Going to Dublin today!
The Sartorialist is there this weekend, too, so I may go to Harvey Nichols for the purpose of stalkage.

thinking out loud

Rick Owens

Of the Spring 2010 RTW, I'm loving Celine, YSL, Marni, Calvin Klein, Dries van Noten, Hussein Chalayan and about half of Vena Cava. None of them without reservations, though. I mean, Mr. Chalayan, retro influences? Are we doing this now? You are saved by those sheer black and white stripes I loved. And Style.com's Nicole Phelps made a very apt point about Francisco Costa's collection for CK being designed for sylphs - too true, I'm afraid, on anyone larger than a size 2 (maybe 4) the dresses would have nothing like the same effect.

The prevailing theme for what I'm liking seems to be a little older, more sophisticated, pretty utilitarian, and generally neutrals (minus Dries' sick patterns - which I will never describe as "tribal" - and Marni's muted colour palette). I wish I was actually the thirty-something I am in my mind, so I could really go to town on that Celine new-minimalist look.

Immersing myself in photos and video from the shows is making me appreciate them all more - even the ones I didn't like. I can't even talk about Margiela (without crying), but there was that one long, nude column dress that I am dreaming about. Alexander Wang really said nothing to me, but I find myself thinking quite a bit about all that caramel-coloured leather, while Christopher Kane, if nothing else, has certainly got me thinking about gingham. And although Ann Demuelemeester didn't really do the collection I was hoping for (I don't know what that was exactly - but I'd have known if I saw it), that skimpy-top with voluminous-trousers combination was well-executed and felt new to me. And the bird-print trousers were lovely. Balmain didn't have that "I want to be the girl who wears those clothes" feeling that I look for, but I still thought it was a pretty great collection. Kind of like Rick Owens, my eternal love, who put out a fantastic collection that for some reason just didn't really resonate with me. I think it was the futuristic vibe I'm just not feeling at the moment.

I'm on the fence about both Missoni and Proenza Schouler. I think I need another look.

(clockwise from left) joie lace-up boot, alexander wang dress, maison martin margiela messenger bag, delightfully boxy MMM trench, and MMM (of course) wedge ankle boots.

I want those wedge ankle boots quite a lot.

It's got to be a bad sign when even Riccardo Tisci is leaving me unmoved.

Well, minus a couple pieces that I would just like to have on me right now - but overall, this collection made me go "meh."

things I want

I hate it when magazines go on about how you have to "invest" in certain pieces, that the cheap versions just aren't worth having.

That being said... nothing beats the perfect basic.

it's been a while

I've been gone a while. Since my last post I've been in a few different countries, had a few adventures, survived the flu, started a new school year in Scotland, and kind of become disenchanted with fashion. I mean, not entirely. Personal style will always be of utmost interest to me - how can you learn more about people than through the way they dress themselves? - but what's current, what's new, what's "in", what's on the runway... I can't quite bring myself to care at the moment. It's probably in part having been isolated from internet and blogs for a while, and then being inundated with photos from various fashion weeks, but it's definitely also being in the UK that's done it. I love the Brits, don't get me wrong, but I don't think they should be allowed such ready access to Topshop. They abuse the privilege. There was a time when I loved studs, exposed zippers, leather jackets, bandage skirts, ripped denim, ankle boots, shoulder pads, sequins, "boyfriend" blazers, chains... this was before spending time in Glasgow and Edinburgh. TREND OVERLOAD. And don't even get me started on how much makeup girls wear here, or how much they dye their hair.

It makes me want to go all minimalist and antifashion and spend all my time in jeans and sweaters and riding boots. I basically have, actually. Dark denim, long-sleeved t-shirts, thin wool or cashmere pullovers, flat black or brown leather knee-high boots, and pearl studs have become my uniform of choice. Add plain leather tote bag, bracelet-sleeved tweed coat and Hunter Wellingtons and you have everything I've been wearing lately. I try to keep it more APC than J. Crew, but how preppy I look is still occasionally a worry - at least I don't look trendy, though.

The one thing I am coveting is a pair of wedge ankle boots, or flat over-the-knee boots. Just a bit trendy, but workable in my newly minimalist wardrobe. And the only thing I feel like spending money on at the moment is lingerie and skin care - good investments, both.

Minimalism can only get you so far, though. I know there will come a day when I wake up in the morning and think "if I don't wear something with feathers and sequins on it today, life will just not be worth living."

Until then, it's sweaters and jeans for me - can I still call myself a "fashionista"?

Yours,

Gentian

P.S. I have never called myself a fashionista, nor will I ever. Promise.

I want to make this blog happen... but after that last unscheduled hiatus, I am putting the blog on OFFICIAL hiatus because I'll be traveling for a bit.
Don't worry, you won't miss me.

Listen to this:



Check this out:

PURPLE DIARY

Go eat something pretty:



If you're still at loose ends, please go watch the first two seasons of Skins (third season optional) so we can talk about it when I get back:



Peace, love, and leather shorts -

GENTIAN
.x.