fashion find it for you: Midriffs, Magheritas, Missonis and a style challenge..

So today whilst hard at work, and girlfriend and I were discussing the alarming (and ever increasing) trend of Ballarat teenage midriff fashion. Not even the threat of an 8 degree day can squash this growing phenomenon; the local plaza is overrun with teen bellybuttons. True story.

This then got me thinking about midriff fashion in general, which then lead me to Margherita Missoni. Ohhh. Girl crush alert. I think if there is any one single person I am more in awe of in the whole wide world apart from Miss Palermo herself would have to be Margherita. She even makes the name Margherita sound cool - if it were my name I feel the not-so-tropical 'Marg' might be closer to the mark. She nails super quirky-cool with each print-clashing, midriff bearing ensemble, and is one of the most natural 'just totally woke up like this' beauties out there. Sigh.

My affection to Missoni actually goes way back. Well not really, but I have been madly in love with their cult and oh so vintage-esque zig zag print all the way since Year Seven. I had a ‘Very Very’ (whatever happened to Very Very? Back then the fashion pages of Dolly were chock a block with Very Very, Vallen, Rare and Brian Rochford. Those were the days) Missoni-print body shirt. Wearing this baby with my Tencel wide leg jeans and eight-up electric blue Doc Martens I thought I was just about the coolest thing ever. Since then, I have had to admire Missoni from afar; alas the designer label of my dreams has never made it into my price bracket. Not without trying mind you, each year Missoni towels make it onto my christmas list, and I often add several Missoni cardis and knit skirts to my watch list in eBay but they never get as far as the checkout.

This is the reason I love her:

She is just gorgeous. And natural. And just so Italian. How does she pull it off?

So, feeling inspired by MM I have decided to come up with my own version of a fabulous midriff-bearing ensemble that Margie would be proud to don; all sourced from online stores (of course). Okay - here goes:

Top. So I just HAD to include something Missoni in the outfit.. as this is obviously her thing. This little ditty is $263 GBP from NetAPorter.com - buy me HERE.

Jacket. So she loves a sixties shape, and this Jayson Brunsdon 'Modernist' number has such a 'Twiggy' feel with the bell sleeves and stunning tomato red colour. Buy me HERE for $385 at MyCatwalk.com.

Pants. So I couldn't go past Gorman for their quirky prints and high waisted shape - I just KNOW Margherita would love love love these. Buy these super cute Papaya printed pants for $229 HERE from the Gorman online store.

Shoes. She loves a wedge, and these Christian Louboutin wedge heel zebra print sandals tie in the print of the pants and top. Plus, they are Louboutins and fabulous. She would LOVE. And if you do too - buy them HERE for a totes ridic $169, thank you LouboutinOutlet.com.

So that is my homage to Miss Missoni. There is no way in hell I could get away with clashing prints, just woke up hair, midriff tops and full patterned fitted maxi dresses but OH HOW I WISH I COULD.

Speaking of outfits - here is my one for the day. Oh Margherita, you can totally stop reading now.

So. Today's outfit would see me totally camouflaged on the plains of Africa surrounded by cheetahs and maybe some burnt tree stumps that have been blackened (this is to blend into the legs... oh not sure my whole analogy is really working so ill give it a rest huh). Today's outfit includes the super cute and definitely don't wear it enough Sass and Bide blazer, worn over a taupe coloured Seed Femme poly pocket detail shirt which doesn't really go colour wise but I am going to stick with it regardless. Next are the Neon Blonde 'used to be wet look that are now faded and look more like dark grey jeans so much so that I won't be able to wear them to work passed off as black pants' skinnies. Sad to see them go. And then all finished of with the magnificent EOS taupe leather boots which I am madly in love with (hence the number of post solely dedicated to their wonderfulness) and manage to tie the whole ensemble together. FAB.

I am wearing leopard print Margherita - that must count for something right??

FFIFY xxxxx

OH delivery alert - one super cool Zara tweed oversized boyfriend blazer coming right up!