An "Acquired" Taste

A look by Viktor & Rolf

How is it that something that you once found unbearable can become one of your favorite things???

I remember the first time I tasted wine, I was 15 years old. The first sip made my face crinkle in disgust - it was sour, bitter, and woody all at the same time. It left a gross film in my mouth and I reckoned it tasted a bit like how I imagined dirt would. 'How on earth could anyone stand this stuff?'

Fast forward 10 years and there is almost nothing I enjoy more than chilling out and sipping a rich glass of red wine (right now chianti is my red of choice, cabernet sauvignon a close second). I guess it's true: beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

In fashion, the same idiom is applied. Some of my favorite pieces are those that I could never see myself wearing and at first sight, they even confuse me a little. 'Do I love it, or hate it?!' And yet over time, when better understood, shocking pieces (like the ones shown above and below) can become timeless works of art that provoke and inspire. Fashion is art, and without some of the wacky creations put out on the runway, we would not be where we are today. In other words, your all-time favorite sweater or coat or dress has been, in one way or another, inspired by the runway! Go figure.

I guess fashion is just like wine - It might end up being your new obsession, if you open your mind to it!

One of my favorites from the late Alexander McQueen

A look from Yohji Yamamoto's S/S 2011

Style = Confidence

Our beloved Carrie Bradshaw sure wore some crazy outfits, but always rocked them with confidence!

I've been thinking about what it is to have "style" - how is it that some people just have it? They can put on anything and look fabulous, no matter what. I think so much of it is not in what you wear but how you wear it. Personal style is a way to express yourself and to show others what you are capable of. This is why it is so important to have confidence in what you put on your body - if you feel uncomfortable in your clothes, it will show. Fashion is just like an unspoken language with which you communicate your state of mind.

I believe the best styles are the ones that are natural and not overdone. Feeling good about yourself and feeling confident (but not too confident!) will help to give you the proper fuel to be the best version of your self. Everybody likes to look good because it makes them feel good. It's like dressing the part - having faith in your abilities and not worrying too much what other people will think of you (I find that often, you are your biggest critic anyways!)