Perfectly Simple

If I had to choose one decade that's most informed my personal style, it has to be the '90s. Minimalism and simplicity have always felt right to me -- easy but also elegant. So I was excited to see Gap's nod to clean lines and streamlined shapes in its "Miss Minimalist" looks. Here are my favorite pieces. All I'd need to do is add a great pair of shoes and maybe a little necklace or bracelet, and I'd be ready for the day!

Photos from here.

Cheers!

I love quizzes. Any little questionnaire that can help me understand myself better or hone in on what I like is pretty cool in my book. So I was excited to take Stylish Home's Style Maker quiz. And I was even happier with the results: I was told my style is "Park Avenue Cocktail." The results went on to say I enjoy "graceful living in a well appointed home," that my house is a "den of discussion for artists and intellectuals" and that others with similar tastes include Marlene Dietrich, Frank Sinatra and Audrey Hepburn.

If this is the case, perhaps I should add some art like this Audrey mural. And throw a swank cocktail party!

Photo from here.

Working It

Most mornings, I enjoy getting dressed for the day. I work at a magazine, so it's a pretty creative environment and my job takes me in countless different directions from day to day. I try to wear only things that I love, but it can be difficult to keep up the inspiration. That's why I'm so digging the Five Days, Five Outfits, One Girl series on vogue.com. My current favorite is Vogue's senior accessories editor Filipa Fino. I love her sense of style. She has me wanting to take another look at the pants in my closet, not to mention chic-ify my office immediately.

Photos from here.

The Best of Both

My sister and I have very disparate style preferences. She prefers things that are comfortable, natural and slightly country while I tend toward modern shapes, graphic patterns and rich colors.

However, I think this amazing house -- a "modern country home" featured on Elle Decor -- would suit each of us. The relaxed feel, mix of textures and all that natural light would have us both feeling right at home. It's gorgeous!

Photos from here.

Instant Inspiration

Don't you love to people-watch? I do. It's just neat to see how unique every person is. But those who dress with an unusual point of view are especially thrilling. Maybe that's why Lookbook is fun to browse through.

Here's a look that caught my eye today:

Photo from here.

Simply Stylish

I love these three outfits from Lucky's Style Spotter Gallery. They're easy, cute and quite perfect. 

Photos from here.

Can I Be All Three?

I really can't properly describe the fantastic-ness of the compilations Mrs. Lilien puts together on her blog. They're incredible! And I love the names almost as much as the stylish items she combines. 

Of all the lovely combinations, these three are my favorites: 

Mrs. Aquarius

Mrs. McNicey

Mrs. Uptown

I pretty much want to be all three of these women -- with all their accoutrements, of course! 

Seriously, go check out these and other compilations on Mrs. Lilien's blog. I promise you'll love it.

Photos from here.

Style Travels

Isn't it cool when someone has an unshakable sense of style? A personal aesthetic so strong that even when placed in a new setting it shines through.

Katja of Nestled In on Flickr strikes me as such a person. Whether she's in her old house or current house, she creates spaces that are calm, comfortable and slightly quirky. I love the clean-lined furniture and abundance of white details, but even more so I admire the quality I can't quite pick out that makes both homes so neat. Here, take a look at a few photos:

From her old house:

From her current house:

Photos from here.

Lucky Girls

A great resource when I'm stuck in a wardrobe rut is Lucky magazine's Look of the Day feature on its website. The featured women's styles are so unique and make me think about pairing my own clothes and accessories in new ways. 

Here are a few recent looks I like: 

Photos from here.

Le Sigh

I like to think if I lived in Paris, I would dress the part. By that I mean I hope I would appear effortlessly chic with a style that wasn't over-the-top and that was all my own. If that ever happens -- and even if it doesn't -- I will take my cue from Alix of the cherry blossom girl. Her sense of fashion is pretty spectacular, even when her clothes are in hushed, muted shades.

Here, let's take a look at a few of her recent outfits:

Photos from here.

Right On

I can be quite a sucker for quizzes. It's always interesting to learn more about oneself, and the notion that a quiz could reveal something previously unknown appeals to me.

So I recently took a StyleScope quiz on HomeGoods that promised to tell me what my personal home decorating style is.

Here is my prognosis:

You are an EARTHY MODERN. You keep up with culture, style, and trends, but have an appreciation for timeless forms and simple lines. You value good design, quality craftsmanship, and prefer the streamlined to the overly embellished or cluttered. You also appreciate the warmth and individuality of natural materials and handcrafted things and are inspired by colors and forms from nature. This contrast is what makes your home intriguing and comfortable. You love mixing up different textures and are sensitive to the tactile qualities of objects. Your style is grounded and solid, not flighty or frilly.You value creativity. You are stylish and fun loving, and can be an inspiration to others. You have a natural sense of drama, and you know you have to be willing to take risks—whether with colors, finishes, furniture choices, or ideas—for your home to stand out. Your home can be happy and lively and the place all of your friends want to be.

Now, maybe this applies to everyone and I'm just one of many people seeing myself in this ... but I have to say it seems pretty accurate. I love clean lines, simple shapes and bold colors mixed with textures, natural elements and fun.

Kinda like this fantastic bathroom from Metropolitan Home.

Photo from Metropolitan Home.