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!