The university sartorialist

Sam Edelman Zoe platform wedge ankle booties. Barely-there denim cutoffs… sheer floral tights… a black scoop-neck crop top… a suede fringe vest… and lastly, two thin pyramid-studded belts and a buttery-leather hobo bag essentially serving as the peripheral goods of the outfit. Welcome to my world. As skillful as I am at distracting myself from the true applications of Productions and Operations Management by dreaming up these whimsical sartorial concoctions, I will rightfully admit to being even more of a Style Rookie than Tavi Gevinson. So what does this have to do, you may ask, with the photo of the stunningly handsome guy in the picture below?

Ladies, meet my best friend (aww), eligible bachelor Angel Reyes. As NUE Agency’s blog editor and social media director, this city kid’s effortlessly put-together style always makes me feel much less harsh in pleading guilty to becoming somewhat of a snob in terms of my standards of dressing. Crediting sources like Kanye and Lupe as former style influences, Angel utilizes his personal style as a tool to maneuver through the music industry with artist and event promotion both in New York City as well as here at Wake.

The look shown here made a recent appearance at Mountain Weekend formal in the classiest of classy locales: Oak Hill, West Virginia. Viewing this outfit under a microscope, each piece pulls equal weight as Angel makes brilliant use of balance and layering, two concepts central to my own fashion philosophy. The Tommy Hilfiger fitted v-neck knit/Club Monaco button-down match is a combo familiar to many fraternity formals, but the slim-fit 7 For All Mankind jeans are what truly make the outfit noteworthy. Name one other guy at Wake who has the balls to pull off this look successfully. I rest my case.

Bringing the design aesthetic of Ralph Lauren (not only Polo, but also brand extensions Rugby and Club Monaco) to life, Angel personifies the classicism and luxury heritage of a supreme lifestyle brand. Also citing companies like Band of Outsiders, Generic Surplus and 7FAM as favorites, Angel reveres basic pieces because they “give you more opportunity to just put together a bunch of things and make a great-looking outfit—there’s no room for doubt or indecisiveness. You have to be confident about your choices.” Speaking of confidence, things to keep in mind girls? Angel declares, “The most attractive girls to me are the ones that know they’re wearing something different, don't really care, and look great doing it.”

On the subject of Wake’s “pretty generic” fashion scene, Señor Reyes states, “There’s a pretty standard look for everyone, but then again, it’s college. You see everyone at their best and you see everyone at their worst. Nothing really wows me here; everyone dresses safely. The culture of this school doesn’t promote individuality as far as style and fashion go.” Hearing this time and time again, I can’t help but wonder what it is then that prompts everyone to adhere so closely to these so-called rules of dressing. Any famous last words, Angel? Referring once again to on-campus style, he admits, “I wouldn't really change anything. I don't think people should really be worried about developing their individual style during college. It's really not that important when you stack it up against everything else that you’re doing. As most people develop, style fills the gap between how you see yourself and how you want other people to see you. It's in there somewhere—everyone has style. It's a matter of finding a way to express it without seeming like you’re trying.”

Cross-posted HERE.

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.

Dedicated to the whispering Robi

As much of a fashion enthusiast as I am, I’ll admit to my rookie status when it comes to non-apparel items. I often fall guilty to putting much less emphasis on accessories than my creative license warrants when I should in fact be challenging myself to push aesthetic boundaries. It's taken me my entire life to perfect my own style philosophy in terms of dresses and separates, yet I still find myself getting flustered when presented with the responsibility of working with an unlimited option of small items that each has the power to change the outfit's ultimate story. Baby steps are good, though, and I've decided to take on this learning experience one day at a time. (Yes, this was borrowed from a previous post, but the context was fitting and I was pressed for time.)

Here at Wake, accessories are definitely downplayed, so it wasn’t difficult to spot this gorgeous bib necklace from the typical string of pearls we’re used to seeing all around campus. According to its stylish owner, one of my dearest friends, this single statement piece is responsible for pulling together an otherwise neutral or monochromatic outfit—a simple black jersey dress, dark opaque tights and a trusty pair of cowboy boots. Pieces like this are what make good outfits great, and I’ve taken a cue from this necklace to step outside of the box and remind myself that stylish risks are a very good thing.

Cross-posted HERE.

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.

Greatness

I'm definitely still riding on an ambitious high after meeting with Wake's own Dr. Ian Taplin, sociology professor by day, North American editor of the Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management by night. (Baller? Check.) So there exists an entire professional academic work dedicated to the field I love. Call me a "fashion dork" as I was already titled in the fourth grade (precocious, no?), but after spending the majority of my afternoon writing a strategic management plan for a company selling sensors (it actually pains me), I was beyond excited to engross myself in research papers like "The relationships of fashion leadership, fashion magazine content and loyalty tendency" and "Indian consumers' brand equity toward US and local apparel brand".

Yes, I'm serious. Stuff like this is real and I could not be happier. Sure, there's the creative aspect of fashion which is perhaps the first to come to mind, but there also exists this entire psychological/operational side that the majority of those who claim to "love clothing" tends to overlook. That's the difference between fashion esoterics and the non. Or maybe, just the difference between business majors and the non. Basically, I love my life.

This being said, it's rare to find individuals that so truly personify fashion itself. You can dress up and paint a man or woman however you'd like, but if that individual doesn't exude fashion, chances are, he or she never will. The aura of conveying personal style and sophistication is something that simply can't be forced-- the more nonchalant, the better. One of these It Girls is the always-lovely Camilla Belle. I've pretty much had a girl crush on her ever since she played adorable Sydney in Rip Girls, and it is now possible that she's one of the most gorgeous women alive. Belle is the perfect spokesmodel for Vera Wang's Princess, and I love how literally everything she wears plays up her distinct dark features and adds to her sultry mystique. Taking a cue from Zoolander, the question is, does she know how really, really ridiculously good-looking she is? There's one thing I know for sure-- if I were Camilla Belle, I would never get tired of looking in the mirror. Like ever.

 

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.

Holly Golightly: the most classically classic woman of all time

Oversized shades, a perfect updo and that stunning open-back Givenchy LBD. The image of UES socialite Holly Golightly eating a pastry and gazing into the windows of Tiffany & Co. at 6 AM is more ubiquitous around college apartment living rooms than silly bandz are on the wrists of elementary school kids. I wholeheartedly understand and agree that Audrey Hepburn has become a cultural fashion icon personifying all elements of class, luxury and good taste, but if only the girls who share such a so-called adoration for her clothing would just adopt her practices of dressing, instead of just jumping on the bandwagon by tacking her image up on the wall...

Besides being breathtakingly beautiful in every way possible, Hepburn as Golightly epitomizes New York City high society and the beneficial significance of sartorial perfection. Her outfits accurately translate the character's emotion-- all-time highs as well as pitfalls-- and I could only dream that my wardrobe was as incredible as hers. Even when performing a hauntingly soothing rendition of "Moon River" on the fire escape in a simple cotton top and headscarf, Hepburn looks amazing, giving a new meaning to the recycled term "casual luxury". Perhaps my favorite look of the entire film is the cream one-shouldered toga frock she donned as the hostess of a banging apartment soiree (the cops were called-- Audrey knows how to rage). Not only was this dress considered darling in the sixties, but it could easily be worn in today's context and be just as fashionably powerful.

I say this time and time again, but fit and form were clearly much more of a priority to people in earlier decades than now, as these concepts are executed moreso in this movie than can be found anywhere else. This totally doesn't have to be the case, but why have we as dressers in the 2000's become so damn lazy? Instead of always looking pressed and polished like the hunky gentleman George Peppard, guys now seem to  just throw on whatever's clean, then wonder why the hell girls aren't flocking after them. Similarly, girls resort to purchasing blah garments created of subpar fabrics that "work", or ridiculously-priced items stamped all over with designer logos, but don't flatter them in the least and contribute nothing to the style pool. Bo-ring. 

I'm not saying tailored tweed suits and shift dresses emphasizing clean lines are the solution to every single occasion today, but people, please clean yourselves up. If everyone simply honored this understanding of fit and dressed with as much flair as the characters in Breakfast at Tiffany's did, the world would just be such a better place. There would be no more trashy colorblocked elastic-waist dresses, heinous crochet-neck babydoll tops (undoubtedly paired with so-boring J. Crew shorts) or flimsy floral sundresses that were probably constructed for less than a dollar. When I'm baller, I really am going to make it a point to save the world.

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.

Redefining classic

As a 16-year-old, I was a pretty smart cookie. Besides managing to sneak out to New York City every single weekend (as well as getting home in time for dinner Sunday night and being bright-eyed and polished for class the next morning), I just knew Aimee Cho was onto something with her line, Gryphon. I first stumbled upon the genius collection of trenchcoats while browsing a Bloomindale's mailer and fell in love with the crisp, clean lines, the top-quality fabric and the entire idea of totally reinventing the trench. What a reformed concept-- borrowing a brute soldier's staple item, tweaking and upgrading it a bit, and turning it into a young lady's very own fashion statement.

Now, if only their models weren't so incredibly lame. Frankly, with some of these ridiculous poses, they'd be better suited baking a pie for the new neighbors than doing these pieces justice. Just saying.

Wince-inducing models aside, Gryphon is a now household name among those who appreciate the best of the best. Practical, sophisticated and fun, a Gryphon trench multitasks with ease. Capitalizing upon unexpected detail and playful touches, Gryphon does a fabulous job of keeping our interest and remind us the importance of a structured (oh, and useful) piece of outerwear, as well as branching out to other categories... I want just about every pair of sequined shorts they've designed, nbd. I'm so excited for the day I can finally add the perfect Gryphon trench to my wardrobe. It's been a long time coming, and as much as I knew Cho would eventually make it big with her line, obviously part of me wanted it to remain my little secret. Yes, story of my life. But who ever said selfish was all that bad?

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.

No words

There are those inspirations whose magnitude reaches so far, I can't even begin to describe it. Mr. Scott Schuman, otherwise known as The Sartorialist, is up there at the top of the top. Not only is he one of the most influential fashion photographers in history (his On The Street... entries constantly reinforce the idea that effortless, not-a-thought-more style can exist anywhere at any time), but he himself is a strikingly handsome guy who understands the concept of well-tailored garments through and through.

Thank God.

So as I sit here withering away in my usual breakout room, I can't stop myself from reminiscing about New York City. Some may call me anxious, stuck in the past or even plain obsessive, but I've succumbed to, and now wholeheartedly embrace, the fact that the city is where I belong. Browsing The Sartorialist's archives all the way back to 2006, I've come across some of my favorite NYC shots, even re-collecting some images that I saved in high school as my favorite inspirational outfits. It's incredible how just one photo and street name can deliver memories, scents and songs of just a few months ago when I was undeniably in my element. Whether it was running office errands to pick up random items like sponge brushes, venturing into Woodside for authentic Filipino cuisine or discovering the best boutiques of the Upper West Side, I was always truly content with my surroundings. I can't even fathom how many times a day I would think to myself, "only in New York..." when something outrageous would happen, regardless of my specific location. It really is the only place like it in the world.

This post is dedicated to NYC in all its stylish glory, brought to you by The Sartorialist. I'm really at a loss for words (and time), and I know that nothing I say will do justice to what the photos convey.

Ladies...

(These last 3 are perhaps my favorite of all time.)

and Gentlemen.

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.