Black and White Edgy Yet Feminine Look

As the Winter is nearing the end (here’s hoping!), I’m definitely starting to add more and more color to my looks as it intuitively feels more natural, and fills my ambiance with positivity (which also transfers to others — try it out, you’ll see!) 

As I’ve shared before — I mostly lean towards a modern/feminine style, with creative accents via color, prints, accessories and shapes, but every now and then I feel like putting together a more edgy/dramatic look, and wanted to share one that is easy to replicate from your own wardrobe.

What makes this looks a bit more dark is the color juxtaposition of black and white, which carries high contrast and appears more bold and intense. If you’re not really into dressing with intensity, I recommend infusing other colors into the look to make it feel lighter (like softer grays, dark purples or army greens), or using textures to make it feel more relaxed.

I wanted this look to feel more elevated so I opted for the following elements that are typically associated with more drama:

1. Leather-looking high-waisted waxy Baxter Jeans by Rag & Bone
2. Pointy-toe snake-embossed leather Jappa Booties with sculpted heels by Coclico
3. Pinstripe menswear-inspired blazer with chain accents by Alice & Olivia
4. Dark blue patent leather Chanel bag
5. White t-shirt
6. Statement cocktail ring

I paired the jeans with a simple white tee – with a little “surprise” on the inside (a Disney design by Uniqlo that I picked up in Orlando a few weeks ago). I think it adds a pop of..well..POP to the look 🙂

I played with texture on the shoes, the pants and the bag, along with chain adornments to add the extra details tying it together. I also coordinated the metals on my cocktail ring by BORA (purchased at the Winter Village Holiday market a few years back) and the chains on the blazer, along with the “party in the back” rhinestone design on the blazer that elevates the drama further.

These boots are one of my favorite designs for Spring, they are classic and timeless while being creative and sexy; the snake-embossed texture is subtle and they look like more of a solid color from afar, but as you get closer and notice the texture, they become true statement and conversation pieces.  If you haven’t heard of COCLICO, you really should check them out – they’re NYC based, sustainable and well-made; their modern designs mixed with beautiful colors and leathers make them unique art pieces for your wardrobe. The heels on these boots have an architectural feel to them – like an homage to modern NYC skyscrapers – on your feet.

One of the keys to keeping a look like this from feeling over the top is accentuating your proportions – so I used style tricks of “tucking” and “cinching” to create waist definition, making the outfit feel balanced and feminine. If you want to balance the edginess even more, keeping makeup minimal with emphasis on only 1 feature (either lips, eyes or brows) really helps.

What are some of your favorite edgy pieces in your wardrobe? Would love to see them, please share on instagram and be sure to use #ModnitsaStyle so I can repost them on my stories!

Photography by Leslie Moncada