New Year's Resolutions 1.0

How clever, right? But in the spirit of honoring what could have possibly been the very best weekend of my life, I think it's appropriate to concretely address my sartorial goals for the upcoming year. 2011. How the fuck did we get here? I honestly didn't think I'd make it past first semester freshman year (which happened, but just barely). Now, I'm sitting here with my sixth BlackBerry and officially-retired cognac H&M cross body bag (which has since been replaced by an Ann Taylor semi-quilted black leather gold-chain-link satchel, similar to the one below sans the bow, and half the quilting), and wondering what I can actively do in these next five (less than five, really) months in terms of improving myself before the culmination of this entire college experience: graduation.

Bow Quilting Single Shoulder Bag

Marc Jacobs, $550

I know this post sounds like it's headed somewhere lame and nostalgic, but one has to wonder what these past four years would have been like without say, my beloved/necessary Calloway locker, breakout room #117B (more recently, C), and of course, fratting hard and often. Engrossing myself completely in my studies and social life at Wake has influenced me in ways, but I still vow not to fall victim to engrossing myself in its rather defined culture of dress. After spending the past celebratory weekend in my favorite city in the world, something innate challenged me to go riskier than ever before. Marbled acid-wash denim leggings paired with 6-inch suede-velvet over-the-knee boots (foldover, and thus convertible to thigh-highs)? Done. I can't wait to see the look on people's faces when I break out my silver sequin shorts or massively torn jean cutoffs (thanks to a single day party, in fact) over a pair of sheer black tights to a lounge party. We shall see.

535 Legging in Old School

Levi's, $32

In keeping with my goal of making goals, here are the resolutions I've established, listed in descending order of urgency. (If you know me at all, this should not surprise you one bit.)

1. Yes, an outfit may look like it works. But would it make a statement when getting drinks at Soho House? If the answer is no, it'll be my duty to make it more interesting. For an outfit to be truly awesome, something should look a bit off about it. Being too obviously and consciously put-together is overrated. Effortless layering is way more fun. Unless I'm going to a business casual event or networking dinner, there are no excuses to looking shamefully safe and commonplace.

My philosophy of balance and layering in a nutshell, courtesy of LF Trend Reports. Nicely done, and totally inspirational. Shoutout to Kara Fabella on this one.

2. Make heels a regular occurrence. I'm absolutely not talking about some unnecessary pointy-toe stilettos, but rather, over-the-knee boots, gladiator wedges or heeled combat boots. It's normal in the city, so why can't it be here, too?

3. Make a constant effort to accessorize. This has been my goal since seventh grade, and I'll admit, to this day, I still haven't mastered it successfully. Don't get intimidated by how much a necklace or earrings will drastically improve the dimensions of the outfit. In the end, the ROI of taking the time to pick out the piece will be well worth it. Scarves are good, too, as long as I don't lose them...

4. Wear fur, studs, fringe, cut-out and leather at Wake, somehow, some way.

Wow. Seriously, what would people do if I tried to channel Posh or L. Lo while walking through the Swan Room? Lolz.

5. Look for pieces in places I wouldn't normally go. This break, instead of heading to the usual trusty suspects, I ventured out of my way and made some of my most versatile purchases (imported cowboy boots, oversized flannels and black suede lace-up booties) at Zane Western Apparel, Kohl's and Traffic... I'm dead serious. Initially cringe-inducing, yes, but after taking the time to filter out the 99% of absolutely heinous stuff, it's completely worth it.

6. Actually go thrifting. Man up. Stop being a snob, accept that other people previously owned these items and recognize that this may be the best $6 I ever spent on a jacket or knit sweater.

Both of these little boys' blazers (1, 2) were less than $5 from thrift stores. Baller.

7. Invest in blazers. Differentiate from my beloved black, pinstripe-lined original and explore different color palettes and textures, like velvet and herringbone.

8. Research a new coveted celebrity every few weeks and incorporate elements of his/her personal style into my own outfits on a daily basis.

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.

Things I want

Self-explanatory. Happy holidays.

Leather/suede shorts

 Leather Short

Silence & Noise, $128

Microsuede Short

Sparkle & Fade, $129

Scalloped Shorts

Chiffon Scallop Short

Lucca Couture, $48

Scallop Short

Fletcher By Lyell, $59

Vela Shorts

Leifsdottir, $258

Sequin shorts

Sequin Short

Sparkle & Fade, $29

Sequin Glam Shorts

Forever 21, $23

Sequin Hot Pants in Black

Forever 21, $23

Sequin Hot Pants in Silver

Forever 21, $23

Texture-esque shorts

Floral Jacquard Shorts

Forever 21, $18

Lace Shorts

Forever 21, $17

Jacquard Woven Shorts

Forever 21, $20

Dark-hued rompers

Falling Buds

Kimchi Blue, $49

Faux One Shoulder Silky Romper

Silence & Noise, $69

One Shoulder Romper

Lucca Couture, $69

Atypical tights

Two Tone Panel Tight

Urban Outfitters, $14

Garter Net Tight

Betsey Johnson, $28

Opaque with Glitter Back Seam Tight

Urban Outfitters, $14

Geometric Open Sheer Tight

Urban Outfitters, $14

Lurex with Hearts Tight

Urban Outfitters, $14

Pretty sure I just got a "lady-boner" from all this fashion goodness, as did my entire wardrobe. Sigh. Soooooo many ideas.

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.

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.

Edith Minturn

Even the most eloquent of words couldn't do my reverence for Edie Sedgwick the proper justice. I love that even now, forty years after reaching the peak of her fame, Edie and her personal style of fur coats, leotards and smoky eyeliner is still not only relevant, but considered totally inspirational to the most fashion-forward of minds, socialites and hipsters alike. I don't know which makes more of an impression, her casual, slurred drawl and seemingly-intoxicated laughter, or her unforgettable saga as a poor little rich girl turned overnight celebrity. From her signature dangly chandelier earrings to mod shift dresses and dark opaque tights, I love everything about Edie's style and could analyze her fashion photos for hours on end without once feeling the need to check the time.

Obviously, one of the most important elements of Edie's personal style is her willingness to challenge the strict boundaries of dress established by society. Her waif-like features are astonishingly perfect and I could not think of a person, living or dead, I would rather trade wardrobes with. Designer labels are secondary to Edie's look-- it's not about who you wear, it's about what you wear and how you wear it-- a philosophy I respect a great deal. With her popping doe eyes perpetually smudged with thick dark liner, Edie channels the quintessential sixties fashionphile. I'll just cut myself short. Much more could be said about this Factory Girl, but I'll leave the pictures to speak for themselves. I love.

"I had fun, but I didn’t really have anyone I particularly loved except for loving friends. But I have a certain amount of faith that it will come." --Edie Sedgwick

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.

I die

Very rarely do I go through phases of shoe obsessions (scoff all you want, I promise you it's true), but fall transitioning into winter has messed with my head in more ways than one. While I have yet to pick out the perfect heeled combat boot that was meant for me and only me, a drastically different style has caught my attention and refuses to exit my daydreams. Meet Zoe by Sam Edelman.

Sam Edelman

Zoe, $199

Not to too-closely reference the stylist herself, but these shoes are just to-die-for. They are quintessentially esoteric footwear. In reminiscing back a few months, I wonder what truly drew me to these jaw-droppingly hot booties. Besides the indescribably cool geometric shape, I also really loved that quilted harness detail on the side, reminding me of my chocolate brown equestrian boots (quilted Aigner logos on the sides, smooth leather at front and buckles at the ankle. RIP) which were impressively versatile. Go shoes with hardware. I love the fact that Zoe is not a wedge nor heel, but rather a hybrid of both styles. Usually, juxtaposing leather with suede freaks me out unless I'm proven otherwise, but this style is just brilliant. The fact that you can remove the harness lowers the dimensions of the shoe a bit for more conservative occasions, while still leaving a good deal of interest in place. Anything less is just plain unacceptable.

sans the harness via Zappos

Now, I know this shoe is quite the throwback to Balenciaga's 2006 F/W appropriately titled Harness Boot which was brilliant far beyond its time, but Zoe stands her own ground. While the designer original certainly served as inspiration for this style's creation, they are worlds apart. Both are appealing (please, who could say no to Balenciaga?), but I truly do think Zoe better personifies my style. The blunter chunky heel adds a greater degree of wonder than does the more conspicuously acute-angled heel of the Harness Boot. Zoe fascinates me in that while it channels a classic quilted handbag mixed with nighttime city chic, it also seems to be a versatile design that I could live in day in and day out (the feasibility of walking in nearly six inch heels on the regular, however, is another story).

This post also served as the perfect opportunity to reference yet again my undying love for the late Alexander McQueen's genius Armadillo Heels. I don't know what it is about freakily-shaped boots that look beyond-impossible to walk in, but some kind of splendor permeates these heels, making them so damn interesting to look at. Again, Zoe's anything-but-usual geometry is comparable to that of McQueen's famed hoofs; both are drizzled with intrigue and have captivated me completely. So, maybe it wouldn't kill me to invest the first $200  here and the rest in stocks as planned. I've never deserved anything more appropriately in my life.

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.