Saturday, March 8, 2014

Game Theory

Lifestyle plays a key role in determining a personal style. I learned that following a move from a small barrier island in the Atlantic Ocean to the dark islet of Manhattan. Not long after, I was reminded to dress for the unexpected, to budget for surprise and maybe even invest in a good pair of shoes that can carry you comfortably from downtown haunts to uptown meetings. Let's not take ourselves too seriously here, but there is a nice metaphor: Invest in quality—be it ideas, art that you love, books you will read a second and third and fourth time, in relationships of substance—and you will be the wiser woman.

Which is why this season has been so uniquely exciting. We've seen wardrobe staples reimagined for life in 2014printed furs, opulent evening dresses, simple black pants with satin folds that mimic garden roses, and sweaters, knits, and overcoatsthat are wearable (read: sensible), chic, and refined enough to retain their good looks over the next decades. You could picture yourself in Valentino's fur for the next forty years, imagine openings and galas and performances in tandem with Aquilano e Rimondi's silhouette, and countless meetings held in the company of Alexander Wang's Balenciaga knits. 

Valentino

Aquilano e Rimondi

Balenciaga  

Simone Rocha

Glitz and Grunge

This season's Fashion Weeks have showcased some of the strongest collections in recent memory—strongest, of course being somewhat subjective. I'll rephrase: my personal style alarm has not stopped ringing since No. 21 sent a slew of nubby sweaters the color of moss down the runway paired with—what else—iridescent midi skirts and jewel-encrusted trousers.