Hipsters....the new Dandy?

            Let's begin with the definitions: someone that I would identify as a "Hipster" today would be someone who  values a certain something about their image, be it their shoes (or lack thereof), their organic/free trade food, their loyalty to the 'best' brand, or their sensitive taste for coffee. The modern Hipster is someone who values being different from the rest, knowing better than the masses, and calling attention to this aspect; often through dress. The easiest Hipster to spot is the one in the new shoes, the interesting but not too wild sweater and the Buddy Holly glasses. Thinking Kanye West and Weezer perhaps? Both would qualify as Hipsters to me. But not all fit this easy category of Hipster, there are many variations on the (life)style. Some Hipsters may be more organic and wear only handmade or vintage clothing, or they could be more into wealth and wear a subtly styled and well-tailored version of popular dress. Be it a colorful cufflink, a plaid button-down shirt, a hand-dyed scarf, or even a gold chain; the Hipster makes himself distinguishable. He is known for his aspects of knowing better, of being better cultured, and of being better dressed; and he wants to be. It is against the Hipster attitude to be the same, to blend in, no, the Hipster wants to be noticed and remembered for their certain excellent characteristic.

            So what about the "Dandy?" The first Dandy in the 1800's was George Brummell, a man who not only dressed with the greatest of precision and at the forefront of fashion, but also in fact the man who began the trend of bathing daily. Leaving a time of extreme frivolity and mistake before the French Revolution, George Brummell chose to distinguish himself in society as a man of practicality but also of great stature and intelligence (even if only social). He cast off the ridiculous adornments of 18th Century France and opted for a simpler, cleaner look. His tailored coat and tails were functional yet stylish, working with his slim breeches to give him a sleek and clean look. Right down to the details, Brummell wore a top hat, before its popularity, and a perfectly folded cravat. His look and his attitude brought Brummell a name in society, a name associated with class and respect which he wore proudly. 

            Now you may be asking, why have I only spoken of men in this comparison of the Hipster and the Dandy. The Dandy was originally a title for men, when men were still at the center of fashion and what they wore was equally as changing and as important as women's fashion. In modern dress however, men's fashion has fallen by the wayside, content to remain in the same black suit and tie or just jeans and a t-shirt. Perhaps this even boosts the argument for the Hipster; with no pressure driving the modern male to dress in any particular way, he is going even further out of his way to dress so well and with so much care. However, I must say that the idea of a Hipster is definitely applicable to females. Somehow, a little bit more daunting with the huge variety in women's fashion. Yet, a woman who strives to dress significantly better than her peers, and one who is passionate and persistent about her views on this. A female Hipster formula does exist, and it is quite similar to the male profile. Often found in San Francisco, Portland, and New York, this girl also has Buddy Holly glasses to go with her vintage jackets, gloves, bags, scarves, shoes, bikes, furniture.....etc. Now that's just the obvious one, but the Hipster female comes in all shapes and sizes, a woman like Lady Gaga, for instance, could be considered a Hipster for her huge attention to detail and performance. A wealthy woman who doesn't just wear designer brands, but new brands that are 100% sustainable or recycled, or just classier than the rest. This woman expresses through her dress her desire to be better, and for everyone to know that she is.

            Now that we've broken it down, does the Hipster really fit the bill of a modern Dandy? Well, there's the cravat, the perfectly folded neckwear which greatly enhanced to look and feel of Brummell's outfit. Today we see scarves, bow-ties, the occasional ascot. A man dedicated enough to the perfect look of his outfit will pay great attention to his neckwear, and it will always be a piece that adds momentous class or that grabs your attention immediately. Secondly, the skinny jean of the Hipster...equatable to the slim breeches of George Brummell? If the dress of your Hipster doesn't tip you off to his (or her) Dandyish qualities, just listen to them speak, watch how they interact, and discuss with them the great pros and cons of life. You will notice, your Hipster despises the uniformity and the idiocy of today, he is passionate about distinguishing himself above the rest, about being noticed for all the right reasons. 

           George Brummell sparked changes in fashion back in the early 1800's just as changes in society occurred. The Hipsters would advise that we be at the forefront of the change, break out of the mold and start something new in our society.        

A New Way

            Human society has developed throughout time going through many phases and revelations, changing by the decade. From tribal communities and great indigenous civilizations to pre and post technology societies, humans have never stopped evolving. Now as we have come to the 21st Century, I look back and see a plateau, a lack in change in the past 30 or so years, and I think, what kind of human society is stationary? Could humanity standing still foretell a great flaw in our evolutionary position? But then I look forward, and I see great change waiting just around the corner. The earth itself is changing in great ways everyday with natural disasters and the slow change in global climate while human thought begins to change along with it. More and more people are coming to subscribe to a new way of thinking; of liberating ourselves from the uniformity of culture and repenting the crimes against nature, of giving up the culture of competition and returning to the rule of universal oneness, of global connection and respect. I see proof of this in the books we read, in the foods we eat, in the jobs we seek, and in the clothes we wear.

            Fashion has always been a telltale sign of the nature of humanity; from the clean and simple dress of the Egyptians and the functional woolen tunics of the Middle Ages to the frivolity and extravagance of dress prior to the turn of the Century and the functionally lazy dress of 'modern' society. While we are currently stuck in an age of repetition and ease, a movement towards more interesting dress is beginning to emerge. A look back to craftsmanship as well as a new idea of synthetics arise while the old and new opinions on sustainability come together to engineer new technologies for more natural environments. New fibers allow easier function and require less criminal materials. Old ideas of handmade clothing and more sensible construction return to complement our new collective thought and culture. 

            So what does this mean for fashion? I cannot claim to know for sure, but in the trend of our new thought I can envision what I hope for humanity and for fashion. Those who lead this new look and new thought will be dressed in uber-functional, completely sustainable, reasonably simple and easy to wear, but most importantly; they will be in style. Our youth is done with looking like everyone else, we will go forth into our new culture in the impeccable and classy colors and flash of our new look. What do I envision? Sleek silhouettes and functional additions to it, sustainable and naturally bright and texture filled fabrics, and new combinations of shape and pattern in ways which come off as powerful and unique. Lets begin the revolution!                

Maximum Pretty

About 3 years ago when the Maxi-Dress came "into fashion," I spent at least an entire summer hating on them and anyone who wore one. The Maxi-Dresses I witnessed were trashy color-blocked or hawaiian printed tents made out of heavy polyester/jersey fabrics. Not to mention, the Maxi-Dress of 2008 was more of an expression of spoiled white celebrities tromping around the Bahamas and (quite inappropriately) the streets of L.A.  Do we remember this horror?

Well now in 2011, I take back my numerous rants about Maxi-Dresses. Don't get me wrong, I definitely will never support the terrors of 2008, but I have been shown an alternative. The Maxi-Dress has grown out of its junior stages and evolved into the garb of worldly, sophisticated, and free spirited women. Instead of thick jersey, we have lace and silk to grace our spring gait. The new Maxi-Dress can be very simple with basic necklines and a streamlined silhouette to slim the body and to slink with its curves. In addition to this simple style, we have seen a lot of fringe, tiers and lots of fine details on Maxi-Dresses. Ruffled hems, lace necklines, elegant sleeves, and delicate pleats make the Maxi-Dress a playful thing, reminiscent of the girly dress up days. Somehow, all of these additions take away from the bulk of the dress, giving the length of fabric more flow and texture for the eye to enjoy. The trend applies to Maxi-skirts too by the way!! In fact....I might like the skirts even more, they bring a very 70's vibe to the style.

Some of my favorites:
1: Anna Sui (I know, I'm obsessed)
2: Free People (This dress reminds me a lot of an old Chinese gown my grandmother wore when she was a wealthy woman newly immigrated from China. It is good to see more cultural influences and ancient values in modern fashion!)
3: Michael Kors (this is actually made of polyester, guess I'm biting my tongue again!)

 

Fashion Week SS 2011

Hello again my readers!! It's been a long time, I know. I just can't seem to get all the ideas in my head formed into simple subjects to write about! That, and I have been spending inordinate amounts of time in my new Design classes....learning such useful skills like patternmaking, crocheting, basket weaving, and much more! The Fashion industry gets more and more interesting every day I learn something new about it...which is why I was hunting through the new Spring collections when I stumbled upon Anna Sui.

Now, there are a number of absolutely fantastic collections which showed at the recent fashion weeks (London, Paris, New York, Milan), and as usual every designer has pulled out all the stops for what is really the best season of the year; Spring. If you would like some suggestions, check out Missoni with his colorful prints, Marc Jacobs' wonderful colors and draped gowns, and Holly Fulton with her cool graphic prints and sleek simple lines. Also, check back here when we get closer to spring!! I have begun to collect some of the up and coming trends of Spring/Summer 2011, and let me tell you, they are getting good! I think it's going to be a great warm season for fashion!!

With all of the pressure and glamour on the events of fashion week, every show is bound to go above and beyond in their extravagant displays. However, despite how big or how strange the show, few designers actually hit a great theme in their garments. Anna Sui is this year's greatest exception; her collection is cohesive and clearly thought out. She brings the attitude of the 70's and the glam of the 21st Century together into a harmonious collection that I personally would LOVE to own.

Anna Sui's collection features a lot of floral prints, floral lace, patterned knits, soft silhouettes, and a lot of embellishing. I think maybe she made this collection just for me. The knits are interesting with vivid colors and new shapes (the vest/cardigans with long trailing ends are adorable) and are glammed up with the presence of crocheted lace. This particular aspect of Sui's collection is key, it adds an element of homeliness yet the peek-a-boo lace flowers give a girlish aspect of pretty to the garments. Sui uses knits and leather to give a Western feel to the collection, yet she adds these girly features such as lace, beading, and flowing silky fabric, combining the two elements in a way that is refreshing and extremely intriguing. I could stare at one of the fashion show outfits for at least an hour! The detailing is impeccable, especially on her beaded dresses and her ruffled hems. Sui's new collection has attitude and a sense of nature, allowing the down to earth girl to dress for a sunny day or a sizzling night. Oh and how could I forget the accessories!?? The beaded and feathered necklaces add texture and play to Sui's garments. And the shoes......the boots, sandals and clogs are to die for!

Please check out Anna Sui's Spring 2011 Collection and enjoy! Oh, and please buy me something?

Well We Are Living In a Material World

Where do we spend the most time? Where are we free to relax, let our guard down, and do things our way?  After a long day at school or the office, or even after a long vacation, we come home and we are comfortable, relaxed, and safe in our surroundings. We are familiar with our homes, we have had experiences in them and we hold all of our personal belongings within them. Every person has a different life, and no two homes are exactly the same. When we choose our homes, we choose them to fit our lives; close to other locations we see as important, fitting to our own personal budgets and habits. Our homes reflect our lifestyles because we build our living spaces to best accommodate our lives. Personally, I love my new apartment that is close to school, close to food, and close to friends. I have painted the space with my style; with colors, patterns, and useful objects surrounding me. This is my home, it is eclectic, convenient, open but cozy, and it is where I relax, where I create, where I am me.
But in the modern world people's lifestyles have become busy, focused, and without time for true personality or style. Uniform, popularity, and convenience become good reasons to follow a style, to take the easy way out. These people present the underlying disease in the relationship between home and resident. These people furnish and choose their homes not for aesthetics and without putting in much thought or energy. The result is a home. Liveable of course, but not living. The home is merely a place to eat, sleep, and shower. Yet, these people value their drab possessions thinking of them as all they have and all that they have worked for and accomplished in their uniform lives. So, though their homes do not reflect these people's lives or personalities at all, these are the people who become most attached to their material possessions and are hence chained to their material lives.
On the one hand, owning a home, owning objects to fill that home in a way suiting to your life, is exciting, it is luxurious and seems necessary. Yet on the other side there is the lust for adventure, the desire to owe nothing to anyone or anything else and to take off to merely exist, no attachments and nothing dragging you down. There are those who never settle down, who roam the globe or stay in their mother's basement even in their attempts to remain free of responsibility. Without possessions, homes, or home-owning bills, these people are free spirits, able to go and do as they wish. Yet, they are then left without a permanent place of safety and comfort with oneself.
Whether one is a resident of a sparse, convenient, and boring home, or an adventurous globe trotter (or the geek in mom's basement), one is lacking of a true home. Home is where your heart is, home is a place of warmth and comfort, of style and use. So instead of going without possessions, we can only remember that they must represent us, not define us.

A New View

In fashion, appeal lies greatly in the supposed message of clothing. A good designer tends to have a vision of the ideal wearer and their perfect attitude to fit and display their art. The girl who is "geek chic" or the Ralph Lauren country club man. In this way designers are able to display themselves and their values in their clothing, making it their art. Even before a contemporary fashion industry, the fashions of men and women were used to show status or occupation in society. Clothing is no different now in that it still shows one's place in society, however with many more categories, more specific categories. Our occupations still direct our clothing, yet more and more our individual attitude and lifestyle shine through our garb. The comfortable and average look, the business/sophisticate attire, laid back and outgoing is even a style. But don't think we can now judge a book by its cover, there are so many different mixtures of clothing which has created even more categories; more styles. That's the word, style. Then, in fashion, a combination of your society status, your lifestyle, and your unique attitude creates your very own style. We buy clothing to match our styles, and in turn, designers create clothing to match a certain style. Many designers are known for one style, a targeted market of consumers. Just like certain artists or genres have a select following among their supporters. No artist of any sort can truly be said to lack a style of their own. In fact, it is those without style who have no message and no appeal that do not survive the world of the arts. So instead of art, why don't we just call it style?

man it's bright out here!

I always hear that..."man it's bright out here." And I always have to wonder if it really is, because unlike the majority of my friends, and the rest of the friekin world, I do not wear sunglasses often. Obviously, I would if I weren't blind as a bat without glasses. And yes, I have tried contacts and unfortunately found them extremely itchy and, since I have seen my face with glasses since 5th grade, unattractive. Ok so now that I can't wear sunglasses......I'm obsessed. And while I am generally able to control my sunglasses obsession, I just spent a week in the presence of 3 people with insane amounts of sunglasses in SoCal, I am finding myself weak in resolve after such exposure. 

My absolute favorite shape for anyone in sunglasses is the aviator. Extremely easy to find and usually flattering. They always look great with metal frames (and super reflective lenses!) but are really fun with plastic frames. I personally prefer a lower, thinner drop shape, but the width and length of lenses differs on different face shapes.

Another classic shape is the wayfarer, the original Ray-Bans (in fact, as I remember, sunglasses were actually not cool in middle school before someone unearthed their parents old Ray-Bans...) I love the color of these.....actually color always makes or breaks the sunglasses for me.

Aside from those more classic shapes, recently a million other fun lens shapes have come around. I love the glamorous cat-eyes, the Lennon rounds, the old school half-frame half-lenses, and even the giant Hollywood glasses. 

These first 2 pictures are from Cuffs Boutique (where, by the way, there are about 100 $15 sunglasses and clear glasses!)

The next one is from SoCal where Lily Rothrock and I found some fab cat-eye glasses last year

The last one is an awesome round frame from Proenza Schouler

There are probably around a million more slight variations of shape and color of sunglasses that I love, but at the moment I'm hounding after some cute heart shaped ones. Currently searching and open for suggestions!! So please, readers, please do my shopping for me and find me some heart shaped sunglasses <3


<3 F. Fashion