although it is one of this era’s most hackneyed words, i try to avoid “chic” as much as i possibly can because i am not even completely aware of its modern sense. its literal meaning is easy enough to grasp, but i don’t want to use it simply to get with the fad lest i misuse the darn word (like the phrase “in fairness”; more than half the people who dispense that daily aren’t even using it in the proper context).
at any rate (hey, there’s another over-used phrase!), i went on over to good old merriam-webster to get its operational definition.
chic, noun, 1: smart elegance or sophistication especially of dress or manner, 2: a distinctive mode of dress or manner associated with a fashionable lifestyle, ideology or pursuit, 3: a faddishly popular quality or appeal.
chic, adjective, 1: cleverly stylish, 2: currently fashionable.
in a bizarre development of fashion literature, usage of the word “chic” has embodied its very own definition. it’s almost like putting a mirror to another mirror and witnessing the infinite reflection. or something.
however, knowing its definition is only half the story. now we have to contend with its application. as you may already know, the word “chic” these days has a widespread reputation as an affix to other words that denote a particular style. below are some of the more notable partnerships.
of course, the idea is to look stylish and elegant, not victimized by certain categories. for instance, too much boho may look hippie-flower child (which i think is cute but i wouldn’t be caught dead walking around town in); too much military and you’d probably be better off wearing the official-issue fatigue uniform; too much goth… well, you get the drift. every now and then, we can treat ourselves to an indulgent piece (a sailor’s hat, a victorian corset, tribal beads), but it is best to keep the rest of the outfit sensible to off-set the quirk.
boho chic. bohemian style. key elements: vintage, ethnic prints, layers, scarfs, jandals, bangles, beads, multi-strand necklaces, maxi dress, big sunglasses, slouchy stuff like hobo bags, oversize cardigans, knit caps. colors: rich warm colors like brown, khaki, cream, deep orange and olive green.
casual chic. sometimes easy chic. dressed down yet stylish; combining casual wear with fashionable dressing. probably the prevailing style in 2010 catwalks. key elements: mostly for comfort like denim, linen, khaki, cotton dresses, tank tops paired with pieces and shoes in season. color: timeless neutrals, black and white with palettes from the runway.
eco chic. use of ecologically friendly materials in the construction of clothing and accessories. key elements: fair trade items, organic materials, reconstructed clothing.
geek chic. the look of geeks, once regarded as unpopular and socially awkward, has become cool by today’s standards, thanks in large part to real geeks amassing fortunes in the infotech industry. key elements: thick-frame glasses, crew-neck shirts, denim jeans, cargo pants, sneakers, surfer fedoras and baseball caps; minimal or no jewelries at all. graphic prints of video games, anime, cult films, graphic novels. colors: muted tones.
goth chic. gothic dressing can be morbid and macabre because it takes inspiration in the victorian manner of dressing for mourning. normally associated with emo and the new punk. key elements: leather, dog collars, victorian lace and ruffles, amulets, macabre jewelry (skulls, pentacles, occult symbols), fishnet stockings, thigh high boots, corsets, gloves, stovepipe hats. colors: black. sometimes with a sudden show of scarlet, fuschia or purple.
heroin chic. the emaciated and seemingly addicted look, most popular in the 90′s. thank god that’s over.
military chic. applying military gear into fashion. anything from land, air or sea warfare. elements: metal studs, insignias, emblems, antique buttons, epaulets, bomber jackets, boots, dogtags, nautical symbols. colors: army green, military fatigue, khaki. navy blue, red and white for nautical style.
shabby chic. the look of being worn or “shabby” but in a stylish way. it is usually associated with interior design, though it is also applied to clothing and accessories. “shabby chic” is coined by interior designer rachel ashwell, whose company is called that very same term.
i am currently quite fixated on shabby chic because i feel like redecorating with vintage finds and applying a few “wearing out” techniques on some furniture. which means i will be writing a dedicated entry on that some other time.
continuation to this.
my favorite shoes in 2009:
cut-away boots…
jil sander ss 09
georgina goodman fw 09
exaggerated platforms…
gianmarco lorenzi fw 09
guillaume hinfray fw 09
decorative heels…
viktor and rolf ss 09
christian dior fw 09
feathers, scales or a simulation thereof…
pierre hardy fw 09
mai lamore fw 09
pedro garcia fw 09
vouelle fw 09
fringe…
and my most favorite pair of 2009:
gianmarco lorenzi. fabulous!
before the holidays completely overwhelm me with laziness and before the year finally comes to a close, i would like to take a brief look back at the year that was incredible shoes.
the prevailing shoe trends of 2009:
designs at the back or the heels themselves platforms to dizzying heights: either artistically rendered or hidden altogether fringes or feathers scales (or a simulation thereof) cut-away or mesh inset boots thigh high boots decorative ankle straps victorian button- or lace-up
and certainly nothing even close to plain!
louis vuitton ss 09
lanvin ss 09
diego dolcini fw 09
nicholas kirkwood ss 09
devi kroell ss 09
cesare paciotti fw 09
christian louboutin fw 09
heather williams fw 09
stella mccartney fw 09
camilla skovgaard fw 09
fendi fw 09
manolo blahnik ss 09
alexandra neel fw 09
omelle fw 09
proenza schouler fw 09
versace ss 09
alejandro ingelmo fw 09
gaspard yurkievich fw 09
charlotte olympia fw 09
tanja s. london fw 09
alexander wang ss 09
michael lewis fw 09
rock & republic ss 09
baldinini fw 09
ruthie davis fw 09
what i like about jessica simpson is she doesn’t seem to mind what the press and the haters are saying about her. and that she doesn’t seem to get offended about people calling her “dumb” and rubbing that “chicken of the sea” incident to her face; well, at least doesn’t mind enough to actually refer to it in a national tvc then add insult to injury with “buffalo wings” to make matters “dumber” thus funnier.
i think jessica looks fantastic. i think she’s gorgeous even during the time people called her a cow (which is very unfair because i bet most women are bigger than the biggest she has ever been).
do you know that she also has a lifestyle collection composed of apparel, fashion accessories, shoes and handbags? not too well-known in places outside the u.s., unlike celebrity prestige labels l.a.m.b. or sean john, the jessica simpson collection has done so well to hold its own. not along the price range of the more popular celeb catwalk brands, i believe it has price points similar to nine west.
her shoes happen to have some of the best customer reviews online. see it to believe it.
and the designs are drop-dead gorgeous. hold your breath, girls.
high heels:
gabriella
badoline
hesse
josette
acadia
flat sandals
jayla
carsi
giovanna
jeanna
booties/boots
kenzy
light
jonas
you have to like her now…
check out her collection here.
i know how it feels. the pain of loss. of losing perfectly good pairs of shoes to improper packing procedures.
i have relocated over a dozen times, you would think i had gotten the hang of protecting my precious cargo from destroying themselves. at times they get crushed beneath the weight of heavier, bulkier objects, other times they get misshapen by hard loose edges. many times they self-destruct in that abominably and irregularly large cargo box: poking pointy heels into their partners, rubbing leather against each other until they fade into ugly mottled skins, scuff the surfaces where they are most obvious, and snapping buckles and straps as they entwine themselves with shoelaces and satin. and that’s not counting the molds and mildew yet. it’s like they attempt suicide with all the anxious confinement, like they are deadly afraid i am going to take them to a holocaust, they’d rather just die on me. i don’t really mean to be so careless; having to move just always seemed to catch me by surprise, i had to simply cram my things into boxes before i can even consider their likely destruction.
so i had to sit by myself before a big box of ruined shoes, singing dirges in my head for a small funeral bidding farewell to many of my favorite things.
my last relocation took me out of the time zone, so i thought the very stress of a long-haul flight and possible freight might just completely annihilate my shoes, so i took greater precautions in packing. fortunately, i found this helpful video from mayflower transit, inc., one of the biggest moving corporations in america.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTEkAGHN4bM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b]
for even added protection, you can stuff the shoes with socks or crumpled paper so they retain their shape.
not only did i follow the advice of mayflower transit, i went crazy and mummified my favorite pairs one by one. with lots of tissue wrap and masking tape.
if i had cling wrap then, i would have probably put that to waste as well.
the proposal contains all the fundamental elements that make up a consummate romcom: our protagonists could not stand the very sight of each other, but an unanticipated conflict coerces them to work closely together in resolution (in the case of this film, very very closely together). throw in some old school family charm and, in no time, their charade uncovers unexpected idiosyncrasies that predictably endear them to each other. they fall in love, the end.
i like my occasional romcoms. though i am the first to lift the achtung sign when the cheesy parts are about to commence, i relish the lighthearted and lightheaded emotions that steam away deep-seated anxieties. that’s the power of kilig, no matter how unrealistic.
sandra bullock once played the slave-driven subordinate to hugh grant’s role as insensitive billionaire boss in two weeks notice, but in what must be this year’s biggest romantic comedy, she takes a jab at being the boss from hell. with an efficient but underappreciated executive assistant, andrew paxton played by ryan reynolds, bullock’s margaret tate will make you laugh as a big city girl trying to survive a family reunion in alaska.
as usual, the fashion makes the movie more memorable for me. here are the ensembles that make me love margaret tate even if she is, as gammy annie tells, “satan’s mistress”:
this now iconic proposal scene will surely go down romantic comedy history. replete with the prada handbag and christian louboutin pumps.
boating their way to the family estate. traveling in style with hermes birkin and face a face sunglasses.
insert awkward here. meeting the family in a gray mock wraparound dress (i'm crazy about the details on this one).
plaid boyfriend flannel robe over sexy negligee. rescued shelter puppy optional.
crisp classic white shirt over black pants and christian louboutins. not exactly bachelorette surprise attire, but very nice nevertheless.
as margaret feels more at home in alaska, so does her outfit. two layers of sweaters, a striped scarf and cropped pants.
antique wedding dress from gammy, pre-alterations.
much less uptight the second time around. a casual chic top with gathering detail and a slim belt.
sandra bullock with director anne fletcher. puff-sleeved top with wide stripes. my favorite.
the creations of the wedge and the platform shoes have long been credited to salvatore ferragamo, who devised the orthopedic wedge in 1935 and the tall platform shoe in 1937. aside from the design, he also revolutionized the materials by using wood and cork for the soles (thanks to a shortage in leather).
i seem to get a wedge shoe fetish at least once a year, though they don’t occur around the same time each year. i have a liking for wedge shoes now. particularly platform wedges with buckles.
here are my favorite platform wedges from around town and around the cybermarket:
bcbgirls morenia (available in cmg outlets)
nine west rusty
nine west ripple
aldo opell
aldo falodeya
and here’s a pair i’ve loved since one of the earlier entries, hip and happening schoolmarm:
carriage ride wedge from modcloth.com
what i found out today: new zealand has such a passionate group of sports fans called beige brigade which began as an over-zealous group of cricket fans in 1999. they wore home-made beige uniforms similar to the greatly criticized uniforms of the nz team. though nz has since changed their official color to black (thus the all blacks), the beige uniforms worn by fans have become so popular, they still persist in using it today. instead of donning home-made suits, the beige brigade now sells the outfits to interested sports fans and, get this, it comes with a contract outlining the expectations that comes with being a beige brigadier.
thinking of the beige brigade reminds me of my closet. there was a time when most of my clothes were beige. i don’t know how that happened, but that was it. whenever i shopped for clothes, i gravitated towards beige in its various intensities: caramel, tan, camel, taupe, khaki, you name it.
that had changed some time ago, since i introduced rich vibrant colors into my wardrobe (though this year, i think i have too many blacks. i really remind myself of the new zealand sports uniforms). but that doesn’t mean i quit on beige. it’s still my default color, but i have learned through time how to make it less boring.
many people stay away from beige because they think the color is too bland and it makes their skin look sallow. i have learned through years of beige experience that a good guideline is finding the right shade for your skin tone. keep in mind though, this doesn’t mean you should look for one that matches your skin color (unless, of course, you intend to look nude or something). look for a complementing shade. for instance, caramel and camel shades are best against dark skin. but i think flesh colored shoes are breathtaking, especially if they have stiletto heels.
then swing the blandness by adding some eye-catching details. i find that gigantic cocktail rings, ostentatious chandelier earrings and other outrageous accoutrements are best with neutral-colored outfits. another thing you can do, especially this colder season, is layer them over another color.
for dressier occassions though, i prefer cream colors. though they’re not classified under the beige tones, i am very partial to wearing them too. i like that they are deeper and richer than white and give you the sense of pearls or desserts.
i hope you’re ok with wearing beige now!
to continue my coverage of june as wedding month, i’d like to share little historical facts about my favorite things. shoes.
fact: around approximately 1000 a.d., a father of a saxon bride presents the groom with one of the bride’s shoes as a symbol of transferring authority. and get this: instead of the bouquet, the bride’s shoe is thrown to the bridesmaids. the one who catches it is next to marry. how hysterical would that be?
if this tradition still holds true today, i wish brides toss these:
christian louboutin white chiffon and satin (stella luna carries a similar style at a fraction of the price)
forever 21 peep toe pumps with ankle strap and flower detail (you can get any pair of peep toe pumps and embellish them with a flower brooch)
charlotte bridal boots from elegantsteps.co.uk
embellished strappy shoes from pakistan
bridal shoes with embellished straps and heels by badgley mischka
cerise bridal shoe by aruna seth
if brides throw these shoes to the bridesmaids, i’ll grab these beauties and run off lickety-split.
june means a few things to many of us (wedding, typhoon, independence), but most of us would associate with it the mixed memories of pulling away from summer and dragging ourselves back to the confines of school. love it or hate it, there’s no stopping it.
although some school opening dates have been pushed further due to heavy rains, others due to the mass hysteria of a(h1n1), school will inevitably start very soon, if it hasn’t started yet.
for students who are not restricted by uniforms, june also means having to put together school ensembles that are not only stylish but are also compliant with academic dress code.
here’s a brief checklist on the basics of back-to-school style:
comfortable tees (graphic tees will never be out of season)
basic button up top (i still like solid white best, but plaid is also a steady choice)
reliable jeans (gray is in season, by the way)
hoodies or light jackets
ballet flats (photo from nine west)
sneakers (photo chuck taylors by converse)
shoulder bag, backpack or body bag (i prefer mailbag styles) big enough for books
school supplies (there are notebooks, planners, pens and pencils by jordi labanda)
more importantly, study hard and behave! good luck and have fun in school!
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