Tim Walker

The Homefront

Right now I am celebrating the holidays with the family in (technically) Conover, NC.  Let me tell you, there are not a lot of fashion mavens running around.  There may be a slight hiatus in my own fashion images for a while...

Nick Knight

This week's inspiration are the delusional and fantastical images of photographer Nick Knight. The colors vibrate and move and make you want to dance on stage in clothes with extensions. The clothes themselves seem to have extra appendages and I WANT MORE Mr. Knight.  There is an excellent book of his work being sold at Colette.fr and I need it.

Captain Glam Jacket

One of my rather large projects at my internship this summer was to endlessly bead a military-style jacket for LaRok.  Here is the final product available online at shopbop.com for $368.

Christmas WISH List Part 1 (Wish being the key word..)

The Dirty Beat

Music is a major component of my thought process and I seem to be one of those people who need music to motivate, provoke, and delegate.  I thought I would share some of the things I have been listening to in the last week.

DJ /rupture
Pico vs. Island Trees
Yelle
Ladyhawke
Santogold
My Brightest Diamond
Feist
Sufjan Stevens
Nina Simone- Feeling Good (Joe Claussell Remix)
Infusion- Try It On
Maxmillion Dunbar- Wouldn't Matter
Boozoo Bajou

My 5 Seconds of Fame

Even though our 5 minutes of fame is actually approximately 4 seconds long, my lovely beaded dress and  Kelsey Chapman's fantastic sequined top were caught on camera- and we have Cavortress to thank for that.  Vintage definitely makes a statement.  You can find us 4 minutes and 18 seconds into the video- oh so exciting.

http://www.charlestonmag.com/style_file/blog/kulture_klash_style

The Perfect Party Shoe

Kate Spade has done it.  The perfect holiday heel and I am in love- drooling is finally acceptable.  Ladies, this is the flawless way to spice up that boring  LBD in your closet.  This New Years throw away the cliche sequined party dress and replace it with these bona-fide gold Dorothy heels (so much more versatile than red).

I had an interesting discussion with a friend last night about the new College of Charleston fashion blog, cofcstyle.com.  I was, at first, very hesitant to accept this blog because I felt as though it was truly a shopping and entertainment blog, not a commentary about fashion on campus.  I thought the pictures of people on the "Cobblestone Catwalk" section were merely a reflection of current trends, not personal style and I felt a little cheated.  However, one of my many stylish friends, who I happened to be talking to about this subject, made a very valid point.  She said that perhaps these trends are the style of College of Charleston.  This got me thinking and as I did my usual walk around campus from class to class, I realized it was true.  So, I guess, instead of condemning cofcstyle.com I want to inspire the students of CofC to get creative. Stop wasting your time copying everyone else, nobody likes another sheep!  I want to walk to class and be attacked by all the personal styles out there.  I therefore want to encourage people to attend this launch party, but only if you are going to look awesome for yourself, not for everyone else out there.  I definitely do not want to see a bunch of girls in dresses from Luna with some heels from Copper Penny calling themselves stylish.  Wear something you wouldn't normally wear out and get creative.  I would love to see some sequins put to excellent use and perhaps some patterned tights- people, it is going to get cold out there the more layers, the better- plus layers are in.

Photography Steven Klein
Styling Panos Yiapanis

The Boys are Back in Town

Does Alexander Wang Ever Stop?

After wow-ing everyone at the age of 16, Alexander Wang shows no signs of letting up.  His Spring 2010 collection is armed and ready for action featuring teetering animal booties and that modern-retro vibe that Mr. Wang is know for.

The Full Circle

I have always loved stealing things from mother's closet but it wasn't until I started to truly develop my personal style that I fell in love with vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories.  Some of my favorite things in my closet are vintage.  Vintage is the perfect way to develop your own style because 9 times out of 10, no one is going to have your vintage Halston dress or that 1970's Pucci tunic.  Not only that, but usually you can save those dolla dolla bills, and right now a girl has got to save!  So, want to get your hands on some of your very own vintage numbers?  Here are some options for the Charleston fashionista:

In case you missed the Cavortress trunk show the first time around, here is your second chance!  The lovely Julie Wheat will be showing her goods (her fashion goods that is) at 293 King Street from 5-8:30 p..m. this Thursday, December 3rd.  At the last Cavortress show, I bought the perfect beaded New Years dress, and she promised to have lots of exciting things this time around.

Another amazing vintage opportunity is the new store, Novel, on 438 King Street.  Using the beautiful space that Nancy Koltes for Home ditched, three brilliant people have joined forces to create a gallery/jewelry showcase/vintage extravaganza.  They are only renting the space for a month, so don't miss out on this clean little pop-up home of dreamy designer pieces, one-of-a-kind jewelry, and fresh art. Be prepared to drool over vintage Chanel bags, color-coded racks, and fresh outfits hanging on the walls just begging you to try them on.

I am sorry that I have been M.I.A. for awhile, but I am back in full force.  This long intermission between posts has proved to be fruitful because it gave me some time to reflect on what I want this blog to become.  I have to admit, a bit selfishly, that this blog is mostly for me.  I hope that it shapes me as much as it shapes my many *cough* readers.  I have been thinking quite a bit lately about the issue of style and what it means to have style.  I think style means testing the boundaries of current trends and allowing yourself to be influenced by different modes all around you.  Style is about taking bits and pieces from various generations, fads, stores, art movements, and people.  Style is about influencing and being influenced- there should be a curiosity and a certain amount of bravery involved.  It should be about what looks and feels good on you personally, not what looks good on the mannequin or model.  I do not think that putting on a designer dress that you paid a thousand dollars for makes you stylish- it is how you wear it.  (Although I am not against designer dresses.)  Fashion is about wearable art and is a science- there is experimentation involved and sometimes mistakes are made.