Style Profile
tim tzeng
One of my great regrets this semester has been this section’s rigorous focus on women’s style. The truth is, it’s easier to obsess over this season’s “Wait-List Bag” or “Must-Have Platform” than to ponder the nuances of men’s style. So much of what constitutes style is elusive, and just as with their female counterparts, some men just have “it.” While that indescribable quality may be difficult to achieve, Columbia certainly boasts a few stylish men. One superlative example is Tim Tzeng, CC ’10. Using his closet as the starting point for an examination of men’s style, I hope each…
Splurge or Steal: Painterly Prints
On many runways this spring, painterly prints enlivened simple silhouettes. The print can be the focal point of the outfit to make it stand out, or it can be one part of an interesting mix. The mix is harder to pull off, but it looks very modern.
As a focal point, a simple bikini becomes a work of art when splashed with a vibrant pattern. At $355, the Chloé swimsuit is a deal compared to the stratospherically high prices of the line’s clothing. Speaking of Chloé, although the Spring collection was well-received, the chief designer…
Faking Luxury
all that glitters ...
I grew up stuck between two worlds miles apart, bonded by a surprising similarity. On one side, my Russian relatives were enjoying the recent influx of money into their revolutionized country. I was a first-hand witness to the mad rush to establish “New Russia” in the berth of luxury. On the other side, I attended a New England private school where every student found it equally necessary to establish their “old money” rank using luxury brands.
The language, the professions, the culture, the fashions—everything was different. Still, everywhere I went the brands were the same: Louis Vuitton,…
Of Faith and Fashion
the inner workings of tehran’s dress code
When you hear “fashion police,” what springs to mind? Clueless? Mean Girls? What about Iran?
In an effort to increase security, safety, and modesty in society, Iranian police are extending their jurisdiction to the world of fashion. Since April 2005, the Tehranian fashion police have led a crackdown on immodest dress among men and especially women in the Iranian capital. Now, roaming officers—often conservatively dressed women—warn women on the streets about their non-Islamic dress. Offenses like skirts that are too short, hijabs (headscarves) that sit too far back, revealing hair, or manos (overcoats) that are too tight…
Sole Desire
Anybody who likes red-carpet fashion can recognize a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes by their trademark red sole. The excellent exhibition, “Sole Desire: The Shoes of Christian Louboutin,” currently on view at the FIT Museum, traces Louboutin’s Hollywood-driven career. The show reveals that Louboutin’s shoes became wildly popular only after young starlets started wearing them on the red carpet. Louboutin embraces his relationship with Hollywood and its media exposure. In recent years, the brand’s fame has risen to the ranks of Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo, coinciding with the rise of celebrity-driven culture.
Louboutin’s current work strikes…
The (Columbia) Sartorialist
anna meininger and esther adzhiashvili
Anna Meininger, CC ’10
The transition to spring is always a tricky one, especially with the fickle weather we have experienced this year. Vests are a functional and stylish way to keep up with Mother Nature’s mood swings. Here, key basics are employed to great effect: a crisp white shirt is layered over a brown tank to showcase a spring-break tan, and slim fit pants complete the look. The basics allow her vest to steal the show with its quirky mix of colorful prints and plaid pockets. Finished with a relaxed boot, this outfit…
The New American Alphabet
style a to zoe aspires to fashion-bible status
What is an appropriate dog-walking outfit? Stylist Rachel Zoe prescribes Kara Walker sunglasses, layered tank tops, black patent-leather leggings, a “vintage style” Chanel handbag, the latest animal print Louboutin peep-toe pumps, and a hat.
To many fashionistas, Zoe’s style is cluttered, cliché, and a bit too Hollywood—and you would expect Zoe’s style guide to be much the same. But as you open the golden pages of Style A to Zoe, the first photo is that of handsome American designer Roy Halston Frowick. Famously minimalist, Halston was a fashion icon of the ’70s, and apparently Zoe’s official source…
The (Columbia) Sartorialist
elle white and ehizoje azeke
Elle White, CC ’10
Winter means heavy coats, so outerwear tends to dominate the outfits this time of year. For her it’s no different—it’s clearly the jacket that makes this ensemble, which is what initially made me stop her. But then I noticed how well she managed to combine the sailor-esque colors of her duffle coat with the more natural earth tones seen in her scarf, shirt, and shoes. And the fact that her boots and bag match put a nice ribbon on the whole package.
Seen on the Stage
theater gives fashion a dramatic twist
Smoke rises gradually around eight waltzing men and a 20-piece orchestra. Rufus Wainwright croons “Over the Rainbow” as dramatic, lovely women in even more dramatic and lovely ensembles glide through the scene. Is this a new off-Broadway production? Or perhaps some sort of spin-off of Dancing With the Stars? No—it’s the runway show at Paris Fashion Week for Viktor and Rolf’s spring 2008 prêt-à-porter collection.
Such productions on the catwalk are becoming more and more common. Designers from Rag & Bone to Marc Jacobs have started to use live performers at their shows. It seems…
The Pantsuit Profile
female politicians (not) dressing with flair
Fashion and electoral politics are not ordinarily associated with one another. Occasionally, someone like the stylish Afghani president, Hamid Karzai, will show up. With his signature combination of Nehru-collared shirts, jacket, and waistcoat—all topped with a furry hat—Karzai is quite the chic dresser. More frequently, though, conservative suits featuring classic, well-cut designs are the go-to outfits in the political world.
But in recent years, the world has been introduced to a new breed of politician—fashionable, aggressive, and female.
Throughout Western history, three things seem to define women in power: their outfits, their brutal politics, or…
A Man for All Seasons
max azria delivers the goods
While Max Azria, the man behind BCBG, may now be a fixture in the fashion world, the Tunisian-born designer started selling clothes from the trunk of his car in Los Angeles in the late 1980s. After 20 years of struggling with department stores, expanding the brand, and marketing his own name along with BCBG (Parisian slang for good style, good attitude), Azria’s clothing appeals to more than just fashionistas. His designs are universal, as his brands continue to grow and change faces from simply BCBG, a work-casual brand, to his more sophisticated couture lines, Max Azria and Herve Leger.…
The Web We Weave
the met tackles blog culture
Fashion has reached the pinnacle of accessibility. Designer clothing, once a rarefied entity available only to the ultra-rich, is now available at your local Target store, where you can pick up the latest from Proenza Schouler when you drop by to purchase toilet paper. Fashion shows, too, can be viewed on Style.com within 24 hours of their actual presentation time. Who needs to scramble for standing-room-only at this season’s hottest show when you can have a front-row view from the convenience of your desk chair?
It seems only fitting, then, that the Costume Institute…
What Lies Beneath
boys and girls talk lingerie
Beneath it all, even in winter when we pile on the layers, every girl begins her day with the basics—or the not-so-basics. Lingerie is a staple in nearly every woman’s wardrobe, whether it be the simple bra and panty or the more elaborate corset and garter belt. At one point or another, every girl must think about her lingerie, and there is a good chance that boys have thought about it, too.
For men, lingerie holds an iconic status that embodies sex appeal. For women, lingerie is often…
Holiday Style Guide
WHO: MOM
WHAT: ±0 Humidifier, $259
WHY: This award-winning humidifier from Japanese design firm ±0 isn’t just great for her skin—small and sleek, it’s so much more chic than traditional, chunky models and a worthy addition to any home’s decor. The best part? With a few splashes of scented oil, it triples as an aromatherapy diffuser! Oh, the smell, look, and feel of success.
WHERE: http://www.dynamism.com
WHO: DAD
WHAT: Mulberry Wallet, $250
WHY: From paying your bills to giving you a few dollars to buy coffee, your…
Dangerous Liasions