THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME: IT’S BOURGEOIS…
Forget about grunge, if the Fall 2012 couture shows are anything to go by fashion is about to get fancy pants. It doesn’t matter that it’s couture. Fashion is interesting because it works...
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THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING ON STRONG FOUNDATIONS…
I have been attempting a closet clear out for over a year… You might remember when it all started. It was a rather embarrassing situation. I’ve slowly been selling pieces and giving things...
Read More →
COMING UP FOR AIR…
Having a blog can be slightly suffocating at times… The Style Crusader is rolling towards it’s three-year birthday (August 15th) and, at the moment, I’m not planning it a party. It’s not because...
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A BLOGGERS YARDSALE…
August 11th – be there or be square. Mark your attendance on the Facebook group. Hope you can make it! xx
Read More →
ON STRUGGLING TO FIND INSPIRATION…
Please tell me I’m not the only one that feels in a bit of a funk. Normally I have no lack of inspiration. In fact, the problem I face is that I’m inspired...
Read More →THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME: IT’S BOURGEOIS…
Forget about grunge, if the Fall 2012 couture shows are anything to go by fashion is about to get fancy pants.
It doesn’t matter that it’s couture. Fashion is interesting because it works in mysterious ways. Inspiration is becoming ever more fluid. This means that something that shows on the catwalk today can be interpreted quickly by mega-powerful-all-reaching high street shops.
That’s good for you and me because it’s affordable…
Anyway, this isn’t a philosophy class – let’s talk about the clothes.
They are so pretty, right? We start with Armani Privé in the middle with its double model Frenchi looks. There’s something distinctively 1920s-esque about this… for some reason it has me thinking of Great Gatsby and long cigarettes. You’d wear this sort of outfit to a weekend away at your summer-house, surely. On the left we’ve got Balmain with its power shoulders and easily recognizable signet belt. It’s equally powerful but in a more 1980s sort of way. This woman is smart enough to have a high-powered job but God forbid she ever gets her fingers dirty. She’s wearing a pale pink suit after all… there’s no room for a messy McDonalds, this girl only eats oysters. Then, on the far right we have the beautiful Christian Dior. This woman is straight out of the 1950s only she accidentally ran into Madonna circa 1990. A cone bra plus a teeny tiny waist makes for an interesting and new silhouette. Raf Simons nailed it.
I love couture because, while it’s highly aspirational and entirely out of reach, it also offers a clear vision of the direction fashion is moving. I’m jumping happily onto board this bourgeois boat. It’s one part nonchalant and another part painfully perfect. I like that.
Images from style.com
* Update * As Michael correctly pointed out, the Balmain collection is not couture, it’s Resort 2013. Sorry for the mistake. Live and learn suckas. Live. and. learn. Thanks for letting me know. Love you Duck.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING ON STRONG FOUNDATIONS…
I have been attempting a closet clear out for over a year…
You might remember when it all started. It was a rather embarrassing situation. I’ve slowly been selling pieces and giving things to charity but I still feel like I have way more stuff than I need. Obviously it’s an ongoing project but I hate that feeling of ‘having nothing to wear’. You know it, you’re standing in front of your wardrobe wondering where that one perfect T-shirt is that hangs just so. When you can’t find it anywhere all hell breaks loose because ‘it’s the only thing that looks good right now.’ I know I’m not alone in having these mini-emotional breakdowns… I’ve seen some of you getting ready to go out (evil eyes Charlie and Shini).
Anyway, things are changing. I’m pairing down.
I think I’ve been inspired by Ivania – she’s the absolute queen of minimalism. As much as I love having loads of options I actually much prefer things to be simple. I’ve picked out a handful of items that make up pretty much what I’ve been wearing the last few weeks. They are as follows: a Paul & Joe Sister leather biker jacket, a Cabbages & Roses striped Breton top, skinny jeans from 7 for all Mankind, a white shirt from MiH and a cotton dress from Laura Ashley which used to be my moms (I had about 4 feet of fabric cut off the length). For accessories I’ve been sticking to a cotton floral tote I got at Banana Republic about five years ago, a pair of Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses and an old baseball hat because, you know, they’re so trendy. For shoes I’ve just been switching between my black and white Converse. That’s it. That’s what I’ve honestly been wearing. It doesn’t make for very interesting outfit posts but it’s real life.
My goal over the next few months is to start investing in key pieces to help expand this little mini-summer wardrobe. My goal is to only spend money on things that fit with the paired back attitude… so no spur of the moment crazy purchases. My goal is to have a working wardrobe that is easy to navigate and style. Let’s see what happens. I’ve got my fingers crossed for my restraint.
COMING UP FOR AIR…
Having a blog can be slightly suffocating at times…
The Style Crusader is rolling towards it’s three-year birthday (August 15th) and, at the moment, I’m not planning it a party. It’s not because I don’t think it deserves a party (trust me, I’ve found way less significant reasons to throw a party). The truth is that it’s getting on my nerves a bit – it’s like a little annoying toddler that keeps constantly pulling on the edge of my cashmere jumper. It wants all of my attention. It never stops making noise. I want it to grow up to be big and strong. But sometimes I wish it would just leave me alone and let me get on with other things.
Hmmm. *big smile* With that said, let’s get on with things. Speaking of cashmere… did you happen to notice the gorgeous Muriee knit that I’m wearing in the above photo? It is literally the softest thing in the entire world. It’s basically two ma-hoosive square pieces of cashmere sewn together. It’s big, shapeless and is absolute perfection. Every time I wear it my husband sort of rolls his eyes at me. But I can’t help it… it’s just so soft. Anyway, I’m also addicted to these little denim/linen shorts from Aubin & Wills and a pair of Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses which I’ve indefinitely borrowed from Charlie. (Mwaaahahhaha). I’m a strong believer in making friends with people who have better wardrobes then you. If you can’t steal from their closet then what are they good for, right?
Wearing: Cashmere sweater c/o Muriee, Aubin & Wills shorts, leopard clutch from Lilifi, Bertie espadrilles and Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses.
A BLOGGERS YARDSALE…
August 11th – be there or be square. Mark your attendance on the Facebook group. Hope you can make it! xx
ON STRUGGLING TO FIND INSPIRATION…
Please tell me I’m not the only one that feels in a bit of a funk.
Normally I have no lack of inspiration. In fact, the problem I face is that I’m inspired by too much. There is beauty everywhere – even in the most unlikely of places. Online there is inspiration catapulting around at a million miles a second. I think what I’m suffering from is over saturation.
Lately I don’t want to be online. I’m sort of disenchanted with looking at blogs and scrolling through Pinterest. I want to sit outside with a beautiful magazine and flick through the pages with my fingers. I want to sit with people in real life and talk to them in person rather than on Twitter. I want to bake cookies. I want to be in the sun. I don’t want to click and I don’t want to re-pin. I don’t want to sit in front of a computer screen. I want to devour a magazine, rip out the pages and tape them into a notebook. So that’s what I’ve been doing…
This nostalgia is spreading like wildfire into all aspects of my life. I suddenly want to get a sewing machine so that I can make Jil Sander inspired clutch bags. I also want to get my hands on some old school looking running shoes. This pair by Converse are mega adorable. Anything with a late ’80s/early ’90s vibe is working for me right now… bring on the Spice Girls and resurrect the pog.
