Snail Mail

Overalls? Check. Palazzo pants? Check. Breathtaking meadow and fence? Check. 

Take me back. 

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

Symphonie Fantastique

A 9-year-old musical genius and fellow pianist of mine decided to share his favourite work with me: Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. More specifically, he asked me to check out the 4th movement entitled March of the Scaffold. Rather dark for a little boy, I thought. Also surprisingly not your standard Mozart of Beethoven. Immediately however, I plunged into the piece's twisted setting and was awfully impressed by his taste. So on a quiet afternoon at my little computer corner, an apple in my mouth, I looked up this piece's origins - quite particular indeed. A hopeless love in the midst of the romantic era leading the composer to write this piece while consuming opium, turned into a five-movement favourite of the French people. Almost an autobiography, Berlioz himself notes. I realize that I can absolutely love popular music, but remains that I cannot be impressed by it, as opposed to classical music. I also realize that the fact that this symphony has a story to it makes it so much more interesting. Each of the five movements represent a stage in the story, the final one sweeping the auditor away into a macabre world of shades and witches dancing at the lover's funeral through sound alone, that is. It is a whole universe worth entering. 

It finally feels like summer here in Montreal, and boy am I glad to wear light layers. Liiiiiiinen pleated pants add structure to an opened top, and the soft colours scream summer. 

Pictures by Dahye!
Top and Trousers: American Apparel
Monk-strap creepers: Zara

Enjoy!
Katia

Ethereal

Just a pair of high waisted jeans paired up with a rich caramelized coloured silk top. Bold complimentary jewelry come make up for simplicity of the ensemble. I wore this to my friend's birthday dinner with my trusty sherpa crossbody and monk strap creepers, which gave it a neo-boho flair. It also feels great lounging in this. The classic tank and jeans combo will never let me down, it's just all about how it is put together. I like to opt for contrasting textures like the edginess of waxed jeans against with the smoothness of silk. 

Summer is here! Although its full effect still hasn't kicked in yet, I am already thankful for lazy mornings spent in bed literally doing nothing. Like watching Family Guy nothing. One of the most genius shows out there along with Game of Thrones. However, I'm not too crazy about feeling useless either to the point where humanity doesn't need me anymore, so I'm going to amp up my vacay with some serious reading, work and working out, travelling and social events. More specifically, I would also like to write a song and go camping with friends away from any kind of media for a while. What are your plans? 

Photos: Dahye (Shot in her gorgeous and daylight-friendly apartment)
Jeans: American Apparel
Top and Jewelry: Vintage and boutiques

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

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