.. right time, rainy saturday, to pass time at stylelikeu
Ruthie from Stylelikeu.com from Stylelikeu on Vimeo.
Sometimes it just doesn’t get better than an Hermes scarf and white t-shirt. Ruthie’s wardrobe tells the story of the person she is, one who is dedicated to the details and subtleties of the power of simple and beautiful things, much like her beloved Truman Capote novels. She is as sincere about the sartorial details of Rag and Bone’s take on the drop-crotch trouser as she is about everything she does, including keeping the dress from her sister’s Bat Mitzvah in her closet, just for the memory. I have known her for a decade as one of the best friend’s of my son Louis and she is as clean in her dedication to the people around her as she is in her white button-down.
Sah D'Simone from Stylelikeu.com from Stylelikeu on Vimeo.
Mix being born and raised in Brazil (“where everyone loves on you until you can’t”) with the consciousness to face your fears, step out of your ego and into your power, add a splash of abundant drapery and a love for hoods, and you have Sage Sah. Sometimes clothes make the person and sometimes the person makes them, but in the case of Sah, good energy and good taste are one. When I came to shoot him, he had his lovable posse of friends surrounding him and with total humor and charm, his impeccable uniform unfolded (which consisted of the best of black and the kind of clothes that are quest-enders or second skin). Since then, I have been obssessing on the punkish Rick Owens skinny stretchy pants with the classic tassel loafers and the perfect touch of the black Nike socks with the white swoosh. I would hire him in a second in anything he was wearing, including his “business look” of the Catholic school boy blazer with drop crotch pants and retro glasses. But it’s Sah in his shepard hat and robes that most exemplifies the light that he spreads on the streets of New York, while shrouded in both drama and mystery.
Natalie Toren from Stylelikeu.com from Stylelikeu on Vimeo.
I have come to many conclusions about style while on this magical sociological journey uncovering the style influencers of this time. However, probably foremost for me, is that those that dress for themselves resonate a certain confidence and taste that can only be found in not giving your power away to anyone when it comes to dressing yourself (P.S. the death of style is when women “dress for men,” period.) When Natalie speaks about being smart instead of the prototypical “sexy,” she means wearing a comfortable and very chic pleated high-waisted pant out to a club at night, instead of the expected miniskirt. As a result, she stands out in the most assured way. Natalie is a wealth of intelligence when it comes to clothing, and it shows in how thoughtful and well-edited her wardrobe is. Vintage Sonia Rykiel blazers for her are a mild obsession and give a sharp, polished aesthetic. (She claims they fit like a dream, even if they are two sizes too big, but doesn’t hesitate to cut them until right.) A lot of Natalie’s style has to do with the idea behind the things that she wears. On Sonia Rykiel, “I associate a breton stripe, a little flash, a little glitz. It’s very Parisian to me.” (Also very Parisian, to me, is her use of one perfect red lipstick, it made me want to wear it too, but in no way does it work, bummer!) Then there is the education from “Prof.” Natalie of knowing “the difference between getting one pair of amazing black pants instead of a millon from Zara” when speaking about her Maria Cornejo, “high-tech stretch fabric” leggings. I couldn’t agree more. We also see eye to eye on not owning one pair of strappy pumps – why would you, when you can invest in the much more provocative ankle boot with heels? They work with everything, but more importantly, give a dress the edge it needs. I love the way Natalie refers to herself as “remotely” sexy in her very unique-to-her combo of a 1960’s disco paillette tank, London schoolboy blazer, and 1940’s baggy silk shorts. Remotely sexy androgyny, feel comfortable in all dimensions of oneself – it is all the new flirtation
Olivia from Stylelikeu.com from Stylelikeu on Vimeo.
I love how Olivia’s entire wardrobe changed when she bought a motorcycle to travel on in the City. She went from floral dresses to layers of drapery, hooded sweaters, and leather. Her ingenuity takes her as far as to take a blanket that she found from Eastern Europe and turn it into a strapless dress to stay warm, and to turn an antique scissor into a necklace, in case of emergency. In fact, her accessories seem to be both time-honored and utilitarian, like the camera bag she uses as a purse. However, practicality doesn’t always rule. Despite Olivia’s recent obsession with shades of gray and degrees of warmth, she is suddenly in the mood for neon pink nail polish, orange lipstick, and denim jackets over peach chiffon.
and i LOVE the skirt/dress from Ruqaiyah Johnson
