Ebony and Ivory

Say what you will about Kimye and the validity of their love, but they are literally a trendsetting couple.  Ever since Kim gave Kanye the keys to her proverbial style bus and let him rework her closet, the two have been spied together wearing nothing but black and white.  Side note, am I the only person that noticed that they haven't been out together in a minute and she's actually wearing color these days?  I digress.  Anyway their month or so long stint of monochromatic and leather ensembles has obviously inspired some looks, and I am absolutely loving it!  Apparently Kanye West has some serious forecasting skills, because I hear that a plethora of designers have opted for black and white in their Spring/Summer 2013 collections.  Black and white is such a simple color scheme, because you can do so much with it.  I would advise mixing patterns and textures (leather and lace for example) so that you don't look dull.  Take advantage of the simplicity of the palate and add a pop of color with your accouterments and/or makeup.  And when it comes to leather please play it safe.  I understand the struggle to afford real leather pieces; hence, no one is going to judge you for wearing faux leather.  However, please choose your faux leather wisely.  I cannot support you wearing faux leather garments that resemble a trash bag.  H&M and bebe typically have decent faux leather pieces that won't make it look like you've been shopping in a Village Family member's closet so I would start there.  Happy shopping!

Dying to be Different..

As a fashion enthusiast I try to be very objective in the way that I judge or view other people's style; however, there are some looks that I simply fail to understand.  I have always been a firm believer that just because a person doesn't dress like you doesn't mean they can't dress, or that they lack style.  Yet I look at many a person with the confused face.  I wonder about these eclectic dressers.  Are you dressed that way because this is your individual style and you own it, or are you just trying to be different?  And in essence trying to be different makes you just like the masses of other people that are trying to be different, which in turn makes you just like all the rest of these people.  It's a vicious cycle.  Does it not get tiring to walk around all the time trying to make this anti-establishment type statement?  If you are genuinely comfortable wearing a barrage of layers and patterns and colors etc. then ok I guess I can accept that.  I suppose I can just chalk that up to the overriding theme of our generation which seems to be: Do You.  I just find it hard to believe that some people are really genuinely comfortable in their pairings.  You would be hard pressed to convince me that Lady Gaga likes these costumes that she wears or that she is comfortable wearing a crystal lobster on her head.  I'm sorry but I am just not buying it.  Is she trying to make a statement to her fans that it's ok to be different, so she does that in the most exaggerated way possible?  Again, I'm lost and I am really trying to understand this whole "different" concept of style.  I'm all for self expression and individuality, by all means do you, but is this really you?