THE BARDOT BLOUSE - TWINNING WITH THE ENTIRE POPULATION

I like what I like. I can say that *pretty* confidently. 

(The woman who launched a thousand shivering shoulders - welcome to British summertime)

Not many people understand the necessity of sequin leggings to a 9am lecture but I am ever committed to following my every fashion whim and that I continue to do. 

Of course pop culture affects my sartorial proclivities in that it permeates the high street and thus what is readily available to me. And though I can't say that I seek to look like any particular person other than myself, there are times that individuality conflates with imitation. Despite your darnedest attempts to stay authentic to your personal view point, mass production and fast fashion aid in the contagion of sameness.  

Other times, it is a conscious choice that I adopt a 'look' in spite of it being what is basically the uniform of the zeitgeist. And whilst, as stated earlier, I have conviction in my tastes, I can't deny that upon seeing myself as a mere doppelgänger of my entire generation, the reality usually derails any commitment that I once felt to said look, acting to underscore that I was in fact seduced into a trend. Yuck!

(Off the shoulder & yellow - two of my new favourite things/ Distressed denim & what I originally thought was a crate of beer - the perfect accoutrements)

The whole process may unfold something like this; I see an item, - perhaps on another person; I like the item; I set out to find said item or similar; I find and purchase; I wear the item and inevitably see others wearing something similar. On validation that the item I like is too liked by others, I am immediately put-off. I was not autonomous in my choice. I feel 'trendy' and therefore try-hard. 

I tried the tie-front blouse and the button up suede skirts of 2015 but both with much trepidation and a self-consciousness that left them, for the majority, unworn. These items were so ingrained in the fashion of the time that marrying them up with myself felt forced, on the surface we were a match, but the 'look' quarrelled with my personal style and ultimately we had to consciously uncouple. It was better for the both of us.  

(Leandra Medine showcasing the joys of living the off-the-shoulder life)

Then 'Summer' (can we even call it that?!) 2016 appeared and with it the Bardot blouse (or off-the-shoulder top), and I really, really liked it. My previous aversion to that which is trendy forced me to do some real soul searching (JK), but could I handle twinning with the masses? Should this even be a debate? If I like something, should it really matter if anyone else shares my opinion? Really I should be congratulating their good taste. 

With that said, if I could overcome my hesitancy and integrate with the wardrobe of society, when the Bardot blouse were to eventually fall out of trend, would I have the confidence to remain committed to the look purely out of love and thereafter face being labelled, shock horror, 'un-trendy'? Would people assume I was just late to the party? However, with Brigitte Bardot as the brand ambassador of the trend, surely the rest of us, despite our best attempts, remain eclipsed by her immortal image (see above), going unnoticed as unknowns wearing clothes with shoulders exposed to the affects of sun damage. There's nothing radical here, so should we even give an eff where we fall on the spectrum of 'in fashion' or 'out of fashion' or 'on trend' or 'off trend'?

With the pace at which fashion recycles itself, inevitably I will be ahead of the trend at some point. Alas that is the fickleness of fashion. Just as one should never be forced into following a trend, one should never be forced out of a trend either. As the saying that overtook YOLO goes, you do you. So when the flock has officially given the Bardot blouse the cold shoulder, I swear on the sanctity of Wintour's bob that my shoulders will remain defiantly bare until the end ... of summer that is and then I'll add more layers than a 'My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding' wedding cake. 

(According to the Medine life of style, the off-the-shoulder blouse is winter appropriate too)

(None of the above images are my own: fusty.com, pinterest, manrepeller.com)

YELLOW OR BUST?

I am not a yellow person. 

I'm not exactly sure what a 'yellow person' looks like (I guess there'd be some yellow somewhere?) but I'm 78% positive that I'm not one.

Though in true contrary Karen Smith form, I make this declaration whilst in fact wearing yellow. She always was my favourite Mean Girl.

I realise that I have written about my aversion to yellow before, but I feel it important to remain authentic to my current sartorial dilemmas and this one just will not quit. Just as water is wet, sunshine is yellow and as we all know, sunshine invigorates all feelings of happiness. Now, who am I to condemn happiness? 

But the stylistic quandaries of yellow still abound. The question that continues to arise is this: what on earth does one pair with yellow?

Does one need to dilute a yellow outfit with contrasting accents? According to the rules of style by Solange Knowles, no, one definitely does not (see Google search if further proof is needed). However, few are bold enough to attempt a head to toe look that resembles Big Bird so closely. Sesame Street twinning aside Big Bird's commitment to yellow has outlasted many marriages. Despite this I feel that my introduction into the yellow cartel need be more subtle. No orange knee-highs or blue eye shadow for me just yet. 

Then there's Cher Horowitz who embraced yellow plaid with the ease that most people slip on their sweats after the daily grind. Yellow plaid was hereafter so intertwined with Cher Horowitz the character that any adopters of the look appear now as mere imitators of a costume that was constructed to epitomise the ridiculousness (and fun) of fashion (See also Dion's Cat in the Hat outfit and the girl's gym class attire). But I feel the probability of looking "ensemble-y challenged" is just too great.

And so I turn to Olivia Palermo as I do so often in times of true sartorial disillusionment. And I can't help but exclaim, "OF COURSE! Why didn't I think of that?!"  Pairing fuchsia with canary yellow? Duh! And greeny-yellow with blue denim and red accessories? I'm face-planting into my palm right now. My fears of seeming like a human bumble bee evaporate as I see Olivia offsetting her vibrant yellow overcoat with black leather trousers and a chunky black knit jumper. It's so simple. Never fussy. I feel like the Churchill dog as my head shakes continuously in disbelief. Maybe I'm making this yellow aversion into a thing that isn't actually a thing?

Clearly I'm drawn to yellow so maybe I'm missing the point in that yellow connotes fun, ergo wearing it should be fun also. Though coercing yourself into having fun is no fun at all, a little reminder to lighten up is always much appreciated. And so as the sun comes out so does the lighter side of me and my wardrobe. I know that Solange would be proud.  

(Images via: independent.co.uk, gurls.com, ew.com, whowhatwear.com, thefashionspot.com, luxelookbook, stylechi, celebs.allwomenstalk.com & my Instagram (@w_sophia)