Wide-Eyed and Blind: monochrome

Showing posts with label monochrome. Show all posts

Thursday, 17 March 2016

One Good Tee

I cannot remember the last time that I did an outfit post but I felt really inspired to go back to my blogging roots and pop up some pictures of clothes that I actually wore IRL.

And the main motivating factor was this tee that I got at the Grimes gig in Dublin on Tuesday.

Not only do I love a good band tee and Grimes but I really like that her own artwork is featured on her merch. I made sure to buy it seriously oversized as it is the perfect statement tee that kind of does all the talking in an outfit. Basically, one good tee makes an outfit and allows you to look cool without having to think/try too hard.

Paired with some leather-look leggings, my trusty heeled ankle boots, a vintage black coat on top and a striped turtleneck underneath, there's a good balance of edgy and comfy. The beret softens the look and makes it cuter and more playful while the silver bag breaks up the otherwise entirely monochromatic look.

The result? Something I think looked quite cool, took two seconds to put together and felt like I was wearing pajamas.

Liked this post? Want more?

Follow me here using google friend connect or bloglovin.

Or follow me on tumblr - twitter - facebook - instagram.

Friday, 14 November 2014

COS SS15

COS is one of those brands with an identity so singularly well realised that any garments produced by the house are immediately identifiable. We expect certain things of their collections - ease, simplicity, pops of colours, delicate patterns, touches of androgyny and coolness. And all of these things are at play in the SS15 collection but there's something a tad more utilitarian than normal. One is reminded of Danielle Romeril's SS15 collection, of cool girls abandoning civilisation for beautiful surrounds...but not style. Netting and mesh, fish-like or mermaidesque metallics, camo shades, whites, peacock pops of yellows and blues, aprons, flowing lengths abound. Firm fabrics of utility contrast those of delicacy that float gauzily, masterfully, reminiscent of butterfly wings or translucent scales. The manmade imitating the beauty of nature. All the while retaining a sleek restraint and minimalism. Always self-editing, paring back. Never too much. And the overall feeling I take away is of this rustic urbanity. Of old fabrics and constructions and concepts used with new techniques and in new ways.

The house notes sport-luxe and the photography of Vincent Fournier and the fragmented typography of the work of David Ortiz as influencers on the collection and the styling of the lookbook certainly speaks to this. Which just goes to show that styling changes everything. The lookbook gives us sophistication and an editorial complexity beyond most high street stores but the base garments offer a more simplistic possibility. I'm imagining a summer bedecked in long sheer grandfather shirts from the men's collection over leggings with some Birkenstocks and ripped to all hell jeans with cloudlike tops. I'm imagining the impractical steadied by the ever-practical.

The accessories are perfect simplicity. Monochrome or made a transparent plastic with metal accents. A chunky cut-out heel or an elegant stiletto with elements of runners imbued.

That the menswear was so daring in lengths, cuts and fabric choices was much appreciated - by me, at least. The perfection of the pure white floatiness wasn't arbitrarily weighed down or diluted. Similar necklines and collars were present for both men and women and most garments were entirely wearable for any and all brave and stylish enough.

Can it be summer now?

The pieces will drop from February onwards in stages and I, for one, cannot wait.

Tuesday, 5 June 2012

Emma Stone at the MTV Movie Awards 2012

I happen to love Emma Stone - always have. I mean, yeow! But, also, (and on a less objectifying level) it's refreshing to see an actress so hailed by popular culture and critics alike that presents a positive role model for young women. Smart, funny, wonderfully sarcastic in addition to being beautiful. And after her reaction to the "Trailblazer" award, I have to say that she seems like a really genuine person. Of course, that could be her talent for acting shining through rather than any reflection on her personality whatsoever.

Recently, she has become a darling of the fashion world and in this regard I also have very few arguments with the girl. This post is merely a squee over how perfect she looked at the MTV Movie Awards this year; that sculptural Martin Grant with a kind of peplum and tulip-shaped skirt, the nudes and black, the detailed but subtle accessories and the understated but very polished hair and make-up. This is how you balance chic and youthful as a young woman in Hollywood - a statement dress + natural makeup.

Also, brief, but highly impressed, mention of Joseph Gordon-Levitt's outfit. Suave to the max.

Tuesday, 8 May 2012

Slayer Style - Fashion with bite (Sorry, couldn't resist...)

Fashion-wise I'm usually inspired by my latest and greatest t.v. or music obsessions. As it's exam season I've resorted to my usual exam obsession, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I first started watching as a child in, and of, the nineties and I didn't notice the fashion much then (which is good because pretty hit and miss much). Then the obsession caught me again in my mid-teens and once again during the ol' L.C. (Joss' genius was great for encouraging my denial of impending exams)

This time around I focused on season seven which was a pretty fashion-solid season for everyone involved; lots of lace, monochrome, cute denim jackets, beanies, long skirts or skinny jeans, everything accentuating and following the physique. And, of course, the "stylish and affordable boots" that Buffy quipped that she was shaking in to many a monster that she was fighting.

My style crushes are definitely Buffy and Dawn with the occasional appearance of Anya or Willow on my radar. Such a good season! Plot-wise and wardrobe-wise. The soundtrack also makes majorly with the inspiration.