The Making of a Coveted Closet

This is a Gamine original, which means it belongs to me as both the co-founder and Fearless Leader of Gamine and the writer of this piece. To see it in it's original format go to Spring Cleaning"The Making of a Coveted Closet.

Initially this spring cleaning post was all about cleaning out your mind, body and wardrobe, however after a very sobering trip to Lenox Square-for an event that lead to me window shopping-I decided to dedicate it to something that all of the Gamine Girls can relate to, transitioning your wardrobe. I don’t mean moving from spring to summer to fall, I mean transitioning from college to intern to entry level or in my case college to intern to professional blogger. As a persnickety, style obsessed, true to my sign Virgo I could think of no one better than myself to guide you through the journey from co-ed to coveted, a journey that I’m actually beginning now.

Before you run to your closet and start throwing away everything that screams undergrad and book it to your nearest J Crew, take a deep breath and inventory your sartorial influences. As you get older the things that influence you change, or should change, due mostly in part to the fact that you’re experiences should have broadened your range of things to draw inspiration from. When I was 21 my style crushes were J Lo, Simple Life Nicole Richie and Carrie Bradshaw, which made for a very trend focused schizophrenic closet. Now that I’m rounding the corner to 27 I love Nicole Richie even more, especially since she’s toned it down a bit, but I’m also a huge fan of Bianca Jagger, Anna Dello Russo and Genevieve Jones with a little bit of 90s grunge/indigenous/art deco thrown in, which makes for an even more nutty wardrobe that actually works. Just because your influences have changed doesn’t mean that you should throw out all of the clothes you’ve collected during your “not a girl not yet a woman” stage. I still have quite a bit of stuff from college that still fits me and style personality, with a few tweaks. So once you’ve gotten a hold on your style personality, its time to physically inventory your closet.

Mix up a batch of margaritas, or pop open the bubbly, crank up your favorite Pandora station and go at your closet like a surgeon doing lipo. First figure out what you actually wear, if you’ve worn something in the past month or so leave it where it hangs because you obviously love it. Stuff that you haven’t worn for 6 months should not be chucked but reevaluated to figure out why you haven’t worn it. If its too big or too small, toss it! If you bought it to pair with something and you still haven’t found its mate, toss it! If you have no idea how to wear it, toss it! The only things you should keep from your 6 month pile are things that you know how to work into your wardrobe, unless you have a stylish friend who can help you figure it out. After your 6 month pile, move on to the things you haven’t worn in a year and TOSS THEM! If you haven’t worn something in a year you obviously don’t know that you have it/how to wear it/it probably doesn’t fit. Now that you have some empty hangers and a pile of clothes on your floor, grab those rejects and list them on ebay. You’d be surprised at how much money I’ve made selling my cast offs on ebay. If having an online yard sale isn’t your thing, gather your girls together for a clothes swap and get some new goods for the price of your old rejects. Be careful with this and only invite pals who you know have great taste or they’ll clean you out and you’ll be left with nothing.

Once you’ve cleaned your closet and earned a little cash from selling the stuff you absolutely didn’t need or want, hit the mall yall! The thing about building a wardrobe is that you want to look for pieces that work together to create a couple of looks not just pieces. Try to create an outfit that can be broken up into three more outfits. In all honesty I’m a piece shopper but before I buy anything I always ask myself “What else will I wear this with?” if I can’t answer that I leave it. Times are too hard for 20 somethings these days for us to go out and waste money on things that we’ll only wear once, NAGL!

Unless you are rolling in the dough, or a guest on TLC’s What Not To Wear, going through each of these steps and building a wardrobe that is worthy of The Coveteur takes time-ever wonder why they feature so many fashion people, people who work in fashion get freebies and a crash course in style from the moment they start interning. Not only do you need the money to replace everything but you need the time to develop your personal style. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be on your way to owning a coveted closet in no time, as soon as that salary position comes through.

JUDAS!!!

This is another M.I.S.S. exclusive, so you know the drill. To see this post in it's original format go to Fashion Meets Music: Lady Gaga's "Judas".

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germonatta has obviously done her fair share of time in catechism and art history, because the video for her latest single, “Judas” is dripping with odes to religious iconography and popular culture. Instead of serving up a blasphemous video with an anti-Christian theme, Gaga merges the Renaissance with The Wild One and gives us a modern day version of Jesus Christ Superstar.

While a storm of unnecessary controversy swirled around “Judas” from the moment Gaga announced the track’s title, the lyrics are intelligent for a pop song, making the connection between Judas, Mary Magdalene, Jesus, and our little fame monster, the beat is sick albeit familiar, and the video is a sartorial feast for the eyes from the first frame. Although her chola version of Mary Magdalene felt like a continuation of her “Telephone” character, the Byzantine style crown she wears while ripping up the streets with Jesus and his chosen twelve, which calls to mind both Mary the mother of Jesus and the Empress Theodora another historic bad mamajama, and her leather top embroidered with a Sacred Heartmerge Renaissance portrayals of one of the most celebrated disciples with a modern day bad girl image.

Gaga’s fashionable play on religious imagery only begins with a Sacred Heart and a bikini top with a few strategically placed crosses. She carries the image of the beloved chola disciple from her mother superior with a lipstick loaded gun to her final scene as a Harajuku bride in creepers being stoned by her detractors. Despite her over the top fashion reeling you in from the first frame, the most striking image of Gaga comes when she bathes the feet of Jesus and Judas in simple leggings and a crop top with Botticelli like curls, but that’s just me you may prefer the Elizabethan Gaga entering the biker bar.

Clothes and Christianity aside, Gaga’s makeup was the underlying star of this video. Her thick eyeliner recalled on of history’s ultimate femme fatales, Cleopatra, and was very apropos considering her role as Bonnie to biker Jesus’s Clyde, who was very easy on the eyes mind you. Not only was her makeup game locked but Gaga’s stiletto nails were more than worthy of a place in our weekly Mani Monday wrap up. From a set boasting 3D nail art and what looked like a hint of denim to those amazing black and red nails dripping in gold chains, Gaga’s nails almost make me long for the days when I kept a fresh acrylic set.

Whether you are the fan of the makeup, the fashion, or the artful use of Gaga’s one year at NYU, most little monsters will agree that the only sin committed in “Judas” was mixing Chanel with Lacroix.

Google me baby!

Not really, but you can, I mean Googling me would only take you back here you know.

In other news I've been working, working, working day and night on everything from paying bills courtesy of Benetton to producing my first article for Harlem Fashion Row, a super amazing site dedicated to showcasing the stories and struggles faced by people of color in the fashion industry. Which brings me to point letter 2, not that I made point numero Alpha yet but...., I need a vacation! Not now but definitely before 2011 is over. That is all. Oh and I was picked up by Diversity New Online yesterday too....that really IS all.

Cherchez La Gamine

These are from March when the Gamine girls met Jamie Hopper for coffee, tea and a mini photo shoot for our new banner.

Photographer: Jamie Hopper

Creative Director: Anastasia Nicole

Set styling: Patrice

Models:Anastasia, Liz, and Patrice all in their own clothes

I don't really have anything else to say, I just thought it looked a little strange to have our feet right under our bodies looking all disconnected. That's all.

www.cherchezlagamine.com

Monday Monday

Lately my Monday's have been way cooler than my Fridays. Last Monday I hung out with Gaga and some of the most amazing bloggers this side of the Mississippi and yesterday was the perfect follow up to last Monday's madness.

8a.m. Woke up and got the closest to working out that I've ever been in months. I actually considered going to the fitness but stopped myself and opted to do 100 plies instead but only did maybe 60. Workout done!

9 a.m.-11a.m. I know my deadline was last night at 9 but that doesn't mean I can't turn it in late. You know one monkey doesn't stop the show....whatever that means. Filled out an email interview questionnaire all about me for a blog, I have no style pics to send with it so it's chilling in my draft folder...but more on that when it posts.

1p.m.- Meet up with Selden Beylouni. Not only is her salon amazeballs, she uses Kevin Murphy and No 4an all vegan French product line, but she is super cute and knows her stuff. (Write up coming to Haute Living soon.) Another fun fact about Selden is that she was the hair and makeup person at a photo shoot that I worked on as a lowly intern at Pregnancy and Newborn way back in the summer of 2007. Talk about small town Atlanta. (That still doesn't beat the phone call I had with the founder of Harlem Fashion Row who worked with the same company that I interned with in New York less than a month after I ended my internship. Oh and she was referred to me by an Atlanta connection not one from NYC-cue Twilight Zone theme.)

3p.m- HOT DOGS!!! nom, nom, nom.

6p.m.- Listened to the Sartorialist chat about his life, his blog and valuable information for your everyday life whether you're in fashion or not. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that he's much shorter in person and is completely down to Earth. He also validated my penniless existence as a starving blogger. Too bad I had to leave early I would've died for a photo with him.

7:30p.m.- Freelance writing class at Emory....I learned more from Scott Schuman about myself as a writer than I did from my professor but since its paid for and I'm a nerd, I'll keep going.

10:oop.m.-Waffles!!! Who says waffles aren't what's for dinner?

With an action packed Tuesday ahead of me-writing, meeting, work, Shrek the Musical-I'm pretty sure that my weeks will keep etting better.

xo

A

Mondays with Gaga

In an effort to actually enhance my abilities as a writer, I ditched my Monday night freelance writing class to hang out with Stefani Joanne Angelina Germonatta and her little monsters at the Gwinnett Arena thanks to one of the most amazing beauty PR girls ever. While Stef won be back as a fan with her stirring version of Born This Way and her impressive vocal and running in heels skills, her fans as usual stole the show and placed it firmly back in her hands by the time the last note was played.

Getting back to the beginning, I met up with the most awesome group of girls ever, including Ren of Makeup By RenRen, Tiffany of Makeup by Tiffany D and AJC style writer Nedra, for a pre-show sip and chat about everything from dressing up as the artist for concerts, a la Gaga's petits monstres, to twitter apps. As a group of beauty/style bloggers and PR types you know arriving in style was number 1 on our plate so, we hopped into the same SUV Gagaloo was chauffeured in the last time she was in Atlanta, according to the coolest driver ever, and made our way waaaay outside of the perimeter to the Gwinnett Arena in record time. After freshening up we took in the sites, and by sites I mean tons of fans from 2-92 dressed in their best Gaga-esque attire, which was strikingly similar to what people wear on Halloween and during Mardi Gras. There was tons of this...

A couple of these.

Of course a few of these...

And thank heavens I didn't see any of this...

But my favorite incarnation of Gaga had to be this...

Two 13 year old girls, out way past their bed time on a school night, screaming at the top of their lungs in a fever pitch "WE LOVE YOU MAMA MONSTER!", while their parents occupied the seat next to them. (Side note: Apparently parents and grandparents love Lady Gaga, which is a very different reaction another tongue in cheek, Italian American, performer who started out on the same LES received in the 80s due mostly in part to the fact that these parents were teenagers and in their 20s in the 1980s.) The amazing thing about these girls, aside from their black, bee stung lips and their home made Pokerface masks, was the ability to cut through the dangerously high decibels being generated in the room with their barely pubescent voices-ahh teenage girls. Oh and did I mention that their parents were with them!

Before I finish up on how the entire thing made my week, it was a great show and I hardly ever get out with a group of ladies these days, I have to tell you about Gaga's opening acts Lady Starlight and Semi Precious Weapons. Lady Starlight seemingly lives by Ke$ha's motto and brushes her teeth with a bottle of Jack every morning because girl did a 30 minute set and downed an entire bottle of whiskey between DJing and dancing on stage in what looked like the kind of pants that football players wear on game day. Lady Starlight, who has been pals with Gaga since her Tisch School days, was followed by Semi Precious Weapons, another group of Gaga pals from her LES days. All I have to say bout these guys is that their frontman, Justin Tranter, has the best legs I've ever seen on anyone and made me want to hit the treadmill harder than a Gaga fan at a wig shop on the day before the Monsters Ball.

Like I said, this show for sure made my week, form the great group of girls that I enjoyed it with to Gaga leaving everything on the stage as she ran around and danced in over 6 inch heels. Kinda makes me look forward to her upcoming video for Judas, which already has the Catholic League sweating in their pews, just like Mama Madonna would have done.

My 20 Cents: The Chic Boutique tour

A few weekends ago I had the wonderful opportunity to go for a spin on the Chic Boutique Tour. After coaxing BG down from the 'burbs with the promise of free food, drinks and a chauffeured ride around town to some of Atlanta's best boutiques, I was ready for girls day out. We started our day at Redefined Home Boutique on the Westside with mimosas, yogurt parfaits and a Pink Carpet Social. Once BG and I were done posing for the cameras, meeting the other ladies, partaking in the food and drink and planning the decor for my future home, we boarded the Chic Boutique Tour bus and were ready to start spending. On the bus we were treated to our first course prepared by Chef Jamil Pearson and a Veev Lupuschini to get the blood flowing for a day of trying on and trying out new styles.

The first stop of the day was Buckhead's newest gem, Raw Denim where the jeans and accessories were the stars of the show. Although Raw Denim wasn't my style, I did spy a pair of black jeggings that would fit my wardrobe perfectly if only they had my size. After our group dropped their cash at Raw, we moved to another Buckhead location, 5Continents. This co-op style shop specializes in gear from all five continents- I have been told that only in America do we recognize 7 continents everyone else counts North and South America as one continent go figure. Although it's name is still a bit of a mystery to me, 5Continents wowed everyone with their abundance of handmade, fair trade wares that you would usually only find on vacation. With 5Continents down and three boutiques to go, we piled back on the bus for another round of food and drink, this time we noshed pasta salad and sipped a Veev Lupuschini remix this time featuring pomegranate juice. With our bellies full we made our way to our next stop, NV-U Boutique's Midtown location on Peachtree. NV-U's mix of local designers and spring perfect styles was right up my alley-including the printed cardboard earring made by an Atlanta area designer. After NV-U, where BG grabbed a sick maxi dress for herself and a super cute stripped one for me, we headed over to East Atlanta Village to check in with the ladies at Demure Boutique. While Demure was full of gorgeous goods, my caffeine meter was running on E so I Around Me-ed the nearest coffee shop to get my fix-as did a slew of the other ladies. Soy latte in hand, I boarded the bus and was treated to a much needed pick me up in the form of a cake ball from Cake Balls by Nikki-which I had the opportunity to try a few weeks before at the Sweet Auburn Market's Urban Picnic with the BF. These heavenly, sweet, moist, chocolately dessert bites were literally the frosting on the cake of a perfect day. As we battled Atlanta traffic to our planned final boutique, Anne Taylor Loft in Atlantic Station, it was evident that traffic was winning so the decision was made to catch Anne Taylor on the next go round and headed back to Redefined Home to pick up our swag bags. Speaking of which, these bags-technically baskets-were jammed packed with more goodies than a little bit. From beauty tools like a moisturizing cuticle pen, that I use every day , and an eye lash curler which is right on time since I can't find refills for my Shu Uemura curler stateside to a gift certificate for Exhale, love their Core Fusion Yoga class, and Easter candies, this basket was bursting at the seams! Even better than all of the goodies was the hand written Thank You card from the Chic Boutique Tour organizer Rosalynn Wilson-first rule of being BAP is sending out gorge Thank You cards fyi.

All in all the Chic Boutique Tour was the perfect antidote to me missing my ladies back home. BG is already telling her friends and gathering a group for the next tour on June 18. Hint, hint-follow the ladies on twitter and like them on facebook to stay up to date and find out the when, where and how you can get tickets for June's tour on the low low.