With a touch of late ’30′s German expressionism, my favorite way to wear the floral look has nothing to do with soft romanticism. Black kohl eyes, a defined lip and brow, a hint of surrealist mind games is what floral prints are about now. Photo by Frances Tulk Hart. Make-up by Angie Parker. http://francestulkhartphotography.tumblr.com/
Bright colors glow with confidence when mixed with smart tailored silhouettes as seen on Caroline Issa during fashion week. The hard part for me is identifying a palette before I invest. I love every color but my skin tone is golden olive. A blessing for sure but certain shades of pink are too blue to flatter and just look loud unless tempered with orange or violet. Oddly, I find neon shades (including Shaparelli’s Le Shocking) easy to pull off. Colors in the red-pink-purple family work extra hard on the street and in the office but do require an upbeat attitude ready to handle the inevitable flood of attention.
The arrival of Spring is one long strip tease. The first reveal is silky virgin legs, pale and shy caressed by crisply chilled air. Now is the magical time to play with textures. Thick cotton weave sweater with cut open denims. Flippy mini with man tailored blazer and scarf. Oversize bomber jacket with skimpy bodycon ensemble. Mao Aberg demonstrates personalized layering and temperatures rising while sporting killer hair.
After a major holiday, it’s time for a mini update. Valentine’s day officially marks the route to spring and the regeneration of…my closet. I am planning a snowboarding getaway out west so winter is still on my mind, but I will shift my entire palette with the changing light little by little, like a sunrise. I go through my closet and move everything that is dark and heavy to the far side reserves. This immediately lightens my step making it clear how many choices I actually do have.
I’ve always wanted to be perfect. It just seemed like such a great goal, giving me a proper challenge to work toward daily. Becoming a stylist suited my deep desire to participate in perfection. Supers, haute couture and now Photoshop, Oh Boy. Working behind the scenes gave me a special connection to The Ideal, made better knowing that my styling secrets were tucked safely into a bag of tricks. It’s make-believe anyway, a photograph meant to excite, provoke and inspire, right? But often this drive to perfection ended with an insatiable need to compete. Mastering the details of grooming, image and femininity translates for many into being in control of life. Image-a-rexic I call it.
