Archive for December, 2011

Virginie Mouzat at New York Fashion Week

Virginie Mouzat is the fashion editor of Parisian newspaper Le Figaro. Along with her fellow Parisian Carine Roitfeld, both have a serious love affair with Givenchy Fall 2011 novelty prints. Who can blame them?

This photo also demonstrates precisely why I believe candid street-style photos are superior to posed street-style shots. It is very difficult to take high-quality candid street-style photos on the streets of Chicago due to sidewalk crowding in the areas where fashion is the best. In fact, capturing amazing candids is one of the reasons I most look forward to shooting street style at New York fashion week. There is an unmistakable authenticity that cannot be reproduced or faked in a candid shot.

VIDEO: Sarah Burton x Cathy Horyn

December 12, 2011  |  Inspiration, Video
If you need me to explain to you why you should watch this video, you’re beyond redemption. That is all.
Via Nowness

New York Street Style: Oversized Blazers

Oversized White Blazer
I gave a speech Thursday night at a Chicago Women in Publishing networking event using street-style photos to illustrate how to be fashionable at the office. Proportion play was one of the ideas I pounded into the audience’s head (and am trying to pound into all of yours as well). Men’s jackets might be getting smaller but for women, the trend is running in the opposite direction. Although I initially chose not to publish this photo because its composition really kind of sucks, I love what this woman is wearing.

Playing with different sizes of clothing in the same look, say by mixing an oversized shirt with tight pants, is one of the least utilized styling techniques in the average American woman’s wardrobe. Not only does it instantly create an aura of chicness, it’s one of the easiest and cheapest trends to pull off. Head to your local thrift or vintage store to find an ovesized blazer, and pair it with a closely-fitted pair of slacks or a pencil skirt for a great, work-appropriate yet totally street-style look. The one caveat is that the oversized piece can’t just be one size too big, otherwise it’ll just look poorly-fitting. You have to go all the way, two or three sizes too big, so that people know you want it to look that way as opposed to just not knowing how clothes should fit.

The golden rule of fashion should be, “Go Big or Go Home.”