I rediscovered these ads from an old prada campaign and I’m obsessed with the eerie atmosphere, the tension... It’s all so sexy and Chinese-gangster-flick-chic (I get the impression that this "story" is set somewhere in downtown Shanghai but maybe that's just me) American Apparel needs to get over lame and start making some satin spandex headbands!
Today as I was walking through busy, illuminated streets wrapped up in a woolly coat and scarf, I thought about summer
Those sweltering nights we spent up on the roof watching the fireworks, the feel of hot concrete and warm sand between my toes, lying with the cat in our favorite square patch of sunshine, midnight trips to the store for ice cream...loose skirts swaying, wind chimes tinkling, shoulders burning, ice cubes clicking...flip flops squeaking, Bebel Gilberto singing
Oh man I miss it all
Illustration by Linda Zacks
I’m a sucker for imperfection. Messy handwriting, bedhair, cracked nailpolish, off-beat tunes...There’s nothing more perfect than a bit of imperfection done right. Like Haruki Murakami says of Schubert's music, “A dense, artistic kind of imperfection stimulates your consciousness, keeps you alert. If I listen to some utterly perfect performance of an utterly perfect piece while I’m driving, I might want to close my eyes and die right then and there. But listening to the D major, I can feel the limits of what humans are capable of—that a certain type of perfection can only be realized through a limitless accumulation of the imperfect. And personally, I find that encouraging.”
For me the idea applies to many things, not least of them being fashion. As beautiful as those big name fashion editors are, decked out in the latest Balenciaga and Chanel, I prefer fashion that’s a bit more down-to-earth and personal, fashion with a bit more character.
So even though I was tempted to replace my vintage leather jacket with something more hip and "designer" when the shoulder seams ripped last week (the fit is beautifully snug), I decided against it in the end and sent it to the tailors. Not because getting it repaired would be cheaper but because there's something so perfectly imperfect about a little Japanese girl wearing an old motorcycle jacket with the name “Stefan Scheer” hand sewn inside.
I wouldn't mind being transported into one of Jim Jarmusch’s early films. His characters all have this certain je ne sais quoi...an eerie and awkward charm maybe, that seems so very stylish when combined with the director's fantastic camerawork and deep blues-y soundtracks. Take Jarmusch’s most favored actor (and composer) John Lurie for example—he isn’t particularly attractive what with his strange nose and bizarre pout, and yet he emanates this cool vibe just by the way he cocks his head and walks with his jacket slung over his shoulder. It’s fabulous.
John Lurie in Stranger than Paradise
Chris Parker in Permanent Vacation
Masatoshi Nagase and Yuki Kudo in Mystery Train
And my favorite three--Tom Waits, John Lurie and Roberto Benigni in Down by Law
Yay or nay?
I found these on a tacky little web shop selling imported hosiery from the US and I think they're kind of awesome but perhaps I've lost my mind?
Most of the bags I own are large and practical leather totes with no embellishments or hardware but what with the recent clutch-hype, I ended up purchasing a little Junya Watanabe purse with sporty nylon details on calf leather, pressed to resemble crocodile. I like it.
You roll out of bed in your drop crotch sweats, throw on a $2,000 coat, and you're good to go.
photo cred: the sartorialist
The other day I got a voluminous skirt with interesting origami-type folds by Marjan Pejoski, which reminded me of this pejoski ad campaign. Back in the day (2005ish?) I would play electrojazz and give my room random makeovers, taking inspiration from this picture. I'm not exactly sure why I liked it so much but I'm guessing it had something to do with the whole pseudo-intellectual/ethnic/jesus-lovin vibe. Call me weird but this is how I developed a love for big messy bookshelves and wooden-framed postcards.
Eyecandy for freeeks like mee, found on bored&beautiful.
There's one diary on MSD that constantly stuns me with its outstanding originality and style. Forget all those Hollywood starlets with undeserved style icon status--Kokopuff really, seriously knows how to dress. I mean, if I happened to spot a girl on the street in any one of the following outfits, I swear I would just stop and gape and break into crazed applause. Kokopuff's wardrobe accomodates a huge range of different designers (from Dolce and Gabbana to Rick Owens to Karoo) and she isn’t afraid to mix them up and take some risks.
How she manages to work difficult tops with such versatility is beyond me. (I actually own the same sheer Comme des Garcons top with cream appliqués, but I can assure you that Kokopuff wears hers 300000times better than I do mine. )
Her collection of boots is literally "to die for"—ankle, over-the-knee, and hooded—they’re all fantastic.
And I am so jealous that she owns a Fluo bag. I've been searching for this bag in Tokyo for god knows how long...
In conclusion, I am endlessly inspired by this girl.
The New York Times Style Magazine thinks clutch bags are making a big comeback. Of course, little purses are nothing new (back in highschool I’d pair 3dollar granny clutches with crumby old tees and feel like a million bucks--oh the shame) but after the long-continued body bag trend, smaller-sized bags suddenly seem quite refreshing and nice. They're not the most practical option, and as a student I love my wide and roomy leather totes, but there's something about carrying a tiny purse that just screams effortless cool. For a while now, I've been obsessed with the idea of sporting a voluminous sculptural coat or jacket with a teeny tiny clutch. So yes NYTimes, I am definitely feelin you. Personally I dig hard box-type clutches (leather or metallic) like the ones from Jil Sander SS07 or the one this girl from facehunter has so perfectly paired with her vest.
But vintage inspired ones are pretty too.
Black lipstick. As I've mentioned before, I'm quite experimental when it comes to makeup and I particularly enjoy playing around with lip color. I've tried all kinds of reds, hot pinks and wine purples in the past, and this season I've been wearing dark chocolate browns...so now I'm ready to move onto something more extreme. Black lipstick is such a cool way to add a bit of drama and a touch of badass to a simple outfit dontcha think? Wearing it probably isn't half as difficult as it seems-- I'll take inspiration from Zucca's ss07 catwalk and work it with sheer materials and loose silhouettes in black and white. I loved loved loved this particular collection by Zucca by the way--you should totally check it out. Aren't those ankleboot/buckle-down sandals something?
I've been seriously considering getting a short-do in manner of Jean Seberg in A Bout de Souffle or Kate Moss circa 95--you know, something along the lines of a pixie cut, as I am growing tired of the bore that is my current shoulder-length hair. If I were fifteen I would have done it already (in fact I did have a pixie cut up until I was eighteen, it was a bitch to grow out I'll tell ya) but oohh this girl I found on bored&beautiful who kinda sorta reminds me of antm's kim is really inspiring me to just go and hack it all off again.
