#1kchadwick.com

[other1kchad]

3 WAYS

Being in fashion and just being normal observant human with taste. I’ve noticed that I’ve become bothered by so many things that others would’t take notice. What I do notice most of all however is how people dress, how they carry themselves. They walk, they slouch and their daily uniform is underwhelming to say the least. Can we not try harder people? Daily doldrums and things get us down, but on the whole, just look at it with me on the general scale of things and ask yourselves can we do better? It doesn’t take a lot. And on those days, where we are out of our wits, we’ve been left behind or otherwise there are three easy ways to at least let the world know, the bothered ones that we acquire some taste, some good to our wardrobe. The rest of your problems, well I can't help with that.

ONE. A coat. A long sweat if you will. It makes whatever else is going on underneath seem, streamline. Like it’s the duvet over the bed that you pull over swiftly when you have company coming over. My go-to is an American Apparel knit dark grey sweater (dark grey goes with everything) and I throw it on and suddenly I’m somewhat chic at least by the Olsen-twins status. Or my vintage Valentino that is so long I find the tasteless stepping on it, but it masks the lack of effort underneath and the downtrodden lack of effort I had to offer that day. I I believe, before we continue, that the “mono” look can be more than solids, it can be prints, it can be textures or even variations of lengths and colors. The more you make the look your ‘own’, the more together you can come off. Okay on to #2.

TWO. A chick bag. I have loads. A coach clutch, two Gucci waist bags, a Kara mini chain bag, a utility belt I wear crossbody, well you get the gist. And guess what? I can pair them with my sweater. It’s like a seatbelt holding that oversize garment together. It also says, my bag is small, my sweater is big, who am I?

THREE. When all else fails, go for the monochromatic look. It’s clean, it’ll match the sweater and the bag doesn’t even matter at this point. An all black look with  matching sweats, jeans, fuck even your exercise leggings. Or a beige look with sweatpants and add some penny loafers. The point is paired with one and two, the world doesn’t know where you’re going or where you came from. The look itself is tired, I know. The girl or the guy with the coat and the mono and the chic bag, and they seem so important right? They have places to be and friends to chat with. But this is for the lazy ones, with nowhere to go but a maybe a quick errand or a shoot to style. If you really want to know how to dress, that’s a different story. 

I’ve attached some photos [not my own, I do not have copyrights] to spare some examples of this easy 3-way look. 

[other1kchad]

Style [defined by me]

Recently I had a good friend of mine ask me at a party (of all places) what defines style for me? This is a complicated question because in my opinion style is vague, it’s like defining love. Everyone has a different answer. So what does style mean to me? Do I have it? I am very humble when it comes to things like this because I’m in the Fashion Art Direction and Fashion Journalism Master’s program so I must have that “something” that constitutes style.

For one, what I’ve learned from listening to stylists and my instructors it’s that you must combine the individual’s style with what you interpret their style to be. I hope you’re still with me here. So, back to the big Q, what is style to me? For one, it’s someone who doesn’t rely on trends. Now, trends are cyclical, where as up until recently they followed a bell curve trend. Meaning, styles come and they go, we can see this as early as the late 1800′s up until the 50s or even the 60′s. But now, we see they repeat and they come and go.

Karl Lagerfeld said that style is something you’re born with, you can’t acquire it, and to an extent I believe this is true. Looking on Google (sadly) this is what comes up.

“ Style is expressing yourself through what you wear. Style is defined as a particular of doing or saying something, or refers to a unique form of clothing or way of arranging your appearance. An example of style is the method by which you learn.”

For me, it’s your finesse. It’s your lifestyle and your style should exude no matter what you wear, how you look. It’s an energy, an attitude. It can be the way you carry yourself, you light your cigarette or sit at the bus stop.Even the way you speak, you articulate in a discussion or argument. It's how people identify you and describe you. If you have no style, or at least you think you don’t, look to what inspires you and you can gain a pretty clear idea (or at least start). What attracts you? What excites you? Does everyone have style? Mmmm I’m not sure about that. But, what I’ve noticed, especially in my time spent in Paris, is that women, all women. Working women, business women, women who lunch, they all express their femininity, or their style in one way or another. I picked up on this and looked at my own style.

What’s my style? Confidence, loyalty, high-low fashion and a mean walk no matter where I am. What do you think constitutes style? Since it’s such a vague concept (to me) that goes beyond fashion, I am searching and interested in other opinions. Please, and I mean sincerely share with me your thoughts.

[other1kchad]

MODEL TURNED MOVEMENT DIRECTOR SHOWS MODELS HOW ITS DONE

Pat Boguslawski takes you inside his world via Instagram to show you the movement behind the model.

Pat Boguslawski or also known as “pat_boguslawski” on Instagram, is a model and Movement Director represented by Streeter’s Agency, but he is, at the moment, most recognized for “that walk,” at the Maison Margiela S/S ’20 this last week. The walk being a clunky, bulky stomp down the runway by model Leon Dame, a signature Margiela model for the house, and has quickly become a meme on dozens of Instagram accounts alike. The walk wasn’t created on accident but orchestrated by Boguslawski who’s main part of his job is to construct movement on shoots, videos and on runways.

If you decide to glance at Boguslawski’s profile on Instagram or choose to follow him you will find he has 17K followers, lots of selfie’s, photos with clients and who’s who of celebrities and models as well as some cute throwbacks of the model with his family. Boguslawski is represented by Streeter’s talent agency as a movement director where there are two others who share the same title. Streeter’s represents a multitude of talent such as choreographers, fashion stylists, make-up and photography among others. Pat was discovered for his talent with movement when a representative from Alexander McQueen saw him saunter down the runway and insisted, he teach the other models how to walk. Now, Boguslawski is the go-to movement consultant for John Galliano on practically every show.

On Pat’s Instagram there’s an extensive list of celebrities he’s worked with Kim Kardashian, Lara Stone, Cindy Crawford, Winnie Harlow, Kendall Jenner and FKA Twigs among so many others. His account is mostly made up of videos or photos that he has directed the movement for; magazines such as Elle, Wonderland, GQ, Numero, and Vogue but the list continues on. In addition to these magazines and the numerous celebrities you’ll spot throughout his Insta-page, you see some familiar brands as well such as Nike and Chanel.

If you are interested in fashion and the “ins” and “outs” of the industry and you’re like me, where you crave the newest knowledge and who really runs the show then this Instagram profile comes highly recommended. Between selfie posts of Boguslawski, campaigns he’s movement directed for and his own posts of personal inspiration (including Tupac in a bathtub full of chains) and the videos of runway walks he’s invented his profile is modern and provides insight into a profession that keeps him very busy.

[other1kchad]

TRENDS

I may have made it apparent in my previous post that trends, in terms of style, should be avoided. Meaning that they can be taken too far. People allow trends to lead their fashion choices and then BOOM onto the next trend. There are “trends” that aren’t trends really anymore. They’re here to stay and they’ve become staples, pieces that are crucial to ones everyday wardrobe. Here are a couple of trends, only a couple that come straight to mind, that I approve of and are even hanging in my rack right now.

ONE. The monochromatic look. We have seen Hailey Beiber and Rosie Huntington-Whitely, and the Hadids alike frolicking around in a mono look. Rosie opts more for the Max Mara trenches and matching pant with her signature Bottega Venetas. I love it. Same with Hailey B. With H I tend to see a mono sweatsuit with an overcoat in a matching color or even a dark contrasted black jacket. This look can be achieved with not necessarily a more formal-meeting ready get-up but even with a sweat suit (H) a matching hoodie and a coat to tie it all together. And let’s not forget a chic handbag to complement the look.

TWO. A cyclical trend, the “dad” shoe. Raf, Yeezy, Pyer Moss, Balenciaga, basically every designer is capitalizing on this “trend.” Plain and simple, I endorse. Why? It adds modernity and it is striking if done correctly. I’ve seen women in my fashion classes try to rock this trend and it’s paired poorly with a jean, knee length skirt and peasant top and its a no go. For me, how do I pair my Yeezy’s? An oversized denim jean, sweats (of course) or an above the knee sweat-short that’s paid with a Benneton button down. Again, Hi-Lo for me is the way I go. And the gag is, the shoes are so comfortable. I wear mine almost everyday.

THREE. This one is more complicated for me, because it’s being overdone. Okay we get it we love our Jacquemus mini Chiquitos, but everything in moderation. They are adorable and not functional but who cares because fashion isn’t supposed to be. I opt for a slightly different, slightly more functional mini-wallet (and its a wallet because it only fits my two credit cards, ID and maybe my Dior lipstick.) It’s the KARA Chain bag in the mini option. The chain is heavy, like an actual chain, many mistake it for a weapon (i.e. LDR security and the county office) but I’m inseparable from it. It’s a conversation starter no matter where I go. “Is it a bag?” “Is it a chain accessory?” Nope, its my Kara. My point being we’ve seen Lizzo rocking the mini Chiquito and in my opinion, it’s been done. The craze is over. I love Jacquemus! He is a fresh designer who puts thought and personality and not to mention sentimentality into his work (i.e. 2020 Menswear collection.) But like I said trends are cyclical and this one is “sort of” overplayed. Let’s see some variety. This final acceptable “trend” is an exception because it can be done in a multitude of ways. Link to the Kara bag below. 

BONUS. Oversize clothing. Contradictory to #3 oversize blazers, leather jackets as well as denim is unique because you can wear them casually or even dress them up depending on the crowd and location. I love an oversize leather blazer or biker jacket with slacks or even denim (baggy or fitted. They can go with virtually any bottom: shorts, biker shorts, skirt, and I’ve even worn my oversize leather with nothing but tights for a birthday celebration (25 thank you). Hi-Lo is a guiding theme for me so I own a lot of denim and leather and tops that are anywhere in between. My dichotomy tends to shift between high end pieces and “low” end finds. I’m attracted to minimalism and chaos and layers. 

Here’s the link to my Kara bag that I’m inseparable with: https://www.ssense.com/en-us/women/product/kara/black-bike-wallet-bag/4878681