Yesterday morning, I got quite the surprise when I was digging through my sock drawer and came across this amazing scarf. Long forgotten, I have no idea where it came from or how long I’ve had it! But wow, what a score. The scarf is vintage but reminds me very much of one of my all-time favorite collections. Now, I just need to figure out some new and creative ways to tie a scarf because this one is surely going to get a ton of wear.

Readers: Are there any scarf-tying tutorials out there that you swear by?

Yellow and I normally don’t get along. I don’t think I’ve owned anything yellow until a week ago when these shoes showed up. When I want to wear something bright and cheery, I stick to white. But, I am all about embracing change. When I first spotted these heels, I had the typical reaction that I normally have with anything Margiela-related. At first I thought they were weird, then intriguingly architectural…and finally totally unique and amazing! When you’re scrolling through Yoox and there’s one pair left in your size for a total steal, it’s meant to be. I plan on wearing these with everything (as long as it is head-to-toe black).

Do you have a reliable arsenal of wardrobe basics that you depend upon, day after day? I know that I do. I started thinking of the tried and true pieces that are necessities in my wardrobe and compiled a list. Some have been in my possession for as little as two weeks and some as long as nine years but they are all equally important. The watch, the jacket, the bag, the shoes and belts that all play a part in my overall look are listed below. It’s never too late to build your own collection of style essentials!

Studded Belts. A few weeks ago, I bought two super skinny belts with mini rows of studs at Forever 21 and have been wearing them nonstop ever since. Besides the one shown, I have a solid black studded version as well. To me, they add a dash of hard-edged glamour to any outfit and work equally well with dresses and pants.

A Great Wallet.

For four years, I carried around a cheap vinyl wallet that I had bought at a mall somewhere in California. Finally in February, I was sitting in Hawaii on vacation and realized that every time I opened that old wallet, it reminded me of my past. It was time to never look back. So, I walked into the YSL boutique and bought this black beauty on the spot. Think of how many times you open your wallet in a day; isn’t it worth it to have one that you love? As a side note, that really is Yves Saint Laurent’s handwriting on the front! How cool is that?!

Non-Black Shoes. Of course we need black shoes in our lives, but a more neutral option should be close by as well. I dislike brown so I usually settle for grays for neutals. These Dries Van Noten wedges from Fall 2007 are my absolute favorites. Besides being nearly indestructible, they’re pretty comfortable as well (thanks in part to a hidden platform).

An Oversized Bag. Admit it; sometimes you really do need to lug around everything but the kitchen sink. There are some days when I need to pack a lunch, a book, camera, sweater and god knows what else. This bag saves me from having to carry around a tote. All-in-one and worth every penny! I bought this back in April and have used it nearly every day since.

Everyday Black Shoes With a Twist. We all need black shoes but that doesn’t mean that they need to be boring! My Camilla Skovgaard ankle boots work well with skinny black pants and leggings, add some major height and the treads are perfect for rainy Portland winters. The extreme wedges do take some getting used to but by my third day of wearing them, it was like second nature. Invest in good shoes! Always!

A Reliable, Basic Watch. I absolutely swear by the Nixon Chalet. It’s solid, simple, tough and sleek all at once. And, it goes with everything.

A Shockingly Bright Burst of Color. We should all make room for the occasional ridiculously over the top accessory to liven things up. I love wearing these Dries Van Noten heels with an all black ensemble for an unexpected burst of color.

Basic Black Jacket. This Halogen zipper jacket is like my security blanket. My mom bought it for me during my first semester of college back in 2000 and it’s made it through major moves, travels and career changes without getting lost. The sleeves and bottom half (not shown) zip off. I’ve owned dozens of other coats since but nothing has quite captured my heart in the same way.

Readers: What are your style essentials?

It’s impossible to do a legend proper justice. True icons make everything look easy because they have such an abundance of raw talent. I’m not a dancer or a singer, just a graphic designer. I can at the very least interpret the style of those I admire and give it my own spin. All good things must come to an end and it’s never easy to say goodbye. But, it is possible for a legacy to live on forever.

Photos by Bianca Alexis.

The fall fashion lineups have taken a cue from his 80s style with sequins, military jackets, skinny silhouettes, exaggerated shoulders and excessive zippers. They seem to be everywhere you look. And, you can bet that Michael is looking down from a much more clear vantage point than his closely-guarded life allowed him to, finally realizing that his legacy will live on forever with bits and pieces of his contributions scattered throughout our fashion and music.

Michael’s fashion sense was brilliantly translated to a female perspective in a Grazia layout shortly after his passing (below images courtesy of delightful). Each look is clearly referencing key moments in his career yet it doesn’t feel dated. The new versions of the 80s and 90s themed outfits have been updated and cut to reflect the current landscape of fashion. Still, the influence remains poignantly on target.

In his later years, Michael was often spotted in pajamas and baseball caps but too often he wasn’t given enough credit when he made the effort, stepping out in of-the-moment fashions from top houses including Balmain and Givenchy. He was one of the very few celebrities, male or female that could wear an item directly off the runway and into real life (well, as real as it could be for someone with his level of fame).

A studded Givenchy jacket for a day out with the kids; mixing and matching seasons of Balmain; he was still in touch with popular fashion. And it makes sense that he was since it was heavily referencing his style.

He had a knack for interpreting fashion that is rare. The clothes never wore him. He wore sequins better than anyone else. Liza, Liz and Liberace had nothing on him. Even when he was wearing an extreme costume (gold lamé and space inspired for instance), we didn’t think twice. He could make the truly outlandish garb seem somewhat wearable. Maybe it was because we didn’t really think that he was from this planet anyway.

The true innovators of fashion always seem otherworldly (Isabella Blow and Anna Piaggi come to mind). They couldn’t possibly be human. They aren’t like us. And then, one day when they are no longer alive, we realize that they were human all along.

Shirt, Forever 21
Jeans, Walmart
Belt, Forever 21
Lace-up heels, Jeffrey Campbell
Watch, Nixon
Bag, Miu Miu

Item Links: 1. PYT Skirt, 2. Daily Crossword Glasses, 3. Prep School Dress, 4. Ariel Skirt, 5. Piano Man Umbrella, 6. Cultural Trust Dress, 7. Dahlia Headband, 8. Easy Rider Vest, 9. Smokestack Shorts, 10. The Modern Wayfarers.

If you’d like to see my picks from last month, check them out here. Thanks again to ModCloth for continuing to support independent bloggers!

I attempted to imitate the moves that Michael is doing on the shirt for you, but at 9 a.m., it just wasn’t working! Instead, I’m giving Lee the look of “hurry up!!!” because I was expecting visitors. Soon after, I had two aunts, a cousin and my grandpa & grandma over to hang out at my new place.

I totally lost my composure when I realized some graffiti on the wall to my left side read BUTT VOMIT. For real! It’s been quite toasty in Portland over the last week so I’ve been living in jeans and t-shirts. This Michael Jackson shirt is the only piece of lavender clothing I own. It’s a kid’s shirt from the early 80s that I found on Ebay about five years ago. I hope you had an awesome 4th of July!

1984 Michael Jackson shirt, Ebay
Zipper jeans, urban Outfitters
Studded belt, Forever 21
Watch, Nuxon
Bag, Miu Miu

I’ve worn all of these pieces a ton of times on their own but somehow never together. I figured that it was time to put my own twist on the infamous Balmain look.

Vest, Target Go International
Tank top, Forever 21
Jeans, Kill City
Headband, belt and bracelet, Forever 21
Heels, Diana Broussard
Bag, Miu Miu

If you’re a regular reader, you’ve probably noticed that I don’t make the most practical choices when it comes to footwear. Though I do own a few pair of flats, I was sorely lacking a pair of lace-up sneakers. Turning down certain invites because I didn’t have the appropriate footwear (playing basketball in Dries wedges seemed way too dangerous!) was getting old, so I had Lee take me by the Nike Outlet last week. Lo and behold, I found the most ridiculous shoes in the entire store. Don’t they resemble space-age marshmallows?

P.S. The style is called the ‘Women’s High Vandal Premium.’