Blissful Style

Outfit of the Day — Say Goodbye

January 19, 2016June 21, 2017 by Blissful Style, posted in Personal Style, Trend of the Day, winter chic

Apt. 9

Aqua Blues top. Divided by H&M skirt. Apt. 9 scarf. Stupa purse.

Today is the day my parents and younger sister said farewell to their Christmas tree. My parents work all day and my sister is a full-time student, so naturally the tree was decorated on December 24. That’s why, though Christmas came and went, my family wanted to hold on to this tree for as long as they could. Today I post to commemorate its beauty and spirit.

The Christmas colors are red and green, and between the two I prefer red. Red velvet makes me think of bows, gifts, wreaths, and holiday parties; in deep burgundy, a velvet top errs on the more sophisticated party side. This top, which was my mother’s, can be tricky to wear. At first it comes across as formal, but its dramatic wrap shape exposes the midriff. My solution is to wear it with a high-waisted skirt, short or long. This flouncy floral skirt continues where the shirt’s volume left off, creating a bell shape.

Tarina Tarantino

Brette Connolly hat. Tarina Tarantino ring.

My favorite part of the outfit is the hat because I made it myself. When I was 15 I saw a chic selection of newsboy hats for the winter at Nordstrom, and instead of buying one I decided to sew one. Herringbone tends to have a serious look to it, especially on a traditionally masculine shape. To counter this effect, I chose a pink fabric. I have always loved Barbie dolls, but these days I play with Barbie jewelry. I think of Barbie as a renaissance woman who got everything done and bought everything she wanted, and always looked put together doing it.

Claire's

Claire’s earrings

I don’t think one can ever be too old to wear snowman earrings. I bought these last year for Ugly Sweater Day at Nordstrom. Of course the plan was to buy a Christmas sweater, but I couldn’t seem to find any. Instead, I opted for accessories: snowman earrings, a reindeer antlers headband, a bracelet watch with Christmas charms, festive brooches, and crazy Santa Claus glasses. The headband and glasses are long gone, but these earrings are cute enough to wear annually.

INC 2 INC

INC shoes

Burgundy shoes tie the outfit together. Ankle boots stay on easier, but the bold cutouts bridge the gap between boot and pump.

MORE VELVET TOPS

Topshop, $60 Roberto Cavalli, $60 American Retro, $200

Carmen Marc Valvo, $295 Rick Owens, $725 Thierry Mugler, $1,200

MORE FLORAL SKIRTS

Chicwish, $36 Diesel, $82 Moschino Cheap and Chic, $169

Alice + Olivia, $290 Marni, $740 Lanvin, $1,100

MORE BURGUNDY HEELS

Wet Seal, $23 Charles by Charles David, $99 Seychelles, $130

Marni, $400 Manolo Blahnik, $635 Dolce & Gabbana, $1,020

MORE NEWSBOY HATS

Adora, $8 August Hats, $15 Nine West, $17

Luxury Divas, $19 FFR, $90 Hattie Carnegie, $325

MORE INFINITY SCARVES

Charlotte Russe, $17 Three Dots, $73 Eileen Fisher, $178

Tory Burch, $445 Pologeorgis, $695 Brunello Cucinelli, $1,805

Style Icon — Ellie Goulding

December 28, 2015July 12, 2016 by Blissful Style, posted in celebrity fashion, style icons

My own introduction to Ellie Goulding came through Forever 21. I worked at the exciting (read: chaotic) store for nearly two years, and grew to love its soundtrack of Eighties music, obscure remixes, and trendy new artists. In 2011 Ellie Goulding was one such trendy new artist, and I fell so in love with her ethereal voice and intriguing folktronica that I didn’t mind hearing “Lights” basically every day. Three years later, Ellie Goulding is more than just still relevant – she’s at the top of her game. With a new pop album that caters to a more mainstream audience, she is topping the charts and being photographed everywhere. Yet despite the constant attention, no one seems to catch Ellie Goulding on an off day. Her style ranges from grunge to chic to sexy, and she owns it. Defending the sexy element, she once said, “My management would never force me to do anything, because they know I’m strong-minded. I’ve never been an artist to say ‘Okay, I’ll wear that’, or ‘I’ll wear less’. I just don’t want to not make the most of my body.” As a wearer of short skirts and dresses myself, I find it insulting that any reporter would think wearing them is more likely to be a business decision than a personal one. But Goulding handled it with grace. Here are some of her best looks:

At the Brit Awards (Elle) (Daily Mail)

In London (Daily Mail) At BBC Radio 1 Studios (stealthelook.com.br)

Rihanna for River Island sweatshirt, Coincidence and Chance shorts (Teen Vogue) In Verona, Italy. Christian Louboutin boots (Daily Mail)

At BBC Radio 1 Studios. Avelon jeans (Daily Mail) (elsiedelilah.com)

Seen on the Runway — Purple

December 16, 2015July 18, 2019 by Blissful Style, posted in runway

You might think it’s winter (or summer, depending on where you live), but in the fashion world it’s Pre-Fall. Gone are the days when the majority of designers created only two collections per year, and this week the Pre-Fall shows are here to present the new products that will come to stores in May, June, and July. There were many trends to be seen across the runways, but perhaps the most striking was the explosion of purple. From lilac to fuchsia to plum to wine, this vivid color was everywhere.

I love purple. However, I don’t have that many purple clothing items. It’s not because I avoid the color, but because it is generally underrepresented in the fashion world. If you set out to find purple, you’ll find it. But if you just wander into a store or browse a website, it’s likely you won’t end up buying anything purple because the landscape is dominated by other colors. I had always sensed this, but I also confirmed it systematically. After looking through the first 300 clothing items listed on the brand-diverse polyvore.com, I found that only 3 percent of the items were purple. 79 percent of the new clothes listed were either black, blue, white, or grey.

There is a theory that people tend to form opinions about color based on the objects of that color that they see. Because we see so many different things every day, this process feels subconscious. Purple is a beautiful color, but we don’t really see much of it while out and about. Because of this, the color has developed connotations of fantasy, playfulness, and dream states. Unfortunately, it can also be associated with artificiality.

But come on, a purple coat isn’t like a purple Christmas tree! Fashion appeals more to the emotions than practicality, and the task of a great designer is to create a wearable fantasy. After all, a fantasy is a fantasy before it happens, and as it happens.

Neutral brown accents make this lilac coat even more vibrant.

Navy, persimmon, and wine flow smoothly when united by lace.

A short coat and sweeping skirt stand out in violet.

As the backdrop of myriad tiny flowers, the magenta of this skirt is quite delicate.

Lavender panels look sophisticated on this sleek column dress.

The brightness of fuchsia brings attention to every pleat of this sweeping gown.

Temperley London

This dramatic fuchsia dress looks lit from within.

Plum goes folk with dainty ruffles and bird motifs.

Rebecca Taylor Floral Silk and Lace Camisole Dress

An eggplant floral is subdued and romantic.

Three gorgeous purple hues give a conservative look new life.

Credits:

Fendi photo — Giovanna Pavesi; Painting — fineartamerica.com; All other photos courtesy of respective brands.

Fashion Week Newcomers

September 27, 2015August 2, 2017 by Blissful Style, posted in runway

For a luxury clothing brand, showing at a major Fashion Week is the ultimate mark of prestige. Below are six lines that made their New York Fashion Week debuts this fall.

Monse

Monse was started by two prominent people from the Oscar de la Renta team: studio director Laura Kim and principal designer Feranando Garcia.

Phelan

Phelan is a progressive line founded by Amanda Phelan, who was inspired by light, shadow, and memory. A performance by contemporary dance company Vim Vigor kicked off the show.

Studio 189

Studio 189 was founded by Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah and is headquartered in Ghana. The concept behind the line is to “champion African and African-inspired content through an artisan-produced collection.”

Brandon Maxwell

Founder Brandon Maxwell is a celebrity stylist, known especially for styling Lady Gaga’s classic, understated look of late. Despite Maxwell’s lack of design training, the line was superbly cut and constructed.

Cadet

Designers Raul Arevalo and Brad Schmidt were finalists of the 2015 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund competition. They presented two menswear collections last year before making their womenswear debut this season.

Clear by Kai Milla

Designer Kai Milla presented an eponymous collection in 2010. This season Milla debuted a new line, Clear.

Credits:

Bringheli, Lorenzo — Rosario Dawson photo

Chinsee, George — Monse photos

Eichner, Steve — Studio 189 photos

Giannoni, Giovanni — Cadet photos

Iannaccone — Clear by Kai Milla photos, Phelan photos

Mitra, Robert — Brandon Maxwell photos

If I Could Buy the Entire Collection, I Would — Kate Spade

September 27, 2015May 8, 2017 by Blissful Style, posted in runway

With so many designers out there, it might seem unfair to pick one favorite. Sometimes the act of selecting a favorite can cast shadow on everything that isn’t the favorite, as if creating a stark contrast between what you like and what you don’t. Yet as anyone who has ever been asked what their favorite food is can attest, playing favorites is simply a part of human nature. So when I say that Kate Spade was my favorite collection from New York Fashion Week, I don’t mean that I disliked the other brands or that their shows had no merit. I just want to celebrate the Kate Spade aesthetic as a look I deeply identify with. The color palette (black, white, red), flowers, girly emphasis on dresses and skirts, and whimsical accessories made me very happy. Every brand has an ideal customer, and let’s just say the Kate Spade Girl and I would get along very well.

Of all the fashion categories, the handbag is my favorite because it allows the most freedom to be adventurous. Anything goes with handbags, and the right handbag is all it takes to make a safe outfit cool and interesting. Kate Spade’s focus on accessories is precisely why I have followed the brand for years.

WWD Credits: Full look photos by George Chinsee

Top photo: whatshaute.com

New York Fashion Week — September 10, 2015

September 19, 2015March 24, 2017 by Blissful Style, posted in runway

Fashion Week goes by so fast! With 188 different collections and about 20-60 looks per show, there is so much to digest in a mere ten-day period. If you’re in college, think of it this way; on the busiest days, like Friday and Saturday, it was logistically possible to attend twelve shows in a single day. That’s about the same time commitment as six class sessions. Of course Fashion Week is not like a day of classes in any other respect, and few things thrill me more than photos from the latest shows popping up online at every minute. It’s just a lot to process in real time. Even so, I intend to continue to break down the Spring 2016 flurry by the daily unit, to ensure that I cover a diverse spectrum of lines and do them justice.

NYFW Street Style

September 10 was a day of many things, especially prints. As anyone who is old enough knows, Miranda Priestly would not be impressed by florals for spring. That is precisely why I think she would admire this particular spring for its geometry, color blocking, and renegade abstract fervor. Below are my favorite prints from Thursday, large and small, floral and otherwise.

A playful yet elaborate line drawing of Manhattan brings a character and a narrative to this otherwise simple dress. I’m already imagining what neighborhood the model will go to first and what crazy events will transpire when she gets there.

Ohne Title RTW Spring 2016 — Ohne Titel RTW Spring 2016

The bright orange contrast, broad line widths, intricacy of the line composition, and sweeping swaths of background white set this chevron print apart.

No spring is complete without its blossoms. These spare, stark flowers have the gracefulness of an ink drawing.

Monochromatic color blocking is bold but a little expected. When the stripes flip sideways and zigzag furiously into compression, the effect is dizzying and captivating.

My favorite print of all! Peacocks and other lively creatures dance across what would otherwise be a basic, dare I say preppy, stripe, creating a new narrative with the vibrance and ambiguity of an abstract painting. If ever you hear someone say fashion isn’t art the way painting or music is, show them this dress.

This crochet print is geometric, no doubt, but without the harsh angles associated with the word. With a calming pale backdrop and thin, unassuming stripes, it gives the impression of a very tranquil sea.

Tess Giberson

The distinctions are so muted that at first glance one might not even call this a print. Yet when one looks closely the rounded, artfully layered shapes emerge, like wispy clouds drifting through a twilight sky.

Pyer Moss

This collection centered decisively on American police brutality, using the abrasiveness of neck bands and seat belt hardware to capture an unforgiving society where every individual has to fend for him- or herself and the very people we are told will help us can turn and end our lives with nothing more than a feeble excuse. This print may be small, but its many bright colors and clustering at the top of the coat give it power.

Yuna Yang

Large pink satin flowers are girlishly exuberant, yet kept grounded by a black backdrop.

Ulla Johnson

Far more beguiling than a bald-faced polka dot, this conversational print of tiny hearts complements the yoke neck and ruffled skirt.

WWD Credits:

Street style photos, Liz Devine. Runway photos, Courtesy Photo.

New York Fashion Week — September 9, 2015

September 13, 2015March 24, 2017 by Blissful Style, posted in runway

Sarah Sophie Flicker and Debbie Harry at the Rachel Comey presentation in Red Hook, Brooklyn

Most everyone has a creative side, whether they are in a creative profession or not. I consider fashion buying a creative profession to some degree, but when I was in high school I engaged in the more obviously creative activities of sketching and sewing. My former boss was an investment banker and a commercial real estate broker before becoming a clothing designer. A family friend teaches calculus and physics and has released a series of studio albums as a singer and songwriter.

A coat that I designed and sewed when I was 15

Even if we are all creative, it is not always understood where this creativity comes from. It’s tempting to say it simply “comes to you”, as if out of nowhere. Based on all of the poetry I have written while caffeinated, I think creativity is a product of an active, passionate state of mind. Yet sometimes we don’t give our environment enough credit. My final theory is that creativity comes from the convergence of an active and passionate mind and the right external stimulus, although remembering the exact source of our inspiration can be difficult considering all of the environmental stimuli we are exposed to at every minute.

The talented designers of New York Fashion Week tend to identify exactly where the inspiration for a given season’s collection came from, a degree of recollection that is an art form in itself. Below are some lines from Wednesday and their creative origins.

See by Chloé

Clare Waight Keller was inspired by Big Sur, California.

TSE

Tina Lutz was inspired by Jamaica and dancehall culture, specifically the books “Dancehall: The Story of Jamaican Dancehall Culture” by Beth Lesser and “Yes Rasta” by Patrick Cariou (pictured above).

Tamara Mellon was inspired by the concept of a tribal, gypsy warrior woman; Peter Beard photography (his photo of Iman pictured above); African carved wood sculptures; and Maasai craftsmanship.

Angela Missoni was inspired by the circus.

Sylvie Millstein was inspired by the view of the sunset from a city rooftop.

Lisa Perry New York RTW Spring Summer 2016 September 2015

Lisa Perry was inspired by the Robert Irwin installation “Who’s Afraid of Red, Yellow, and Blue?”

À Moi

Alejandra Alonso Rojas was inspired by “the elevated sartorial traditions of the past” (Allende). Charles Worth haute couture gowns from the nineteenth century shown above.

O’2nd

Minsoo Chung was inspired by the colors used by Gary Hume, the cut-outs of Henri Matisse (pictured above), and the shibori prints of Korea.

Warm

Tracy Feith was inspired by his old line and Warm, the Nolita boutique for whom he designs. This meant giving beachy clothing a new sophistication.

Rachel Comey

Rachel Comey was inspired by “the degradation of fabrics” and the essay “The Circle Is Gathering” by Judith Plant, pictured above (Garced).

Happy NYFW!

Photo Credits:

(Sarah Sophie Flicker and Debbie Harry) — Steve Eichner (Designer presentations) — WWD Courtesy Photo

(blurry lights) — allposters.com (Big Sur) — bigsurcalifornia.com (Yes Rasta) — betweenthebooks.com

(Peter Beard photography) — fashiontrendsdaily.com (circus) — ian-darragh.com (sunset) — huffingtonpost.com

(Irwin installation) — pacegallery.com (Charles Worth gowns) — thefashionhistorian.com

(Matisse cut-outs) — interiordesign.net (Warm boutique) — whatwelikenyc.com (Judith Plant) — innserendipity.com

New York Fashion Week — September 8, 2015

September 12, 2015July 13, 2016 by Blissful Style, posted in runway

There are two issues with referring to Fashion Week:

There are so many different fashion weeks, from New York to Paris to Prague to Hong Kong, that it sounds a little egotistical for a New Yorker to say “Fashion Week” for New York when they know that “Milan Fashion Week” is going to come out of their mouth when the time comes.
New York Fashion Week lasts longer than a week.

There have been billboards in Manhattan for awhile advertising the first day of NYFW as September 10. This is false advertising. Ten designers presented collections on the 8th, and twenty-five presented on the 9th! And I am going to do my due diligence and include these collections on Blissful Style. I would say the early bird gets the worm, but I’m more of a worms-for-all kind of person. Either way, it works.

With the exception of Zac Zac Posen’s electrically lit little black dress, there weren’t any looks on Tuesday that I would consider avant-garde.

Yet I think runway shows can still inspire the fashion-conscious to be more adventurous, precisely because they are so wearable. There is a huge difference between what is wearable and the outfits we put on every day, and the former group is larger. We all have shapes, cuts, and colors we think we “don’t like” or “can’t wear”. We are like characters in a book or personal brands, and we all have a deep, intangible sense of who we are, what our look is, and how our look fits into our identity. Tangibly, this can show up as looking the same every day.

“My look is dramatic: monochrome red with just a touch of white to make it pop.”

I’m guilty of this. For me, I have three roadblocks in my path to a more adventurous sense of style: femininity, formality, and color. By femininity, I mean that I always have to look super-feminine in a dress or skirt and heels. By formality, I mean that it doesn’t take much to make me feel underdressed. By color, I mean that most of my wardrobe is black, white, or red.

If I thought I had no style, I wouldn’t be writing a fashion blog. I’m not saying that nobody is ever truly stylish. I just think that there is always room to grow and evolve in fashion. There are always new looks to try, new fears to conquer, new dilemmas or identities to create. Below are excerpts from Tuesday’s shows. On the left are the looks I would automatically reach for, and on the right are the outfits that are out of my comfort zone, that I should try.

Sonia Sonia Rykiel

I live for statement accessories, hearts, and dresses. I need to conquer my fear of being too casual in denim-on-denim.

Escada

I am petite at 5′ 4″, so most of my dresses and skirts hit above the knee. I need to overcome my fear of longer lengths.

Tomas Maier

I feel most alluring in a fitted look, and can be guilty of “dressing to attract”. One can still be beautiful and impressive in a looser silhouette!

Zac Zac Posen

I go wild for dresses and pleats! I fear the informality of shorts, but shorts can look dressy in the right fabric and pattern.

Protagonist

I feel feminine in a little black dress. But a pantsuit as exquisite as this one looks feminine too.

CF. Goldman

A short skirt has an obvious appeal, but a maxi dress with a slit is sexy and mysterious.

Trina Turk

I think it’s fun to match, and I feel sophisticated in black, white, and red. I should try more unusual color combinations.

10 Crosby Derek Lam

I appreciate feminine details like tiers and ruffles. With a keyhole neckline and button details, shorts and a sweater can look feminine too.

Nili Lotan

As a thin person, I tend to stay streamlined. But with the right neckline and leg slits, a loose dress hardly hides the body.

Happy (New York) Fashion Week! More days to come!

Video — “Hanging On” by Ellie Goulding

September 6, 2015June 20, 2017 by Blissful Style, posted in Music Videos

I have seen the music video for “Hanging On”, and it is amazing. But I still like to imagine my own storyline when I hear a song, even if it divulges from the artist’s concept and vision. The exercise of imagining a music video as I hear a song makes the song feel personal to me, which makes me form more of an attachment to it. This song in particular fascinates me. The drawn-out vocals, combined with an elusive meaning, are so eerie.

Song: “Hanging On”. Artist: Ellie Goulding. Album: Halcyon. Written by: Patrick James Grossi, Ariel Rechtshaid. Produced by: Billboard. Label: Polydor. Original by: Active Child.

The lyric I can relate to most is “Tell me if you feel this pain, ’cause I don’t wanna be a ball and chain”. I was overjoyed to find a ball and chain novelty bag by Judith Leiber to include in the video. Below are more “ball and chain” style handbags.