Silver and Mud

      I have always been an active person. I grew up on a farm in upstate New York and spent most of my days with our two horses, Ryal and Nyzette. My home is a barn that was converted into a house in the 1930's, so you can imagine the amount of work that has gone into fixing and maintaining it. My parents always encouraged outside play and there wasn't a day that I came into the house without a mud splatter up the back of both legs.

       I remember my mom saying with a grin on her face, "What planet did you come from?" as I laid out my outfit for the day on the floor: a dress, loads of jewelry, and a pair of boots. I was four.

      I love the feeling of not being physically constricted by my clothing and not having to worry about keeping them perfect. Clothing that ages well and can take a hard day are the pieces that tell a story in the end. If I'm gonna go for a walk and play a gig it might as well be done in something pretty.

These Free People ankle boots have become my new go-to shoes. I absolutely love the henna design on them, and comfort wise there is nothing better.

This terracotta shirt achieves what I wish most of my clothing would: it's basic, but it still has some real interest to it that makes you take a second look. Check out all of Free People's gorgeous henley shirts!

The silver maxi, earrings, and pendant are all from a local designer of Indian clothing, Vijaya.

Having real style is doing all the things you want to do in the clothing that you want to wear.  

All photos were taken by my dear friend, Grace. Check out the rest of her work here. 

P.S. How To Style a Felt Hat

     I love felt hats. They are the perfect accessory for a wide variety of looks, and help cover up the snarls of hair left by too much fun on a windy day. I was going through photos that Jason Sexton took of me a couple of months ago and found two shots demonstrating different ways to style a floppy hat.

    The first one is an easy bohemian look, and the second is a more refined and glamorous ensemble. The key to both get-ups is that they are paired with pieces that mimic the volume and shape of the hat. The first look has a top with sleeves that have a slight bell shape as well as a handkerchief dress that adds volume. The second look, although paired with a form-fitting top, has a full mini skirt which flairs out in a similar way.

As long as at least one of the other elements in your outfit balances the shape of a floppy hat, it's a surefire way to ramp up your look!