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Why Did You Wear That: Hip (Hop) to the Game

By Kirsten|November 21st, 2013|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

I’ve always felt a connection to street style, but I’ve certainly come a long way from khaki pants and Tommy Hilfiger polo shirts. Though the style of 90’s hip hop and R&B stars has made a comeback, this time around it’s a bit more modern and just as luxurious as its original incarnation. The pants are more fitted (for both men and women) and there’s a bit more polish than there is posh. Rap stars are taking styling cues from Vogue more than Vibe and many have become covergirls and trendsetters for all genres of music and social scenes. Not only are they making hits on the airwaves, many have taken to the runways. Never has fashion and music been so intertwined.

hat: custom, top: Truly Madly Deeply, coat: vintage, jeans: 7 for All Mankind, shoes: Nike, bag: Alexander Wang, rings: Erica Anenberg, watch: Michael Kors

xx,

WhyDid

photos by Catherine Sampietro

Why Did or Why Don’t: Playing with Fire

By Kirsten|November 20th, 2013|Celebrity Style, Why Did or Why Don't?, Why Did You Wear That?|

Teens and adults alike across the globe are waiting with bated breath for the Friday release of the second installment of the Hunger Games trilogy, Catching Fire. All of them except for me. I never bothered to pick up the books… you know I don’t do mainstream… so I have no idea what they are really even about except that people are pretty obsessed with the series’ heroine, Katniss Everdeen and her real life identity, Jennifer Lawrence.

While I won’t be watching the movie, I have been watching Jennifer’s red carpet arrivals and Miss Lawrence wore this Christian Dior gown to the Los Angeles premiere on Monday. You know I’m usually a huge proponent for anything that doesn’t require pants (or bra), but has her crotch baring, barely there getup gone too far? Can this lady do no wrong or does the emperor have no clothes… literally?

Lady Lawrence has been on a fashion world tour, blowing my mind at every stop. Last Friday, she showed my other favorite cleavage, aka “side boob” in a different Christian Dior concoction and I’m loving the dark lip, new cropped hair, and edgy but sweet frock.

So, what are you thoughts on Katniss’s Christian Dior at the LA premiere?

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did You Wear That: That’s a Rap

By Kirsten|November 19th, 2013|Why Did You Wear That?|

Much to the chagrin of my mother, I grew up loving rap music. I’m not sure I can explain exactly why, but there’s something about the way you feel when the beat drops and I have a deep appreciation for anyone who can find a way to rhyme words that have absolutely no business being rhymed, let alone combined. I can still recite every lyric to “Regulate” and “Shoop” will forever and always be my go to karaoke song. As a true style schizophrenic, there was a period of time when I was known to wear oversized polos and adidas sneakers with my hair slicked back like a white boricua. There are photos… somewhere… and they need to be burned…

But alas, perhaps I should have held onto some of my street style essentials as they are making quite the comeback along with the rest of the 90’s. Not only have Doc Martens regained popularity, so have Timberland boots. I had the coolest pink pair in middle school… which would have been worth bringing out of the archives. But since they’ve long been retired, there are plenty of ways to recreate the look of street chic without looking like a bad remix.

1. Married to the Mob x UO Ride or Die Beanie, 2. adidas Back Zip Zigzag Dress, 3. Supra Society Paisley Pattern High Top Sneaker, 4. Forever 21 Street Chic Bad Hoops, 5. The Mountain Rottweiler Face Sweatshirt, 6. Mason by Michelle Mason Houndstooth Sweatpants, 7. adidas Heritage Snapback Hat, 8. BDG Denim Overall, 9. Timberland Premium Booties, 10. Sara Designs All Chain Wrap Watch, 11. Jonathan Simkhai Leather Check Sweatshirt, 12. Skaist Taylor Leopard Knit Miniskirt, 13.Puma Sky High Wedge Scaled Animal High Top

And ya don’t stop.

xx,

WhyDid

image via

Setting the Mood: Love and Hip Hop

By Kirsten|November 18th, 2013|Setting the Mood|

While the 90’s grunge look has its modern day resurgence, let us not forget that during that very same time, there was another musically inspired fashion movement happening simultaneously. On the other end of the spectrum of looking halfway homeless and heroin chic, hip hop and R&B stars were living the luxurious life in leathers, furs, and overall excess. Always designer driven, street style is still just as in love with labels today as it was twenty some odd years ago. For added interest this go round, grunge and hip hop glamour can be cleverly combined to create the ultimate 90’s throwback.

Acne Chagall Leather Overalls, Hullabaloo x Urban Renewal Sphinx Doorknocker Earring, Timberland Fleece Foldover Booties, COOGI Lightweight Varsity Jacket

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did You Wear That: Spot On

By Kirsten|November 16th, 2013|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

I’ve always felt a little conflicted about wearing leather and fur. When I was ten, I begged and pleaded (to no avail) with my parents for a cute little spotted potbelly pig. One morning over breakfast, it was revealed to me that bacon, in fact, comes from pigs. For the next year, I refused to eat meat thinking about that poor little pig in the pet shop. (I also begged and pleaded for a chinchilla around that same time). After finding it far too difficult to gain sustenance without any meat in my diet, I gave up vegetarianism the next year, but the feelings of guilt about fur, stuck with me. While home visiting my mom in Wheeling between semesters in college, we ventured into an antique store in Centre Market. Amongst the delicate tea sets and tiny trinkets, there was a rack of vintage clothing and hanging in the midst of these dated duds, was the most amazing leopard coat. I am my mother’s daughter and she insisted that I would be thankful that I’d bought this coat one day. While it was first worn to a “pimp n’ hoe” party in college, I’ve held onto it throughout the years and am happy to bring it back into rotation this fall. When worn with a simple tee, vegan leather pants, pumps, and topped off with a knit beanie, the look is definitely not outdated and to me, it says more “hollaback girl” than call girl.

beanie: H&M, coat: vintage (similar here), top: Express, pants: Black Orchid (similar here), shoes: Yves Saint Laurent, bag: Celine, sunglasses: RayBan