Stylistic Decisions

Sometimes I derive from one style to another. I change moods, therefore I change outfits. It bothers me, because I want to stick to a type of look. A single way of dressing, reflected through a tasteful and consistent uniform. Most fashionably influential celebrities can be spotted wearing their iconic piece; take Alexa Chung with her pussy-bow blouse, or simply Anna Wintour with her shades and bangs combo. A lot of people's style changes with their mood, or in the fashion blogger world, especially according to trends. I remember when I started being interested in fashion back around 2008, where the galaxy print was super in. It seemed completely normal and cool to adopt those, but honestly, looking back, I must admit it was pretty mindless and must I admit, hideous to my taste. On the other side of the coin, people experiment with trends because they like it, and ultimately through them search for their own style. Their own style, that is, is very often influenced by what's in. And that's what I disagree with. It should be so much more than just copying looks straight off the runway, or in most cases nowadays, social media, but an integrity of one's personality, culture, environment (professional, social,..), lifestyle, and simply preferences. Sounds like a lot of variables, but there's not that much thinking about that done when in front of the closet getting dressed, since it is as implicit as thoughts, I think. 

That being said, I still am not able to completely decipher my own style. I've had quite some experience in the fashion world, but I still sometimes find myself relying on my mom to filter out my pile of clothes when shopping. Somehow, people are easily able to identify the singular way I dress. However, I've very recently come to realize that my style has two faces, and I'd like to share this. Day and Night. Sounds easy, even cliché, but for me, I've never realized that there was this much of a gap in between the way I'd dress accodringly. But Day and Night have a symbolic. Day represents the everyday life, the usual routine, but also the events and the nightlife. A paradox - but still, the way I usually dress. Stylish, je-ne-sais-quoi, somewhat appealing, artsy qualify as some keywords. Night, being the side that no one knows, the one that I do not display. The face that even I seldom experience because I still am not able to develop and understand it. It is above all a personality, but fashion allows to express it. Still incredibly vague. This duality never came in conflict, but I yet long to see if it ever will. 

This present outfit is extremely experimental. I would actually wear all the items, but not together once again. Could qualify as Acne inspired minimalism. 

Trousers: Zara

Enjoy!
Katia

Work Break

Have you ever done six hours of intense research just to write one sentence? Me neither, until today. At this point, I could feel like a philosopher.

Student struggles aside, here is an outfit that is appropriate for just about any formal occasion feat my trusty cobalt trousers and a slit black top. With high waisted trousers, I would usually wear a crop top to compensate for its bagginess, but this is just as good because aside from being tight, it is actually able to feature the entire pant. 

'Officializing' with the world what's currently on my shopping list:

• A beautiful flowy summer dress, preferably linen
• Marant-esque heeled sandals
• Jo Malone or Le Labo lavender or orange blossom perfume

Honestly at this point I have what I want, trendy items included. I just stumbled upon a printed silk off the shoulder dress in my mom's clothes that otherwise never caught my attention. Score!

Photo credits: Dahye
Top and shoes: Zara
Trousers: American Apparel

Enjoy!
Katia

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

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

Double Sided

The challenge of asymmetrical clothing is that on one side, it might look somewhat plain and proper, but when the other side is revealed it's a whole different peek-a-boo story. Because this is a rather unconventional area to reveal some skin, I thought it was most logical to pair it with some wide-legged palazzo pants, resulting in a sporty-minimalist-70s-streetstyle hybrid look, topped off with some art-decoish accessories.This outfit remains one of my favourites in my wardrobe even though it's kinda hard to wear to school. 

S/O to the storm.

Photos: my lovely Dahye
Top: Zara
Palazzo pants: H&M
Mules: Aldo
Necklace and cuff: flea market

Enjoy!
Katia