PROJECT: concon + dressing down

By Neslihan
I'm starting with a 'new' project that can be summarized by a stupid abbreviation: 'concon'. It stands for 'CONsume CONsciously' and it's not gonna be about me 'presenting an example' or being a rolemodel but it's an attempt in what I would see as consuming consciously. I just want to be more aware of what I'm eating but above all of wat I'm wearing. I've been a vegetarian over a year now. Not a strict one but I wasn't a firm meat-eater (sounds like a pokemon or something) either. It got me thinking about the origins of meat, about the production process actually. It got me so mad to actually know how our fine piece of steak was being produced. How animal- and people-unworthy. I was really frustrated and figured I couldn't be anymore ignorant about this. So I decided to become a flexible vegetarian (or flexitarian BUT GOSH, HATE THAT WORD). Right now I'm at a point of no return. I want to know why my tee only costs 6.95 at H&M? How do they make their clothing so accessible when it comes to the price tag? Could it be that they're also keeping their production costs low by using child labour and disgusting Indian workplaces, which also lack hygene? I'm sure I'm not telling you anything new, I mean you've read countless articles and you probably also have seen a lot of documentaries on this subject. So why do we keep our eyes closed for this problem? Probably because it's easier and cheaper. But I think we owe it to ourselves to know where our clothing comes from and in which circumstances it's being produced. We have to know what the moral price is of budget fashion. And that's what I'm going to do for the upcoming months. I'm not saying I'm going to quit high street shoppig because I can't due to 'financial instability' (I'M A STUDENT, YOU KNOW) but I will think twice before I start impulse shopping. Do I need this? Is the price worth the quality? Do I have something similar already? So, I'm not gonna go extreme on this one. I just want to be more aware of the product of misery I'm buying. And I will monthly report about this.
Another topic that joints this topic effortlessly is a new way of dressing called 'dressing down' (it's actually a counterpart to dressing up). I read about it in Elle Hollands september issue. And it basically comes down to this: you wear a lot of basics and plain colours. The fabrics have to be floaty and the cut has to be seemlessly perfect but simple. You can actually see it as a sequel to 90's minimalism but less firm than minimalism because there is actually room for fooling around. But not too much fooling around since you don't want to look crafted. It's about being pure and getting dressed for the sake of getting dressed. And with my new 'project' (sounds so cool but it's actually something individual) coming up, I might just as well embrace that philosophy.

 This 90's couple got the concept of dressing down. Winona Ryder chose for a simple black dress with a very basic cut and Johnny went for a suit and an unbuttoned white shirt. Also notice how Winona kept her hair very simple.

90's Kate Moss is another example of dressing down. See how she also has skipped a bra.

Marques Almeida S/S 2013

Narciso Rodriguez S/S 2011

Prada S/S 2001

Liu Wen

Lauren Marshall

Rearrange your chaos

By Neslihan
It's hard to go back to basics once you've tasted the delight of tackiness. Once you've drowned your soul in excess, the excess of bad taste. Those volatile fantasies offering you the escape of firm lines and tasteful reality. It's hard to take it down a notch when you've created little houses of daydreams, daydreams that could be yours but who are about to slip through your fingers like a soft summer breeze during the 1st of July. And you let them slip because it's time to get off your cloud, it's time to leave your safe garden and hit the harsh realness of the streets. Throwing away your ripped trousers, Spice Girls tee and Nike traines. Those items that have been through a lot of impulsive kicks; time to say goodbye. And it's a sad goodbye because it's the end of an era. It feels as if you're burrying a part of yourself but it's not an eternal burial because you can comprimise. Because that's what we do. We promise ourselves to be consistent but we fail once in awhile and that's ok. As long as you have embraced your new motto, the rest will come. It'll take you some time of course but you'll get there. Just give it a chance.

1) Leather bomber jack from Christopher Kane (SS '13 RTW)

2) Photograph from the 'Plain Song' photoshoot (Vogue UK, April '13)

3) Yves Saint Laurent loafers (Net A Porter)

4) Time line-shaped piece of art

5) Bandeaus from H&M (set of two)

6) White Doctor Martens brogues (I WANT!!!)

7) Cruella is the queen of villian fashion

8) The XX- XX album case

9) Maison Martin Margiela (Fw '13 TRW)

Because I will stay a dreamer at heart.

Good Taste/Bad Taste

By Neslihan
Every season there are some remarkable trends/clothing pieces. Pieces that make you think: ew no, I will never wear this. You have to get used to the ugliness and/or oddity of those pieces. Once your eyes get used to it, you fall in love though. And only you get this love, you cannot explain. You cannot make others love it too. They won't understand. No one will but you don't care because the joy those pieces bring is worth every strange look you're given in the streets. It becomes your favourite piece and you wear it, you cherish it. You live it until the next season brings something else. It's time to let go. Some of us do and think: what was I thinking? Others don't and that item becomes a part of thier lives. It becomes a historical item. Something to pass on to the next generation.

Baggy luxurious sweaters

Absolute talk of the town are Balenciaga's excentric yet very cool sweaters. They have those strange 80's pictures and crazy laserish effects on them. Purple, pink, red: you name it, Balenciaga has it. Those chic sweaters were also spotted on Hakaan's runway but he went for a chilly metallic version. The sleeves were equally puffy. (Both fall/winter 2012 RTW)

Metallic patchwork

A little shimmer a day keeps the doctor away. I think sparkles, glitters, metallics certainly light up your outfit and even your mood. I like how a little bit of the previous can give your outfit this playful naiveté. As if you stepped right into your childhood again. And that was just what Huseyin Chalayan evoked in me. You cannot put Chalayan's dress as simply childish patchwork though because it's too sophisticated for that. Look at that finishing and the fit of the dress. See how he has used beige to keep the whole outfit in balance. It's kindergarten for grown-ups. The second dress is not from this season but it belongs to s/s 2013. This actually shows us that metallics are a keeper this year. Thank you, Hugo Boss.

Layering

While Marni kept it simple, A.F. Vandervorst went in overdrive. Marni was about taking 'colourblocking' to the next level. See how every piece totally 'stands' on its own and how it -at the same time- blends in with the other pieces. It's all about layers and neutral colours making the totality wearable. 'Wearable' is not a disgusting word. Repeat after me: WEAR-ABLE. Good girl/boy. We saw something else on the A.F. Vandervorst runway though. The Belgian couple played hide and seek with us and were inspired by Joseph Beuys. Google this man and you'll get the hats. Fashion was never this anonymous. (Both fall/winter 2013 RTW)

Living sculptures

You can interpret this one as wide as you want. Maison Martin Margiela never disappoints me, that's one thing I can say. When haute couture was about the amazing diamond masks, ready to wear is a little less freaky. You'd almost say 'civilian' if you didn't look past the three first looks because those skirts are divine, you've got to admit. Creating a new meaning for two previous trends (peplum and asymmetrical skirts) in only one show? I'd say genius. Look at that gorgeous fish tail/peplummed skirt. Look at the rich fabric and prints. See how this image clashes with the image underneath it (read 'Viktor and Rolf'). The Dutch duo based their collection on strong women. "Oh, how original." Stop right there. They went for femme fatales and actual female warriors (the red faces say it all). Look at the coat, it looks like it's made from shiny grey, handicraft paper. The gear wheels are murderous. (Both fall/winter 2013 RTW)

A lesson in history

Dries Van Noten had access to the archives of the Victoria and Albert Museum. He used Japanese and Chinese images and mixed them with his well-known abstract prints. This created new prints of course. And aren't amazing prints Van Notens trademark? While Dries focussed on the Eastern history, the Italian fashion duo, Dolce & Gabbana, chose the Sistine Chapel as inspiration. The embellishments combined all together were at times too much but the prints are definitely something to think about. (Both fall/winter 2013 RTW)

No go?

H&M 39.90 EUR

Marc Jacob's pelgrim shoes (fall/winter 2013 RTW)

Christopher Kane's flat sandals (spring/summer 2012 RTW)

Backstage at Chanel (fall/winter 2013)

Pictures: Vogue Paris

Shades of blue

By Neslihan

Just a random post of some great pieces H&M has on their FB page but not on their site. I hate their site. It's ancient, boring, simplistic... It doesn't even have the half of their clothes they have in their stores. The selection I made is quite romantic and summery. And maybe that's a good thing since the heatwave has come to an end in our cosy little country (read: Belgium). So it's up to us to create an artificial summery atmosphere and what way is better than creating such an atmosphere with clothes? Yup, that's what I thought.

Organic delights - H&M Concsious Collection

By Neslihan

This will be a quick one! As you all probably know already, I'm very much in love with H&M's Conscious Collections. They always look so splendid, so romantic and hip. The most important thing actually is the fact that the collection is produced with organic fabrics like 100 % biological cotton or recycled fabrics. And it's so affordable and tell me, respecting Mother Nature by buying clothes from this collection, is there something any more genius? This was a rhetorical question. What's new though is the Exclusive Conscious Collection. It's a collection with more expensive eveningwear. Lots of dresses screaming to be worn at a party. So, whatcha waiting for?

My favourites

1

2

3

4

5

5b

6

7

Prices:

1)Taupe/Purple dress with a split 199 Euro

2)Bombastic, sculptural layerd dress 349 Euro

3)Neon greenish dress with surprise back 69.95 Euro

4)3D-flowered purple dress 59.95 Euro

5)Bright blue suit blazer 59.95 Euro

5b)Bright blue suit shorts 24.95 Euro

6)Poppy pink top 19.95 Euro

7)Mary Katrantzou-like flowered top 59.95 Euro (there's also a dress to match)

PS. This collection is only findable in the selected stores.

"Oh Lord, not another Marni report!"

By Neslihan
Most beloved fashion lover,
It has again been a crazy busy week. Books I have to read, reports I have to write, people I want to see, exhibitions I want to go to, clothes I want to have, a blog I have to update and the endless dilemma concering my hair. Since I can only do one thing at once, I'll start with updating this blog.Let's start with 8 March. No, no I'm not going to nag about International Women's Day (why do we have such a day in the first place?-sorry I couldn't help it) but about that other event that took place on the same date. Does Consuelo Castiglioni ring a bell? For those of you who haven't heard the fashion bells ringing: Marni for H&M, god damn it! So I too was one of the early birds who stood in a queue full of jumpy, greedy women. I wasn't alone, I went with a friend. We actually skipped school thinking well, this really is a once in a lifetime opportunity. We got up very early (read: 05:30h) and stood one and a half hour in this queque until we got our bands. Then another two hours waiting during which my energy level was below zero. It was 09:55 A.M. the moment I had waited for for like several weeks. We got in the store and stood in another queue amongst sweaty ladies. #bodyfluidsaresonotfashion. The fences opened and we attacked the Marni Collection with such an outrageous aggression. People watching us might've thought they were in a freaking zoo.My friend and I even got photographed. We went there with hopes and dreams. I wanted to have the amazing, gold jacquard pants ant that white sequined collar. What I got: the white sequined collar. The store in Ghent didn't have the jacquard pants. I was a little disappointed because I really loved the pants but the experience was nice too. What really turned me off were the women who just grabbed the boxes with accessories without even looking at what they had grabbed. They just took it because it was branded 'Marni'. "Oh God, look what I've bought. It's Marni but I don't really like my buy. It's just the brand that counts."  People like that shouldn't even get the chance to enter the store. Afghzstrph. Anyway this is what I bought, wanted and loved. (below)

What I wanted.

What I liked.

What my friend bought.

What I bought.

Have a splendid weekend. Love.