The Sound of Fashion: Vampire Weekend

Welcome to another installment of TSOF, where I make up a couple of outfits based on the style of a particular album. My choice this time is Vampire Weekend, an indie band formed in a Columbia dorm room. They have been getting a lot of hype lately, and usually that makes me a little leery.

But I have given their debut a good listen and all I have to say is "wow." These guys rock. Their songs are inspired by relationships, the Ivy life, and summer weekends on the Cape. Basically, it is prep to the core. But they have brought together disparate musical styles, like African musical traditions and 80s bands like Talking Heads (whom I adore, by the way) to create something utterly unique, and damn catchy.

For my VW inspired outfits, I have chosen some preppy standbys like Sperry Top-Siders and rope belted navy capris, as well as a khaki skirt and striped blazer. But just like VW, I've thrown in some ethnic inspiration with the printed Built By Wendy camisole and bright African headscarf. There is definitely a hint of the 80s as well, as evident in the blazer's angular lines and bold print and the red patent bag. I think it's a good mix of Blair and Serena (for all of you GG fans out there) that sums up the style of Vampire Weekend: old school meets new school.

The Sound of Fashion: Little Amber Bottles

Time for another one of my favorite features, The Sound of Fashion, where I interpret the sound of a particular band's album using clothes. This time I have chosen Blanche's new album, Little Amber Bottles. Blanche is a group of five guys and dolls who do what can best be described as goth-country-Americana-rock. Trust me, it's fabulous. They, like me, have an affinity for all things old-fashioned, particularly of Dustbowl-era America. Their sound is classic and modern all at once, but you can definitely hear the strains of 1920s country, 1800s lyrical sensibilities, and 1950s rock.

A pretty lace blouse with floral embroidery is sweet and feminine, but paired with menswear inspired knickers, the look becomes more mysterious. A bracelet of jewel-toned glass cameos and straight from Cold Mountain lace up boots complete the outfit. Don't forget a pair of black lace gloves and and a mint julep. Yee haw!

The Sound of Fashion: Ballad of the Broken Seas

Music is an extremely important part of my life. So is fashion. What happens when you mix the two? The Sound of Fashion, a new Modiste series! I'll pick a singer or band and a particular album of theirs, and then interpret the sound using fashion. This time I have chosen Isobel Campbell's collaboration with Mark Lanegan, Ballad of the Broken Seas.

Isobel is a Belle & Sebastian alum, which happens to be one of my favorite bands. On this venture, she and Lanegan have created a gorgeous mix of styles - ranging from bluesy folk to country to pure pop rock. The result is a timeless and haunting album that transports the listener to weathered beach houses and overgrown rural landscapes dotted with rusty pick up trucks. Head to Amazon for a sampling, and then buy a copy! It's the perfect thing to listen to when you need a little alone time. Great for road trips as well!

A lovely navy blue ruffly shirtdress (that bears more than a passing resemblance to Isobel's!) is the perfect piece to represent the album's unique sound. It is at once classic and fresh, citified sophistication and country girl swagger. Fringed boots reminiscent of 70s rock goddesses and a sexy, slim denim skirt hint at a certain sultriness. A simple wool cap and plaid shirt are laid back and effortless.