There's a lot to be said about successfully pulling off "eclectic." I think this is one of the more harder adjectives to embody when considering fashion. For one, eclectic does not mean a hodge-podge of collaged pieces, throwing every this and that into an outfit could result in looking like a 5-year old dressed you. When thinking about "eclectic" fashion icon Iris Apfel comes to mind. She was the queen of eclectic, her worldly and visually stunning styling was unparalleled, and she showed a fantastic attention to a successful and edited "eclectic." In my opinion, having an outfit that truly embodies the word, the look should contain multiple cultural identifiers that reference a sense of travel and history, they pieces should work in a very cohesive color-way, and while "eclectic" may suggest mix-and-matching there should be some unifying feeling within an outfit.
Take this Fashionista for example. The seasonal colors of fall is a main unifying theme in her outfit. First off is the pumpkin orange over-sized sweater, which adds a lot of comfort to the look; a throw-and-go feeling is present because of the proportions. The warm orange is mimicked in the warm tones of her scarf, a vintage paisley woven piece with a rich cream colored base. This same cream tan is in her headscarf. Note the play with the two scarves: there is more than just one use for a scarf within a look! Her topknot bun is a great detail that plays up the relevance of the headscarf, and I dig the off-centered position. The black of her leggings and skirt break up the color and give the eye a visual break. And her boots are a great addition; footwear the is heavily rooted in a hunting and laborious background paired with the argyle socks peeking out–great mix of pieces! Finally, her jewelry, necklaces and earrings, are a lot of fun and breathe a fun life into the look. The sterling silver and set turquoise stones add bursts of color that lightens up the heavy fall colors. See the close up of her multiple earrings for some bling-spiration!
For your own stomping footwear try these green-conscious Adibo loafers; good for the earth and for your fashion-health. If vintage stores don't do it for you, try heading over to J.Crew for this sweet sweater with a zip detail. And here comes a slew of amazing jewelry to add some funk to your eclectic take: This Leviticus Bear Ring is absolutely something to howl about. Check out these cut-stone talon rings from Unearthen's Fall 2010 Collection; can't beat a big rock and a sweet edge. And Lucy Folk's Food jewelry line is kind of amazing; scroll down for the crab claw necklaces!
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