Tavi: The Style Rookie

Tavi Gevinson teaches me how to dress for fun, in times when I find the management of my appearance to be only an expensive and overly-serious affair. She has a delightfully distinctive sense of style that she never imposes upon me--she leaves me to my own aesthetic, reminded of what I already knew.

Her blog The Style Rookie deals seriously with feminist issues as well as personal style. I'm glad I'm reading now, and I only wish I'd had Tavi around in middle school.

Alexander McQueen - Fall 2010

Alexander McQueen's last collection speaks to the royal dignity of the individual. To some this may seem incongruous, given the circumstances of Lee's death. Yet I would say that an insistence on the truth of individual dignity is what allows someone to fight as long as Lee did.

The automatic dignity and worth of each individual is, without a doubt, the value I hold most dear. I've learned that others don't necessarily hold this value, especially in regards to their own self-worth, which many think to be earned. As of now, this is the point of view I'm (earnestly) working hardest to be able to relate to.

Style Statement

The idea of verbalizing a "statement" to define your personal style isn't new. What's unique about Carrie & Danielle is that they're not into superficial Spice Girls labels like "Sexy," "Sporty," or "Posh" to describe your style.

Style is a broad word for Carrie & Danielle. It's the shoes you wear and your wildest dreams. It's your favorite movies and the way you organize your desktop. It's who you are and who you want to become.

This book will help you sum it all up in two words.

My style statement is at the top of this page: Sound Flow. The first word of a style statement represents your foundation; the second word represents your creative edge.

Whether I'm buying a new t-shirt or recentering myself in the middle of a busy day, I've found my style statement to be incredibly helpful in my every day life. In Sound Flow, I find affirmation, challenge, and ultimately inspiration.

It's both my aesthetic and how I tick. This blog is devoted to everything that says Sound Flow to me.

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Lucy Sun is on vacation until Monday, September 28, when regular posting will resume.

Fashion's Night Out

Tonight (9/10) is Fashion's Night Out in New York City. Hundreds of participating retailers across the city will be open after-hours, in a citywide effort to restore consumer confidence and have fun while doing it. Many retailers will take clothing donations for AIDS-related charities in the city.

There's something nice about shopping at night--perhaps it's because many of us do indeed feel more confident at night than we do at strange hours of the afternoon.

I tend to make better purchases in the evening than I do during the day.

Kraft Clothing Pantry

There is a perpetual clothing drive going on at the Kraft Center for Jewish Life, located near the Columbia University campus on West 115th Street (between Broadway and Riverside, across the street from Schapiro).

To make a clothing donation, simply walk into the revolving doors, tell the person at the lobby that you'd like to make a donation, and he will direct you to the Kraft Clothing Pantry.

H&M in Harlem

When H&M first opened a store in the heart of Harlem two years ago, I didn't know how it would last. Ohn two separate occasions, I saw peaceful , passionate protests in front of the H&M, during which the protestors yelled that the store did not hire black people. I looked into the shop window to see a skinny blonde girl hanging up clothing.

I visited the Harlem H&M yesterday and was greeted by a black doorman. Locals were employed in the store, and other locals shopped joyfully. The store is doing a good job of prominently displaying the clothing that looks particularly good on black skin tones. Along with Harlem residents, Columbia students made up a good portion of the shoppers. There were no signs of discomfort--H&M has found a way to become an expression of Harlem, rather than an intrustion upon Harlem.

Michael Jackson Glove by La Crasia

As Michael Jackson prepared to kick off his worldwide tour this year, he chose Brooklyn glove manufacturer La Crasia to make his signature silver glove.

In honor of Jackson's life, supermodel Agyness Deyn wears the La Crasia glove on the cover of Harper's Bazaar Fall Fashion issue. The silver glove has made its mark on pop culture, and fast--for a limited time following Jackson's death, Facebook users were able to send each other a virtual silver Jackson glove.

La Crasia is still making the silver Jackson glove. You can order it for $40 plus shipping ($5 flat rate to anywhere in the US). The exterior of the glove is encrusted with sequins, so the glove is not the most comfortable in the world. Also, the glove sheds sequins from time to time, so wearing the glove everyday is, unfortunately, a no-no. Wearing the glove to parties is, however, a daring go-go.

Charm Bracelet

Springfield, MO artist Denise Kozal makes a delightfully simple charm bracelet.

Charms include Scrabble letters, Mah Jong pieces, inspirational words, and more.

Kozal offers a lifetime guarantee on all her original jewelry.

Denise Kozal is stationed at the Farmers' Market at the Battlefield Mall on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 8:30 am to noonish.

Harper's Bazaar: Fall Fashion

The September issue of Harper's Bazaar is the best Fall Fashion issue I've seen in my life. I've always admired Bazaar for their clean layouts and, more generally, their ability to clearly communicate the moods behind trends, so that all readers can adapt what they see to their personal budgets and styles.

This issue contains Susan Boyle's first high fashion photo shoot (she looks gorgeous), solid pieces for shopping in a recession, and fashion designers photographed with the cast of Sesame Street.

As always, there's Bazaar's trademark advice: invest in basics. Add a little bling bling, and you're in style.

(On newsstands now)

Max Azaria + Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus took over Wal-Mart a long time ago, but now she's bringing upscale designer Max Azaria along for the ride. Max and Miley have created a clothing line for Wal-Mart that is full of creative, inexpensive basics.

I purchased a cozy plaid dress from the collection. It's designed like a dream--100% cotton, warmly yet playfully colored, and it features sleeves that can be rolled for longsleeves or half-sleeves. Worn with leggings, it's also highly practical for fall weather. The only downside is that the dress comes with a sash positioned to tie around the hips, which flatters absolutely nobody, but the sash is easily removed and can be tied around the waist.

Missouri: State Tax-free Weekend

Today is the last day of the annual Back to School MO State Tax-free Weekend.

Pay zero state tax on school supplies, clothes, computers, and computer software and accessories.

There are price limitations, so read the official details here.

The Tribeca Collection

Most of the time, Coach handbags aren't my style. It's not as if I despise seeing a Coach handbag on anyone else--I just wouldn't feel myself carrying one myself. I like a structured handbag with clean lines, a small logo if any, and not a whole lot of frills. That's just how I roll.

I'm pleasantly surprised by the new Coach Tribeca collection. I would actually carry the tote at left. You probably can't tell from the small picture, but this tote is made of soft pebbled leather--my favorite material for a handbag.

For me, part of knowing my own style is knowing what I like and why, regardless of what I can afford at the moment. There are so many choices in buying apparel in any price range, and there's no reason to settle for something that I don't love, just because I'm not made of money.

On the Coach facebook page, you can print out a coupon and bring it in to any Coach store for a free pencil tin with a handful of colorful pencils in it.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Slow and Steady Wins the Race is a label that is part fashion design, part witty repartee.

Every two months, the designers at Slow and Steady Wins the Race release several pieces based on one standard wardrobe staple, pushing the envelope all the while. If the topic is "the sweatshirt," they'll make a sweatshirt blazer. If the topic is "the white button-down shirt," they'll make a white shirt with a zipper down the middle.

One of the label's favorite approaches is to strip a wardrobe staple down to it's most basic recognizable characteristics. An oxford shoe is reduced to its standard shape and large, loopy shoelaces--no embellishments. A high heeled-shoe is covered in unbleached canvas. The signature quilted Chanel bag becomes a quilted cotton bag attached to a gold-colored chain.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race loves blending the line between lo-fi and hi-fi fashion. While a Chanel bag gets totally stripped, a grocery bag is made out of alligator skin and sells for $1,000.