Before I kick off this Style Dispatch, I wanted to direct you to an article Lou O’Bedlam wrote about me for Manolith.com. Lou, an outstanding photographer and wordsmith, told me he was using me for an article last week, but I thought he was talking about one of the many photos he’s taken of me since we’ve been friends. That lovable scamp! In the article, Lou describes my philosophy on person vs. persona, and us all having the power to become anything we want.
You know who I thank for that? Count Monte Cristo, who escaped imprisonment and returned to the world as someone else. Book I read when I was 7. On with the show!
Pre-ripped jeans: they’re in. When I first noticed this I was overcome with righteous rage, refusing to accept them. Now I own a pair, and I’ll tell you why. Pure, unadulterated nostalgia. When I was thirteen and stylistically trapped somewhere between a tomboy and a Lolita, I bought a pair of used Levis for an outrageous forty bucks. I wore those suckers to death.
The bottom hems were the first to tear off, then the holes that had formed under each butt cheek expanded until there was nothing left to do but to turn the pants into inappropriately short shorts. I wore the remnants proudly with a pair of big black boots and my long, poorly bleached hair topping the Courtney Love-inspired look so popular in the mid-nineties.
When I saw this particular pair for sale on the Wet Seal website, with their decidedly un-hip boot cut and low-rise, I just couldn’t help myself. I tell you what – I regret nothing. They’re probably the most comfortable pair of pants I own and they look awesome on my ass, god dammit.
A veil of cool fog has gently settled over LA, which, among other things, means it’s finally sweater and arm warmer season again. Though I do own a few light summer arm sheaths it’s not the same–so very happy to finally dig into my collection. I love thin, spider-webby knits and really dig the strategically-placed see-through bits on this long tank top. I accentuated them by layering over white.
About the shoes. Just last week I wrote about ridding my closet of almost all the platforms accumulated over the years. However, I was on my way to a Fever Ray concert the other night. Concerts require big, comfortable shoes if you plan on seeing anything over other people’s heads and aren’t very tall, which I am not. Fortunately, platforms happen to look amazing under my boot cut jeans. Outfit success! I wore these for over five hours and danced for at least two, not feeling any pain until after the show was over. And what a supernaturally beautiful show that was, might I add.
- Scarf – Purchased somewhere on Melrose Ave. for Lou O’ Bedlam to wear in a Coilhouse 3 fashion editorial
- Arm Warmers – Luxury Divas via Amazon.com
- Boots – [gasp] Demonia
- Jeans – Wet Seal
- Knit top – F21
- White top – not sure, sorry!
testing, testing, since as it seems non of my comments are showing up..:(
It worked! Welcome to the fold, moo hoo hee haww!
The one truly amazing thing about F21 is that it is amazingly versatile and affordable. Haven’t visited your site since 1901, but I’m pleasantly surprised with all these added knick knacks. Need to buy your prints ASAP. xo
Thanks for taking the plunge for me! I’ve been wondering about lifting my boycott on pre-ripped jeans because, well, there are some cool ones out there. These look like a great pair. I like that they aren’t too blue either.
Sascha, they aren’t blue at all! They’re mostly white with a bit of black pigment over them–another reason I bought them.
Claudia, welcome back! Ah yes, 1901. What a year that was–Queen Victoria died and the wireless telegraph was born. I miss those days of discovery, don’t you? xx
i was almost in near shock to see you wearing pre-ripped jeans, but my shock was settled over the fact that you didn’t pay a gross amount of money for them. i too was in hate with pre-ripped jeans for the longest of times until i tried on a pair that my butt refused to look bad in. i caved.
awesome stylings and musings as per usual.
See I would have thought with all your many adventures ripped-jeans simply happened. Each later written on with a little story of how they got that way and send to a vast underground archive for Super Secret Adventurers and the like.
Looks good. Then again I like ripped fabrics and anything that reaches a point of being held together by other means than it’s own design.
I think the jeans work in this because of the top. It mirrors the rips in a fun way design wise…plus it looks like a sound wave going up to your head and that seems wonderfully fitting an image.
Hey Zo!
Love the new glasses!!!
K
Yume, I think hell would freeze over long before I pay a lot of money for ripped jeans! Butt solidarity 4EVA!
Tequila, your print is on its way. I like your idea of chronicling adventures through the sartorial damage they cause! And I agree – I actually thought that very thing when I paired the top with the jeans. Good eye, mate!
Kat! How the hell are you?
Fever Ray is such a refreshment! I wish I could see her perform!
Argh! You tease. You didn’t say where your cool glasses are from. … or did you somewhere else?
I simply love this outfit! Not only you mastered da art of “looking-so-damn-glam-and-stylish”, you allways come with something new.. big bow, Zoe :)
All this talk of how awesome they look on your ass but not one pic from that angle. :P
I love when jeans get all black and whitish and start falling apart, the seams always look better that way. At least on the one pair of jeans I own.
You’re also probably one of the few people who can pull off some arm warmers and not look terrible in them. Seriously.
I love this outfit simply because it gives me faith in my own lazy ‘jeans and t-shirt’ stylings.
How do those eyebrows happen? It’s a point of fascination in every picture of you!
I too used to be offended by the idea of buying ripped clothes, or deliberately tearing things up cause it looks cool… You have to earn that distress, etc etc
But I too have lifted the ban. Shit looks good! Also, tearing up tights or jeans is good catharsis (especially if they’re on while you’re doing it).
Awww, I be you would’ve been my fasion icon even in the mid-90s!
Love the simple eye-make up and the close up shot with the glasses. The adjective I can come up with is “icy”
Super!
Love the jeans! I also had a hatred for preripped but they just do it so well now. Love the whole look actually.
Can you enlighten me where your glasses are from and what lip gloss you use? I have the hardest time finding lipgloss that isn’t too sticky or a bad color.
Your lipgloss looks so amazing in that last shot…
What kind do you use?
Now that I’ve got the internet again it’s wonderful to rediscover Coilhouse and your site! Truly a breath of fresh air. I loved the article Lou wrote about you and I have a question about your hair in the last picture. Is that Blue Velvet faded, or is it one of Special Effects purple shades over unbleached dark hair perhaps? Would love to know because its a fabulous color! Keep up the awesome work!
the jeans are cute c:
i LOVE the boots your wearing. i know you said they are demonia, do you happen to have the style name handy??