1. Which side do you take… Copycat designs are a way for the average consumer to stay current and wear runway styles without breaking the bank OR Copycat designs take business from the designer and cheapen the value of their work. Explain.

Honestly, I can see it both ways.  I don’t necessarily care for copycat designs, but eventually, every trend starts from higher up and trickles down to the “lower” chains.   And if the average consumer sees something that they like and admired on the runway, but can’t afford it at all, can’t they buy a more cost-friendly version of that particular piece?   Plus, many designers are inspired by trends, particular time periods and cultures as well.  I think the line is drawn when inspiration crosses over into just plain old copying.

2. Sometimes we do things, even if they are unethical or illegal (downloading music for free, watching full movies on YouTube). Do you think it is unethical for a designer to copy a vintage piece, make it current and sell it?

I don’t know if I would call it unethical or not, but I do think it’s not very genuine.  If your specialty is copying vintage and making it current, then just say it, but don’t try to pass it off as your own.

3. Would you buy an items that is a very well done copy of a runway garment if it fell within your budget?

You know, I probably shouldn’t say no.  Last year, I bought a pair of the Jeffrey Campbell 99 wedges that were a pretty darn close substitute for the Acne Atacoma wedges.  In all honesty, I really did just like the style and the Jeffrey Campbell shoes were right within my price range.

4. According to the fashion laws, at least in the US, apparel design is seen as too utilitarian to qualify for copyright protection. Would you think this is detrimental to the industry or beneficial. (Check out this video on The Taxonomy of My Wardrobe to get a better idea of this concept: http://taxonomyofmywardrobe.blogspot.com/2010/08/fashion-and-copyright-laws.html)

Hm…I think it can go both ways.  I appreciate and admire the taxing time, energy and innovation many designers put into their work.   To see their work ripped off and reproduced by retail chain X, without as much as a nod to all of the creativity and energy the designer has put forth has to be frustrating.   Plus, the quality fabrics and details of design are hardly ever perfectly replicated.

However, after watching the video,  I can see the point of view on how copying designers establish trends.  The “trickle down” effect booms throughout throughout the retail industry from the big wigs to the street style chain stores.  Is that not helpful for the industry overall with the growth in sales?   It can be that it’s not that people aren’t interested in fashion–you can look on Chictopia and Lookbook.nu to see that, it’s about accessibility and the lines  of exclusivity in fashion are becoming more blurred.

5.  Own up… share the things in your closet that is a knock off. You know those things you got in China Town, on the streets of New York, or where ever.

I just have this faux-Chloe bag that I bought online a few years ago:

And I knew that it was faux-Chloe, but I really just liked the shape of the bag–Chloe or nameless designer.  I’ve never tried to pass it off as a real Chloe bag and if someone asks, I’ll tell them that it’s a “faux-Chloe bag”.  Other than that, I really don’t go out looking for copycat designs or fakes.  I really try to just find clothing and accessories that fit my budget from lower-priced lines or independent designers.

My recently found glasses

A couple of weeks ago, I was forced (well, almost) to stop wearing  my contacts after a nasty eye infection from…well, wearing my contact lenses too frequently.  I guess after a solid 3 year run, the jig was up.   Now, I’m still learning how to navigate while wearing my glasses and feeling comfortable about wearing them.

I bought a pair of cheapo geek glasses a few months ago that had no prescription, but I loved wearing them because they gave off a different look.

The non-prescription glasses!

Now that I am forced to wear glasses, I long for my contacts, mostly for the comfort and ease they provided.   However, since I am ever the browser for anything slightly relevant, I have found some wonderful frames from Warby Parker.  Honestly, these frames have me second-guessing my whole anti-prescription glasses stance.

Here are a few of my favorites:

(all photos from Warbyparker.com)

The best thing?  Their frames are only $95 dollars, and that includes prescription lenses.   That sounds pretty sweet, especially if you know how expensive one visit to the eye doctor can be.   I’m still doing some “browsing”, but I am seriously thinking about buying one of these frames.

What’s your stance on glasses?  Love em?  Hate em?  Don’t care?

I’ve been contemplating my Fall wardrobe and slowly but surely planning everything out.   The catch is that I’m not going to be buying much of anything this fall and I feel like I’ve already gotten everything that I set out to buy.   I’ve been planning on cutting down my fall wardrobe drastically.  I’ve bookmarked an article in the New York Times about people who are making an effort to have a more minimalistic wardrobe and put an end to the conspicuous consumption.   While I’m not necessarily going to pare my wardrobe down to 6 pieces, I am looking to only have a few key pieces and accessories for the Fall/Winter and use what I already have.  My goal is to make this a complete lifestyle change.

So what is a better way to hold myself accountable?  Documentation, my friends, is everything.

I began this season with shoes as I was pretty sure of what I wanted to buy this season: 1 pair of boots, 1 pair of oxfords and 1 pair of flats.  I began a passive search a couple of months ago, but it wasn’t until pre-fall sales started popping up in my inbox that I was able to really capitalize and get what I wanted for a reasonable price.    After receiving an email from Steve Madden with a great sale price on their fall shoes, I decided to buy 2 pairs of shoes from their store.  I have not bought anything from Steve Madden in a long, long time and I remembered it was because the fit could be quite unpredictable.   So I decided to go ahead and give them a try.

I’ve been looking for a nice pair of oxfords for the longest.  I knew I wanted a them in a nice, brown color.   The verdict is still out on these since I’ve only put them on once.  They are a little narrow, so I want to see how they will fit once I break them in more.   I plan on doing a lot of walking in these shoes, so comfort is key.

The boots!  I think I’ve become obsessed with finding the perfect “granny” or “combat” boot.  I wrote a past last winter about finding a perfect pair of boots and while these are not among my wishlist candidates, they will do.  The price was perfect and I while it might sound like a weird detail, I love the larger laces.   I was happy when I opened this pack until my mom had to burst my bubble with:

“Wait, didn’t you buy a similar pair of these shoes last winter?”

“Um…I don’t think I did…”

“Look in your closet and see.  You bought them at that huge, loud store (Zara) and you got all giddy about those, too!”

So I went home and put the shoes side by side.

Well damn.  Well, I can say that the Zara boots are taller and they have a zipper on the side.  Plus, I see the Zara boots as more “combat” style and the Steve Madden boots as “lace up” style.   Could that be right?

The only other thing I’d like to find is a nice, durable pair of flats.  I mostly wear flats year round and I buy 1 good pair each year.  With these purchases, I also bought a pair of Delman flats, but they were way too narrow.  So the search continues…

Have you bought any new shoes for fall?  Any shoes on your wishlist?

Holly Golightly: Well, when I get it the only thing that does any good is to jump in a cab and go to Tiffany’s. Calms me down right away. The quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there. If I could find a real-life place that’d make me feel like Tiffany’s, then – then I’d buy some furniture and give the cat a name!

I admit that I didn’t watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s until I was an adult.   I didn’t feel underwhelmed after watching it, but I definitely wouldn’t call it my favorite movie.   These days, if I watch it again then it’s because it’s on TCM on a weekend and it’s a good movie to curl up on the couch and watch.

A few days ago, I’d just left a doctor’s appointment and I went to grab lunch while waiting for my ride.   I sat on a bench outdoors to eat and when I looked up, I noticed I was having lunch–or breakfast, since it was my first meal of the day–at Tiffany’s!

I ate in silence and looked at the storefront and the beautiful items inside.  Instantly, it made me think that Holly Golightly might have been on to something after all.

1. Do you think fashion blogs are often just conspicuous consumption? Are some?

I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I didn’t think that some fashion blogs displayed great amounts of conspicuous consumption.  I mean, many fashion bloggers really like to shop, right?  However, I don’t judge or point fingers at anyone in how they chose to spend their own money, if they have that money to spend.

2. As bloggers do we have the obligation to explain our personal financial status, how we pay for the things we showcase, if we have debt, etc…

I personally don’t think so.  I know that many other bloggers are much better off than I am and I accept that.  No one has to explain where they got their money from or how they make their living, from my POV.    I do wish there could be more open dialogue in the blogosphere about accruing debt for clothing and accessories, because I do feel like it’s a trap that many can fall into if not careful. My feeling is, if you go broke or into debt  trying to maintain your fashion blog, then it might be best for you not to have one.  It’s just not worth it.

3. Critics often say that fashion bloggers should use their money to support more worthwhile causes than clothing themselves in a different outfit daily. What’s your reaction to this? (here you can reveal charities if you’d like.)

I don’t think it’s fair to judge or determine how someone else should spend their money or tell them where and how to spend it.  I do support my local Goodwill and I am seeking to support another organization in my area within the next couple of weeks, but that is because I want to.   Would it be nice if fashion bloggers put the money towards an organization?  Of course!  It’d be great! However, it is up to said person on whether they want to do so or not.

4. Since you started blogging, do you spend more money on fashion and beauty products?

I wouldn’t necessarily say that I spend more money; but I spend my money on fashion and beauty differently.  Since I’ve began blogging, I’ve bought more vintage clothing and sought out many wonderful independent designers.   I’ve gone by recommendations of other bloggers and through my own research,  I’ve found some great gems.  I’m not so sure that I would have done so if I didn’t begin my own blog.

5. Life is about more than what money can buy. What are the things that top your list of what life is all about?

A long time ago, I came to the conclusion that I will probably never be rich or have a lot of money and I am totally fine with that.   To me, life isn’t about money, material possessions or flaunting.  It’s about giving back to others, experiences and happiness.  For me, that’s when I know I’ll be fulfilled.

As my birthday nears, I keep reflecting on my previous post about the tasks/goals I set for myself at age 26.   If I wanted to be pessimistic, I’d say that I did pretty well in failing to achieve even half of these goals, but I’m not going to go that route.   Instead, I’ll think of what goals I did achieve and what I’d like to work on more.  In the meantime, I made a list of more “realistic” goals that I think can be achieved over the course of a year:

1. Take a long vacation by myself overseas.

2. Write at least 1,500 words per week.

3. Become a better photographer.

4. Run a half marathon.

5. Master the art of wardrobe minimalism

6. Start taking dance lessons.

7. Scale back drastically on the meat eating.

8. Become a better blogger.

9. Complete rock my first year of graduate school.

10. Find at least one thing  to smile about each day.

]]> http://www.clandestinechic.com/2010/08/17/revisiting-goals/feed/ 11 http://www.clandestinechic.com/2010/08/13/friend-friday-size/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=friend-friday-size http://www.clandestinechic.com/2010/08/13/friend-friday-size/#comments Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:51:22 +0000 clandestinechic http://www.clandestinechic.com/?p=1622 I have decided to participate in the weekly Friend Friday Q&A sessions, provided by ModlyChic.  I thought the topics were stimulating and opened up wonderful dialogue.  This week’s topic deals with size, which in a discussion can be polarizing in itself.  Here are my thoughts on size, the term “plus size” and my own size struggle.

4.  Should the mainstream fashion industry be showcasing more plus size models?

I think the mainstream fashion industry should showcase more models of all sizes, ethnicities and backgrounds.  The mainstream fashion industry without any varied cultural representation and instead remains hegemonic has been influential for years.  The thing is, when you start to see the same “type” displayed in magazines over and over again, it’s easy to ignore everyone else as if they don’t exist.  Only recently has fashion become democratic to allow “other” groups participate– women of color, plus-sized, etc, but still not as a regular occurrence.   I hope that instead of having a “very special issue” of some magazine, it becomes more commonplace to feature models that are plus-sized and skinny alike next to one another without creating a big hoopla.
5. For you personally, how do you view your size, the struggle with it through the years, your ideal size, etc…

Personally, I have had my own struggle with my size and working to get myself back down to a comfortable size.  I’m not ashamed of the fact that I’m larger nor do I try to hide it, but I do know that I’m not as comfortable in my skin as I used to be nor am I as healthy.  Instead, I am taking it one step at a time and not worrying about the numbers associated with my size, but the my overall health.   I can lose X number of pounds, but am I healthy?  Did I go about losing the weight in a healthy way?  Those are the concerns that I must focus on.

Such is the case with the Etsy shop, 13 Threads.  I came across 13 Threads during a browsing session and I just fell in love.  I love the wonderfully structured coats and dresses with a classic feel.  Yes!  Her pieces make me long for fall to hurry up and get here already.  The pieces are made for wearing for the ages and timelessly classic, which is something that I can always appreciate

The founder and designer of 13 Threads, Lois Sturgeon began the label a couple of years ago, once she was able to devote the time and resource. However, sewing has always been a part of Sturgeon’s life, as she cites making clothing for her dolls and redesigning her school blazer.    Many of her pieces are limited edition or one-of-a-kind using lovely fabrics, many of them Liberty of London.

Here are a few of my own personal favorites:

(all photos from 13Threads)

On Saturday evening, I had a scrumptiously delicious dinner with a friend at a place called Carnivale.    I indulged in yummy Caipirinhas and had one of the best steaks I’ve had  in a long time.

This steak was no help at all in my attempts to stop eating red meat.

I did get one outfit picture before we entered the restaurant.   I bought this dress during the great Asos Curve clearance (which is still going strong).

Yes, I know there  is a whole lotta print action going on there.   At first, I was a bit worried about buying the dress since the print was  loud and I almost bought the dress in a much more muted color.  However, I decided to go ahead with the loud, poppy print.  I mean, it is summer, right?

I hope your week is off to a wonderful start!

(photo via Art Decade Tumblr)

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