attitude

vogue italia

5 is the magic number

fashiongonerogue.com

The vibe of the photo set here is beautiful. It makes me feel so much nostalgia for summer - which brings me to a new point, I can't believe it's almost ending! School is going to start soon and a new chapter awaits. But the memories we've all made during these four short months? They're stay, here, forever.

assortment

from an assortment of fashion websites

Philosophy

Sometimes I think we have such a set list of expectations for life. When we’re in high school, the ultimate dream is to go to college. And so we grind away, forgetting to breathe, have fun and begin truly exploring our interests (taking that guitar class in high school? Never happened thanks to the college grind). When we’re finally in college, we let out a sigh of relief. Finally we’re here, we gleefully say, almost relishing in the fun-filled possibilities that await us our Freshmen year. And then things change. We begin to get increasingly focused. Grad school or a lucrative, prestigious job looms around the corner. Grades start becoming a priority, once again. The GRE, the next SAT, terribly awaits us. And then when we finally get to that job, we’re put officially onto the track. The track of what? Working. All. The. Time. After reading the first few pages of Jeremy Iversen’s book, I do begin to echo his thoughts.

Have we really worked this hard and terribly just so we can grind out memos, forty hours a week with only two weeks of vacation to breathe in the whole year for the rest of our lives?
And when did that set of expectations and that direction towards the “track” - when did that become the new American dream?

Yet this presents an opportunity for leaders and individualists to emerge - people who don’t follow the crowd, people who take risks and ultimately, people who make their own lives. Not live by others.

Polyvore Set#1

New York, New York!

Fashion’s increasing love for China?

 Karlie Kloss for American Vogue

There’s going to be massive upcoming spread featuring Karlie Kloss among other Asian (mostly Chinese) models for American Vogue. In the past months, I’ve noticed an increasing western fixation on all things Chinese (and Asian for that matter). Things skyrocketed when figures like Anna Wintour and Karl Lagerfeld showed enthusiastic support and response to China’s growing art/fashion scene; when Sui He’s entire international modeling career was literally launched after she was handpicked to open the Ralph Lauren show, a slot that is usually reserved for (white) seasoned, established models; when Sun Fei Fei (apparently now a Steven Meisel favorite) first graced the pages of Vogue Italia (a major feat for Asian and even models of color in general), which lead to subsequent appearances in American Vogue, Italian Vogue and a coveted Louis Vuitton advertisement Campaign; when Sui Pei became the face of Karl Lagerfeld’s Hogan advertisement Campaign line; not to mention increasing prominence and greater opportunities for Asian and Asian American designers, all at the same time. Also, Kai Z Feng, a prominent fashion photographer? Um, he’s basically ass kickin’ everyone! I can’t even begin to list the number of campaigns he’s shot this year - and for very exclusive brands as well. And not to mention, the increasing interest of the general populace in Asian and Chinese culture.
It brings me great pride and joy to see the accomplishments of a country, a region not predominately resided by “European/Nordic genetic origins”, being appreciated and embraced so much by a industry (fashion) that is so exclusive and often chooses subjects based on skin color. And even for Asian Americans too - it’s refreshing to see a minority group put out onto the spotlight and celebrated. We still have a long way to go (for all minority groups and countries, not necessarily affiliated or tied with Asian ancestry). But it’s refreshing to see the “Eurocentric, white-focused” bubble open, even if just a little.

My two cents for the day/

(re)freshed

fashiongonerogue.com