Filed under style so good it hurts. This woman is my fashion idol. She's part of the school of "throw one more thing on before you leave the house" that I am more than happy to be a part of (sorry, Coco, simplicity just ain't my thang).
When asked to define her personal style, she says:
"The makings of where I have been. My journey.
The loves, the likes, the places, people, my West African ethnicity and experience meets the cultural assimilation of a Western upbringing…
Elements of each come together in the bright ‘flip through it as fast as you can for the full picture’ book that is my style. It is all the above.
What I wear by way of sleeve, bold lip, wayward or textured collar is a reflection of me with relation to a current headspace."
While my upbringing was in no way like hers, I can relate to the plethora of inspirations all meeting together in the same outfit. For me, wearing what is traditionally considered miss-matching items together is another way of embracing my cultural diversity. My closet tends to directly reflect this diversity, and I believe that is what drew me to become a fashion designer in the first place.
While our clothes do not define us, they do distinguish us from one another in a way that goes beyond race, creed, or class. The richest woman in the world can still appear to be dressed in rags (Raquel Allegra, anyone?) and I have seen a number of homeless women in downtown LA dressing themselves in glamourous, beaded gowns salvaged from someone else's lifestyle.
Now that it's spring, it's time to get creative and be loud. Why not try unexpected color combinations, wear a skirt over your dress, or a bustier over your shirt? But always remember, as they say, to each their own!
When asked to define her personal style, she says:
"The makings of where I have been. My journey.
The loves, the likes, the places, people, my West African ethnicity and experience meets the cultural assimilation of a Western upbringing…
Elements of each come together in the bright ‘flip through it as fast as you can for the full picture’ book that is my style. It is all the above.
What I wear by way of sleeve, bold lip, wayward or textured collar is a reflection of me with relation to a current headspace."
While my upbringing was in no way like hers, I can relate to the plethora of inspirations all meeting together in the same outfit. For me, wearing what is traditionally considered miss-matching items together is another way of embracing my cultural diversity. My closet tends to directly reflect this diversity, and I believe that is what drew me to become a fashion designer in the first place.
While our clothes do not define us, they do distinguish us from one another in a way that goes beyond race, creed, or class. The richest woman in the world can still appear to be dressed in rags (Raquel Allegra, anyone?) and I have seen a number of homeless women in downtown LA dressing themselves in glamourous, beaded gowns salvaged from someone else's lifestyle.
Now that it's spring, it's time to get creative and be loud. Why not try unexpected color combinations, wear a skirt over your dress, or a bustier over your shirt? But always remember, as they say, to each their own!
all images via Marian Kihogo
I love the mix of colors and prints.. Mismatching has always been one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteThe pop of pink on her lips is amazing!