à la mode: The New Now

If you haven't got them memo yet, this fall is all about deconstructed minimalism. The below spread styled by one of my favorite Vogue Fashion Editors, Lucinda Chambers, from UK Vogue which was in their August 2014 issue shot by Patrick Demarchelier. I appreciate Chambers personal style, and an editor's personal style is always indicative of the sort of aesthetic approach their fashion stories are usually constructed. When one does a Google search of Chamber's street looks, I have noticed how Chambers combines unique pieces to create a cleverly unexpected look that makes sense in a mad hatter sort of way. As we all know, the Mad Hatter was a genius in his own right, and I think that is what the looks in this spread exude. In my fashion, I love a look where each piece of the sum is interesting all by itself, but the ensemble of those pieces culminates into one ultra unique, creative and appealing look. My mind travels to the days when I used to watch Power Rangers and the Rangers would combine each of their individual colossal assault machines into one "Megazord". Even though each Ranger was strong and talented in their own regard, when they came together they were a real force to be reckoned with. Remember your clothes are your armor that prepares you for the public, so in that regard, I say pay close attention to the work of Lucinda Chambers in UK Vogue if you need a look that makes a concise aesthetic statement. 

                

à la mode: Shape Shift

I came across the below video on YouTube, and like a moth to a flame, I could not keep from watching it over and over again. I was overcome with beauty from this video of this shoot shot in Vogue Italia for the October 2014 issue. As one may very well be aware, there is a certain fascination with knits this winter in the fashion community. This shoot is in response to that notion, in my fashion. The spread elevates knits to an elegant, yet edgy appeal, and after watching the video I feel new motivation to think of inventive ways of wearing the knits in my closet. How about you?

à la mode: 5 Days, 5 Looks, 1 Girl - Jane Herman Bishop

DAY 1

Oddly enough, I find I am not the type of person who likes to wear jeans to work, or too often as a matter of fact. With my personality and career mindedness, I am the type of person who enjoys dressing up in dress slacks and blazers on a daily to appear most professional and appropriate. 

DAY 2

But Vogue contributor and cofounder of JeanStories.com, Jane Hermon Bishop, has me rethinking the notion I have for jeans. In my fashion, she almost gives me a new outlook on jeans as a whole. The way she puts her outfits together, the jeans she wears are almost camouflaged for what they are. 

DAY 3

For the sake of her blog, Jane wears jean every day, and her Day 4 look is one I adore because she isn’t wearing jean pants, but a jean jacket. She’s not particularly confined to wearing jean pants everyday but she was able to incorporate her love of the fabric elsewhere on her person. Plus with her Dries Van Noten pants almost look like jeans with a floral pattern on them, so the look is even more intriguing in that way. I also love a pointy shoe if you remember from my à la mode post "Retro Remix".

DAY 4

Her Day 5 look is a classic look that still passes as professional. It’s so basic, but the clean, crisp look of her tan jacket mixed with her clean white patterned blouse, and clean dark blue denim is a look I am sure no one would look away from. A clean look is always admirable, in my fashion. Although I do have a certain admiration for her ripped jeans in her Day 1 look. 

DAY 5

Paired with her black sweater with the small Christmas tree designs on the sleeve, and that colorfully patterned hood, I am attracted to the adolescent look especially with her canvas shoes. It’s another clean look, despite the rips in her pants. She is my inspiration for Casual Fridays at work.

à la mode: 5 Days, 5 Looks, 1 Girl - Stella Greenspan

As evident by last year’s MET Gala Exhibition, Punk: Chaos to Couture, the rebellious nature of the punk aesthetic has evolved into so many interpretations since its beginnings in the last 60’s and early 70’s. In my fashion, punk in general terms means having the courage to be who you are and express yourself either through your clothing, attitude, actions, or beliefs, despite the feelings other may have towards you. Exuding a “punk” attitude says a lot about your strength in character and how you think. It makes for an intriguing personality for people to have to try to understand, and appreciate. 

DAY 1

When it comes to dressing for business, if you prefer a more hard rock inspired edge in the clothes you wear, it can be hard to incorporate that punky edge while still appearing professional enough to climb one’s corporate ladder. I myself have always enjoyed a more grungy, edgy look myself since middle school wearing beat up Chuck Taylors (which I still have), black clothes, and holes in my pants, but now, as an adult chasing a higher salary and executive leadership, my grungy looks are best saved for my weekends, and at home.

DAY 2

But sometimes, going to work, I like to add a bit of punk into the mix in my own ways. I believe Stella Greenspan, Fashion Assistant to Creative Director Grace Coddington, is a great example of how to do that. As one can see in her Day 1 look, there is something delightfully offbeat and hard edged about her considering her mid calf length leather skirt, teal stockings, and deconstructed leather shoes, all by Balenciaga. Unlike a lot of the smiling, gleaming Vogue girls who wear upbeat playful colors and patterns, Stella prefers to wear darker colors, and still looks as gleaming and smiley as any other Vogue girl. I love that she is able to wear dark colors, leather, and varsity jackets that are unconventional for the office, but the fact that she adds pops of color and crisp white collared shirts qualify her looks as professional attire. 

DAY 3

All of her looks are youthful, functional, appropriate for work, and say that this girl sees the beauty of the dark side. There are many variations to a girl’s personality, and a girl doesn’t have to be girly, flirty, and colorful to be beautiful. Her Balenciaga shoes are my favorite aspect to her looks for she wears them with each look, and there are so many qualities to them, that say so much about Stella in and of themselves. She inspired me to be comfortable wearing my big black Nike boots to work as long as I can balance the look out with some really tailored pants, and an interesting crisp collared shirt like her Day 4 look. 

DAY 4

I adore her Day 3 evening look and her Balenciaga skirt. The fact that she plays with the stripe effect from the skirt with her scarf and her sweater is genius, in my fashion. Along with the vintage jacket with all those zippers, and the leather shoes, it all culminates into a rough and tumble look that is still girly, flirty, and polished, and positively Vogue. 

DAY 5