PRESENT TENSE

You’ve seen this jacket on me before – I literally ‘rocked’ it with a check print miniskirt and oxford lace-ups this Fall in a look called “Wild Thing.” The 1950s homage was full force with heart-print sunglasses and a fuchsia sash wound characteristically around my neck, but my penchant for nostalgic influence has since rot and festered. Outfits that look like costumes suggest more of a superficial understanding of “clothes” than of a deep and rounded understanding of “fashion.” The relationship the outfit’s aesthetic maintains with present culture is of premier importance, and in fact integral to the execution of the ensemble as an idea. So I didn’t nod to styles of any years past with this look. I buttoned the varsity jacket straight up to the neck and let the asymmetrical hem speak for itself. It’s nobody’s kitschy letterman. It’s a staple piece of present-day sportswear with an avant garde twist. Thank you, Jovonna London!

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Sunglasses - Retro City

"Allison Vesty" Jacket - Jovonna London

"Sexy Pages" Crop Top - HOW VERY DARE

Velvet harem pants - PERSUNMALL

Suede stilettos - PERSUNMALL

Leopard satchel - Jimmy Choo

Underneath my jacket is a very clever crop top c/o How Very Dare – a clothing line that prides itself in attention to prints and modern silhouettes. Scoop necks, hi-low hems, and contemporary patterns – I see you, horse print leggings – command a presence on their site, and they all translate beautifully into real-life function. This top was an easy choice for me: the open book print is smart with a sense of humor. Didn’t even mess around with heavy necklaces because I wanted to keep the lounge vibe consistent... velvet harem pants with a low-rise, elasticized waist made that easy. And the practical heel on my new stilettos kept the silhouette sleek without compromising my comfort. Both are from Persunmall, and both are prized new staples that well represent the present tense that is 2013.

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva