Sunday 29 March 2015

My Views on American Apparel

The long post - forgive me - is to compensate for the last short one? READ IT DON'T BE LAZY :)

As many of you know, I have been working at American Apparel for almost two years now, and despite still being one of the youngest, I am the most senior employee of my store, even compared to my manager. When I catch up with friends, one of the most common questions I get is "how's AA?" "You know, the same ol' good thing" I usually reply along those lines. Same? I'm starting to question that now. The company's been going through lots of change and media buzz, and our new CEO Paula Schneider hopes to reform it for the best.   

AA gave me a particular set of ~vibez~ differentiating it from most other mainstream companies. That's what really attracted me to it. Its image was always a more natural and down to earth one, promoting all body shapes and ethnic diversity. It also got sexier, borderline porno (that's been suppressed luckily), than other lines of clothing due to less photoshopping. I mean, for example, other lingerie lines' models are just as naked and provocative, if not even more, but just more plastic looking, that's all. AA's advertisement history remains a controversial one, but these are my views. Totally pro sexy, but anti porno. It also emits a rather 80s retro/artsy image, promoting art by collaborating with all sorts of eccentric emerging artists for its collections. 

When I started working there, my wardrobe lacked many timeless basics - now it's overflowing with them. But since I have all the basics I'll ever need, I find it harder to know what I want from there. They're really good, especially that they're sweatshop free and made in downtown Los Angeles, but I do get my trendier pieces from other stores, and even thrift shops tbh. AA recently had a massive 90% off sale to rid itself from all of its wackier pieces and is revamping its entire wardrobe, so I'm curious to see where that will lead to. Beyond all of the company's external matters, my own store is like a mini heaven where just a whole bunch of awesome people like to work and and chill together. 

I honestly love American Apparel. I've lived through its 'glory years', am now experiencing its 'reform' and hope to see it come through as an even better and successful business in retail.

So here is a head to toe look with some of my favourite basics from there. 
















Photos: Dahye (I always add funk and embarrass myself in the bloopers of her amazing YouTube videos) S/O to your Zara shoes for this look.
Outfit: American Apparel

Enjoy!
Katia

Saturday 21 March 2015

A Premature Take on the Seventies

Took out my trusty ol' Isabel Marant for H&M blouse for this occasion since the je ne sais quoi look is always timeless and appreciated. I want to spend more time getting lost this summer, whether it's here or in some foreign country.






Pictures: Dahye
Top: Isabel Marant for H&M
Hat: vintage

Enjoy!
Katia

Saturday 14 March 2015

Cold Hearted

Current mood:
Chet Faker - 1998

Just soak in the music, NOTHING else.

Canadian weather strikes again. Instead of unleashing the Goose, why not spend these last snowy days layering as much as possible. Not just a coat over a sweater, but how about a scarf over a coat over a jacket over a top - trust me it'll keep you just as warm.
I combined two major trends in this look: denim dresses and dresses over pants and skirts. As sub-trends of the big 70s wave seen everywhere from streetstyle to runways, it allows you to be stylish without screaming copy-cat. However, I still can't wait to wear this tunic by itself!










Pictures: Dahye my boo
Dress and boots: Zara
Coat: Vintage
Scarf: hand knitted

Enjoy!
Katia Houle

Sunday 8 March 2015

The Stains of Glass and Today

Just having a thought on the word 'basic', here referring to people and actions. I would never classify people myself, but I am able to observe some traits of this behaviour. According to the Urban Dictionary, it is defined as:

"An adjective used to describe any person, place, activity involving obscenely obvious behavior, dress, action."

Basically (no pun intended), I think that basic people follow pop culture and popular trends recurring in social media and consider it as the ideal way to be. It isn't done consciously most the time, as it is incorporated into their Habitus and is reflected in their daily actions. It's obvious because it's cool, and it's cool because it's obvious. Being basic in one context can be completely different in another, but let's say in first world countries, a cup of Starbs and night out selfies are one of the most flagrant examples. However, eating green foods or wearing a fashionable look just because it is trendy can just as well be the case. If there aren't any deeper motivations for an action other than immediate appearance, that is when something becomes basic. If you truly believe in encouraging Starbucks as a company or choose to eat healthy as a lifestyle, then your actions make sense. Being a little basic isn't a bad thing, and I think that we are all guilty, because it is impossible to escape the influences of what is constantly being presented to us. I myself am guilty of many basic things, and I even consider fashion blogging itself as one of them. Just look at the number of fashion blogs out there that are so similar one to the other. Yet this gives us something in common with the people who share this conviction, and allow us to unite, and even reshape this basicness

I guess that its modern-day antonym would be hipster, which is around the lines of someone trying to be different and not influenced by society. Nonetheless, hipsters becoming more and more common and following the same type of path, could they also identify as a type of basic? 

It isn't simple. At the end of the day, I think that being basic or hipster / same or different  isn't the question, it's about how you eclectically incorporate surrounding elements into your person and make proper use of it to nurture your personality and entourage. I look up to the people like Neil Degrasse Tyson who isn't afraid use the tools of the modern era to humourously tweet the latest astrophysical discoveries, and whether he's sipping on homemade fair-trade coffee or a Frappuccino.  







Pictures: Dahye
P.S.: This babe just uploaded a new lookbook that I filmed on her YouTube channel, and once again my sassiness is featured in the bloopers.

Shirt and boots: Zara
Clutch: Want les Essentiels de la Vie
Trousers: Dr Azhu Studios

Enjoy!
Katia

Tuesday 3 March 2015

Cornered

Posting something rather office appropriate since my March Break simply doesn't exist this year because I am spending it working at an internship for Pfizer. I mean, I'm actually far busier than school days. I'm surrounded by dynamic businessmen in a professional environment, sitting at my own office, with my own laptop, security card and tea doing marketing analysis literally from 8-5. Not to mention two hours of commuting to get there and two more to get back. That aside, it's a wonderful experience, where I get to apply what I have learned in the classrooms my entire life for the first time. 

I've been wearing this coat everywhere. For this outfit, its purpose is to structure the looseness of the unbuttoned white shirt put together with a leather skirt with pleats on the edge. The trendier way to wear it right now is with a colourful turtleneck popping out and/or with flares. But again, probably not at the office where I'm currently working.  






Pictures: Dahye :)
Coat: vintage
Shirt and skirt: Zara
Shoes: Alberta Ferretti

Enjoy!
Katia