Hmmmmm...

Generally, I like Leighton Meester. She's pretty, she's hilarious/awesome on Gossip Girl, and she has good taste in clothes. Or so I thought. Let's examine Exhibit A below. Didn't recognize her? Me neither. It looks like Leighton, but about 15 years older, 20 pounds heavier, and down with a serious case of the Tilda Swintons. Now, it's not that she can't look cute. Note Exhibit B, from the Teen Choice Awards. She looks adorable and young and fit in that Louis Vuitton frock. So either her stylist hates her, or she got suckered into wearing an uber designer's top and couldn't say no at the risk of offending say, Alber Envaz, etc, etc. But I feel like if she had to wear this top, there are better things to wear it with than ski pants, no? Check out how I'd restyle it below.



Dolce Vita Jody Skirt, $132 at shopbop.com, Elegantly Waisted Addison Belt, $96 at shopbop.com, Prada Multi-Strap Pumps, $695 at neimanmarcus.com: First off, the pants have to go. The top is vastly unflattering and a lot of look on its own, so it needs to be paired with a simple, sleek skirt. The extra skin exposed helps balance out the bulky upper half nicely. I'd go for black accessories, so they don't compete with the top and make the overall look too busy, but black with some sort of interesting detail to keep the feeling young. A slightly narrower belt would be more flattering and much more chic. I like this Elegantly Waisted belt because it's elastic in the belt, so it'll blend right into the skirt, and the black on black studs in the front draw the eye to the waist without being too attention-catching. I'd finish it all off with these Prada peep-toe pumps. Since they're basic black, they don't steal the show, but the big platform and all those tiny straps add a very necessary bit of edge, taking this look from slightly matronly to fashion forward.


Image Sources:
Leighton Meester, in order: gofugyourself.com, glamour.com, Dolce Vita skirt: shopbop.com, Elegantly Waisted belt: shopbop.com, Prada pumps: neimanmarcus.com