipley & Halmos Wesbite

They are currently my latest obsession. There have been a few companies in my short professional life that have made such an impression on me, in a way that I have said, “It doesn’t matter in what capacity, but I would love, love, love to work for them just because of what they stand for.”  Shipley & Halmos is one of those companies.  They have such an amazing creative vision that really covers the gamut. From clothing to print media, to music their inspiration is limitless, and they aren’t afraid to dabble into everything.  You’ve heard me talk before about how I feel like I’m creatively… let’s say “eclectic,” and Shipley & Halmos is a testament to how great doing a little bit of everything can be.  I would say take a quick look at their website, but I can almost guarantee you’ll be sucked in for hours on end like I continually am. It’s definitely one of the coolest websites by not only any fashion label, but in general.  To get the privilege of working with these guys is definitely now on my long list of lofty aspirations… but for now I’ll settle for celebrating my birthday with them in style and spirit.

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy 4th of July Everyone! Check back tomorrow for a recap of last week's celebrations!

XOXO
Coleen