My personal style compass tends to land on all things British.  

I LOVE British style… and accents… but that’s another topic all on it’s own..LOL.

What is British fashion?  It’s about embracing the quirk, giving over to the whimsy and tossing out the fashion rules. Mixing prints and patterns, high and low, vintage and designer at will. Taking risks and not apologizing for it.

British designers/brands such as Alexander McQueen, Burberry, L.K.Bennett, Mulberry and of course Vivienne Westwood are known for this.

A little Fashion History Lesson: Pop culture icon Vivienne Westwood INVENTED rebellious style. Known for her penchant for leather and zippers (remember those bondage pants you wore to punk shows in the 80s well VW invented those) this iconoclastic redhead uses her brand as a medium for both political and social expression.

When she came on the fashion scene in the 1970’s she turned British fashion on it’s head! Westwood and then-partner Malcolm McLaren of the Sex Pistols opened a store on Kings Road, called Let it Rock. The store, now called World’s End, is still open and continues to carry Westwood’s collections: her main women’s ready-to-wear line, which she officially launched in 1981; her Red Label, which skews to younger tastes; a mass-market line called Anglomania; and her menswear line.

Over the decades her designs have grown in sophistication but retain the same original elements – pirates, tartans, courtesans, Victoriana and bondage.

Today’s Look of the Day pays homage to the queen of fashion-with-a-voice, Vivienne Westwood, a woman who has influenced my personal style for decades!

In keeping with the Britannia theme I paired this Tartantastic Vivienne Westwood Red Label jacket with a WILDFOX Changing of the Guard distressed sweater that I have had FOREVER, black button front jeans and an edgy studded Mulberry for Giles clutch.

I have had some readers ask how to add a little edge to their look no matter what their age.  The key to pulling off distressed or edgy pieces whether you are in your 20s, 30s, 40s or 50s is to pair them with more conservative pieces.

Head to toe leather aka “gimp style” a la Pulp Fiction may not be your jam or appropriate for casual Friday’s but you CAN sprinkle in pieces that give your look an unexpected edge.

Look for items with street savvy details like metal elements, studs and zippers. Then incorporate them into a structured sartorial look.  A leather jacket over a shift dress or a fitted blazer over distressed jeans with chic heels.  It’s all about balance.

Try tossing the rules out the window, have some fun and see what happens!

I think we could all use a little more of that and not JUST in our fashion.

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