Moving on

Thanks for the support during the Afropeenne time. I've decided to move on and create a new blog: Profile.
The chic pragmatist
See you!

Harmony and dissonance

Here bellow is grunge in all its glory codes: the plaid, baggy, slouchy clothes, dark colors with a touch of burgundy red, leather boots.

To be honest, I'm over the whole grunge "uniform" but its influence is still deeply rooted in my fashion imaginery and way to dress. There's often an hint of slouchiness in my outfits, it's never completely and perfectly done.

There's always a dissonance that brings my idea of harmony. Wether it's a shirt hanging instead of being quietly tucked in, a batik print, tough flat boots or a cheongsam dress.

Yes, I do pay attention to what I'm wearing and the contrasts in the architecture of an outfit are planed, resulting from my tastes, cultural background. 

Growing up listening to Nirvana's "Nevermind" in West Africa shaped up as much my way of dressing now as my Carribean roots and living in a multicutural city like Paris. 

Beyond trends, there are always some traits which outline a personality and that's what I try to cherish. 

It's so easy to get trapped in a fashionable yet anonymous uniform, what do you rely on to bring out your personality?
Is it about hair, make-up, accessories?
Do you have a peculiar attachment to an era's style? A fondness for an artist that is translated to your own style?

PS: I'm still obssessed by the Y's boots featured in this ed...

"Cosney Island'  from Jalouse September 2008 - Jalou Gallery

The difference a year makes

Dear readers,

I got officially older a day ago.

These past weeks, my mind kept going back and forth, analyzing my situation and goals for the future. Where I am now and what I want to achieve in the years ahead. Quite banal.

Yet, for the first time in my adult life, my hopes are tinted with fears regarding my health. I'm sure everything will be alright. It has to.

Still my priorities are changing.

I want to keep this blog. And I want to keep it light hearted and headed.

I also do not want to deal with  the business mails, spams, scams and other inconveniences.

For me this medium is not a money opportunity, a step to 5 seconds in the spotlight. Others do it far better and good for them. 

This blog is a personal space and I want to share it with people who truly care.

That's why at the end of this Sunday, my blog will be opened to the persons willing to enjoy it.

Thanks! Merci!

Aïssa

My Space

Another inspiring Jalouse ed.

Jalouse n° 107 février 2008
From Jalou Gallery

Block A

I threw away a lot of old magazines and  among them a series of Jalouse, a French magazine I used to buy frequently about 4 years ago. Though I lost interest in this mag, several eds produced over the years during which I was a frequent reader are among my favorites.

Here bellow is "Block A" from the september 2007 issue.

The styling is still amazing in a perfect for the first chilly Fall week-ends way.

A blazer over a shirt with cargo trousers and boots is a combination I 'll be, I think, forever attracted to.

Jalouse n° 103 - Septembre 2007 from the Jalou Gallery

Tenue du jour - Hip hippie Monday

jacket: Uniqlo /shirt and scarf: h&m/ skirt: Comptoir des Cotonniers/shoes: André / bag: YSL

I have a few days off (yay!), so I'll post a bit more. 

Here's what I wore today. 

I love that Comptoir des Cotonniers skirt that I got in a consignment store a couple of years ago but find the print and colors to be a little overwheming especially when I wear it with another colorful top. 

So to tone down its boho vibe, I teamed it with a shirt and a blazer (which was much needed considering the low temperatures for August) to give a tailored edge to this outfit.

Outtakes: 3 Summery dresses and 1 chilly outfit

dress: h&m
sandals: André
bag: YSL

dress: Etoile IM

sleeveless  tee : Petit Bateau

shoes: André

bag: YSL

dress: Uniqlo
bag: Celine
shoes: André

sweater: APC
jeans and belt: h&m
bag: Céline
shoes: Lanvin

Tenue du jour - It's now or never!

I bought this dress on eBay a while ago and I think it's the second or third time tops that I'm wearing it. 

For once, as the season is coming to an end I can honestly say that I'm not fed up yet with my Summer closet!
It's a typical look I reach for on the (last) hot days: a little cotton or linen dress, sandals, a bag and voilà, done! It's pulled together yet fresh enough to stand the heat in the city.

dress/robe: Etoile IM
bag/sac: YSL
sandal(e)s: André

Tenue du jour - Enfin l'été! Summer at last!

Just when I'm starting to do some Fall shopping, the weather finally turns around. It didn't stop me from buying a mohair knit by Isabel Marant's Etoile line.
Sneak peek in the first pic.

dress/robe: H&M Trend new collection
sandales / shoes: André
sac/bag: YSL

Sorry dentist

I had never paid attention to L'Officiel magazine before that visit to the dentist years ago where while waiting for my wisdom teeth to be pulled out, I flipped through the september issue, stopped to this editorial and quietly put the mag in my bag. Ok, I stole it.

I had never done it before. Maybe it was this nerve wracking operation awaiting me or maybe I was long time due for some transgression, anyway I had to have it just for the sake of these pics.

Several years later, I find the styling of this ed to be still the classic urban look at its best.

All the pieces featured are popular items, the leather, plaid, tweed jacket, jeans, sneakers, wedge boots. I have most in my closet and the clothes associations shown are easy.

So why the fascination?

Maybe just because of that simplicity. Most of the eds I like are in the same vein. It's always the quiet classic styling my eyes are drawn up to and which actually make me purchase the magazines.

Surprisingly, I find them so much more inspiring than some over the top ed, piling up of the must-have clothes and accessories of the season, shot in a fantastic location.

From L'officiel september 2006 (Jalou Gallery)

Cette vieille chose

I've owned these corduroy trousers for more than 5 years, they've followed me throughout the years, adapting and surviving to all kind of phases: worn badboy style, clad with leather and sneakers and in a more classic way, with sharp blazers and pumps. On hold from time to time, never had I the impulse to part with them.

A few days ago, as I was meeting my mother, she pointed out the black blouse I was wearing saying  "oh cette vieille chose" (oh, that old thing!). It's  from Zara and at least 10 years old.

We couldn't help but laugh remembering when she repaired it for me and tried to figure out since when I had it in my closet.

If it ain't broke why replace it, I then added. The moment I said it, I realized that it's not that simple. What I know is that nor the trousers or the blouse were overthought purchases and yet years later I still enjoy them.

I've given up on still in perfect condition clothes in the blink of an eye without any regret, but some hold a je ne sais quoi which make them stand the test of time.

jacket and trousers: Etoile IM

shirt: h&m
scarf: Zara
sandals: Bata
bag: YSL

What I wore last thursday

I won't be ranting about the temps de cochon awful weather we've had these past weeks. I just adapted my Summer fashion aspirations and traded little colorful dresses and flat sandals for jackets, cropped trousers and closed shoes. 

When I count the very little number of times I've been able till now to wear 100% Summer clothes, it only strengthens my belief that spending and buying a lot on these "warmer" seasons is not worth it this side of the old continent.

When it comes to workwear, what I've worn most frequently lately were actually mid-season clothes: 
Etoile cropped jacket or Zara trench, conservatively cut tees (a modest round collar cut, no deep V neck, not sheer), shirts, ankle cut trousers and brogues or ballet flats. 
As for week-ends, I've relied on the same kind of outerwear, a variety of jeans, slim cargos and my destroyed sneakers. 

So in conclusion (completely self-congratulatory) I feel even more satisfied of my Summer shopping restraint.

Now if only the sun could come out, I still want to wear those little colorful dresses... No I'm not ranting, just expressing myself.

I couldn't take a pic of what I wore last Thursday so I made this Polyvore set.

What I wore last thursday by Rouge noir featuring shoulder bags

Jacket and linen tee : IM Etoile

black cropped trousers : Gap

bag: h&m

slingback patent wedges: New Look

my Opex watch and D&G eyeglasses

Backlog

M.I.A for more than a month... Sorry for this long unintentional break as these outfits pics below are actually a month old and I expected to post much earlier. 

Since then, Summer turned to early Fall or Spring depending on how optimist and upbeat one appreciate the weather.

As much as I love clothes and enjoy dressing up and down, lately my mood wasn't set into exhibiting purchases (as a matter of fact I barely did any shopping) and was too lazy to take pictures of my outfits. I was plainly bored with blogging. 

I cut down my web attendance to a minimum thinking it would be harder to avoid idle browsing on and off the web but showers of promotional mails and massive sales hysteria (I spotted a Zara store closed because of a fight with sales assistants hiding behind doors on the first day of sales !! Isn't that crazy!?) actually helped to put distance with some habits...

We'll see how it goes but I intend to keep my blog activity to a slower pace.

 Uniqlo linen jacket, h&m tee, IM Etoile shorts (SS sales), André sandals, YSL tote.

 IM Etoile dress (SS sales) the one spotted on Totokaelo, André sandals and YSL tote

h&m jacket, skirt, WE tee, New Look sandals, YSL tote

Sans titre

This is an out of the blue post. I must have clicked on the "Post to blogger" button without realizing it.

Anyway let's make the best of it. 

I love the incredible Céline boots from the coming Fall. It's basically the same model as last year's version but the price tag still stuns me so I'll pass this time too.
On the other hand, I'm waiting on the T by Wang jacket to arrive home. I was actually preparing a post on my back obsession. Nothing dirty heh! Just that I've been acquiring quite a sensible amount of clothes with low backs, cut-out backs and the likes...And it seems I'm on the roll as I've got this shirt last Friday.

H&M

Summer boots

After more than 6 months of tights, cashmere socks and boots, it's such a pleasure comes Spring to bare legs and toes that the last thing I want to wear is boots.  

That was before I stumbled upon the Bodkin lookbook.

I can't get over how cool these boots are. I don't know which brand they are, could be Golden Goose, JM Weston or Sartore. 

Perfectly beat up, buckles and flat. I can't keep my eyes off them. They'd be a great alternative to the Marant boots.

The clothes aren't too bad either...

Trend vs Mind

Printed shorts. It's everywhere: plaid, ikat, stripes, flowers, you name it, you have it.

It's just the kind of trend I'd like to follow but can't bring myself to it. 

Everytime I spot one I like, the same scenario creeps in my mind :

a) it's short-shorts (which you rarely find flatering)
b) it's (often a bit too) colored...
c) and printed
d) the sum of a), b) + c) = draws (too much) attention to the lower half of your body.
e) It's a trend. You will be over with it in a few weeks.
f) You're not going on vacations this Summer, so drop it.
g) Short-shorts in Paris? in the métro? Hmm, no.
h) Yeah, Summer only last a few weeks anyway... If we're lucky.

BUT aren't these just incredibly cute??

(all pics from J. Crew)

I'll wear that

Michael Kors SS 2011 by The Sartorialist

The casual pant suit at its best for the Summer with the longer than the jacket crinkled untucked shirt, loose trousers and relaxed fit jacket, complete with hand in the pocket nonchalant attitude. 

I'd pass on the too high for me wedges and the monochromatic, all white look which is a bit excessive especially for work, not to mention that I ride the métro.

Maybe I'll do a beige/white combo. 

Other than that I plan to replicate this exact silhouette to alternate it with my other office uniform.

Blue Sunday

Knit: h&m

shirt: Uniqlo

trousers from Africa

sandals: André

scarf: Zara

bag: Gap

One more proof of my addiction to blue right now.

I wore that to the traditional Sunday morning trip to the market, got a few fruits and veggies, a baguette and poulet rôti (roasted chicken).
We're having a longer week-end in France thanks to the Pentecost so no work on Monday. It's so quiet in Paris, such a nice change of pace. Almost feels like Summer holidays are here.
Have a great week!