Idiosyncratic Style

The unexpected loss of Alexander McQueen brings tragedy to the fashion world.

Alexander McQueen

Paying my respects to his life and genius, I look back at a decade of Alexander McQueen’s brilliant collections to bring you a list of the thirteen looks that I personally love, dream about owning and would wear forever…

Alexander McQueen Fall 06 | Fall 07 | Fall 06 Collections

Alexander McQueen S01 | F03 | S07 Collections

Alexander McQueen S08 | S08 | S06 Collections

Alexander McQueen F10 | S10 | S09 Collections

Alexander McQueen S04 Collection

What Alexander McQueen garments do you dream about wearing?

Depending on where you live, winter can present serious fashion dilemmas by stressing a need for warmth. Residing in frost bitten Canada, these are my best ‘below zero’ tested ways to beat the chill in style.

Sweater by Banana Republic, Socks by Falke, Silks by Hanro, Toque by Forever 21 and Jackets by Canada Goose

Take it from the top
It doesn’t take brains to figure out that you need to cover your head in order to maintain a comfortable temperature. A knit toque is a time-tested way to keep your brain from freezing, but stylish options are endless. Toasty toppers can range from the neo-snood to the come-back of the Russian fur hat, so finding one that suits your idiosyncratic style should be easier than shoveling the driveway.

Winter Hats by Michael Kors and Nobis

Get your piggies in a blanket
On certain days of the year, industrial winter boots (such as Sorels) are a must, but if you don’t want your podiatric style to suffer, simply slip into ski socks. The warmth they add to your fair weather boots will make all the difference. If you live in a really cold climate, it would be worthwhile to buy your favorite fall foot trends a half-size up to allow extra room for even the really thick ski socks.

Ski Socks (clockwise) by Bridgedale, Marks & Spencer and Thorlo

Cash in on cashmere
Even the lightest weight cashmere will go miles in it’s abiity to keep your core temperature from dropping. Cashmere is now available at so many different price points and in such a wide variety of styles that there simply isn’t any excuse not to own this classic closet staple, wherever you live.

Sweaters by J Crew

Slink into a second skin
Just like zipping in a lining to your fall coat, adding a thermal layer will winterize all your fall faves. Afraid of adding too much bulk? Invest in 100% silk long underwear, they are ultra-thin without losing the power of heat retention. Still worried about bulk? Use the oldest trick in the book and layer nylons underneath your jeans.

Thermals by (top) Kari Traa & (bottom) Ginch Gonch

Go for the golden egg
If you are the type of person who can never be too warm or if it’s just so cold that all else fails, invest in the best, The Canada Goose. These parkas are on par with getting a full body hug from the fluffiest, friendliest polar bear! Seriously, explorers wear them on arctic expeditions, a-listers wear them shooting in deep-freeze locations and anyone I know that finds Canadian winters just a little too cold for comfort embraces even the coldest snowstorm in a Canada Goose coat.

Jackets by Canada Goose

How do you keep your marshmallows toasted and rumps roasted all winter long?

Dear Mr. Clause,
I like to think that I have made the Nice list once again and that any Naughty acts will surely be forgiven in the name of good intention or harmless consequence. Since you’re the busiest man in the biz, I figured I’ d make life easier by providing a gift guide with ten things I want and the tangible ways to give them.

Clear Vision
Although I am still in love with the Burberry frames you previously gifted me,  a girl needs stylish options with her functional accessories. I adore these clear framed J Crew glasses, they’re a geek chic necessity and work with any color combination.

Brain Food
You know I love books and you always deliver when it comes to my fashion library. To help you keep up the good work, I suggest 100 Years of Fashion Illustration, Vogue Covers 1920 -2009, Style A - Zoe and/or Who What Wear.

Daily Cheer
Happy colors can upgrade any mediocre mood. A large Kate Spade bag in Robin’s Egg Blue would significantly add the the color spectrum of  my daily fashion roster.

A Beautiful Smile
Santa, I sometimes need a little help from beauty elves, so don’t forget to add a little Lip Venom and White Strips to my stocking so I can feel good about smiling ear-to-ear even when facing one of life’s obstacles. 

A Little Eye Candy
An interesting accessory can make-over even the most tired outfit. I love the deco inspired pieces from House of Harlow, like the Sunburst Leather Earrings, Cocktail Ring and the Leather Cuff. They could re-ignite an old favorite LBD in an instant. 

Good Health
This year I read Skinny Bitch and it was the catalyst that motivated me to opt for a healthier lifestyle. With a commitment to eating right, Skinny Bitch in the Kitch will certainly help me stay the course and take care of myself.

Old Faithful
When in doubt,  go back to basics. There are certain staples every closet should not be without and Ralph Lauren Oxford Shirts are always a welcome with me because no matter what my sartorial mood they never let me down.

The Fountain of Youth
Santa, I did turn thirty this year and to ensure that I continue to get carded regularly, let’s try the Dr. Wexler’s Anti-Aging Starter Kit since the last Dr. Wexler product you got me worked so well.

To Walk the Walk
As a fellow boot loyalist, Santa, you can understand why I must have a pair of black leather over-the-knee boots.  I really like the Givenchy pair (inset) as well as the more affordable Aldo boots.

The Gift that Keeps on Giving
Why let it all end on December 25th? A subscription to a favorite fashion glossy like Nylon, Vogue, Italian Vogue, Strut or InStyle would make me as happy as a kid on Christmas each month of the year.

As always Santa, these are only suggestions and I’m grateful for all the gifts I receive all year and as long as I have the love of family and friends, everything else is just icing on the gingerbread cookie (but,  i really do love the icing). 

Thanks for the many years of successes under my tree.

Love always,
Kristen

This season, I am totally in love with…

1. Eighties Inspired Silk T-Shirts
Many retailers have revived these shirts, but if you are a dedicated treasure hunter you can still find them in thrift stores. I recently found two 100% silk tees for one dollar each. They are stylish, comfortable and versatile. You can wear them with jeans and boots or a skirt and heels. Silk tees are also a fantastic way to add some color to your existing fall wardrobe full of darker basics.

Silk Tee images from Ritten House, Rag & Bone and Jeans West

2. Plenty of Time - Stacked Watches
Bunches of bracelets and stacked bangles have been highlighted in recent trends, but using watches instead can really add some extra interest to the overall aesthetic. I especially like the look of combining newer architectural watches with delicate vintage timepieces for an appealing juxtaposition. Mostly though, I really love the metaphoric idea of giving myself a little “extra time” on any given day.

Stacked Watch images from Fashion Idie & Jak and Jil

3. The Reinvention of the Snood
In the past, snoods functioned much like the modern day hairnet, but more recently the term snood has been used to describe knit tubes that can be used as either a scarf or a hood. The contemporaray snood closely resembles the indie fashion scene’s “scoodie“. Contemporary incarnations of the snood are beautifully knit pieces that offer fashion with function. Just like a great chunky scarf, you can wear it to spruce up your outerwear, but you can also leave in on inside to keep cozy.

Snood images from Vivienne Westwood, Missoni & Burberry

4. A Classic Grey Sweatshirt
Although heather grey sweats may seem like an unlikely fashion hero, I consider it to be a personal closet staple. I know that sweats have a complicated history and the power to take down an otherwise capeable fashionista, but sweatshirts and even classic sweatpants will always have a little piece of my heart. They are reassuring, familiar and loyally there for you, though usually, hopefully, safely inside your own home. But this sartorial-misfit deserves to be taken out once in a while and if you play your cards right, it can actually help you get that uncomplicated, inherently cool, laid back chic look.

Grey Swatshirt Images from Style, Uniqlo, Jak and Jil & Chicismo

5. Old-Fashioned Sock Garters
Before technological advances enabled socks to be made with elastics, men wore garters to hold up their socks. Since stocking garters have been popping up among the trendy it is no wonder that the mavens are opting for the less-glamorous, but more unique, sock garters. I love their interesting and slightly industrial visual appeal, they carry all the nostalgia of their sister stocking-garters without the over-sexualized stigma. I cannot wait to find a place for them in my wardrobe via Outsapop’s DIY post.

Sock Garter images from Lookbook.nu, Outsapop and SWANclothing

What are you in love with right now?

If any of these stylized creations came towards me in a dark alley, I’d run for my life. There is something about each image that evokes a sense of fear, but since terror can mimic falling in love (pulse races, chills pursue, quickened breath, a locked stare, paralyzing fear and if your lucky, a false sense of bravery), it is no wonder that I am completely mad for these 10 creepy collections.

Alexander McQueen - Fall 2009

Alexander McQueen sent an amazing collection down the runway for Fall ‘09 and any of them, especially miss umbrella-head, would have been right at home among the residents of Halloween Town in The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Gareth Pugh - Spring 2007

The stunning geometry of this Gareth Pugh Spring ‘07 paralyzes me by conjuring up terrifying imagery of Lewis Carroll’s The Jabberwocky. 

Maison Martin Margiela - Spring 2009

The faceless creature that graced Maison Martin Margiela Spring ‘09 runway could have been that freaky little dead girl coming out from the well in The Ring.

Christian Dior - Spring 2006

Rather than garbs fit for royalty, the Spring ‘06 Christian Dior show featured garments worthy of a religious madman spreading Christianity, post Dark Ages.

Alexander McQueen - Spring 2001

If a runway show taking place in an insane asylum wasn’t creepy enough, for Spring ‘01 Alexander McQueen hit the nail square on its head by sending out this beautiful dress and tapping into our latent Hitchcock induced ornithophobia.

Gareth Pugh - Fall 2008

The looks from Gareth Pugh’s Fall ‘08 runway show induces childhood fears by reminding me of the Wicked Witch of the West’s castle guards in the Wizard of Oz.

Comme Des Garcons - Fall 2005

Comme Des Garcons’ Fall ‘05 show felt like a delicate after-death moment  similar to the scary, solemn sweetness that was created in the séance from Beetlejuice.

Alexander McQueen - Fall 2007

This artistically crafted piece from Alexander McQueen’s Fall ‘07 show swept across a red sand pentagram in lieu of a traditional runway and evoked the same kind of spine-tingling chills as the presence of a medieval torture device.

Gareth Pugh - Fall 2007

With alien-esque skin and transparent futuristic textiles, Fall ’07’s Gareth Pugh collection had a very eerie Marilyn Manson moment circa The Dope Show.

Comme Des Garcons - Spring 2008

Stephen King’s It forever changed the reputation of clowns from friendly smile-makers to nightmare factories. Comme Des Garcons’ Spring ‘08 show delighted in the unassuming terror of clowns like the legendary Pennywise.

What creepy collections do you love and which ones just scare you?

Photos from Style.com

I am completely in love with all 3 seasons of the British teen drama Skins. The show’s storylines are entertaining, but what has me hooked is the fantastic styling of costume designer, Edward K Gibbon. Edward creates costumes that tell you something integral about the character upon visual observation, but that are also completely stylish in their own idiosyncratic way. I am infatuated with all almost all of the character’s style, but somehow narrowed it down to my top five.

1. Cassie Ainsworth Season 1 & 2
Cassie beats to the tune of her own drummer. She favors vintage and one-of-a-kind clothing that give her a style all of her own to match her quirk-ridden personality. She battles personal demons of self-loathing manifesting as anorexia and other self-destructive behavior, but she is the first person to see all the wonderful qualities of others.  Life never ceases to amze her and she is in a constant state of “wow”.

2. Effy Stonem  Season 1, 2 & 3
Effy is a complex character and the only one to play in all 3 season. At times she is a wee bit of a sociopath, like her brother Tony, void of any outer emotion and manipulating others feelings in a human chess game. At first, her style is good English girl by day, wild child by night, but by season 3 she is an all the time bad girl. Her style is total f*cking rock star. Even when she is dressed trashy, there is an editorial quality to the look that makes you want to be at least a little bit like her.

3. Naomi Campbell Season 3
Naomi is extremely passionate about her ideals, politics and principles. She isn’t afraid to stand up for what’s right and that is evident in her style, which stands out on it’s own and doesn’t feel the need to follow any trend of the moment. She is often headstrong and certain of herself, until, well a personal journey takes place which leaves her certainly unsure of herself. Her style is always full of interesting ideas that will inspire personal style.

4. Chris Miles Season 1 & 2
Chris is the consummate party boy. He is the guy you think you will hate, but you end up loving. Chris is always up for experiencing whatever life has to offer and without thought will follow wherever the fun is taking him. Chris lives in the now, he does what will make him the happiest in that particular moment, which is evident in his personal style which is part clown, part raver and all pure fun.

5. Thomas Tomone Season 3
Thomas, an immigrant from Congo, is full of unconditional love for life. He has a maturity and a human kindness that isn’t often found in teenage characters. His style is never fussy and showcases his cool, casual and bright disposition. If there was a character that I wished was a real person in the world, it would be Thomas.