artichokes and hallmarks

I went to dinner last night at the Sunset Tower Hotel with a gaggle of women from both New York and LA who work in fashion. In between bites of grilled artichoke and celeb spotting (Gerard Butler! Mario Testino!), we discussed everything from switching religions for a spouse to our respective style hallmarks--i.e. wearing different iterations of the same style repeatedly, such as a striped t-shirt (guilty!), a structured black blazer or a full skirt. New York-based fashion editor Marina Larroude, above and below, clearly has a penchant for the latter, and she works it well. One might even call it her secret sauce for warm weather style. It makes sense after all, as this is the kind of piece that does all the work for an outfit, and it's a cinch to dress around. Should you be loyal to the full skirt, or want to adopt it as a new trademark, consider this leather-trimmed white DKNY, this elegant black Marni, and this fun, floral print Asos.

Photos: Gastrochic, Garance Dore,  Marie Claire