Comments on: this heat has got me thinking cold.

By: Lisa-Gabrielle

Lisa-Gabrielle — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 19:57:08 +0000

The subject of personal style is one that interests me very much. Isn’t it always the ones whose amazing house you visit ,the ones that have a collection of something you never dreamed people would collect, that always have the best clothes. Is it because they have a way of re-imagining these clothes in a way the creator of the garment did not.? For me the answer is yes.These are the people , I think, that actually do inspire trends. They look so truly beautiful, cool, and confident that the designer is inspired to riff on them.As a lifelong fashion freak , I can never resist a trend or 2 ,but I always pair them with what I love most ,what inspires me.

By: Ashiya

Ashiya — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 12:33:54 +0000

clothes for me are all about self-expression, and i really feel that no one can truly express themself if they’re just wearing trends – and i’m 17, so i don’t think it’s an age thing! fashion, for me, is just too throwaway. like you said, i prefer to invest

i still can’t get over your beautiful knitted green dress!

By: Casey

Casey — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 20:36:30 +0000

Hi! I’ve been reading your blog for the past week or so. I want to thank you for sharing your amazing outfits with us!! I’m a pretty much a “basics” dresser, but your blog has really inspired me to add some color to my wardrobe. Not to mention your thrift-finds rock!! I feel the need to do some serious thrift store shopping coming on… lol.

I really like what you said about trends. I really admire that you don’t seem to blindly follow whats hot and whats not for any given season. I tend to try to follow the basic trend idea, but in the end, I’m finding that anymore I dress to please myself. Right now, in the hot weather, I’m really just into comfort (basic skirts, basic tank tops). During the cooler months I tend to go all-out. hehe. Like you, I also struggle with reconciling the “waste factor”. I went into a high-end boutique yesterday to look around. I drooled over the most gorgeous sweaters and dresses I’ve seen in awhile. Of course, they were all at least several hundred dollars, and very of-the-moment in style. I just couldn’t help but think: what will I do with this when it becomes an old trend item?! My tastes change too oftent to facilitate buying into every trend too. I bounce from one idea or look to another often. I guess my idea of sucessful trendy dressing is incorporating a few trend items with your own style. The classiest looking people I’ve ever seen don’t look like they just stepped off the runway–they always put a spin on the current season trends to suit them, their vision and their bodies. (Another point I totally agree with you on; I’m another hard-to-fit gal.

Anyway, much rambling; not sure I made any points in there. hehe. Keep up your fabulous and inspiring posts–I’m really enjoying seeing your creative vision!

By: jill danyelle

jill danyelle — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 07:13:53 +0000

I think we are so lucky to be able to really wear whatever we want. In some ways isn’t that how trends are born. I know not all women feel the same about dressing, but I agree with your take on it being a form of creative and personal expression. I love the diversity of combining ever changing elements, but I have my Zittel-esque moments where I see the usefulness of “uniform”. I could spend a week in the t-shirt dress I am wearing right now. It is so easy… take-off, sleep, put on, go and repeat… but do I crave this simplicity as a palate cleanser to the not too far gone seasons of embellishment?

I am trying to explore more of the labels that people put on us based on our clothing as well. But generally, here in the East Village I feel like I could walk down the street on fire and people would barely bat an eye. So while I have always tried to maintain a sense of individualism, here I feel I can dress without too many social constraints as well.

I have all sorts of stuff living in my closet, some of it trendy… I loved my black leggings when I bought them a year ago, but I’ll be damned if I am going to put leggings under my skirt in the middle of a heatwave just to be trendy. And now that the streets are overrun with leggings they have lost some of their appeal, so that is part of the trend danger. Do you just soldier on through it or retreat to resurface another day? I have always had a bit of a bohemian vibe and I am certainly not going to throw away some of my beloved pieces just because that trend has faded. In general, I try to go trend light, maybe incorporating one or two new things if I like them and also saving my beloved things to reintroduce when the trend has died down and they seem fresh again. As you know, I am an even older lady!! Being older, I am starting to look at my wardrobe as more of a collection to invest in. I am also just learning how to sew properly, so that adds a whole new dimension too.

I think you brought up some great feelings on the topic. In the end by eschewing trends or fitting a trend or two into your personal style you don’t lose your individuality and, in fact, in my book are more interesting than someone who subscribes to tons of trends or labels…

I am hoping to read The Psychology of Dress over vacation. It was written in the 20’s. I wonder what they thought…

By: Victoria E

Victoria E — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 00:49:48 +0000

Clothing is an art and following trends obsessively takes the personal aspect out of it. I stay up on the trends via magazines and online, but rarely use them to influence on my own style; most of it is just writing research. I have a hard-to-fit body as well (at least according to the runway), so going shopping for vintage goodies or just making stuff myself is the best way to go.

By: Deborah

Deborah — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 20:44:15 +0000

I say,keep to your style,incorperate a peice if you like it or lean twords peices already in your wardrobe(like skinny jeans!) that you can make ‘current trend’ matches with.
I DO like to keep the weights of clothing seasonal in the traditional sense.
And a note for you:since your such a fall/winter dresser:you care going to LOVE living in SF.Its all about layers all year ’round!