Moss Appeal

This post is in honor of my extremely talented baby sister, who is preparing to enter Parson’s School of Design (yep, home to Tim Gunn and “Project Runway”) and become a designer in her own right (look forward to future posts on that development).  She counts Kate Moss amongst her most formative influences — and who doesn’t want to take a walk on the wild side every now and then?  Her unstudied rocker chic look is even appealing to a generally preppy, ladylike sensibility like my own.  Despite the uproar she started in the 90s  (and continues to sustain every coupla years) due to her heroin-thin look, you’ve gotta admit that the lady can dress.  Who else could make me want to wear leather pants?!

Step one in getting the look (even a modified, toned-down variation)?  Invest in lots of black.  (My mother is shuddering at the thought, as she always advises her chickadees to wear more color.)  Step two?  Insist upon a silhouette almost invariably comprised of skinny jeans or black tights, super-high heels, and a shift or voluminous top.  For boho-cool daywear, begin with some just-right black skinnies.  Mine are from J Brand and fit like a dream (on sale for $131, Bluefly):

Make sure you have an oversized black “doctor’s” bag — Moss is partial to Balenciagas, like this “Arena” style ($1,895, Barney’s):

Although I can totally see her with this fringe-adorned Cesare Paciotti (on sale for $600, Zappos):

Top it off with timeless Ray Bans — like my favorite magpie maven, Rachel Bilson, Moss is partial to the Wayfarer —

Snag your own pair for $145 at RayBan:

You may opt to go the slightly irreverent route, layering a vintage-style graphic tee (Rebel Yell, $84, ShopTheTrend) beneath a black boyfriend blazer (Bop Basics, $190, Shopbop):

Moss would likely top it off with a trilby hat and some unexpected footwear — perhaps fringed booties (check out Minnetonka’s back zipper versions for inspiration — $45, Net-A-Porter), lug-soled motorcycle boots, or some “tough gal” zipper-accented heels.  She would be all over these Alexander McQueens ($995, Alexander McQueen):

I pretty much swoon over those shoes — such a well-balanced design — but admit that I don’t think I have the gumption to pull them off.  I’m far too feminine in my sensibility to truly sport the head-to-toe rocker babe aesthetic.  Some of her less-than-edgy looks are more my speed, including her unexpectedly ladylike styling in this Marc Jacobs collarless jacket:

I’d willingly wear the entire outfit, beginning with a navy-and-white breton shirt (Vince, $98, Piper Lime):

Add a collarless jacket (J. Crew frequently has styles available, like the Dauphine, currently on sale for $99, but this DKNY version is arresting — $325, DKNY):

If you willing to spring for it, this hand-painted tweed Marc Jacobs is TDF (to die for) — on sale for $1,025, The Outnet:

Complete the look with some simple ballet flats.  I adore this pair of python-effect white leather Blochs ($185, Net-A-Porter):

The Ray Ban “Cats 5000” are the perfect topper ($135, Ray Ban):

I like the dark-wash skinny jeans she wears above, but Moss is also known for her acid-wash versions —

Test drive with these behind-the-stage-ready Current/Elliotts (on sale for $185, Net-A-Porter):

Add a fitted leather jacket (Juicy Couture, $698, Shopbop) and some skull-print Alexander McQueen flats ($499, Zappos — she was the first to popularize the skull print scarf, which was all.over.the.place two seasons ago):

Of course, Moss’ footwear is about as adventurous as it comes.  I mentioned a couple examples of styles she’s been spotted in, but she is essentially responsible for the meteoric popularity of the Hunter wellie boot (after she was seen in her own mud-speckled pair at Glastonbury, the largest open-air music festival in the world, in 2007):

You can find these classics all over the place nowadays for $125, including at PiperLime:

She’s also sported classic hippie-chic mukluks (I picked up a pair by Juicy Couture this past winter and obsessed over them — get your own while they are out-of-season and on-sale for $187 at Farfetch.com) and devil-may-care pirate boots (snag a comparable style by H by Hudson for $365 at Madison LA):

In essence, she is one fearless fashionista.  And she can rock it all.

For evening wear, the look begins with black tights — Moss layers them under everything.

I’m partial to Spanx, which truly slim you down and make clothes fit seamlessly ($26, Spanx):

Add a sparkling, uber-mini dress — this Pucci (first below — $1,336, TheOutnet) and this 3.1 Phillip Lim ($416, also TheOutnet) are ridiculously lustworthy:

Of course, Alice & Olivia always carry a sequin-adorned style or two per season ($484, ShopZoe):

And Moss would just as likely be caught in an animal-print inspired version like this eye-catching Charlotte Ronson (on sale for $210, Blue and Cream):

Add some slick pointy-toed pumps, like Moss’ favorite Louboutins — the Pigalle 120s ($595, Net-A-Porter):

I can just as easily imagine her rocking these studded pumps by Luxury Rebel (on sale for $131, Endless):

Then throw on a chunky black cocktail ring — I’m in love with the Boleyn II ring by Megan Greene ($183, Couture Candy):

But this Wendy Mink onyx style lets you get the David Yurman look for far less ($105, Wendy Mink Jewelry):

You can’t go wrong with a little gold minaudiere (Whiting and Davis, $130, Shoes.com):

If you’re fearlessly after the Kate Moss evening-wear look, consider going all out with this big black faux-fur coat (248, French Connection):

Layer it over a slinky, slim-cut black dress, like this affordable T by Alexander Wang find ($105, Net-A-Porter):

Add some platform pumps (my boss owns this pair by Dolce Vita and totally kills in them — $165, Cusp) and a rocker chic cocktail ring (CCSkye, $175, Harmony Lane):

Right on the money.

For evenings out, Moss is rarely without some dangling sparklers — a bit of a departure for the Fashion Magpie, as I obsess over enorma-studs…

These pearl-and-snake TopShop baubles would be perfect ($40, TopShop):

Alternately, these Anton Heunis stunners are just the type of off-the-beaten-track find she would score ($135, Fragments NYC —  call 212.334.9588):

The bottom line with Moss, though, is that you can get away with anything — mussed-up hair, mismatched styles, muddied boots — if you have the swagger.  Rock it!

Addendum

Any Magpies in the Big Apple?  Fly by the Shoshanna Sample Sale  Wednesday, June 16, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, June 17 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Shoshanna Show Room (231 West 39th Street, Suite 422 — between 7th and 8th Avenues).  Cash and credit cards accepted.

If you’re into Tucker brand blouses, stop by their sample sale today until 7 pm (Tuesday, June 15) at the Tucker Studio (413 West 14th St, Suite 403 — between 19th and 10th Avenues).