As this semester comes to a close, I find myself thinking back to the British Studies Program in Oxford. No—that’s a lie—I think about it all the time. My re-entrance into American society has been difficult, but that is the price to pay for spending the summer sipping chai at Sketch London, scouring the British punk scene in The Purple Turtle and experiencing my 20-year-old awakening in Tate Modern.
While on the topic of museums, the Victoria and Albert featured the designs from Alexander McQueen’s 1992 MA graduate collection to his Autumn/Winter 2010 masterpiece. The exhibit, Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, was considered a “homecoming” for the designer, since his inspiration surfaced from the London streets. One of the quotes that lined the entrance to the exhibit read: “I want to empower women. I want people to be afraid of the women I dress.” The first time I read this—in a chilled backroom of the V and A—emotion overcame me. Here was this space, dedicated to the commemoration of a male designer who aimed to provide women with a voice via clothing. The last leg of the exhibit featured McQueen’s fur and feathered designs from his fall 2009 ready-to-wear show, which I channeled in the look above, sans the dramatic lipstick.
I have this fascination with faux fur. Apart from keeping the wearer warm, it is aesthetically pleasing and adds new texture to an outfit—two of my greatest concerns when picking an outfit (and also when assessing options that have nothing to do with clothing). For this look, I wear a faux fur jacket from a recent thrifting spree in Atlanta with a Solange-inspired top from her appearance at last year’s Spotify’s Pre-Grammy party; albeit, she was brave enough to wear roaches. This outfit exemplifies how to keep the insect trend alive and well—or as alive as decal insects can get.
I opted for a slimming, faux leather pant to prevent the outfit from maintaining a “boxy” appearance. When an outfit is as top heavy as this one, a skinnier jean in a darker tone is a must. Pair them with platforms or heels to elongate the leg and complete the look and step out as your most confident self. Something tells me that confidence would make it Alexander-approved.
Get My Look: 1. An ant T-shirt. 2. A pair of faux leather pants. 3. A fur jacket.
