definite noir chic

the woman in black

it has become tradition on sister's in black frocks to do something clever and pay homage to yves saint laurent for new years yves, but this year I am doing something different, as I feel more inspired now, to showcase some of my favorite winter looks. a couple of weeks ago, I happened to stumble upon this photo of a mysterious woman in a black winter jacket with hood and became quite intrigued by it. I even thought for a moment, that I was the woman inside the coat, as this very much seems like something I would do. surprisingly, it is not me, but I still think it is a brilliant photograph. I mean what is not to love about it.....when I think about the winter season, this is exactly how I like to dress. its all about bundling up in black and looking noir chic while doing it. recently, someone asked me what the term noir chic meant and for some strange reason I couldn't put it into words. I felt like I had to show them a photograph because it is not just about wearing black per say, but more about the style and attitude that one brings into wearing that color. I guess its a whole style philosophy, but I feel like when someone is noir chic you definitely notice it, much like this magnificent photo. perhaps, the most mysterious part about this image is that I cannot find out who photographed it or who designed that jacket. if for some reason, you can figure it out, then do tell. it really is the perfect winter look to end the year and I must say who ever is behind that black hooded jacket is definitely very sister's in black frocks approved....here's to more noir chic style in 2015!

light vs dark

photo by lillian bassman

lately, I have been admiring the work of photographer lillian bassman just because I love the way she played with light vs dark. she passed away in 2012, but I feel her work gets better with time. I can't think of many photographers who could do what she did with contrasts, so naturally, I am intrigued by her visual style. she seemed to be so ahead of her time....I don't know if many artists in her day were doing the same thing, but she was a definite pioneer in the light vs dark movement. at any rate, this is the photo that I am currently obsessed with. I love the mystery that this image conveys with that woman holding her umbrella. it is also a great in the moment pose and I love how it seems very high fashion. to me, her coat looks like something from hermès and I love the tall boots, and of course, that hat. it is no surprise that lillian bassman worked for harper's bazaar magazine, as this photo certainly displays why. I still don't quite understand how she did what she did with light and shadow, but I am very much inspired by her with my ongoing shadow photo series that I have been working on. to anyone who thinks that black and white photography is boring I highly suggest you look into her work.....she was a total visionary!

underneath it all

in my black dress and parasol

so this was the image I took of myself in my black h&m dress and parasol that was loosely inspired by that lillian bassman photograph. perhaps, you can see a visual connection, but I also had some other images, in mind. I recently found myself reminiscing through the olivier theyskens book entitled the other side of the picture and I was very much inspired by those noir chic silhouettes he designed, for rochas. I don't think I will ever get over that moment in fashion, when he took over for rochas. he really showed such talent and skill at that house.....been missing his design aesthetic a lot these days. I also thought of that moment with nicole kidman in US vogue in a black rochas silhouette carrying a parasol, that somewhat also inspired me with this photo. I have posted that dress many times on sister's in black, but I just love the mysterious dark feeling of that photo, that was so beautifully captured by, annie leibovitz. so with all that said, this is what came about from all those inspirations. I don't know if my image can even compare to the people and images I have mentioned, but I enjoy the process of playing with my shadow and silhouette, just because you never know what the end result might be. it really it all depends on the right amount of sunlight and of course the perfect noir chic ensemble.

winter ready

photo by danny feser

since today is the official first day of winter I thought it would be appropriate for me to try something new with my maison martin margiela sleeping bag coat for h&m. for a couple of years now, I have been wearing the jacket with a belt, but now I am thinking that its time for a new look, without it. when I bought the coat, a couple of years ago, I thought that it needed some kind of shape. the belt definitely gave it a silhouette, but now after some serious thought I think it is just as chic, without one. I think the inspiration came from looking at yohji yamamoto silhouettes, much like the jacket I just posted from his fall/winter 2014 collection. to be honest, I just love the whole oversized coat look and how he continuously creates that kind of look every fall/winter. for some reason, I think that idea manifested in my brain to do something similar with my margiela coat. of course, when sporting the coat you have to wear something sleek underneath, so in order to give a proper balance and structure I paired it with my basic black stretch pants. for some height, I paired my jacket with my mary-jane heels by kate spade. you can somewhat see the pair in this photo. at any rate, lately, I have been into clothes that are loose and not so confining. I believe you can be stylish without wearing super tight clothes and I think with this margiela jacket you can go both ways, which makes it quite the fashion piece. even though I much prefer the summer time to the winter.....styling this coat is always something that I look forward too, this time of year. I think anyone who owns this margiela duvet coat, can certainly relate!

sleep number

photo by mario sorrenti

I not only had yohji yamamoto in mind with the styling of my maison martin margiela sleeping bag coat, but also this image of milla jovovich in her white blanket. the photo is by mario sorrenti and I just love the way that blanket drapes against her body. it is such a natural photo and I love how in the moment, it feels. for some reason, her blanket made me think of my sleeping bag coat. perhaps, it has something to do with the way she is wrapped in it and also the color of her blanket, which is somewhat similar to my margiela coat. whatever it may be, I think this image shows that style is everywhere, even in how we sleep. personally, I have always thought there is something so chic about sleep and the way we rest. I think it all goes back to drapery and the whole madame grès and yohji yamamoto look that I am very much inspired by. I guess there is a whole style philosophy behind blanket dressing, but I must say I have been quite obsessed with this look, since childhood, and that is probably why I own a margiela sleeping bag coat. at any rate, I could probably ramble on all day about the style of sleep, but I just love the calm and relaxing feeling that this image conveys. to me, this is the perfect photo for a cold winter day!

yes, yohji!

photo by sølve sundsbø

here, is yet another one of my favorite winter looks. it comes from the september 2014 issue of vogue china and in case you cannot tell, the black hat and oversized cocoon shape is by yohji yamamoto. it doesn't get anymore signature yohji yamamoto than this and that is probably why I love it, so much. I mean who wouldn't want to bundle up in something cozy and fashion forward. yes, I know its not exactly wearable, but on the right woman who totally has an understanding of his design philosophy, I think it could totally work. plus, if you live in a cold climate I would think this outfit could be very practical. it has some similar qualities to norma kamali's sleeping bag coat so that is probably why I admire this whole ensemble. at any rate, I think model saskia de brauw looks so elegant in this outfit, and I love the way her puffy cocoon shape is accessorized with that hat. I have never tried on one of yohji yamamoto's hat designs, but I can just tell they are perfection. when I think of the term noir chic, an oversized black yohji yamamoto always comes to mind. I would hope other people would think that, as well. on a side note, I don't know if this collection got the greatest reviews, but too me this was one of the standouts for the fall/winter season. I would not only want to go to a party in this look, but I think I would also want to take a nap in it, as well. only yohji yamamoto could do just that.....no wonder why I admire him so much. certainly, check out this collection if you love an interesting black silhouette.....it's very sisters in black frocks approved!

bundled up

photo by luigi & iango

I must admit I am not quite up to date about what looks are in for fall/winter 2014, but I try not to follow trends. I just try to go with looks that I think I can apply to my wardrobe or perhaps, use as style inspiration. case in point, this junya watanabe jacket as seen on supermodel carolyn murphy from the september 2014 issue of vogue japan. I just can't stop staring at it, such a great look from head to toe. on a side note, what I love about junya watanabe is that every fall he creates a black puffy silhouette. yes, the look is not for everyone, but I love how soft and completely wearable his jackets are. I had the privilege of trying one on, in new york city back in 2010, and I must say it was one of the best fashion experiences of my life. it almost felt like wearing an extremely soft, yet extremely chic, sleeping bag. if that sounds weird, I think it is perhaps difficult putting this junya watanabe jacket moment, into words. just trust me to know that it is noir chic heaven. at any rate, this has been my current winter jacket photo inspiration as I love the way carolyn murphy looks in this shape. its puffy, but fitted to her body, and I love how she makes this look so casual. giovanna battaglia did such an excellent job at styling this look and I so appreciate how it blends sporty and noir chic fashion, together....two of my favorite elements. if you haven't seen this cutting edge issue of vogue japan I highly suggest checking it out. I have some more favorite winter 2014 jackets that I will be sharing in the weeks ahead, because of this issue of vogue japan, but for now, this junya watanabe jacket will do!

nike noir

photo by my sister

okay, so I know its not exactly junya watanabe, but this past weekend, I walked into the nike store and stumbled upon this black puffy poncho. immediately, it caught my eye and I knew I had to try it on. it is actually called the nike cascade poncho and for some reason it made me think about junya watanabe and all those amazing black puffy silhouettes that he creates every winter season. of course, my dream is to own a junya watanabe jacket, but the price on one is rather steep, so as of now, this nike one will do! I must say that my nike one feels just as sleek and chic as a junya watanabe puffy jacket and I love that it can be both sporty and fancy. you can either wear it with tennis shoes, boots, and of course high heels. as of now, I am doing sporty chic with my adidas, but I plan on mixing it up with my manolo blahniks. this puffy cape is the ultimate in sporty chic, noir chic, and sci-fi chic.....very rare to blend all these three together, but it completely does. I don't know why, but recently,the nike store has become one of my favorite places to shop, they really have taken sporty chic fashion to the next level. it all really started with me trying to find a good pair of tennis shoes and then I started to take notice of their clothes....particularly, their capes and jackets. I bought another black hooded cape earlier this spring, that I have been wearing in heavy rotation, but I think this cascade poncho, is really everything that I have been looking for, in an attempt to have something similar to a junya watanabe silhouette. if you are like me and love this puffy material, especially the way it drapes, I highly suggest heading to the nike store and checking this poncho out. it really is quite something and such a statement piece, that I know I will be wearing for years to come....viva sporty noir chic!

color block

photo by my sister

as promised, my pleats please photo project continues.....recently, I was wearing my issey miyake bilbao bag, while shopping on abbott kinney and happened to notice an eye catching wall. for some reason, it made me think of my bag. perhaps, it had something to do with the colors and the way those black lines intersected. I think my bag had something reminiscent of the pattern on that wall, so I thought it would be entertaining to take a photo next to it. its interesting how in everyday life you can come across street art that makes you think about fashion and style, and how everything is relative....this was definitely one of those moments. personally, I am not good at color blocking with my own wardrobe, so I thought why not color block within a photo. in case you were wondering that is my norma kamali black puffy jacket that I recently shared. this time, I adjusted the collar a little lower and cinched the waist, so it looked more form fitted, but still sporty chic. of course, I accessorized with my basics, which means my black turban headband and oliver peoples sunnies. with this pleats please purse its important to simplify in black to make the bag pop.....I think you can definitely see that with this photo. a special thanks to my sister for capturing this noir chic, but colorful pleats please moment. surprisingly, I think it worked!

manolo shadow

in my shadow

its always important for me to try and stay creative, but it can be quite the challenge, especially when I am busy with work and other things that go on in everyday life. I was quite surprised about what happened this long holiday weekend. just for fun, I decided to wear my new manolo blahnik heels and black h&m dress around the house and for some reason it turned into quite the style inspiration. immediately, I noticed my silhouette in the sunlight and loved the way my dress and heels blended together. I looked very elongated and somewhat elegant in the light and decided to snap the moment. I can't really pin point exactly how this all happened, but it truly was the highlight of my weekend. of course, as just a color image, it didn't look that great, but once I enhanced the photo and made it black and white, the look and composition completely changed into something quite striking. lately, I have been quite obsessed with bold contrasts, so I knew I wanted to do something that involved those two elements. I was quite pleased by how this all came together, as it was very much unplanned, but now I have come to the realization that maybe the most magical moments in photography, happen when you least expect it. perhaps, I need to spend more time wandering around in my manolo blahniks, more often.....who knows what kind of style inspiration could happen next?!!

stark contrasts

photo by mario giacomelli

the inspiration for my manolo shadow image came from italian photographer mario giacomelli. lately, I have been really inspired by his black and white photography. he died in 2000, but I love the way he worked with bold compositions and stark contrasts. I don't know why, but looking at his images, somehow influenced me to do something with intense black and minimal white tones. he was definitely the main inspiration behind me photographing my manolo blahniks and h&m dress. I think bold contrasts can be so magnificent in photography, especially when it is done in a subdued manner. I don't know if you can actually see the connection between my image and his, but in my mind, it makes logical sense. at any rate, this is the mario giacomelli image that I am currently in awe of. the photo is titled Io non ho mani che mi accarezzino il volto which translates as I have no hands that caress my face. there is something so eye catching about this photo especially those striking black outifits and the way it contrasts with that white background. I also love how yohji yamamoto this photo is. for some reason, I could totally see him using this photo as inspiration for a collection. I don't know if he has seen this image, but I feel it certainly represents his sense of style. those black jacket silhouettes and the way they move seem very yohji yamomoto, to me. at any rate, if you are unfamiliar with mario giacomelli I suggest taking a look through his body of work. I really appreciate the way he incorporated italian neo-realism with noir chic fashion into his photography. he was quite the visionary and I feel so glad to take an image of his and interpret it into something of my own style.

demeulemeester dress

photo by danny feser

happy black friday! as always, I like to showcase a black frock on this day. I don't know why I have waited six months to actually post this photo, but ever since june of this year I have been wearing this black ann demeulemeester dress non stop. how I got this dress was quite the sudden surprise. earlier this year, my sister was given a bag of clothes by her friends mom, who happens to be one of the most stylish women I know. she regularly shops at maison martin margiela and loves to wear black, just like us sisters. I didn't really know what to expect when looking through this bag of clothes, but a dramatic black dress caught my eye. immediately, I tried it on and went to noir chic heaven. I loved the drapery and the way it fit my body......almost like a glove. right away, I thanked my sister and her friend's mom for this lovely surprise. ann demeulemeester is one of those designers that I have admired for years, am such a fan of the antwerp six, which she is part of.....to me, she is the queen of black and with this dress I feel quite special. of course, I had to do a little alteration with the dress as it was a bit too long, but I took this photo so that you could see the amazing drapery that it has. just look at the bottom portion of the dress and you can see just that. not only is this black dress beautiful too stare at, but it is also very comfortable. I could easily sleep in it, as the picture shows. I had many inspirations for this photo, as I will discuss, but I just wanted to show a visual. by far, one of my favorite black frocks of all time....I feel so lucky to have this noir chic piece in my wardrobe and I am so glad to finally share this dress, long overdue!

body talk

photo by michael comte

when I took that photo in my ann demeulemeester black dress I had two images in mind. first, came from a vogue italia editorial with gisele bündchen photographed by michael comte from 1999. I just love the body language she is giving to the camera. she expresses so much with this pose and the way her black dress and hair flow in this photo. even though I am lying on the floor I wanted to embody the spirit of this photo. lately, I have been admiring gisele in editorials, she really knows how to move her body in such an elegant and dynamic way. I also took inspiration from dancer and choreographer pina bausch. its no surprise really, as I always reference her. personally, its not so much about her choreography but more about the role fashion plays in her dance productions. this is an image I recently stumbled upon and I just love the way her silk dress undulates.....this is so reminiscent of my ann demeulemeester dress, so naturally, I wanted to take a little something from this glorious image, as well. I am very much inspired by drapery and the way it falls on the body and I feel like with these two images, you can see just that. gorgeous fabric to go with such powerful body expressions.....exactly, what comes to mind when I put on my ann demeulemeester black dress. its fascinating how style inspiration works.....am always taking from something, but still interpreting it to make it my own!


a pina bausch dancer

dylan for dad

photo by barry feinstein

happy birthday to our dad.....otherwise, known as the noir chic father in black. every year around his birthday, I am always reminded of photographer barry feinstein and his bob dylan photo series from 1966 when he traveled with him on tour throughout england and ireland. for some reason, my dad's style makes me think of bob dylan especially during this time in his life. my dad has always been a style icon to me.....growing up, I always knew he had individual style when he use to drop me off at school in his black mercedes convertible and matching black leather jacket. other dad's wore suits, but my dad was always noir chic in black. he definitely was and still is in his own category of style and I so appreciate and admire that about him. I don't know why, but I think my dad and bob dylan have something very similar.....perhaps, its the sunnies, the all in black look, or maybe just the nonchalant cool attitude that makes me think of him. whatever, it may be, they have something in common and I think my dad sees some style connections too, even though he's too shy to admit it. a couple of years ago, I showed my dad some of barry feinstein's photography and he very much liked his work. surprisingly, he was unfamiliar with his photography. my dad is very hard to please and he doesn't necessarily love all the photography and fashion I like, but he very much approved of barry feinstein's work. all his photos tend to be in black and white and I love how in the moment all his photos tend to be. this is one of my favorite barry feinstein images just because I love how noir chic it is. this is street photography at its finest and even though its just bob dylan walking down the street, I feel like it could be have been my dad back in the day. I will have to find a picture of my dad to show some style comparisons, but in the meantime, I just love the overall street cool style of this photo. my dad definitely sees it, too. my dream is to one day, own one of his photos and possibly get it as a gift to my dad. fingers crossed that I could get my hands on one of these in real life. till then, I will just look through some barry feinstein books for some noir chic street style inspiration. definitely, check out his photography if you are unfamiliar.....he passed away in 2011, but I think he was one of the most inspiring american photographers of his time!

desperate living

all this week, I have been feeling grey gardens inspired and for some reason it made me think about vogue italia's desperate living editorial from the november 2013 issue. about a year ago, before I bought the issue, I saw vogue.it made a video displaying what this layout was all about. each month, the magazine tends to make short films about the issue, to perhaps make the reader want to go out and buy the magazine, but I must say the desperate living video was one of their bests. I was very much intrigued and inspired just because it showed a girl with a love of style who perhaps suffered from agoraphobia. not something you see everyday in fashion editorials. at any rate, I could definitely see elements of grey gardens in there, with the head scarves, winter coats and the accessories, but I think what I loved most was how sad it was. I love how vogue italia is not afraid to take risks and I so appreciate how this editorial blended depression with high fashion. its obvious that an amazing wardrobe won't equal happiness, but I love that this editorial makes you think about this girl and the life she is living. such a haunting editorial that is definitely thought provoking. these are just a couple of the images I liked from the layout and I love the way model ashleigh good is adorned.....very italian chic and so brilliantly styled by marie-amelié sauvé. if you have never seen this editorial I highly suggest looking back on it, especially if you love the grey gardens look. this is one of those vogue italia issues that leaves a lasting impression in your head....I know this one did just that to me and surprisingly, a year later I am still thinking about it!





photos by steven meisel

grey gardens glam

photo by my sister

there's always a hat for every occasion....earlier this summer, I walked by a camping store and noticed a hat in the window. for some reason, I did a double take because it not only had an interesting brim, but it had drapery attached to the sides making it so much more dramatic and perfect for the sun. I must admit there is something about my style that is very grey gardens, these days. it must be the way I like to hide behind hats, veils, and excess fabric. personally, I think its always best to remain a little mysterious and if grey gardens taught me anything I think that was the most important fashion lesson from the documentary. I would like to think that other style observers felt the same way about the film. at any rate, as soon as I tried the hat with my oliver peoples sunnies I knew I found the perfect incognito chic look. the hat is by etsis, and their motto is escaping the sun in style, which I think is a perfect description for their label. I actually took this photo in the summer, but now that it is colder I can wear it to its full potential....as the fabric is a little too heavy for the summertime. on a side note, now that I think of it, I think this photo does feel a bit grey gardens....a big thanks to my sister for capturing this moment! by far, my favorite hat for the current fall/winter season!

ck classic

christy turlington in calvin klein

I must admit while I had grey gardens on mind with my latest hat photo I also thought of this image, as well. in case you cannot tell, that is christy turlington behind the scarf and sunnies. this photo is actually from the march 1989 issue of US Vogue and I love how in 2014 it still looks just as modern. I guess you could say that this photo proves that incognito chic is a look that never goes out of style. personally, there is so much about this ensemble that I find so inspiring. I love the long black blazer paired with that white button down shirt and those loosely fitted pants. this is a true representation of comfy chic and I think with the added accessories of her scarf and sunnies it totally completes the look. this is the calvin klein that I grew up admiring and taking style inspiration from and while I still like what francisco costa does today, I will always miss the original calvin klein, nobody could do cutting edge minimalism, quite like him. on a side note, I must say I feel like this look very feels phoebe philo for céline.....I don't know why, but for some reason, I could totally see her having this image on her mood board. definite incognito chic, done right....don't you think?

bold turban

a white blouse by michael kors with poet's sleeves to go with her black turban.....naturally!


a black balenciaga suit and turban....major noir chic in mexico city!

for the past year, I have been totally inspired by the wall street journal magazine. each month, seems to feature interesting layouts and interviews that I can't get enough of. its actually quite difficult to find this magazine, as you have to be a subscriber to the newspaper, but if you are ever able to get a copy of the magazine I highly suggest you look through it. each month it varies, sometimes they will put a celebrity on the cover, but I also like that they put models, as well. I was even quite inspired by last years men's issue, with tom ford on the cover and many of the menswear editorials. it actually felt quite relatable to my style, for some reason. last month's issue, entitled incredible journeys caught my eye immediately. first of all, the cover featured model emily diDonato in a black balenciaga top and trousers paired with a black turban. as we all know, I love a turban and not just for the summertime, but for the colder months, too. I feel like its a look for all seasons. immediately, I was drawn to this layout, which was shot in mexico city, by a photographer I am unfamiliar with, named angelo pennetta. I love how minimal her wardrobe is and the way it contrasts with all those vibrant backgrounds. this is a mexico city, that I have never seen and I like how exotic it all appears to be. perhaps, the most inspiring part is that with every outfit she still has that sleek black turban on.....the perfect accessory, if you ask me! for the past month, I have been totally influenced by this layout as I love all the background textures and the way it somehow coordinates with the model's wardrobe....brilliant styling, indeed! if you haven't checked out the wall street journal magazine, I highly recommend browsing through it. each month, is always something new and interesting. not to be negative, but I can't say that about many fashion magazines these days....of course, there are some exceptions!


fluid and graceful.....love the silhouette of that céline dress, perfect with a black turban



visual stimuli....love the way her hermès blouse and lanvin pants contrasts with that colorful background


photos by angelo pennetta

manolo moment

photo by my sister

last weekend, I did the unimaginable and bought myself my first pair of high heels....manolo blahniks, to be exact. for years, I have been saying I am going to buy a pair of heels, but for some reason, I have always put it off. I guess because I find myself always in tennis shoes, as it goes so perfectly with my work schedule and dance life. at any rate, on a saturday night, my sister and I found ourselves wandering through barneys new york and what do you know there were these striking black manolo blahniks staring right at me. of course, I just had to try them on too see how they would look and what do you know I felt like a found a pair that totally went with my style. you cannot see how high the heel is, but it is rather high. personally, the best part about them, has to be the front of the shoe. I love the pointy tip and the black strap across them. to me, they have a 90's feel to them, very minimal, but cutting edge with the height and overall style. coincidentally, that night I wore my new black dress from american apparel and for some reason my heels blended so well with it. I knew that when trying these heels on, they would go with a majority of my black frocks, so I knew I wouldn't have to worry about what I should wear it with. this photo that my sister took of me was very in the moment I just tilted my head down and she snapped me right then and there. and just in case you were wondering, that is my sister's hat, she let me wear it that night. I really feel like with this pic you can see the structure of this shoe and the height it gives me. I wish my tennis shoes could do the same, but they don't. I guess now I understand why women love manolo blahniks, it at all makes sense. I know I won't wear these heels everyday, but I feel like I now have something a little special to add to my black dresses.....magic manolos, indeed!

a class act

photo by mario testino

as we all now, I love looking through editorials to find inspiration and interestingly a couple of days before buying my manolo blahniks I had this image of model shu qi in mind when my sister photographed me at barneys new york. I was actually looking at this whole editorial entitled a class act from the december 2013 issue of vogue china and was quite enamored by the look and style, of it all. the layout was photographed by mario testino, which payed homage to irving penn's gorgeous visual style of the 1950's....particularly, when he photographed model jean patchett for vogue. all the photos have something classic about it, but still very modern, with mario testino's signature style. this was my favorite image from the editorial.....love the oversized hat with sunnies and a little bit of that veil showing. I don't know why, but for some reason I thought of this moment when I was in my manolo blahniks. yes, I know you can't see her heels, but I am pretty sure she is wearing them with that suit. I have a lot of looks in mind with my new manolo blahniks and I think a dress suit is one of them. more noir chic outfits to come in my new heels and this editorial was a great source of inspiration.....modern classic, is the best way to describe it. do check out this issue of vogue china if you have not seen, inspiring on many levels!

norma noir

photo by danny feser

I don't do halloween, so I thought I would unveil my new black norma kamali coat, instead. after all, this will be my costume for the upcoming winter. I actually bought this coat this past spring at the norma kamali store in new york city and I must say it is my ultimate dream coat. I have been looking for a soft black coat for ages and I knew that norma kamali would be the one. my coat has that classic norma kamali silhouette and I love how you can wear it with a belt or without. I like it both ways, but in this photo, I cinched the belt around my waist too show the shape that it can create. its very rare for me to find a coat that can fit my body well and this one definitely has all that I have been looking for....I really lucked out with this one. I took this photo in my parent's beach house a couple of months ago and I thought with that setting and my traditional minimal look I could do something dynamic. so I added my floral headdress and sunnies with my coat to create a haunting look with a noir chic sensibility. I guess you could say that this is my sisters in black interpretation of halloween.....the only difference is that I will be wearing my coat for years to come. thanks again to norma kamali for making my winter look complete, she never disappoints!

wild flower

photo by petrovsky & ramone

the inspiration for my norma kamali with floral headdress photo came from this image I found a couple of months ago from the may 2013 issue of vogue netherlands and an editorial entitled wild flower. the layout was shot on the beautiful shores of curaçao island and in case you cannot tell that is model erin wasson beneath the veil and florals. there is so much expression conveyed in this photo and I love all the drama that is captured. its such a winning combination with those beach waves and the way it contrasts with the texture and color of her black veil......who knew the two together could be so stylish. I know my image is not at all similar, but I thought with my floral headdress and the silhouette of my norma kamali winter coat I could embody the spirit of this amazing photo. there really is something so noir chic about hiding behind a veil or coat.....its a look I never get sick of and I love finding gorgeous images like this that can inspire me. on a side note, I have never heard of these two photographers, but I am so glad to take notice of them. sometimes, when looking through international vogue magazines, you can discover some really amazing talents. these two are definitely ones that I have my eyes on and if you haven't seen this editorial I highly suggest you take a look. it certainly takes bohemian noir chic to the next level!

in her hands

peggy's silver nails and jewelry

I end my new mexico photo series, with what I think was my most inspiring sartorial moment. I featured a portrait of peggy earlier with her amazing silver earrings and turquoise necklace, but I think the most beautiful part about her was her hands. I bought some silver rings at her boutique and while I was trying on rings I couldn't help but be inspired by her own silver jewelry. even though I consider myself a minimalist when it comes to accessorizing I was quite taken with the way she styled her rings and bracelets. I even loved the way it coordinated with her silver nails. its kind of hard to tell because it is a black and white photo, but her nails looked pretty incredible with that jewelry. I don't know why, but she reminded me of michele lamy (rick owen's wife and muse). she just had something similar in the way she dressed and carried herself, and I was totally impressed by all that adornment. I could never get away with that much jewelry, but I think peggy just had a nonchalant way of making this work. this is what personal style is all about and I feel so fortunate to have met her and for her to kindly let me photograph her and her hands. I encountered a lot of stylish women in new mexico who knew how to accessorize in a way that didn't look like excessorizing. I know my words may sound strange, but I think it somewhat makes sense as I think there is a major difference between the two. on a side note, I don't think I will ever have such an inspiring encounter like this again, but I will very much treasure this sartorial moment that I had with peggy and in case you are wondering I am now thinking that I should attempt wearing silver nail polish, maybe it could go with my new silver jewelry.....we'll see! at any rate, its really interesting how much personal style you can discover while traveling. peggy was very sisters in black frocks approved and it really was so lovely too meet such a kind and chic woman, like her.....only in new mexico, could something like this happen!

azzedine arizona

photo by peter lindbergh

last week, I was organizing my magazine archives and stumbled upon the january 1995 issue of harper's bazaar. inside there was an editorial entitled azzedine arizona and for some reason it made me think of some of my photos that I took in new mexico. I feel like I was subconsciously inspired by this layout. it took me awhile to figure out, but I knew back in mind that this was the one on my mind. I love the way peter lindbergh photographed arizona and the way amber valletta's facial expressions with that azzedine alaïa wardrobe tell a story. its 90's minimal fashion with a wild wild west sensibility and I think the two work so well together. by far, the best part is the opening page of the editorial and the quote by azzedine alaïa himself, it reads:


azzedine alaia has always been something of a fashion pioneer, blazing a trail of his own design. this season, that trail heads west......I adore the the real style of america: the heart of the west the spirit of the cowboy.


I'm enamored with the look, style, and art direction of this entire layout.....its natural, simple, and I think it totally captures the spirit of the west. peter lindbergh has such a gift for capturing this kind of natural beauty. this natural noir look is still present in his work today, but I must say I loved what he did at harper's bazaar back in the 90's. liz tilberis was the editor-in-chief at the time, and I was totally inspired by her vision during this era. I think if you grew up in the 90's reading vogue and harper's bazaar, you can understand what a magical time in fashion, this was. liz tilberis's eye was impeccable and she truly understood how to blend fashion into photography and vice versa. this will always be a classic harper's bazaar layout and it is great to reminiscent back on this one after visiting new mexico. its all about wild west noir chic. here are some of my favorite images from azzedine arizona....


when nature meets fashion.....a beautiful blend of fringe and the west



even though I can't see this azzedine alaïa shearling coat, in full, I love the detail....perfect when wandering in the west



blending plaid, a deerskin skirt, and some fringed gloves.....love the close-up detail of that glove in the dirt



love the way amber valletta's bare face somehow corresponds with those arizona rocks, two kinds of natural beauty!

new mexico noir

noir chic in taos....



outside the cementary in taos....very creepy noir chic!

perhaps, the most inspiring style moments happened in taos, new mexico. one day my family and I went to visit the taos pueblo, which happens to be over 1000 years old, and belongs to the tiwa-speaking native american tribe. not only do they live there but they also sell their jewelry, art, and interesting artifacts, on this reservation. its quite surreal walking through this pueblo as it is so spacious and vast, but I enjoyed meeting the people and of course, checking out all the lovely silver jewelry made there. in true sisters in black fashion, I decided to style some quick fashion moments in taos. right away, when I entered the pueblo I noticed a cemetery, so naturally I felt the need to cover my face with my hat and sunnies, and do something extremely dark. I've heard its bad luck to take photos in a cemetary, but I couldn't resist. personally, I just liked how noir chic in the desert this looked....very hedi slimane with an anton corbijn twist. I also couldn't help, but be inspired by this adobe church I came across. I just loved how it looked from a distance, so I thought with my all black ensemble, it would make for an interesting photo, especially with the architecture and perspective. it was all so spontaneous how this happened, but that is the beauty of traveling and discovering new places....sometimes, the most simplest moments can lead to style inspiration. I was quite pleased how it all turned out. I was also glad to have this moment with my dad. I have been meaning to feature him more on sisters in black, but I just like how we are posing in this pueblo......as you can see our love for a good pair of sunnies runs in the family. it really was such a good feeling to have experienced some new mexico noir, who knew!?


in our sunnies....a new mexico moment with my dad



pueblo pose....

the getaway

on top of the kasha-katuwe tent rocks in new mexico.....noir chic style


my mom the explorer....love how this feels like a page out of national geographic or a scene from
the english patient

its been a little over a year, since my family and I went on a vacation, but we managed to get away for a week in new mexico. last time we went there was about 15 years ago and I feel like a lot has changed since then. at any rate, we all had an amazing time and it feels so good to escape from a big city for awhile and discover something new. we stayed in santa fe, but traveled to places like taos, madrid, and we even did a little hiking adventure in the kasha-katuwe tent rocks outside of santa fe. I didn't really know what to expect, but I was quite taken by the scenery. it was so cinematic and immediately I felt inspired by the look and style of these rocks. immediately, I thought of anthony minghella's film, the english patient.....so naturally, I knew this would be a photo adventure. of course, I took some images and my brother in law, danny....kindly took some photos of me too, while hiking in the mountains. my mom is usually very shy when it comes to photos, but I was glad when she posed for me. I love how she looks in this moment, almost like a page out of condé nast traveller....very noir chic in the mountains. I even felt a little anton corbijn inspired when I took this photo of danny in the mountains....I recently was looking back at his images he took of U2 for their joshua tree album, it somehow came to mind, while hiking. on a side note, I know it looks as though I am wearing a turtleneck dress in the first photo, but I actually cropped the pic to make it look that way. I am actually wearing jodhpurs....my current pant obsession, so stylish and comfortable. you can actually see in the last photo how they drape and fit. I wanted danny to take a photo of me from a distance too see how they actually look. I am not sure if you can tell, but they are the best pants. overall, the whole kasha-katuwe experience was pretty amazing and so visually inspiring. I have so many photos to share as this is just part one, but more to come throughout the whole week.....stay tuned!


a noir chic moment with my brother-in-law, danny. he is an amazing photographer and I think of
him as my brother in black, I was in an anton corbijn inspired mood with him as we hiked


from a distance in the kasha-katuwe tent rocks, with my new black hat and jodhpurs....feeling sporty noir chic.

tesuque chic

peggy has a jewelry store at the tesuque flea market....I was very much inspired by the way she dressed
and accessorized....she proves that you can be chic at any age



just trying to blend in with my pleats please messenger bag outside the dark bird palace....love this collage
by artist kelly moore....reminds me of jean-michel basquiat mixed in with a southwestern influence



before we left for new mexico I bought my sister a leather waist pack....I was glad she wore it throughout our
time in new mexico, I especially loved the way her whole ensemble blended in with these southwestern rugs

last weekend, my family and I went to the tesuque flea market in santa fe and we were pleasantly surprised by all the style we encountered. in case you are unfamiliar with the tesuque flea, it is held every friday through sunday and it has vendors from all over the world selling a variety of goods such as rugs, jewelry, art, pottery, clothing, and so much more....its a definite must see if you are visiting new mexico. I was surprised by how friendly everyone was and I enjoyed wandering around and meeting the local people. I didn't know what to expect, but I guess that is what made the tesuque flea market so special. perhaps, the best part was when I bought a silver ring from a very stylish woman named peggy. I don't even know how to describe her look....I guess you could say she reminded of a southwestern michele lamy, I am not sure if this photo shows just that, but I have another image that shows some style connections, especially in the way she wears her jewelry. at any rate, I totally loved her style and the way she accessorized and adorned herself. she is beautiful and I loved the way she did her makeup, too, especially those red lips. as for me, this was the only day I wore a little bit of color and I liked the way my chartreuse scarf and nike sneakers, color coordinated with the dark bird palace at the flea market.....its an unexpected combination, but I think it blended quite well with the art work. another stylish moment came when my sister and I were looking at rugs and I thought to myself it would be interesting if she posed in front of this southwestern style carpet. the funny part is that I think it looks very moroccan with a new mexico vibe....its a surprising combo, but I think it somehow worked. my sister's style has something about it that very much blends those two cultures together....I was happy to capture this moment, such striking patterns and prints. by far, the tesuque flea market was a highlight of my trip and I love it when I feel somewhat inspired by color. I know I will be back to black, but for now, I think these bright moments feel rather appropriate.

sun bella

denise in black

in keeping with my black dress inspiration this week, I have yet another interesting story to tell. last weekend, while walking on the beach, I happened to notice a woman in black walking towards me. for a second I thought it was a dream. from a distance, she almost even looked like me with her black hat and the way her black dress undulated in the wind. it looked so cinematic and immediately I was inspired. there was something about her that just felt very sisters in black frocks, so I decided to go and talk to this mystery woman. right away, I complimented her, on her style and asked her about her entire ensemble. denise, the mystery woman, told me that her hat was by san diego hat company and that she designed her poncho she was wearing. she runs a clothing line called sun bella apparel, which as she calls it, stylish protection for the sun and I couldn't agree more with her design philosophy. she is still in the process of building her business, but I feel like she has a bright future ahead, as I totally understand her way of thinking. we talked for awhile and right away we connected style wise. she totally got my obsession with looking incognito chic and how glamorous it is too hide behind an oversized black hat, whether on the beach, or just in your everyday life. after our conversation, I asked if she would do some sartorial shots for my blog and she totally agreed. with the beach wind and her gorgeous outfit everything just fell into place, naturally. I took many images, but this was my favorite just because I love the drapery of her poncho....it feels very madame grès at the beach. this really was such an unexpected surprise for all this to happen, but I am so glad to have met denise that sunday, especially because earlier in the day, I was saying to myself.....I think I am lacking style inspiration, in my life. I guess I was being a little bit dramatic and perhaps, spoke too soon. at any rate, thanks again to denise for the lovely photos and I can't wait to purchase one of her ponchos....so noir chic!

margiela moment

selma blair in maison martin margiela for h&m

I have to be honest, I could probably spend the whole day trying to find inspiring black dresses but, in reality, I don't have that kind of time, so when I do have a free moment, I try to use it wisely. recently, I stumbled upon this image of actress selma blair in a maison martin margiela black dress for h&m. I don't know why, I never noticed this dress till now, but I love the way she looks in it. the drapery, the asymmetry, and of course, the cut. I remember seeing this dress in bright blue in the store, but never in black, so I am disappointed that I never got to try this one on. I really can't complain though, as I found so many other great marigela pieces, but this one has something quite special about it. at any rate, I have always liked selma blair's style. I remember taking notice of her style back in 2000...she looked so polished during that era. I remember her looking so elegant.....a certain ralph lauren dress comes to mind and for awhile, I thought she had similarities to jackie onassis. I must admit, I lost track with her, but seeing her in this margiela dress made me realize, why I felt that way. this dress is so sisters in black frocks and I love it when I find some red carpet style that I find truly inspiring....brava to selma blair for looking so margiela noir chic!

sporty noir chic

a sartorial moment from paris fashion week

its really interesting how through social media you can connect with people, even if you don't necessarily know them in real life. with style blogging and instagram I have been fortunate to connect with some really creative people. I'm not sure if I will ever meet them in real life, but I love the style and artistic connections I share with most of them. this past weekend, an instagram friend from london, sent me this photo, of a girl in a beautiful black dress with drapery and adidas sneakers. her message attached said....this is so you! my initial thought was yes, it is. for some reason, that got me thinking about how you really can connect with people through style and fashion, no matter what continent or country they live in. I thanked her immediately for sending me this photo, just because this is a look that I can totally relate to and I love anyone who can pull off a dramatic black dress with adidas. this was actually taken during paris fashion week and I must say this whole look epitomizes the concept of sporty noir chic. I remember in the 90's, I use too see a lot of supermodels wearing this kind of look and for some reason to this day in 2014, I am still obsessed with this type of style. its minimal, comfortable, but still fancy, with the drapery and flow of her dress. I have no idea who snapped this, but I think this may be one of the best sartorial moments I have ever seen, in awhile. I will definitely be putting this in my desktop folder for inspiring black dress looks. a special thanks to the lovely ivana zannini for sending me this.....exactly, the black frock I was looking for!

blowin' in the wind

drapery moment

I have a new favorite pastime of walking on the beach. sometimes, my sister goes with me, but for the most part it has become a solo act and usually a good time for me to find interesting sartorial moments on the beach. I can't really plan what will happen, which makes it more exciting. at any rate, last sunday I was quite amazed by what I saw. this was just part 1 of my day and I don't know why, but this totally made my week. I have a strange fascination with drapery....I just love the way it moves in the wind, the undulation is the best part and when the fabric is black, I am even more excited. I guess that is why I am so intrigued by burqa silhouettes or just about any type of dress that moves so gracefully in the wind. while walking on the beach, I happened to notice a young man putting a piece of fabric over his body and because of the beach wind it was flowing quite perfectly, so in that moment, I caught this. the term noir chic applies so perfectly with this photo and for some reason when I snapped this I totally thought of that veiled versace moment photographed by herb ritts from 1990, which is one of my favorite images of his, that I always like too look back on. I guess you could say I was in the right spot at the right time....timing is indeed everything, when it comes to capturing sartorial moments, like this.