When Fashion and Art Collide

Shirt by Loo Gray. Jeans by Madewell. Belt by J. Crew.

Fashion is always art, correct? One could compare the tedious process of creating the frescos in the Sistine Chapel to the difficult task of creating a FW16 collection, and it's also quite clear that many people dress the way they do for self expression, which is basically the core of art. This is one of the thousands of reasons I love fashion, probably the main one, because art comes in so many different forms and it can even fall into the way one dresses. Usually, designers start with their fashion senses, then they incorporate the art into their creations later. But when it's the opposite, when an artist decides to put their artistic talent into clothing, that's a whole other story.

That's how the small online store of Loo Gray began -- an artist with talent who decided to expand his talent from paper to clothing. I couldn't get the chance to actually speak with him, but he's only about my age (17, if you forgot) and he created the store not solely for profit, but as a tribute to his mom, and I think that we should all start appreciating our mothers more often. I'm not sure if he wants to make it big, but he's simply doing what he loves, and I kind of see that same attitude in what I've been doing for the past year. But to get to the actual clothing -- all of his pieces are unique in some way because he does everything by hand (he screen-prints all of his shirts, but he individually paints his jackets). This individuality really shows through his work, and that's probably why I felt compelled to buy one of his shirts.

I'm not really sure why I'm squinting so much or why I'm in that terrible stance in the first photo (thigh gap??), but it's about the shirt in the outfit, because that's where the art is. I'm not one to wear t-shirts in a fashionable manner but I think the really cool art on it is enough to call it fashion, so I created the simplest look with it -- black jeans and black shoes, but also some fun accessories like my black bandana (the neck scarf trend is only just beginning) and gold belt to complement the top, not take away from it. I felt extremely comfortable today, almost too comfortable, but then I looked down at the print on my shirt and remembered how this is going to be on the blog, so I quickly added a layer of NARS to my lips. After wearing this shirt, I would like to buy every other article of clothing he sells on his website. I'll have one of each, please.

Jacket by Loo Gray. Shirt from Record Store Day at Criminal Records (I was there when she got it!). Shoes by Adidas.

Here we have another example of one of his products, worn by my very close friend who decided to move across the country (read about her here!) and actually be the one to tell me about Loo Gray. Instead of following a simple path like me and buying a tee, she ordered a camo jacket with an acrylic-paint face, and surprisingly it is one of the rare moments when camo pattern does not exude racism but instead exudes cool. This is the one I wanted to order but of course, it sold out, and the minute they restock (if they ever do), I'll get one for myself. Until now, I've never wanted to get near camo but that eccentric art attracts me to the military-esque print, and I'm anti-war. Here's evidence that literal art will make anything better than it already is, thanks to Loo Gray.

I have a slight feeling that he currently has two fans of his work, including me, that do not include the people he already knows, but that fan-count should, and will, start rising. Or maybe it won't, because it's obvious that his main goal is not fame, but it's to showcase his talent on a more commercial level. Plus, who wouldn't want to up their jean-jacket game by wearing one embellished with actual art?

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A Guide to Warm Weather (When You're Still Stuck in Winter)

Only a few days ago did I actually realize the weather had been 70 degrees for the past two weeks. The sun was shining, I could actually feel my face, finally, and there was no need for several layers; I probably could have walked around in a swimsuit and I'd feel perfect. I should be happy, satisfied, at least grateful for this sudden change in climate. For once, I don't have to wear a turtleneck! But I miss those turtlenecks. I never had time to buy a faux-fur coat or an oversized trench or a shearling-lined jean jacket or even a velvet jumpsuit or leather pants, and the cold seems like the only excuse to wear out-there items like those. The cold was so much easier, ironically, because I could layer practically anything together and it would be deemed the highest forms of fashion, while in the warmth I can only wear one layer of clothing and that's just boring. Yawn. Wait, here's an idea: follow the same guidelines for winter fashion, just wear way less of it. Will that work? Let's test it.

Top and jeans by Gap. Bomber by Brandy Melville. Shoes by Topshop.

I'm a self-proclaimed jeans-hater but the minute the temp rises I miss them dearly, but my legs need to breathe! So here's a trick: find an old pair of jeans (or steal them from your mom) and scissors and have some fun. Do some cutting, fraying, whatever it takes to let your legs get some air. I found these from my mom and I think she wore them in 1999, back when awkward-rise boot-cuts were in style. I found them ripped in the knees (half the job is already done! Thanks, mom!), but then I wanted my ankles to feel the sun so I cut three inches off at 7 a.m., half asleep, and I'm pretty sure the right leg is a bit shorter than the left but hey, that asymmetry gives it more of a DIY feel.

One of the trends I missed during the cold abyss of winter are tops suited for spring, whether they're floral ones, sheer blouses, or cropped tanks. Of course, I learned to layer these over turtlenecks during the winter and I wish I had more time to do this, but this weather has something against turtlenecks, so I guess I'll have to leave my arms and neck naked and vulnerable with my favorite printed tank from Gap.

But going from turtleneck to nothing is a bit fast and my body still has not adapted to this sudden change, so we have to take things slow and maybe add a light layer over that tank, like a denim jacket or, even better, an embroidered satin bomber from Brandy Melville. The truth behind this buy is that I was still suck in winter-mode and this would be so cute under my pea-coat!, but it also works for spring (or fall) -- a much-needed in-between layer. Also, bombers are really in right now, especially those of the varsity-striped and embroidered nature, so can I officially call myself a cool-girl?

The idea of showing my feet (and ugly dancer toes) is just bizarre, but the first step to accepting this warmth is wearing at least one article that is meant for the sun, maybe something as simple as shoes that aren't boots or something as wild as denim cut-offs. Since it's not festival season yet, I'll go for the shoe option. I haven't touched sandals since last August and I've been perfectly content without them, but maybe showing my feet in public isn't so bad, and the ones from Topshop that I've owned for almost two years make matters a bit better. Yes, jeans and sandals do work, even if I'd feel better wearing ankle boots. Rip the band-aid off, Natalie. Wear the sandals. 

By the end of all of this I somehow had a decent look for myself, maybe a look for someone who misses winter too much (who wears jackets in 70 degrees??), but at least I was trying. Sometime next week I'll probably accidentally throw on a turtleneck or a knit-sweater or even my parka reserved for below freezing temps, because even though it's March, it still feels like January. It's going to take some time.

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Adieu to Fall/Winter 2016

collage created by me, with photos from Vogue Runway

My favorite month of the entire year (yes, even greater than December that brings Christmas and New Year's Eve festivities) is over. I am miserable, jaded, devastated that I can't continue to refresh Vogue every hour to see the latest collection from fashion week or that I can no longer spend hours scrolling through street style photos from Paris and constantly ask myself, "How do they do it?". The not-so-fabulous life of my self-diagnosed Z-list blogger, maybe, but at least it was something. I miss being amazed at how designers are able to practically pull off magic through their shows, and then this magic makes me not as sad anymore. Yes, fashion month is over (insert multiple crying emojis)!! But then I think of how Paris Fashion Week ended such a beautiful month with the most inspiring and magnificent collections, even greater than NYFW's and LFW's and even MFW's, and I look back at the très bien fashion we saw in the French city, and I only see the opportunities for next season. Layering with delicate and masculine pieces. Oversized coats paired with patent leather. Accessories on everything (especially the neck), and sheer fabrics that create loose silhouettes. Puffer jackets, finally, and ballerina-inspired tulle gowns.  I always say how PFW is the perfect way to end fashion month, but this season, j'adore. I've never taken a single French lesson and I probably know only four terms, but this past week makes me want to learn the language (and definitely move to Paris). So grab your berets and croissants (that's how the French do it, right?) and take a stroll down PFW memory lane with me.

The oversized trend appears, once again, at Rochas, but instead of following a masculine, utilitarian path, this collection followed a playful, adolescent, wearing your mom's clothes kind of look. But this time, the kids picked out the most out-there pieces, filled with floral and shimmery frocks with sleeves too long for their arms, multi-colored stockings too baggy for their legs, and platforms too high for their youthful gaits. The kids grow up through the show, however, by showing some skin, adding sophisticated fabrics such as velvet and silk, and wearing sheer evening gowns. Themes of femininity and lightness play throughout the entire show with the repetition of ruffles and complex prints, and it made us realize that fashion is so much better when it's not taken too seriously.

The McCartneys are a talented bunch. My first favorite musician (and concert at the early age of 10) is the father figure in all of this, so it's not surprising that Stella McCartney would fall into her father's shoes, just with a fashion line instead of a '60s pop band. "Bitch, I'm a vegan" and "get yo tofu on" rang through our ears as we saw an animal friendly collection that stayed true to Stella's vegetarian ways and the fitting lyrics of the songs. A juxtaposition of sporty, feather-free puffer jackets and metallic pleated details strutted down the runway, and icons of swans graced just about every type of clothing, whether it was a practical cotton blouse or an oversized maxi. It's pretty obvious that the McCartney daughter supports animal rights, and I'm not even a vegetarian, but seeing the mix of feminine details and gowns with relaxed knits and boxy pants makes the idea seem a lot more appealing.

The '70s are gone, the '80s are back. That's what Isabel Marant is trying to tell us, and patent leather and edgy silhouettes never looked better. This is a collection fit for Heathers and the British punk scene of the '80s. Shiny minis paired with ankle-length trenches (J.D. would come back to life just for that coat), frilly tops tucked under skin-tight leather pants, and even those tacky hairpieces worn at prom circa 1983 finished looks with plaid/leopard print jackets and zebra-print shoes. Sounds like a nightmare, but looks like a dream, if your dreams have The Cure playing on repeat. Start wrapping your dresses with huge belts, adding pins to your oversized coats, and wearing fishnets non-ironically because the '80s are back, baby.

Now that the new Chloé girl is inspired by Anne-France Dautheville, the woman that traveled through Europe and the Middle East on a motorbike, I would like to become a traveling-biker-girl ASAP, especially if wearing flowing frocks with leather pants and neck scarves is part of the deal. When inspirations as unique as this are so clearly stated, it truly shows through the clothing. That free-spirited nature of Dautheville emanated off of the practical leather boots and the structure of those gorgeous multicolored dresses. Masculine pants and zip-up jumpsuits can totally be feminine, because #girlpower (plus yesterday was International Women's day. How fitting). Chloé definitely made a statement, and it may have been the empowering female version of Kerouac's On the Road or a request to immediately leave our jobs and travel the world. Next time I travel, layering my dad's oversized pullovers over ruffled dresses and buying bandanas in bulk will be on my fashion to-do list, if I even have enough responsibility to create a list like that. That's what Dautheville's philosophy was all about, right? Live in the moment, or something of that nature.

There's a unique beauty and grace that comes from the purest forms of fashion, and Valentino perfectly captured that essence, unlike their last distasteful collection that attempted to culturally appreciate but unfortunately culturally appropriated (with 90% white models, of course). I've been angry at the brand ever since, until this new collection, where the ballerina in me (you learn something new about me everyday) is fan girling, internally squealing, physically crying at the pieces Valentino brought this season. In ballet, there's a certain type of poise and artistry that cannot be recreated in any other form, but of course Valentino recreated it with an impressive collection of 81 pieces filled with tulle inspired from tutus and the looks of a dancer that go on before, during, and after a rehearsal or performance. Dreamy gowns that look like they were pulled out of Swan Lake or The Nutcracker blended with looks that incorporate the simplicities of layering when it comes to a dancer, whether it's layering a velvet wrap dress over a thin turtleneck or throwing on a sweater over ballet tights and flats. A live pianist played melodies that allowed the ballet-bun clad models to dance across the runway, and at times it was perfect for an adagio (slow, graceful movements) or even a petit allegro (a series of small, staccato jumps). These movements strangely correlated with the clothing because there was a combination of gentle, delicate pieces with opposing looks filled with layered, intricate details. Unfortunately for Alessandro Michele I think Valentino won fashion month with this collection. I could go on for hours about how wonderful the show was, just like I could go on for hours about my love for ballet, but PFW must end somewhere and it ends on this note:

Fashion may just be clothing, but when clear inspirations are shown through the looks, an extra dimension is added, a layer of reason and beauty that gives the designs meaning and truth. This is obvious through all the shows from Paris, whether I reviewed them or not, and I guess this is the reason this week was so, well, inspiring. Ask me why I love fashion, and I'll simply give you my top five shows from PFW Fall/Winter 2016. So here's my farewell, my adieu, to this season's fashion month. Au revoir, my dear friend. Until September.

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Oscars Fashion

(from left to right) Cate Blanchett, Olivia Wilde, Brie Larson, Saoirse Ronan, and Rooney Mara

collage made by me, with photos from Vogue

Why is there no such thing as the award for "best-dressed" at the Oscars? The media spends two hours discussing everyone's amazing (or poor) fashion choices, yet there is no ~official~ decided winner. It's one of the most elite award shows; there's even two separate awards for sound editing and sound mixing in a film. If the Academy can manage to fit several, largely irrelevant awards into four long hours (I watched the entire thing just to see Leo's face when he won his first Oscar), why can't they just squeeze in a five minute segment on who won best dressed? Someone important in the fashion industry, like Alexa Chung or Olivia Palermo, can judge. Since this dream of mine does not exist, I'll do the judging.


And the nominees for Best Dressed are...

Cate Blanchett, wearing an enchanting aquamarine gown by Armani Privé that's covered in delicate floral embellishments and silky fabric carries an amazing shape fit for someone like Blanchett -- a queen (who really likes flowers).

Olivia Wilde wears a revealing but classy dress by Valentino's Haute Couture collection that contains a simplicity in the pleating detail but a complexity with the open back, and this paradox provides for a dress that's simply beautiful, just like Olivia Wilde.

Brie Larson, a quirky-turned-serious actress wears a bold gown by Gucci (*swoons*) with a royal blue shade and a statement jeweled-belt to add an it-factor to a simple dress (It's Gucci -- there's always an it-factor). The textured ruffles create a level of eccentricity to the look, and eccentric is the perfect way to describe an actress like Brie (another plus: she shares a name with a very delicious cheese).

Saoirse Ronan, the up-and-coming young (and stunning) actress wears a sparkly dress by Calvin Klein. Sequins are in, based on shows from London Fashion Week, and Ronan is following this trend, but in a cooler, more stylistic way -- Calvin Klein creates a mermaid/ocean-esque texture with the sequins that lead our eyes to Ronan's green eyes (that perfectly match the dress), and we literally can't take our eyes off of the screen when she appears.

And finally, Rooney Mara shows off her strangely striking features with a remarkable Givenchy lace dress that includes sheer fabrics, various textures, unique cutouts, and an ivory color that weirdly works perfectly with her ghost-like skin. Mara continues the unique look with a slicked-back hairdo that involves multiple tiny buns, so I think we can agree that she wins on most unusual (but still drop-dead gorgeous) look.

I could give all of these nominees the best-dressed award (they're all so perfect!), but the winner, according to my completely biased opinion, is...

Brie Larson! Yes, she's currently my favorite actress right now and she only got #7 on Vogue's poll for best-dressed at the Oscars last night (see the poll here!), but Gucci does wonders for me and I'm loving the details on this gown. Now I'm about to watch Room (the movie in which Brie won best actress for), this better be good. If not, she's still got that beautiful Gucci gown.

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