.030 FINDING YOUR STYLE: PART III

I have been planning out this post for a few weeks now and with each edit, it kept getting longer and longer. My goal is to not overload anyone with too much information, as finding your personal style should not be tedious. So without further ado, here is the third and final segment of my style guide.

Now we have our staple clothing, colors, and patterns. The next step is to look at your preferences and figure out what style "category" your preferences fall into. 

THE CATEGORIES

BOHEMIAN

Bohemian style has matured in the last decade. From its late sixties and early seventies roots, bohemian style has evolved to a less-is-more mentality (Unless you are taking cues from Coachella where bohemian cliches are driven into the ground.). Bohemian style thrives in a world of pattern whether it be paisley or tribal prints. If whimsical sundresses with elaborate patterns are your thing, then perhaps bohemian is for you. "Boho" style is the perfect blend of effortless cool meets soft and dreamy. The bohemian style can be dressed up or down, made edgy or fanciful. 

Staples: Wide brim hat, crochet, sheer, soft colors, leather woven belts, sun dresses, wide-legged pants, layers of necklaces, motorcycle boots, dusters, floor-length dresses and skirts, and furs

Designer Inspiration: Chanel pre-fall 2014, Yves Saint Laurent ss 2013

Where to Buy: The URBN brands (Free People, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters), thrift stores, Lucky Brand 

Icons: Sienna Miller, Mary Kate Olsen, Zoe Kravitz, Stevie Nicks

MINIMALIST

Your dream closet contains: a little black dress, a pair of all white sneakers, plain t-shirts, neutrals, simple black belts, and stripes. Sound like you? Then you are probably a minimalist. Minimalists are typically seen wearing all black, white, or tans. Stripes feel like branching out and items with graphics on their surface are seen as excessive. Minimalist style is all about simplicity and finding confidence in easy styles. Even though minimalism thrives on keeping outfits clean, there is nothing boring about this style type. 

Staples: Blue jeans, clean sneakers, box-like silhouettes, the t-shirt, blazers, chelsea boots, trousers, turtlenecks, black leather purses, thin gold chains, khaki trench coat, striped t-shirts, pencil skirts

Designer Inspiration: Jil Sander Spring 2014, Helmut Lang Spring 2014, The Row Pre-Fall 2014

Where to Buy: Zara, Topshop, American Apparel, T by Alexander Wang, Calvin Klein, Gap

Icons: Audrey Hepburn, Francoise Hardy, Kate Moss (also could be considered high fashion)

NEW SCHOOL PREP

[Vampire Weekend's self-titled album plays in the background.] A little bit WASP-y, a little bit tacky if done wrong, preppy style has been a symbol of Americana for years and despite its upper-crust connotations, the prep look is always on-trend in some way, shape, or form. I almost titled this section as "Classic" because the Ralph Lauren polo with a pair of chinos and boat shoes could almost be seen as that -- classic.  Taking a look at the "new school prep" icons of today, like Kate Middleton and Jenna Lyons, prep can be done in new ways that evoke a classiness that is so much more than the typical WASP attire.

Staples: Flats, polos, items with icons applied, boat shoes, pearls, boatneck tops, cardigans, ankle-length trousers, a-line skirts, cable knit sweaters, tartan plaid, oxford button-down. 

Designer Inspiration: Tommy Hilfiger spring 2014, Ralph Lauren spring 2014

Where to Buy: Lacoste, United Colors of Benetton, Dooney and Bourke, Ralph Lauren, Banana Republic, J.Crew.

Icons: Jenna Lyons, Kate Middleton, Katie Holmes Grace Kelly, Blair Waldorf (Gossip Girl)

HIGH FASHION

All designer everything, or at least the look of it. High fashion is all about wearing brand names and looking opulent. Although, this can be easier to fake than it seems. Buying one or two higher fashion items that can be incorporated into any look can help to up the outfit into high fashion style. Being high fashion certainly does not mean head-to-toe in Chanel or wearing labels all over. If anything, high fashion is almost about being glam. Extravagance and avoiding anything ripped or frayed (unless on purpose, of course) can be seen as the core principles of high fashion. 

Staples: Stilettos, fur coats and vests, large sunglasses, designer skinny jeans, statement necklaces, dramatic dresses (plunging necklines, no back, high slits), large purses, gold details 

Designer Inspiration: Burberry fall 2014, Balmain fall 2014, Gucci fall 2013

Where to Buy: Net-A-Porter, high-end vintage clothing stores, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue

Icons: Kate Moss (also minimalist as well), Anna Wintour, Rihanna, Cher, Olsen twins, Kanye West

ECLECTIC

It can be tough categorizing yourself. Some people feel that there a giant mix of all of the above styles and then some. Much of street fashion falls into this category. One day you will wake up feeling like Jackie O. and the next day you will want to emulate the looks of 2002 Britney Spears. Really, the eclectic style can be seen as one of many costumes. 

Staples: Anything one-of-a-kind, offbeat graphic t-shirts, platform shoes, colorful coats, details such as studs and pins -- the list is endless as it can entail just about anything.

Designer Inspiration: Miu Miu Fall 2014

Where to Buy: ASOS, thrift shops, Topshop, your mother's closet, anywhere!

Icons: Chloe Norgaard, Cara Delevingne, Alexa Chung, fashion week street fashion

FINAL NOTE

To note, this does not mean, for example, that those that are considered to fall into the Bohemian category cannot sport a polo one day or a Burberry trench coat the next. These are meant to serve as a guideline and a source of inspiration.

Where do I lie? Well, I once considered myself eclectic. I wore just about anything that suited my personal taste and experimented with all trends for the fun of it. In the end, I found that eclectic was too broad for what was really staying in my closet, which was all things minimalist. I was more comfortable in plain black t-shirts with loose jeans than I was wearing maxi skirts paired with broad rim hats. This discovery is as recent as something that happened in the last few months and I want to encourage you to explore your stylistic interests because, in my personal opinion, true personal style is a personal style that can evolve. 

.029 FINDING YOUR STYLE: PART II

In my last post I covered the importance of understanding your staple clothing, shoes, and accessories. You have made your list and now what? Well, the next step to creating your solid wardrobe is to understand your preferred colors and patterns. This has nothing to do with knowing your personal color palette (Whether you are a summer, winter, fall or spring.). Rather, this next segment of "finding your style" deals with these three basic concepts:

• YOUR CORE COLORS
• YOUR COLOR FLEXIBILITY
• PATTERN PREFERENCES AND TRENDS

CORE COLORS

What colors do you find yourself wearing everyday? Do you find your closet dominated by one color in multiple shades? Or is your closet covering the entire spectrum? 

(Photo credit: clikr.com)

Above is a basic color wheel (include secondary and tertiary colors). There are a multitude of different hues beyond these, but take a glance above and think beyond your favorite color. Do you like cooler shades (blue, green, purple) or warmer shades (red, orange, yellow)? Is any color appealing on the color wheel? 

For example, I know I am not a huge fan of color. I know I do not like to wear yellow, orange or purple, no matter the shade. I do like blues (specifically navy), dark greens and dark reds. Lighter shades wash me out and, since I prefer to wear minimal color, I lean more towards colors that look almost like neutrals. 

Neutral shades include browns, tans, whites, grays, and black. I live in neutrals. I tend to buy my jackets, shirts, shoes, etc. in neutral colors. I know that I will get the most wear out of neutral shades and I admittedly feel out of place when something I am wearing is not black. 

Do this analysis for yourself. If a shirt comes in every color, what three colors will you buy it in? What colors do you think compliment your hair? Your eyes? There are a myriad of questions to ask but know the most important thing is to focus on what colors feel the most you. 

COLOR FLEXIBILITY

Colors of the year, color stories, etc: color favoritism in the fashion world is always changing. Last year Pantone's Color of the Year was emerald and now everything is covered in orchid. Some people like to dabble in the newest color trends, whether that be applying the shade on their eyelids or buying full outfits. Even when a color is the newest thing on the runway, it is good to ask yourself whether or not the color suits you. Once again, I shy away from color. Typically, I am the one maybe committing to a nail polish or a keychain with the newest "it" shade. It is all about color flexibility. Some like to try it all while others like to stay in their color box.

(Photo cred: bau hype - 2006 was a good time for me. )

PATTERNS

• STRIPES
• PAISLEY
• PLAID
• "TRIBAL" 
• FLORAL
• SOUTHWESTERN
• ABSTRACT
• POLKADOTS
• BASIC SHAPES
• OBJECT PATTERNS

Those listed above are just to name a few. I feel in my experience,  every person I know either loves or hates patterns. I, personally, only like stripes tartan plaid, grid and gingham. The few times in my life I have branched out (Flashbacks to bright abstract patterns in 2010.), the item of clothing always, without fail, has a short life in my closet. 

Patterns fall in and out of popularity. For example, florals fell out of popularity for much of the late 90s and the 00s. 2009 rolls around and florals are the new thing as girly grunge trumps over the revival of the 80s business woman in the mid 00s. Florals are still thriving although, they are slowly being weeded out by a lean towards pinstripes and abstract patterns. 

Trying patterns works incredibly well for those with eclectic style taste (something we will talk more about later). Patterns can be a risky investment and they are not for the minimalist. Knowing your pattern preferences is a good start to knowing what style category you fall into (also, more on this later). I always recommend trying on any pattern before investing in it. If it suits your personality, great. If you feel you are liking it to adhere to a trend, unless you have the money, you are better off sitting that trend out. Always know that stripes and plaid are constant staples in the fashion world. Polkadots and tribal also circulate quite frequently. 

Current pattern trends include: art house (Prada), butterfly print (Valentino), brightly-colored tribal print (Valentino),  and pinstripes. This is only surface level. Tropical, vintage florals, black-and-white color blocking, and a handful of other pattern trends also exist.  

MOVING FORWARD

Now that we have our clothing staples, colors and patterns sorted out, we will then move on towards "style types". 

.027 WHAT IS AFTER NORMCORE?

Once again,  life caught up to me and my personal blog had to be put on the back burner. The last month of my final year of college had been spent writing blog posts for my College Fashionista internship and promoting a massive KickStarter event for my PR internship. Oh, and school, work, a social life and a few pinches of sleep. Life has been hectic and I am only now starting to feel it slow down. With graduation on the horizon, I am feeling less tension and, rather than nervousness, I feel relief.

Over the past month I have kept trying to conceptualize normcore, perhaps giving more credit than I should to the blasé fashion movement (or anti-fashion movement, rather). The past few years fashion subcultures had been inspired by efforts to standout. Clothing with loud prints (think donuts and Bart Simpson), cutouts, high-low, oversized Jeffrey Campbells, pastel lipstick, neon - the list goes on. I would call it a strange blend of the big-and-loud eighties and the aesthetic of a late nineties teenager taking fashion advice from a Lisa Frank backpack.

Now it seems as though fashion has matured. Rather than looking to Saved by the Bell or ironic captioned stills from King of the Hill, fashion is grasping for the complete opposite. We are making a time jump to the early 00s where Sex and the City reigns and the efforts to stand out are at a minimal. But by setting oneself apart from those that strive for the abnormal, are those that work hard (though, they may think by being minimalist they are not trying at all) to make themselves "normal" standing out in the end? Or do they even really care? The normcore movement is oozing with irony and, yet, the aesthetic is appealing and right on time whether those that consider themselves a part of the in-group think so or not. Fashion works in cycles and in due time the ones still "stuck" standing out will gravitate towards normcore (maybe not as a lifestyle, but as a trend). Eventually being normal will be...normal again. Is the next move to standout? Is fashion always about fluctuating between these two modes?

(The nineties fashion Tumblr users around the world praise.)

(Massive trenches, loafers, easy-going style - Sex and the City reigns supreme.)

Well, if we continue to move on this path of working our way through the nineties and 2000s (not to say other decades are not serving as inspiration) we will eventually hit the next line of trends. Soon we just might find ourselves idolizing 2004 Nicole and Paris and ironically sporting Von Dutch caps. Leather pants with a lace up crotch or Jnco wide-legged jeans could be our new future. What sounds absolutely dreadful (in my honest opinion) could be the post-normcore. With Naomi Campbell in Phillip Plein's fall 2014 show sporting a look reminiscent of Nelly in the "Ride Wit Me" video, the reality of an early 2000s aesthetic is upon us. Arguably it is already here with its microscopic crop tops, shimmery accessories and chunky shoes but on the flip side, those were also popular in the late nineties. There is so much more I could go on about, but I feel as though I am exhausting my point. Overall, normcore is more than likely here to stay for the next year or so. I like it (though, not necessarily the attitude surrounding it), as I have always admired minimalist fashion. Just be prepared for what is to come and understand that Jnco jeans could be a fashionable reality once again. 

(Naomi Campbell in Phillip Plein's fall 2014 show - Fashionista)

(I would have killed for these outfits in 5th grade - More photos here!)

.026 FESTIVAL SPECTACLE

With Coachella starting tomorrow and other festival lineups being announced, the fashion world in all respects (celebrities, companies, designers, etc.) is buzzing with the term "festival-ready". Fashion retailers are creating festival look books in preparation for the slew of customers ready to create (and imitate) festival-ready trends. Some trend reports are saying that large floral print is the next big thing while others are placing an emphasis on peasant tops and prairie style dresses, but in the end, does not all festival clothing have the same aesthetic? There is always an emphasis to go bohemian. Whether that means big hats, fringe-lined crop tops, wide pants or a maxi skirt, is up to you. To me, the festival look is a predictable one and the predictability of it all almost makes a festival seem like a costume event (do not even get me started on girls that cultural appropriate items such as Native American headdresses or the, even more misunderstood, bindis). This leaves me to ask: Where are the game changers and how does one change the game?

(Source - Evelina Galli, photo from Coachella 2013, a not-so-distant past.)

I would like to start by saying this is not an "us versus them" argument. I am certainly not a special snowflake and given the disposable income, I would also find myself heading to Coachella in a large hat paired with tall gladiator sandals. I am not some higher fashion power, I am merely looking to be an agent of change. Plus, is not fashion all about cycles? There are always new trends to anticipate and I am wanting to start to make speculations. We cannot have girls in knitted kimonos and tie-dye shirts forever...right? 

MY SORT-OF-GUIDE TO FESTIVAL CHIC

Going to Bonnaroo, Pitchfork, Lolla, Outside Lands, anything else that will make me violently ill with jealousy? Well here is a guide to what to wear so you stand out without looking like you are trying too hard. Or something like that.

CULOTTES

Trade-in your short shorts for a pair of culottes that are not only comfortable, but chic. 

(Cutlottes: Topshop - $64.00)

STRIPES

Swap out the tribal print for a 70s-inspired striped crew-neck.

(Shirt: Urban Outfitters - $18)

JELLY SANDAL

Ditch the traditional gladiator sandal and throw on a pair of heeled jellies.

(Sandals: ASOS - $52.68)

MID-LENGTH DRESS

Rather than step out in a predictable maxi, try a mid-length dress that hugs at the knees.

(Dress: Zara - $119)

STRAW HAT

Alright, I still like big hats, but straw hats..that is a little new, right?

(Hat: Urban Outfitters - $34)

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Just one of the many ways you can put these tips to use:

f e s t i v a l by seaminor featuring Butter London

.025 WISHLIST: SUMMER EDITION

Normcore. 70s boho. 90s grunge. 60s schoolgirl. What does this all mean? So much inspiration, so little time (cough, and money). Summer is a time where I usually start off motivated. My wishlist is usually spewing with a myriad of shorts, skirts, crop tops, sunglasses, and sandals. I know I want to be music festival ready, but practical. I want to stand out, but not invest too much in a certain look. All of this is fine and dandy, but if you all know anything about the Midwest, the weather is particularly muggy, usually jumping into the nineties causing a wonderful choking sensation that makes one grasp for any sort of air movement. When the temperatures rise, my motivation to be fashion forward plummets. I would rather just put on a crop top and high-waisted shorts, a look that is less-inspired than, say, a flowing skirt, gladiator sandals, a cropped tank, and perhaps a few bohemian accessories like a large sun hat or a pair of rounded sunglasses.

I need to find some way to have my desire to dress well trump my want to be pathetically lazy. Perhaps I need to make a more realistic list of clothing - something including items that are within my budget, worth the investment, and not too high on the "trendy" scale. If there is anything I know about myself, it is that I tend to buy one or two (pricier) items that I think I will wear (For example, last spring I purchased this kitschy, ice-cream-design sundress with a low back. I wore it once and hated every minute in it.). My close friend repeatedly tells me to avoid buying what I think I will wear and instead opt for something I am enamored with. I know the logic sounds simple enough, but as an impulse buyer, I tend to misjudge my gut.

This all leads me to the point of this article. I am going to show you my well thought out list of items I think are perfect for this summer in a sort of "lookbook" fashion. I hope that what I want inspires you to make a list of your own (Perhaps incorporating a few of my choices, as I hope that I have some authority in advice-giving.)!

KEEP IT SIMPLE

(Shoes: Zara - $59.90)

(Jacket: Urban Outfitters - $69.00)

(Pants: Topshop - $80.00)

FESTIVAL READY

(Dungarees: Topshop - $76.00)

(Sunglasses: ASOS - $47.04)

(Top: Nasty Gal - $48.00)

SUMMER SCHOOL

(Dress: Nasty Gal - $68.00)

(Shoes: Topshop - $64.00)

(Socks: American Apparel - $12.00)

.023 HOW TO WEAR IT (RTW EDITION)

As always, fashion week brings on a slew of new trends. Sometimes all of the trends seem to come from a common source and other times it feels like designers are all over the place with their muse. This time around, it seems as though the latter is coming into play. Designers are fetching inspiration from a myriad of decades, icons, and "moods". Just when I thought fall trends were leaning one way, I find that another top designer is causing trends to lean the other way. I have spent my little two week hiatus mulling over what this season has brought us and needless to say, I am still juggling around with all the different proposed trends.

I decided to take on the daunting (but all too fun) task of creating outfits inspired by some of the biggest shows of this season.

( Photos from Saint Laurent FW RTW - Fashionista )

Hedi Slimane (praise be) went with an overtly mod-inspired collection this season. Boots with sparkles, mini skirts, and high collars permeated this fashion show. What was refreshing about Slimane's vision was that what he sent down the runway was statement-making without breaching into the avant-garde. Each item of clothing stands out well on its own and it is easy to envision oneself wearing a piece of this collection. While the collection is far from being in-your-face, the collection remains both memorable and inspirational. 

the sidewinder by seaminor featuring Wildfox Couture

( Photos from Gucci FW RTW - Fashionista)

Gucci's RTW collection featured a muted pastel color palette with powerful silhouettes that felt reminiscent of American Hustle with its fur coats and aviator glasses. I love the monochromatic ensembles, some even matching down to the accessories. Perhaps mod is the undertone of this season, as Gucci has taken on the knee-high go-go boots and the mini skirt. 

network by seaminor featuring leather boots

( Photos from Miu Miu FW RTW - Fashionista )

Miu Miu truly stood out at Paris Fashion Week. From quilted sets to see-through raincoats, the Miu Miu collection did what it always did - it blew the crowd away with innovative designs and a childish charm. This collection played with a countless number colors ranging from primary colors to Pantone's bold orchid. The color-blocking felt reminiscent of other fashion shows, further establishing a trend that breaks away from the darker jewel-toned palette of last year. Once again, we see high boots and short skirts. Perhaps I was sweating a little too much while trying to find similarities in this season's shows. Even by reviewing three seemingly different shows, I have showed myself that there is always an undercurrent in every fashion season.

inspired by miu miu rtw 14 by seaminor featuring an a-line skirt

.022 TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS

As of late, I have been placing much of my attention on the trends being featured on the runway (a little bit inevitable, as it has been NYFW and LFW). I have been absolutely blown away by the designs that are showing up this season. The creativity of color, fabrics, silhouettes and concepts is mesmerizing. I hope to some time soon critically analyze a runway show in its entirety, but for this post I would like to focus on the other half of what goes down during NYFW and LFW: the street style.

Designers, bloggers, celebrities and their friends manage to make an appearance always looking fly and ready to claim the title of fashion killer. To keep things relatively short, I will focus on London Fashion Week. Below are some of my favorite looks, but first, a bit of an introduction:

Overall, I noticed that bold colors (particularly being featured on massive jackets) dominated the streets. Alongside the pop of color, came the darker neutrals of the tomboyish, sports luxe trend that is here to stay (THANK GOD). Beanies, over-sized coats, childish accessories - all of which contribute to a strange "structural grunge". This is not your average "slap some things together and look like a street urchin" look. Rather, these looks feature carefully constructed pieces worn loose as if to say "I care...but I actually do not care." (Or maybe they actually care. Who knows. They are at fashion week, so my guess is, they probably care.) Sneakers are worn but they are kept clean. Beanies dress down the "1985 power woman" silhouette of the slacks and wool coat. Bright backpacks and see-through handbags make outfits more relaxed. What I see is a clash of generations. Everyone wants a little bit of both: the grunge of the '90s and the structural edge of the '80s. The effect is just what I have been looking for.

(Maddy Killick and Magdalena Wieclaw - Fashionista)

(Victoria Tonengren - Metro)

(Vogue)

(Vogue)

(Vogue)

(Vogue - Chloe Norgaard again!)

(Vogue - the beautiful Sung Hee Kim)

(Vogue)

(Vogue)

air conditioning by seaminor featuring Tory Burch

.021 PASTEL DELICACIES

I am not going to lie. I am quite surprised to see that pastel is finding its way on the runway. The trend has fallen in and out of the fashion world's favor. Pastel, in my opinion, is a bottom-up trend. The creamy, playful color palette has its foundations in the spring of 2010. I remember seeing a few pastel colored accessories here and there at the start of 2010. That summer, I started painting my nails turquoise and fell in love with lilac (arguably, still my favorite color). Stores like H&M, Forever 21, and the like picked up on the trend and it seemed to have been blacklisted because of this. Or maybe not. In spring of 2012 pastel came back to life and the familiar purples, pinks, oranges, etc., were popular again. Celebrities dyed their hair lilac and lipsticks ranging in all sorts of Easter-egg-inspired colors were deemed "cool."

(I think the Jennfier Lawrence photo is a manip, but you get my point.)

In the background of all of this, pastel became a word to define a subculture started on Tumblr. Pastel goth, pastel princess, etc., became the new buzzwords. Pixels, cute animals, and fonts dripping with pinks and purples started to dominate Tumblr's dashboards. The trend took a lot of its inspiration from Tokyo's lolita street fashion that had been popular for awhile in the quieter subcultures of the internet. Soon anime became "hip" and Japanese culture may have become more or less glorified (Appropriation? Yeah, I think so.). I found myself locked in this trend, very briefly, thank you. You can see me in my 2011 pastel glory here. Anyways, I digress. Just understand that the trend was simultaneously on the runway and thriving as an internet culture. Whether the runway inspired the internet kids or vice-versa, I could not tell you.

(Photo credit: Deviantart.com - Pastel goth fashion to an extreme.)

So now that I have the basics covered, I will begin to talk about the reemergence of pastel. The online trend of pastel is still alive, albeit criticism and an overall tackiness attributed to the trend but a majority of the online community. Outside of the blog-o-sphere, pastel is finding a revival in a new way. Rather than sticking to color blocking and pastel colored jeans (see photo below), pastel is being shown in a new light; pastel is now less about structured basic and is instead about being girly in cerulean and salmon. Rather than looking like it is 1990 and you are sporting Grannimals, this time around, pastel is looking to jump into the millennium. 

(See what I mean about the matchy-matchy of 2010-2012?)

(Photo Credit: DailyMailUK - Note the darker hue of Orla Kiely's pastels.)

(Photo Credit: Fashionista - Note how the pastel sweater is paired with cerulean Patone's color 2001)

The fashion world is looking towards pastel as an accent, paired with darker hues and monochromatic ensembles, as opposed to the pastel-on-pastel trends of the past. One pastel item seems to be enough now whether it be a sweater, crop top, or a pair of sunglasses. Pastel hair is making a comeback as well and in new volumes.

(Chloe Nørgaard has always had wonderful hair. As of late she has sported a pastel look. Fashionista.)

I love the idea of pastel in moderation, especially as a hair trend or an accent to an outfit. I absolutely love this feature on Topshop. The pieces in this collection are subtle, easy to wear, and fresh in concept. I am thinking I might temporarily dye my hair lilac in the future and the idea of a massive pink coat sounds appealing. Will I don the pastel princess crown once again? No, no I will not. Below is how I would sport this fashion trend:

teen lovers by seaminor featuring lips makeup