Photo: @maizhouyuan
This week I have been inspired by Rei Kawakubo. Not so much her clothes or the Met Gala but more her philosophy and approach to fashion. In the two posts I shared about her in last weekend’s bibliography, there were some points that jumped off the page for me and made me feel understood. Perhaps this is why I have been a long-time admirer.
The first is her approach to the “next collection”, which I will loosely call “relentless experimentation”. She forces herself, sometimes painfully, to always come up with something that is different, that “refuses”, that moves us beyond the status quo. This is exactly how I feel about personal style. It is never static for me, it is always evolving, it involves refusing and it moves me forward in some important way. It involves both influencing and being influenced. It involves risk and experimentation. I find it odd when I try something new and someone will say, “that does not look like your style.” In my mind I do not have “a” style. Personal style for me is an adjunct to the process of becoming. Fashion offers me the way to construct the many selves I am and I can be. It conveys the many moods I must express and are sometimes inexpressible with words. Everywhere I go, everything I see, everything I read and everyone I meet offers me new possibilities for what garments I choose to wear.
Recently I have been experimenting with color and I think it is because the semester is done. As of today my grades are in and a summer looms ahead full of travel, vacation and a slower pace. Life feels bright, colorful and full of movement just like the coat I am wearing above. It exactly expressed my experience of moving through the world in greatly expanded ways. All the strands of newness and possibility are radiating around me. They are shimmering. What I wear and who I am in this moment is the same.
Another story about Rei, relayed by Alexander Fury, that resonated with my version of personal style is the fact that in the 1980’s she had the mirrors removed from the dressing rooms in her stores. She wanted to shift the focus from how one looked to how one felt when wearing the clothes. She wanted the wearer to become aware of the sensations evoked from the piece and the effect it has on your body. I think Rei was onto something although from a retail point of view it was deemed a failed experiment. I have written about this before, the interaction that occurs in the spaces between bodies and clothes. I did not look in a mirror when I was moving in this coat, I entered into the feeling of wearing and moving in it. What makes me love this designer, Angel, and Rei, is that they think about how their clothes will feel, not just look. Although I am a wordsmith and love them, sometimes there are just no words and that is when my style becomes my spokesperson.
What is your definition of personal style?
Beautifully said! I think my personal style is a naturally evolving expression of not just me as an individual, but the consciousness of my own progression. It is an artistic display of self awareness.
Beautifully said! I think my personal style is a naturally evolving expression of not just me as an individual, but the consciousness of my own progression. It is an artistic display of self awareness.
I am not a wordsmith , but I really identify with this post,Lyn. For me,personal style reflectswhere I am in my journey ( literally sometimes!), and also expresses my creativity. I used to worry that I do not have a defined " look", but now I revel in being able to experiment with different styles with more confidence. (Your journey has definitely helped me with this,thank you)
I just ran across your blog and I think that you are fabulous. Keep doing you and rocking your personal style. It’s elegant, edgy, and I just love it!
I just ran across your blog and I think that you are fabulous. Keep doing you and rocking your personal style. It’s elegant, edgy, and I just love it!
My personal style consists of the ways in which I express what is going on in my heart, my soul and my brain. Clothing is but one aspect of how I express that personal style…and perhaps, in my case, it is one of the least important aspects of that. By design…
57 and still evolving, almost there and so glad I found you. Jo x
57 and still evolving, almost there and so glad I found you. Jo x
I feel shallow admitting this — but not being a conventional beauty – I have always used a strong personal style, to push forth a social presence.
Interesting to explore why you feel shallow. To me this is identifying the power you have as a woman in this situation and using it to your advantage which I find makes you a nuanced and complex woman.
I feel shallow admitting this — but not being a conventional beauty – I have always used a strong personal style, to push forth a social presence.
Interesting to explore why you feel shallow. To me this is identifying the power you have as a woman in this situation and using it to your advantage which I find makes you a nuanced and complex woman.
What a fun coat! Melanie would LOVE this piece.
I’m always attracted to colour. It is a bit like a mood ring for me. The more colour I wear the happier I feel.
Personal style to me is a mirror of my soul that I shine outward for the whole world to see.
bisous
Suzanne
http://www.suzannecarillo.com
What a fun coat! Melanie would LOVE this piece.
I’m always attracted to colour. It is a bit like a mood ring for me. The more colour I wear the happier I feel.
Personal style to me is a mirror of my soul that I shine outward for the whole world to see.
bisous
Suzanne
http://www.suzannecarillo.com
I really identified with this post. I love that you don’t have a specific style or look. I have always been that way. I wear clothes to express myself and sometimes that means more streamlined looks and other times that means more eccentricity. I guess my personal style is always changing and evolving because I am always changing and evolving. Style should not be static and I love how you have articulated that so well.
I really identified with this post. I love that you don’t have a specific style or look. I have always been that way. I wear clothes to express myself and sometimes that means more streamlined looks and other times that means more eccentricity. I guess my personal style is always changing and evolving because I am always changing and evolving. Style should not be static and I love how you have articulated that so well.
Wow! I just discovered this blog via Buzzfeed. Absolutely love the messages you are sending it. No matter your age you can still be comfortable in your own clothing and have a sense of fashion.
Thanks! Glad to have you.
Wow! I just discovered this blog via Buzzfeed. Absolutely love the messages you are sending it. No matter your age you can still be comfortable in your own clothing and have a sense of fashion.
Thanks! Glad to have you.
it’s another aspect of my creative expression–and i love ignoring anyone else’s input 🙂
Planned ignorance, a wonderful strategy.
it’s another aspect of my creative expression–and i love ignoring anyone else’s input 🙂
Planned ignorance, a wonderful strategy.
I agree that personal style is not something you decide once and for all, but rather it is in a "constant state of flux", much like the post-modern reality itself that surrounds us. That being said, I do believe is some core or backbone of one’s style that is present at all times to guide and orient you. It makes any future style iterations look less like a random choices and more like coherent (and cohesive) narrative of one’s sartorial journey. It also allows for different styles that we try out along the way to be re-imagined and re-fashioned according to a personal vision . This ability to try out even the most pervasive trend out there while still maintaining your "style integrity" – that is, at least to me, is personal style.
One of the most eloquent expressions of what personal style means I have ever read
I agree that personal style is not something you decide once and for all, but rather it is in a "constant state of flux", much like the post-modern reality itself that surrounds us. That being said, I do believe is some core or backbone of one’s style that is present at all times to guide and orient you. It makes any future style iterations look less like a random choices and more like coherent (and cohesive) narrative of one’s sartorial journey. It also allows for different styles that we try out along the way to be re-imagined and re-fashioned according to a personal vision . This ability to try out even the most pervasive trend out there while still maintaining your "style integrity" – that is, at least to me, is personal style.
One of the most eloquent expressions of what personal style means I have ever read
I relish this opportunity to reflect on and share my definition of personal style, so thank you. I have recently been stepping away from mirrors in the dressing rooms and sensing how I feel; how does looking down upon the colors, shapes, textures and movement inspire me, harmonize with me, amplify or pacify me, energize or comfort me? I am bolstered knowing about Rei’s dressing room choice in the 80s. 🙂
I experienced amnesia as a child and much of who I was and how I felt in the world is somewhat mysterious to me. Today I am using my personal style as a way to give voice to the younger parts of me repressed by trauma. I can’t always recall my experience yet, but often times I can remember a particular outfit I loved at 7, 17, 24. I am looking for ways to explore and honor myself through style. I sometimes find or use the item verbatim, and other times I sift the item through my adult woman sensibility. Purple sparkly jellies from age 12 might become aubergine leather sandals. I am using my personal style to explore and heal myself… Inspired by Garance Dore’s Love xStyle xLife book, I am also finding ways to express my dreams, "the ones [ I ] might achieve and the ones that will always stay dreams… "
You exemplify how fashion and clothing is not frivolous but a powerful non verbal mode of expression. I wish you well on your journey.
I relish this opportunity to reflect on and share my definition of personal style, so thank you. I have recently been stepping away from mirrors in the dressing rooms and sensing how I feel; how does looking down upon the colors, shapes, textures and movement inspire me, harmonize with me, amplify or pacify me, energize or comfort me? I am bolstered knowing about Rei’s dressing room choice in the 80s. 🙂
I experienced amnesia as a child and much of who I was and how I felt in the world is somewhat mysterious to me. Today I am using my personal style as a way to give voice to the younger parts of me repressed by trauma. I can’t always recall my experience yet, but often times I can remember a particular outfit I loved at 7, 17, 24. I am looking for ways to explore and honor myself through style. I sometimes find or use the item verbatim, and other times I sift the item through my adult woman sensibility. Purple sparkly jellies from age 12 might become aubergine leather sandals. I am using my personal style to explore and heal myself… Inspired by Garance Dore’s Love xStyle xLife book, I am also finding ways to express my dreams, "the ones [ I ] might achieve and the ones that will always stay dreams… "
You exemplify how fashion and clothing is not frivolous but a powerful non verbal mode of expression. I wish you well on your journey.
I like the idea of relating to clothing based on how it feels, as opposed to how it looks. I have tried on pieces that felt amazing but then when I’ve looked in the mirror, I wasn’t happy with what I saw. The best pieces are those that feel wonderful AND make you look like the best version of yourself. The coat you’re wearing in the photo looks marvelous, and I bet it feels wonderful on too.
Always the animation of the clothes comes from inside you and how they feel can make you feel something too.
I like the idea of relating to clothing based on how it feels, as opposed to how it looks. I have tried on pieces that felt amazing but then when I’ve looked in the mirror, I wasn’t happy with what I saw. The best pieces are those that feel wonderful AND make you look like the best version of yourself. The coat you’re wearing in the photo looks marvelous, and I bet it feels wonderful on too.
Always the animation of the clothes comes from inside you and how they feel can make you feel something too.
I love your concept of not being invisible. As a middle-aged woman I had to revise my dressing and couldn’t rely on my natural beauty. I now know how and what to where and keep em guessing. http://dianepenelope.com/tag/fashion/
Keeping them guessing is the secret of great style, always evolving and never static.
I love your concept of not being invisible. As a middle-aged woman I had to revise my dressing and couldn’t rely on my natural beauty. I now know how and what to where and keep em guessing. http://dianepenelope.com/tag/fashion/
Keeping them guessing is the secret of great style, always evolving and never static.