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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7 Comments:

Blogger InnyVinny said...

I swear you are one of the most thoughtful bloggers on the internet when it comes to this ish.

I'd like to say that I own my clothes, but in truth, I only own those things that I wear and cherish most...sadly, those only make up a fraction of what's in there...but hey; i like variety (and a little anxiety stemming from "what the hell do I wear!?!?" from time to time).

30/11/10 01:27  
Blogger Christina said...

Wonderful thought-provoking words! Nearly everything I own was carefully selected & well (if not overly) considered, but I'm also a stickler for matching.

30/11/10 10:41  
Blogger missDTM said...

whenever i start to obsess over my wardrobe i do a few things:

1. stop reading magazines/high fashion blogs. F$%# THEM! i don't look like nor will i ever look like any of the people they show so the clothes those women wear will never fit me the same way they fit that model. so i let my stack of magazines get big and refuse to pick them up. period.

2. i go through my closet and make 2 piles - one to give away forever and one to lend out to my friends. they love when i do that. and they always give me stuff back. and actually, sometimes when they give the stuff back, i'm more willing to finally give them away for good.

3. i go back to basics--what looks good on me, what do i like to wear and what defines my style? that's easy to do when you have a blog. especially my blog since i tend to only photograph the outfits i like.

4. then i do a no-shopping month...or two...because i realize that when i'm unhappy with my wardrobe, i want to shop more. and shopping more doesn't solve whatever my "problem" is. and so i learn how to "remix" more of my wardrobe.

5. after no shopping month, i also realize that i spend too much on stuff that looks like what everyone else is wearing and i hate looking like everyone else. so i remember to shop smarter--thrift pieces mainly and basics from places like h&m.

ahhhh...this is a long comment...but i just went through this a few weeks ago!

oh--and now that you have your internet back, does that mean i might find an email in my inbox from you? :P

30/11/10 12:13  
Blogger Fleurette said...

Such a well written post. I agree with you. This is my favorite part!:

"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."

30/11/10 12:49  
Blogger urbanrhetoric said...

email me!!!!

pemora0522@gmail.com

(and if you email my sister 1st, this might be problems)...

~pemora

30/11/10 21:30  
Blogger Pennerad said...

hey all:
and here i thought i was just blabbering on about boots and bags and whatnot out of sheer idleness. thanks for the wonderful feedback!

@innyvinny:
the 'what do i wear' is driving me MAD! i think that's what started all this. can't find anything. don't wear 80% of it. can't throw it away. just...bound by my clothing. no bueno.

@pretaporterp:
i like the imperfections as well. by no means do i think i'll ever have a 'perfect' wardrobe (does such a thing really exist?) but i think the journey inward to find what is most significant could be fun. thanks for all your continued advice. :)

@marie:
nothing wrong with matching at all! i envy you that ability to purge and choose wisely. what can i say...i'm a work in progress?

@missdtm:
i definitely like all these tips and think i'll be hanging on to a few. i'm in the pile phase at the moment, and also trying to find those items that i find most pertinent for this upcoming season (read: WARMTH) without breaking the bank or discarding everything (man, i want to just start from scratch, but i'm afraid to lose potential gems!).

1/12/10 21:33  
Blogger Melody said...

I used to buy what I saw every other girl wearing. Things I saw in the magazines, the trends etc. But now I buy what I want in my wardrobe, things I actually WANT to wear. I don't really care about fashion and trends any more. However, I would be lying if I said I have worn every single pair of shoes, every dress. There are pieces that are just... there, the boy always suggests I give them away or sell them, but I can't. Ever. There will come a day when I will have worn it all, promise. // You are right, it is definitely about maturity and confidence. We are often scared to stand on our own, do our own thing. This is why this is one of my favourite blogs; in fact out of hundreds, yours is in my top 3. My other favourite is KarlasCloset, whewww the girl blows me AWAY! She is not afraid to do her! I just really admire you for doing you. // I remember you mentioning getting looks from people because of your look/hair or whatever in a few of your past posts, but you still come back dressed as you in the next post. I honestly have never seen a lady who dresses like you. You definitely wear what you want to wear, not what the fashion world is trying to force you to wear. And you are not afraid to do so. That's one of the reasons you are so beautiful to me.

2/12/10 08:08  

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