à la Mode St.

Posts tagged ‘indie’

Indie Band Goes Mainstream via Runway: Wild Cub @ Rebecca Minkoff Fall ’13

March 27th, 2013

I am a supporter of underdogs and indie artists, so I was pleasantly surprised to hear about small-time Nashville band Wild Cub‘s being chosen to play at Rebecca Minkoff’s Fall 2013 runway in New York. Minkoff, according to MTV, at least recently has chosen bands to play at her shows—including NYC native Theophilus London and THE GOASTT (a band members Sean Lennon & model Charlotte Kemp Muhl), a more obvious fashion music choice.

REBECCA MINKOFF FALL 2013 FASHION SHOW I really liked the clothes, but I can’t pretend that I enjoyed the music nor can I vouch for Minkoff’s statement that Wild Cub’s music matched the the runway’s theme. Her Fall 2013 clothes did have somewhat of an 80s vibe to it, which Wild Cub has elements of. The clothes, however, also had an edgier futuristic theme, which I cannot visualize at all from the music. If the show reminded me of a time, it would be a mix of 1980 and 2020. Wild Cub is 1986-1990, which many can agree, encompasses the worst time in music history.

I am happy though for these guys and their sudden success from being featured at NYC’s fashion week. I hope that gives more indie artists out there hope that they can be instantly recognized through fans like Rebecca (who happens to be a big style icon) without being in the Top 40.

A few of my favorite looks from the show:

rebeccaminkoff2013fall

It reflects a sad reality, though, that our pop icons don’t necessarily have the best taste in music, and they choose to give the spotlight to whoever happens to catch their attention. That’s how it is on the radio, though, so I guess that’s how it’s going to be on the runway. It seems to be the way most of us non-musicians pick and choose our music. I can’t tell you technically why I don’t like Wild Cub, but I can tell you that they just don’t fit my taste. My husband, who’s a musician, can explain why he didn’t like it either, but I am representing the population who can discern subpar music without being musicians ourselves.

If I had to come up with a comparison that’s not so bad, I’d compare their sound to David Byrne’s late ’80s/early ’90s solo worldy-sounding music. David Byrne is awesome. I love The Talking Heads, but I am just not a huge fan of Byrne’s later work.

Wild Cub, you remind me of later David Byrne. Congratulations and have fun having tons of fashionista fans.

Multimedia source: rebeccaminkoff.com

What People Who Don’t Get Us Get Us: Rants on Being Misunderstood

January 15th, 2013

Christmas season is over for most people, and for some of us gift giving hasn’t ended. I personally just received a Christmas gift card today from friends whom I haven’t seen in a while. It was a restaurant gift card, which I am plenty sure Rob and I can make use of. So for the others, what do people who don’t get us get us? By us, I mean people with a particular sense of style. What do others give us in terms of style-related presents, recommendations, or comments?

They might say things like:

“This would look GREAT on you!”

“Oh yeah, she totally likes pink. or flowers. or sequins.”

And you think,

“Well yes, I like some things with those but not ALL of them!”

debbieharryblondiehayleywilliamsparamore
PUNK. If you like punk, post punk, steam punk, or other variations of punk (the look, the lifestyle, and hopefully the music) like I do, you probably like the clothes of Richard Hell, Karen O, old school Madonna, Ann Demeulemeester, etc. Instead they give you clothes that resemble what’s actually called emo: Avril Lavigne’s, black hair phase Ashley Simpson’s, and Paramore’s Hayley Williams’. Instead of rust and distress, they give you cute cartoon skulls and neon colored chalky hand drawn stars on a black background…ooh real scary.

90sluannalehappyangelamysocalledlife

90s. If you like the 90s look, which I have been admiring a lot this year, you probably like a more refined version of the 90s’ clothes like how Luanna from Le Happy’s dresses. You take inspiration from Claire Dane’s character Angela from My-So Called life without actually dressing like her completely because that could get a little frumpy without modification. Instead others might think you like wearing PJs out, always wearing flannel and beanies and other things stereotypical. The 90s had good style too, apart from the bad ones.

LOLITA. If you like lolita, you probably feel or look best wearing a certain type of lolita—whether it be classic, sweet, goth, or punk. If you wear classic, some people might think that you are just really into really old vintage, without even knowing the time period (which in this case is Victorian and Rococo). If you are into sweet, others might just think you like cute and girly stuff period. Or Hannah Montana. They get you things that are pink, floral, and glittery. Though sweet lolita is cute, it is a combination of cuteness and mischief. A lot of folks don’t get that.

sweetlolitahannahmontana

SWEET INDIE VINTAGE. I say vintage loosely, because all the things I listed above are from an older time (same way I use “indie” loosely). The sweet indie vintage look is what most fashionistas like right now. It’s like nothing else is fashionable to them (I guess I can’t blame them, because I went through that too). This could look like a bit mod or 40s with flirty dresses, knee-high socks, cat eye make up, secretarial Mary Janes, boat shoes, or oxfords. Most people who are keen on pop culture can think of Suzy from Moonrise Kingdom, because they somehow still get film style even if they don’t quite get fashion style. Some people just see the “sweet” part of what you’re wearing and totally ignore “indie” and “vintage.” I used to wear this style for about 2 years with an emphasis on 60s Parisian, and I had friends who kept thinking I like pink and girly things, and that was all I was to them. I don’t even really wear pink…especially not hot pink.

katiewhitetlc

INDIE POP. The first person I think of when I think of indie pop clothing is Katie White from the Ting Tings. People who don’t get it will think you’re into hip hop or something. At one point in my life I wore indie pop clothes—colored tights and big bold 80s patterns. At that phase of my life, one of my friends picked up these really colorful and girly earrings and told me they were “so me.” I haven’t even worn earrings since early college, so I’m not sure how that even resembled me at all.

I know these complaints might sound a bit bratty, but you’ll only really “get it” if you’ve been a misunderstood victim like I have. This post is for those of you who need to have to go someplace else, including the WWW, just to be understood by like-minded people who live and breathe clothing. As much as you want to be thankful for people’s thoughtfulness, sometimes you can’t help but be just a little bit hurt by how wrong others perceive you.

Though we shouldn’t try to let others’ comments affect us negatively, how do other people think of you?

—————————————

And oh, I just signed the pledge to shop second hand first by the ever cool Citizen Rosebud. Come join?

Cool Off with Culottes

March 3rd, 2011

Before anything, I apologize for how GRAINY these photos are. I took these at dusk! It’s still winter, and I’m still too tired to take photos earlier in the day.

I decided to put on my new favorite—leather jacket with puffy sleeves and asymmetrical detail (when zipped up) because it got…. COLD.

Some women who opt for both modesty and practicality wear culottes instead of long skirts, especially when working in the field. I don’t often have problems wearing my jeans really since I prefer them high-waisted and a bit loose. Most of my pants are flared, so they’re still a tad tight around the thighs. What I would love to get my hands on though are high-waisted bell bottoms from the 70s, but they seem really hard to find. I don’t know about you, but I rarely feel stellar in jeans or pants without having to do something extra with everything else I have on. Skirts and dresses though are immediate mood boosters for me (a must for modesty) and are almost on the same level as those shy-shooing shoe stimulants called heels.

For some of you who might not know the history of culottes, the term originated from French gentlemen couture in the late 1500s and were also worn by military men in Europe. They looked entirely different back then and were actually “knee-breechees” instead of what some others now call “skorts.”

As an aside, the word skorts bothers me for some reason! Maybe because the term sounds so kiddy, commercial, and annoyingly trendy. Flashes of Walmart people come to mind. By the way, I admit that I have happily shopped for clothes there and have nothing against their clothing in general, but I must say, some of the shoppers are not exactly a sight for sore eyes…

Anyway, it was only during the Victorian era when the term was used to describe split riding skirts for women who went horseback riding, and those were very similar to the culottes that we now know. Ironically, our fantastic French friends now mean panties when they say “culottes.” Oh the evolution (and/or corruption) of words (and style)…

Here are some examples of vintage catalog covers I’ve collected with culottes:

What I Wore: Leslie Fay culottes from Goodwill – Burlington Coat Factory leather jacket – Crocs sandals – layered gold necklaces

Flicks Inflict Fashion II

February 27th, 2011

It’s time for another post documenting movies with noteworthy fashion! I am making “Flicks Inflict Fashion” into a series. The first FIF was posted last August. I’m going to try to make this a regular deal, since my husband and I watch movies a lot and I am also currently in a fun film class. Since I for one hate plot spoilers and dislike distasteful critic reviews, I have determined to keep this strictly for style observance. Alright, shall we?

Changeling (2008) -Set in the late 20s, this film starring Angelina Jolie (Christine Collins) and all the other women working as telephone operators wore earth-toned colors, furs, brooches, and detailed head pieces (or as my husband repeatedly referred to them during the movie, “heeyatsssss”). You’ll notice that almost every woman in this movie wore some kind of hat, and it made me realize how much more people in general used to accessorize in detail back in the day and how that trend has just kind of gotten lost through the decades. I commend the fact that public and private (e.g., lingerie) clothes were distinctly separate. Sadly, what used to be worn only in the bedroom can now be seen worn in public in today’s fashions. What ever happened to this boundary?

An Education (2009) – How adorable was Carrie Mulligan in this movie? Her character Jenny and Rosamund Pike’s character Helen in this scene are wearing matching coats and hats, making this a nice visual foil. I like Helen’s clothes a lot more then Jenny’s, even though Jenny’s clothes are generally more conservative. I think it’s because Helen puts more effort into her outfits (probably because she has the money for it), and young Jenny admires that about her. Helen though was a bit of a ditz—a common fashionista stereotype. For a long time, I denied how much I liked and thought about style and fashion because of that very stereotype. To defend my brain, which also processed non-fashion-related things, I avoided associating myself with the fashion community until recently. I guess that’s partly why I started this blog—to redefine fashion by adding more intelligence and sense to it.

Mary Poppins (1964) – Since most people have their eyes on Julie Andrews’ array of dresses, I want to pay special attention to Glynis Johns’ (Mrs. Banks) gorgeous outfits of pastels and beads. Although Mrs. Banks isn’t as young and slender as Mary Poppins, she is able to pull off some amazing looks! You really don’t have to be young and slender to be good at styling yourself. Mrs. Banks’ outfits definitely catch my eye more than Mary’s. I would love to replicate that updo from this screen shot!

Babes in Arms (1939) – Before anything else, does anyone else see that Mickey Rooney looks like a “cuter” Rupert Grint? Anyway, teenage Judy Garland (Patsy Barton) and the other young gals in this movie had pretty casual dresses on. I rarely see casual full-length dresses and skirts worn by high school students and adult women now. We mostly see preschoolers wear dresses on regular days, but older girls rarely do except for special occasions. Do girls wear dresses less now because dresses are more expensive and impractical? Whenever I wear a dress out on a weekday, there is sure to be at least one person who asks me what party I’m on my way to (even the people who should know me better!). What I often see more of nowadays are skinny jeans and short skirts on teenagers and older women alike. How about adding some variety to the wardrobe with some maxi skirts? Maxi skirts are a great deal more versatile compared to dresses—if lack of versatility is the problem. I really am surprised at how attractive maxi skirts can look despite their conservative nature. I should have more of them.

The Fall (2006) – This film looks incredible. Everything in this is highly saturated in color, and the costumes are superb. Justine Waddell (Nurse Evelyn) has such gorgeous dresses on, and I also love how they did her makeup. I even tried to replicate it with some pink and brown eyeshadow, and I liked how that turned out. The visuals in this film are just breathtaking and beautiful. I highly recommend this film to anyone and everyone who hasn’t seen it (and even those who have seen it should watch it again!). This film is eye candy. You will know what a rainbow tastes like after watching this (HAH), but the story is quite entertaining too. You will just die when you see the little girl with the adorable accent in this!

Have you entered the giveaway for a $100 Shopbop gift card? It ends next week!

Valentine’s Weekend with Deerhoof

February 18th, 2011

I picked up this large nightie at Goodwill, and I was wearing it here as a loose top. I couldn’t resist the heart pocket! It’s honestly still a bit cold to wear this top as is, so I took off my jacket just for these shots. I’m sure you know that one thing I cannot stand is climate-inappropriate dressing. No one should ever sacrifice comfort (and modesty) for style. No matter how much you defend that baring skin during winter is okay, lying to yourself to look good is just silly. I outgrew my stubbornness of dressing like that a long time ago, and I think it’s as simple as common sense to subscribe to more sensible thinking. I must say though that I do wear my clothes all year because I really don’t give in to seasonal style dictations—nothing is “hot or not” or “in and out” of season for me. What I do to make my clothes climate-appropriate, though, is layer them. For instance, in these shots, I am wearing a thick sleeveless shell underneath, and on top of that, I have a cardigan and a coat on.

For Valentine’s Day weekend, Rob and I went to see the noise-pop band Deerhoof at the Theater of the Living Arts in Philadelphia. Thanks to Phrequency for the complimentary tickets! Of course, just like the last time we stayed in Philly for a weekend, we had cheesesteaks for almost every meal (we go to different places each time to try them out). Below is a playlist of not-so-clear videos we took of Deerhoof’s performance. If you will have the patience to look through, you will see vocalist and bassist Satomi’s quirky dance moves! She is so cute.

Below is a picture of me with the love of my life taken from my phone that I pasted over this adorable background Rob made from MS Paint. He made this for me while we were still courting. You can’t really see the most significant parts of the drawing, so I’ll probably post it up again on our anniversary next month. It took him a long time to complete this since it’s so detailed! I’ve forgotten how much I used to love Paint! Adobe has corrupted my innocence. I am in love with this dimpled and clefted cutie/master of MS Paint!

If you haven’t noticed, the giveaway for $100 Shopbop giftcard started this week. Don’t forget to join early because that’s a good way to win! The contest is open internationally.

Diamonds in the Snow

February 1st, 2011

I am now back to school full time after a two-year hiatus! I’m excited about my film and philosophy classes more than anything. I might not be able to write as much with every post because of that, but I will at least take photos of my outfits whenever I get a chance! I am wearing costume diamond jewelry from when I was a bridesmaid at my friend Imon’s wedding last December. I admit that I thought it was tacky at first, but it makes for a good photo shoot session! I should just remember not to put it on when I walk around the bad parts of the city to avoid looking too flamboyant with big, fake diamonds around my neck. I shan’t risk it.

Also, I am very excited to let you know that I was chosen to be featured in Print VA magazine this year. I will post the fashion editorial soon!

What I Wore: Knit dress and leggings from Burlington Coat Factory – Necklace from being Imon’s bridesmaid (thank you!) – Cardigan from Accents

Because I have a regular point-and-shoot camera and can’t afford an SLR right now, it’s hard for me to focus on my face when taking pictures. Here are a few webcam photos if you’re interested to see a closeup of my typical makeup:

New Romantic

January 29th, 2011

Although I am not dressed completely spot on for this topic, I am lightly going to talk about New Romanticism. I was a little too cold in the snow to show some swashbuckling pirate looks typical of the New Romantic style, so instead I opted for a cozy 60s or 70s faux fur coat, my strapping snow boots, and a matching turban that I had coincidentally pinned a moon brooch on. I think the gold accents helped make the outfit glamorized enough to fit the description of New Romantic fashion.
I’m not going to talk about the history of New Romanticism so much here to prevent this post from sounding like a wiki. Just as a quick background, New Romanticism was a music and fashion movement in the UK in the late 70s and early 80s. Just like the obvious in punk culture, the message behind this movement was the anarchic expression against the mainstream; however, it was also an effort to glamorize gloomy social hardships that were happening at the time by emphasizing flamboyance in a narcissistic way through their clothing. I couldn’t agree with their sentiments more, but that might just be the optimistic punk in me. I will say however as with everything else I am into, I dislike all the fetishism and visual display of sexuality, which was also characteristic of some of the New Romantics. Bands associated with the movement included Brian Eno, Roxy Music, and Adam and the Ants who displayed the New Romantic look sartorially well. Vivienne Westwood designed especially for Adam and the Ants and was one of the early designers for the romantic look. Other designers included Colin Swift, Stevie Stewart and David Holah.
Adam Ant is probably the prettiest post punk New Romantic. Rob even proclaimed his man crush on him. Although I wasn’t going to add on to that, I do want to say that I love his music with the Ants, and I want his band jacket.