photography: Jim Jocoy's Punk Rock

Recently I found out about this book: "We're Desperate: The Punk Rock Photography of Jim Jocoy SF/LA 1978 -1980", which chronicles the styles of the burgeoning Bay Area rock/punk scene at that time. What fascinates me was that this was a time of transition. Hippie-flower-child style was turning into black leather and combat boots, there was a real change in the culture at the time, reflected in music and fashion. 

Needless to say, I really identify with the fashion and personal style of the era. I like the in-your-face boldness of it, how it feels like personal armor, the rebelliousness and messy imperfection of it. There was a kind of originality and a " do - it - yourself " spirit (and one that wasn't packaged, branded, and sold in stores like Urban Outfitters). A lot of fashion today really takes inspiration from these roots.  But I find such an authenticity in these images that I rarely see in fashion and personal style today...

If you're interested, you can find the book Here. I think it's a must for the fashion & photography library!

STYLE before STYLISTS.

I have a confession to make.  I strongly dislike the word "STYLIST." It kind of surprises me that people need to pay someone to have "taste" for them, or to tell them what labels to wear or what looks good on them.  I'm of the camp "if it makes you happy and you feel good in it, wear it."

I love fashion, current styles and trends, but alternately I feel like true style has to come from somewhere within your heart, it's not about buying something just because someone told you it's hot, or wearing head-to-toe designer labels, in fact, this is really boring and safe.  Yep, I too would love to splurge on some designer pieces from Saint Laruent, or Givenchy this season, but I realize that solely wearing designer stuff isn't going to give me style...

I come from a background of the visual and performing arts, and I've always approached my personal style more like this: 

"how do these shapes/colors/textures work together?" 

"can i get away with wearing this to the post office and the grocery store?" ("if not, who cares!")

"does this make me look scary/crazy/off/wild/original?" ("if so, GREAT!!!") 

"can I wear this dog collar as a necklace/bracelet/boot harness?"

and

"this is so bad, it's good!"

I look to the past for my own style inspiration.  I often find it on vintage vinyl album covers, like this Sonny&Cher I found recently while thrift shopping:

I mean, look at them! Those jeans! That dress! and I love how casual and un-forced the photographs look, like their style just arrived naturally out of their surroundings and what they were doing at the time.  It isn't forced, it isn't practiced...it's just kind of who they were.  

I feel like this individuality and fearlessness with style is sort of missing from a lot of our popular culture. 

So, here are my general style tips to everyone:

#1 DON'T BE AFRAID TO

a)  mess up

b) look ridiculous

c) have a sense of humor

d) laugh at yourself

#2 OPEN YOUR HEART

#3 FIND WHAT INSPIRES YOU

#4 BE ADVENTUROUS (shop in the thrift store, as well as the mall, cut up your clothes, try to make some clothes or alter stuff you already have!)

#5 STOP LOOKING AT STYLE / BEAUTY BLOGS AND COMPARING YOURSELF TO HOW SKINNY, PRETTY, HAPPY, WHATEVER the other people on the blogs may appear...it's all a facade anyway. ;)

AND ABOVE ALL 

#5 SUSPEND JUDGEMENT (of yourself and OTHERS!)

If you can do that, I think that's the basis of developing your own personal style! (and generally having an easier time getting dressed in the morning).

BANGarang. (haircut anxiety)

i haven't had BANGS since i was in 6th grade. and it was not a good experience.  i've never opted to try them again, but lately i have been collecting "hairstyle" ideas like these, for when i go back to the salon...

i haven't had a haircut in probably close to 3 years, because i am VERY superstitious about who touches my hair. it borders on the insane...it's like i have to have a spiritual/personal connection with whoever does it. soon, though, i'm probably going to be forced to do something.

the eyes have it.

i love style with a sense of humor :)

totally random weekly style inspiration.

the jackson 5.

necklace by tom binns.

twiggy wearing lucite jewelry.

another necklace by tom binns.

the full-disco suit.

oh la la.

this is what i wish my life looked like today ;)

xo

NAKED on PARK AVENUE!!??!

"liberty leading the people" by eugene delacroix, 1830

"UM...okay...I just walked past a chick on park avenue south and 20th street with her assets all out (at first I thought she was wearing a really nude color shirt).  She otherwise looked normal though, with stonewashed jeans, sunglasses, and shoes (although who's really looking) and the kicker, a Burberry handbag...."

a very good friend of mine who lives and works in manhattan just emailed me this. at first, i laughed, and then,  it really got me thinking about the "limits" (or lack thereof) of street style...

did a little "research" (haha, google, anyone?) and found on the gothamist, that it's legal (although, maybe NSFW) for women to be topless in new york state, has been since 1992.

sooo. social protest?! or mere fashion statement? check out this blouse, which leaves little to the imagination, worn by a super-stylish fashionista here. (if you're bored, the comments on this post are very amusing)

miuccia prada, one of my favorite designers, has said something along the lines of, "the more you dress for sex, the less sex you'll get"...

now, i'm never one to put down self-expression and creativity through fashion, i'll probably never have to worry about going topless (or see-thru, without a bra) on the streets of manhattan because a) i don't have the guts to,  b) i don't crave that kind of attention all over my boobs, and c) i'm trying to get as much sex as i possibly can (KIDDING lol)...

so, i'm thinking about what's socially and geographically acceptable in street style. (i can't really see this happening in certain parts of the Bronx, for example...or new jersey...or somewhere in a small town in central USA)

historically, nudity was frowned upon when by missionaries entering foreign countries:  nudity was "savagery"...also during the victorian era a lot nude statues and paintings from the roman and renaissance period in art history had their private parts painted  or glued over with fig leaves ...

so, transport yourself to a sunny summer afternoon on the streets of park avenue...what do you guys think? a celebration of the female form? a right to embrace our equal rights and fundamental freedoms? desperate plea for attention? something that should be left in the pages of art history or on the beaches of the french riviera?????? does she need fig leaves?? or, are we witnessing a
FASHION REVOLUTION??!

(also, i'm sorry i admit, i've been sorely neglecting my humble blog. there is no excuse other than i have been very uninspired lately, so, hoping to do some more outfit posts and DIY soon...thanks for sticking with me,

 faithful readers <3 )

thifted FINDS: jacket, skirt, shirt, shirt. and. new western piece !!!

hit up the thrift store yesterday and found some trendy and one (true) vintage piece: a beautiful, perfectly worn western blouse with a great authentic label.  also purchased a 100% leather mini, oversized 80s blouse, bleached levi strauss jean jacket and a sheer black ruffle sleeve blouse.  perfect for fall!

MARILYN MINTER on my fingernails?!!

check out my cosmic nail art...this was surprisingly easy to do!!! all i did was buy some press-on nail strips...a friend tells me the cheaper ones work better ...these are from"kiss" and this set is "strength and beauty" (it cost only $3, found @ my local drugstore.)

some tips:

-i cut the pre-cut strip down even further with maincure scissors after putting it on my nail-- my nails are very tiny and short...i could use one strip for 2, sometimes 3 nails.

-i lifted them off the backing with a pair of tweezers. and set them down just above the cuticle.

-after pressing them on, i trimmed the edges with a nail clipper.  i used the edge of the tweezer to smooth them into shape, working from the center, out.

-pressed the remaining edges down, folding any small ragged edges down over the edge of the nail

-filed the nails after doing all that...carefully and using a very fine salon board.

all painting/photography in this post (xcept the 'nails of course) is by marilyn minter...she has collaborated with MAC cosmetics in the past. check out more of her artwork

here

Harley-David, Son of A.....

my harley-davidson wallet from the 1970s-80s, given to me by someone very special.

ahh, the sounds of spring: singing birds, children laughing in the park , and the growl of a 750cc engine rumbling past my house...

recently, i have been really inspired by the look, feel, and idea of the "road-warrior" culture.  here, in my village, bikers are large, grizzly men in leather vests covered with patches.  many are veterans.  they ALL kick ass. (i want 2 get some photographs of a bike, but haven't felt that the moment is right yet....i am afraid i'll get caught in the act then have to actually explain what i am doing..."uhhh, i'm sorry, sir, i'll back away now, i was just taking really close up photos of your bike for my "blog"...yikes!) (anyway. i PROMISE soon i'll get some, no more chickening out)

studded vest, robin's jean. jacket, belstaff. cross earrings, modekungen.se, studded iPhone case, shopthetrend.com. rosary- dagger necklace, pamela love. sunglasses & ring, chrome hearts. satchel, belstaff. boots, harley-davidson.

so many designs these days are biker-culture inspired. leather, studs, spikes, and "distressed" fabric is everywhere, from alexander wang to zara. for me, it's always important to find authenticity closer to the source...(i too love spiked Litas, but i cannot imagine wearing them on a bike.)

the harley-davidson co. itself, designs and produces apparel.

one of my favorite accessory designers is chrome hearts. they manage to stay true to the original feeling and spirit of biker culture without losing their amazing sense of fashion and design.  (the company was started by a biker in the 1980s.) i have a chrome hearts necklace that i was lucky enough to find at the brooklyn flea. (whole 'nutha post...stay tuned.)

and, belstaff.  the english version of harley-davidson.  they have become really popular in the past few years.  a while back they did some work for j.crew.  i first found out about them in a small boutique in NYC's west village whose name now escapes me...(i was like "oh, that's a beautiful leather jacket"...then i checked out the price tag...whoa.)  i love their designs and, when i win the lottery, any of their pieces would be a truly worthwhile investment.

my chrome hearts necklace. photo by christina baute.

there's so much amazing cultural history involved in this trend, not only in the US but also abroad...so even though spring and summer are coming and pastel colors are everywhere (ugh. i'm really trying 2 b OK w/ this...)...don't b afraid to mix some leather, studs and spikes into the mix....and b ready to take that road trip !!!

having fun running around in the woods with an iphone.(it is really hard 2 take good pics of yourself) hee hee, here is today's outfit: polo ralph lauren flannel, glitterypalm tree shirt and ombre scarf are from the local salvation army, boots from DKNY (old), and porcupine quill earrings from urban outfitters (got em on sale for $4.99). (though i saw a dead porcupine on the road, not too long ago and have not been brave/sick enough to go take its quills off :P)

salvation army STYLE !

HAVING AN EYE:
OK. so ...
i realize many of us have ENDLESS good taste, style, and creativity (!!!) but we lack an ENDLESS suppy of $$$$$$$$$$. sometimes, even getting things on sale, or "for less" is not helpful or, even possible!!! being an artist by trade i am always trying to find ways to get around having NO cash. so, i'm starting this new tag "$0.99 store STYLE". i mean, this is REALLY tight budget, as in NO budget

---->i am a FAITHFUL THRIFT-SHOPPER  (my past two trips have been AMAZING, i have found a SONIA BY SONIA RYKIEL dress with THE TAGS STILL ON IT and what i believe to be, AN AUTHENTIC GUCCI BAG !!!)(see pics above--if anyone knows how 2 authenticate the bag, please, lemme know in comments)




Remeber my friends:: NEVER STOP LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION 'CUZ U NEVER KNOW WHERE YOU'LL FIND IT !!!!!