Since it’s Thursday today I’m going to have to keep this look-of-the-day post short, because, as some of you may know, I have a banya to go to. For this look I paired a cashmere sweater dress with a cropped tuxedo jacket and a long necklace. When the climate permits, I could also wear this tuxedo jacket with a simple tee and a mini or over a silk dress (as Sienna Miller has done in the last picture).
January 2010
You are browsing the archive for January 2010.
Polka Dot Hits the Spot
I ate too many M&Ms today and am beginning to feel sick. This might sound like a strange statement to start today’s look-of-the-day post with but it indirectly relates to a greater fashion related theme – one of balance and moderation. Personally I find it irritating when so-called “fashion experts” or even bloggers try to sound knowledgeable by preaching on the importance of dressing according to your body type and staying “proportion conscious.” To me it all just sounds like a bunch of mambo-jumbo fluff. Things like “in order to appear taller and slimmer one should wear clothes with vertical stripes” or “full-figured women should stay away from thick textured heavy fabrics so as not to add to the visual volume of the look.” The merit of these statements is not only questionable in itself but it also has little to do with fashion. I’ve also noticed that there is a general tendency amongst such “experts” to assume that every woman wants to look taller and slimmer and that’s just ignorant. I think telling people to wear stripes in order to look taller is just as valuable of a fashion advice as telling teenage girl to wear padded bras. The bottom line is that using fashion as a way of conforming is backwards. Fashion is not about feeling self-concious or wanting to change something about yourself but about fun and self-expression. I could go on about this forever but I guess what I really want to say is that there are no limits and rules. Even the notion of moderation and balance when it comes to fashion is only relative. My biggest advice is to relax, love your body, and use fashion as a vehicle for exploration. Push the limits to know where they are (if they even exist). Its like the way I ate too many M&Ms today; now I’ll know when to stop 
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Navy & White
I have a little confession to make. I have always been into sailor-influaenced pieces; white and navy stripped tees, sailboat and anchor pendants, necklaces with large links reminiscent of anchor chains. Without even trying, sailors happen to be a pretty stylish bunch – an inspiration to fashionistas all over the world. Personally I’ve been trying to find a few simple stripped tops for a long while and yesterday I finally did. I rarely walk into H&M but I’ve recently discovered that they have great essential pieces like simple tank and tees. Yesterday I was pleasantly surprised when I noticed that they have awesome navy & white striped cotton tops – simple and soft (exactly what I was looking for). And they are cheap too, ranging from $10 to $15 bucks. I don’t think I’m ready to purchase items like dresses and pants from H&M because I love well-tailored, quality clothes, but I will stay more open-minded about their simple essentials like the top I’m wearing today.
Monday
Today’s look-of-the-day is special to me because it includes a skirt by one of my favorite designers. I am absolutely enamored with Giambattista Valli’s designs; they are incredibly feminine, flirty…simply ravishing. They have been described as a “picture of dignified modern elegance.” But I would say that his clothes are like a scrumptious strawberry atop a cake. A berry that you are dying to devour so much that you slowly savor it instead. Today I’m into food analogies .
Spring Anxious
In Toronto it feels like Spring is in the air; all the snow has melted and there is a sense of renewal and rejuvenation. The only problem is that it’s still cold. No matter how much you squint your eyes or try to put yourself in a spring-state-of-mind your imagination will only carry you so far. I don’t know about you guys but I’ve always had more fun with fashion in the spring and summer seasons. While I like to experiment, I have a general inclination towards feminine, flowy silhouettes and fabrics, which is my fashion-element of sorts. Of course heavy coats and layers tend to weigh all this down – subduing and oppressing their lightness. But there are ways of minimizing this heaviness and bulkiness. The key is to stay conscious of what is necessary and to eliminate what is not. Dress for the weather of the specific day. It may sound like a given but people often get into the trap of wearing additional pieces simply because it’s winter outside and that’s what you are “supposed to do.” Dress for the weather, so if it’s +6 C and not windy you don’t need to look like you are on an Antarctic expedition :).
