Je Ne Sais Quoi

You may think I'm obsessed with those words. You may be right. 

There is something about the French style that is particularly magnetic, something so effortless that you just want to put in effort to achieve it. How could I put this? Precisely, I cannot put it in words since the very core definition of the je ne sais quoi is 'the something that cannot be described'. It revolves around many spheres, starting with lifestyle. Think Paris, 1950s, existentialists discussing over wine and cigarettes on a balcony overlooking the city's sunrise. Another image would be a late afternoon nonchalantly cooking in your boyfriend's shirt under fall's hazy sky. Style-wise - skinnies, a thrown on blazer topped with perfectly undone hair and a red lip. Complement with a bold yet feminine personality, giving life to the entire look. (For a better idea, men give their own hilarious definition here.)

Now I don't think we should be trying to copy their style, but I see no harm drawing inspiration. As a French people ourselves, digging back into our own roots and fusing our ways with theirs is just another way to express the ongoing multiculturalism. Personally, I am exposed daily to a dose when I go to school since 1/3 of my grade consists of French human beings. The West is usually only able to draw its inspiration from the much coveted style through pictures - I see it in action. They pull it off so candidly, all of them, in their own way too, whether it's walking down the hallways or giggling with me. As a matter of fact, the style ultimately comes to add an additional dimension to their already innate sense of je ne sais quoi. 

Point is, here below is what I draw from it so far. 

Pictures by the talented Marissa. 

Boots: Shelly's London

Enjoy!

Katia

Flared Flair

 My friend once invented an inspirational quote to make fun of all of the ones out there: "If you always say no, then you'll never say yes", I think it was. Horrible indeed, but there is some truth to it if you think about it. There are so many opportunities that require stepping out of one's comfort zone, and if your brain is always dictating you to remain a couch potato, so many of them will have slipped away. In other words, yolo (also horrible).

On a different train of thought, I am tackling two trends at once - double denim and the omnipresent seventies. I really do love wearing flares once in a while, but I'm still just experimenting. Recently I've been looking for my signature everything, whether it's style or perfume. I think I'm inclining towards natural fabrics such as silk and linen, a little bit more flowy and feminine, but I'm still quite unsure of where I'm heading. Nevertheless, the seventies being in just means that thrifting is back!

 

Denim shirt and trench coat: vintage owns
Flared jeans: Zara
Sherpa crossbody: Ecoté (Urban Outfitters)

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

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

China Photo Diary

[Warning: dangerously long post ahead.]
Just wanted to share a considerable amount of OOTDs from my trip to China last summer. It was above 40 degrees Celsius most of the time too. Still, one of the best experiences in my life!

Enjoy!

Katia