Skyfall

The biggest event of the weekend was the new James Bond film Skyfall. It was it a more modern chapter in the iconic Bond story, but it also carries the style and class that defines the previous Bond legacy. It does this through clever one-liners, the general badassery of the hero, and of course, the fashion.

Where would Bond be without his tux? Not on Hollywood cameras, that's for sure. True fact: all clothes look gorgeous on Daniel Craig. I would even go as far as to say that he looks gorgeous even without clothes on, but this is not a blog about my celebrity obsessions.

Of course the the dresses worn by the various and in sundry female characters were to die for. But one thing that particularly stood out to me, even though it was on screen for a couple of seconds, was the shoes worn by Bond's fellow spy comrade., a devastatingly attractive woman who is even more devastating in every sense of the word when armed with a gun. In one scene, you see these shoes she's wearing, and they're platform high-heeled ankle boots. They were just the one thing that struck me as what showed this movie was made in 2012, which is pivotal to the theme of the modern Bond. It also shows the progression of Bond over 50 years. It was a bold, very time-centered choice, and time is everything in this movie.

Another way the movie explored the new age of espionage and technology was in the quarter master, Q.  His costume reflected this perfectly. I especially love his glasses.

As James Bond is defined by his class and style, so are all his villains. Silva is no exception. Nothing says evil spy with internet power like this suit. Take note of the shirt he's wearing. At first I was put off by the pattern on the shirt, because it just screamed crazy at me, then I realized it fit the character perfectly. What I like about it is how it stands out, which is what a spy is not supposed to do. Think about Bond's monochrome suits. This choice of shirt is a statement about how twisted Silva has become and how far he has strayed from M16. 

Seeing Red

Now I am nothing short of a political junkie, and I paid close attention to the election, and stayed up well past midnight to find out election results. Of course President Obama was re-elected, a resounding victory for Democrats and a blow to the Republican party. Of course all the news networks are speculating on what the next move of the Republicans will be, and how they will regroup for mid-term elections in 2014 and the next presidential election in 2016.

My stance on political fashion is to wear purple and encourage bipartisan collaboration. But I know you Republican readers may just want to show your party pride in spite of the recent election results. Really, I was just planning this post to be about how to wear the color red, but when I sat down I realized the color had a special meaning to a major group, I had to comment upon that.

Red should only be worn in every day fashion in the form of subtle finishing touches on your outfit. It adds a splash of color and makes a huge statement. "I may be cool on the inside, but on the inside I'm a raging fire."

                             

Using red in your outfit is a good way to ease into a more adventurous style, if you're the shy type trying to make a bigger statement. Just little touches of red: watch, earrings, and shoes. It's bold fashion that is understated, with subtle class.

Fashion in the Field: Day 3

Some more outrageous styles:

So this is my amazing friend who is an unbelievably talented artist and often has sentences beginning with something like, "So I was riding this crazy horse in Argentina..." She is, however, incredibly modest, and when I told her to pose, she became uncomfortable and had no idea what to do. So here's an excellent idea if you're model is nervous. Just keep them moving and talking, and snap a photo really quick while they're at ease and not focused on trying to think of a good pose. 

Work it!

Fierce! 

These shoes are super awesome. They're white Toms that my friend drew on. They're really cool because A) One for One: Buy one pair of Toms and they'll give shoes to a child in need. Often times a love of fashion can weigh on my conscience when I consider who made my clothes and what living conditions they endure. B) They're comfy and practical. C) THEY ARE COMPLETELY UNIQUE!!!!! I cannot stress how important this is in your fashion choices. Your fashion needs to be about you and reflect your personality and identity. This is a great solution to that. You can turn these shoes into your own thing using creativity and imagination.

Shuttered Shades

Is it just me, or are these glasses really, really dumb?

Apparently their proper name is Shutter Shades, and they were originally a thing in the 80s, which is why they're so bizarre. Case in point:

Anyway, Kanye West brought them back into style, and I will never understand how this happened. Yes, they look cool, but they're not exactly practical. That's probably why people wear them. If Kanye West is cool enough to wear glasses that act as blinders, then obviously it must make you SUPER cool to have obstructed vision.

Fashion in the Field: Day 2

Here are some pictures I got of excellent fashion in its natural habitat:

Love the trend in lace shirts. 

The stripes and purple jeans just perfectly capture her personality

I LOVE bird patterns on clothes, and the greens and the belt are perfect together.

I also spotted this lovely display of patriotic style:

Yes we can have good fashion sense!

I also saw the coolest t-shirt today. I was walking to class, so I couldn't stop him and ask for a picture, but it was super awesome. It was blue, and said "keep calm and eat cookies." Cookie monster was where the crown normally is on the classic British World War II propaganda poster:

Normally I don't endorse regular wearing of t-shirts and not putting effort into what you wear, but I'll make an exception for this one.

The lesson to be taken away here is to always be original as possible, and embrace the unique. Some of my most successful outfits were ones I feared wearing to school because I was afraid they were too much of a departure from the norm. One of my friends came to school wearing one of the most fabulous and interesting things I had ever seen, and after I had gushed over my love of the outfit, she said she had owned it for more than a year, but had never dared to wear it to school. So go for it! Fashion shouldn't be all about submitting to mainstream culture and trying to be something you're not. Your fashion should embody your identity. It's quite empowering. To all you closeted fashionistas out there, I simply say, "WORK IT!"

Fashion in the Field: Day 1

I appreciate good fashion. It makes my day to see people seriously workin' it. I'll often take note of these outfits and use them for inspiration in shopping and clothing selection and combinations. Here are some outfits that get my seal of approval:

I was eating dinner out downtown when I realized I was in a perfect location for some fashion photos:

Then I saw the cutest Vespa in the world and something inside me just couldn't resist:

It's not often that I have the resources to have something resembling a legit Vogue type photo shoot, but this is one of those really awesome times when karma pays off and the universe grants me a wild Vespa. Fashion is a bit like that sometimes, too.

Falling for Accessories

Fall season has come and a new period of fashion and dress has come with it. Personally, Autumn is my favorite season, because it has rich colors, perfect temperatures, and is a time associated with everything from school to pumpkin spice lattes. 

Fall accessories should reflect this. Everyone can wear jeans and a cute blouse, but it's really the accessories that make the outfit. Here are my suggestions for basic accessories that are the sprinkling of pumpkin spice on your latte:

1. Boots

Boots are an essential accessory. They are the shoes of Fall. You may be thinking that boots aren't terribly unique, because EVERYONE wears them these days. But it's for a very good reason. Boots are sturdy, comfortable, and warm. This works great for the average person trying to bring some chic into their lives, because outfits should be practical above all else. Boots are both classy and practical, and perfect for your Fall wardrobe. 

2. Scarves

Scarves are a must-have. They are incredibly warm and the perfect topping to an outfit. The best thing about scarves is how unique they can be. There are so many colors, patterns, and types of scarves to choose from. You can even make your own scarf if you're talented and coordinated enough (unlike myself) to handle knitting needles or a crochet hook. Then there are so many ways to wear the scarf. Put these two amazing qualities together and the scarf can embody who you are and act like a fashion Patronus. 

3. Leggings

It can be so hard to let go of wearing cute summer dresses when the leaves begin to change color. But with leggings, you don't have to. Just pull on some leggings and POOF! you have a fall appropriate outfit. Like so:

Summer/Spring

Fall/Winter

Same thing as with the scarves, leggings come in a zillion different colors and patterns. Just use your creativity and you can make interesting looks that are adaptable to the season. 

4. Elbow Patches

Elbow patches may not be your typical accessory, but that's what makes them so much fun. Cardigans and sweaters abound in Fall, and one way to distinguish your unassertive cardigan from the rest is elbow patches. And elbow patches are definitely in style. I've seen plenty of sweaters and cardigans with elbow patches in stores all over the place for the past two years. And if for some reason you can't find any cardigans with elbow patches already on them, go ahead and add some to a normal sweater. It might be a good idea to do some practice mock-ups beforehand (sewing the circles of fabric onto scrap pieces of cloth to make your stitching looks decent), but you can soon get the hang of it.