Fashion Crush Friday: Lydia Martin

We have a real chicken/egg question in today's Fashion Crush Friday. I couldn't tell you what came first, my girl crush on Holland Roden or my style crush on Lydia Martin. All that matters is that Lydia has game on a level that no true high school girl possesses.

Let's look at the best of Lydia.

The Costume Director from Teen Wolf has noted that she tries to even the playing field with her characters and their teen fans when deciding how to style her characters and source their wardrobes. The point of Teen Wolf isn't to show a bunch of teens in New York fashion, but to let each character have their own fashion profile based on easily accessible basics that real viewers at home could get at their local mall. This often plays out with some really debatable character choices (God, Kira, just stop with the knee high socks, and sure, Malia, you were raised as a coyote but must everything be ripped?) but fortunately my girl Lydia is given free rein to shine. 

Lydia is the most mature of the gang and has a documented interest in fashion, which gives her character more room to play. Lydia rocks muted colors and neutrals, which really plays into the sophistication of the character. She is feminine, but there is nothing bubble gum pink or lime green about Lydia.

She's famous for that hair work which involves intensely intricate styles (often braids), that are always softened to create angelic halos. The softness of the hair adds some vulnerability and youth to the character where a sleeker hair profile (or God forbid a bob!) would've aged her too severely. 

Here, we're seeing a gridded, loose fitting checkerboard top paired with a completely romantic dutch braided crown. With a sleek, high ponytail this top could've had a completely different futuristic space vibe. Instead, Lydia brings it down to Earth with soft falling wisps. Don't forget those red lips for a classic black/white/red combo!

This may be some of Lydia's best work. A fitted leather skirt with a conservative button down Oxford with a color contrasting collar and tiny whale stitching? Are you seeing where this fashion crush is coming from? Plus, the brown in the skirt really brings out the darker undertones in Lydia's auburn hair. And of course, Lydia carries a purse instead of a backpack and this red leather is a great satchel style choice.

This costume is special because it's part of Lydia's growth as a character. Season 1 Lydia wanted to dumb herself down and play up her good looks to dodge scrutiny. In her time with Scott's gang, she toned down the overt sex appeal and started wearing things with more of a quirk. That old Lydia never would've worn a bull dog grey sweater (this screams J. Crew, no?) layered over a yellow gingham collar.

But because she's still Lydia, you know we're putting those legs on display in some short shorts! 

Lydia favors skirts over jeans, and does a great mix of fitted pencils like the leather above, and swinging skater skirts. When you've got legs like that, it doesn't hurt to show them off. Lydia's hair is frequently down and loose, so when choosing where to apply a print in this outfit, it makes more sense to go with the skirt  instead of flashing a ton of detail on a top that will be partially obscured all day anyway.

This neatly segues into Lydia's floral game. This is a pattern that sticks out very clearly, and really brings an almost unexpected vintage vibe to Lydia's wardrobe. When it comes to print, small repeating florals are her most common by far. She's not much for watercolors or geometrics, and these florals help to reinforce that ladylike vibe. Plus, she loves breaking the old adage that redheads can't wear pinks or reds. 

Sure, Lydia may have discovered that she's a lethal teen banshee, and she may have recently had her throat slit for the second time in one high school experience, but she's not going to let saving the world stop her from keeping that fashion game on point. That's just the kind of spirit I can admire!