Anna Wintour’s iconic bob has some competition in the form of Julia Sarr Jamois’ perfectly coiffed afro. The London based fashion editor of the lifestyle and culture magazine, Wonderland, is fast becoming a favorite subject of street style bloggers, recognized for her cool blend of denim and vintage with bold colors and prints.

At only 23, Jamois’ resume already boasts modeling and styling experience in addition to her success in the magazine industry. Is sartorial savvy the secret behind this editrice’s success? Her signature shredded jeans certainly defy the conventions of workplace attire. Nevertheless, Jamois emanates confidence in each of her covetable ensembles.

Torn jeans + slouchy blazer and tee + heels = effortless cool.

Checkered vintage fur provides a fresh perspective on Prada's banana-printed skirt.

Those bold sunnies are necessary to block against the blinding hue of this gorgeous neon skirt.

Not afraid to mix prints. Somehow the Old Hollywood glamour of her glitter-framed shades ties the whole look together.

A ladylike blend of modern and vintage.

Back to basics in shredded denim, a fitted blazer, and heels.

It's a strange experience, hearing about a runway show without actually seeing the collection. Kind of like taking an art history class in a room with a broken projector, a certain background and culture knowledge allows others words to take you only so far before a visual aid becomes necessary. I heard about Marc Jacobs’ Spring 2012 collection often. Always what was said was positive, and always reference was made to the 1920s influence. It seems last fall Marc dressed his models to attend Gatsby’s garden party, an aesthetic that enchanted the fashion world. My curiosity piqued, I took a look myself, and, a full-season late, now feel compelled to weigh in.

All the talk about allusions to the 1920s were present, but there was so much more happening within each look, so many different traces of eras past. I was amazed that most reviews had narrowed the collection down to a single historical reference point. True, the 1920s, drop-waist silhouette was the most overt of all Jacobs’ nods to the past, but it seems that flapper-esque fringe was in everyone’s eyes, preventing them from seeing, for example, the 1940s, embodied in those kitschy Rosie the Riveter bandanas and bobbysoxer inspired anklets.

Or the 1960s, which shone through in the boxy, Jackie O, tailored blazers, the turban and pillbox shaped headgear. Not to mention the feathered shift dress, skirts and shell tops, costumes that easily could have been lifted from a Doris Day movie.

The 1970s were also represented. They were present in the contrasting breast pockets on those square-cut jackets, which positively evoked the upper half of leisure suit. And there again in the western-style gingham button-ups that Jacobs paired with ladylike, knee-length skirts, but would have been at home over a pair of bell-bottoms.

The use of a shiny, bunched, almost plastic like fabric for many of the dresses evoked the avant-garde designers of the 1980s. A track jacket and a few cozy raglans were a wink in the direction of 80s sport couture (a retrospective reference that featured heavily in many designers’ work this season). Let’s not forget those adorable western style booties -- just add legwarmers.

The 90s were there as well, in a selection of sheer and semi-sheer slip dresses, stolen from the closet of the then 15-year-old Kate Moss.

All photos courtesy: style.com

By the last look, it seemed not a single decade in the past century missed its invitation to the party. The collection should be praised for its artful invocation of the 1920s, to be sure, but further credit is due to Jacobs for his masterful inclusion of such a diverse array of iconic styles from fashion’s rich archive. This was an achievement I felt the need to pay tribute to in an article that is now, appropriately, itself a reflection on the past.

When we go shopping, we are all looking for the same thing -- that perfect, one of a kind piece that will set us apart from everyone else. Unfortunately, in our mall and chain store dominated culture, this is easier said than done. New technologies in mass production have led to a degree of uniformity in fashion from the runway to Forever 21. Unique clothes are increasingly hard to come by at all levels of the retail spectrum, but particularly at the affordable end of that spectrum.

Enter Shoptiques.com -- the largest online destination for local boutique shopping and one-of-a-kind finds! The site, where I am currently interning, celebrated its official public launch last week with press features in Harper’s Bazaar, StyleCaster, and Inc. Magazine, just to name a few! Consumers everywhere can now shop merchandise from the best independent boutiques nationwide.

What makes the Shoptiques.com experience different from other online shopping sites? To begin with, the site brings all the perks of real world boutique shopping online. The innovative live chat feature allows you to exchange messages with the site's employees in real time, and to have your questions answered regarding everything from the fit of a specific garment to more general styling advice. Having worked for many independent local retailers myself, I find this devotion to customer satisfaction particularly evocative of the qualities that set local boutiques apart from their larger, chain-store counterparts. It likewise sets Shoptiques.com apart from its peers in the online shopping community.

Shoptiques.com succeeds in creating a more authentic, personalized shopping experience for its web-based clientele. Outside of traditional clothing categories, such as “dresses,” “pants,” and “tops,” customers can refine their search to a specific boutique, or by neighborhood. New Yorkers no longer need a plane ticket to shop San Francisco’s Marina, and California girls can window shop in Nolita without leaving the comfort of their living rooms. Moreover, girls on both coasts can now shop virtually in neighborhoods in Chicago, Georgia, and elsewhere.

Shoptiques.com already features inventory from over fifty boutiques across the country, and it doesn’t end. With plans to one day expand internationally, the site hopes to enable customers to snap up original finds from Tokyo, Paris, and anywhere in between, allowing you to shop locally, globally.

Shoptiques.com targets shoppers who are looking to differentiate themselves and stand out from the crowd. In particular, the site is a promising resource for both rural and suburban girls, whose shopping options are typically limited to the offerings at local strip mall. Best of all, with most of the inventory falling below the $100 mark, Shoptiques.com is accessible to all shoppers regardless of location or personal budget. Visit: http://www.shoptiques.com/ to start shopping!

Courtesy: lookbook.nu

The kimono jacket seems to be Spring’s hottest trend. Less structured than a blazer, but still a touch more sophisticated than your favorite cardigan -- what’s not to love? Add to this the fact that they look as awesome paired with jeans as over a party dress, and it is little wonder the kimono jacket is the latest outerwear craze. But did you know that this style actually has a rich history, dating back almost as far back as haute couture itself?

Paul Poiret
Courtesy: Wikipedia

Known in his day as “The King of Fashion,” Paul Poiret was one of the first couturiers to found his own eponymous fashion house, and to market not just clothing, but style. In addition to his maison de couture, Poiret manufactured perfumes, cosmetics and decorative arts for the home -- all the trappings for a luxurious modern life. Aside from permanently changing the face of fashion merchandising, Poiret contributed greatly to the complete overhaul in women’s dress that occurred in the decades between 1890 and 1920. Before Chanel, Poiret rejected the corset while glorifying construction, draping, and above all a clean elegant silhouette.

Poiret’s designs were famously influenced by the Far East, and one of his earliest successes was a dress coat the mimicked the lines of a traditional kimono. This same silhouette reappeared in his work continually throughout his career. The result? 1912 and 2012 -- not looking too different!

Model wears one of Poiret's Kimono-esque designs.
Courtesy: Wikipedia

A modern take on the kimono trend.
Courtesy: Roze's Secondhand News

Growing up, I was a true tomboy and I never really got over my distaste for florals, pastels, or anything I deemed “too Laura Ashley.” Although I have learned, since the age of six, to embrace wearing dresses, skirts, and heels, I can’t deny that the majority of my wardrobe exists in grey-scale (mostly black), with the occasional brown or beige piece thrown in to mix things up.

No one could have been more surprised than myself when I took such a liking to the rainbow of pastels walking down the Spring 2012 runways. What is it exactly about this season's take on the country club color palette that makes it appealing to a girl who refused to dye Easter eggs because “eggshell is such a nice neutral and really does go with everything?”

In part, I like that designers have given these colors an edge. I like this Spring's pastels the same way I like a baby-doll dress on Courtney Love, but not on Sandra Dee. There is a toughness to them that is undeniably ironic. You wouldn’t want to mess with any of these girls even if they are pretty in pink:

Courtesy: fashionista.com

One other explanation of my willingness to jump on the pastel bandwagon could be desensitization as a result of exposure to the ultra-saturated hues of this past Fall. Beautifully tailored dress clothes in shades previously only found among the selection of Manic Panic hair dyes at the local "Hot Topic" is another trend I never saw myself getting behind...until I saw the fire engine red blouse tucked into hot pink skirt, and the kelly green pants worn under the electric blue blazer...

Maybe, like plaids and stripes, it all goes back to the sheer joy of rebellion. The tiny thrill we experience when we go to our closets and pair together two things that we know to be a “mismatch.” The little boost we get from “pulling it off.” Maybe the clash works on an even more fundamental, sensory level. That color wheel they give out on the first day of art class in elementary school. When your teacher tells you your paintings will pop if you pair up colors from opposite sides of the wheel. Maybe it is biology -- opposites attract.

All I know is it works. And whatever mystic appeal the combination of marigold and plum had for me last Autumn has transferred to tangerine and lilac.

Courtesy: The Kooples

So, go ahead, embrace wearing pastels. Just be sure to also embrace rule breaking!