one of the best things about fashion is its capacity to cloak a person in disguise - an eternally black-clad minimalist can go acid washed neon-happy in the blink of an eye if she so chooses, and as long as the final results are aesthetically pleasing, it's no harm, no foul. even so, sometimes i find myself craving things that are bit of a tough pill to swallow. while i save up pennies in pursuit of a perfectly androgynous, avant garde piece, a preppy inclination currently lurks dangerously in the farthest reaches of my fashion consciousness. i indulged this whim recently at rugby, hoping that the purchase would quell this bizarre whim, but every now and then i catch myself daydreaming about packing a vera with lilly and running off to martha's.
i'm not quite sure how to handle this, but past experience has taught me that suppressing the urge won't help. i might as well just give in and wait until the desire passes. at the same time, i refuse to join the campus cesspool of conformity, mindlessly donning polos paired with riding boots and a barbour jacket. it's not that i don't appreciate the classic ruggedness of barbour jackets, but my individualist spirit would prefer if i could figure out a way to channel prep with a healthy dose of my own personal panache.
while researching upcoming boston events, i found down:2:earth, which is, among other things, a "marketplace for eco-friendly products." their second annual exposition is taking place this weekend, so i took a gander at their exhibitors, zeroing in on the fashion vendors. again and again creates handbags, totes, messenger bags, and christmas stockings (too cute) out of recycled sails. i'm particularly enamored of their peace sign tote, considering my obsession with the symbol and its origins in semaphore. my only complaint was that the selection was somewhat limited. ella vickers, who will also be at the d:2:e expo this weekend, solved this problem. she also repurposes sailcloth, but her offerings are considerably more numerous, ranging from dog beds and duffel bags to yoga bags and my favorite - shower curtains. achieving a prep vibe in a subtle, environmentally conscious manner - i couldn't ask for more.
in other news, i've never really considered myself a huge "shoe person," much as i love them, but i'm pretty sure my heart stopped when i saw topshop nyc's shoe lounge on refinery 29. take me there?
14 comments:
ahhh I've totally been there-- I have a white and light blue pin-striped blazer from Rugby that is almost OVERWHELMINGLY preppy... As my style has evolved, I too have felt slightly confused by the continual magnetic pull of J Crew basics, but your post has inspired me-- I think I'm going to wear it TOMORROW!
-Ava
http://www.aandhblog.wordpress.com
It's always good to go in some...other...direction after an androgynous stint.
And why did you tell me about the shoe lounge? Goodness.
I really like the way you write - especially the 'campus cesspool of conformity' - I particularly liked that one.
The NYC Topshop looks quite a bit like the Oxford Street one in London which is insane, it is always waay too packed and there are so many stylish people in there it makes you feel so inadequate! We have Topshops in every city and most towns so all the hysteria seems really crazy but I have to admit, there are few high street shops that rival it.
NAY to Conformity nad YAY to you doing you. It's why I am drawn to your page!
N gosh If you start going to TopShop the Jewellery is insane.
love the nautical styles here! And those boots are amazing, I've always wanted some.
thanx - love your moodboards!
love these images you've put together, i've always loved the white & navy stripes :)
I went through a (mercilessly brief) preppy stage in college. But you're right, you can't fight the urge. The harder you fight it the longer it'll stick around. I usually try to indulge all my fashion whims to the fullest. I figure now--when we're young and relatively attractive--is the time to do it!
you have some awesome writing skills
I think that lounge would turn anyone into a shoe person. *swoon* Thatks for showing Down:2:EArth. A very great store, and the fact that it's enviromentally friendly is a plus.
vampire weekend, definitely the way to go .
love the vampire weekend look!
i definitely want to go to the topshop store, pronto .
it looks amazing .
You go girl. Never conform.
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