Shop Your Closet: Runway Style

Whether we're culling ideas from the fashionable and famous, stylish civilians, or amazing movies from our past, the quest is always the same: to find outfit inspiration! Today, we're dipping into a rather traditional source for fashion ideas—the runways, but of course—albeit with a resourceful twist. We found two very different looks (one from Sonia Rykiel, the other, William Rast) and will show you how to create your own versions of these key ensembles, using items you already own. So sit back, tell your accountant to relax, and get ready for a new installment of Shop Your Closet!



Sonia Rykiel
Girly girls, rejoice, because our first outfit is a lovely, ladylike look from Sonia Rykiel! The French designer opened her show with a slew of straightforwardly chic ensembles comprised of draped, knee-length, black skirts and ruffled blouses in warm, fruity shades like persimmon and Meyer lemon. We immediately took to the cheerfully sophisticated styles shown, in no small part because they can go from jour to nuit with ease!

We assume that most WhoWhatWear.com readers have picked up a ruffled blouse or two by now, and that all of you have at least one Sonia Rykiel-style skirt in your closets. That said, if we're dead wrong, do check out our examples above. The Banana Republic BR Monogram Petal Skirt ($125) and 3.1 Phillip Lim Silk Ruffle Tank ($275) will fill in those wardrobe gaps nicely.

To finish the look, all you need is red lipstick (obviously, you should wear whatever works with your skin tone best, but we like Nars Lipstick ($24) in Flamenco) and a sparkly beret! While big spenders can shell out for the exact Sonia Rykiel Gem Embellished Beret ($950) seen on the runway, we like Blue Dame's Sequin Covered Beret ($17) as a reasonably priced alternative. Add both accessories and voila! You've got yourself a perfectly Parisian outfit in the spirit of Sonia Rykiel's Spring 09 collection.

You have: Banana Republic BR Monogram Petal Skirt ($125)
3.1 Phillip Lim Silk Ruffle Tank ($275)

Go buy: Nars Lipstick in Flamenco ($24)
Blue Dame Sequin Covered Beret ($17)

William Rast
At WhoWhatWear.com, we like to have something for everyone, so for our second Shop Your Closet outfit, we picked a look from William Rast that's the epitome of downtown dressing. As designed by Johan and Marcella Lindeberg, the line is an ode to American cool (think: perfectly distressed jeans, unstuffy blazers, and rough-and-tumble moto jackets) filtered through a European lens. The results have just the right amount of attitude and are effortlessly awesome.

Though our favorite look from the spring show wasn't produced (though the shoes might be in the future!), happily, we figured out a way to make our own take on the runway style. All that's required is a pair of oversized boyfriend cutoffs and an easy gray tank—both of which you probably already possess! If not, try Current/Elliott's perfectly cut The Roll Short ($178) and American Apparel's Tri-Blend Racerback Tank ($19) asap!

With the foundation of your outfit is settled, all you have to do is add a pair of fringed booties and a pale leather jacket to the mix. We suggest buying something like Silence & Noise's Motorcycle Jacket ($128) in white, as well as a pair of Report Peep-Toe Fringe Boots ($80). Though the jacket doesn't have studded lapels, we think the shape—and most importantly, the price—is right.

You have: Current/Elliott The Roll Short ($178)
American Apparel Tri-Blend Racerback Tank ($19)

Go buy: Silence & Noise Motorcycle Jacket ($128)
Report Peep-Toe Fringe Boots ($80)