Posts Tagged ‘American Apparel’

Highway to the Danger-Zone

May 16, 2010

I have been so lazy this week. It’s partly the cold, but mainly it’s because I broke my headphones, so I have nothing to listen to when I go running.

My favourite song to hit the pavement to is Danger Zone:

Listening to this song makes even the most everyday activity feel exciting. The bus ride to work is so much more thrilling! You yield so much energy when washing the dishes! Picking out your outfit in the morning turns into an 80s fashion montage! And so on and so forth…

What I think will inspire me to get back into my exercise routine (besides buying a new pair of headphones) is to dress a little bit more athletic this week. I’m thinking Hervé Léger by Max Azria. The type of stuff you simply cannot wear unless you’re a person who works out.

The rules:

  1. Tight & stretchy
  2. Texture: perforated, stitching, lacing (like shoe laces), leather, jersey, netting, elastic, zippers
  3. Light & bright

Clockwise from left: Hervé Léger dress, MMM top, Audio Technica headphones, Casio Baby G digital watch, American Apparel high waisted stretch denim skirt

Now setting my alarm as Danger Zone… Hopefully it’ll inspire a morning jog…

What’s your favourite jogging song?

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Posted in Athletic, Soundtrack to my Life, The Eighties | Leave a Comment »

People are afraid to merge on the freeways…

April 23, 2010

I’m convinced I’m living in the wrong decade. I should’ve been living out my twenties during the 80s. I feel like I really got a raw deal. There are a few reasons:

  1. I have 80s curves (none of this stick-thin business)
  2. I have that frizzy/curly 80s hair (like Jami Gertz in Lost Boys)
  3. My favourite music artists include Phil Collins, Billy Ocean, Hall & Oates & Icehouse
  4. My favourite literature is from the 80s (Bret Easton Ellis, Jay McInerney)
  5. I think guys were way hotter in the 80s (James Spader, Andrew McCarthy, RDJ)

Clockwise from left: 80s curves, RDJ *sigh*, Jami Gertz's hair, Hall & Oates, J.Spade *swoon*

So here’s my super minimalistic style guide for 80s in the office (which might not actually be very appropriate for the office at all, but happens to be similar to what I’m wearing today):

  1. Primary colours + Black & white – I love this simple formula… It always works!
  2. Tight minidresses – American Apparel has everything you could possibly need
  3. Wayfarers – if you’ve ever read Less Than Zero, you’ll know you’re nothing without your Wayfarers
  4. Low heels with a rounded point – super comfy, try & get them in snakeskin
  5. Matte red lippy – I love MAC in Lady Danger

Clockwise from top left: American Apparel Stretch Velvet Dress, Custom Shoes from Shoes of Prey, MAC Lipstick in Lady Danger, Two-Tone Wayfarers

So tease your hair out, slap on your Casio digital watch & rock out to Electric Blue on your way into work (preferably on your walkman).

Which decade do you wish you were living in now?

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Posted in Literary Influence, Nostalgia, Soundtrack to my Life, The Eighties | 1 Comment »

Androgyny: The Tux

April 17, 2010

I can’t compete with women at a fancy dress party. No matter what the theme, certain ladies seem to be able to turn their outfit into something overtly sexual. Instead, I often do the opposite & dress like a boy.

I caught a glimpse of Carrie Bradshaw wearing a tux in the new SATC2 trailer – so I think androgynous fashion could be set for a mainstream comeback.

Another young lady with a penchant for the cummerbund is American singer Janelle Monae.

Source: jmonae.com

She’s been gaining loads of popularity with this, her signature style (& probably her music… Can’t say I’ve heard it).

Here are some ideas about how you can incorporate tuxedo style into your work wardrobe:

Left: Barkins Shirt; Centre (from top): American Apparel Bow Tie, Mimco Gloves, Tony Bianco Shoes; Right: Acne Jacket & Pants

While I do feel really empowered when I dress typically female, something else comes over me when I dress in a masculine way. It’s beyond confidence… It’s more like arrogance. And it’s fun to play that part every once in a while – especially at work.

I often come across the debate on why women, on average, earn less than men & I really think it has more to do with with one’s attitude than it has to do with employer discrimination. In my experience, men are often more confident in their abilities, so they ask for what they want. Women feel as though they will be rewarded if the powers-that-be think they deserve it. But if you sit around & wait, it’s easy to fall behind.

The women I know who earn the most behave in ways that are typically masculine to secure pay increases – which basically means they believe they’re worth it so they ask for it. What’s your opinion?

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Posted in Androgyny, Cinematic Influence | 2 Comments »

Meeting with a very important magazine editor tomorrow, what do I wear?

April 11, 2010

No, it’s not Anna Wintour… It’s Jackie Frank of Marie Claire. I can’t tell you why I’m meeting her (confidential!) but I am slightly nervous. I’m secretly hoping that she’ll just be blown away by my sense of style & decide to make me her new fashion editor… Ha!

Anyway, I want to look serious & professional because I have a pretty important idea to pitch, but at the same time, I don’t want to walk into Marie Claire not looking like me.

So I’m just going to wear my favourite work outfit of Autumn ’10. Please note, this is not very corporate at all & probably wouldn’t be ok for a lot of jobs, but I work in advertising, so we can kind of get away with stuff like this (barely!)…

Clockwise from left: American Apparel Cotton Spandex Jersey Long Sleeve Criss-Cross Dress, Adidas Watches, American Apparel Circle Vest, Barkins Shoes

This obviously is a really sporty look! I’m a huge fan of the clingy mini-dress (not always appropriate for work). The circle vest covers it up to make it a little bit more demure but also gives it a more athletic edge, because it ends up looking a bit like a hoodie. My one is actually a mustard colour, which American Apparel calls “Dijon”. My Adidas watch is blue & was a gift my friends bought me while in NYC… They know me too well!

The Barkins shoes (which were a steal), make the overall outfit slightly more sophisticated.

I like to finish it off with a brooch, I don’t have a picture of my favourite, but something nice & bright (blue or turquoise to offset the watch) would work well.

Eiffel Tower Brooch from Etsy

Best advice, trawl some vintage stores or Etsy to find something cool & unique.

In terms of make-up; minimal is my preference for this look. Maybe a bit of mascara & a sheer lip-gloss.

Ok, bed time now. Meeting is at 10am, wish me luck!

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Posted in Athletic, Significant Meetings | 2 Comments »

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