WIW: Leopard Duster & Turban - YouLookFab Forum

I think yesterday's outfit fell somewhere between fortune teller, rocker and old hollywood starlet style. At least that's what the different elements reminded me of. Not really sure what to call them when you put them all together but the outfit was comfortable and weather appropriate (was a bit chilly and windy round here yesterday --which equates to bad hair day and I'm cold if I don't wear cashmere and/or leather).

I mentioned in a prior post I'm a big fan of snoods (beanie-like hats worn further back on the head with hair pulled into it --a la old style 50's snood.

I'm also a fan of turbans for both casual and dressy wear (depnding on the turban and how it's styled). Not to everyone's taste, I know. But I like the structure of them as an alternative to a newsboy, cabbie or fedora hat. I've been recently amused to see several of the fashion bloggers sporting turbans. So, who knows, maybe I'm trendsetting or something. What I do know is my hair is more under control and really that's why I have a tendency to wear them.

Something about pairing a simple pleated black turban paired with a duster style leopard jacket made me think of either a fortune teller or old hollywood (especially when I threw on my rounded cateye sunglasses).

The leather pants added some texture (and warmth!). These leather pants are pretty cool, imho. They're actually made up of thin strips of leather sewn side by side over a stretchy fabric foundation. So they're ultra comfy and the strips of leather create a somewhat pinstriped textural effect (although, I could totally see these looking like 80's hair band rocker pants, too, depending on what they're paired with).

I added the somewhat statement making antique rock crystal scarab necklace because I wanted to break up the large swath of black (especially with it up so close to my face). I thought it was large, yet subtle enough in color/material and hung at the right length to add some visual interest.

Anyhow, I don't consider it one of my better outfits but it is a formula that I like (leopard jacket, black sweater and black leather pants) so I went with it.

Turban: Amazon.com
Cashmere crewneck sweater: Vince (via ebay)
Leopard cotton duster jacket: Dolce & Gabbana (via consignment store) I love the length and cut of this jacket on me. When the weather warms up I'll be wearing it with skinny BFs t-shirts and some kitten heels!
Leather pants: Bagatelle (via ebay new with Neiman Marcus tags showing original price was $695. I got them for $80. Woot!)
Ankle boots: Rachel Comey Mars boot(via ebay)
Bag: Vintage Chanel (via designer consignment)
Earrings: Gabriella Kiss
Ring: Vintage (via consignment store)
Necklace: Antique transitional Edwardian/Egyptian Revival era (c.1915). The scarab is carved from rock crystal and set in a gold mount. The necklace portion is actually made from finely plaited human hair (via a private sale through a dealer I used to do a lot of business with)

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12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

A long jacket! Gryffin needs to see this! Although she would not want it in leopard, I am sure -- she likes basic black. And that is an amazing price on your leather pants. You've done very well in that department! I think leather pants are probably the kind of item that people buy hoping to fit into them later...only to have the pants taunt them.

When you said "turban" and "leopard" I automatically thought of old Hollywood, too.

neonginger

Active Member

Fabbo!

rabbit

Great pants and jacket, and that is a very cool (slightly macabre, but that's a positive in my book) necklace. I love the design.

Andrea W

Lovely as always - I will be going home to dig out my leopard trench and leather leggings for a homage to this look (if you don't mind me plagiarizing you....)

catgirl

I like this a lot. To be honest, I always find the turban look on women a bit odd (and I think it may be because I associate it culturally with men, rather than Elizabeth Taylor and glamour), but this is subtle and looks more hat-like. Love your hair this way too.

Kiwichik

I really enjoy your explanation of the character that your outfits evoke - Hollywood glam with a rocker edge a la leather pants and boots. I am soooo stalking your posts.

rachylou

I love your daring. I'd go ahead all the way and tuck your hair up into the turban. You've got the chops

Neel

You truly do gave fun with fashion ... I love your leather pants too. They look cool. I won't comment on the necklace. Lol!

leopardluxe

Andrea W, plagiarize away. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and I would be incredibly flattered to think someone was inspired by my offbeat look

deb

Way cool!!!

That's a cute wild animal! You have a lot of exotic jewelry. It works with such outfits.

MuseumGal

Holy cr@p, that scarab necklace ... was it originally a mourning piece, do you think? (hair + scarab seems very memento mori)

Lisa

This outfit is a feast for the eyes, so many interesting details in it. Just lovely!

MuseumGal, interestingly enough, I don't believe this piece was a more typical mourning piece even though it uses hair as part of the design. Mourning pieces almost always have names and/or dates of the deceased inscribed in them -and are much more typically victorian in their style/design. Plus this design is very transitional, closer to Edwardian and Art Deco era in its style and craftsmanship than typical victorian mourning jewelry and much later than one usually associates with mourning jewelry. There were some rarer pieces that used human hair after the turn of the century more as love tokens and I think this may be one of those based on my research.

The overall design is definitely not in keeping with mourning pieces, but I didn't know what else to think with the hair and scarab. Learning more about antique jewelry is on my list (right after I finish my dissertation). Love token is an interesting idea. Whatever its origins, it's a wonderfully unique piece. I hope you keep highlighting your jewelry, I love seeing what you have.

calmwave

okay, just... WOW on the necklace! and the rest, as always - fun, original, brave and smile-inducing...

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