The fast fashion set has seen some remarkable aesthetic changes in the past couple years as designers have established a distance between their recent collections and the maximalist, retrogressive themes of seasons prior. Versace's H&M moment in 2011 presented one of the most sartorially exciting collaborations for consumers looking to brand themselves with the ostentatious kitsch of luxury for the masses. An obsession with appropriating saturated versions of other cultures' symbolic markers emerged and manifested in tropical, Polynesian prints, Greco-Roman motifs, and Japanese cherry blossoms. Excess, flamboyance, and even the subtle insinuation of entitlement to translate world cultures into playful commodities became chic in mainstream fashion circles. But by 2013, the trend tables have turned to favor austerity, futurism, and an idea of a globalized world where cultural themes cannot be appropriated because they simply do not exist. Instead of ironic baroque print bomber jackets, the fast fashion set is now scrambling to be seen in sterile silver and white or minimalist active wear. Function has finally trumped form -- perhaps not because it deserves to, but because commerce demands that new aesthetics develop and conquer in order to stimulate a subsequent trend that people feel obligated to buy into.
Well. Not me, not today. I'm gonna back track and continue to wear the flashy clothes that I have because I honestly can't afford to trade my rococo for Raf Simmons. Yes, it's cool to enter a new phase of fashion in which innovation is rewarded and efficiency is held to a higher standard than appearance alone. But it's not cool to feel "pressured" to buy membership into that movement. And it's not cool to feel excluded and ashamed because what you're wearing is representative of a conflicting (maximalist) paradigm.
I called this look "Gold School" because, besides the obvious metallic reference, my look is commemorative of a luxury hip hop theme that probably won't be considered "novel" or "innovative" anytime soon. Old school, new perspective, same aesthetic allegiances.
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Embellished snapback - OASAP
Gold and amber necklace - DAILY LOOK
Crop top - American Apparel
Transparent waist skater skirt - MUSTARD CARTEL
Modern sandal heels - DAILY LOOK
Everything is infinite,
Bebe Zeva
If I say that I'm really seriously committed to blogging consistently again would you believe me? Feels like I keep dropping in then peacing out... but I swear on all that is holy that this time is different. If there's one thing I could use more than an Hermes personal shopper to hook it up with a Birkin bag it's a #lifestyle change. And part of this season's new lifestyle is blogging every day, without fail, as an exercise in relieving ~emotional tensions from within~ through the very cathartic and creative process that is fashion blogging. Yep. I feel like putting myself out there both visually and verbally is the most constructive way for me to keep my "sartorial chakras aligned." These photos are from a couple months ago, back when my hair was still a perfect shade of platinum blonde. I've since dyed it brown and watched it fade into dirty blonde territory but the memory lives on nonetheless... bye bye Blonde Beeb. Onto the next phase of my personhood.
I'm not really sure what's going on fashion-wise these days, especially following Spring 2014's NYFW. I do know that "dazzling blue" was named Pantone's Color of the Year, but that's a bit irrelevant to me since I very rarely (if ever) wear bold colors besides pink and red. So I'm sticking with what I know best, and that's compensating for color with clash. I'm black and white head to toe, but a far cry from minimalism nonetheless. This checkerboard and diagonal stripe juxtaposition is more "cheeky" than "chic"-- perfectly in sync with how I'm feeling these days. ;)
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Hat - Vintage
Rhinestone cuff necklace - ROMWE
Check print top/dress - ROMWE
Diagonal stripe skirt - ROMWE
Patent heels - Daily Look
Clearly inspired by the 60s, but particularly the boxy check print resurgence we first saw in Louis Vuitton's SS 13 collection. Oh, and yeah, this would be the first time in a really noticeably long time that I'm wearing socks with heels again.^_^
Everything is infinite,
Bebe Zeva
