"Rad or Bad"

So, go figure the day after I decide to wear socks and sandals, Refinery 29 pops up with a feature on whether socks and sandals are the newest micro-trend, or something that should be left to 9 year olds.

Personally, I wasn't aware that it was even a trend. In fact, I didn't really give it much thought other than my toes were too cold to wear sandals without socks but I bought those shoes a month ago and was aching to finally wear them. I guess I am the kind of person who only knows about those trends that are basically thrown in your face like ripped tights. I don't know if that is a good or a bad thing, but I just found it amusing that things that I don't even think about become points of discussion in terms of trends and style. Sometimes socks are just socks, warmth for the toesies without any more to it. I am not really sure if I am making a point but...sometimes clothes are better left unanalyzed.

ps.

photo via flickr

About Me.

Over at Discotheque Confusion, Stevie asked her readers to fill out the simple questions below and leave them in the comment box. Figured, I might as well as share mine here...though the answers differ slightly, now that I've had time to think about it.

Oh, and I am absolutely useless at picking a singular favorite of anything...hence the multiples.

Style icon:
Currently MK Olsen (appeals to my slightly grungy side) and Zooey Deschanel (appeals to my girly, pretty, vintage side)


Food:
Model: Coco Rocha -- I love your little pinched face!


Perfume:
Book: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
Film: There could never be just one, and I have so many childhood films that made lasting impressions, but at the moment, my top five might be (in no particular order):








... ok, so that's seven and...there are definitely more, oh well.

Now for the rest of questions where I was too tired/lazy/no photo was appropriate...

Designer(s):
Marc Jacobs, A.P.C., Chanel, Lyell, Charles Anastase and Luella

Band:
For now: Band of Horses, MGMT, Coconut Records, She & Him, Carla Bruni, Kaiser Chiefs - an ecletic mix...
Always:
Cat Stevens, Louis Armstrong

City:
London!

Your style:
Pure nonsense, i.e. slightly scruffy, slightly girly. askew and sleepy (can style be sleepy?!). I guess what I mean to say is that i could never look pristine or proper, something's always a little mussed...

Shop:
Antique markets in east london where I can get costume jewelry good and cheap...

Where do you see yourself in five years?
I hope to have a better idea of what I want.../at the bottom of a very long ladder

Perfect day:
Going out for a big (american!) breakfast (eggs or pancakes, coffee), visiting secondhand bookstores, getting more coffee and a stack of magazines at borders, visiting a gallery, dinner in chinatown, and a movie at the end, either at home or in the cinema..(oh and throw a little impromptu shopping in there)

Current job:
Law student - full effing time-

Dream job:
Not lawyer. Journalist of an interesting sort.

FOX ON THE RUN: a confession

Ok. So here's the thing. I'm a returner. A chronic returner. I often buy more than I afford/need and then come home, come to my senses, quickly edited out what I absolutely must have and then return anything else.

That's not the worst part. Sometimes when I buy something that I am unsure about and know I should return (because a) it doesn't quite fit; b) it is a bit of an extravagance; or c) it's not quite "me") I give it a trial run. Meaning, I leave the tags on and venture outside in it. Because this is kind of shameful and I don't want to spoil the clothes, generally I will only go somewhere quick...like to a cafe, to a grocery store, or the like just to get a feel for what it would actually be like to own said item. If I feel good, happy, etc in it without a shred of self-consciousness then it's a keeper, if not...in the returns pile it goes.


Recently, I was esctatic to find the Peter Jensen fox sweater that I've been craving since February, and on a night of raging insomnia, I bought it online. As soon as I pressed enter, I felt a little sick paying so much for a sweater. But then I got it...sigh, love. Despite the fact that the fit on the shoulders was a tad off, it was love love love love love. I don't know why but that fox knit has captured my heart. Despite my heart's desire, I judiciously decided to give it a test run because a decision like this (to keep or not to keep) cannot be made lightly and at this expense, the fit should really be perfection. So, it was put on, and it was allowed outside the house...for about 10 minutes before I ran back in afraid that I would damage it. But I did spend the rest of the afternoon inside snuggling up against it before deciding that it must be returned. Some items are too precious and I feel that I would never wear it for fear that my stain-prone ways would reek havoc on it. So this Monday, I will return it.

Perhaps I have learned my lesson: only buy things that you absolutely love, that you can afford, that fit perfectly and that do not give you panic attacks every time you bring that tall nonfat latte to your lips.

The End.

Doe a deer

I happened upon the littledoe look book today, and upon seeing the first picture (above) I immediately thought two things: what pretty lighting and b) oh, more headbands. But then, I proceeded to click through the look book, and couldn't help but be charmed by the feathered and flowered creations. Yes, headbands are an official accessory of the global hipster, as are feathers, but lest we forget that headbands have adorned many a person before Nicole Richie was seen sporting one. Does anybody remember the '60s or '70s? (Nb: I am aware of the painful irony since I do not in fact remember either decade...being born in the mid-80s). Sometimes I feel the only cultural referencing going on in clothing is referencing people who are referencing some else who is actually consciously making a cultural reference. Does that make sense? Does it matter?

Ah well, slight rant aside, there are some pretty pictures of some pretty headbands on the site that I would gladly wear trend or not. They are perfect for end of summer (if out of my price range) and are clearly an entirely different direction than the Axl Rose look. They seem to be a modern take on traditional Native American headdresses, and are presented in a lovely ethereal and dreamy setting.

Since I cannot post any more than the one above (due to ineptitude), you can see them here.

Denim on Denim on Denim on

The double denim rule is one of those classic fashion rules; to break it is inexcusable, a sin amongst sins, a fashion travesty (gasp!). Though I'm not crazy about the idea of fashion rules, for most of my life, I happily nodded along with this one (save for a brief early 90s period of matching jeans and denim jacket -- but I was 8, so all is forgiven) but I've gots to say...

....I'm kinda loving most of the looks above. Especially, Ashley Olsen's take, as well as the French monsieur captured by the Sartorialist (bottom right).

In recent months I have been noticing double denim outfits showing up in editorials, blogs and street style sites, and it got me thinking. I'm beginning to believe that denim on denim can be done...if it is executed with some thought. Less of the matchy-matchy denim, more mixture of different denim washes and textures....so it seems less...well, denim.

At the mo' I haven't got the clothes (nor the £) to experiment with...so I made a quick attempt with polyvore (first time use)... I don't know if it would work in person, it's worth a thought.

A final thought: though I am reconsidering the denim rule, I'm thinking more about denim separates - shirts/shorts/skirts/jeans. Still not ready for the jean jacket/denim pant look, eh?

Oh, Clémence

Clémence Poésy. I love the way she layers and adds different textures to her somewhat monochromatic outfits. (Obviously the magazine shots are less representative of her style, but I just thought they were pretty).While some may label it effortless, I find it more inspiring that it seems that she does put an effort into the way she looks and clearly thinks of the way things go together--it is more intriguing, me thinks.

What's with the desire for the 'effortlessness' look, by the by? It's seems that sometimes people are ashamed/embarrassed to admit the degree of thought put into an outfit, especially because fashion is considered superficial, and therefore not worthy of too much thought. In the grand scheme of things it really isn't and there are definitely more important things in life, but at the very least I can control my appearance (for the most part, sometimes the bangs refuse to cooperate)... so might as well make an effort and have a little fun with it, eh?

Anyway, apparently, Clémence is la "Garçonne we love" this month, so there you go.