Wesley Nault

Lost in TRENDslation? - “Apparently Your Boyfriend Dresses Like A Girl?”

It seems sort of ironic (to me) that the minute I no longer have one… The whole entire fashion world can’t stop pushing all things “Boyfriend”

Before I trash this trend… let me just say that when done well… (and not actually worn at some point by your boyfriend…) this look is really one of my favorites… but who wants to read a blog about that!

So first, a brief history of the “Boyfriend Trend”

In the beginning G-d created the “Boyfriend Sweater”. This was basically an oversized, unflattering sweater that looked way too worn in and didn’t say much about your boyfriend’s level of taste.

The “Boyfriend Sweater” of Fall/Winter 200whatever was followed shortly thereafter by the “Boyfriend T-shirt” of Spring/Summer 200Whatever-Was-Next.  I remember I once wore a boyfriend t-shirt… it looked like a baby tee… I should probably start dating taller guys… but I digress…

We were then introduced to the “Boyfriend Cardigan”… I love all things cardigan… and this look didn’t upset me… until it was paired with…

“Boyfriend Jeans”…  which on there own are a very cute alternative to the skinny jean… (which is my favorite kind of jean btw) but when you pair it with a “Boyfriend _____(Insert Garment)____ “ you give off the appearance of someone going through the better part of a YoYo Diet.

Not satisfied with simply wearing his sweaters, t-shirts and jeans… girlfriends recently decided they needed to steal something more formal… and thus we are now all loving the “Boyfriend Blazer”.  I don’t hate this look… but I will say this… if I were your man… I would think your affinity for this whole “Boyfriend” fad is verging on kleptomania.

Like I mentioned in the beginning of this post… I happen to really like this trend… and to be honest; some of my favorite pieces that I’ve designed actually have a very strong menswear influence…

And an INFLUENCE is exactly what the term “Boyfriend” should be… The goal of the “Boyfriend Look” is to give off the impression you have a boyfriend… without looking LIKE your boyfriend.

So if you are looking to get on this trend… here are some tips I’ll give you to avoid the pitfalls and effortlessly pull it off.

#1: (THE MOST IMPORTANT) BUY “BOYFRIEND WHATEVERS” IN THE WOMENS SECTION…  Trust me on this… Fashion is well aware of this trend, and has adapted it into women’s wear… if you still think the look is too fitted, try a size up, before you try a gender over.

#2: The “Boyfriend sweater” should still be flattering on your figure, and like any good article of clothing, should NEVER wear you.  Avoid chunky knits and sweaters that are shapeless and boxy. This is the kind of sweater you want to skim the body, so avoid it in wool, and go for options in cashmere, cotton or even try a silk blend.

#3: The “Boyfriend T-shirt” has seen a lot of changes since it’s inception, and while I would suggest (as is true with all of these trends) buying one made for women… if you’re planning on stealing one from your actual boyfriend, go with something worn in and thin… I can’t explain why, but it’s just more flattering.

#4: The “Boyfriend Cardigan” is sexiest when it is simply a longer cardigan.  The nice thing about it is that unlike the “Boyfriend Sweater”, The “Boyfriend Cardigan” can be worn in a chunkier knit… so long as you wear something “Girlfriend” under it.

#5: The “Boyfriend Jean” is great … if you’re skinny… and blessed with naturally jutting hipbones…and have long legs, so you can cuff them and wear them with a pair of heels.  Since those 5 girls likely already know this… lets talk about an alternative for the rest of us… A great pair of wide or relaxed leg trouser-style jeans has a similar look and feel, without adding the bulk that “Boyfriend Jeans” are unforgivingly famous for.

#6: Out of all of the trends I’ve spoken about, the “Boyfriend Blazer” is the one that you should really NEVER buy from the men’s section.  AT BEST… you might look like you borrowed your beaux’s blazer because you were cold… but that’s cute for like an hour… not a workday.  Men’s blazers are cut for men… even skinny-style ones are still made to accommodate a taller, boxier frame, and a broader chest, back and shoulders… and if for nothing else… they button the wrong way (…for you.. if you’re female)  Go with something made for women… with dropped shoulders, and that hits at the hip (plus or minus an inch) pick one in navy, and in a relaxed, non-rigid material.  Bonus points if you roll up the sleeves a bit!

So that’s about it for the “Boyfriend Trend”… It’s a great, relaxed look that is very chic and when done right, might very well get you a boyfriend… just don’t tell that to the one whose clothing you’ve been stealing.

Please leave your comments… good or bad… and thanks of course for stopping by!

-Wesley

Lost in TRENDslation?

So as someone who is heavily involved in fashion, style etc… I tend to be pretty aware of the trends of the season (and the upcoming one…as fashion’s a season ahead).

I hate trends.

Actually, that’s a lie… I appreciate them…I’m just naturally a bit cranky…

what I ACTUALLY hate is when people who have no idea how to embrace them…well…embrace them.

Because I (mostly) love and care about people, and appreciate anyone who appreciates fashion…I’m going to try and do a weekly post about a specific, popular trend of the season. I’ll be breaking it down, explaining when it looks fabulous and when it looks ridiculous.  I’ll also try and tell you how to make it work for you.  I’m not promising I can tell you how to make 8 inch stilettos work-place appropriate…but I’ll do what I can!

And so without further ado…

Thigh High Boots:

I don’t think you can open a fashion magazine this month without seeing something about them.  I personally love the trend…I mean sure, it’s a little “Lady of the Night” but Lucite heels (better known as clear heels) are going to be all the rage for Spring 2010…and I’ve always felt that prostitutes were far more respectable & classy than strippers (never start something you can’t finish, I always say)

I digress…

Thigh-high boots are great, they look great over jeans, tights and stockings. They also make make my personal favorite, the “Winter Shorts” possible.  I would assume they keep a large part of your leg well insulated…so you’ve got a bonus utilitarian feature right there.

And what is the best accessory to go with thigh-high boots?

Legs that are longer than them.

Now I’m not saying that only models should be wearing this trend.  While they admittedly pull off the look much better than normal humans, this is also true with any trend or style…I mean they’re models. they could (and have) made garbage bags look like couture…so this goes without saying….even though I just did. Whatever.

My issue with thigh-high boots comes when you can’t tell if someone is wearing them, or if they are rocking a pair of skin-tight, leather footy pajamas.

I saw a woman today who was wearing a pair of thigh-high boots that came up to her (to borrow a term from Chelsea Handler) Kaslopis.  In this case, only Victoria Beckham can pull this off…unfortunately, that was not who I saw in SoHo today.

I think maybe it might help If they changed the name of these boots to Mid-Thigh-Highs…or Above-The-Knee-Highs.  Because that’s really where these boots should come up to if you want to wear them correctly.

Lady Gaga aside, the average, or even very stylish woman should try on a few pairs of these boots before buying them.  Think about the type of tops you frequently wear.  Are they going to go over the top of the boots? If so…I’d recommend buying shorter boots.  To avoid an EPIC FAIL, you want to see things in this order: -

1. Boot
2. Pant (or tights, jeans etc.)
3. Top.

If you can’t see the pants…then you are wearing leather, heeled tights…not a good look.

(Note: If you are wearing a skirt or a dress…this doesn’t apply.  Actually it’s the opposite, you WANT the skirt to cover the top of the boots…unless you actually are a prostitute…in which case…”Hey Girl, Thanks for taking the time out to read my blog!”)

-Wes

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COMMENT! I’D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY!

The Ugly Side of Making Beautiful Things

Not a bad title eh? Maybe I’ll give up this whole “fashion” thing and become a writer!

*10 minutes pass*

Ok…it’s a bit too early in my literary career to have writers block…back to fashion I go.

I’m pretty new to the whole blogging thing – so this is sort of going to be like an open narrative sort of deal.  If I think it, I’ll write it…I’m not really going to follow any sort of structure or abide by the laws of writing.  Like I said…I’m a much better fashion designer than author.

That being said…I suppose writing out what’s on my mind is a good way to express myself, and besides if I designed a cocktail dress inspired by all of my thoughts and feelings at the moment… it would look like a hot mess…which might have some appeal…but I think I’ll stick to my preference for designing sophisticated, classic pieces.

Right now, I’m feeling sort of a happy-dizzy-exciting-chaotic calm.  On one hand, I’m actually making my life-long dream of starting my own fashion brand a reality.  It’s definitely in the beginning stages and I know it’s going to take a lot of blood, sweat and organza (haha-but actually sort of true) but it’s happening…and that’s mind blowing to me!

On the other hand… I’m feeling a bit worried that I’m spending the “best years of my life” (or so I’m told) sketching, pattern making, sewing, draping, etc. all alone in my “studio” (apartment, that is) Keep in mind I’m doing all this under some pretty harsh fluorescent lighting, and in the even harsher reality of the world that is going on around me (again, or so I’m told).  Am I letting my 20’s fly by me? Is becoming a success at 30 (or sooner…please) worth it if you never experienced the follies/shit-show/awesomeness that is supposed to be your 20’s?  I look at my friends (when they come over to visit…I haven’t even had time to leave my apartment to go grocery shopping, much less “hang out” with the people I love) I look at them, and they all seem to be really be “LIVING”.  It makes me somewhat reflective, and worried that I’m not.

On the other hand (I believe that would make me have 3 hands…which I don’t…ew…but OMG that would seriously make my life way easier!) I know in my heart and all of my being that I am doing what I was born to do, and I’m so ridiculously lucky and fortunate and grateful that I’m able to do it.  Like I might have pretty much no life, but every day (and frankly well into every night) I get to create things that I want to create. I’m able to do something that If I worked as an assistant designer to some big somebody in the industry (and I’ve considered it) I wouldn’t have the chance to do.  I get to experiment.

Maybe life would be easier if I worked for a fabulous label and never had to pay for supplies or have to skip brunch with my best friends because I’m saving up for a website, or an industrial sewing machine… there are a lot of maybe’s…but when I do stop working and take a moment to breath, I look around… and my cluttered, too-small, too hot, too expensive apartment becomes a world full of beautiful things that I dreamed and sketched and designed and sewed and I just breath it in…and it’s euphoric…because it’s those moments where I can see my past, present and future coming together and all of the doubts and what ifs don’t matter, because everything is beautiful again.

That got sort of deep…but I feel pretty great right now.  I’m not sure if it’s because this was actually therapeutic or if it’s just nice to partake in an activity that requires me to sit down…and doesn’t require me to hold pins in my mouth.

Either way, thanks a lot for reading…hope you enjoyed it…and I’ll sit down and do this again soon…

Goodnight!

-Wesley