The Art of Clothes

Here is a blog post on what fashion means for the everyday person, by the ever-stylish David Aiyeniwon.
I coloured the sky red last night and I woke up with a blue sky. I saw a flower withering last night but I woke up and it was blooming. And I went to bed dying last night and I woke up Alive!
Fashion is an art; an art that people need to explore and study a lot harder. Fashion embodies so many emotions and so many thoughts. People think they enter a shop, buy some clothes and somehow think that they are not sending a message. The anti-fashion people are more into fashion, than the people in fashion because they have to know what is going on in order to go against it. The people that just don't care, care more than people who do.
My world is surrounded by fashion and so is yours! Open your eyes, clear your mind, look beyond your horizon, and look beyond what your eyes can see.
Fashion tells people who you are without even knowing your name. I was once one of those people that thought that clothes didn't say anything about you, until I started realising who I was. I realised that when people look at me, they see someone who wants to be seen and guess what, I do! I feed off the bad looks, the surprised looks and the impressed looks. This might sound like I am the most conceited or egocentric, however when I look in the mirror I see someone who is aiming for imperfection. Since I can't be perfect, why can't I be imperfect and find beauty in the imperfection?
You have artists like Lady Gaga, Isabella Blow (R.I.P), Anna Dello Russo etc.... that show their absolute devotion to fashion, and to art by wearing art fearlessly and boldly, while introducing the world to the art of clothes.
These women are the women that make me wear my skin tight skinnes and extra large shirt. And feed off the different type of energies from the people looking at me with admiration or disdain. Positive or negative, energy is always energy, it all depends on what you turn that energy into. If you let it fuel you or if you let it run you over and leave you feeling exhausted,
Fashion is and forever will make me and I forever will make it!
If you want to hear more of David's views on fashion, art and life check out his twitter page at http://twitter.com/italonigeriano8
Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of David Aiyeniwon

Frock Me! Brighton

Frock Me! hits the seaside town of Brighton tomorrow. Between 11am to 5pm at Corn Exchange in Church Street you can pick up those early quirky Christmas presents. Admission is £4 or £2 with valid Student ID and Under 16s get in free. So therefore there is no excuse if you're near the Brighton area for not having any ideas on a great family day out this half-term!

Fold-Away Fashion

Here's an interesting piece I came across the other day about taking green fashion to the extreme. I strangely kind of love it and honestly believe it would make choosing an outfit in the morning a whole lot easier! Let me know your thoughts. Here is the link....
http://www.ecouterre.com/issey-miyake-unfolds-origami-inspired-132-5-eco-fashion-collection/

Advancing Style

The other night I was lucky enough to chat (via phone) with the very talented and interesting Debra Rapoport, of the blog Advanced Style. Not only is Debra a joy to chat to but she also talks a lot of sense when it comes to expressing who you are through your wardrobe and gaining confidence in yourself (which she assures me comes over time).
Here is just some of the useful tips Debra had to share when I interviewed her...

Do you think having your own unique style is important?
OH YES...because you are expressing you...any and all days. It is how you present yourself to the world.
What is your view on modern fashion and how it is represented?
I don't really follow fashion...I rarely go into stores. However one store that I like is H&M because they are current and affordable. You can have fun with some of their items without spending too much..
I think the fashion industry is too CONSUMER ORIENTED and needing to keep people feeling like they are NOT GOOD ENOUGH if they are not wearing the current trends. I don't "believe" in trends. When you follow trends without any personal input you look like EVERYONE else! I believe in building your own image with elements you like and enjoy "PUTTING THEM TOGETHER".
Do you think it takes time to become comfortable with your fashion identity, and if so why?
YES...like any art form, you learn and develop as you go. There is a whole lifetime to explore, develop and change. It is about change, to embrace who you are at every episode of your life. Sometimes, like in any period of making art, you like your work more than other times. Everything builds on everything else. That is the process of life. But continue to have fun and see it as play.
Where do you get your style inspirations from?
I am inspired by particular garments, their shapes and the textiles. And a few terrific designers who work with great fabrics, interesting silhouettes and fabulous overall looks...like Comme des Garcon. Lillith, Morgan Le Fay, Rick Owens, Marni, Victor and Rolf
I also know what works and ENHANCES my body.....that we can learn, as we see if it FEELS right.
Who would you consider both in the past and the present to be a style icon?
I really don't have any style icons except perhaps for IRIS APFEL....
Where would you shop if looking a statement piece?
Comme des Garcon. Barneys for one of my few favorite designers, Babett. Rick Owens, Lilith. However often I try thrift shops and am often lucky, but that is a chance happening!! So if I need something at the moment ...which is not how I shop.... then I must go to special shop. I often just shop in my closet to create an outfit. I am always looking in thrift shops for something OUTRAGEOUS!!!! That is my constant past time!
If you had to pick three fashion staples, what would they be?
1. A really sculptural, fabulous shirt/jacket/top to really create an outfit and to set off the upper body and enhance the face. I think the neck and shoulders are very important as they show off the posture and attitude!
2. Really stunning sculptural shoes that say something.
3. An unusual/interesting/sculptural hat that enhances and frames the face.
Do you have any fashion and style tips for anybody who is struggling to find confidence in their own style?
Know your body and TRY to decide how you want to look and feel. Define the SHAPES that work on your body. Decide on a color direction you wish to go in....monotone, neutrals, bold primary, pastels, muted. Then try a variety of things, putting various things together and SEE/FEEL if it is making you feel the way you want. Don't give up ...keep trying and continue to play. That's why THRIFTING is great because you can experiment without spending a lot. You are also being very GREEN as you are recycling, being sustainable and helping a good cause! There are often MAJOR sales where all goods are $1. Then you can really have fun and experiment.
It is also important to apply several things on your body to make a statement...so add a scarf, a hat, socks, accessories and jewellery to augment the basic garments. Don't be afraid to try and mix things up.THEN REALLY LOOK and see what you see and feel.
Think LAYERING and Think BUILDING...I call it the ABC's............
A- assembling
B- building
C- constructing.
And finally, over the next 5 years if you could see one major change in the fashion industry what would it be?
For fashion to be more grounded as the fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters of the planet. For designer fashion to be more affordable, like what H&M is doing with its current designer ranges, and for more people to be WEARING HATS!
To find out more about Debra Rapoport please check out http://www.advancedstyle.blogspot.com/, and take a look at how fabulous you really can be and feel.
Photo Credit: Photo taken by Ari Seth Cohen of Advanced Style

Frock Me! Vintage Fair - Chelsea, 19th September 2010 - PART 2

Photo Credits: Photos are courtesy of Matthew Adams of Frock Me! Vintage Fashion.

Frock Me! Vintage Fair - Chelsea, 19th September 2010 - PART 1

For those people who have yet to visit a vintage fair, here are a few photos from last month's Frock Me! Vintage Fair in London, to give you a bit of a taster of what to expect and give you some inspiration.

Photo Credits: Photos are courtesy of Matthew Adams of Frock Me! Vintage Fashion.