11.29.2010

got my internet back



i often feel that with all this accessibility to fashion current events and style blogs and forums and the millions of trendy magazines and on and on and on, we are often overwhelmed by what we 'should' be wearing than what we already own.  even with this new minimalism movement, we are bombarded by images of THE perfect sweater, THE perfect black pant, THE shoe to end the fickleheartedness of all shoe whores. 
i am always more awed by those who are able to blend their ieals and personalities with their outer coverings. to me, it signals a consistency, a fluidity that allows clothing to transcend just a variety of coverings. rather, it is an extension of oneself, one's being. one is oneself through and through, from book choices. 
i suppose, in my case, i find that sort of consistency to be a sign of maturity. to be completely possessed of your own confidence, value, and worth in the world, without any significant wavering from one's intended path is a groundedness that i always admire in both women and men. i think that at my 'tender age', it can be quite difficult to be so completely solid in all of one's convictions. while i like being fluid and believe very strongly in the importance of change, i think that picking a side can be equally empowering. i also believe that one's wardrobe can be an additional medium that encapsulates one's convictions, be it in quality or quantity, depending on individual priority. 
the women above epitomize the sort of style i enjoy. while very different aesthetically, there is a strong menswear element that i think i will always hold dear. i prefer even lines and definitive symmetry to the shapelessness of fluff and frill. the woman on top, lena, looks completely at ease in her clothing. she is not contrived, the clothing is not overly LOUD; it does not dwarf her or her personality. rather, it is she who is wearing the clothes and not vice versa. i have seen many women who are the exact opposite. that seasonal fur vest/jacket/hood thing and THOSE wedges/boots/sandals of the season are eventually relegated to the back of one's closet and one's mind. to me, lena's outfit is defined by form and function. the model's outfit is equally functional, albeit more theatrical. i would personally wear a more casual version for daily outfits, but were i in a more professional sort of field, i would don the full look.
as another example, 
i would wear this as well. at 5'7", this jumpsuit/romper business would look more like a short pantsuit on me. while i love the cut and fit, it probably would not fit me the same. i know because i have a similar piece and in pictures i've unearthed from earlier days on the blog, i look...not so hot. the jumpsuit dominates the look because it doesn't quite suit me. while it may be the perfect slumming look, it would shorten my leg-line, and draw unwanted attention to the width of my hips and the disproportion of my torso.
as i've said before, i'm still working on what suits my frame, irrespective of editorial, blog, or fashion week influence. but i do like these for myself:

 
do you OWN your wardrobe? do you find yourself being controlled by what you own, picking outfits solely on what you already own and what matches, instead of taking pleasure in selecting treasured, well-considered items? i don't like that feeling anymore but find it's taking a lot to overcome various attachments to older garments.

what of you all?

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11.23.2010

all the same





jacket: hilary radley
sweater: the boy's castoff
shorts: dkny
tights: target
shoes: boemos

so this is the first photos of the new digs.  sorry the photos are pretty much identical; i was trying to show the jacket's detail, but i'm not sure if it'll come across. anyhow, the jacket and my shorts are the same color and fabric. awesomesauce. :) let's hope the warmth holds out til after the sun goes down as i have to be outside late and didn't really plan for that. oops. but, again, this was geared toward comfort. commentary/critique is appreciated always!
i'm still unpacking, and think i may leave the books in the pile on the floor as a 'display area' since it'll make me look well-read and smart and whatnot. will take additional photos of the apartment when i figure out what to do with all my clothes. we went from three closets to one large one and clearly the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. it seems that our closets were much larger than we had thought...soooooo, shelving will be necessary!
going to research apartment therapy; i'm thinking i may find some unique storage ideas there. what are your plans for the holiday? i will be WORKING. woot!

i hope you are having a great week, all. here's a little something to keep your sartorial engines pumping:
via
i think that, while not exactly traditionally chic, this is a great outfit. the coat is such a good shape and her jeans fit just so and those boots look like they are of impeccable quality. just look how the leather creases. mmm...

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11.20.2010

reflection: dress for the occasion





jacket: zara
sweater: ralph lauren
shirt: dkny
pants: rick owens
shoes: maison martin margiela

the purpose of this blog was, perhaps, misinformed. i was younger, and (somewhat) less wise. i wanted to have a medium in which to express my thoughts, but also to show others how 'cool' i could be in front of the camera (<--less wise part). as time progressed, i found that being able to look back on what i wore on a day to day basis definitely helped me in identifying what looked best or was least flattering. this year has been the foray into specificity, trying to 'type' my style. of late, however, what with school, and well, life, crashing down upon me, i have found that i am less particular in trying to fix my outfits into a particular vein. rather, i tend to reach for those items that bring me feelings of (various forms of) comfort, and ease, and protection. on my toughest days, a simple tee and my leather leggings and a pair of oxfords have been the foundations of my looks.
this, above, was focused around comfort and warmth. none of it really 'goes' in my opinion, but these lovely shoes gave me a reason to smile all day. while merely material, i love them and all their detailing. this sweater is one of the warmest i own and i love the prepster feel of brown houndstooth (brownstooth???) and the simplicity of the zippered opening. the pants are incredibly soft and supple, even on the inside, against the skin. and the shirt underneath, a simple long sleeve, is the only one i have ever been able to find that fits the entire length of my arms and torso. the armpits have been stained from deodorant and i didn't want that to show, so i kept it covered with the cardigan. i'm considering tossing it since i don't think the stains will come out, but for this day, i wanted everything as simple as possible. i donned the blue jacket because the boy said of all my jackets, it was the most complementary to the overall look. after the photos, i also added my elbow length brown gloves and fluffy orange scarf for added protection from the wind. i probably looked a hot mess, but covered in all these things, i felt like a confident force to be reckoned with, at ease with my body and the items on it.
i know that's a LOT of verbiage for a single outfit, but isn't that why we all do this? we spend a peculiar amount of time looking over an item, at any price point, for what will make it uniquely a part of OUR individual wardrobes. a basic sweater/shirt/pant is only basic while it's on the hanger. on one's form, it becomes a part of you, imbued with your energy, energy that you give it. all the things i'm wearing held positive energy for me, and during tough times, i feel it's nice to have a little boost. some have jewelry, some just prefer to be bare in the face of difficulty; i like to feel protected. my cocoon of layers and brown gave me this. and i was content.
right now i'm wearing flannel sweats and a simpson's shirt that declares 'I'M IDAHO'. why? because i'm protein treating my hair and packing up all my belongings and this was the most comfortable, suitable attire for the job. my sister gave me the pants and a very dear, close friend gave me the shirt; she made it herself. while i pack, i have caught myself touching the flannel while thinking, and thinking of my sister. and it brings me a bit of peace, and a smile. stress-free, guys.

i hope you are all having a great weekend. if you commented in the past 2 weeks or so, i have been trying to be more responsive in the actual comment space, as opposed to your respective blogs or in my subsequent posts. i feel i may more directly answer your questions (if any) that way.

here's some additional inspiration i came across. i have always, always preferred a more masculine silhouette, so will be trying to incorporate more boyish cuts into my style.  happy saturday :)


all from sz's outfit forum
reflectively, p

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11.17.2010

i don't iron, pt. 2

midterms. late nights in library. moving. packing. packing. looking for apartments. packing.
need i say more.






blazer: firma
shirt: levi's
pants: religion
belt: linea pelle
shoes: repetto
bag: handmade

i hate this outfit. but it was good in theory. pret said she liked these pants. that's as much encouragement as i needed.

bright spot in the last week:


soooo yeah, not much to say besides...i hope there are still people reading this. :) and expect a few changes. been saying that for awhile, but i'm expecting some free time to emerge...soon.  any big changes in you guys' lives? small ones are cool too!

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11.13.2010

gumby hair






yep. definitely gumby hair.

this outfit was good for me. it wasn't much to look at in hindsight, but i got ready in about 15 minutes with a precious few items in only a few moments and wasn't worried about matching or not, or whether or not i would be comfortable. it felt good to just pull some things from my closet and wear them with ease. this didn't photograph well and my hair was all kinds of effed up, but it was like running errands in my pajamas. i didn't even want to change when i got home. that's saying A LOT. clearly, i need to find more items that give me that feeling. getting dressed would be so much EASIER. took it very, VERY easy today and tomorrow, LEASE SIGNING. i'm alternately super-stoked and horrified, at the prospect of new adventures and packing, respectively. anyway, i'm off to bed. it's been a long day of...laziness. productivity tomorrow. the most productive thing i did today was this:

and rinsing honey out of my hair. oh, and defending my sexuality. again. weird.
any big plans for the weekend? i feel like my life is slipping away; all i do is dream about textbooks and exams! ergo, i must live vicariously through you darlings who visit and read. hope all's well out there.

shirt: rick owens drkshdw
pants: les chiffoniers
shoes: costume national

here's some inspiration for the short days ahead:
src: vanessa jackman
src: vanessa jackman

bon weekend!

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11.12.2010

one hell of a week


i love these two. i think i could wear the second silhouette comfortably for the rest of my days with slight variations on footwear and accessories. would definitely need multiples. a girl can dream. more realistically: i have come up with another item for my short term long term wishlist. yeah, it's hard to keep up. i have a ton of bags and have been experimenting with different shapes and sizes to find what best suits my frame and is most comfortable. i have the bag in mind (sort of a soft briefcase with double straps for over the shoulder wear, but not too long) but have been unable to find anything that suits my fancy. i have wanted a jerome dreyfuss billy (visible in the second look) for awhile however. the leather looks amazing and the bag could be used for daily wear with most of the items i already own. so, in addition to those over knee shearling boots, i'd like one of these please. now to find a perfect top.
having a bit of a crap week, so watching old 'the city' reruns and looking at style blogs. i feel like dressing up tomorrow.

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11.11.2010

bel menage




i have loved bjork since the first time i heard 'venus as a boy'. i was very late to the game, having had a different musical upbringing (more classics, motown, and very old reggae), but am now a hardcore fan. she's so emblematic of what i believe to be the female experience, experimenting unabashedly with her image and style--both musically and otherwise. 
i am in an introspective mood again today and have found myself very burdened lately. i would like to be more bjork-like. i think both my life and my inner self could use a bit (LOT) of change. so....i'm forcing myself to be my own harbinger of promise. yes, yes. more self-motivational chatter on this blog. sometimes i feel it's necessary to give oneself a self-injected boost. work has been wearing me thin and in slumps like this, i find it easy to sink into a state of complete moroseness. i'd rather not. forward motion is very important to my current lifestyle; i'm trying to ensure that i do not allow hesitation and indecision to derail my plans for myself. ever had to remind yourself of why you are doing something? i hope so. otherwise, this is a bit crazy and my inane ramblings are those of a loon.

this was soothing today when i needed a little encouragement. the colors are so light.

i'm back.

vest: rogan
jacket: pretty face
sweater: acne
shirt: j. crew
skirt: april, may
shoes: frye

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11.06.2010

piecemeal







a little color to dampen the drear.

jacket: pretty face
shirt: van heusen
pants: celine
shoes: schmoove

in the midst of a major studying/cram session. anticipate blurbs with no real chatter. bit of quiet for a change, yes? how is the weekend treating you all?

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11.01.2010

it's officially brick out





coat: acne
shirt: little brother's (noticing a trend here...)
cardigan: h&m
leather leggings: helmut lang
shoes: boemos
temperatures, they are a fallin'. trying to keep my head together after several hours of studying. thinking of making it a routine. it was rather satisfying; now if only it would pay off...
dreaming of vacation. doesn't even have to be warm. i believe i've always been fully a slave to wanderlust; i've just never had the means or the independence to indulge it. now that i do....oh, my mind is wandering indeed. any suggestions? trying to keep it fairly local as i have school daily (at 9 frickin' a.m.), but next year...i will be going SOMEPLACE foreign, dammit. i know i also get moody around the holidays (imagine an entire winter of doldrums and depression and you'll be about where i usually am) but am hoping to make a difference this year. i'm doing what i've always wanted to; i'm healthy and happy and (mostly) normal. what's not to be happy about, yes?

will also be tinkering with the layout here. expect a couple of bugs...

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