Wednesday, February 04, 2009

a new modesty

Another new year, and more personal style adjustments continue. As much as I loved Alexander Wang, and the rip, stud, shred look that graced the fashion blogs throughout 2008, I'm now after a more clean look. Less of the holey tights and dirty denim. More streamlined silhouettes, maybe longer hems, and a modesty with less embellishment that gives a knowing nod and reflects the contents of our purses.

I'm not saying that a global recession should cause us to dress like nuns, I'm all for a bit of flirty body conscious dressing, but I'm interested in how the economic climate will effect the way in which we dress and am particularly inspired by examples of outfits (see below) that demonstrate just how sexy covering up can look.

I'll be keeping my blazer out for longer, working with block colours, contrasting proportions, sturdy leather boots with wedge heels, peg leg trousers, high collars. The French flavour of simplicity with simple black polo necks and thick tights. For colour red velvet shoes and a flash of bright lippy or nail polish.

This is no new look, I just feel we all forgot what existed before Alexander Wang and Erin Wasson danced onto the catwalk championing street grunge a few seasons back.

[boyish+french+chic.jpg]


clockwise from left: play knit comme des garcons jumper (£165 from Dover Street Market); twist lock holdall bag £35 from topshop; classique perfume by jean paul gautier; mens shirt £30 from topman, keyhole tapered trouser £35 from topshop; rarity heel £60 from topshop.
images, the sartorialist and mentioned sites

19 comments:

Brooklynfluff said...

Thank you for such a refreshing post! We have been overrun by the Alexander Wang aesthetic and I had been thinking a lot about when the look will come to a screeching halt and seem completely dated. When that does happen, I don't want the entire contents of my closet to be obsolete, so I like your approach!

Annabel Wendt (LoveMore) said...

such a cute and preppy look! lovely!

xxx love LM

Charlotte said...

I love this llok but I can't stand the white socks here. They seem to ruin the whole outfit for me :(

María said...

I love Play Comme des Garçons' knitwear...

Anonymous said...

I saw this picture on The Sart's, makes me want to belong into a prestigious private school in London.

Yummy mummy, that maroon color.

Flavia Flanders said...

great pieces, the shoes are the best ones.

WendyB said...

I'd definitely be up for seeing people who don't cut their skirts to pubic-bone level.

molly said...

im not a big fan of the preppy look personally, but those who can pull it off get props from me

S* said...

the boy-ish look is always great! I love it!

young-shields said...

wonderful post, you deserve to be contributing to all the fashion magazines. y-s x

Siru said...

I am on the same way, but would go to the calvin klein -way.

juliet xxx

Make Do Style said...

V cute look and nicely boyish.

Nikki said...

i very much agree. was never for the whole grunge look anyway, just absorbed bits and pieces of it. i've always leaned towards the clean look. good luck with your new fashion path! =D can't wait to see pictures.

Eyeliah said...

I saved that pic of Sarts too, its such an inspiration!!

A. said...

yesyesyesyesyesyesyes!

i am absolutely dying to find myself a perfect pair of trousers.

to go with my lace button up, naturally.

x

ps, love the choice of perfume ;]

July Stars said...

I couldn't agree more. I'm already bored of the whole Alexander Wang dirty urban silhouette. And this picture by the Sart went straight into my inspiration folder as soon as I saw it. I found the perfect trousers to emulate this look a while ago: Farah!

Rosanna said...

i saw this photo in another blog and immediately fell in love with it too :)

xoxo
www.littlemissdressup.com

Fashion Tidbits said...

the Wang team was definitely revolutionary, ey?

Natalie said...

Ha! I saved that picture on the sart on my fashion pics too. One of the best outfits I've seen on the blogs in quite a while.

I love the outfit you have put together though. I've said it before and I'll say it again- you are great at putting outfits together. I really like the bag- could last through many seasons, I love the cut of the trousers- they look a lot more expensive than what they are and I love the boys shirt- I've alway been a fan of masculine tailoring anyway!

Check out my blog guys: http://millesimeetperles.blogspot.com/