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.

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?

4 stitch

shirt: van heusen
skirt: chaiken
shoes: MMM
bag: dkny

reading this post by dead fleurette. kind of creepily obsessed with her mantra/dogma/intricate perspective on clothes.
the pencil skirt has never looked good on me. i took a risk on this one because i needed a basic work skirt. i think i should generally opt for a flared/skater/bias cut type item because of my hip width. i get that riding effect, which is annoying when walking a good deal. but i like it for its pockets. i will likely never wear this for professional purposes but as a simple staple, i think i may be able to make it work if i am not walking a lot. regardless, the pencil skirt is not for me.

i do have a question for you that may come off as insecure or simply vain, but i need a second pair of eyes which i do not have access to at the moment.
based on my photos posted thus far, is it your opinion that skinny jeans are not flattering on my figure? i like the close silhouette, but i think they make me appear quite pear-shaped. i would be willing to continue to wear them as i have a good selection and they are easy to throw on (plus boot cut is kind of not appealing to me as it requires heels, and straight legs also seem more flattering with a height component.
just wanted an opinion. this wardrobe honing is quite fun. :)


hope all of you are having a lovely holiday weekend. sleep is definitely more appealing now.

wicked

this last shot brought back a memory.  when i was younger, my older brothers used to say that i had a witch chin. it was pointy, especially when i smiled, and they would grab my chin and tug at it. it was all in good fun, but as i grew older i'd smile with my hand over my face, to hide my chin.  thank goodness i'm over it now.

yesterday i had the immense pleasure of meeting ev'yan of apricot tea. she's sweet and eloquent and considerate. and somehow, through that brief meeting, i got the impression that with all of my quirks and flaws, i'm not so strange after all. i just haven't found the right surroundings just yet. 

i really need to start my homework.

sweater: rivy ng
jacket: pretty face
shirt: gap
skirt: dries van noten
shoes: miu miu

cheenoh

there's quite a tale attached to these pants. the short of it is that i hunted for an hour for a price label, running from salesperson to salesperson, only to be told they were men's trousers, then women's trousers, then women's trousers mistakenly labeled as men's trousers, then waited for a manager to find them and finally, after all my efforts, i got them for $8. how's that for patience?

i still think they're men's. and i love them all the more.

also think i've been tailoring my outfits around these rick owens shirts in order to avoid wearing them to bits.  i know that's rather silly, but they fit me so perfectly that i wear all three in succession in any given week. i may go back to doing that, or just buy some more...whichever happens first.  do you do things like that? try to preserve your favorites?

jacket: firma
scarf: made by me
shirt: rick owens
trousers: religion
shoes: fratelli rosetti