Film Hedonism: DJing outfits pt II

 

It's been a while since my first post on the subject, but I kinda feel like I have to return to the topic : DJing clothes!

Sure, for guys it's super easy - jeans/slacks + tees. Or maybe a button up shirt if they're feeling fancy.

But the truth is clubs are insanely HOT places  (and somehow the DJ booth seems to be the worst with all the gear and stuff heating up; it was like a sauna when I went to Monseigneur!! I mean COME ON GUYS!!!) so you need summery things that you can layer since you don't get a dressing room where you can change - they should make that a rule tho!

So the easiest thing for me is simply wearing not too warm tights that I could eventually take off + those trusty American Apparel dresses. I really hope they don't discontinue this one, it's like my uniform!

I like the short sleeved version too, but the shoulders are cut too wide and the sleeves keep coming down.

And their Gloria V bodysuit is also a nice option for slightly colder nights.

+big plus - they're still one of the few companies who make things in COTTON! 

Clubbing is kinda like going to the gym but trying to look good - when you're breaking a sweat in a club you know you MUST have something made from natural fibers!

It's either cotton or silk for me and the occasional cashmere sweater/ vintage kimono/ shirt cover up before things heat up.

In terms of shoes it's mostly flats - ankle boots in the winter and Keds in the summer - except when I play Candelaria and bring my comfy Swedish Hasbeens clogs because the bar is waaay too high for me and I actually like to see what I'm doing.

And last but not least - I do enjoy wearing a watch like all the time and some sort of necklace/belt - they instantly transform those super simple dresses!

UUUh and let's not forget silk vintage slips! But that's a whole other story ;).

Until then... enjoy and do share your own going out/partying outfit tips!

Happy 2015!

wearing American Apparel dress, MADE (via ASOS) necklace, vintage Moroccan duster, belt/wtach-gift

Happy 2015 everyone! Hope you had a great NYE party - I know I had fun with friends, fireworks sparklers and disco music.

In retrospect, 2014 has been a really good year - apart from a few hiccups, I finally got my MFA from Beaux Arts, had a lot of art projects and happenings, refined the store aesthetic, got on a healthy exercise routine (hello swimming pool and yoga studio) and of course my DJ career has been booming.

On the lows I would say being a lazy blogger, still working on a healthier diet/sleeping schedule, procrastinating too much (don't we all?) and gaining weight. Well, last one is really not that bad since I've been mostly putting on some much needed muscle. Thoughts?

This is an older photo from my last gig at Glass, one of the coolest Pigalle bars with a mini dancefloor, open all night.

Funny thing is it turned out to be more festive than my actual NYE outfit.

2015 resolutions? Make everything bigger, better, faster, brighter. Basically do more art projects, record an album, expand the shop, tour Europe djing and try and get closer to my dream job in fashion.

What do you guys have in mind for the coming year?

Film Hedonism : DJing/party photos

 I think this might be the start of a new blog series - finding a fancy name for sharing random photos I took on film; never a bad thing, eh? Especially if you're a film fetishist like me, both in my photography practice and movie viewing habits.

Seriously tho. I've been meaning to share some of these photos for a long time now, I guess I've just been waiting for the right moment.

And as it's la rentrée and the concert/cinema/art and of course school season is just starting in full swing, it also marks a big migration of partying back into apartments, clubs, indoors or other heated venues.

Good enough reason to revisit those photos from various places I've DJed recently, taken whenever I wasn't lazy enough to lug a camera around with me and my friend's weren't busy enough having fun to snap some shots.

Anyway, I should probably write a whole post on DJing style from outfits where it's usually something basic and summery layered under some vintage cover up (silk kimonos/shirts are quite perfect) + a statement necklace in case I need to well... peel off layers. Not to mention finding creative ways of keeping your hair out of your face!

 I tend to wear a lot of American Apparel coincidentally because some of their stuff is SO comfy and that's pretty much my priority when I'm standing up/dancing/sweating for hours - jersey and spandex ;)

However, even if I find the AA tank dress + vintage silk cover up the perfect clubwear, after having my '80s Albert Nipon dress (button down, silk, oversized with pockets!! that was looking amazing open worn as a glam coat) STOLEN from the VIP section at the REX, well... I would totally recommend either checking in your kimono/shirt/dress/cover up or just keeping that bitch on!

Unless you're DJing of course - that's pretty much the safest place to be in the club. Any club.

 All unpleasant incidents aside, stay tuned for future gigs and if you're in town come say hi :)

Bonne rentrée!

Monday Musings : A few thoughts on beauty routines

With all the recent talk about #bareface, almost and no-make up looks and a general tendency towards  going natural, I thought it was time I give you guys a piece of my mind about the whole deal, as big little-to-no-makeup user.

I've been meaning to do a post on beauty for a while now, especially skincare, which seems like such an elusive subject.

I've been battling acne for the longest time possible, trying different gels and oily skincare products, until reading this post by Garance which caused a major change in my routine - I traded cleansing gels for cleansing milk. Which proved to be a great improvement - I have very few breakouts and my skin is generally happy and pretty even.

Except for a very brief time in 7th grade when every girl in middle school was obsessed with Avon products, I was never much of make up user. Probably the fact that my excessive use of eyeliner lead to some pretty severe conjunctivitis is also part of my reduced use of make up.

I do have naturally dark brows and eyelashes, so I never plucked them or used mascara really. My skin is fair and easily flustered, so blush was never on my list either.

What I do use now is a bit of concealer for the redness around my nose and chin and occasional breakout, coupled with either red lipstick or lip gloss, but usually just a very greasy lip balm.

I bought my first Sephora lipstick (Make Up Forever) some two years ago and it expired long before I even got to use it properly (you can see the tube is pretty much full). I had to throw away my expired almost-full bottle of foundation for the same reason.

I don't use make up on a daily basis, unless I go out to some party or opening or I have to take photos for the blog/shop.

My first ''adult'' make up cost me about 50 euros (70$) at Sephora for a tube of lipstick and foundation (the aforementioned one).

Like why are these things so pricey?? 

For a while I was making do with this little foundation/concealer combo a friend from the States gave me (called RedPoint )  which I really liked texture-wise and was pretty much the right amount I needed in like a year of use, except that the shade was much darker than my skin tone (which you can tell in older close up photos) but pretty much was doing the trick on shoots.

So next time I had a shoot scheduled, I just said fuck it, I'm just gonna buy drugstore shit! How bad can it be??

So I bought this Maybelline concealer stick ( FIT me) in the lightest shade I could find; I still spent a hefty 10 euros (15$) on it, which is pretty ridiculous to me. I mean I could get Sephora brands for just double the price!

While I was happy with the shade, the quality is pretty poor - it's very dry and no matter how much moisturizer I use as primer, it still bunches up weirdly within a couple of minutes. Was much happier with my old MakeUp Forever foundation, then again I don't wanna spend 30 euros on a bottle I'm just gonna use 1/4 of.

I went for another Maybelline lipstick at about the same price range, but I couldn't test it in store ( oh Sephora!). Compared to my old lipstick, the texture is much lighter (I wanted a matte crimson shade), covers you less and needs to be frequently re-applied.

As for the gloss, I just use an American Apparel one I bought on clearance that works pretty well but doesn't smell that nice (my 14 year old strawberry flavored gloss user still rules over this topic).

I haven't done any extensive gloss research (unlike my frequent Sephora lipstick sampling), but I would like a nice red that smells like berries also and doesn't have glitter in it - does that even exist??

As for my skincare routine, I use a gentle milk cleanser, either L'Oreal or Nivea, combined with a Nivea tonic water and whatever eau thermale spray is on sale at the pharmacy.

My biggest frustration is in terms of eye cream and moisturizer - I'm 26, I don't smoke, I don't have bags or lines under my eyes, all I need is a damn eye cream that will nourish my skin and prevent dark circles without fighting wrinkles OR having some tinted anti-dark circles action. Is that too much to ask??

So far i couldn't find the perfect anti-dark circles cream that's NOT tinted (probably because that doesn't exist), but I've been fairly happy with my La Roche-Posey moisturizer.

As for a general moisturizer, upon using various samples from the pharmacy, this A-derma Rheacalm has been pretty great. It's very rich and soothing.

I'm also pretty lazy when it comes to sticking to it, but I would like to start using an SPF cream during the day, try more homemade facial scrubs and natural ingredients masks at least once a week.

My plan now is to get a different day moisturizer with SPF that's NOT a BB cream - you can't imagine how hard that is! Is like everyone is trying to get you to put more stuff on your skin! Like I don't want to use foundation AND still take care of my skin, thank you very much.

This one from Kiehl's sounds pretty good, but I haven't tried it yet. Maybe I should just ask for some samples before taking he buy plunge?

What are your beauty routines? Where do you stand on this whole beauty industry mirage? Are you a make up addict or subscribe to the #bareface?

Sunday Musings : 2014 style and shopping resolutions

The beginning of the year is weird to me; for some reason, I get more meditative around my birthday than on NYE. I mean, my birthday is exactly a month after, so if I've been too busy with the holidays to take time to reflect, it usually strikes me around this time.

Truth be told, I'm going through a change - my style has been evolving in the last few years and it's still changing and heading towards something new. For some reason, now I just want simple, neutral and monochrome things in good, natural fabrics.

I know now that I'll feel more comfortable in a jersey skirt than wearing jeans, I know low waist is not my thing, the American Apparel riding pant is my version of staple pants and as much as I am a lazy ass and hate ironing, I still can't quite endure polyester right on my skin.

I stopped buying new retail knits as they just end up piling super bad in a few weeks/months at best, I can't seem to find good cotton jersey and most things I get from ASOS end up being sent back either because the fit is weird or the quality crappy.

In the end, the stuff I love and wear most comes either from Etsy/Ebay or the thrift store; I'm desperately trying to find a reliable source for affordable new basics with no luck. Maybe I just need to accept that quality, durable things cost money. But how accurate is that even? Aren't brands just inflating prices because they invest so much in marketing?

I recently read this article on R29 about the Nu Woman and embracing minimalism and less is more; I love what Rhiannon has been sharing on her blog in the past 2 years and bought a few handmade/indie designer accessories which turned out to be a great choice.

Still, I am not fully convinced about spending $200 on a dress.

There is this big ongoing discussion about less is more, reducing, buying ''investment pieces'' and all that.
Then you get the weekly ASOS sale emails and trend guides, the special offers, the online ads when going on Youtube and, well... the bloggers.

I mean, it's all around us, this capitalist chant - buy, buy, buy! The other day I made the poor choice on taking Rue de Rivoli at 5pm and all I could see were people with shopping bags, final sale signs and a large queue to get into Andre (the shoe store).

I keep seeing articles about cleaning up your style, reducing your wardrobe, binge shopping (and shopping bulimia, if you believe that!) and just like guides about how not to get sucked into the whole ''it's 75% off, I should buy it'' thing.

I have to admit I'm quite a sucker for this sort of thing; I also get bored easily and my style changes quicker than my moods.

Then again I think about that Tony Takitani movie; it's this really disturbing story about this lady spending all her money on designer goods, then one day she died in a car accident while trying to return something out of guilt. The more disturbing part is how her husband is trying to hire someone just to wear her clothes, so he would remember her. It's one of those sick-endearing Japanese Murakami stories, a definite must see.

In the end I know I will always have an eclectic style and taste in pretty much everything.

So I guess my resolutions are pretty much similar to everyone else's in the end:

• buy less 
• buy better quality, more expensive items
• buy indie/handmade rather than high end designer
• never buy something just because it's on sale/a good deal
• buy more vintage
• buy more natural fabrics (sorry but viscose doesn't count)
• invest in jewelry ( my we never sleep items are still my most worn items )
• go thrifting regularly
• buy more monochromes
• buy no-brains basics like white tees, camisoles and panties
• buy more books and records

This may sound all buy buy buy, but as a fashion blogger and vintage seller, buying is a pretty big part of it.

For me, personally, it works better to buy vintage that I can potentially resell when I get tired of it or it simply doesn't fit me instead of buying retail.

However, buying vintage and second-hand means you pretty much never find what you're looking for and if you do find a basic/staple you love, you feel like not wearing it to death because you know you can never find another.

Sometimes the most unlikely places make ridiculously nice/sturdy items; I had my share of H&M surprises. You just can never tell.

Nevertheless, this ASOS dress has been my bff in the last few weeks and after 3-4 washes it still looks great. I will get another.

I love this American Apparel skirt I got at their sample sale but again it's become SO ridiculously fuzzy so fucking quick I simply can't wear it anymore! The texture, fit and color are perfect, so it's really a shame. Then again, my first pair of riding pants are still super wearable after 2 years.

Retail is quite a gamble which more often than not ends up disappointing.

It's not that I'm an eco-freak or anything, but I do have a problem throwing away clothes ; it's the stuff you can't resale, donate or give away - the horror-chiffon florals, the stuff where the elastic stretches out to unwearability, the its-so-fucked-up-i-cant-even-make-it-a-rag things.

I am very tempted all the time my dear friends, and it's hard to stay strong. But ultimately I'd rather have fewer things I can actually wear and that feel good on my body than overflowing closets full of I-might-wear-this-someday-it's-kinda-meh-but-not-throwaway-yet stuff.

Most of my stuff is dry clean only or hand wash only too; I want good jersey basics that feel soft, look good and can be thrown in the washing machine. Is that too much to ask?

Disposable Diary : Villa Savoye (and an outfit. sort of)

I first heard about Villa Savoye reading Alain de Botton's Architecture of Happiness; to my great shame, I have to admit my knowledge of architecture are fairly limited. Maybe that's why I respect architects so much.

By the time our class trip to Le desert de Retz was planned, I had completely forgotten what Villa Savoye standed for - I was convinced it must be some boring old-ass bourge building.

Then I remembered it was this beautiful modernist building with a tragic story; Le Corbusier imagined it as this extremely minimalist, functional, clean space.

The story says that the family who commissioned it couldn't live in it because the roof was leaking ; at the time, construction materials weren't developed to build flattop roofs and this was the first of its kind.

And, of course, I was among sculptors who were pretty smitten with it. Personally, I was quite confused by this living space that is not a living space. But I loved the details- the sinks, the armchairs...

It's pretty amazing to think how popular this kind of design is nowadays and pretty impossible to imagine how much of a shock it was back in 1929 when it was designed. Just think Victorian houses. Exactly.

I guess it's also less impressive for someone familiar with the aberrations of Corbusier-inspired architecture, like all the Romanian housing complexes I grew up in. It was quite eerie to see how much the kids' rooms looked like trashy Communist student dorms.

Now I regret not having taken more photos, but in the end it's such a well-documented building it seemed almost redundant.

There should be a shop update next week, I've been crazy busy with exams and school deadlines lately...

Shop update Part II : accessories, lingerie and autumn hues

Ok, so I finally finished the shop update I've been working on last week!

It's been pretty crazy these days between two group shows at ENSBA, trying to go to the pools and sneaking in vintage photo sessions.

After two very long days in school and lugging around sound equipment ( think heavy speakers, mic stands, stage lights, the works ), this weekend I just want to take it easy.

Althought I did do a neighborhood thrift store run which has been pretty frustrating ( Saturday afternoon is certainly the WORST time for any activities, especially thrifting or museum visits ) as it was super crowded and most of the good stuff was already gone, but I managed to score a neat Sonia Rykiel eletric mustard skirt. I'm still on the fence about it going in the shop, so I guess I might just hold on to it a little.

Anyway, chck out the new goodies HERE.

 PS - you can spot the Good Night, Day Jarvis Toque again in these photos
 

Les couleurs complémentaires ( outfit )

 

  bodysuit:American Apparel (gift)

silk pants :thrifted

KEDS : gift

market bag: thrifted

necklace :DIY

 

I was pretty shocked this summer when a friend told me he didn't know what complementary colors were ; then I realized that this sort of information belongs to clothes-obsessed girls and kids who were forced to take painting classes. Or maybe just art students.

You all know them - red and green, yellow and violet, orange and blue - those colors that together have the most contrast, bring out the best in each other.

I think this might apply to people also. Or maybe just to classical painting and Christmas trees. Sure, the red/green thing brings to mind Amelie Poulin, but I also remember this year in high school when a classmate challenged me to wear only red/blue outfits for the last week of school before the winter break.

It's too bad I didn't document the experiment, given the fact that I was already familiar with street style blogs at the time. Also, I believe I did a terrific job.

This is of course a long overdue September outfit, but I think it somehow works with the whole Holiday spirit. Chromatically, of course.

I still haven't fully figured out the sizing for this American Apparel bodysuit, although I love the style to pieces; in a size small the upper part fits well, but the torso feels a little too long, creating a weirdly long ass. However, the proportions seem better for the black one in the same size as my other grey and red one. Mystery!

I just love how this double exposures turned out ; they look planned, not as if I shot over an already exposed film by mistake (which was totally the case). Thing is I still don't know who shot that roll I took as empty! Maybe I did it the previous winter after all. So strange (or just clumsy). You can see other shots from the same roll here.

Also, I've added about a dozen new items to the shop, check it out if you haven't already!