The Art of Aging Gracefully (I)

This is perhaps not the best title for a post ever, given the context of the film. I watched Amour (2012) over a small glass of Rosé back in March with a French buddy C. Everybody did a marvelous job, from  Michael Haneke to Emmanuelle Riva, who I thought really should have won the Oscar (instead of Jennifer Lawrence with her good but terribly overrated performance in Silver Linings Playbook (2012)). That’s one of the main reasons I hate the Oscars: it’s all politics and not really about awarding who is truly good in the industry that year.

While they may not have aged particularly gracefully in this film (not really a spoiler), they at least look the part. I liked how the film chose an honest depiction of a couple growing old together, which is at times frustrating, infuriating and painful—a good reality check for those (ahem me) who constantly romanticize about getting older. I can’t be the only odd one who does this: you can get away with ignoring stupid societal norms, first priority seating on public transportation and everything else for that matter, with all the time and the means to pursue your hobbies. What’s not to like?

That aside, I am now convinced that the key to looking understated chic when you are 65+ is a dark minimalist wardrobe. I love how the ladies over at Advanced Style look, but I personally aspire to the way Georges and Anne look here. The fuss free, über-utilitarian feel of their clothes strongly appeals to my sensibilities. Anne is proof that you can wear a hair band and not look like a silly school girl and/or remotely Blair Waldorf-y. Might I add they also have the dream bourgeois apartment.

I hope the screen caps are okay, considering it’s the first time I’ve made them myself. This is part I of II, on style, age and consumer perspective.

Things of Note, May & June

It’s been a long long time since I’ve done this sort of post. I shouldn’t be surprised that June has already rolled around here but I am. Fashion has been quite low on the scale of importance/need of wants so I guess I would just be sharing some things on my mind at the moment that are not necessarily related to the wardrobe per se:

• Sicilian Dreams by Tom Craig for Vogue Russia. The best summer holiday themed editorial I have seen this season thus far. I have to admit I have a strong Arizona Muse bias. See the rest of it here. 
• Lomzynianka. I didn’t even know I had a taste for Polish food until I came to this place in Brooklyn Greenpoint. It’s BYOB, so I brought one of my favourites, Weihanstephaner Hefeweissbier. Most recommended. Website here.
• Black tie formal wedding this Fall. I just received the invite for my cousin’s big splashy society wedding come September—ughhh. I am happy for her to be sure, however it does add considerably to my budgeting woes. The most fancy garments that I currently own are cocktail dresses at best (yeah I was that girl who skipped prom in high school) and I’ve been sternly told by my aunt (my cousin’s mother) that as part of la familia that won’t cut it. GREAT, JUST FANTASTIC. I should just count my blessings that I was not made a bridesmaid. *dodged that bullet*
• Still on the fence about the navy blazer. Yeah I’m still drooling over it in my sleep and I understand it’s probably truly worth it; however there is a part of me that wishes it would be so hot in D.C. (and it probably will be) that a navy blazer would not, understandably, be required. I’ve decided the best course of action would be to follow Kali’s advice that I should just wait and see what my senior colleagues wear. Should I feel too underdressed, I will get it.
• Housing woes. Just when I thought everything was set in D.C., I received a surprise email saying that I could no longer sublet from this alum due to a change in management rules. I suppose nothing can ever work out too perfectly for me, eh?
• Falling out of love with fashion, but still in love with style. I’ve been thinking about my recent waves of ennui regarding fashion since I last wrote about it and comparing it to Amanda’s latest post. I’ve come to realize that I falling out of fashion again (ceasing all contact with bull$hit fashion news etc.), which has happened to me before during the tail end of my high school years. That being said, I can always appreciate good style, which is often easily confused with fashUN but in reality are two very different things. If you were wondering whether I would still talk about fashion style, then this is the latest update on it.
• American Vogue on Youtube. Having said all of that on fashion just before, it’s a bit of contradiction to say that I’ve been enjoying most of the content uploaded the Youtube channel of Vogue US. If they put Hamish’s new show (called “Vintage Bowles”, I kid you not) then I will watch it. It’s still a few steps behind the kind of videos that Mr Porter puts out regularly, but it is by far superior to the content offered by Net-à-Porter. 
• New haircut desperately needed. I hate this mop that’s sitting on the top of my head that passes for a hairstyle. It’s long overgrown but per Chinese custom regarding the recently deceased, I can’t. Cut. My. Hair. For a month. It’s hot in Montréal these few days, so it’s been hell. I suppose I should learn how to braid my own finally and attempt those heidi milkmaid-ishy hair braids. Yodeling and the Sound of Music comes to mind...is that the name for it???

Facing the Inevitable

VIA

I am sure all college students go through this at some point: the transfer from collegiate casual dress to something a little more professional. I have been luckier than most, in that my internship last summer in Greece had basically no dress code. Whereas this summer, working in relatively conservative environment in Washington D.C. means I can no longer get away with wearing whatever.

Thankfully, due to my obsession with menswear, I already have a good steady rotation of button down shirts, chinos and a great pair of tan wingtips to boot. What I am lacking is a great navy blazer, which to me would be the cherry on top of a great business casual wardrobe.

For my search for The Great Navy Blazer, I headed to Soho. After my eye exam at Warby Parker (just got a pair of Preston in whiskey tortoise!), I beelined for my usual hotspot of Uniqlo. I couldn’t be more disappointed since they usually have a great selection of office basics, which is replaced by designer collaborations and subpar summer prints. As Zara was nearby, I popped in just to check it out. I couldn’t find any navy blazer that I liked but I was awed at how on point the prints at Zara were. Someone either hacked into the Céline/Liberty London/J.Crew HQs or my mind, but it was very hard to walk out of there without buying anything. Thank god I’ve trained my willpower through periodical shopping fasts and general curation (more on this later). I did eventually found THE perfect blazer at J.Crew in the end—it was everything I wanted from the lining down to the buttons but sadly it costs more than what I would’ve liked. I’m still mulling over it because it was just that beautiful and utterly flawless. It would be a worthwhile investment as navy blazers are classic.

Last but not least, after seeing these cute pair of heels at Miss Sophie's Les-Antimodernes, I have been thinking about getting them too. Not only are they affordable, but they will be very forgiving for a complete heels n00b like me. At my height, heels are not necessary but knowing how to walk in a pair of heels in my books is still a good skill set to have.

So here you go, a complete update with regards to my stance on shopping and what I’m currently looking for. I can’t wait to start writing full length pieces again for C+C once I’m settled in Montréal.