THOUGHTS | 5 Reasons Why Fashion becomes Boring

I have seemed to lost the thrills and excitement right when fashion week reaches its height.

Beautiful girl, bored expression always sells

To keep this really straightforward, here are some reasons why I find fashion less interesting these days:

1. The repetitive looks highly inspired by Balenciaga during Ghesquière period and Céline during Philo period for the upcoming fall/winter. There are too many of them--in all New York, London, Milan and Paris it seems that distinguished aesthetics are now gone and replaced by the needs to sell clothes. Or is it because the designers are basically exposed to similar things thanks to popular websites and social media channels?
*inserting the correct French name takes some effort, you know.

2. The stagnancy of fashion blogs. When those popular girls (and boys) depart from their chic environment to the "high fashion" territory, they somehow start to produce similar content in their blogs. Not to mention their similar styles and similar activities during fashion week. Plus the inability of the bloggers to produce high quality review, the whole blogging content is really inundated with various phrases that all mean the same: We love it because we are invited.
*There are still few distinctive bloggers who stand out with their wit and smart take on the collection, but the rest of the pack is really frustrating.

3. Monotonous captures of the "street style personalities" in the so-called leading street style websites. Other than the polished looks on the runway crafted by expert stylists, I pretty much would love to see the pieces on real person. This where the street style photographers are supposed to feed their readers with. But instead of photographing great style regardless of how famous the person is, they consistently take photos of renowned fashion industry insiders. Thus the website appears no different than those of celebrity websites.
*Again, there are several exclusions to this, but I really cannot help but including this disappointing tendency of the street style trend here.

4. Local designers putting unbelievably high price tag on their clothes. Personally, I would love to buy local designers' clothes because that way, I feel like I have partaken in supporting the local talents. But once they start going gaga on pricing, that would be hard for a lot of people to access their clothes. I am not saying that it should be cheap, but there are times when I find crappy cutting, messy lining or mediocre fabric being priced unfairly high. The local brands serving middle class, in particular, are now labelling themselves as "exclusive" thus creating gap for the people to access them. Regular bazaars bringing a number of local brands together are becoming hit and miss, somehow classifying themselves in the category of "cool" and the rests are simply "not cool."

5. Snob fashion insiders. This is a long overdue issue, but the stamp given on the people working in the fashion industry is: They are mean. A more important thing to consider is actually: Is it because of the movie "Devil Wears Prada" or because the fashion workers regard brands and positions more than they regard style and aesthetic?
*Exclusion, exclusion, exclusion to several warmhearted fashion people out there.

I haven't rested my case. But this should be enough for now. I am still waiting for Ghesquière upcoming Louis Vuitton collection, which is supposed to be fantastic. The beautiful photo is from here, used for illustrative purpose only.

TALKING POINT | The Simplicity of Being

I ramble about minimalism (again) and the price we have to pay for "less design."

left: an editorial using Stella McCartney's collection, from tumblr; right: Thakoon Addition Pre-Fall 2014

A simple t-shirt, a structured blazer or a nicely shaped skirt--are those what we are looking for when skimming clothes in stores? Something that would effortlessly blend with the rest of what stays in our wardrobe, perhaps? Or something to complement that statement pieces we've long acquired but has never been worn because the right match is not present? I know that is what I tend to do when going shopping these days, precisely hindering myself from the crazy motifs while having the Celines, the Wangs or the Balenciagas (from Ghesquiere's Spring/Summer 2013 that I still cannot erase from my fashion reference just yet) in mind.

The resurgence of everything pared down, simple and clean, or what columnists and writers refer as the "minimalism" trend leaves me with my own dilemma. Why is fashion, something so close yet so far to reach slowly turning into something overly accessible (cue the easy-to-pair pieces) these days? Where are the ornamentation, opulent fabrication and intricate silhouette? In a not-so-distant past I justify the beyond logical pricing of designer offerings because of the intricacy and expensive fabrics, but now that everything seems like what I have or about to have in my wardrobe, the excessive pricing somehow does not make sense anymore.

What happened to the crazy, over-the-top, whimsical fashion, people? Yes, I do not dismiss the fact that there are still visionary designers who go that way, but now everyone seems to prioritise minimal shapes over everything. Design wise, one has once said that the best design is not to design at all. I partly agree. But when you label it with a lot of zeros, don't the designers have the obligation to put certain magic touch to justify the price?

I guess it is not fair to generalise all designers who champion the clean, pared down look to commercial designers who race after the trend and grab buyers' attention. While going through some pre-fall early arrivals in style.com, my sinister argumentation of designers going for simple look boils down to a fact that a handful actually exemplifies certain kind of vision. These brands really make clothes people actually want to wear, and that is a genuine, pure complement a designer can get. Otherwise, what is the point of pre-fall? Why do we even have such label for a season that does not exist (in real life)? I will leave the answer to you.

THOUGHTS | Why Fashion isn't Art

After numerous explanations and intersections of fashion and art, two designers claim that they do not think fashion is a form of art.

Flipping back several pages in the fashion-art book, we can recall a number of famous collaborations between the field of fashion and art - freshly ingrained in mind is probably what Louis Vuitton has pulled off with Yayoi Kusama, and the house's latest collaboration with Indonesian artist, Eko Nugroho. The yearly exhibition in the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York that focuses on a designer and his/her retrospective journey in fashion also confirms how closely linked the two fields are. That is without forgetting to mention numerous other fashion-related exhibitions, as well as artistic attempts called Haute Couture collections that are worked on two times every year.

However, the notion of fashion can be equal to art undeniably feels a bit far-fetched when we compare what happens on the magnificent stage of fashion in the a la mode capitals to what happens around us. Fashion is decoded in the form of clothing garbs. Fashion retailers eye for as much profit as possible instead of quality and style. People are flocking to adopt the newest trends at the lowest price - an action that for me, arguably feels right and wrong at the same time. Art itself, attempts to define the abstract ideas, which come both utterly cheap and unbelievably expensive, depends on what kind of art articles we are talking about.

So much confusion in each field - both art and fashion, because of the different aspects and qualities applied to value the creation. Rising British designer J.W. Anderson whose part of the company is now owned by LVMH sounds his opinion about whether his creation is an art. In the interview with Dazed Digital, he mentions that, "I will never see fashion as an art form. I see it as more mechanical. You cannot compare an artist to a designer; I think it’s a very different proposition. Both are commerce now, from what they used to be, but fashion is reduced, art doesn’t necessarily happen that way. It doesn’t get reduced, it exceeds in value. I wouldn’t want it be an artist, but I like the idea that there is a shelf life to it - you have to harness this moment."

A more thought-provoking statement came from Japanese "artistic" designer Yohji Yamamoto in his interview with Sleek, saying that he hates the word fashion. "I hate fashion. Or the word fashion, which sounds colourful, extravagant, expensive and gorgeous." In the interview Yamamoto also considered that what he is making is not art, although people often believe so. For him, fashion is about the business of craftsmanship, a side of which is going to disappear soon.

Witnessing how fast trend comes and go, how ephemeral a creation in fashion industry is, maybe it is simply logical to say that fashion is not art. Still, a part of it can very much be appreciated like art - something that moves and influences us in a meaningful way. I personally enjoy how the interchange between the two worlds take place in an intersection that is busy with both the brilliant minds and hype seekers.

image is from vogue.com

THOUGHTS | Cloudy Fashion

Similarity is no new thing in fashion but what if a New York Fashion Week collection presents something similar with what local brand has designed earlier?

Left: Misha Nonoo S/S14 from style.com. Right: Argyle and Oxford "The World We Live In" collection

The fashion week has kicked off this week and I cannot be more excited to witness how trends are shaped - both inside and outside the show. This post, and this blog as a whole, however, will not attempt to deliberate each and every collection that ignites my interest as what I have been writing in the past, but rather, the fashion week review will consist of my attempt to spot any peculiarity, coincidence, and who knows, faux pas here and there. That leads to my small discovery about a brand named Misha Nonoo which has just hosted the New York Fashion Week presentation for three times this spring/summer 2014 season.

Down the runway, Misha Nonoo has cheeky, carefree and most definitely, pastel pieces that are irresistible for the feminine, yet with certain twist to it. A particular look that sets me in deja vu, however, is a short pantsuit in blue-ish, cloudy print that reminds me of what an Indonesian brand, Argyle and Oxford has in their latest offering. Note that Argyle and Oxford present their collection first, Misha Nonoo follows later.

So what is this telling us? This little coincidence is one of many proofs of how fashion has globalised. The influences can come from anywhere. The brilliant minds are not centralised in the fashion capitals only. Although cloud print is not a breakthrough by either brand, how Argyle and Oxford develops their sense of trend to pieces that design-wise is eligible to be shown on the NYFW runway (by comparing it to what Misha Nonoo presents), is worthy to think about. Maybe in years to come we will not have to benchmark all trends to the mode cities and major fashion weeks only. I vehemently believe so.

FASHION SCENE | It's Fashion Weeks!

On what feels like forever in blogging timeline, I am thrilled and feel obliged to do a post as the big month a.k.a fashion week is approaching. 

September and March are two holy months in fashion industry, for the a la mode capitals of New York, London, Milan, and Paris--in that order, celebrate the upcoming season that seems like a million year later but already so salivating with shows and parties. Not to be seconded, the street style will also undoubtedly be an essential part of the fashion weeks, where the right clothes (that is autumn/winter collection) are worn at the right seasons, and we can cheer upon it.

Hoard of editors and buyers and bloggers--the last one mentioned is still a highly debatable subject (or object?) up until today, in which people and the industry as a whole are weighing their influence and importance for sitting up in the same row as the journalists and what themselves consider as industry insiders, will fly across the world to the cities, fitting all the statement pieces into their trunks (monogram or not) and charging their gadget batteries full all the time so they can take pictures and later instagram them all. Designers and models--used to be the only subjects worth talking about during the weeks, will still rush to get the show done, oftentimes being rewarded with the big headlines and endless mentions after satisfying the hunger of the fashion eyes.

And what is the main point of it all?

Years before (fashion historian can calculate), people like ME--a.k.a. no one, cannot give this kind of elaboration because everything happened in fashion weeks is basically untouched, away from the reach of the mundane. Shows are exclusive, invitations are given to the most influential, clients, buyers, and editors are the only pairs of vision who see. So with all the access we have to whatever happens behind-the-scene and plenty photos that tell stories, how will the fashion week change?

One, everything will get stale so easily. Suzy Menkes has articulated it in T Magazine just right regarding the confusing season of fashion, where the fashion weeks are showing six months in advance and being stocked just for around a month. As everything has been reviewed and seen before, when the season comes, it will no longer be viewed as new, but rather, outdated.

Two, the line between the insiders and outsiders is blurry. We witness it all, we have access to it all; so who to say that we are outsiders? Journalists, for once, get all the invitations. But now, the bloggers, even those who only showcase what they wear each and every day without any insight and commentary pieces can get into the show, taking beautiful photos, and (probably) walking away with goodies. I really appreciate those who really put out great piece of writing accompanied by photos, thus enabling me to understand the collection from different point of view and helping me to reach the exclusivity. But those who perhaps hashtag their post with #ootd each and every time? I still don't get it.

Three, overflowing information. I have once stopped following certain twitter accounts as they constantly update everything happens and somehow it bugs the hell out of me. Call me old-school but that is really what I feel, that people require some time to digest all the updates of fashion week. At least, a thoughtful commentary and decent photo are sufficient to feed us all, rather than constantly updating meaningless low quality photos on everything you see on the runway (which is later uploaded by style.com anyway). And that is just one case, probably in relation with how fast everything turns old is that we see similar outtakes everywhere and cannot help but getting tired of it.

Still, I am excited about fashion weeks and wish to one day join the merciless, fashionably on-time crowd.

What say you?

image: STREETFSN

THOUGHTS | Why Korean?

Call it Korean wave, and no matter how hard I persist the whole Korean invasion, there is something tickling in me that craves for their style (albeit not their song, unfortunately it won't betray my ears). But the whole look, the feel to it, the physical attributes and ultimately, their style--people will kill just to get a gist of it. So the big question is, whether all of the craze involves heavy promotion and commercialism, or indeed, it is really some sort of cultural revolution? Could that be a result of the world economy crisis, where everybody suddenly directs their attention to the rising market of Asia?

For the specific case of style, I guess, it is the perfect mixture of beauty and imperfection (small body, small eyes, although I have to admit the surgery part does not really impress me), sexiness and cuteness, dressed and undressed, that is proven to be the attractiveness of Korean girls. Here I put out photos from Style Nanda, a clothes online retailer in comparison with one of my favourite street style blogs, People Purple. The store, of course, attempts to attract the shoppers with exactly what people think of Korea. The cuteness overload with sometimes rather sketchy attire shows up, with skinny models posing brilliantly for the lookbook sake.

Proceeding to browse the evidence of street style in Korea, they do not beg to differ. The South Korean style really lends an air of coolness no matter what they wear, and that makes me wonder whether people in Korea can really dress impeccably and put together a desirable look. The fair skin, obviously, complements their style take so well, but that effortless factor of coolness can really account for all the crave for Korea. I think, what presented on the street here is actually what we are supposed to reflect our style to. Another hit of simplicity I have always aimed for.

images: Style Nanda and People Purple

THOUGHTS | Fa-Fa-Fashion

Over-pouring assertions and opinions and blahs of how fashion editorial should be, how a girl ought to carry herself, how nights and days are filled with youthful dream, not to mention the persistence of procrastination, given that I am not in my celebratory mood, this post will be a small ode to moodboards. Fashion drives us further than we should be, doesn't it? Fashion week is a fiesta, fashion magazine preys commercial and advertorials. Who am I to judge? So just indulge the moment in pretty things. No thinking required, really.

Just when I think I cannot love Proenza Schouler more (liar), my pupils went from tiny to large, in excitement. For the brand I long to have works in their motion, giving luxurious industry looking clothes I did not expect before. Mentioning it again here will not be a crime, I dare say, that the collection is formed as if Jack and Lazarro are given canvases to draw on, but instead of drawing, they restructure the canvas. Little paint here and there is a proof that this is both playful and extra serious job. Bipolar is in, don't you think?

Love, or whatever you refer it to, shows clearly even when you try to conceal it. I have witnessed a small fraction of fashion editorial world in my daily job, and overseen too many people trying to do the same thing. Maybe, just maybe, if someone is willing to step up and produce whatever they want, similar like what I witness in this Maison Kitsune photo, with the slightly blurry, undertone, and vintage-y looking photos, I will feel good. Again.

Come on. There are shows and there are shows. Yes, I firmly believe that without the colour-vaganza and intricate prints, in one way another great clothes will always find their way to the right hands. Just like a great magazine will sneak into the mind of their audience, or a small blog finds a way in their reader's heart. Right? RIGHT? J.W. Anderson has just won an award in the prestigious British Fashion Awards, now his autumnal turn seems to prove that he earns it. I have so much respects for the guy, shying away from the Balenciaga-ish cutting and silhouette, and injecting tons of his. The freshest of the season is emphasized on plain looking clothes with excellent fitting and quirky styling. That orange patch, red slit, and semi-cape top simplify our understanding of fashion.

Something to close the day, would be: You cannot buy great style. You cannot buy great mind. You cannot take both away from anyone.

THOUGHTS | Proportion

I wonder whether now is the period to take a dive into Pre-Fall collections but I do it anyway. Fashion Week is around the corner again and I cannot help but feeling slightly overwhelmed. Seeing piling works for which I have slowly lost my appetite for is not a good experience afterwards. Fashion is not my happy tone right now, so what the fuck am I posting here? Read at your own risk.

I was casually browsing the regular style.com when I saw Lanvin's Pre Fall and drawn in it. No, I am not talking about the excessive animal print mixing, but rather the tendency of proportion play. I notice the balance the ruffled outerwear (left) and the symmetrical jacket (right) bring, which is brilliant. I would wear them in an instant. The overall silhouette is no longer about highlighting curves, but rather taking risks and improvising femininity.

Although I usually overlook Acne and Maison Martin Margiela for my incomprehension of their quirky take on fashion, lately I have been more and more into the kooky styling and brilliant tailoring they have. A more extreme proportion is exhibited in A-line jackets in Acne, while the muted tone in Margiela looks like a sublime way to get into Fall feeling. The extra large shape of Acne jackets is probably questioned at first, but much loved later. Won't you agree?

And I save the best for the last. Taken the Americana inspiration to a whole grungy, dark level, Ricardo Tisci at Givenchy proves that he is worthy (don't you all love a little rhyme now and then?). What surprises me, though, that he bundles what seems to be quilted boxy leather jacket around the waist. Even men have the proportion play, this time, it also offers an alternative on how to dress during warmer days. Should we feel so inclined?

images source: style.com, i-D online

THOUGHTS | Revisiting Prada

On to the good ones, it was last Saturday that I plausibly switched my TV to a style network. Then it showed Prada over the years. There were shots after shots of boring and plain collection, with what seemed like never ending conversation about Miuccia's take on simplicity. But then the year turned 2002/2003 and everything was boom. Finally, the colours, proportion, and twists closely associated with the brand appear. With the fall collection that I like the most. It was a good year.

Prada Spring 2003

Prada Fall 2002 

I am therefore thankful for style.com archives back to the year 2000 (a.k.a 12 years ago), perhaps when fashion was not as rigorously commercialized and digitalized as it is now. Nevertheless, the sex, the excitement, the beautiful clothes persist. From a slight observation at Prada's archives I admire the consistency of the brand over decade, not to mention the very similar prints that was on the 2002 collection with the very recent Fall 2012.

Prada Fall 2012

Prada Spring 2002

Do you smell fifties? The odour then blends with Miuccia's authenticity on the house that bears her family name. So in a decade time we can expect another geometric swirl on the runway.

all images are from style.com

THOUGHTS | On Having Abundant Inspiration

Let's be honest. I'm tired. A friend of mine once said that if you have bothering things on your mind, it will be way better to pour it in writing than to keep it to yourself. So here it goes...

It has been a few weeks I am in such un-inspired, lost place. Greatness does not come without a price but I am still wondering myself what causes it. Am I simply physically tired? Am I running out of inspirations? The first one would make the most sense, because inspirations are always abundant for me. Credits to internet for enabling me to do so. Yet, I feel upset for not creating something OUT OF those inspiring pieces. Plans are piling up and they are torturing. I feel like I am creatively dried up with my "real" job and it is definitely bothering me. I feel like a real shame when it comes to VOCIFEROUS, for not bringing the whole vision together. For not putting what is supposed to be running there. I love what I do with it, and I am honestly tired to blame lack of time and energy for my lacking. Some say that if you love it, you will do anything unconditionally. But I guess, I simply need some kind of break. Right? :)

THOUGHTS | A Little Kitsch Along the Way

It has been 10 days without hitting new post button, I am obviously immune to any news around fashion. Wrong. My life swirls around fashion, with capital f, most of the time I long to quest for my own voice in style. And here you go...

Kitsch is actually a German word, representing something utterly inferior, tacky, and sometimes incomprehensible. These girls come out, rather sketchy, ultimately demand a closer attention and perhaps a startled look. Kitsch is not something breakthrough anymore, yet still, challenging the definition of beauty by exposing an uglier side cannot be categorized as uninteresting...

It is rather refreshing, if not disturbing, to view a slightly kitschy editorial among other highly polished, ultra sleek, and sexy-with-an-edge images in glossy magazines/websites. Asian faces, to be more precise, are the versatile ones, I guess, because they can be dressed in the expensive pieces with flawless makeup but at other occasion the eyeliner can go a bit over, the hair can be done in such a quirk way and you have an ugly-pretty Asian doll.

image source: fashion gone rogue

Because being perfectly beautiful is all over the place... that scented edge is what we are looking for...

ON RADAR | Pajamas Dressing

It's Saturday and I finally have a little energized time to do errands (read: post on my blog and maintain VOCIFEROUS while updating story lines of some television shows). It hasn't been a wonderful week behind me but now I am taking things slowly and trying to post here at least three times a week or more quality posts like this one, if you like to read, of course (!). Now, moving on to another matter...

As a lot of people mention that fashion is one big cycle, trends that come and go and come again and fade again with some extra touch to make it more sophisticated and in-the-moment, for these past months I have taken a note of the increasing use of pajamas as daily wear. No, not that kind of wear when you lounge around the whole day, do nothing beside sitting in front of the TV laptop and eating cereals three times a day (I am not a big fan of cereals, thus this has never happened to me). The extensive use of pajamas outside the bedroom here means that the girls seriously throw on some two-piece-set and call it a day.

Debatable, right? I guess the one that has started this fairly questionable outfit is none other than the charismatic and talented man, Ryan Gosling. He wore this blue-and-white pairing to Cannes Film Festival back then in 2011 and later on his photos are spread all over the world, call for both admiration, style debate, and unconsciously, a trend. Sure, there were definitely some periods in the past where men and women crawl from their bed and head to dinner in fancy restaurants (I probably just make this up so please bear with me) in their pajamas, but for the year 2012, I not-so-secretly believe that Gosling starts it all.

*if you haven't watched his movie, Drive, you definitely should.

I have nothing against it, really, if the look is gracefully composed, then why not? With certain elegance and rather lazy depiction, wearing pajamas for me actually takes a lot more effort than it seems. It is all about elevating the use of certain clothing items--making it multi-functional and purposely ready to serve the daily needs. The notion of styling pajamas is not that simple since there are some facets a man/woman needs to go through to make it day-appropriate. And when some day we can wear pajamas to work (I guess my occupation will allow me to do so, in one fashionable way), I will be the one of many who approve.

image sources: Tommy Ton for style.com, MTV Style, Refinery29, FabSugar, all the pretty birds, Style Bubble

THOUGHTS | Accidentally Similar

Printed background, check. Minimal silhouette, check. I believe there is no such thing as 100% original anymore, given that we are living in information era where every past influence can be adopted to the modern innovation. Same thing also applies in fashion. These similarities between Acne, Jil Sander, and Nikicio (an Indonesian brand) for instance. I will simply say that these are accidentally similar and leave the room for you to critically judge. Note that the Acne collection came last while Jil Sander has displayed its collection during the fall fashion week and Nikicio followed after.

Acne Capsule Collection SS 2012

Nikicio Femme 2012

Jil Sander AW 2012 flower arrangement

*this is the only scheduled post I managed to sneak in. still in China.

THOUGHTS | Words vs Pictures

From this opening up straight, I warn you that this post might turn out to be rather like a whining post and thus I am not responsible for further thoughts and or critics. Let's talk about life. Or rather specifically, the world of blogging and journalism. Though there are already plenty of debates on whether a blogger can be called a journalist, I put my rebuttal aside and see the recurring trends in the world of those two.

Olivia Palermo's blog when I visited it

I have (not so) recently stumbled upon the blog of the notoriously stylish Ms. Olivia Palermo, and I have to admit that I am rather disappointed. Just to make it clear, that I am perhaps not the ideal candidate to judge someone's blog since I am no expert in blogging (who is an expert in it anyway?) but this is just my honest opinion: I don't get it. Ms. Palermo is someone that has killer taste in fashion and also killer personality, judging from her exterior yet what you will read there are plenty of well trained contributors giving various stories with her picture up front instead of Ms. Palermo herself puts her own styling tips. She simply posts various looks of her outfits with a sentence or two, and sometimes even a mere phrase.

This quick judgment (as I leave the website soon due to lack of interest) makes me realize how the term fashion blogging has such a wide definition, and nothing is really firmed. It is not rare these days to see a handful of "successful" bloggers who rely their achievement on day-to-day outfit photos. I don't say that it is bad, however, I do learn that the readers usually prefer to look at pictures rather than read the paragraphs. So far, standout bloggers with witty writing skills are only Man Repeller (Leandra Medine) and Style Bubble (Susanna Lau). It got me (yet again) thinking, whether people just want to be spooned with photos or rather get something more through well thought articles. Or, you can judge me as a jealous one who is unable to post "beautiful" outfit photos and rather rambles. Who knows.

It is then not so surprising to see how the payment for people in journalism is comparably lower than, say, a photographer. And it is bugging me. Yes, there are some "successful" journalists who make their remarkable way with tons of admiration of the readers and thus receive a healthy amount of remuneration but many have to taste bittersweet side of being a journalist. Do you think that people regard pictures more than words? This argument is for the moment left unanswered, until I am able to prove it myself that producing crafted articles and inspiring pieces worth more, and I can finally leave it at peace.

SATURDAY REMIX | Encouragement

I have been feeling philosophical these days, trying to grasp the enjoyment of the ups and downs while keeping my dreams alive. So today's Saturday Remix will round up around inspirational quotes and lovable stuffs to jam y(our) Saturday with more positiveness and praises for little unnoticed things.

“Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it.” - Terry Pratchett

"When you see how you react when you suffer, that's when you know what you are made of." - Leighton Meester

source: various tumblrs

To close this reflective weekend, this is the tune that brings me to mind journey...

Take care folks!

HER FLAIR | What Kind of a Woman are You?

When I decided to change the direction of my blog into something more personal, so far, I guess I have just made it a little more crafted with occasional selections of favourites, on radar, et cetera et cetera (you can see the categories bar) without really go there and talk. So instead of talking yet again about various fashion magnets I discover with the aid of the internet, this time I want to share more thoughts/opinions about, well, woman.

As more and more sites offer a peek into certain figure's closets and personal styles, the "menu" HER FLAIR is something I created to share with you, what kind of woman caught my attention and what lessons--either in terms of style or story can we learn from her. What actually makes people drawn to certain individuals, and what causes it? It is a tough question to answer, because the parameter isn't clear. And more than often, I question myself about what kind of woman I want to be and slowly sink into forming people's opinions about me instead of focusing on my direction.

Relinquishing dreams and hopes are most certainly things I hinder myself of though the reality plays it kinda harsh on me. While for this very moment my passion lies in writing and adventuring, dealing with everything fashion, culture, and creatives, I have to admit that I am afraid of failure. I have been spending enough time perusing various articles of successful woman figures in the industry and (not so) secretly hope to be like them but when it gets tough, questioning is becoming my thing.

I stopped by this tumblr and this great quote, so I think you all shall know,

Back to the question on the title, What Kind of a Woman are You? I can proudly encourage myself and you all: a woman who has self determination, who will fight for what she believes, who knows how to be strong yet sensitive at the same time, a woman with whom someone can share intellectual wisdom, passionate dreams, and a long adventurous life. How does that sound?

THOUGHTS | Don't Tell me I'm Lazy

For most girls/women, it is no easy job to get dressed in the morning: they open their wardrobe with piles of clothes but they are still clueless about which one to put on. The brilliant ones have planned the outfit the night before, but sometimes last minute changes take place. I fall somewhere between the brilliant ones and the clueless ones--at times I plan what I want to wear properly, but not seldom I rush to decide which outfit works.

But this one is another story, actually. Seeing the emerging numbers of women who dress so easily while still maintain the "killer" look makes me really envy. In fashion, it is called minimalism, where the outfit worn is actually plain simple--not much of layers and patterns, with emphasis on structure, wearability, and fluidity of the pairings. There is sense of relax and no fuss attitude in which the ladies still manage to present themselves elegantly or edgy. I definitely want both!

Black and white. Perfect stilletos. A touch of leather. The formula of dressing minimal are those three, I think, but I am personally not quite ready for wearing stilleto(s) around--or perhaps it is because I haven't found the perfect pair yet. I still have to admit though, I am that one person who loves wearing tons of different stuffs, especially if it works--so the option of being "minimal" will arise when I feel like I have nothing to wear. I would probably pull my white t-shirt with some skirts or pants. Which makes me question, is minimalism some kind of style or options for those who are clueless-slash-lazy to pick clothes? I say, it can be both.

The best I want to achieve is something near the gorgeous look of Liu Wen: comfortable (no stilleto but instead a pair of manly loafers) but still edgy (the Alexander Wang bag and that asymmetrical skirt). Are you with me?

Images are from 1:  Who What Wear, 2: Style by Kling, 3: Editer, 4: Street Style Aesthetics

THOUGHTS: It Ain't A Parody

So I have my hair cut into shoulder-length bob, no big deal. It does somehow make me rethink of my existence. Whether certain haircut influences someone to hire you, whether certain haircut is highly regarded in certain industry. For once it started as a blabber, I rethink my whole staged performance called life. And the fact that I am so into fashion and currently--journalism on wider scope, makes me re-evaluate what it is actually going on out there--whether I am playing in my own kind of utopia of how world actually is. If you manage to read this far, let me simplify things for you, I'd rather stand against consumerism but cannot deny the fact that I am drawn into those pretty laces in Valentino, magical world of Louis Vuitton SS2012, those dose of street style that keeps on inspiring me, and so on and so on. Hypocrite? I would rather say flexible :p

a scene at Topshop Unique SS 2012, shot by krisatomic

The industry that has fed enormous amount of people, from prominent editors, designers, stylists, to the new breed of bloggers, is for me an excitement yet at times it feels phony. I am clearly not an insider (yet) but to see fashion that has initially started by two obvious reasons: to dress people or, at the extreme side, to create something aesthetic, is slowly contaminated with immense business pleasure, is sort of saddening. It definitely grows fast, even at a speed that is hard for a handful insiders to keep up with, but for me personally, I want to preserve some kind of value. What actually lies there, something that is called style. My silly heart cannot really justify the growing "trend" of grabbing branded stuffs ferociously and cliche world of luxury. There must be some kind of brain in it. I am not saying that it is all full of phonies and attention seekers, because tons of inspiring, determined, creative personalities are clearly still there, which is why I stay to seek more.

A silly yet sarcastic video that has gone viral in youtube inspired me to write this post. Enjoy :)

THOUGHTS: 5 Lessons from MELANCHOLIA

Apart from some buzzes about the film, how intriguing and deeply mesmerizing the film is, MELANCHOLIA for me is...simply painful to watch. Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate the idea of depressed people when the apocalypse draws closer, but for me the execution falls rather bland. I don't ignore the fact that the visuals are brilliant, the setting--that small castle with golf field and small wood surrounds, is perfect for such drama but the plot and charaterization falls rather predictable. And that hand-camera work during the party scene, simply.makes me.dizzy.

The story line of two sisters who look nothing like each other, who both face somewhat-different-somewhat-similar depression in a series of events just before the apocalypse happens. The apocalypse itself, is due to a planet named Melancholia who approaches the Earth and finally hits it. Kirsten Dunst plays the role of one sisters who celebrates her wedding in her sister's castle. Charlotte Gainsbourg, plays another sister's role, takes care of the whole celebration who has slowly become depressed towards the planet hit. The trailer, for your viewing pleasure...



So further, 5 lessons to learn from this movie:

1. Stay with your groom during YOUR wedding day, otherwise you may end up depressed because he's leaving you.

2. Do not leave your wedding party and take a bath, just when you and your groom are about to cut your wedding cake. The guests may not really notice since what they are waiting for is most probably the toast and dance, but you might still upset someone.

3. Embrace your last days with your loved one, if the planet is about to hit, stop looking at your expensive telescope and don't be panicked. Suicide is NOT suggested.

4. Don't take your golf cart to go through the woods, it may not work as well as it is in the golf field. (This is one important advice especially if you take kids with you).

5. It is probably awkward to watch your sister nakedly moon-bathing, so if she is sane, just let her be. If she is depressed, kindly help her dress.

One more positive note on Melancholia, beside its immaculate visual, is the beautiful wedding dress and the laid back, simple dressing that suits the characters. And lastly, the intriguing, 7 or so minute-opening, the best part of film I think...

Thoughts: Dress Comfortably and Forget the Rest

A real good style lesson I can definitely learn from Kristen Stewart is that, despite of her quirky, awkward gestures, she always seems to look laid back and totally comfortable. Another plus point, her hair is most of the time messy and she even messes it up with her hands when she feels like doing so (which is, a lot) yet she rocks it. At times, I can really appreciate someone who spends just the right amount of time in front of the mirror to straighten, blow, or curl their hair but many times, natural look wins. Similar formula applies to dressing--seeing girls who are having trouble walking in sky high heels is kinda painful, while those who ignorantly throw on their sneakers with dresses or skirts are kinda cool to me :p (please note the trouble part).

tumblr, just jared

A thin t-shirt and denim shorts or a red Yigal Azrouel short dress (sorry there, I really thought it was Proenza until I checked it out first before typing) with sneakers are Stewart's recipe and I can totally understand why. The combo is comfortable. And she doesn't care. That's it. A woman should own such attitude within--no, not being don't care whether you look appropriate or not, but being don't care about too much negativity and too much polished appearance.
Some of you might accuse me of being so two years ago by posting her 2009 MTV Movie Awards red carpet look so I redeem it by sharing you a brand Kristen (and us) might love, A.Y. Not Dead.

Gotta sign out now because I have a pretty important interview tomorrow. Will be back with (hopefully) a good news soon! :)