Feminine, But Un Poco Strange
This Rochas Pre-Fall 2017 collection speaks to me on many levels;
1. It speaks to my penchant for clothing that is more granny conservative than anything.
For the record, I'm not a prude. I like girlish things, but I also think I'm at my best when my personal style hits a slightly masculine tone, translating into some authoritarian power that only I can feel and tap into and thus make me a better creative leader. If this sounds like nonsense to you I think you're a damn liar. Think back to the last time you felt fucking strong and smart. Now think about what you were wearing, because I'm willing to bet you remember the exact components on your body down to the finest detail.
Personal style to me is personal branding, and personal branding (like branding branding for companies and such) is at it's best when it's authentic. There's nothing worse than wearing a dress you're not too comfortable in so you spend the whole day tugging at it distractingly when you'd rather be wearing some trousers. Tangent: I love that I spent a decade career in creative advertising, PR, and now editorial and all the skills acquired and refined have been equally useful for my style philosophy.
Fun fact, summer is my least favorite season because it's all skin and no layers — boring.
2. It speaks to my mood these days, which is less to do with my job, but more to do with the uncertainty of ...life and the future it holds. This ain't a political statement. Well, fuck it, maybe it is a little bit, but it's also a quarter life crisis statement in which my entire life's work has lead me to a position I love but there's a tugging feeling that I want to do and be so much more. Power trip? Not so. Search for meaning? No. Just a crux, a ticking clock in my head (and heart, blah) that is nagging at me with each second of each day to do something. It could be anxiety -- which I'm prone to — but I've got a feeling that it's more tangible than that. Now how to act on it?
3. It speaks to my need for consistency.
My closet is so tiny now. No lie: I recently got rid of anything I don't wear in 6 months. Special occasion dress? See ya. Special high heels for special nights? No. Bye. High maintenance tops that require excessively delicate cleaning rituals and therefore are unwearable most of the time? Goo riddance, and Goodwill.
My mom described my style recently as "muy feminine, but a little strange." This was the ultimate compliment! It was a lovely compliment because although my beautiful mom certainly is not a fan of many things I wear, she respects my choices and consistency enough and so well that she has my own style dialed in — maybe even more than her own! (This is not a knock on my mom, whom I love dearly, but it's more falling in line with the trend that people find it easier to analyze and label others confidently more easily than themselves).
So back to Rochas.
This collection speaks to me. Simple. It's not breakthrough fashion, but it's thoughtful, emotional, and consistent. All the things my life needs right now.