[shorts story] fresh to death

photos Fareine Benz // shirt Thomas Dean (previously seen on my tote bag here!) // shorts China // cuff 3.3 mall Sanlitun // shoes Ash Italia // jacket Ike's Underground (seen here)

This week I wanted to do something a bit unexpected, so I got to thinking about b-boy style and hip-hop influences. I found I had the perfect combination of items to do an outfit post for the final installment in my shorts storiez, in which I finally showcase that gigundo cross I blogged about here. I wouldn't wear this look everywhere, everyday, but I did wear it to Barnes & Noble. Sneakers/trainers what have you are rather de rigeur and pants seem to be getting looser and baggier (a lá Aaliyah?), so expect to see some new silhouettes on the blog (i.e., today, right now.) While Pharrell and André 3000 are two of my top fashion icons, the inspiration for this look is rooted in the outsized personalities of K-Pop. Korean rappers/singers G-Dragon and TOP embody a new kind of urban aesthetic that fuses American b-boy style with Japanese street style. Well, I don't know how "new" it is, per se, but I've been getting more familiar with it recently and am intrigued by their personas and, let's be real, wanna bang them (or should I say smang them?) like any good groupie. Some style examples, including GD and TOP, below...

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BELL IS THE NEW BLACK

Or, an alternative post title might be, "Trucker Lovechild." The bell bottoms are vintage Mudd ladyjeans that I picked up at Ike's Underground - I know I said bell bottoms were a trend that wouldn't be coming back into fashion...but I lied, as they are obviously f*cking awesome. I paired them here with my vintage Ralph flannel and an army surplus jacket I had customized last year by my darling dearest BFF, screenprinting wunderkind James Anthony. The boots and bracelet are from Low Vintage and ma sunnies are from Bygones Vintage in Richmond.

I'm crazy about these wooden beads and the "summer of love" vibe they lend to my wardrobe, drawing inspiration from this previously blogged editorial. So what's the consensus? Are we all on board the bell bottom bandwagon? Or am I alone on the Ashton-Kutcher-circa-That-70's-Show express? Photos Joel Codiamat.

GOOD OLD FASHIONED

They say God is in the details, right? Well, the details here are my favorite thing - the red piping on the pockets, the high rise, the wide leg! These are my vintage Boy Scouts trousers, previously seen here, that (sort of) reference the silhouette at Kenzo I blogged about the other week. They look very old fashioned here, like it's 1923 and I want to sell you a newspaper, although last week I paired them simply with a crisp white shirt and felt very Euro. My favorite detail you can't see, but only find out if you ask me who I'm wearing, like it's the Oscars or you've run into Joan Rivers on the street. "Oh, these?" I'll say, "These are Randy Wards. His name is literally printed inside my pants because they used to be his when he was eleven." It's fun, no? Paired with a Steven Alan-esque shirt from Low and a skinny belt and faux-Sebagos from China.

photos Joel Codiamat

HIGH SCHOOL BOYFRIEND

You would never believe it, but I'm wearing ladypants today, not to mention a lady teesh! I've simply outdone myself. On top of that I've actually synergized my layering inspiration with my letterman's jacket inspiration! Slowly but surely I'm connecting the dots, see? It's all good.

This is my vintage letterman's jacket I bought at Ike's. It's a little Louis Vuitton SS12, no? I wore it over the thrifted vest-thing I bought that I really think is just an old gas-station attendant's shirt with the sleeves cut off (seen here and here). It's so sexy. But I do love it layered! The pants, from Banana Republic, are my slim-cut cargos. Apparently the style was seen recently on one famous street style blog or another? It's a great look, but I probably couldn't afford the ones made for menfolk and so I keep wearing these. And my shoes, oh my shoes! I love these babies. They're made by Goodyear, which I thought was just a tire company, but the more you know...I've been wearing them cuffed down like this since summer and now I think it's so great I can't stop. Instead of just uncuffing them for winter, I wear them with chunky socks, most often chunky tube socks. Mm, chunky tube, say it again. You can see the back of the letterman's jacket below; apparently Jericho is on Long Island, according to a total stranger that asked me if I went there. No, I did not, I just love that it's also Biblical. The Bible is so hot right now, you know?

And I almost forgot about my mini backpack! Yes, I have a mini backpack. Obviously my stern expression in these photos is thanks to it's insufficient capacity to hold my angst and/or spite for The Man.

Hat - H&M

Vest - Ike's

Teesh - Urban Outfitters

Jacket - Ike's

Cargo Pants - Banana Republic

Shoes - Low Vintage

photos by the lovely Chelsea

STYLE SNAPSHOTS

from top to bottom, left to right...

1) My new favorite color combo: black & blue. I fell in love with this street style snap of Emmanuelle Alt and then this shot of Ashley Olsen and decided it's the best way to wear denim, maybe ever. I don't want to be dramatic, though. Paired with a skinnny belt and my skinny bracelet that looks like Philip Crangi.

2) I stopped into Ike's Underground the other weekend and made off with quite a haul. Here I am modeling a shirt/vest thing that looks like it came from a wardrobe auction for the now defunct My Name is Earl. I picked up some better things, I swear, but when my friend saw this pop up in her Instagram feed she said it looked like I'd been kidnapped. I think it looks like I might be trying to sell myself on the internet from prison ("And this is my gas station attendant outfit.") It's like a real-life choose your own adventure novel!

3) My dizzesk got some new flowers again. These are Lisianthus. I LOVE them. I want to strew them about my bed and lay there writing poetry.

4) The statement nail is back, and it's ready for fall. This time around I chose to keep it traditional with a classic houndstooth. The big debate between me myself and I was whether or not this should become an all-fingers affair, but it was (rightly) decided that just the one nail is a fun touch and the whole shebang would be a touch tacky.

5) Rainy day boots!

6) Laura Marling's new cd is out! I won't make a judgment call yet, but the cover art is "pretty sweet, dude."