Style Watch: Inside Chanel

When we wake up, we all have our morning routine that helps us to fully wake up and be ready for the day ahead. Some of us meditate,  or take a relaxing shower. Some of us listen to music that jump start our internal verve. As of late, what I have found to be my roosters wake up call is the short videos of Gabrielle Chanel's life and career that the House of Chanel has posted on it's YouTube channel over the last year and a half. Since the first video posted on October 5, 2012, there are now ten chapters to the series entitled, "Inside Chanel". In my fashion, for anyone interested in fashion history, and understanding the root of style, listening to these videos as I wake up instills a certain fire inside of myself to live life radiantly and continue my sartorial journey in life, as Coco Chanel did once upon a time. 

In my fashion, if one can capture any semblance of Chanel within one's personal style, one will always be in fashion. In my research of The Secrets of Stylists, one cannot deny the legacy of style that Chanel has brought to the world. If you can recall one of IMF.blog's most popular Style Maven posts on Coco Chanel, as the ultimate stylist, she instilled a most true meaning of style that is felt among anyone who seeks to obtain it. I adore the videos because in demystifying the mystery behind Chanel, one gains a grander sense of how to cultivate ones style, for even if you do not own a Chanel blazer, cardigan, or bag, the simple principals of style and elegance that Gabrielle Chanel propose are universal in their application. 

As I continually chant on IMFblog, one must understand the past to build on one's future, and these videos are a perfect way of looking into the past to understand the history of Chanel. If you are going to own a Chanel blazer (as I intend to in the future), there is much more semblance in wearing the jacket when one understands and appreciates the prestige and history in wearing such a garment. When wearing a Chanel piece, the values of style so exclaimed by Gabrielle herself are reflective of the the wearer. She succeeded at impressing her style upon the world. I paid close attention to where she got her influences from and what changes in life shaped her sentiment toward life and style. Understanding the origins of her ideas is what translates through a Chanel piece, and makes the piece more than a frock, and the same is true of one's own style. Figuring out the things in your own life that bring the most meaning to what you have learned about in life is what makes your style recognizable and strong. 

In my fashion, the word "Chanel" is the embodiment of what a women wants to feel like as an individual: empowered, beautiful and timeless, in a simple, easy way. Gabrielle translated those qualities into clothes that is the fashion essential of a women in society. Hopefully that is what you draw to see from some of my favorite short videos I listen to in replay in the mornings. I adore the construction of the videos and the visuals for they too are very indicative of Chanel style. In terms of The Secrets of Stylists, this is a good beginning towards understanding how to approach your style and sartorial choices. If only I understood French so I could understand what Karl Lagerfeld is saying in his interviews in chapter 8 and 9, but perhaps that will be another undertaking I will intend to accomplish in the future. 

READing Your Style: The Big Buy Theory (The Trend Spotter)

Being that these next two months is about The Secrets of Stylists, I was so fortunate to come across InStyle Magazine’s feature, “The Big Buy Theory”. I found this feature useful because it offers a classification system for the types of ways to approach buying ones clothes. In my fashion, if you are out shopping and finding it hard to find an outfit for a particular event, or just looking for clothes that suit your style, I thought this was an accurate theory of which to base ones decisions off of. Styling the mannequins at Forever 21 this past month, I find I have to put myself in the mindset of the customers who are looking to buy from the store. Forever 21 has a huge selection, and is a treasure trove of clothes for any look, and what I have heard from customers is that they have a bit of trouble sifting through all the merchandise. If you are familiar with Forever 21, you will know that Forever tries to make it easy by coordinating different rooms for different types of girls (i.e. Girly Girl, Grungy Girl, Now Girl, Bohemian Girl, etc.). Based on the selection of clothes each room has, I have to think about what each particular girl would want to wear and present an innovative and inspiring look that entices customers to consider particular pieces to buy. I enjoy showing the ways in which to wear pieces that one might not think to combine together, and in my fashion, no matter what type of girl you happen to classify yourself as, “The Big Buy Theory” applies to each girl and how to approach selecting one’s clothes at the store.

Now, as we all know, the Fall 2014 collections were shown last month, and I have reviewed the collections! This season I wanted to approach reviewing the collections with “The Big Buy Theory” in mind. For those of you looking for inspiration on your next shopping excursion, what I have done here on #IMFblog is chosen designers that I find exemplify each classification of “The Big Buy Theory” and presented my picks of looks worth imitating if you are looking to create a modern, innovative look for yourself the next time you are out shopping. Along with my runway choices, I have reprinted each of “The Big Buy Theory” classification descriptions and InStyle’s suggestions for how to shop based on what you classify yourself as. In my fashion, I find that there maybe a little of each of the four classifications in all of us, but there is probably one of which we tend to gravitate towards the most which make us feel most comfortable in our sartorial journey. If you find that you are a generally a “Trend Spotter”, and want to appear more “Minimalist” use InStyle’s guide to help you put yourself in the mindset of how a Minimalist would find clothes. If you are a “Investor” and want to boost the impact of your look by thinking as an “Accessory Maven” would, there is a bevy of advice to consider from “The Big Buy Theory”. Regardless of what type of girl you think of yourself as, whether you are a punk rocker, athlete, or business professional, each girl can benefit from approaching buying clothes thinking about which classification to approach buying the pieces to complete a look. Hopefully the runway looks I chose help you to create new looks for yourself that keep you current and forward thinking for the coming season. 

The Trend Spotter

Christian Dior, Dries Van Noten, Versace

You’re sartorially adventurous. You spy nifty silhouettes or a new way to layer, and you instinctively know what will become the season’s style zeitgeist. You shop fast fashion to do a dry run on an experimental look and can take forever getting ready to get it all just so. Clothing is a form of expression, and you fearlessly combine pieces with abandon to keep it fresh.

Dries Van Noten, Proenza Schouler, Marc by Marc Jacobs

Why it’s easy: Your ever-evolving style is exhilarating.

Louis Vuitton, Diane Von Furstenberg, Versace

Why its tricky: Being too on-trend can equal fashion victim.

Alexander McQueen, Lanvin, Prada

The goal: Staying inspired by what’s new and what’s been rediscovered.

Rag & Bone, Christian Dior, Diane Von Furstenberg

Plan of Attack:

WAIT! THAT TRENDY BIG TICKET ARTICLE WILL GO ON SALE: Folks less intrepid than you will shy away from riskier designer styles. Bolke describes his sales rack as equal parts of-the-moment designs and basics, so patience should pay off it you bide your time.

Thom Browne, Versace, and Marc by Marc Jacobs

KNOW WHEN TO INVEST: If you find yourself returning to florals, animal prints, or leather jackets, spring for the brand renowned for that style. Forever 21’s pleather moto won’t wear as beautifully over the years as Schott’s leather version, so budget for one serious purchase.

Dries Van Noten, Alexander McQueen, Proenza Schouler

HAUNT WELL-EDITED VINTAGE AND CONSIGNMENT STORES: The pre-loved marker is a huge boon. Resale sites like Vaunte.com offer choice castoffs at a fraction of their original price. “We have efficient filters to let you look for Chanel or new items from featured stylish seller,” says founder Leah Park. Maximize discounts: Park notes that frequent sales start between 11:30 A.M. and 2:30 P.M. EST.

Louis Vuitton, Lanvin, Tom Ford

ACCEPT THE MANY HAPPY RETURNS: If you’re going to shop fast fashion online, make peace with buying and returning a lot. Photos may not always be a good indicator of quality or fit, so take advantage of sites that provide free shipping both ways. There are gems to be hound, but you’ll need to wade through the duds too.

Thom Browne, Louis Vuitton, Prada

Websites to check out:

Diane Von Furstenberg, Alexander McQueen, Proenza Schouler

FRONT ROW SHOP: frontrowshop.com – Fashion-forward silhouettes look like they came straight off the runway.

PIXIE MARKET: pixiemarket.com – Be it chain-link sandals or creepers, its shoe picks are super-fresh.

RIVER ISLAND: riverisland.com – Aggressively cool enough that even Rihanna designed a line for it.

THE REFORMATION: the reformation.com – Repurposed vintage fabric gets a new life for downtown-girl dressing.

Bit-O-Inspiro 50

Bit-O-Inspiro 49

READing Your Style: The Big Buy Theory (The Investor)

Being that these next two months is about The Secrets of Stylists, I was so fortunate to come across InStyle Magazine’s feature, “The Big Buy Theory”. I found this feature useful because it offers a classification system for the types of ways to approach buying ones clothes. In my fashion, if you are out shopping and finding it hard to find an outfit for a particular event, or just looking for clothes that suit your style, I thought this was an accurate theory of which to base ones decisions off of. Styling the mannequins at Forever 21 this past month, I find I have to put myself in the mindset of the customers who are looking to buy from the store. Forever 21 has a huge selection, and is a treasure trove of clothes for any look, and what I have heard from customers is that they have a bit of trouble sifting through all the merchandise. If you are familiar with Forever 21, you will know that Forever tries to make it easy by coordinating different rooms for different types of girls (i.e. Girly Girl, Grungy Girl, Now Girl, Bohemian Girl, etc.). Based on the selection of clothes each room has, I have to think about what each particular girl would want to wear and present an innovative and inspiring look that entices customers to consider particular pieces to buy. I enjoy showing the ways in which to wear pieces that one might not think to combine together, and in my fashion, no matter what type of girl you happen to classify yourself as, “The Big Buy Theory” applies to each girl and how to approach selecting one’s clothes at the store.

Now, as we all know, the Fall 2014 collections were shown last month, and I have reviewed the collections! This season I wanted to approach reviewing the collections with “The Big Buy Theory” in mind. For those of you looking for inspiration on your next shopping excursion, what I have done here on #IMFblog is chosen designers that I find exemplify each classification of “The Big Buy Theory” and presented my picks of looks worth imitating if you are looking to create a modern, innovative look for yourself the next time you are out shopping. Along with my runway choices, I have reprinted each of “The Big Buy Theory” classification descriptions and InStyle’s suggestions for how to shop based on what you classify yourself as. In my fashion, I find that there maybe a little of each of the four classifications in all of us, but there is probably one of which we tend to gravitate towards the most which make us feel most comfortable in our sartorial journey. If you find that you are a generally a “Trend Spotter”, and want to appear more “Minimalist” use InStyle’s guide to help you put yourself in the mindset of how a Minimalist would find clothes. If you are a “Investor” and want to boost the impact of your look by thinking as an “Accessory Maven” would, there is a bevy of advice to consider from “The Big Buy Theory”. Regardless of what type of girl you think of yourself as, whether you are a punk rocker, athlete, or business professional, each girl can benefit from approaching buying clothes thinking about which classification to approach buying the pieces to complete a look. Hopefully the runway looks I chose help you to create new looks for yourself that keep you current and forward thinking for the coming season. 

The Investor

Valentino, Gucci, Balenciaga

You keep an eagle eye on fashion shows as well as magazine pages and ads to anticipate what you’ll want and when best to get it. Yours in not a closet; it’s a cathedral to quality. Fabric and fit must be absolutely top-notch to pass your test. Most of your purchases would be considered safe, but you always add a brave choice or two that skew trendy to shake things up.

Altuzarra, Bottega Veneta, Micheal Kors

Why it’s easy: You often look spectacular, and, well, rich.

Jason Wu, Givenchy, Valentino

Why it’s tricky: The clothes can wear you, and missteps are costly.

Mary Katrantzou, Saint Laurent, Fendi

The Goal: Creating a look that mixes designer splurges with far less pricey finds.

Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Valentino

Plan of Attack:

PRIORITIZE CLOTHES THAT CAN PULL DOUBLE OR TRIPLE DUTY: You’ll never regret investing in an elegant, tailored Saint Laurnet blazer that you can wear to work as easily as you can for dinner later.

Calvin Klien, Altuzarra, Balenciaga 

DON’T BE A LEMMING: Some looks are so recognizable people know exactly what designer and season it’s from,” says InStyle fashion director Cindy Weber Cleary. By the time that “hot” item goes from news flash to the stores, it may be so ubiquitous that you look like you’re jumping on the bandwagon. Try lesser-known non-runway designs that have a similar aesthetic.

Micheal Kors, Rodarte, Fendi 

BE BESTIES WITH YOUR SAES ASSOCIATE:  Looking for that hard-to-find Dries Van Noten skirt? Make it a point to let your favorite store know. Brian Bolke, owner of luxury boutique Forty Five Ten in Dallas, presells about 40 percent of his inventory before it hits the shelves. Communicating will also save you money. “Never be shy about asking us if an item ever goes on sale,” he says.

Bottega Veneta, Givenchy, Giorgio Armani

SAVE THE BIG BUCKS FOR THAT SHOW-OFF PIECE: Not everything has to cost a bundle. For a plain lack skirt or denim cutoffs, consider Levi’s and Zara so you’ll have enough for that over-the-top coat.

Calvin Klien, Rodarte, Saint Laurent

Websites to check out:

Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Mary Katrantzou

KIRNA ZABETE: kirnazabete.com – Among the first to carry up-and-coming designer talent.

LUISA VIA ROMA: luisaviaroma.com – Looking to channel Italian glamour? Search no further.

MATCHES: matchesfashion.com – The clothes are luxe, but it’s the standout accessories that shine.

FARFETCH: farfetch.com – This site scours boutiques across the globe for that sold-out item.