New York Fashion Haul: The Power of Unique

Guilty. As. Charged.

(But not charged that much.)

Let me let you in on a little secret.

My Hero-piece of this shoot? yeah, the suede Nascar Jacket.

35$ in a Vintage store in New Jersey... *mic drop*

Ergo, introduced, is our topic of the day: the glorious power of unique.

Here is my simple rules and formula for dressing FASHIONABLY

Let me give you some quick examples of what I'm talking about...

• See through tattoo shirt = unique. Walking your dog in dungarees = causal. OVERALL = Fashionable!
• Jeans and a shirt: how casual/normal can you get? BAM. Bandana as a choker: unique! Elevates the whole outfit to fashionable levels.
• A Silk Cami top + a Polo Neck top = both casual but together they are unique!!

And what do they all have in common: CANVASED ON A CLASSIC. Like dungarees! Or a womens shirt!

It is fine line people... but do it well... and you will be looking capital 's' Sharp.
Take a look at my favourite unique pieces and how I style them...

THE VINTAGE SUEDE 

NASCAR RACING JACKET

What a classic. Paired here with a monochrome outfit and silver

(Sunnies: Dior, Necklace: Nasty Gal)

Here I paired the jacket with some blue jeans for an all-American look.

The Leopard Loafers cut the Americana before is gets too.. Americana..

(i.e. sneakers? A baseball cap? A Coca-cola in hand?)

Wild touch with my favourite bone and gold hendrix Lili-Claspe Necklace!

Mesh shirt gives it a little more of a hard edge.

Thinking about my sponsors... (Which include Fritos and Pepsi.. mmm..)

Diamante Heel for that extra sass.

TATOO SHIRT

It's a show-stopper. 

Paired with a blazer (You never go wrong with a blazer).

The dragon cuffs do add to the drama... 

Lovely classic feminine Chanel flats.

(Buy flats in patent leather, not butter leather. London weather? Thank me later)

Doesn't it just look awesome?

"Where are my boobs?!"

Bonus points if you are wearing a cool bra.

A secret pop of red keeps it consistent.

THE SPANISH-YET-VINTAGE-MOSCHINO SHILOUETTE

Unique silhouette!

That craftsmanship though... #OldMoschino #TakeMeBack

Snake skin booties keeps the 'unique' vibe, vibing.

You have to feel zee outfit.

( Lili Claspe Again! )

Hair? Makeup? Why would you need such a thing 

when you are dressed so uniquely! #ComplexBitch #BasicIsDead

Flattering shape on your bottom. By the way. 

Loosely done Betty Boop knot makes for an unusual twist (no pun intended)

(okay maybe a little).

THE VINTAGE UGLY DESIGNER BAG

I mean ugly in the most endearing of ways. 

It's just so off-trend, and so unique for it's time,

 that when teleported back to the now: it has a 

familiarity with a kitch weird twist!

Marvellous!!! 

Perfect with a simple outfit like this one though!

The bag is like a lap dog: everyone will want to say hello.

This freaking cafe in East London is the cutest: Pitfield Cafe!

It's so tacky I love it.

That's all folks!!!

But first some bloopers of me enjoying our set location a little too much!!

 Moustache-you to ... wipe your face you goon.

Stuffing my face accordingly.

Even more reason to visit? Vintage Star Wars pod-racing Arcade Machine!!

Until next time!!

(P.s. Special thank you to Laura who styled and photographed all these photos! Don't you just love her aesthetic?? I mean look at that one above! Wow!)

Roberta Einer: the Emerging Designer to Watch

10 months ago, Roberta Einer was still in school. She studied at Westminster, my school (London College of Fashion's) sister school. Today however, flipped from ten months ago, Roberta is at the front of the class, instead of in it, sharing with us her crazy journey and lessons learned. Talk about a prodigy.
If I didn't walk out of that talk feeling like the pressure was on for the next 10 months.. then something would be wrong. One couldn't help but leave in awe.

"She's just like us though?" said one of my fashion friends. Yes. She is just like us. Because unlike the other industry professionals that had come to talk to us with their life lessons, she looked, talked, and dressed like us 20 somethings.
Which was pretty fucking rad if you ask me.

Working days at school and embroidering in the likes of Alexandre McQueen and Balmain into the night: Roberta had the passion and fuel needed to launch her brand. But it wasn't always her intention, as she explained to us today, she never actually anticipated creating her own brand.

After she graduated, instead of going on holiday like her friends, she worked. She milked every opportunity that came her way, that led her from strength to strength: from insta-fame, to her feature in American Vogue, to a deal with Asian fashion mogul I.T. Hong Kong, and incredibly a partnership with Saks Fifth Avenue ("Can you be in new York by tomorrow night" she was told!).

With couture embellishments to drool over, and price points rivaling that of Gucci, being launched into luxury-dom in a matter of 10 months is merely a fantasy for most.

Gucci SS16, a competitor of Roberta.

Roberta Einer SS16

But it wasn't without merit; when I asked her how she got the confidence to play on this global playing field, with lawyers, numbers, and no PR agency to support her, so young and fresh: she laughed and responded that she had never cried so much, than in those first few months.

I would too: mass conglomerates chasing after you, trying to buy your brand.
When she applied to the BFC for their New Gen support scheme, they advised her to lower her price point and get an MA.

But Roberta saw her training, materials, and brand as luxury. Rightly so. Therefore she stuck by her guns and listened to herself... and look at her now.

"Don't listen to people, but question yourself" she said. "You need to be self critical". Was one of my favourite pieces of advice today.

As well as the way she measures her success by the autonomy of her brand:
"When you can go on holiday and close your computer for a week: that's how you rate your success".

When we asked what her next step was; 'online retail', such as Net-a-Porter, she suggested would be nice: but right now she is just focusing on delivering.
"It's my baby" she said, as I have heard time and time again from many others like her in this classroom.

I hope to one day be as young yet powerful, decided yet successful, and as grounded and driven, as Roberta Einer.
..and perhaps have my own little luxury brand baby to love and care for..

Keep your eyes on her. She's the one to watch.