Stephanie

Stephanie, General course student, International Relations

Imagine. An outfit with a palette of fur striking enough to instil envy amongst even the Prada Devils of the world...  I present to you Stephanie - a New York girl after our London hearts. With fashion icons that transcends history and time; from Audrey Hepburn to Jackie Kennedy - it is only fitting that Stephanie has managed to pull off this timeless fashion ensemble that empowers as much as it allures. Adding to our ongoing debate regarding New York versus London's fashion scene, she champions London for its 'cutting edge and avant-garde style' but misses the 'irreverence of New York's charm.' It also appears that the British stiff upper-lip typecast is here to stay - as she observes that London students are often more 'serious and restrained' in their attire. Having previously served under Shareen Vintage NYC as a stylist undoubtedly has its merits - an infinite supply of chic cocktail dresses in tow being one of them! (If ever there was a perfect excuse to hit London's cocktail bars - this is it.) Female protagonists from classic romantic movies such as the kooky Zooey Deschanel of '500 Days of Last Summer' and Audrey Hepburn's portrayal of Sabrina form the basis of her cinematic fashion inspiration... romance may very well be dead - but certainly not where Stephanie's wardrobe is concerned! Her philosophical advice on fashion is to 'dress like you are starring in the movie of your life!' Indeed, life is a stage - as Shakespeare once said, so why not costume yourself while you are at it? If you would like to see her in action, Stephanie will be chairing LSE's Fashion Show on 4th Feb 2011 with the theme "LDN by LSE" which promises to be portray a satorial map of London onto the runway.


1. Who would you describe as your ultimate fashion icon?
My style perennials are Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, and Kate Moss--they're the trinity of fashion for me and will always be. I love Audrey's elegance, the simplicity and construction of her Givenchy garments; I love Jackie's poise, her immaculate Camelot days of Cassini and the triple-strand pearl necklace; and I love Kate's effortless, easy cool, pulling on a lot of vintage with just a hint of her rockstar affiliations. I'm interested in tastemakers, not followers. 

2. What is the ultimate difference between New york Vs London student style?
Well, the male students dress A LOT better here than they do in New York--there's an element of professionalism here that you don't get in New York.
Generally, female students seem to err on the side of good taste or within established, current trends. This may be a result of the LSE student body and not applicable to London students as a whole, but I do miss the irreverence of New York style--they take it less seriously there, have more fun, are less restrained--but are also less innovative than Londoners, less cutting edge and avant-garde.
3. Where is your outfit from? (The fur cape coat with frilly drapes as well as your emerald green dress)
My green dress is a 1960s brocade cocktail dress from Shareen Vintage New York, as is the white fur stole, where I was a client and later a stylist under Shareen Mitchell (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/16/fashion/16upclose.html) for the summer. The white cape/shawl is a 1950s wool-cashmere find from the Clerkenwell Vintage fair in London (http://www.clerkenwellvintagefashionfair.co.uk/).

4. What cultural references would you cite as the biggest influence behind your style?
FILMS: Mrs. Robinson in the Graduate, Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, Jean Seberg in A Bout de Souffle, anything Givenchy ever designed for Audrey Hepburn on screen, but most notably in Sabrina and Breakfast at Tiffany's, film noir in general but definitely Rita Hayworth in Gilda, Madonna in Evita, Zooey Deschanel in 500 Days of Summer
LITERATURE: F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Beautiful and Damned for its raging, roaring New York of the 1920s, Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence for its demure, turn of the century American high society, Anais Nin's Henry and June for her description of expat Paris in the 1930s
ART: The photography of Lillian Bassman, Richard Avedon, Mark Shaw's work with the Kennedys, Cindy Sherman's Untitled Film Stills series, John Singer Sargent's Madame X and other society portraits, Mucha, Art Nouveau in its entirety, Arthur Rackham's illustrations for Alice in Wonderland. 
CULTURE: Jackie Kennedy (not Onassis, I love her in her Kennedy days solely), Dita Von Teese (I credit her with inspiring me to be consistently immaculate), American pin-ups of the 1940s and 50s, cocktail and the jet-set culture of the 1960s, best exemplified by Mad Men, the super ironic alternative girl of the 90s with her Docs and floral kinderwhore dresses.

5. Anything else you would like to promote on LSE campus?
I'm chairing the LSESU Fashion Society's annual charity fashion show this year, entitled LDN by LSE. It'll be Friday, the 4th of February 2011, and we're essentially hoping to create a visual, sartorial map of London on the runway with up and coming British designers. All fundraising will go towards the MicroLoan Foundation, which is a UK-based microfinance organization that gives loans to women in sub-Saharan Africa. It'll be a fantastically fun night, so keep an eye out for more details!
  
6. Your views on the future of fashion.......
I think fashion's become a lot more democratic, with the advent of street style blogs and this idea that everyone has individual style and this style is good--markedly different from the old order of design houses and magazines dictating style. This is both good and bad: good, because democracy in fashion is absolutely needed, fashion's been a set hierarchy for far too long; bad because suddenly “style” is everywhere. Individual style is everywhere. Everyone begins taking themselves incredibly seriously as an individual style ambassador and it’s simultaneously wonderful and mind-numbing. What does style even mean anymore, when everyone apparently has it--or can buy it off of high street retailers?

Fashion, style is all about perception: your own as well as others. Most people put on clothing knowing perfectly well that it will make people perceive them in a certain light, whereas I put on clothing so as to perceive myself differently. My philosophy is always to dress as if you are starring in the movie of your life, so I suppose you could say I costume myself. I know I'm the same girl underneath all these myriad of looks, this parade of fabrics. But there's something I can't place my finger on when I put on something that makes me feel different from what I normally feel—powerful, or seductive, or careless, or light-hearted. Escapism, perhaps. The real possibility that this dress or this coat or these gloves make you a little different, because you believe yourself to be different with them on—you hold your head a little differently and suddenly, everything changes because you yourself are changed.

Fashion fluctuates, I think, more because of feeling than because of trend. That is what lends it its wonderful individuality—you dress how you feel or how you want to feel. It's all part of the magic. Fashion, style, whatever you want to call it, when done properly, is magical, creative in every sense of the world, escapist. Wonderful. Give a little more to what you wear and it will give right back.

I always feel the constant need to defend fashion, because people find it difficult to believe that one can be substantive and stylish at the same time. Never, ever let anyone make you feel guilty about loving beauty as you do—and you do love beauty if you love fashion—however you choose to define it. The world will move on regardless, things of great import and social significance will continue along their paths, and take precedence in humanity’s collective thoughts as things of substance—but there are things of beauty too, farther back in the mind’s eye, and though it may not save the world, beauty is beauty is beauty and magic is magic and magic—and I think we would lead better lives if we had a little more faith in the possibilities of beauty, of magic—and if we worked towards them, in our own way, sartorially or otherwise.

"LDN by LSE" [TEASER]

Shoe Special....

Amanda Sun 1^st year Law student

Amanda Sun 1^st year Law student from Singapore - Vice-president of LSE’s Fashion Society struts on Fashion Cloud 9 with these All Saints Kalman wedges that can only be described as deliciously impractical! Spotted at LSE’s ‘How I made it in Fashion Event’ she describes All Saints as the ultimate brand she swears by. 

Bart Postgraduate in Politics and French

Bart Postgraduate in Politics and French - Tailor-made, velvet purple brogues with acid blue laces; would surely be the recipe for shoe ecstasy, if ever there was one?! The mere mention of ‘men’s purple brogues’ is usually enough to send any shoe fanatic into a state of frenzy, yet Bart manages to pull it off quite effortlessly. Sadly, you will have to hop onto the next Eurostar to Marrais, Paris if you want to bag the exact same copy!

   

Jodie

Jodie, first year history

This frosty fall week I have seen Uggs reappear and umbrellas swallow your lovely outfits; but Jodie tackles the autumn attire quite well! Being one of those people that cannot give up wearing shorts, even though the leaves have long left their trees, she pairs them with warm tights. Adding a cosy dark green cardigan to this she matches fall's warm shades of orange perfectly. Essentially, autumn is all about layers upon layers, a motto that Jodie seems to have gotten down. She loves hunting the vintage shops for colourfully patterned cardigans that add a fun aspect to the outfit, though the one she covered herself in today was a Primark bargain. She usually hits the high street shops where she seeks out high-waisted clothing as she finds it looks more flattering; her most recent buy are a pair of leather trousers from Topshop that have already become a new favourite in her wardrobe. Though plenty people give them a try, I still find them quite bold, but she feels that Londoners are not afraid to be daring at times. Still, for a night out she leaves the leather at home and goes for something more classic: “You really can never go wrong with a little black dress”. The LSE community definitely dresses smartly according to her, but she is not sure if it is thanks to the environment. I would say the fact that we are in the middle of London has a distinct influence on the way people dress; open your eyes and be inspired by the wonderful styles that pass you everyday on campus – you'd be surprised!

LSE's Fashion Show - Casting Call

EDIT: VENUE/TIME CHANGE NOW AT 4PM IN UNDERGROUND BAR

Matt

Matt Masters in Media & Communications 

 

With only a hint of a Rock Hudson quiff to betray his LA roots, Matt has done pretty well to blend into the London fashion landscape - particularly when we consider that our transatlantic cousins usually stick out by a ‘preppy blazer’ mile! Despite the decidedly London façade, Matt draws inspiration from New York’s very own fashion blog ‘The Satorialist’ which demonstrates that fashion loyalty really is where the home lies. Matt labels Urban Outfitters and Ben Sherman as the ultimate versatile brands that he swears by; often shopping in the eclectic fashion hub that is London’s Soho. In comparison to his native LA who he describes as an “army of fashion surfer legions,” he feels that London is definitely more fashion-forward and has to shop up to twice a week just to keep up with the London Fashion Joneses’! His opinions of LSE’s fashion are contradicting; on one hand, he wishes to emulate the select few who always manage to look “suited and booted.” On the other hand, Matt deplores those who “turn up in their pyjamas” – referring to LSE students who clearly take the phrase - ‘just got out of bed look’ - a tad too literally. Honestly speaking, if you turning up to your lectures wearing your Chunky Munkey Jim-Jams? Well there is not much hope for you, really! Matt’s qualms concerning LSE hoodies are the same as mine – “You are on campus - we know that you are at LSE, there is no need to advertise that fact!” Amen to that.             

KATIE

Katie, 2^nd year Social Policy student

The saying goes that ‘cheap is cheerful!’… Well, cheap is undoubtedly rather fashionable too - as Katie has proven with this quirky homespun ensemble! Yes true, the best things in life are indeed for free (great - if you happen to be a supermodel showered with gifts….) but surely the next best thing for us mere mortals is charity shops? With all the hoopla surrounding budget cuts and student loans extortion etc; I propose that charity shops up and down the country to be flagged as Student’s Shopping Sanctuaries! In particular, Katie champions hometown Sheffield’s charity shops where prices have not yet been subjected to the London Inflation effect. Describing her own style as ‘eclectic,’ it is phenomenal how a well placed lop-sided bow on the head can speak volumes about a person’s individuality… immediately we are subconsciously thinking more ‘dollface’ than ‘dullface’! Katie also employs the use of one tool when it comes to clothes – scissors! That’s right, scissors to chop and crop to your heart’s content until you get the perfect hem length that you have always wished for – (or even laddered tights in Katie’s case!) Charmed by Katie’s style? Then be sure to tune in to her LSE Pulse Radio Show ‘Afternoon Delights’ Friday 1-2 pm, where you will be treated to a verbal slice of ‘things you don’t wanna know about!’

Jamie

Jamie, 1st year Maths & Econ

Citing the painter David Hockney as a major source of inspiration, it is no wonder that Jamie, who incidentally sports round framed glasses like the artist, seeks out quirky patterns and colours (notice the collar of his blouse!). Himself a former art student, Jamie admires Hockney's fantastical landscapes, and portraits and sketches of men often in playfully classic attires; similarly, he mentions the online magazine Fantastic Man as one of his favourites. Most of all though, Jamie is one to be “seduced by comfort” when he goes out to expand his wardrobe; his most cherished items are therefore a heavy knitted winter coat by Japanese streetwear clothing brand Undercover (which, he explains, has a heat retaining system ensuring one is never too hot or too cold when wearing the coat) as well as the Lanvin cashmere jumper he is wearing today. Under his motto of “Ultimate Comfort” he always finds himself “swayed by whatever knitwear is on show. For me, there is really no planning in buying.” With such a taste for soft materials and functional yet stylish clothes, of course London landmarks like Bstore and Dover Street Market are on top of his list. The thing Jamie finds most remarkable about fashion of a certain city or area is that when taken out of context, people's perception of it changes: “For example, in Paris everyone sees trench coats as the height of fashion, whereas in London nearly everyone owns one and it is really nothing special.” At LSE, he says to be most fascinated by a certain mysterious “tribe of strangely serious suited people”, whom he takes to be post-grads who take their work seriously and have their clothing reflect that. So what image is he trying to transcend? “That I have ultimate comfort as a life's objective!”

Kirsty

Kirsty, from Liverpool, 2nd year International Relations

Kirsty definitely has a more understated style than most of the people from her hometown of Liverpool or “the land of platform shoes, flash eyelashes and false tan” as she describes it. For her, anything brown, mustard, wool or tweed will find its way into her wardrobe, a style that she says is inspired by “kitchen sink” films and plays of the 1960s, such as A Taste of Honey and The L Shaped Room. As you might expect, she maintains this unique look by frequenting vintage shops, but surprisingly not through the average channels: “The best thing to do is to source out vintage wholesalers and pretend you’re a buyer for a vintage shop, or go to charity shops. Don't pay extortionate prices for vintage clothes!” Today however, she made full use of a resource much closer to home: her flatmate's closet, whose tastes should get some credit for this outfit! The jumper, which is her own, is this winter's must have item according to Kirsty, who offers some practical advice “Don’t be silly wafting around in your TopShop crop top, you'll catch a cold, stick a jumper on for God's sake.” Her tolerance for the warm but omnipresent LSE hoodie however has evaporated. “If you're sitting next to me at a computer or shooting down my point in class, I'm pretty sure you go to the LSE, I don't need you to transmit the message via an overpriced hoodie.”

RORY

Rory; MPA (Masters Public Administrative) Programme

Hailing from East London’s burgeoning art scene that is Hackney Wick, Rory cites Bryan Ferry - of 70’s Roxy Music fame - as the ultimate style icon that he model’s himself upon. For those of you who find Bryan Ferry unheard of, Rory kindly lends words to our imagination, “Think Glitter. Think Blazers. Think Glitter Blazers!” With such a potent fashion muse - it is no wonder that Rory has managed to set himself apart from the dull sea of banker’s beiges at LSE’s campus – by kitting himself out in a red lumber-jacket that subtly screams of LSE patriotism. Casually kicking his heels with masculine cowboy boots, Rory is the prime example that boots are not just designated for those on the set of Brokeback Mountain. In fact, I am positive that city-slickers will soon catch on to man-boots, lest they get left behind by their horse-riding counterparts. So where exactly does one acquire such astute fashion taste? “I recommend ‘The Secret Sample Sale’ at the Truman Brewery – it is the only place in the world where you can snap up a Burberry jacket for a tenner.”  Upon being prompted about his views on LSE’s fashion, Rory suggests himself being christened as ‘The Fashion Interventionist’ – a role in which he would wave a fashion wand over his International Development lecturers to transform their ‘overly beige attire’ to ‘more colourful numbers.’ In particular, Lloyd Grubert would his first choice up for the fashion chop. Don’t say you weren’t warned…

SAM

Sam, first year philosophy student from East London

For Sam, fashion is first and foremost a form of self-expression. Taking catwalk concepts and translating them into his own identity, he likes to follow trends but tries wearing them in a way that suits him. But where most people simply stock up on high street, Sam has a very distinct taste when it comes to which designers and fashions he tries to embed in his own personal style. He mentions All Saints and Vivienne Westwood in one breath, adding that he does not continually go for one single type of outfit: “One day i can be indie, and the next you'll see me in harem trousers!” In London, the main trend as Sam describes it is a combination of “old and new”; with London being a Valhalla of vintage shops he thinks Londoners have a knack for bringing back styles from a different era and making them modern. Sam himself is also a fond vintage shopper, though from time to time he does love to indulge in high-quality clothes. Looking to magazines such as GQ Style, Love and 10 for inspiration, he tries to have as much fun as he can in putting outfits together. Jokingly he admits: “I bought a special outfit for LSE! I was going for a little geek chic... Going to university means so many new styles to try out!”

KATE

Kate, 2^nd year, Crimonology & Social Policy

Coco Chanel once uttered the immortal words, “Fashion is everywhere… Fashion is in the sky, Fashion is in the street…” Well certainly true - if Kate’s modish style is anything to go by – Fashion was quite specifically found in LSE’s very own unsuspecting Clement’s Inn street! This is precisely where I scouted Kate and her magnificent Camel Cape this week – a garment whose sheer volume and brilliance justifies its own Capitalised Status. Now, I understand that the mere mention of the word ‘cape’ often conjures images of Superman and Batman in one’s childlike nostalgic mind – but do not fear; I assure you that The Camel Cape is a staple must-have for any serious fashionista this winter! Take advice from Kate, or rather - “Trendy-Wendy” as her boyfriend likes to refer to her as - and team your cape with skinny jeans to balance out the upper volume and add high heels for that touch of elegance. Her outfit ensemble is a mixture of high-street affordable fashion from the likes of Topshop, New Look and American Apparel with a high-end Vivienne Westwood bag.  However, Kate also champions student’s favourite ‘Primark’ – a budget high street store that is almost as famous for its chaotic shop floors as it is for its cheapness. Kate’s final say on the fickle world of fashion (and who knows – a quote that may rival that of Coco Chanel’s one day?!) is “Bring back the LSE backpack!”

EMIR

Emir: a first-year Politics and Philosophy student from Richmond, North Yorkshire

Emir: a first-year Politics and Philosophy student from Richmond, North Yorkshire. Emir has a penchant for individualistic threads when it comes to shopping in charity shops: “These days London folk dress in fashion for fashion’s sake, but I prefer to dress for identity.” A keen bargain hunter in charity shops in the Northern regions, Emir definitely gets our double ethical fashion thumbs-up. Many fashionistas these days are too quick to disregard charity shops as a credible hunting ground, but quite often it is possible to find little vintage gems at a fraction of their original price. Emir adds to this that it is great to be able to dress in quirky items whilst being able to contribute to a good cause. Contrary to popular belief, shopping in charity shops is not as tedious as one may think – in fact, Emir insists that “I don’t find the clothes; the clothes seem to find me!” On London street style, Emir thinks that the London fashion scene is improving: “People’s styles are not defined by their subcultures anymore, there appears to be a more dynamic interaction between styles such that subcultures have become a thing of the past.” If you are intrigued by Emir’s distinctive style, be sure to tune in to his Jamaican Reggae radio show on Pulse Radio, Wednesday 4-5pm.

ERICA

Erica,  a master student originally from New York, studying Media, Communication and Development

Erica,  a master student originally from New York, studying Media, Communication and Development describes her style as a mix between classically “american” and eccentric. Combining pieces from J. Crew with items she picks up in a thrift store, she aims for a style full of opposites: “It's fun to be unexpected!”. Today her outfit is perfectly in sync with this objective: a girly skirt combined with a masculine jacket, shoes and briefcase create a truly remarkable look!

Inspiration can come from many sources, but for Erica living in New York has sparked her creativity more than anything else. She gets ideas from people on the street, especially across the river. “Brooklyn is more edgy than the rest of New York, which can be quite conservative”, she states. Applauding Londoners for their provocative style, she admits to a serious “shoe envy” when walking down the street here. According to Erica, upon comparing fashion in both cities, London fashionistas put a strong emphasis on what they put on their feet, and create the outfit around their footwear, whereas in New York people think more in terms of outfits.

On the subject of “ethical fashion” Erica says she does not specifically select her clothing on its ethical value, although she does think it is important to take care of her clothes so as not to waste the effort put into producing it. Moreover, her love for thrift store shopping is not merely based on the possibility of finding original items: “While I don't seek out hemp clothing or actively eschew leather materials and fur, I think an important element of eco-friendliness is reusing and recycling. Visiting my local thrift store (or my mom's closet!!) for amazing finds cuts down on shipping and helps to neutralize the environmental impact of transporting a sweater from some factory across the world.”

Welcome to LSE Lookbook!

MAAIKE&YAN of www.lselookbook.blogspot.com scours the streets for the prestigious title of LSE's best dressed each week! So doll up girls and suit up guys we are on the style prowl... one thing that LSELookBook does not do is discriminate - so whether you regard yourself as the GaGa of Houghton St; or the Gok Wan of Clement house - we will happily invite you to divulge in fashion tales from the soul for the good folk at LSE! Please check out our blog for those who have made it into LSE's hall of fashion fame