Posts from ‘Shanghai’

What to say about Dapper Dan here? With such an obviously strong grasp on his own awesomeness and fashion sense, what else needs be said? Let me try to break it down for you:

Dapper Dan is a man who knows how to wear a mismatched three-piece suit with panache. Sticking to a palette of grays with colorful shirt-and-tie bursts at the neck, D.D. may appear to possess a devil-may-care attitude but underlying that is his fierce work ethic, which you can tell that he has because he’s got a Starbucks iced coffee, no cream – what is that, a venti? Also, he has a briefcase. Boom. Professionalism.

But – what? What’s that I spy, Dan? Could it be…? Yes! YES! You did it! You put the square in your pocket to create what we in the fashion world call a pocket square! You’ve taken the early-twentieth-Century-London-banker look and ushered it into 2010 without batting an eye, haven’t you, my saucy lad? And I know you knew exactly what you were doing when you partnered the brown-strapped tote with the brown shoes and brown briefcase. That’s what is known as tying an outfit together. That’s an industry term, people. Write it down.

Ni hao, sexy reader, it’s me, Crindy, guest contributor on VainLane.  Allow me to ruminate for a wee moment on this young man’s foppish (whatever, I’ve been reading Dickens) ‘fit and share some of my thinking with you, my Internet friends.

First of all, Tom’s outfit succeeds based on a fashion principle which has been oft-discussed on this site: effortlessness.  The sophistication lies in the fact that while the ensemble itself is well coordinated, nothing is too matchey and the look is all his own.  Of course once you find out that Tom is a designer it begins to dawn upon you that he’s been professionally trained to know what looks good with what, but the point is that it’s perfectly executed and it doesn’t look like he’s trying too hard (men of Shanghai: take note).

Secondably, the shoes.  I mean.  What?  Where do you even find vintage pirate boots?  Neverland?  Well they’re a damn good get and I can guarantee you that no one else has anything else like those in their shoe closets (exception: Johnny Depp) and that Tom is – to quote my favorite silver-haired sartorialist – making.them.work.

The last thing I want to point out to you, dear reader, having advantageously scooped the provenance of all the elements of Tom’s outfit, is that each piece has a story.  Shirt and shorts?  Self designed.  Shoes?  Hong Kong, Kowloon side, hole-in-the-wall.  Bag?  Thank you, grandma.  Shades?  Thank you, Tom Ford.  It’s these priceless histories that are the soul of the outfit because Tom’s fingerprint and personality are embedded in every part of the whole.  He’s a walking, talking conversation piece, but he doesn’t feel the need to scream at the top of his lungs, “Look at me! I’m bleeping awesome!!!”

Maybe you should, Tom.  Maybe you should.

Additionals:

Mix of Peter and Mary Poppins Inspired Leather Boots (for her)

Tom Ford’s Hawkings Aviator Shades

Similar perfect Bermuda Shorts from J.Crew

Not so similar, but also perfect, Plaid Shirt

Crindy’s main purpose in life

Real fashion should never be constrained by rules set by someone else. That wouldn’t be you.  But in truth, some are more inept than others at dressing themselves or maybe they have more important matters to think about other than what they are wearing. I, on the other hand, have no important matters to contemplate, so I proceed.

I much prefer coordinating rather than matching an outfit.  But if nothing else comes to mind, I guess you could match your cardigan to their boots slash shoes.

If I were to throw out some rules though, I would say the following:

Vintage shopping is unquestionably one of our favorite past times in modern day but it’s unfathomable in a country with new money. Everything must be new. But, unbeknownst to this lady, she is in fact wearing vintage. She looks effortless mixing a short girlish slinky dress with a more mature rust orange draped cardigan from her mother’s closet! Matching her cardigan to a T are her custom made leather boots. AND, most importantly to me, this young Classical composer has strapped over her shoulder a huge carry-on crocodile print leather bag. I truly believe all great leather carry-ons should dual-purpose as everyday purses as well.

Moral of the story… throw some vintage into the mix for some real personal personality. And carry-ons for everyday wear.

footnote: been reading Ayn Rand’s Fountainhead. Thanks ChanChan!

Need it:

Edgier draped cardigan

Custom made or Vintage inspired boots from Cydwoq

other Weekend/Carry-on Bags for everyday wear

Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

Sigh.

Hey there! This is Gardenia, guest contributor. I’ve had the pleasure of being asked to give my ever-so-humble opinion on this smartly dressed lady on the streets of Shanghai. She’s got sass, she’s got style. I love the way her outfit is pulled together and screams EARTH TONES. But before you label her as little bohemia (read: flawless flowy hair I wish I had, wood earrings), there’s a little Mad Men to her too: the high waist skirt, the super cute black wedges with the gold button, etc. And to make things a little more special, her leather jacket (I’m so glad she didn’t go for a black one cause those are waaay overtrended) was purchased at the Forte dei Marmi Street market in Italy! According to these folks, Forte dei Marmi is “the place to go to get cut-price reproductions of expensive designer clothes.” And can you believe “the town of Forte dei Marmi is centered around the market and the marble fortress built in 1788″? If the market was in America, they would have forced the marketers to leave and put up a big Costco or worse, Staples , in the middle of the courtyard by now. Anyway, I think it’s pretty cool that she probably got a great deal and managed to mix it in effortlessly with her H&M pieces. Bravo, girl-with perfect-hair!

The ingredients:

• Earrings: H&M
• Leather Jacket: Tommy Rind Leatherwear New York (But bought at Forte dei Marmi Street Market – Italy )
• Polo shirt: Calamai, Milano – Italy
• Skirt: H&M
• Shoes: random

Thanks Gards!  Now go waste your time at her wall of thoughts and inspirations.

If the judges went strictly by price-tags, Xintiandi, and the damage it does to pocketbooks, would rate high on the fashion scene.  Sadly, as countless studies have shown, money cannot buy you either happiness or a sense of style.  Be careful when walking around Xintiandi — overexposure to bad fashion can cause permanent damage.

So it’s nice to see an outfit which doesn’t burn the corneas.  She looks deece, but the jury is still out on our subject’s taste; does she truly know style?  Or is it a once a month, dress-roulette match? Frequenters of the Xintiandi shopping scene have deep pockets, full closets, and trunks packed with accessories — the ball is is bound to land on the green double-zero at least once a night.

Are her leggings Graffiti?  Or possibly Giraffe?  Dress-roulette says she’s wearing bleached-splashed, Graffiti leggings, but let’s give her the benefit of the doubt; just pretend she knows that dressing her lengthy limbs in Giraffe-patterned leggings and slipping on heels elongates her sillouette.  The understated bag — maroon, leather and suede — also adds a nice touch to the outfit.  Unfortunately for her look, the blacks fall flat.  The leather hat brings to mind Britney in the JT era, and the wool jacket and plast-ICKY sheen to her heels are unpleasant.

Overall, not a bad outfit, especially for Shanghai, but the question remains:  is she a dress-roulette winner?  Or the owner of some genuine style?  TIC.  This is China.  Hope for the latter, expect the former.  Take a closer look and see for yourself.

*wince*