Dope Ambition

In one of the only Vogue‘s I actually respect, new face Anna Lundgaard channels her inner androgynous badass in sharply tailored menswear-inspires suits, slouchy sweaters and enough hardware for all of us.

Swoon.

images via///

I probably don’t need to refresh you on the the endless (and I mean, omnipresent, non-stop) controversy that continues to surround Video Games singer Lana Del Rey. Pitchfork caught on to this uproar early on, and interviewed the singer on her background and how she is perceived by her listeners, both those who love and claim to despise her music. Comment threads below every story and music video at times read like raging letters to the editor…the editor, of course, being the music industry. Supposed music fans are angry at the music industry and at their peers for giving so much attention to and caring so much about the future career of such a “fake” singer who, OMG, used to look like a normal person and now looks glamorous.

It seems many of my peers are outraged that Lana Del Rey (formerly, Lizzy Grant) is a “product.” Links to “before-and-after” Google images claim she’s gone under the knife and lost weight to become the badass, Nancy Sinatra-esque, slick-talking vixen we see pouting into her laptop camera, flipping her hair with angst and oozing sex appeal. And my major question, and answer to the impassioned Lana Del Rey haters, is: so the fuck what? Why are we so obsessed with authenticity? Did Holden Caulfield pitch a tent in our brains and start calling “bullshit” on everything that somehow seems phony? Are we so hungry for something “real” because in an era where we use emoticons to express ourselves and we have thousands of “friends” across the internet, we’re all scared of becoming cyborgs who can’t tell real-life from pseudo, digital life? Do we want to point fingers at anything even remotely constructed because we want to prove our own realness? “She’s fake,” seems to be the echo across the internet, but the part left out, and implied, is: “and I’m not.”

Lana Del Rey has only recently made her big debut; today, the equivalent of a musician’s debutante ball, announcing his/her presence to society, is a music video that goes swine-flu viral in days. “Video Games” did just that, (18.7 million hits), as did Tyler the Creator’s “Yonkers” and Kreayshawn’s “Gucci Gucci.” But while Kreayshawn’s authenticity has been a point of debate, or at least a topic of conversation, we weren’t as quick to point fingers. Perhaps it’s because we know she won’t last, that she was a one-hit wonder that will milk her fifteen minutes, or maybe it’s because her “package” isn’t so overtly sexual, glamorous, fashion-focused. Her identity seems less shallow, but is it?

So, Lana Del Rey’s appearance, look, sound, tastes…they’re not a product of the music industry, because she’s new there. Her appearance, look, sound, tastes, are a product for the music industry. Just like Lady GaGa tried on many identities as a singer before her come-as-you-are, freak-like-me, open-sexuality-embracing identity struck a chord with fans, Lana Del Rey found her voice and her looks a home in the beautiful-bad-girl image she’s currently selling. And it’s working. If people feel as though they are being duped, it’s only because we want to see everything. We’re used to seeing the Kardashians poop on TV and we’ve seen every fallen celebrity’s naked photos. Now we want, no we demand, Lana Del Rey’s evolution from normal girl to superstar-on-the-rise in photos, antidotes from “inside sources”, and a tell-all book . But what will this prove? Lana Del Rey is not trying to be the next Bethany Cosentino; she’s on the road to becoming a pop star. And, I’m sorry, but which of our most beloved pop stars were ever “real”? Putting on identities is part of the fun…it’s supposed to be about the smoke and mirrors. Madonna, the Spice Girls, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus…they’re all fake, and they’re all monstrously rich and successful pop stars.

Music fans should stop focusing so much on if their favorite musician got a nose job, and start giving more fucks about the path the singer is taking. Even if Lana Del Rey’s entire identity was constructed down to her number of eyelashes, she is, in a way, already remaining authentic to her identity. She’s posing for magazines that are fitting to her image, and using social media mainly for professional reasons. I often wonder if all the discussion surrounding her background and her looks will somehow stop her from becoming a star. But I think that even those people who are painting her with a scarlet letter F for Fake somehow connect with her videos and her look, or they wouldn’t feel so strongly opposed to it all.

Authenticity in pop music is an illusion. Tell the Holden Caulfield in your brain to chill the fuck out.

Okay, so we all know Tom Ford is notorious for his lusty ads that drip in sex first and fashion second. Even when he was on Oprah to promote a Single Man, my mom and I both shifted uncomfortably, knowing both of us were stupidly turned on by his gay-but-still-alluring sex appeal. And so.

And so, I see this Tom Ford ad and instead of “wanting to be the girl in the ad” – as in wanting to be skinny, wearing designer garments and paid thousands of dollars – I want to be in it because it looks fucking fun. I want a male model to bite into my calf like it is a leftover drumstick from this year’s Thanksgiving feast while wearing Tom Ford’s jewel-toned, silk ensembles while Tom Ford himself takes pictures. If anyone told me it’s not as fun as it looks, I’d call them a down and dirty liar.

(Also: Tom Ford originally hired Mert and Marcus for the gig, but probably decided their photographs looked like every single other ad campaign shot by the duo. And then he decided to do it himself. Because he’s Tom Ford).

images via/// fashioncopious

Sometimes it may seem street style photographers snap anyone with a clashing print or neon bag, and the women in these pictures end up reblogged on tumblr a million times over. When I interviewed William Yan, he even mentioned the over-population of women milling about SoHo, wearing something attention-grabbing, hoping to be photographed. But amidst the trendiness and, at times, outrageous ensembles that end up circulating the blogosphere, style icons emerge, whose style is more personal and authentic than the spotlight-grabbing wannabes.

I‘ve admired Harper’s Bazaar Australia fashion director Christine Centenera more than a few times over, but a few others have entered my focus as of late.

Enter: the Belgian import behind Tales of Endearment, Natalie Joos. She gravitates towards a bit of a preppy style, but almost always puts her items together with an ounce or two of irreverence. Her more classic silhouettes are always given an edgy accessory, her chunky knits paired with sequins or metallics. But with minimal hair and makeup (and um, those legs), even her more loud ensembles are anchored by simplicity and a pop of prep.

via///trendycrew///vanessajackman//the rest from tfs

images via /// fashioncopious

If the world doesn’t end in 2012, I think it’s going to be a pretty awesome year. In 2011, we (apparently) recently emerged from an economic recession, and the process of recovery has been a bit slow. We also saw the birth of revolution across the country, with the Arab Spring in the Middle East to the riots in London to the unwavering Occupy Wall Street Protests that picked up international momentum. And with the 2012 presidential elections shaping up to be an interesting fight for America’s trust and affection, 2012 will likely prove just as important when it comes to cultural shifts and uproar from the masses.

Perhaps I’m getting older (just turned 24!), but after following some of the trends that took shape over the past few years, I am ready to scale back to the basics. Looks I’ve gravitated towards recently are minimal in silhouette, but pack punches where it counts: in elements of design, precision and details you can admire from afar, but have to see up close to truly appreciate. The spring 2012 runway shows saw their fair share of neon and acidic hues, but many of my favorite collections were rooted in blacks, whites, neutrals and, my favorite: pastels. Cool, icy blues and minty greens look sharp against black and white, and the sumptuous leather top at Celine made me want to reach out and touch it. But the common thread between most of the looks I like are the lack of gimmicks; if I have to read how to wear an item, to hell with it. Give me craftsmanship over a trendy technique any day.

Likewise, street style exploded over the past year, but my favorite snaps are those of women who wear something well. It’s easy to stack trends on top of one another as bait for the ever-present street style photographer, but women like Christine Centenera have always managed to look like themselves, no matter how decadent or paired down their ensemble.

I guess it’s pretty simple; what I want out of my creative life is a bit like what we want out of our country’s leaders: not simplicity, but precision; not over-analytical, but meticulous; not showy for the purpose of the public eye, but appealing.

Or perhaps I’m trying to make too much of a connection. Either way, enjoy.

1 - balenciaga spring 2012

2 – carven spring 2012

3, 5, 7 - from Mr. Newton’s street style snaps for Harper’s Bazaar

4 - artworks by erika keck

6 - lingerie as art

8, 9 - celine spring 2012

10 - paintings by alex kanevsky 

11, 13  - ports 1961 spring 2012

12 - lamp lifeboat ladder -///

14 - artworks by hunt slonem 

15 - friend of mine boots 

16 - jil sander spring 2012

17 - preen spring 2012

18 - acne spring 2012

19 - YSL shoes pre fall 2012

20 - snake prints

21 – barbara palvin via tfs

22 - hakaan spring 2012

23 – anything and everywhere christine centenera wears (here, from mr newton’s  street style snaps)

A little like three blind mice…! Well, perhaps only syllabically. Pardon my inner English-nerd.

While winter weather in New York has been remarkably mild (just the climate change taking effect, no big deal), I still can’t abandon the idea of traipsing through the city in a beautiful winter coat. I actually don’t have one at the moment; my winter coat is more like a heavy fall jacket that dearly wants to be a winter coat. However, it lacks warmth and inner layers, and most importantly, it lacks stripes, something I’m obsessing over a bit at the moment.

With the mention of the word “stripes,” one might recall nautical-themed Yuppie ad campaigns, or Where’s Waldo lost in the world (word to Kanye West), or the Cat in the Hat. But this season, stripes are cooler, more tailored and anything but the default pattern for those afraid of taking risks.

Take for example, the Acne farrah-stripe coat. The rounded neckline is perfect for those of you who love peter pan collars, but the belt and the length are easily dressed up or down for those trying to optimize their wardrobe. (mucho expensive)

This Alice + Olivia one is fun, with a detachable faux fur collar for if you’re feeling a bit fahhhncy. (kind of still expensive)

This last one was a Polyvore find that is totally affordable…if you have a job and a little extra money to spend on things like striped coats.

Just in time for the return of Mad Men, Meghan Collison channels her inner 1960s housewife in an editorial for Vogue Russia’s January issue, photographed by Ben Toms.

Her look is a bit harsh, but the ensembles are dreamy in creamy pastels and innocent prints.

COME BACK MAD MEN!

via// fgr

Karlie Kloss (a fellow St. Louis native, NY transplant!) has had quite a tremendous year. To top it off? A series of superb photos by Hedi Slimane. Can someone take a tape measure and hold it up to her legs? Her thighs alone, I think, span the entirety of the majority of my body.

Head to Hedi Slimane’s diary to view all the images of the series.

If you’ve followed my humble little blog life since the beginning, you know I don’t pronounce style crushes freely. Saying I have a crush on the way a woman puts herself together is almost as sacred as saying I love you (ALMOST!). I take it too seriously to go throwing the words “style crush” around frivolously…someone could get hurt! However, I’ve been following (read: drooling over) Christine Centenera’s style for years now. In an environment where many editors are severely put together, she always has a detail or two that’s a bit off, and she wears it like a badge of honor.

The fashion editor of Harper’s Bazaar Australia, Centenera was at the forefront of the street style explosion back in 2009, and has since gone on to win the hearts and admiration of the masses…especially Kanye West. Yeezy even asked Centenera to consult on debut fashion line, DW…results notwithstanding.

Aside from the back story, I came across this photo on Stockholm Street Style and my soul fluttered a little. Centenera gets it right because she doesn’t strive but perfection, but rather opts for some messy hair and minimal makeup with a startingly beautiful white coat. P.S. Does anyone know who designed these shoes?