Armed with a handbag

By Neslihan

Today I woke up, watched the final 2 episodes of American Horror Story and realized that it's about time I pay a visit to my own blog instead of gushing about someone else's. My last exam was on the 19th of June and I have been watching series and creating collages eversince. My mind is being invaded by beautiful collections, accessories, movies and ART in short. Now I'm realizing that I have a big fat 2.5 month vacation ahead of me, I'm kind of panicking because I'm an enormous workaholic. I constantly want to be busy and see, learn, feel new things. I'm telling you, I've been making lists of movies I should watch and books I should read and topics I should blog about. I constantly have to feel pressure because my life kind of feels empty without it. I know this sounds crazy but I have been trying to slow down lately. That kind of explains my lack of lust for blogging lately. Everytime I started blogging I felt like the thing I was writing wasn't significant enough, so I stopped and have now stored 3-4 unfinished blogposts in my concepts draft. I'm so terribly sorry (I don't really mean it though) but it just didn't feel right. So I'm picking up the pieces once again (OMG why so D R A M A T I C) and reviving this self-proclaimed fashion blog.

First up: Versace Galore

It has actually been quite a while since I've posted anything that was 'catwalk material' but I guess I had lost my interest in that side of fashion until this Versace collection popped up and restored my faith in the fashion gods. I like how Donatella and her fashion brand are always balancing between vulgarity, bad taste, Italian quirkiness and craftsmanship. The Spring 2015 collection is cool as ice and sleek like a motherfucker. It drifts somewhere inbetween flawless manly silhouettes and elegant femininity. That remark comes from a stereotypical perception of masculinity and femininity of course but before I enter the debate on gender roles, I'd like to finish this vain attempt to a -what's called 'fashion review' in the fashionable mouths of the beau monde. I love how Donatella has created those unicolour outfits, which don't only look chiquer but also richer. As in richer colours, fabrics and postures. I like the beige and cold grey together (4th picture) and I adore how she paired up an outfit like this with freakin' sandals. It's as if she is showing us the new business man, who doesn't take himself that serious. Someone who's ready to pop in funky pinks, soft minimalistic blues and shiny beiges. He isn't afraid of wearing handbags and accentuating his waist. Wait, I think I'm creating this amazing utopia in which everyone creates her/his own (fashion) identity without being told that something looks too manly or girly for him/her.

If 'Scarface' were to have a 2014 remake and I were to be the stylist, I'd put every single actor in a summer '15 Versace outfit because 'Scarface' means power, luxury, refinement and bling and I'm afraid Versace has all of it to offer, including the handbags. I had enough of the stiff and macho definition of 'masculinity', enter loafers, chinos, shiny fabrics and flexible gender lingo.

Rather boyish

By Neslihan
Sometimes I look at girls my age and the way they're dressed, looking all very fancy and feminine. Then I look at myself wearing my Doc Martens, old jeans and a loose shirt and I'm thinking it will take me a long time to become elegant. It will take me a long time to eat, walk and talk elegantly. It will take me a very long time to actually become a 'woman'. Maybe I will never entirely succeed (clothing wise) because I choose comfort over glamour and derbies over heels. I can't help it, I feel like I'm creating a sort of uniform, or manly second skin, call it what you want. I feel good in it, I feel like the way I dress totally connects with the way I think and I feel like that's really important: to dress as you are in daily life and not having to play a role. I mean of course we all 'play' a role on a certain level but it's another thing to behave like someone you're not. That would make me really uncomfortable.
I actually think I would do a great job if I were born a guy. I love shirts, brogues, loose blazers and ties! Today I was looking at myself while I put together a manly look and I was in awe. Simple totally works for me, straight to the point and all on the surface. Just the way I try to be. That's why I've created three little collages that embrace my fashion mottoes and unite those with a couple of my male crushes and a little story telling.

Joseph Gordon Levitt is this cute, childishly vulnerable nerd who dresses in an accessibly classy way. He's into brown velvetty fabrics, sophisticated ties and perfectly tailored blazers. That of course accompanied with a slightly smiling cute bearded face. 

See Joseph and I would make an excellent couple: we're equally goofy and nerdy. And we both have this playful naiveté. On top of that we're into refined basics and beautiful fabrics: letting the clothing speak for itself without accessorizing it. Those Paul Smith goodies do that all the same. I'm wearing the shirt and the shoes to grab a lunch at the Soup Lounge. We decide to get a bowl of pumpkin soup and share an apple because we're both incredibly cheesy.

To Walden Pond, please

By Neslihan

Hi y'all, you may or may not know that I've got to work on two research competences for school. You can see it as two major projects that have to be ready this May. They include both English and Latin literature. Our subject for the English project is about utopias and dystopias and we decided to read Orwell's '1984' (dystopic) and Thoreau's 'Walden' (utopic). We're planning on comparing the two books and we're going to see whether Thoreau's utopia is realistic but also whether Orwell's dark predictions have come true. Reading 'Walden' isn't exactly the easiest thing I've done so far -it has uncountable references to the antique literature and it's an amazing historical-philosophical work- but I feel like I'm getting there.
It may be ancient in terms of setting (first published in 1854, hellooo) but it's crazy how some aspects I've read about so far are still scarily relevant. And how we are still trying to get back to the essence of things once in awhile. Whether it's by actually going on an adventurous trip or whether it's by daydreaming about the same trip. We're still trying to figure out 'the meaning of life', maybe not as intense as Thoreau did in 1845-1847 but we're still trying to break through the ordinary simplicity daily life offers us. And at the same time we're trying to get back to basics. I like how contradictory people are. And how contradictory my own views are. I try to let them crash and this provides pure inspiration. That's why it happens so frequently in my mind and as a natural result on this blog. Look at the image above: a picture from the 'Double Accountancy' shoot from 'Elle Holland' October 2012. I'm pairing up 'Elle' and 'Walden'. I mean 'Elle' of all the things in the world. We're talking major commerce here, Thoreau's main cause in leaving civilized life and living in his selfmade cabin near Walden Pond, in Concord, Massachusetts. Not only did he generally criticize American society but he also had some opinions about fashion and clothing as a basic.

"Our outside and often thin and fanciful clothes are our epidermis or false skin, which partakes not of our life, and may be stripped off here and there without fatal injury; our thicker garments, constantly worn, are our cellular integument, or cortex, but our shirts are our true bark, which cannot be removed without girdling and so destroying the man." -From 'Walden' (Economy: Clothing)

The following quote is so up to date and accurate, I just cannot explain how much I love this one!

"We worship not the Graces, nor the Parcae, but Fashion. She spins and weaves and cuts with full authority. The head monkey in Paris puts on a traveller's cap, and all the monkeys in America do the same." -From 'Walden' (Economy: Clothing) 

I just love how 'Fashion' is portrayed as this  tyrannical person who doesn't take 'no' for an answer and whom you cannot argue with. You can kind of feel the rhythm as you're reading the words, the speed with which those actions are happening.

And this guy just pictures that conscious free spirit feeling I had in mind. You know that kind of guy that pops a beer and starts to talk about Cuba's crisis in 1962, while he casually strokes his gross but lovely beard. And after his stay at a vague
acquaintance's place, he takes his bagpack, gets in his fancy sneakers and continues his route to the
unknown. But he feels perfectly fine doing so because he's accompanied by a wonderful track.

Sources: Elle Holland, October 2012
               Walden
Pictures found here.

Do it like a brother/ Trend update

By Neslihan

I feel like the dudes are being discriminated on this blog that's why I dedicate a blog post to all the fabulousness out there for the males. Becuase you've got to admit: those a/w 2012 collections are to die for! Those suits, shirts, pants, shoes make me wish I were a boy but then again I don't have to be a boy to wear men's clothing...

1 )Printed shirts (Dries Van Noten): Van Notens autumn/winter collection contained a lot of shirts with quirky prints and texts. I know how difficult it is to style a crowded print like this but there are always two ways to combine 'em. Or you go for a sober result by combining it with a pair of black/denim trousers or you go over the top and mix it with other prints. You can find shirts like these in a bunch of second hand/vintage shops.

2)Fur (Maison Martin Margiela): it's hard for a guy to wear fur and not to look like André Leon Talley but I think MMM pulled it off quite well. The beige colour neutralizes the bombastic effect fur usually causes. I wouldn't go for the furry handbag at the same time or I wouldn't go for a furry handbag at all. It reminds me of those stuffed animal rucksacks I'd used to wear to kindergarten. Realising a bit afterwards my orange juice had run out again. Sticky days recall sticky memories

PS: growing a moustache/beard seems to be the new artsy thing to do. 

3)Military (John Galliano): spotted on Van Noten's spring/summer catwalk but a little earlier in Galliano's collection: khakis, browns and camouflage prints should wake up the warrior feel. Going over the top like they did at Galliano is not necessary though, you can also go for a couple key items like a parka, boots, khaki pants or a camouflage printed shirt.

4)Pastels (Walter Van Beirendonck): faded rose, purple, yellow, those are all tones that are not easy to combine as a brother but I appreciate what Walter did. Combining pastels with pastels  is deffinitely the way to go. 

5)Layering (Ann Demeulemeester):  Ann's a/w collection was a true ode to layering. And you can interpret this quite widely. She layered with lengths, materials, prints (tie dye/ombre)... She made her men wear long knitwear and coats, which looked utterly luxurious. As if her models had escaped some dark, modern version of a 19th century novel. The boots made the totality look more dramatic.

6)Florals (Comme des Garçons): Rei is a fucking hero because not alone did she make her garçons wear skirts but also garments with enormous flower prints. Raising her middle finger once more against conformism. I know that it might be scary to wear an obvious print like this but I can tell you you'll love it. It's an instant energy boost. If you're still not ready to look like a fashionably justified rose garden, you can start off with something small. Fold your pant legs and wear flower printed little cute socks in your brogues. 

7)Knitwear (Raf Simons): don't you love to wear your cosy, oversized jumper once autumn has started? Wool, snow and hot coco make an excellent threesome. That's also what Raf thought while he was creating his a/w collection. Look at that wonderful clash: short pants combined with a mustard-coloured pull over! Also in love with the beanies in this collection.

8)Greys (Pringle of Scotland): once it starts to rain more often and the wind is omnipresent and our moods are effected by less daylight, our closet starts to get effected too. Grey is this kind of colour that never gets out of fashion. You can never be underdressed in grey. It's like black but the more sophisticated, snobby and depressing version. 

9)Velvet (Burberry Prosum): is there anything more rich than velvet? The soft feel of this royal fabric is the ultimate weapon against harsh winter temperatures. A velvet blazer is an absolute must this season. Ideal for the holidays to come.

10)The suit (YVES Saint Laurent): there are some irreplacable formalities in life and one of those formalities is the impeccable black suit. A lot has been written and said about it but Yves Saint Laurent still is the King of all suits. This one is amazing in all its simplicity but the leather collar makes it edgier in a classy way.

Check out the whole collection here. 

Source

"Florals? For spring? Ground breaking. "

By Neslihan
Hello there beloved reader,
There hasn't been a blog post for seven days and spring is already in our little country (read Belgium). So, welcome, welcome, welcome dear Spring! And yes, the capital was needed. People wearing dresses and sandals, ain't those things the best part about good weather? I already love it! So, wake your spring/summer closet up from its winter sleep and go nuts with colours, prints and fabrics. As for myself: I still have to find some summery shoes to wear but then again, Doc. Martens don't have a specific season, so why the hell would I bother? Enough about my 'personal issues' let's get on track.
Those of you who really follow this blog might already have noticed that I'm a major sucker for florals. And it's not a shock to tell you that it will be the trend of the season. It won't be the farm girl version though, we'll go for bold prints and even digitalised florals are huge this spring/summer. Make sure you go over the top with it and look like a life size painting. What really was a surprise though was Givenchy's s/s collection for the dudes. I mean it's common knowledge that boys just do not like flowers. Wait, I'm creating stereotypes. I should say the boys I know don't. So Riccardo Tisci pretty much knocked my socks off with his last male colection. He came up with the idea of creating a print that was inspired by (carnivorous) plants. He kept the colours simple though. Tisci used crisp white, mint green (wanna have) and khaki. He found the perfect balance between laid backness and elegance by working with layers. Riccardo chose also a couple of minimalistic outfits but worked with a lot of different lengths and fits. I can imagine that his printed blazers and caps will be spotted in the streets this season. What an amazing collection!