I can't say this enough...

I cannot stress enough the enormous difference between fashion and style.


Anybody who wants to be stylish can be stylish. You can buy a pair of shoes that are similar to Christian Louboutins; buy a quilted "leather" bag that looks like Chanel; or even buy a pair of wayfarers that look like ones seen on Mary Kate Olsen (which were really Ray Bans). That's being stylish.

Fashion is a different playing field. Fashion is an art; it's the intentional manipulation of fabric to create shapes, movement, imagery, and emotion. Yes, "Clothing" can create an emotional response. For example, haute couture designs by Christian Lacroix make me hold me breath; I stroke the magazine page in which they're being pictured. Am I crazy? No. They are beautifully constructed, amazing pieces of work. It's no different than someone wanting to touch the canvas of an oil panting, right?


To me, Style is the offshoot of High Fashion. Celebrities are fashionable-- they afford the real deal. Are lay persons any less important because we can't afford to kill $2,000 on a Prada purse? No. But we can afford to get the same look for an eighth of the price. That doesn't mean buying KNOCK-OFFS (I do not support the purchasing or production of any fake designer goods). Lay persons are stylish because they choose the style of the trend not necessarily the designer piece.


What catches my eye on an every-day person walking down the street? Their style-- not really what their labels say (I will admit though, sometimes I notice a nice pair Loubis before I notice a trendy hand bag).


Have a great day,
Alicia


PS-
Don't forget to check out my article in The Pulse Magazine October 2007 and look for upcoming articles in The Pulse! Maybe I'll put some scans in here even though it is online-- we'll see.

The Pulse Magazine - October

Check it out!


Ethnic Influences on American Style



by yours truly.