Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Serious Style: Too Fat, Too Thin - Will We Ever Be Content


In the above video, Vogue Contributor, Andre Leon Talley, spoke with Oxford Union Society earlier this year and it was published on YouTube, May 8, 2013.  He spoke to the Oxford students about his life and the important people who shaped his view of the world. To begin with he said, "No one has just popped out of nowhere. You are what you become because of where you came from,"and, "anyone who distilled in you something to go forward and to achieve your dreams is an important person." He claims that two women were primary for who he is today: his grandmother, Minnie Francis Davis, who taught him style and the core values of life built around church, and Diana Vreeland who taught him how imagination pushes you to solve your own problems in the real world. He emphasized that self-invention is key in life, and that one must create their own diorama/persona based on what our passions are. In my fashion, regardless of what we look like, inventing a unique and recognizable persona of ourselves is what will lead to our content.


I, personally, was very blessed to have had parents who worked together all my childhood to encourage me to be a strong, capable, and confident, God-fearing man. A bit of advise I always carried with me from them is to, "Never be last." I remember my mom telling me this in middle school when I was about to run a race at my school's track meet, but for me this always equated to, "Always be first," having been the type to realize the benefits of being a consummate overachiever. I realized that if I was going to be top dog in all that I did, I was going to have to believe in my abilities above everyone else, and also that I was just as good as anyone who was striving to be first against me. In my fashion, my parents confidence in me had helped to build the confidence within me to see myself as great.


In my fashion, the genius of Diana Vreeland's logic comes from her belief that one should, "Push their flaws," making their flaws the most beautiful thing about them. In regards to my theme for October, "Social Identity, Self Improvement", the first step involves self-appreciation. In the panel discussion above, "Too Fat, Too Thin: Will We Ever Be Content", at the UK Vogue Festival this past April, an audience member asked the panel, "How do you get yourself to like yourself?" The panel, which included, Daisy Lowe, David Gandy, Patsy Kensit and Christa D'Souza, were astonished to hear that the girl who asked the question worked out six times a week and was still unhappy with her appearance. Patsy Kensit, instructed that first, one must surround themselves with wonderful women and great people who adore you, but not in a egotistical way, but more people who bring a sense of serenity into your life. It sort of goes back to what ALT was saying about the fact that having that person in your life who distills in you something to go forward and to achieve your dreams is an important person. Appreciate the people who are in your life who appreciate you, and don't seek approval from anyone else outside that circle because they are the one's who understand where you have been and where you plan to go. The second half of how to like yourself, she postulated, is that one should start appreciating things in your day, and start noticing the things you do appreciate about yourself. But one might then ask, "Where does one start?"

I am a mystic and intuitive Pisces.
I have found that when it comes to appreciating ourselves, it may be hard to do when we can only think about those negative aspects of ourselves we wish to change immediately. In my fashion, the reason I am so adamant about understanding history is because the stories of our past can be quite inspiring, because if you notice, history doesn't really repeat itself, it rhymes. From what has happened in the past we understand what to do in the here and now. In "Too Fat, Too Thin", David Gandy said that the key to nutrition and being fit is education. It's the same with style and finding ways to appreciate our being.  Where do you come from? Look at your country of origin: fill yourself with knowledge of the past and find similarities between your life and the lives of historical figures; dig deeper into your heritage, and take time to understand the trails that your ancestors blazed through history. Before we can unlock the future, one must unlock the keys of the past. Now to some, this next piece of advice may seem ludicrous, but in my fashion, one way of seeing ourselves more clearly for who we can appreciate ourselves for being is to seek guidance from one's horoscope profile. I have always found it interesting that while horoscopes can seem unreliable, vague, and made-up, the profile of the sign that we are born into tend to describe our personalities very accurately. Maybe you don't have to necessarily take what is said to heart and confine yourself to what is believed to be true of who you are, but I find that reading our signs personality traits may help us to be more aware of personality traits that we can be proud to have of ourselves. If you read your profile, and find that you can attest to the fact that some of your natural tendencies match what is said about your sign, perhaps it may help you come to grips with aspects about yourself that you can appreciate about yourself, and work to enhance those endearing qualities. It is those qualities that make us unique and most happy to exercise when we understand that those qualities are our strengths in life and when we act accordingly can bring us that personal gratification we search for within ourselves. We all have strengths and weakness. In my fashion, self love is the most endearing aspect of style, and style is really about learning how to enhance one's strengths while being aware of our weaknesses, and learning how to live with them. 

Sunday, October 20, 2013

à la mode: In the Swing of Things

Now, I am not usually a person who is easily wooed into spending my money, especially if I am on a budget. I like to think that I am a savvy shopper that is able to look past the glitz and glamour of an object to make a logical decision as to whether or not it would actually be a smart buy for myself, all factors included. Being that I am a connoisseur of the fashion industry, and understand advertisement's attempts to tap into that part of the brain that elicits lust for product, I am usually pretty good at keeping my wallet in my pocket when I need to stretch the contents of my bank account; but, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, got me this past weekend. After looking through their October 6, Fall 2013 issue, and laying eyes on the below spread, "In the Swing of Things", considering my new penchant for handbags, I seen the dark skinned bald African model styled by, Jason Rider, sporting androgynous business casual looks, and toting around the season's most luscious designer bags, I said to myself, "I want to look like that!" My favorite bag was the $11,950 Miu Miu bag in Look 2, and what did I do? I went to Forever 21 about bought me a much more affordable bag in its liking. It amazes me fashion's powers of seduction, but that's the thing I find interesting about advertising  Famed photographer, Richard Avedon said it best, "Advertising is not about the product, but the having of the product." It is about buying the feeling, more than it is about buying the actual product. That is why marketing and advertisement is so important for brands. For me, this weekend was a perfect example of this notion. Looking at this spread, I felt that I wanted to feel like how that model looked in the story. Her looks were so easy, simple, and positively chic, and her choices of bags seemed to have something to with that easiness. With my new bald look the fact that this model was also bald made me envision myself even more in these looks with bags just like hers. So there I was, at Forever 21, spending money I knew I could have saved til next week so that I could have the feeling of toting  an oversize Miu Miu, which I might add served me quite well as I visited a fashion showcase at Stony Point Shopping Center in Richmond, VA (check my Instagram later on #IMFblog to see the fantastic items I found at The ARTisan Café). So maybe it wasn't quite a bad decision after all, because it did everything I needed it to do including make me feel fab! 




Saturday, October 19, 2013

à la mode: Depth of Field

In my fashion, summer is, of course, about exposing skin, but winter is about encasing it. Clothes are literally a second skin because it's just so darn cold outside. I tend to find myself colder than most people no matter where I go, but I think we can all agree that if the fabric one is wearing makes one's skin feel like it can brave the changing temperatures one will have to endure throughout the daygoing from inside heat, to the outside winds, and back inside again to heatthen that makes me feel more fashion forward, then if my clothes garner attention because of my color combinations, or the patterns I put together. Personally, winter is the season of the introvert. While summer is about getting out of the house, into the sun, and gives one the excuse to show off as much skin as possible, winter is about being comfortable where one is, and finding warmth inside, which gives one the opportunity to be more solitary and intimate. On top of having more chances to be alone and think rather than be out, showing off one's fun side, winter makes us more considerate of what we put on our backs. While in the summer its easy to pick out a colorful t-shirt, shorts, and some sandals, and be sexy as you run out the house, the cold makes us dawn a jacket, pants, socks, a sweater, thermal wear, and other layers that allow us to brave the weather. I love using my brains to find innovative ways to stack the different pieces I have in my closet on my person in a way that keeps me warm, but also shows off my ability to cleverly match pieces based on their varied colors, fabrics, and textures. 

In my fashion, Vogue's October 2013 issue presented a fantastic spread to illustrate my sentiments expressed above. In Tonne Goodman's "Depth of Field" spread, the combinations of this seasons textured pieces was absolutely luscious! The Chanel black tweed jacket (Look 1), the Fendi leather fringe skirt (Look 2), the mastery of layering in Look 3, that Alexander Wang wool shrug (Look 4), the deconstructed wool top from Lanvin in Look 5, the ostrich skirt from Proenza Schouler (Look 6), that sumptuous Carolina Herrera tweed suit (Look 7), and the wool coat from Marni (Look 8) are absolute must haves. Imagine being inside or out in any of these looks. Can you say #horriblyCOMFORTABLE! In my fashion, during winter, the way to look sexy, is to feel lush!





Monday, October 14, 2013

READing Your Style: Tim Gunn's Fashion Bible (Part 5)

I have had much delight this month as January in September continues in the World of Fashion. I swear to you I have been re-birthed by the Spring/Summer 2014 collections (check out my Instagram for my reviews on select collections). On top of my own “New Look” for fall, I have been imagining what others “New Looks” were going to look like with the weather becoming increasingly cooler. Thinking back to when in 1947, Christian Dior introduced the “New Look” for women, which was back then much more progressive then what had come before it, the look of the girls then says something comparatively different about how women saw themselves to how they see themselves now. These last few months, I have had a lot of time to marinate over the information one finds in Tim Gunn’s Fashion Bible. In my fashion, he offered much on the history of fashion from not just a historically accurate standpoint, but I was most amused by his personal point of view on some of the reasons for our current disdain, or favor over certain articles of clothes today in society. 


What I chose to do in offering some insightful knowledge is pick out some passages from each chapter of the book which, in my fashion, indicate some interesting paradoxes as to how we choose to look in this day and age. In his book, Tim Gunn takes the liberty of going over a brief synopsis of the timeline in which certain articles of clothing went from being more masculine to more feminine; from functional, to popular, and then decidedly outmoded; and how a lot of pieces of clothing have evolved to fit the needs of daily life more conveniently for the wearer. The photos I use at the background for these passages are a reflection on the Vogue editorials from earlier this year from the January issue to this October’s issue. What do you think clothes are saying about women in 2013? As I continue this series throughout the rest of the year, take a moment to think about what Tim Gunn has to say, for with each passing season the clothes we wear define the look of the year, and as is the belief here on #IMFblog, to know your future, one must understand the past. When one understands what has happened in the past, one can better steer their future, and I truly believe that some of Tim Gunn’s wisdom can help one enhance their sense of style, and help to steer the direction of fashion.

CHAPTER 7: BELTS

Vogue, September 2013, "Cover Me" shot by Patrick Dermarchelier

CHAPTER 8: DRESS SHIRTS

Vogue, January 2013, "They'll Take Manhattan" shot by Patrick Dermarchelier

Saturday, October 12, 2013

READing Your Style: Tim Gunn's Fashion Bible (Part 4)

I have had much delight this month as January in September continues in the World of Fashion. I swear to you I have been re-birthed by the Spring/Summer 2014 collections (check out my Instagram for my reviews on select collections). On top of my own “New Look” for fall, I have been imagining what others “New Looks” were going to look like with the weather becoming increasingly cooler. Thinking back to when in 1947, Christian Dior introduced the “New Look” for women, which was back then much more progressive then what had come before it, the look of the girls then says something comparatively different about how women saw themselves to how they see themselves now. These last few months, I have had a lot of time to marinate over the information one finds in Tim Gunn’s Fashion Bible. In my fashion, he offered much on the history of fashion from not just a historically accurate standpoint, but I was most amused by his personal point of view on some of the reasons for our current disdain, or favor over certain articles of clothes today in society. 


What I chose to do in offering some insightful knowledge is pick out some passages from each chapter of the book which, in my fashion, indicate some interesting paradoxes as to how we choose to look in this day and age. In his book, Tim Gunn takes the liberty of going over a brief synopsis of the timeline in which certain articles of clothing went from being more masculine to more feminine; from functional, to popular, and then decidedly outmoded; and how a lot of pieces of clothing have evolved to fit the needs of daily life more conveniently for the wearer. The photos I use at the background for these passages are a reflection on the Vogue editorials from earlier this year from the January issue to this October’s issue. What do you think clothes are saying about women in 2013? As I continue this series throughout the rest of the year, take a moment to think about what Tim Gunn has to say, for with each passing season the clothes we wear define the look of the year, and as is the belief here on #IMFblog, to know your future, one must understand the past. When one understands what has happened in the past, one can better steer their future, and I truly believe that some of Tim Gunn’s wisdom can help one enhance their sense of style, and help to steer the direction of fashion.

CHAPTER 5: CAPRI PANTS AND SHORTS


Vogue, June 2013, "In Our Time" shot by Bruce Weber

CHAPTER 6: SKIRTS


Vogue, March 2013, "Retro Remix", shot by David Sims

Bit-O-Inspiro 42


One saying that I have been hugely inspired by comes from Martin Luther King Jr.: "I have a dream.." Growing up and having first learned of him in grade school, it always fascinated me how this one ordinary man's vision of a better future influenced the popular train of thought to a more tolerant collective reasoning. Even though he lived in a turbulent society until his untimely death, his vision carried on, and it shows the power of manifesting one's vision into reality. In my fashion, if he could help bring about such an change in public opinion, there is no reason we as individuals shouldn't be able to manifest our own visions of our own future.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

EDITOR'S LETTER: October 2013

"Self-love is critical…it is the key to everything."
As this September has past, the 2014 Spring collections have got my mind moving a mile a minute as I envision who will be wearing what, and what looks will eventually represent 2014 in fashion history. Soon the holiday season will be upon us, and I can’t wait to see what combination of clothes the ‘It Girls’ of Vogue will put together, and I can’t wait to see what fashions will be prevalent on women in the streets, especially at upcoming holiday festivities and parties, with the one question always on my mind: What will clothes say about women this year? By far, some of my favorite collections included Chanel, Prabal Gurung, Albetta Feretti, Prada, Tom Ford and Rodarte. You can view #MY3BestLooks from each of these shows and other collections I review on my Instagram page (@inmyfashionblog). 


As we all know, I am fascinated with the fact that our appearance speaks volumes for the attitudes of the times. Every day, whether you like it or not, you are a part of fashion history each time you step out of bed and wear your clothes out into the world. Now, more than ever, with the aid of social media, fashion history is being documented on the Internet, and once you put something into the internet universe, it is out there forever as a testimony to what is going on in life, who we are, and why we are wearing what we are wearing. In my fashion, it’s important to make sure that what we put out there is what we want to be associated with ourselves. Since it is a requirement that we wear something when we leave our homes, in my fashion, we all should be excited to present ourselves with pride and creativity. Fashion is all about your imagination and what is going on in your mind, and about evolving as a person and changing yourself, playing a part in life that you want people to see. 

In case you weren’t aware, UK Vogue held The Vogue Fashion Festival for two days the last weekend in April. They had a multitude of interviews and panel discussions with some of fashion’s key players including Alber Elbaz, Steven Meisel, Donatella Versace, and Victoria Beckham. There were two panel discussions: one entitled, “The Secrets of a British Brand” which was very informational and motivational. The other panel discussion was entitled “Too Fat, Too Thin…Will We Ever Be Content” which was a discussion on how we deal with our body issues, and this topic inspires my theme for this month, ‘Social Identity Self Improvement’. I realized that what I essentially am trying to do in regards to learning about fashion and style is to help others feel good about themselves. I see my role on this planet as a person who just wants people to feel good about who they are, especially women. At 27 minutes into the discussion I heard an interesting comment from an audience member that happened to be a weight loss consultant from Jenny Craig who said this:

“I have realized that actually a lot of the people don’t need to lose weight, they need to look actually at what they dress in, and dress for their shape. How long do you think it will be before people realize that’s one way of going about it, and dieting in a sensible way, not quickly but for the foreseeable future?”

Hearing that observation from a weight loss consultant confirms for me that women could use my help in this regard. As I look at it, my job in life is to in some way help others make the most out of their “Social Identity”. I find it interesting how we have an intuitive sense of what clothes mean, and how we relate to people based on our appearance. I find that my mission in life coincides closely with what, Alber Elbaz, Creative Director for Lanvin, tries to do for women: make their lives easier. During his interview he tells us, "I want them to be able to get into a car, to be able to have dessert, to feel beautiful. Fashion should not be about having a second skin - it is about fantasy; about putting on a red, chiffon dress, looking in the mirror and feeling amazing.” It is my understanding that our happiness depends on our confidence levels, and I would hope to be a motivating force in people’s lives to help people not only find confidence, but keep it, and I have found that increasing our sense of style through our clothing choices is one large piece of the puzzle to projecting our confidence. As was said in “Too Fat, Too Thin”, “Self-love is critical…it is the key to everything.”

Fashion is aspiration, and it’s about manifesting what is in our minds into reality. As I have said from day one of #IMFblog, when you look good, you feel good, and dressing with an intention shows that you have an intention for where you are going with not just your day, but your life. Image Consulting and Wardrobe Styling is what I am working on making my profession, and in an effort to find out how I can be of greater service to people by sharing what I’ve learned about personal style, I will be creating a Facebook page that seeks to find out if there are any specific problems I can help with in regards to enhancing one’s style. Just like in the “Too Fat, Too Thin…Will We Ever Be Content” panel discussion, I want to find out what issues we have with our bodies and what sartorial dilemmas I can help with, whether it is shopping and finding unique items, organizing one’s closet space, seeing our image differently (or for what it is), or how one can better style oneself for our personal endeavors. If you have an outfit that you need approval of and you would like an impartial expert opinion, which is what my page will be for. If you don’t know if your look is appropriate for where you will be going, ask me! If you want an idea as to how to make your outfit pop, send me a message. Let me know what your needs are when it comes to dressing for your life; what are you trying to accomplish; what your goals are; what are your challenges when it comes to dressing. In my fashion, you get what you dress for, and life is all about the visual.