So, remember how I was all in love with Chanel and decided that this year I would make my way towards purchasing my first piece of Chanel? Well, that mission was happily accomplished not too long ago. But now, I’m feeling an urge to move on…to a new design team.
My next goal in fashion is to obtain my first piece of Hermes.
I’ve got my eye on:
Let me explain this obsession to those of you who may not fully understand…
I have always had a deep appreciation for style in women’s wear. As a child I always had my preferences, as I’m sure any child does, for which types of clothing I would wear. As I entered adolescence, I found myself experimenting with unconventional looks to express my daily states of being – much to the shock and humor of my classmates at JHS 168 in Queens. The ridicule and scorn, teasing, the isolation, the egg thrown on top of my head, were all part of my defiance in defending this artistic expression of the self by way of fashion. Rocking bell bottoms and platform sneakers in 1992 wasn’t the hippest thing to do. And if I may toot my own horn, it took a tremendous amount of guts to simply be myself amidst a world where everyone was trying to “fit in” (and later bite my style, no hate).
High school was different for me. I went to an arts high school that was home to all the other people like me, so I felt free to dress as I pleased, experimenting with fabrics and materials and shapes. I actually had a hot pink rubber mini A-line skirt. In an environment that appreciated and reflected my own artistry, I felt unshackled. Until, of course, I got off the F train and had to board the Q2 bus back home. My peers in Queens were definitely not feeling me. But I didn’t care. I never cared.
And I’ve blossomed into an adult who is known for being “stylish”. And that is all right with me. I’m grateful to have come from a family of such incredibly stylish, graceful and beautiful women who have definitely helped shape my appreciation for this particular aesthetic form. For decades, I have had a keen appreciation for high fashion. I go through magazines and fashion websites, I attend shows at fashion week – and for the most part, I’ve used these showcases as inspiration and later find myself at thrift stores, discount stores, lower-end retailers, my grandmother’s closet, clothing swaps, my own room with some scissors and a needle and thread – creating my desired looks. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy this type of DIY and on-a-dime fashion sensibility and will continue to employ these tactics – but as I grow, I really do like to adorn myself with elegant attire from super creative houses of fashion. It’s been a long time coming, and I’ve definitely paid my dues!
Oh and in case you were wondering, yes, I would like to eventually move into equestrian arts – so this jump cap is part of an outfit in formation.
