Blissful Style

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.

Deux Lux, $30 Vans, $33 Joyrich, $78

Gryson, $162 Love Moschino, $175 She + Lo, $178

Gucci, $190 Kenzo, $280 3.1 Phillip Lim, $615

3.1 Phillip Lim, $655 Dolce & Gabbana, $696 Rag & Bone, $720

Olympia Le-Tan, $870 Dolce & Gabbana, $935 Fleet Ilya, $1,035

Paco Rabanne, $1,390 Clara Kasavina, $1,585 Chanel, $4,875

Video — “Teen Idle” by Marina and the Diamonds

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

Here is a video I made for one of my favorite songs. I love music, but most songs I hear function as entertainment. “Teen Idle,” however, really touches me. Marina Diamandis is a genius lyricist, and the entire Electra Heart album is at once critical and beautiful.

Song: “Teen Idle”. Artist: Marina and the Diamonds. Album: Electra Heart. Written by Marina Diamandis. Produced by Liam Howe. Labels: 679, Atlantic.

Below: Fashion inspired by Marina and the song

BOW WRAP HEADBANDS

Aeropostale, $5 New Look, $6 New Look, $6

Dolls Kill, $6 JC Penney, $11 Urban Outfitters, $24

Johnny Loves Rosie, $33 Federica Moretti, $72 Louis Vuitton, $220

PROM DRESSES

Chi Chi London, $67 True Decadence, $91 Petorhouse, $98

DressPerfect, $99 Vintage, $100 Tony Bowls, $100

HotSquash, $230 HotSquash, $230 Ariella Roseanna, $380

TIARAS

Bling Jewelry, $17 Bling Jewelry, $21 Bling Jewelry, $33

Bling Jewelry, $47 Bling Jewelry, $50 Bling Jewelry, $50

Vintage, $283

Outfit of the Day — August 23, 2015

August 23, 2015May 8, 2017 by Blissful Style, posted in Personal Style, Trend of the Day

This summer I have been going to the office five days a week for my marketing internship. While I am used to the anything — and I mean anything — goes dress code of college classes, I looked forward to a tacitly understood dress code of professionalism. I value outward presentation and consider it an art form, and it’s energizing to be around people who feel the same way. Working in the fashion industry asks for more creativity (and less formality) than the stereotypical skirt suit or neutral-colored shift, and sometimes the line between “fashion-forward” and “too casual” can be confusing. My strategy is to dress as vibrantly and adventurously as I like, as long as I don’t show much skin. Luckily midi skirts have been on trend lately, especially full or high-waisted styles.

XOXO top; Forever 21 skirt

I don’t often mix prints, merely because the majority of my wardrobe is solids, so I was excited to try it today. The sweater and the skirt don’t clash because: a) one print is small and the other is large b) one print is neutral and the other is loud and c) they are both florals.

White House Black Market cardigan

Okay, maybe their flowery similarity doesn’t technically matter, but piling on florals in an outfit never fails to make me happy. There is even a flower on the handbag!

Chateau tote bag

Yet my favorite part of the outfit is this pearl necklace from my mother.

Pearls are everywhere, but I think the baroque cut is more sophisticated. It has a look reminiscent of the pearls’ oceanic roots.

Pearl earrings from my mother, Macy’s cuff; Eton ring that tells the time; Vintage bracelet watch, vintage ring

BCBG heels

These super-feminine shoes are professional without being severe.

TREND — HIGH-WAISTED SKIRTS

Topshop, $48 Cacharel, $61 M. Missoni, $75

Lela Rose, $95 Paul Smith, $100 Kenzo, $193

Peter Pilotto, $220 Milly, $231 Rag & Bone, $245

Marios Schwab, $370 Stella McCartney, $395 Chanel, $470

Gianni Versace, $575 Versace, $750 Alexander McQueen, $780

Alaia, $785 Oscar de la Renta, $1,120 Pierre Cardin/Bonwit Teller, $2,600

TREND — BAROQUE PEARL JEWELRY

Majorica, $127 Vendome, $350 Vintage, $395

Miriam Haskell, $450 Schiaparelli, $450 Miriam Haskell, $975

Vintage, $1,530 Miriam Haskell, $1,875 Kate Wang, $1,995

Vintage, $2,930 M. Haskell, $3,250 Chanel, $3,800

Vintage, $3,800 Chanel, $6,500 Chanel, $6,500

Russell Trusso, $8,256 Vintage, $15,500 David Webb, $43,890

TREND — LEATHER TOTE BAGS

Juicy Couture, $100 Emilio Pucci, $245 Tiffany & Co., $245

Michael Kors, $360 Louis Vuitton, $385 MCM, $387

Yves Saint Laurent, $400 Loeffler Randall,$445 Sophie Hulme, $645

Valentino, $920 Bottega Veneta, $995 Chanel, $995

Fendi, $1,295 Valentino, $1,998 Chanel, $2,130

Alaia, $2,250 Celine, $2,800 Christian Dior, $4,000

Undone — The NYU FBA Fashion Show

July 30, 2015June 20, 2017 by Blissful Style, posted in Events, Personal Style

Undone Fashion Show flyer

Joining the NYU Fashion Business Association has been pivotal for me. Since NYU is not fashion-specific like FIT or LIM, there is no clearly defined path of study for students who want to work in fashion. The FBA brings NYU’s fashion culture together for career-related workshops and events. My personal favorite was the Alumnae Event, where five NYU alumnae who went on to work in fashion came to speak to us about their career journeys.

You might think I misspelled “alumnae”; I can assure you I did not. “Alumnae” is the plural of “alumna”, a female graduate. One thing I like about the fashion industry is that it is dominated by women. My mother told me that she named me “Brett”, a name that is 98% male, so that it would be easier for me to get a job. Yet each of my bosses in the fashion industry has been a woman. And I changed my name to “Brette” when I was fifteen, so it all worked out for the best.

But even more important for the FBA than our career events is our annual fashion show. This year the theme was “Undone”, as reflected by the unadorned white butterflies in our advertising campaign and the deconstructed look of some of the designs.

Tsedaye Kifle, model Amanda Lewis, model Amanda Davis, model

Monica Lin, model Lara Ciritci, model Nathalie, model

Katherine Heldt, model Rachael Anadon, model Sophie Svoboda, model

Hannah Morris, model Sydney George, model Ambreen, model

As a member of the Day of Show Committee, I papered the NYU buildings with flyers and started setting up early in the morning for the 7pm show. In keeping with the undone theme, we decorated the tables with fragile pink and white butterflies. The FBA also had customized M&Ms made for the show!

A butterfly takes a seat on a candle to watch the show

Bags of customized FBA M&Ms and rock candy for our guests

Me and four other members of the Day of Show Committee. I am wearing a Jax jumpsuit, vintage earrings, and a necklace from my mother

Setting up goody bags from FBA and Bloglovin’ before the show

As the organization’s name suggests, FBA members tend to be more focused on the business side of fashion (buying, merchandising, marketing, public relations, finance, etc.) For this reason, we recruit FIT and Parsons students and alumni to showcase their collections for the fashion show. Undone featured Olive Wu, Vanessa Sepul-Azcarraga, Selma Zhang, Jessica Hu, Jessica Chen, and Oliver Zhang. Here are my favorite looks of the evening:

Olive Wu Vanessa Sepul-Azcarraga Vanessa Sepul-Azcarraga

Vanessa Sepul-Azcarraga Jessica Chen Jessica Chen

Jessica Hu Jessica Hu Oliver Zhang

Oliver Zhang Oliver Zhang Oliver Zhang

Selma Zheng Selma Zheng Selma Zheng

A model whose shoes had fallen off her first time down the runway

I am a huge fan of Bloglovin’ for obvious reasons, and I was so happy that they were one of our sponsors!

Two Bloglovin’ interns pose with a goody bag

Advertising photography by Aaron Kho

Event photography by Francisco Solano

Held on the top floor of the Kimmel building with a view of the Empire State Building and Washington Square Park, it was an unforgettable night. Can’t wait till next year!

Trend of the Day — Platform Heels

June 27, 2015April 20, 2019 by Blissful Style, posted in Personal Style, Trend of the Day

Forever 21 Alba

Shiekh Pleaser

I have always loved platform heels, and have worn many over the years. The four above are my current favorites. My style is feminine, but in a way that stands out; as a young adolescent I was very shy, and I decided that if I couldn’t be the life of the party, then at the very least I wanted to show up in a fabulous outfit. Some “avant-garde” apparel can come off wacky, but using a bold accessory, like a shoe or a handbag, as a focal piece is just wild enough.

Wearing the Shiekh shoes in the Meatpacking District.

I am also attracted to platform heels because the platforms make it easier to walk. Pick your favorite shoes on this page. Now imagine the same heel height, with the platform removed and the toes dropped to the ground. My feet are crying just thinking about it. The two solutions to shoe pain are: 1) a lower heel or 2) a higher platform, and it’s obvious which side I’m on. There’s also something about the size of a platform that makes me feel powerful, in a way that a kitten heel or a flat never could.

Here are my favorite platform heels at every price point!