Thursday 19 February 2015

Reactions

Happy Chinese New Year! If you're born in the year of the sheep, your year should be pretty awesome. If you're not born in the year of the sheep, your year should also be pretty awesome.










How French girls do it - Isabel Marant FW'14
Original sketches from my 3 last looks.

Photos: Dahye Jung
Clutch: Want les Essentiels de la Vie
Hat: Vintage

Enjoy!
Katia

Sunday 15 February 2015

Technicalities

New York Fashion Week FW'15 is on! Although I don't follow it religiously, I do get a decent peek at it from some seriously committed bloggers instagramming looks almost every hour, hence filling my feed with their trendiest selection. It's honestly crazy how much these bloggers have changed the fashion industry in so little time (say, 5-7 years?). The runway was once upon a time a place for the privileged minority of fashion elites, and now, the seats are overflowing with this new wave of  mainstream bloggers. That is because they pretty much all have a massive database of followers - an audience they can reach out to and instantly promote a brand name from the click of a button. With the rise of social media emerged a completely new way to advertise, and these bloggers are definitely killing it. It's a win-win situation. On the one hand, they advertise products and brands, hopefully credibly as they reflect their personal style along with it, and on the other hand, they get exclusive benefits, such as going backstage in the fashion shows, designer parties, and a TON of free clothes. As a matter of fact, the 'blogger queen' Chiara Ferragni is so successful that her case is currently being studied at Harvard Business School. Crazy.

Humbly below is my look, featuring my beloved white leather skirt, a cobalt blue turtleneck and a grid top. Best way to wear a somewhat revealing top during our harsh weather? Layer it under a turtleneck!











Photos: Dahye :)
All American Apparel look.

Enjoy!
Katia

Friday 6 February 2015

Updated LBD

Let me talk about my tastes in music. I used to spend a lot of time digging up underground labels and scavenging unconventional sounds, but now that era is over. Now that I rarely have time, I mostly go with friends' recommendations, some link-to-link discoveries, as well as my own pretty solid collection that I have built throughout my humble existence. 

As an easily influenced preteen, I was content to follow Virgin Radio's top hits. No comment. Then I made the groundbreaking discovery of the Beatles, which got me crazy into rock music. Being the timeless basis but thirsting for more diversity, I opted for my dad's vinyls, the most convenient option. I remained in this 'safety zone' for a while, anew satisfied with Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, aka the typical Hipster Phase. My friends from my amateur band once recommended the Red Hot Chili Peppers to jam on, and I instantly fell in love with them, hence owning all their albums on my iPod Nano 4th Generation and crying at their concert. They will forever be my true first love in music. 

As time went by, I ran out of their tracks to listen to, so again, I had to move on. At that point I was desperate for something similar - alternative rock - but to no avail and unsatisfied. Being a classical musician, what I look for the most in music is a complex melody. The lyrics come in second surprisingly. 

One day, my friend told me about this band with so much passion and conviction in her eyes that I couldn't not check them out. That was Alt-J. I still cannot get over how amazing their music is. It's as if they created a genre of their own combining electro, alternative and whatever experimental they're doing; keep it up. I even heard that the composer of the band has a classical music training, so maybe that's why they are so satisfying to my ears. 

I would say that I am still in that phase, but it is coming to an end soon. However, I have forged throughout my teenage and early adult years my official taste in music, generally oscillating between alternative and indie rock and mellow electro, with a beautifully complex arrangement. Oh, I've also recently been into French 80s pop. I must admit that this musical path is almost archetypal for pre-millennials and that a lot of people could probably relate; nevertheless, I am happy with it. Obviously I am super opened to all music genres, and depending on the context I will find some more appropriate than the other (ex: drop-dat-bass rap when the Sun goes down), but I am referring to the music on my phone. 

Finally, a handpicked sample list of artists who have earned Katia's respect, no particular order:
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers (absolute must)
  • Alt-J (can't get enough of it)
  • Radiohead (90s kids will know)
  • Chromeo (they are the gods of sass, timing and beat)
  • Angus and Julia Stone (their voices crack me down each time)
  • Étienne Daho (tb to your parents' honeymoon)
  • Talking Heads (talkative heads)
  • Haim (got the 'tude)
  • Atoms for Peace (combination of Radiohead and RHCP. No way.)
  • Iron and Wine (peaceful and soothing)
  • Chet Faker (sensuality at its finest)








Photos: Dahye :)
Dress: Zara Studio (one of my best purchases ever)
Loafers: Zara

Enjoy!
Katia

Thursday 5 February 2015

Getting Closer

A beautiful day spent at the Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal, mostly admiring the architecture instead of the art. Not long after this I realized I really had to cut my hair. 









Pictures: Dahye <3 Oh and by the way she has a lovely YouTube channel worth checking out.
Sweater: Zara
Palazzo pants: American Apparel

Enjoy!
Katia