I earned a gold medal on my girl scout uniform today for defeating the vicious urge to buy yardage of every trim below. I then had a thorough and informative consultation session with my ultimate fashion-learned comrade, who talked some sense into my ambitious endeavors and then (ironically) threw together some makeshift plans for a trip to Mumbai in Fall 2013. Opa.
Few things get me quite excited as trim shopping.
xx
Festive Dressing, Part 2: Lessons From Chanel Pre-Fall 2012
To follow up on my festive dressing 101 post, here’s some runway-born inspiration that will leave you wanting more Bombay, more expensive sandals, more harem pants and long embellished robes in your life. Karl Lagerfeld succeeded in what may have been his greatest accomplishment thus far…
…he made dreadlocks look expensive.
5 Lessons On Festive Dressing from Chanel Pre-Fall 2012:
1. Festive, luxe color combos: Gold x white, Gold x Turquoise, Gold x Magenta, Gold x Gold.
2. Metallic jewelry is best applied in highly concentrated, intense clusters (ie: a massive destroyed cuff bracelet that link to rings, or a dramatic headpiece worn over a casual hair-do).
3. Embellished ivory motorcycle gloves with the finger tips cut off (sounds like a fun DIY project, don’t it?!) can turn an evening look into something fit for a futuristic badass bollywood starlet.
4. Dark, dramatic eyes & pink lips look amazing with pearls and champagne-metallic textiles.
5. Ankle jewelry x harem pants under a long coat or skirt creates a royal, bohemian summer look that you can adapt with any color (and interpret in super light fabrics like breezy linens).
More full looks from the collection below:
Side note: While I don’t think verbatim, by-the-book silhouettes and direct references are a good reason to ruffle your feathers when critiquing something as potentially imaginative as high fashion, Karl did say one thing about this collection that I found pretty odd re: sourcing his inspiration.
He said he’d (purposely) never been to India, and that he thought it was better not to go somewhere when you’re designing a collection inspired by a geographic destination. I would have to strongly disagree. If I had as much money as Karl, I would be using it to get as up close and personal to the source of the inspiration as I could, especially India! Those textiles! That film industry! Are you kidding me?
None the less, this is probably my favorite Chanel collection, ever. So hats off to the iconic Mr. Lagerfeld. And I do hope he gets himself to India someday.
xx
Gorgeous Things I Got For Christmas ♡
Sorry ya’ll, this is an entirely material-driven (though affection-propelled) post about a few beautiful things my better half got me for Christmas. I haven’t really had the time to post specifically about the well-documented Xmas festivity yet (oh the parties, the food, the decor!) but I figure since Brooklyn is supposed to get snow today, I can ease back into the holiday posting and it won’t seem too gruesomely delayed. You tell me if you think it’s working.
And who will guard the gorgeous loot from predators and jealous friends?
Yes, my army of dazzling nutcracker princes and kings and soldiers. Only a fool craving a glittery demise would dare lay a hand on my new wooden beaded necklaces.
HO ho ho ho hoooooooooo—!!
xx
It’s not hard to be festive when it’s cold out, thanks to chilly air demanding layers of luxe fabric and furs (faux furs if you like). You can go with brocades, velvets, satins, and even silks to achieve your look, but sometimes it’s as simple as a few final touches in the right hues. Here are five simple ways to add some inviting, chic festivity to your look in the form of accessories, color, and texture.
1. Jewel Tones. These are your winter fashion weapons. Know them and use them.
2. Metallics. While metallics can be added to your look any time of year, they become especially effective and even subconsciously applauded by your peers when you work them in during the cold months. It reminds one of glistening ice, snow, Xmas lights, etc.
3. Florals. Stick to folk-arty and Nordic looking prints when you do florals in the winter. When all else fails, a floral brocade scarf can amp up your attire (try the street vendors near Columbus Circle if you live in NYC, that’s where I got this one).
4. Indian wedding jewelry. I wear it all year round and I consider it an absolute essential for a holiday party. I bought the one shown here for $2 at a flea market (and no, it’s not plastic). Check ebay for some relatively cheap jewels that probably won’t last more than a couple of years, but will definitely beat the Forever21 jump-off’s your friends are wearing.
5. Furry winter accessories. I love my earmuffs so much I can’t even write about it. But you can see them below.
Bonus points for purple contact lenses and jeweled earrings.
Overdone? A bit. Festive? Yes, that’s the point! Have fun with what you wear, especially during the holidays. These photos were taken of my outfit to Xmas dinner. I laughed a little at myself for being decked out like a jewel-toned Xmas present, but if there’s ever a time to compare yourself to something like that, it’s during the holidays and into the winter season. ;}
I’m excessive, I’m super into jewels and colors, and here’s something I’ve learned after studying & working in fashion, obsessing over what was cool and oppressing my natural tendency to dress a little bit more gaudy than everyone else (which was lame as hell):
Have fun with everything you do, everything you wear, everyone you know. Enjoy yourself. Be festive, let go, dress up, wear costume jewelry, go a little over the top, saturate yourself with color, stick a feather in your hat, wear something because it calls to you and not because you think it’ll give you style street cred.
Life is so much more amazing if your heart is light and you’re having a good time, whether you are wearing six inch platform heels and a designer jumpsuit or a hand-sewn frock and some beat up old lady shoes with hand-glued gems on them.
When the clothes on your back match what’s in your soul, “fashion” becomes so much more interesting, and so much more exciting to explore and experiment with.
After all, it’s about creativity and self-expression, and finding out what colors, shapes, textures, and concepts make you feel like a god damn superstar, isn’t it? Are you really going to shrivel up and die if no one stops you for a street style photo when you’re walking around the city? Do you really need to worry about whether your outfit is “style blog worthy”?
Maybe if you work in fashion, that’s part of your work uniform, and that’s totally fine.
I’m not saying put on a clown costume, down a bottle of champagne, and hit the street. I’m saying shred your jeans if you want to, wear as much jewelry or pop-color lipstick as you want to, do your hair in an out-of-date style if you love that style. Have fun, have fun, have fun. Wear whatever the hell you want.
I promise that this is the only way to feel cosmically right with yourself when you get dressed every day.
That’s enough of my soap box for tonight!
xx
Acid Wash & Dip-Dye! Denim Reviews, Party Pics, & PROJECT NY
This weekend is nuts, between planning a super important celebration, getting ready to dance my face off at Golden Festival, getting ready for PROJECT NY (we’re super proud to have been invited for the second time to The Blogger Project, curated by Marcus Troy), and finishing up a big mood board/book endeavor.
But I wanted to post some of the denim reviews I’ve done recently, and my trip to the Siwy Denim showroom. Click the photos to go through to the review.
d.brand acid wash skinny jeans
Doctrine Jeans high-waisted dark wash skinny jeans
Fidelity Denim‘s Ace skinny jeans
Grey Tube Kelly Nudie Jeans
Moussy NY Chemical Blue Wash skinny jeans
Henry & Belle Ideal Super Skinny Ankle Jeans
The Siwy Denim showroom delivered on the unspoken Siwy promise of amazing denim shorts. I was drooling over these peach and mint green bleached cut-off’s. In the way of legit sex appeal, Siwy has it down.
Lastly, the Denim Therapy x d.brand holiday party we threw last December at Space 350. We displayed the blogger’s favorite picks from the spring ’12 line and did a whole lot of cocktail-enhanced mingling. I ran into Whalen Bryce, with whom I worked earlier this year on a killer photoshoot (I never did post the final cuts of that shoot, did I!), and some other fashion-friends I adore. A lovely way to start out the holiday season.
(All photos by Raffael Flores-Contreras.)
In honor of the PROJECT trade show kicking off Monday, here are back-links to some of our content from PROJECT over the summer. We had so much fun with The Denim Guy & all the creative minds there. I may also run by the Capsule show (which is always a little more bohemian) and cover cool brand there too. Stay tuned!
⇒ Ones To Watch: Five Men’s Denim Brands We Loved At PROJECT NY
⇒ PROJECT New York Style Roundup, Part 1
⇒ PROJECT New York Style Roundup, Part 2
⇒ Nudie Jeans Reps Eco-Conscious Denim At Project
⇒ PROJECT Show SnapshotsDay 1: Tattoos, Cool Socks & Fruit
⇒ Our Top 10 Favorite PROJECT Show Moments
⇒ PROJECT NY: See The Madness Through Our Eyes In This Wrap-up Video
xx
How to wear white jeans during the winter
Wrote up this post for Denim Therapy today: three outfits that allow one to break the “no white after labor day” rule and layer up for some frosty white winter style.
1. Marc by Marc Jacobs skinny jeans ($228) – buy it at Shopbop.
2. Wildfox Couture Stag Baggy Beach Jumper in Dirty White ($123) – buy it at Shop The Trend.
3. By Malene Birger Nasitta chunky-knit wool scarf ($225) – buy it at Net-A-Porter.
4. Betsey Johnson Lleela Combat Boot ($170) – buy it at Betsey Johnson.
5. House of Harlow 1960 14KT Gold Large Feather Row Cuff ($110) – buy it at Shop The Trend.
1. Joe’s Jeans The Skinny Colored jean ($160) – buy it at Far Fetch.
2. ACNE Jade crop cable knit ($363) – buy it at My Wardrobe.
3. Kelsi Dagger Abrielle – Yellow Suede ($130) – buy it at Heels.com.
4. Dries Van Noten Bracelet Set ($345) – buy it at My Theresa.
5. D&G Sheer Lace Top ($145) – buy it at The Outnet.
1. J Brand Denim 912 low-rise skinny jeans ($66) – buy it at The Outnet.
2. Silver Foil Printed Jumper ($64) – buy it at Miss Selfridge.
3. Giuseppe Zanotti Amber Wedge Boots ($525) – buy it at Ssense.
4. Yochi Design Statement Earring In Hematite/Gold ($60) – buy it at Otte.
5. OPI Urban Ballerina collection in “Leotard Optional” ($9.50) – buy it at Sephora.
While we’re on the topic of denim, here’s what I’ve been up to at DT:
With Love, From Sweden: Three Fresh Denim Street Style Looks
Inside Denim Manufacturer Edwin Japan’s Well-Oiled Methods
Street Style: Denim Shorts x Tights
Wishlisted: The Dakota Dark-Wash Denim Jacket
Mother Denim Spring 2012 Showroom Preview
Throwback: The Ugly 90s Denim Round-Up
Would You Wear Glittery Purple Jeans (Post-NYE)?
Top 9 Pairs Of Jeans To Party In!
Rag & Bone Do Skinny Jeans In Metallic Pastels
More later, have a date with an old school trolley bus, a soviet hat, and a hot Ukrainian DJ! Happy Saturday…
xx
What Seems Like An Interlude Now…
If you’re feeling moody & prone to drinking too much wine tonight, don’t listen to this. I warned you. ♪ (Yes, I’ve been on a relentless Morrissey kick since my last post, thanks for asking.) Sporadic winter mood boarding below.
Time is like a dream / And now, for a time, you are mine /Let’s hold fast to the dream / That tastes and sparkles like wine
It’s getting colder, NYC… here are some links to warm you up:
→ The Glamourai’s trip to Malibu turned out some beautiful photos.
→ Straight up Americana ghost town. In Japan.
→ Camping is already awesome, but camping in a tent like this is even more awesome.
→ Favorite three photos right now: one, two, three.
→ Grimy New York looks cuter through Betty’s lens.
–
I hope, I hope, I hope, I hope it snows soon.
xx
Air Raids, Aerialists, & A New Year’s Toast Worth Toasting
I read an incredible New Year’s toast and I thought it was worth sharing with you:
“My New Year’s Eve Toast: to all the devils, lusts, passions, greeds, envies, loves, hates, strange desires, enemies ghostly and real, the army of memories, with which I do battle — may they never give me peace.” —Patricia Highsmith
Last night I dreamt of trying to survive an air raid in Ireland. I was riding in the back of a truck that hit a man and killed him, but we couldn’t stop or we’d be blown to pieces. We drove by aerialists scaling buildings ten stories in the air, and diving off. I still can’t shake the hollow, morbid feeling I woke up with.
I’ve been busy, but I wanted to share some scraps of NYE and recent festive nights/days. New year’s eve itself was a glorious series of drunken festive outbursts, confetti-flinging, kimono-wearing, circle-dancing and psychotic welcoming of 2012. I didn’t take many photos, which is really, really rare. But that’s how much fun I was having.
My brother’s girlfriend, in my purple wig. I love her more than I can blog about.
Post-NYE this and that.
Waiting for the Court Square 7. Ran into an old friend in this station that day. Completely random, and so awesome. He and I and one other old friend used to lay in the campus green at our former university reading each other’s short stories and screen plays and being theatrically scholastic. He also used to sing Morrissey songs to us, because he sounds exactly like Morrissey except one octave lower.
A small poorly-filmed sample of the above event—I was swept underground for a night of jazz and cabaret in various locations around the city by a friend whose knowledge of talent (new and old) in a wide range of musical genres blows my mind every time I see him. This night was one of the reasons 2012 started off with such promise. I met Sol Yaged himself and he gifted me a CD.
Mirrors on the wall at Sarah Caye’s apartment, where I dropped off clothes for a photo shoot today. I didn’t stay to help style due to flu-like symptoms that decided to drop by this morning when I woke up.
A new vintage top. It’s rare you see a sequined top like this that isn’t incredibly ugly. This one is begging to be worn with cut-off shorts and a big furry hat.
Our Xmas tree. Before we decorated it. I promise to post our Xmas photos soon. I ended up taking so many that the task of sorting them and posting them has been too heavy an undertaking to get around to.
Finally, H&M mannequins wearing pastry-like colors. Yum.
More later… time for ginger & honey tea and an evening nap.
xx
