Boho never goes out of Chic

After a short break, I'm ready to dissect some style.


Here's the deal: picture Jehdy. Remember Jehdy flaunting her animal prints? Little did you know she could sport different styles, including Boho Chic. 


Boho Chic borrows its name from bohemians, the free spirited vagabonds, wanderers, gypsies, hippies, artists, children of the revolution, and members of other open minded counter cultures. The term “bohemian” has been used in since the 19th century to describe those associated with unorthodox social and political views. Bohemians recognize and respect the vast beauty that this planet  as well as its people contain. These views were often expressed through free love, free spirited nature, nomadic lifestyle, strong artistic influence, and presenting oneself in free flowing, easy to wear clothing and uninhibited accoutrements. 


Boho Chic is hence associated with the laid back style of 1960′s and 70′s hippie fashion, and was revived in 2008 by gypsy style icon Sienna Miller. Features of the Boho Chic look include floaty skirts (especially long white ones), furry gilets, embroidered tunics, cropped jackets, large faux-coin belts, sheepskin and cowboy boots, baggy cardigans and hobo bags.

Boho Chic fashion

You can see Jehdy has further "hippied" up her look with some bold burgundy red bell bottoms, borrowing from the 1970's code of fashion. Ready to find out about the details of her outfit? Read below.

bell bottoms: Urban Outfitters, shirt: Zara, sweater: Rag & Bone, vest: Mango, beanie: Teddy Boy, bag: TopShop

Ready to face Winter in style? Now you know: Boho never goes out of Chic--no matter the season!

The gem that are the Loubies

Today's post is dedicated to Christian Louboutin.

Christian Louboutin's trademark glossy red soles are an undisputed stamp of fashion excellence. Since the launch of his label in 1991, Christian Louboutin helped bring stilletos back into fashion, seeking to “make a woman look sexy, beautiful, to make her legs look as long as [he] can". From razor-sharp stilettos to lace-up boots and studded sneakers, the French designer has stayed true to his goal - to 'make shoes that are like jewels'.

Louboutin street wear. Images via Streetpeeper

Louboutin claims his fascination with shoes began in 1976 when he visited the Musée national des Arts d'Afrique et d'Océanie in Paris. It was there that he saw an African sign forbidding women wearing stilettos from entering a building for fear of damaging the wooden floor. Holding on to this memory, he later used it as inspiration in his designs. "I wanted to defy that," Louboutin said. "I wanted to create something that broke rules and made women feel confident and empowered."

Are you convinced yet? Give your feet a treat!

What I wore: Edgy minimalism inspired by French tailoring and Asian designer duds

A nice fall day inspired me to show off my taste for French tailoring and Asian designer duds. It also seems like I can't get over my black and blue craze these days. What can I say, edgy minimalism never goes out of style. Add a leopard fur trim to the story (and a bow where you'd least expect it) and you're golden. 

coat: Sandro, leggings: Express, booties: Alexander Wang

Let's start with my new pea coat and how it became such an iconic piece. 

The Pea Coat, Yves Saint Laurent, 1962

Long seen as a staple of working class sailors, the double breasted pea coat jacket was introduced by Yves Saint Laurent in 1962 as an outerwear icon during the launch of his own couture house. The repurposing of functional wear such as pea coats into haute couture undoubtedly became one of YSL's signatures, and a part of his foundation of contemporary fashion design from which many of today's designers (such as those at Sandro) take their cues.
   

Oftentimes today's designers will add a controversial touch to a garment, as a means to make it truly stand out. It is precisely the play on contrasts, and the extra daring detail that will convert a classic piece into something edgy and modern. The bow at the back of my Sandro pea coat precisely shows how a single little detail can bring youth and modernity to a classic. 

sweater: SZEKI

Last but not least is my love for Asian designer clothing and the chic minimalism they suggest through their designs. The denim trim on my black sweater could suggest that I paired this knit with a basic denim shirt. Look closer--there, you found it--the button at the collar proves that the denim part was sewn to the sweater. And this is how basics are turned edgy, thanks to SZEKI. Oh and although my last post was dedicated to them, I must say that my Wang-a-tangs surely complete the outfit well, adding a much needed twist of French chic and downtown cool to balance it all off! 

Falling for Fall yet? 'Tis the best season to show those little details off!

Falling for my Wang-a-tangs

Lately, my love for Asian-American fashion designers has highly manifested itself. Unlike the avant-garde work of Yohji Yamamoto, Rei Kawakubo and Issey Miyake — Japanese designers who took Paris by storm in the 1980s — no common theme resides among the designs of Asian-Americans. Alexander Wang’s street style looks nothing like Derek Lam’s polished dresses, nor the colorful mash-up prints of Peter Som, who also consults on sportswear for Tommy Hilfiger. A fresh new wave of edginess however unites these young designers, as their pieces all stand out in their youthfulness.

My personal favorite is Alexander Wang. After dropping out in his sophomore year at Parsons The New School for Design, he launched his first women's ready-to-wear collection in 2007, and the rest is history--and my booties. 

Known for his edgy, somewhat masculine womenswear designs, Alexander Wang embodies casually cool downtown style, drawing inspiration from the 1990s, French chic, and rock grunge—always finished off with a slouchy, rolled-out-of-bed edge. With a pointed toe and whipstitch trim, these black leather lace-up ankle boots epitomize the label's edgy urban style. Thanks to The Outnet, I snatched a great bargain on my new little Wang-a-tangs! 


Curious to see the rest of my outfit? Patience is a virtue--and while your thoughts dwell on this inspiring proverb, hug my feet!

Who put the Rad in Plaid?

Plaid: it’s what unites all true hipsters and fashionistas these days. Oh, and it also includes Scots. So who put the Rad in Plaid? See how it all (rebelliously) began...

Tartan, known as plaid in North America,  is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colors.Tartan was originally a sort of uniform for distinguishing the many clans in the Highlands and islands of Scotland and can be traced as far back as the middle of the 5th Century to Ireland, where the Scots originated. Although it was then introduced in the form of kilts and not trendy button-downs, plaid symbolized the rebellion against the English so much so that authorities banned it after the Scottish rebellion of 1746.

Plaid was further associated with rebellion in the 20th century and particularly around the women's liberation movement, who reclaimed the plaid shirt in the1960's as a statement against its association with men in the physical labor force. It was also embraced in the grunge scene in the 1990s. Just like skinny jeans in 1980s punk culture, grunge produced a style that challenged what was considered uncool and revamped the plaid shirt all over again while rebelling against the establishment, just like their predecessors.

Today the revival of plaid in fashion is particularly owed to the late Alexander McQueen. For McQueen, tartan—the visual signifier of clanship throughout Scottish history—was a reference to his own Scottish heritage as well as to Scotland's turbulent political history.

Alexander McQueen ensemble, Widows of Culloden collection, AW 2006-2007. Dress of wool tartan, top of nude silk net appliquéd with black lace; underskirt of cream silk tulle. Photo courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  

New York street style, rocking the plaid. Left: red plaid APC poncho coat. Right: plaid pants. Images via Streetpeeper. 

So, have you rebelled yet? It's okay, you're allowed just this one time...in the name of fashion!

A Versace Moment...An H&M Special

See? I told you yesterday's post had a twist coming up! Today's post honors the launch of the Versace for H&M collection. Attention fashionistas, beware not to choke when you see these new little numbers at very friendly prices!

The brand's legacy in a nutshell:

Versace was already on the path towards a great career at a young age, learning how to cut and make clothes from his mother, as she ran a small tailor-shop to support the family. Gianni loved designing the clothes himself and soon he was selling them out of his mother’s shop. At the age of 26, he moved to Milan to work in fashion design.The first Versace boutique opened in Milan’s Via della Spiga in 1978, and Gianni sold his own designs alongside other labels, though soon he was outselling all the other brands.

Gianni's bold creative genius consistently challenged the boundaries of the fashion industry. His distinctive cuts, vibrant prints and unconventional materials brilliantly blended glamour, rock'n'roll, art, theatre and ballet, and served to introduce folk culture into the high couture world. Gianni was particularly influenced by Andy Warhol, Ancient Roman and Greek art as well as modern abstract art.

Versace today and the H&M collaboration:

Today, the label shines under Donatella Versace, Gianni's sister, who has managed to perpetuate the brand's promise towards a glamorous lifestyle blending sportswear with luxurious elegance. Versace's exclusive collaboration with H&M only shows that the brand is more than ever filled with youth and sexiness, as the collection looks back to its vibrant heritage, focused on leather, prints, color and exuberance.

I am personally loving the parallels between Gianni's creations of the 90s and the new Versace for H&M line. Talk about transplanting the late designer's wisdom and savoir faire into a more youthful and modern line! Patience, my friends, the collection will be available in select stores on November 19th.

Black and blue craze

Have you already turned black and blue in a fabulous way? Here's the guide on how to make that happen--trust me, no one will get hurt.


Let me explain what influenced the dissection I am about to reveal. Since the early eighties, Yohji Yamatoto's work has challenged traditional notions of fashion by designing garments that seem oversized and unfinished.  His skillful use of the color black which he describes as 'modest and arrogant at the same time' will often be 'softened' with the use of primary colors, such as blues, yellows and reds. 


Now you are wondering, why on Earth did I bring up Yamamoto? Well, It is precisely him who made black and blue outfits acceptable. What render his pieces truly unique is his continuous use of naturally oversized silhouettes as the basis for his lines, as well as drapery in varying textures. Usually limiting his pieces to a single shade (which, who is he kidding, is black for the most part) are at times enhanced with a touch of additional color (blues and reds being some of his favorites). 

What inspires my black and blue craze is Yamamoto's outfit below. Both shades complement each other well that one's gaze ends up blending these into one perfect "electric" vision.

 Yohji Yamamoto, AW 2010

And now, my translation (and dissection) of the craze, in images:

Jacket: Sally LaPointe, Jumper: Sally LaPointe, Platform boots: Jeffrey Campbell, Bracelet: LeiVanKash, Bag: Jason Wu, Scarf: Erdem

Yamamoto certainly rubs off Sally LaPointe's draping and shoulder sculpting skills, with her jersey draped jumper and crackled leather cropped jacket. Bolden up and style yourself in this emerging designer's pieces, sport a LeiVanKash feather lapis bracelet, some Jeffrey Campbell electric blue platform boots with a silver heel that screams "ooh la la", a galactic Erdem scarf, and not to mention an outrageously gorgeous Miss Wu electric blue python mini! 

See? Black and blues are totally harmless. You'll only get hurt if you don't give into the craze!

A very Lagerfeldian Halloween!

Lucky boys (and/or girls), this Halloween post is for you!

If you haven’t decided what to wear tonight, Karl Lagerfeld’s persona is a feasible-enough costume.

A little background... 

Karl Lagerfeld

In his 25 years as head designer and creative director of Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld has not only secured the strong legacy and story of Coco Chanel but has also enhanced it by turning the house into one of the most powerful and profitable brands in the world.
Along the way, Lagerfeld has himself become a legend. With his white powdered ponytail, signature black sunglasses, and fingerless black gloves, he is the most recognizable fashion designer in the world. He is also known as the industry's resident Renaissance man. Indeed,

he knows all about change when it comes to the fashion industry. His extensive body of work -- currently for Fendi, Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld -- explores a wide variety of always evolving looks.

And now, a couple of pointers...

 

Shirt: Cheap Monday, Blazer: Zadig & Voltaire, Boots: Marc Jacobs, Leggings: Zara, Bow Tie: Gemma Lister, Gloves: Club Monaco

Just grab yourselves a strong blazer, skinny tie (or in this case velvet bow tie), fingerless gloves, skinny pants, and dark aviator shades.

And if you feel adventurous enough, sport a white wig, tie your new white hair into a ponytail, aaand…

Ta daaaa! I present you the Kaiser, showing off his Diet Coke bottle, faux canvas “Karl Who?” bag and his beloved Ana Wintour!

Happy Halloween style dissectors! xoxo