Happy first day back to work, Style Nation. My "out of office" rely is gone, I've written back some annoyed students about their grades (mostly to make an appointment with me in the Spring semester to discuss), and I'm Manhattan bound to take care of business (including schlepping to the credit union, many library books, incomplete grades, housekeeping, etc.) Today, I am wearing something practical for lugging books, running to the bank, and dressing for the fairly mild weather (in my book, 35 degrees and sunny in early January is "nice."). I am also taking notes from A-Dubs and Anne, as well as trying to incorporate a "warmer weather" piece into winter rotation for No Repeats.
Yesterday, when I should have been working after dinner, I read and giggled to myself (because Blokey doesn't care about fashion terms) about this article about over-used and thus worn-out fashion terms. I am guilty of overusing many of these: "pop", "fashionista", "geek-chic", "well-edited", "DIY." Also, check out Cathy Horyn's list of 10 looks she doesn't want to see again.* While I disagree about the adorned jackets (epaulets obviously rule), I agree about the trapper hats and denim diapers. (I might be able to be convinced about the mid-century stuff, too. More 70s, less 50s!)
Are there any over-used fashion words you'd like to see less of? Fashion trends?
*edit: I don't want to suggest that anyone's individual style should be curbed according to some kind of fashion police mentality, but rather I read Horyn's list as a tongue-in-cheek chiding to designers and mass marketer/industry types, who tend to be really repetitive of certain trends, reproducing certain a a few dozen styles at the detriment of diversity.
Black dress: Land's End, thrifted
Grey knit tunic: Arwyn (local MPLS designer), via Cliche
Leggings: Target
Boots: Palladium
Belt: Swap from Pineapple Mint Vintage
I could go a lifetime without seeing another cupcake breast. I had no idea such a thing existed (though that seems like perfect fodder for the Man Repeller).
ReplyDeleteAnd it's funny that you've cited me on warm weather pieces - I wore my beach dress last week because I remembered seeing you wear yours recently! I like the red belt. It really pops. And I have no problem saying things pop when they do :)
Such great layers. Simple and chic!
ReplyDeleteTotally adore that NYT article - I'm "fashionista" averse because I hate the idea of stylistic dictatorship that the term implies.
Happy new year! I'm not back til Wednesday, we get today and tomorrow because the 1st and 2nd were the weekend.
ReplyDeleteWhat is a cupcake breats?
I don't really get too bothered by fashion buzzwords. Compared to the ridiculous words people use in the civil service, the things on that list are positively sensible. I dislike tiny flecks of colour being described as a pop though. It's gotta be big enough to actually see from 5m distance, or there's nothing popping!
First off, great outfit. Simple, stylish, comfortable (looking at least!).
ReplyDeleteSecond, re: fashion trends...not really. I'm with Wendy B, who says "wear what you want". I'm not a fan of the Nike Short/ Sperry Topsider thing the kids do, but do I really care if it makes them happy? Also "studs and skulls" are pretty much a signature of mine. I was wearing them before they were everywhere and I'll be wearing them when they are not, and I'll STILL be wearing them when they come back around as everything does!
I am procrastinating (more cover letters to be written today), so I went and read both articles. I have 2 points of disagreement:
ReplyDelete50s fashion works well for my shape! Let's keep it around! (I am hippy and busty, so the 20s, though my personal favorite fashion era, and the 70s are a disaster for me.) But I long ago promised you a post on being Asian and liking the retro look. Perhaps I will get to that in the new year.
My other thought was in the DIY comment, for the terms that need to go. While it is true that not everyone gets discovered on etsy (and I can't figure out why anyone would sell their knitting--they can't possibly be getting paid for their time), I object to the comment "go to urban outfitters, spend the $8, and save your sanity." I think that they are missing the point of knitting (and probably crafting in general). I actually knit to preserve my sanity. Every knitter I know 1) gets joy out of creating something 2) either enjoys challenging themselves and gaining new skills in an art, sort of like mastering a guitar lick, or chooses things that are not challenging to do, but rather relaxing 3) finds satisfaction in knitting 4) finds that it helps keep them patient in doctor's offices, engaged in lectures, etc. So anyway, I think that perhaps they were missing the point a bit. End rant. And sorry about it. I just figured that as someone who sews, you might be sympathetic. And no one around here will be....
@Anne: I never said "pop" until I read fashion blogs. Isn't it funny the way the internet changes how we think of things?
ReplyDelete@Sal: I never thought of fashionista as a stylistic dictatorship, but it is funny. I thought it was just an attempt to sound more European, and thus more sophisticated. I'm not a fashionista, for sure.
@Franca: Good point. There are loads of annoying buzz words in academia too- like "excellence" and "global education." They just stop meaning something after a while, huh? And cupcake breasts are weird embellishments on the breast area.
@WWWYG: I totally agree with you- people should wear what they want. But sometimes I think that when a few fashion elites decide on trends, it does limit the types of styles and choices that available to regular consumers. I remember a few years ago I couldn't find a regular button down cardigan because of the "initial" trend that some retailers were pushing. And my friend for the life of her could not find trouser jeans during the heyday of the skinny jeans trend. I hope that skulls and studs are regularly available to you even when mass producers don't want to regularly stock them in retail shops (thank goodness for thrifting).
The fashion/celeb photo phrase I hate with the fire of a thousand burning suns is "popped a pose", a verbal styling favored by whoever captions photos on Yahoo.
ReplyDeleteMy first day back at work has been all about finding out which of my grad students has accomplished anything lately, and assigning reviewers to the astounding stack of papers PLoS One sent me to review during the holidays.
You look excellent. I'd totally wear that if I owned those items!
I like the way you layered your dresses here. Great combination.
ReplyDeleteI would like to find better adjectives to describe outfits I like (instead of fabulous, fantastic, chic, stylish, etc. etc.). Any suggestions would be welcome :)
I agree with WWYG - black, studs and skulls are like a neutral to me so whatevs. I've backed off skull patterns for work but black and studs are still work appropriate.
ReplyDeleteI do agree about a few of these - drapey-front skirts because I like a cleaner line and I think the fit is hard to get right on different body types. I'd like to ADD over the knee boots, which I rarely see looking nice on anyone but that's just my opinion.
Great layering here! I'm going to check out that article... I had no idea there was such a thing as cupcake breasts. Intriguing!
ReplyDelete'Nice new-year layering, Rad. i'm totally stealing this idea as soon as I can find some off-season layers to fiddle around with.
ReplyDeleteAlso, thanks for the fun links. I could certainly stand to see fewer band-leader jackets. But I really, really like full eyebrows, so I hope they stay forever.
I like the layers!
ReplyDeleteI figure that I shouldn't say no to any fashion trend, because I might end up wearing it later. For a long time I was dead set against skinny jeans, and now I have two pairs that I like.
This is indeed some snazzy layering you've got goin' on here! I saw that article and wondered if anyone in Style Nation might have a reaction. As someone who is both a geek and self-professedly chic, I will continue to use that term. And to wear cardigans and glasses. :)
ReplyDeleteI hate to be redundant, but, man, I love this layering. Especially with the beautiful red belt.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally on board with saying goodbye to non-essential trapper hats!
RAD!!!!!! ( I did it again with the ! ) You look so chic for just lugging stuff around. This is a very Rad outfit. I love it that I can recognize your style when I'm out and about and say stuff like, "that's so RAD."
ReplyDeletehappy new year.
I tried on the huge furry trapper hat at the gap last month and got "Really Lyd? You think that looks good? You honestly would pay money for that?" from my shopping entourage; so I didn't get it.
ReplyDeleteI suppose they were right. It might be fun in blog land, but in real life, unless in a blizzard, it's maybe a touch absurd.
Anyway, I hope you are enjoying the 'nice' weather, there is talk of more snow for the weekend!
Anyway
The layering of the tunic and dress is so cool!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I could do without a lot of the trends, but there are just some that aren't "me" so I leave them alone regardless (never owned a pyramid stud item, probably never will.) I'll agree on getting rid of the '50s styles too, because they aren't made for my figure and I like the '60s and '70s styles so much!
@AftKB: eek, I don't know how I missed your comment. We must have co-posted. I hope that they key 50s looks, but alongside other eras as well. I don't disagree with DIY, I just think the term itself is probably being overused? I wish I could sew again. I felt more balanced over the summer when I did more projects.
ReplyDelete@Cynthia: Popped a pose is a funny one! Did you first day back exhaust you as much as it did here.
@Eek- I agree. I need better adjectives. But I seem to stick with "awesome" and "rockin'" and "cool".
@JAO: And I think you guys look awesome in these pieces. I think I've only seen a few peopel rock the over-the-knee style well. It's tricky.
@TGB: I never knew either, until Charlize shoed me.
@A-Dubs: As a lady of the full eyebrow who hates to pluck/shape/wax, I fully agree.
@Rebecca: I dig your skinny jeans looks!
@LaHdM: I think of you as anything but geeky! I think of myself, however, as a nerd.
@EJo: Thanks! Trapper hats are OK, but I think I've OD'd on them visually. It was cool when the one eccentric dude in my department wore the one his Russian grandpa bought him.
@SU: Happy New Year to you! I'm glad you find this outfit so rad!
@LG: Thank goodness for the shopping entourage. But hey, if it wasn't for falling for trends, how would we be able to date our pictures? More snow? This city doesn't like it!
@FL: I like the 1970s the best for a whole host of reasons. Maybe I'll talk about it a bit more later.
Superb layering, and I too will be stealing it. The red belt is just perfect.
ReplyDeleteThe fashion buzzwords I currently hate are the "recession chic" ones, particularly "frugalista."
Off to read the Cathy Horyn now. Love her.
I tried on the huge furry trapper hat at the gap last month and got "Really Lyd? You think that looks good? You honestly would pay money for that?" from my shopping entourage; so I didn't get it.
ReplyDeleteI suppose they were right. It might be fun in blog land, but in real life, unless in a blizzard, it's maybe a touch absurd.
Anyway, I hope you are enjoying the 'nice' weather, there is talk of more snow for the weekend!
Anyway
RAD!!!!!! ( I did it again with the ! ) You look so chic for just lugging stuff around. This is a very Rad outfit. I love it that I can recognize your style when I'm out and about and say stuff like, "that's so RAD."
ReplyDeletehappy new year.
Such great layers. Simple and chic!
ReplyDeleteTotally adore that NYT article - I'm "fashionista" averse because I hate the idea of stylistic dictatorship that the term implies.