inspiration and the modular wardrobe

think of manhattan.
the film, not the city.

yes, yes, we all love annie hall and her androgyny and her eschewing overt femininity and her just-so way of wearing ill-shaped, but impeccably-fitting trousers and ties and vests and whatnot. but...that trend is on its last legs. let's find a NEW androgynous character to obsess over!

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i watched the movie last evening and this is one of the two that stuck with me. here, she walks through the museum with allen with a straight leg pant and blazer. not shown are the pumps that peeked out of the hem of the trousers which just barely skimmed the base of the heel. i'm not sure why, but this image and that of anne byrne hoffman (who played yale's wife; yale being the best friend of allen's character, carrying on an affair with keaton) wearing a silk (?) blouse--seemingly braless--tucked into a long, almost fluid skirt. such effortless but coordinated ease is what i aim for.
nothing can take the place of a pair of well-cut trousers. indeed, you can dress it up or down for nearly any occasion. i have 3 pairs of these at the moment in 3 different colors, but rarely wear them as i feel such items are best left for formal or semi-formal occasions. being a student, these are few and far between. they are, all 3, understated and simple, but paired well, i have been able to work them into various outfits. with the foundation of a good pair of trousers and a versatile blazer, i just need to build my collection of tops. i feel i will be well on my way to my dream of a wardrobe based on simplicity, form and function.

the modular wardrobe; all parts are interchangeable.
there are 2 pairs of patent shoes because sometimes you don't want to be all sexy, but still chic, although it has been noted that kitten heels cause greater back problems in the long run than stilettos...oh well. it feels better, dammit.

 things i have learned this year:

• i have very little use for items that are 'girly'. this means no frills, bows, pink or lace. ever. period. 
• i like deep colors and earth tones. blues, greens, greys and browns, with the occasional pop of red.
• i prefer crew necks to boatnecks v-necks to turtlenecks. though i have a fairly long neck, turtlenecks are not flattering. perhaps i'm buying the wrong ones. i have a jutting collarbone that is best flattered by simple jewelry or full coverage. decolletage...i'm working on it.
• for every single shoe i have owned, if it's too high, uncomfortable or unflattering, i won't wear it.
• there IS a boot for every occasion.
• a good wool cardigan can take you from day to night, casual to formal, summer to winter with the greatest of ease
• a true 'investment' piece will never give you buyer's remorse. wait it out. sleep on it. even if it takes months. i'm all for instant gratification, but have found that the patient path is also deeply satisfying.
• i really, really, REALLY, like leather. jackets, pants, skirts, shorts. you name it, i want it, lol. and can usually incorporate it seamlessly.
• one good bag, one clutch, a pair of studs, a watch, a string of pearls are all i need to accessorize. i lose the rest or they end up discarded or forgotten at the bottom of my closet or jewelry box. so-called statement pieces are rare (and distracting) for me.
• my hair is a permanent accessory; if my hair does not 'go' with the outfit, i find myself frustrated and at a loss. i often have to build my outfit around the shape and style of my hair (silly? is it just me?) and as such, i spend a fair amount of time trying to maintain it. lately, i've been favoring double buns at my nape. sexy? no. chic? no. me? all the way.
• i don't like to be on trend. i seriously avoided wearing blazers because everyone and their mother had one. whenever the next best thing comes out, i will likely revert to them because i feel they are a great modular element in any wardrobe.
• i favor comfort far more than i favor what's supposed to be in style.

good things to know when shopping, eh? i think this list, though mental on my part, has been useful more recently. i shop based on need. though nowhere near deadfleurette status, i am less of a recessionista (oy...really?) and more of...well, just me. my needs and staples are not dictated by vogue, blogs, or erin wasson. just me.

compromise

sweater: japanese brand, men's
jeans: j brand
boots: frye vintage harness

soooo...for now, this is probably how the outfit posts are going to go. i think it's a nice compromise until i figure out how to do the scheduling for photos. now that i've moved, it's a little bit harder to coordinate morning photos. the apartment is coming together nicely. may be nice as i get to keep my mug off this blog that much more.
before we even moved in i had already decided how it would all be arranged. now i'm just looking for affordable shelves so that i can line the walls like so:

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these floating shelves are pretty pricey at around $40 a pop. if i'm using more than 10 of them, i can see it getting rather pricey. i think i'm gonna head to the lumberyard nearby. may be easier to find some stuff that's better suited to the space there. 

aaaanyhow, hope you're all enjoying the winter wonderland. apparently, everywhere has seen snow now (except maybe the south). we had flurries today. wtf? and christmas is right round the corner. it crept up on me. i'm broke and stressed out and looking forward to maybe a week of peace because i'll likely be taking courses in the winter. 

will continue to update as best i can in the meantime. thanks for reading, all. :)

case in point

this particular look would probably appear as 'costumey' on me. nevertheless, i love how the shirt fits her and the shorts are perfectly nipped in at the waist and those socks look fantastically soft.

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how i feel today:

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struggling to keep up with my own life's pace. dealing with a bunch of conflicting schedules and demands on my time, attention, and energy. no rest til xmas. how are you all doing this fine week?

got my internet back

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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, 

 

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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:

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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?

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

5head

lol...it's so shiny.
these are my brother's trousers. i'm currently stuck in the midst of my cleaning process. have a lot of items i still am worried to part with. slacks and suits and skirts, all business, but i've no job and will not be needing these items for some time. should i toss them or keep them? these trousers are my brother's. i rarely wear trousers like this casually, so decided to take them for a spin with my new shoes, a fitted sweater, and my orange leather. i think it looked better in my head, but i definitely like it. i think for me, it's an easier style and fit than wearing my trousers more traditionally with pumps or a flat shoe and button down. i think an important part of style is incorporating it realistically into your own life and still looking comfortable in it, rather than forced or awkward. okay, my rant is random. the only detail shot:


these have changed my mind about minnetonkas. still need a pair of converse dangit.

jacket: pretty face
shirt: three dots
pants: little brother's
belt: linea pelle
shoes: minnetonka
bag: furla

watching happily ever after with charlotte gainsbourg. i think i quite like ms. gainsbourg. pretty awesome. watching her in a camel coat and a pair of wide leg trousers. totally gonna influence monday's outfit. on a french/ballet/foreign movie kick at the moment. i think i want out of this time zone.

maybe here?

simple goodness

sometimes less is not more. sometimes it's just better.




had a long talk with the photographer yesterday about the importance of talking. i hate talking. i'm not sure if that comes across here. i'm not a good talker. my ears turn red when answering questions in lecture. i get all hot when cops pull me over. used to be able to lie myself out of punishment as a kid. as an adult...i'm not sure what's happened. either way, there was much talking. it turned out to be a good thing. sort of a hard reset. i'm trying to work on eliminating self-deprecation from my life. 'i'm so (insert unflattering comment here)'. i never really thought i believed it, but it's something about reinforcing the little things in one's own psyche. eventually, they start to feel true. so...i'm going to try to go a full day without complaining. try it. it's not easy. i may not make it to lunch, but i'll see.
this is my apartment hunting outfit. swapped out a short sleeved tee for this longer one. still debating the wisdom of that choice. supposed to be hella hot today.  summertime in november. i'm down.

trench: zara
shirt: james perse
pants: les chiffoniers suede leggings
shoes: henry beguelin

i still don't have a halloween costume. maybe i'll be cousin it...

stagnant

pardon the standstill. i have been...coping. and allowing myself a few freedoms i probably should not have.

yeah....

just made this scarf over the summer. it's obnoxiously orange. like cheetos. i love cheetos.



and this is my favorite thing about winter. well, one of, anyway.  this sweater is absolutely lovely. all it needs is a hood. got it just before the 'sweater coat' craze hit the magazines. love and adulation ensued.

so i'm back at monday. going to try to get some rest; just got off work and freaking out about homework assignments and the lack of sleep that i need to anticipate.  time to start holing myself up in the basement. seems i need to rid myself of ALL distractions.
in other news, i'm trying to find a new place. decisions are not my strong suit. nor is patience. if i see something and i like it, i get it. done and done. my...consort...is a different breed entirely. slow and steady wins the race, eh?
we'll see.
last week's spooky weather. 
 

ubiquitous

so it seems the backpack has made a comeback. this is comedic if only because i used to get mocked for carrying a backpack to school when all the 'cool kids' were carrying shoulder bags or messenger bags or whatever else. now, i have been stopped about 5 times this week by folks begging to find out WHERE i got this bag. it was $40. they've got CANVAS backpacks selling for like $150 now. ain't that some.........
anyhoo, i may have to stop carrying it on days when i have a fully loaded schedule. besides the fact that everywhere i go, i feel like i'm wearing a uniform accessory, it's a wee bit too heavy and i don't want to damage the leather straps as it will clearly cost a fortune to restore this bag. thinking of keeping my other one as well, as i was going to try to sell it since its straps needed a little work.
in other notable news, lots of HAIR comments have been coming my way. which is cool. been trying the new qhemet and oyin products i bought. i think i need to do my hair in a non-wash and go style to see how i really like them. but so far, the combination has been keeping my hair really soft. people have been touching and grabbing and fluffing. it's sort of interesting, again, because i spent so much time being defensive about my hair and then caring not a whit about it that this influx of good commentary has shown me that i've--at least somewhat--matured beyond what people have to say. about most anything. i was saying to someone the other day that i would make an excellent college student NOW vs when i went before, simply because i would be able to handle all the sillyness that i used to let invade my calm. i get teased a lot. easy target, i suppose, because i don't quite fit into everyone's boxes. that's what i love about blogging. none of us do. :). so we blog. and find others like ourselves. and often retreat to that comfort zone when the world does not treat us right. but i'm happy now that i'm able to sort of look at it all and say, 'well, that's nice.' and keep it movin'. we should all learn to keep it movin more often. so easy to get caught up in trifles that leave us feeling like we are wanting or inadequate. i say screw that. *cue slow clap*.
um...i'm yammering about backpacks mostly to say i have returned! for the time being at least. gotta finish like 4 hours of homework before class so i can submit and run like hell back home to the post office to get a package, then run like hell back to my desk....to continue reading. perhaps more leisurely than i have been? not feeling too good about school, y'all...
but i do feel good about this:

both via fuckyeahcurlscurlscurls

google search.

wasn't able to find any photographs but i think part of my edited fall wish list is heavy fisherman sweaters. chunky and over-long to wear with boots. i'm also looking for extra long leggings, thermal style. i think rag and bone did something like this, but i haven't been able to find anything online. anyone know what i'm talking about? oh! and elbow length leather gloves. i lost mine on a tipsy bathroom break new year's eve before last. okay, time to close out this uber long post and scurry back into school. :-/ 

hope you all had a good week. will be attempting to catch up on missed blog posts tonight.

closer inspection

cowboy. apparently.

bag: handmade soldier's pack (or so it was sold on ebay)
jacket: h&m
shirt: plain white tee
jeans: earnest sewn
boots: frye
jewelry: gifted

so thank you all for your wonderful feedback! i went to the no. 6 store today (to get the boy's feedback) and came across these:

they're incredibly soft and very warm and the saleslady said the color suited me far better than the grey option they also had available. though i had gone in for the shorter aviator or shearling black, both she and the boy (!!!) also said these were a better color choice for me. so i bought them. it's the most expensive thing i have ever purchased for myself and i'm sort of shell shocked and kind of want to return them. the boy went into hugo boss and also committed himself to a rather hefty purchase. strange, as he is typically the naysayer when it comes to shopping. but he said for the value and quality, go for it. i also saw something similar to the acne pistols in the store. but they looked more like fryes than not, so i decided to walk away without closer inspection. i WILL, however, be going back for these definitely:

these i may get in the grey. they are 27" of wonderful, soft, heavenly beauty. the grey nubuck is not snowproof so i may have to get the black or another hard leather color. they would go wonderfully with all my leather skirts i've been banking on for the cool weather. SO, given this new situation, i will probably not get the ndc's and keep these shearling ones. i am wondering if these are a bit too trendy. i know free people have a sort of similar version and everyone has produced a clog of some sort this year and the trickle down version will only worsen. :) so....should i keep them? or get the shorter version:

i would return these mid height ones i bought today and put them toward the purchase of the longer over knee version (which is only a big pricier) in this color. those were fantastic and i HAVE been craving an over knee boot for about 8 years now. i purchased one and will have to try to find a cobbler to take them in because they are a pair of deadstock biker boots and about 18 sizes too wide for even my hefty thighs! the ld tuttles sure are tempting but i want a true over knee boot and not one of those fake ones with the gap behind the knee (ew).

ah decisions decisions. the boy definitely compounded my problem by giving these a million thumbs ups and plunking down the money for them without hesitation. i was going to go home and think them over. i think what will happen now is that i will broaden my collection and maybe stop buying millions of shoes, lol. still have my heart set on the margiela geo heels from the previous post as maybe the pistols if i can find a pair in real life. i was hesitant about purchasing them because of the suede. suede is a mother to keep clean. especially when it's cold. or wet. or humid. or it just rained. you get the idea.

if you want other images of the new boots, you can see the entire lookbook here.

thanks again for the incredible feedback! you guys definitely came through for me!