MAKE UP YOUR MIND

"What does Margiela's coat mean? What is its significance in early twenty-first century fashion? It functions on the same level as that other Belgian Surrealist, Rene Magritte, who in 1928 created "Ceci n'est pas une pipe" - a painting of a pipe that denied it was a pipe. As an image of a pipe, the paradoxical inscription was true and in the same way, Margiela's "Wig-Coat" becomes a paradox, a paradox of adornment, of seduction and of fashion. It mimics nature whilst choosing to be artificial; the workmanship is painstaking, costly, yet applied to cheap synthetics; it is adornment which repels and yet, oddly, manages to seduce. Finally, as a luxury good it manages to function on the least luxurious level possible."

the video is a little NSFW but intriguing nonetheless.  Watch it.

A Warning For My Grandkids.

Pictures tell thousands of words.

Saturday I shall fix this and turn it into a real haircut.

With the aid of a professional.

Steely Resolve

The red dress I saw a few days ago at Fawn is also on sale at Holt Renfrew.  I was parusing a few sale racks and while in the change room trying on a magnificent leather jacket (original price was approximately $1200 yet I see no difference in fit or feel to others I've tried on, expensive and inexpensive) I spotted it on the rail people leave the clothes they don't want on.  I immediately ran off, found my size, and checked the price: a full hundred and a bit off the sale price at Fawn.  I tried the dress on again to make sure it fit the way I remembered (it did) and while standing in the change room my thoughts flip flopped between:

Do I want to give Holt Renfrew my money, or would I rather have it go to Fawn.

But this dress costs less.

But do I want to support Holt Renfrew, as opposed to a local business.

But this one costs less.

And so on.  Cost won over morals this time, I put the dress on hold.

However, while I drifted through the shoe section (thank all heavens I was distracted) I started thinking about local business, cost, and shopping habits.  My shopping habits.

I thought about quality and quantity and at some point came to the conclusion that the way I shop (collecting H&M as if it were facing bankruptcy) really is doing nothing for me.  I forgot what the benefit of shopping from those kinds of places were, especially since they start to fray after a month or so, and I spend just as much time mending them as I do wearing them.  I've been searching for a cardigan and keep picking up the same one from H&M before putting it down, remembering the 3 others that ended up with irreparable holes in them.

I prefer the quality of stores that yes, are slightly more expensive, but are smaller, and sometimes are locally owned/designed.  And how many times I've gone into those stores and thought that the sweaters are too too expensive, but how often do I think that thought after having spent "less" at a store like Forever 21?  I end up spending the same amount of money on 4 sweaters that I'll have to replace.  I own a cashmere sweater that, after 4 years has kept it's shape (the only problem with it is due to a bad experience with a dry cleaner).  I'm more inclined to care for my more expensive pieces as well - the silk vintage dresses, and the Twenty8Twelve pants I own are treated delicately and put in their place while my jeans, t-shirts and etcetera are carelessly strewn about my teensy bedroom.  Even after cleaning out my closet I still feel as if I am left with a mountain of crap I don't want to wear because it has lost it's shape or I feel it doesn't "go" with whatever else I own.

In short - I think I need to change my shopping habits.

SO. My official new year's resolution list was compiled as I sat in Lettieri staring out the window and staring at the boots I bought in order to replace a cheaper pair that broke.

#1:  Buy Less Buy Better.

I resolve to shop less often and window shop more.  I resolve to really try to shop locally, for better quality pieces and instead of saying "oh well I wish I could get the Acne jeans" I will save and buy one pair of great jeans instead of 3 that are too long, too wide, or too _____.  I will care for these pieces, and get them tailored if necessary.  I will also take the time to find my size instead of guessing, and I will find and keep a really good tailor and cobbler.

#2: Get In Order.

I resolve to put my material life in order and to do my best to keep it that way.  Too often I have lost a backing to an earring (or vice versa) due to throwing it on a shelf and not thinking about it until I decide to wear it.  Too often do my things fall through the crack of my bed and I am altogether too quick to replace it.  Not anymore.  I also resolve to procrastinate less.  I've made quite a bit of progress in this area in 2008, but in 2009 I'll take another step in the "do it" direction.  I won't let my "alterations and sewing" basket overflow and if I really want to d-it-myself, I will DIY with the idea still in my head.

#2 - A: I will not let my google reader get out of hand.

#3: Stick to Something.

In regards to this blog, I resolve to get back to basics.  I started writing to really break down what I wore, why, and track my progress.  I wanted to focus on how I project myself to others (and the best way to see this, is to project yourself to others) so I resolve to commit myself to posting outfits, ask questions, and really look at what I am doing.  I resolve to try new things and narrow down what I really like and explore them further.  I suppose this is a companion to resolution #1.  And if I shop less,  I'll have less to incorporate and more time to devote to dressing myself the way I want to.  I resolve to create a style for myself, as an extension of merely dressing well.

And on that note:  I'll clear out the "inspired" folder on my computer at least once a month so that maybe I'll look at those photographs and use them in dressing.

#4: Practice, dammit!

This isn't necessarily related, but I resolve to dedicate at least one day a week to rehearsal so that I am really prepared for theatre school auditions when they start popping up a few months from now. And to continue them afterward so I'm prepared in general.

Adding Fuel To The Fire

My hands are stiff because it's already below freezing and I can't find my gloves. Ow.

Also: I don't know what happened to my post about the shoes, but Roxanne: In response to your comment,  I have had a hard time preventing the zipper from undoing itself and slipping on to my foot.

Through fashionista.com I found this article/interview with Alexander McQueen about the reasons why he wanted to do the Target collection, as well as the inspiration behind it (woooot).  I sort of see why he accepted this offer as opposed to something from H&M.  Target (or at least, my perception of Target) has a different appeal and different audience at H&M.  If you think about it, H&M has the different "departments" that range from trendy & funky, trendy & high-fashion-y, and trendy & basic.  It started off as for the "fashionistas", the ones who were far enough ahead of the curve to find the few H&Ms that had popped up in their city, and grew from there.  The perception that I have of Target is that is a lot more massive - not quite so trendy - more along the lines of "daily basics that make you look presentable and get you through life".

A very smart idea, business-wise, for Mr. McQ.  It sounds like he thought it through (read the article, it's very good).  I tip my hat to thee, and also to this:

The collection has a muted color palette of black, white, gray and tan with accents of cobalt blue and bright pink. Studs and mesh giv

e items an edge. There are studded jeans, shorts and denim jackets with asymmetrical closures, short tuxedo jackets and matching shorts, dresses in a blue and white painterly fabric, a one-shoulder dress in a gray-and-black zigzag pattern with a thick black belt, and a T-shirt with the image of Moss.........“It’s more ab

out the music scene and fashion scene in the East End area, where I live,” said the designer, adding the point of the line is not to educate people about fashion, but rather, “it’s a feeling about the time we’re living in. If you start to give the whole of America that sense of where I’m from, the undergrou

nd music scene, it’s not so much about a logo, it’s more about a feeling.”

Also, you should read the Q&A with Leila Moss.

WWD: How does it feel to be considered a muse for someone like McQueen?

L.M.: It’s sort of preposterous and delightful at the same time. I feel like I’d be a bit of an a--hole if I was really lapping it up too much, but obviously it helps you feel more justified about what you’re doing, your performances. It’s justified all of that hard work — like people have noticed your movement and the visceral quality of what you do — so, for someone to actually approach you and talk about design, it’s very cool.

I'm quite excited, and happy that Target.com ships to Canada.

Jealous party, table for one.

via jak&jill.com again.

What is it with this new "heels and details" thing?  With the intricacies of Prada ss08 and those awesome Ungaro shoes and that Miu Miu shoe I saw in the window of Brown's today.  No one ever stared at the ground as much as I did until now.

Maybe it's a sign of the times.  Like.....we're picking one element of clothing, one garment category (wow, I cannot form a thought well), to really exaggerate, really put an emphasis on so that we can either be a) really lazy or b) really frugal with the rest of it.  'Cause you don't need a lot after you have those shoes.  

And who doesn't like shoes?  Who doesn't spend on shoes?  Who doesn't crumble when they see a pair of shoes in a store window?  Who hasn't walked into at least one person/pole/mailbox/obstacle in the street while staring at a pair of shoes?

So why not make the one piece that we spend all of our limited fortunes on the one piece that seems to make everyone feel good about themselves?

come to think of it, why do shoes make us feel good/better?

That Suicide Is Painless, It Brings On Many Changes, And I Can Take Or Leave It If I Please.

via papermag

I only post this because a) I thought this was awesome and b) It looks like a futuristic version of a WWII field surgical team.  There's the nurse up ahead, the surgeon behind her, ready to run though a battlefield if need be, and the doctor taking up the rear, ready to jump into her car at the first sign of bullets (because she'd far too valuable to be injured in such a silly thing)