Denise, I can totally see you rocking this look!

If I were about a foot taller and a score of years younger, I would rock it, too, with the addition of a midi-length black lace skirt!

Ooh, MaryK, I can totally see the addition of the black lace here! Add some more texture, and a bit of femininity/juxtaposition. What a fab idea!

Good look if your tall, young, skinny and beautiful!

I do think some slouchy trousers would look great here.

Im definitely attracted to elements of this. Not the fur, not the hairstyle, not the pantslessness. Definitely the boots, jacket, bag, and some of the toughness. I would take inspiration from this to do a monochromatic, dark, moody, slightly punk rock look, with maybe distressed black skinnies and softer hair and makeup.

Lady-like-boho-cowgirl punk!

Totally love it on her - although not for me.

She looks intentional to me - not at all like she rolled out of bed into this outfit. And the pieces, particularly the boots and bag, look expensive to me. The lack of pants does not bother me on her. I do like the mix but it does not strike me as effortless.

More votes for pants! Yes, I see how she could inspire your style, Janet.

"Lady-like-boho-cowgirl punk"--love it, Angie! There are lots of different elements at play here, for sure!

Shevia, I agree that the boots and bag look expensive. Do you mean that if she looked more effortless she would look better/more interesting/chicer to you?

I laughed when I read Texstyle's assessment. Strikes me that way, too. It doesn't seem to need pants to me, nor does the thin dress contradict the furry coat. I kind of wonder if after getting dressed, she has nothing left to say.

Interesting, Vildy! So she's just a facade, all surface to you?

I'm intrigued by the deliberate clashes of styles. I couldn't see myself pulling this off, but it's interesting and would be even better with some bottoms

My first thought was "scary." I was thinking how she would tower over me in the street...

And then I looked harder and thought: Interesting. Some innocence there, deliberate experimentation. Okay...I want to go where she is going and see what she sees. What has inspired her?

It's amazing how many different style elements she manages to combine here into a whole that feels coherently "her" somehow. I do see a resemblance to Bowie, too.

Ok so I have opened this thread and the photo multiple times today. I've stared at it and stared at it. I finally decided I like it. I do think that this only works in major metropolitan cities. I don't think it would even fly in Seattle. I might be able to approximation with short shorts and my fringe boots.

I've seen a similar look on arty students at the UW and at Cornish, annagybe, so I don't think its too out-there for Seattle. I love it. I do think this particular look would work better with a few more inches of skirt/shorts, or unusual pants of some kind. I like the layers of neutral textures.

The look appeals to the part of me that used to have punky hair or shave my head and wear a mix of menswear, vintage, and punk clothes that I could tweak to appear more androgynous/tough or more feminine to suit my mood (or to better suit whichever club I was going to that night). I still feel like that same kid on the inside, though I look more conventional now, as befits the utterly conventional wife/mom/employee/homeowner life I am now happily living.

For me, when I had an edgy look that wasn't conventionally "pretty" to most people, it wasn't about wanting to be unapproachable. It was about wanting to be approached by the kinds of people *I* wanted to meet, people who shared my aesthetic, my taste in music, art, books, etc. When I look at that photo, I see that vulnerability, that seeking for kindred spirits, and I hope she already has or soon makes some friends who get her and think she's wonderful.

Loved the fur coat. I have been trying and then returning several fur coats since last winter. I loved them on others but when I tried them on I seemed to drown in them. So maybe they will just go in my 'ah-i-would-wear-it-if-i-was-tall' wish list. So maybe next birth. The look could be a little twisted in our daily wear by wearing some patterned sheer tights too. Othewise I loved the look on her, maybe I am not built for this look. Poor me!!!

Interesting question Jonesy. As a rule, I have no problem with someone looking intentional - I think most chic people do give quite a bit of thought to their style. But if I try to analyze my first reaction to the photo, I guess I am responding to the high degree of artfulness in a look that is supposed to be somewhat rebellious, free spirited, whatever. So it comes off as more fashion shoot than real life I guess. I am fascinated by the androgyny in her classically beautiful face playing against her hair - that is really compelling.

My first thought was fierce and unapologetic. Then I had a longer look and suddenly she seemed to look more 'vulnerable' to me. I'm not sure that makes sense?

ETA I think Shevia's point is very interesting, about a high degree of artfulness versus the rebellious.

Not my style but I like it! It's aproppriate for a young fashion blogger!

I didn't have time to read all the comments, just skimmed. I thought I'd add my 2 cents. At first glance it's something between bag lady and Hunger Games (apocalyptic future?) vibe. But in the end it strikes me like many fashion spreads - a little out there for my taste (and I'm not going to discuss her emaciated appearance), but I can see the elements some of you have described as inspiring combinations of textures, edginess and careless comfort.

I do want to pet that coat it looks amazingly soft, but I weep if it's real fur. Just not my cuppa.

It reads as very aggressive to me, too, especially with the slicked back hair. I think that while all the elements are rather different in style, they are mainly associated with different kinds of "hard": cowboy, pirate, motorcycle, punk. It's certainly very interesting and I like some parts of the outfit, but overall I don't really like it. I'm not entirely sure why, since in general I do like "hard" styles.

Fascinating to follow up on the comments on this look. Makes me want to see this kind of post become a regular occurrence. Post a picture that strikes you somehow and ask for reactions. Those who are inspired by it somehow can follow up by doing their own interpretation.

More wonderful comments! Thanks, Amy. There is certainly a juxtaposition going on here. Maybe that's one of the reasons I like it.

Suz, that's so interesting about the "towering over" thing. Since I am so tall, I don't think I have ever experienced the feeling of a woman towering over me. It would never occur to me to feel intimidated by her....I wonder how much of that has to do with my size? I agree with you about the sweetness or innocence of her face.

Anna, thanks for your take! It is certainly a bold look--I agree about her "blending in" more in large urban settings, for sure. I would love to see your approximation!

Chrizzle, thanks for your detailed comments! I love hearing about how you still feel like the same daring person (style-wise) that you used to be, though now you are somewhat more conventional. I feel similarly! I appreciate your last paragraph especially. We certainly do telegraph our alliances or our group(s) with how we look, even if we don't consciously set out to do it. People--whether they are potential mates, friends, just passersby--will evaluate us and put us into categories almost automatically, you know?

Thanks for chiming back in, Shevia! Sounds like you think she is somewhat paradoxical? It's interesting...In thinking about it, I guess I oftentimes link effort with punk or counter-culture looks. If you think about all of the effort required to develop and maintain a perfect Mohawk, for example :), or the time and effort spent thrifting and modifying one's clothes to be exactly how one wants them, there is a lot of care and energy that goes into that self-presentation. It can be very dramatic and in your face, which requires some time and effort to achieve. To me, it doesn't negate the style at all. Okay, I'm rambling....

Thank you, Astrid. Yes, your comment makes perfect sense to me!

Thanks Rute!

Thanks Jeanne! Yes, I am not a fan of real fur at all, so I agree with you on that. I agree about the apocalyptic vibe too!

Thanks Mander! Interesting what you're saying about the different parts all reading as hard...intriguing.

Janet, it has been fun to see how everyone reacts! Lots and lots of different perspectives. I would love to see people post pics like this sometimes to get everyone's reactions--good times!

Reading some of the comments does make me wonder if my size alone makes me seem "intimidating" sometimes, depending on what I wear...or if I wore a leather jacket and wore my hair pulled back, if some people would think I'm a poseur, trying to be something that I'm not. Musings.....

I think it's all personal perspective. I'm short but have always felt like Godzilla scaring all the tiny people, so tall women or men don't intimidate me at all (even wearing leather, lol). They make me feel dainty and petite. I like that feeling.

I also want to explain something regarding my original comments. When I said this look veers into silliness I was specifically referring to the pantlessness. Otherwise I like the feel of this look.

There, I feel better.