Bloggers Samantha Hutchinson and Alicia Lund are two women in an army of style queens that have taken the [virtual and real] fashion world by storm. After launching their respective blogs, Could I Have That? and Cheetah is the New Black, they each rose to style stardom and have worked on turning dreams into realities ever since. It was a love of fashion and blogging that brought these ladies together, and for this month’s Double Take column, that’s exactly our focus! We love how each blogger rocked the forever-classic striped tee (Heidi Merrick’s design) and hearing their thoughts on this season’s must-haves. They share a love of timeless yet personal style, so it’s no surprise that though their outfits are similarly classic, they still stay true to each gal’s unique aesthetic. Think tomboy meets minimalist meets effortless…which just might be the perfect summer style trio!
photography by arna bee & michelle drewes
Born a fashion-fanatic, Samantha worked at a magazine before starting her blog, Could I Have That? Her favorite thing about the striped tee? “It goes with everything and has the best boxy, loose fit. I want it in every color!”
She paired her shirt with a Celine bag and Helmut Lang blazer — “I’m a white and black fanatic,” Samantha says. She’s a big believer in the simple things — her self-described style is “classic and relaxed with structured pieces and neutral colors.”
Samantha created a cool, classic look with some of her favorite pieces, like these boots from Rag & Bone. “This is my take on Parisian cool,” she says.
For Samantha, a summer in LA requires these three style essentials:
-White slides
-Oversized Cat Eye sunglasses
-A Gladys Millinery straw hat
Alicia of Cheetah is the New Black has some major love for this wardrobe-staple-worthy shirt. “Stripes are just effortlessly cool and classic. It’s uber soft and can be dressed up or down” she says. “Plus, I can get some style inspiration from my girl Sam whenever she wears it.”
Cheetah is the New Black launched in 2009 in San Francisco while Alicia was working for a finance firm. It wasn’t until she moved up to NYC with her beau that it became a full-time passion, along with her other fashion pursuits, like working as an editor for ELLE.com and freelance writing and styling.
Alicia is keeping it simple this summer with three wardrobe essentials:
-Anything white
-Aviators
-A gray leather jacket (for when I’m in San Francisco)
She describes her style as classic with a tomboy edge. She says: “It keeps evolving for sure but as I get older, and now that I’m back in northern California and not in an office everyday, I find that I’m sticking to the basics (hence my love for a striped tee!). I’ll add touches of my personality through my accessories.”
