{Simply Frida}

I adore the iconic images associated with Frida Kahlo's style--bright colors, floral hairpieces, statement jewelery.  The subtler side of her style, though, is often overlooked but just as lovely.   

Her bold and playful style seemed to be an extension of her equally strong personality.  One of my favorite stories I've read about Kahlo is when she was bed-ridden but refused to stay home on her exhibit's opening night, arranging to be transported by ambulance and then carried in on her bed.

Photo Copyrighted to Mexico Today

"I was born a bitch. I was born a painter." --Frida Kahlo

For me, fashion's always been a medium for self-expression, a way to contain the many different ideas that exist within me, as well as a way to concretely reflect the slight shifts in self that occur each day, week, month, year, or decade.  As such, I find inspiration in Frida Kahlo as an artist and woman who embraced the multitudes that were within her.  

{Pure Cat Power}

Chaun Marshall from Cat Power epitomizes effortless style. Love.

 

{The Sausage Festival}

Mike Stegeman, a Minnesota native, is rocking a vintage, leisure-suit look before heading off to the Sausage Festival (note: not a euphemism) in Minneapolis.  Shirt from Madams Organ bar in Washington DC, pants from Unique Thrift Store in the Minneapolis area.  Note that Mike paired a piano-patterned belt with his piano t.  Nice to see this kind of thought from a member of the hetero male community.  Mike, the North /South blog commends you.  Well-done.

{Red & Silver}

McKayla Maroney's one of my favorite members of USA's gold-medal winning gymnastics team.  She was selected to the team solely for her vault.  Her height and form is unmatched by any other female gymnast in history, in my opinion, although it's not the fairest of claims to make since they changed the vaulting table about ten years ago, making it safer and springier. 

Regardless, her humor, her for-the-camera faux glamor poses, and her competition face all make her utterly likeable.

The girls looked great in the red and silver leos during team finals.  It was supposed to be "more patriotic" than their typical uniforms for international competitions, which really translates to "NOT pink."  I think the fact that they did so well and won the gold is perhaps clouding my judgement, but I really loved the overall look.

Here's the brilliant McKayla Maroney: