My Instantaneous Voyage from New York to Japan

For me, there's no better feeling than freely roaming the streets of the concrete jungle - New York City - no school, no parents, no worries. There's a terrific deal of excitement and plenty of things to do. So abandon all of your worries and troubles. You might ask – “So why were you in New York City?” For the second season in a row, I headed back to the Big Apple to attend several shows I was invited to for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at New York City’s Lincoln Center. The lights, the cameras, the action, the people, the parties, and the free swank gift bags – it is not often that there is a fabulous occasion like this in Delaware. When it comes to fashion in the “Small Wonder”, I'm just a big fish in a small pond. Between trips for Teen Vogue and New York Fashion Week, I caught myself in a semi-trance of a dream that is still in the creation phase; but once I step foot on the busting streets that I call "home-away-from-home", I'm just as big as the other sharks. Being shoulder to shoulder with Teen Vogue's style blogger Andrew Beaven, attending fashion shows sitting just one row behind Vogue and GQ magazine editors. As well to snapping a photo with eminent The New York Times photographer and American radio talk show host Bill Cunningham and briefly meeting my style icon, men's fashion director of Nemian Marcus, Nickleson Wooster - it all seemed second nature to me, as if I've done it all before. I maintained my cool and composure and heck - even scored a few business cards and made new industry friends. Aside from all the excitement, rushing to get to shows on time, and recurring conversations about what trends we’ve been seeing for this coming fall, I headed back down south to the Fashion District to see the Fashion Institute of Technology’s museum, The Museum at FIT. Fashion Institute of Technology (also a college of art, design, business and technology) is ranked among the top 5 prestigious fashion schools in the world. The Museum at FIT includes extraordinary collections of clothing, textiles, and accessories. Articles of clothing and accessories from notable designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Chanel, and Christian Dior have all made a facade under the beaming lights of the museum. However, this year around was not about exhibiting the classism of European fashion; rather exhibiting the revolution and true avant-garde of Japanese fashion from the 1980’s. The Japan Fashion Now exhibition showcased bold, contemporary designs and demonstrated how much of an impact technology has on fashion. Designers such as Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons, Yohji Yamamoto, Issey Miyake and Naoki Takizawa, to name a few, are just some of the many influential designers featured in the exhibit. As I made my way through the rotating doors of the museum, within sheer seconds, I was instantaneously immersed in the Japanese fashion subculture.

Color was in full effect at the exhibition. Japanese pop artist, Takashi Murakami, contributed his contemporary take on the classic Louis Vuitton monogram to the museum. The $5,000 Limited Edition handbag was festooned with smiling cartoon faces in the middle of pink and yellow flowers and detailed with gold hardware. Another eye-catcher, vibrant textiles that included a Kelly green and an citrusy orange two piece suit adorned with whimsical Japanese cartoon characters for Issey Miyake by Noki Takizawa spring 2000 menswear collection (another Takashi Murakami collaboration). With such whimsical ideas, there’s no excuse why such out of the ordinary fashion should lack color. Speaking of out of the ordinary: how would popular Japanese fictional character Hello Kitty, and beloved European designer, the late Yves Saint Laurent, allied sound? Leave it to Han Ahn Soon to solve such an intricate fashion solution. Han Ahn Soon found the innovation and true bravery to recreate the most iconic dress of the 20th century; Yves Saint Laurent’s “Mondrian” day dress from autumn of 1965. Han Ahn Soon metamorphosed the wool jersey dress in color blocks of white, red, blue, black, and yellow to an ultra feminine dress that was completely sequined in the same planarity prototype. Garlanded with the convivial presence of Hello Kitty on the side, Han Ahn Soon revives a classic dress for the 21st century fashionistas.

Black is the color of authority and power for those who wish to make a strong statement. It is also undoubtedly stylish and timeless. For designers like Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons, Junya Watanabe and Yohji Yamamoto, making a strong statement but in an understated immaculate condition, they cue effortlessly shades of black. For Rei Kawakubo of Comme Garçons, Rei shies away from the excitement of color and is rather obscure and minimal. Simple and easy fabrics such as cotton jersey or silk and ryon in hues of blue and black are skillfully swathed across the body. The detail? It’s all in the wrists. With little to no tailoring, Rei Kawakubo demonstrates the perfect balance between minimalism, obscurity, and the true avant-garde of the Japanese fashion culture.

Japan is the quintessential location for playing dress up. The unruliness style of the Harajuku girls, roaming the streets in essentially anything imaginative and startling they can find. This eccentric Japanese fashion was implemented by the teenagers and young adults of the Japanese culture and originated on the streets of Shibuya, Japan near the Harajuku Station. While most teenagers’ today gather at their local mall on a Friday night in hoodies and jeans, the Harajuku teenagers congregate at subway stations and take part in Cosplay (costume play). Dressing in layers, accessorizing, customizing your own wardrobe, being relentless with your hair and makeup, and wearing anything that looks good to you are the primary guidelines to succeed as a Harajuku girl. Hirooka Naoto, the creative mind of h.NAOTO showcased many different styles of the Harajuku subculture.

The Japan Fashion Now exhibit is extended to April 2, 2011. So if you have ever wanted to voyage 12 hours across the other side of the world to see Japan, the Japan Fashion Now exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Technology is like a virtual street scene of Tokyo, Japan. With such an inexpressible fashion culture, I can almost guarantee you will not be disenchanted. Not to mention, the Museum at FIT is just mere seconds from the thriving heart of New York City – Times Square. So you will be sure to have a good time.

−Jordan Mixon, New York City

(images via TFS)

14 Sweet Ideas to a Stylish Valentine’s Day Date

In a perfect world, Valentine’s Day would be everyday for most women. What better what better way to end a night with the man of your dreams or the man you’ve had your eye on for the longest time and he finally found the guts to ask you out on a date for the first time. Hey, if things don’t go the way you expected them to, free dinner at a 5 star restaurant! No matter how many times you have burlesqued the flirty look in the mirror: twirling your fingers in your hair, batting your eyes that are outlined in your new mascara from Sephora or even trying to portray the attitude of Samantha Jones from Sex and the City as if you were her on a date. The key to a successful Valentine’s Day date is to be you. Let your personality shine. Another key to a successful Valentine’s Date and another thing that should shine is a killer outfit to make your date feel obligated to ask you out on another date the following weekend! Unsure and insecure? No worries. In honor of the day celebrating love and affection, I will share with you 14 Sweet Ideas to a Stylish Valentine’s Day Date.

1) There’s no feeling worse than getting things together last minute. Scrounging around in your room looking for your pair of pearl earrings that will set the tone of your entire look can be dreadful, especially when you have to be there in the next twenty minutes. Be wise. Set everything out the night before. But most importantly, try your entire outfit on. Don’t be lazy! Jewelry, hair, makeup, everything. Confidence is key!

2) Wearing an entirely red dress on Valentine’s Day is just as bad as wearing a Christmas sweater the first day of December anxiously counting down the days to Christmas with a different jovial sweater each day. Be less literal and more practical. Hues of blue, crème, or the classic LBD (Little Black Dress) are much less subtle than red. But if your conscience is really telling you truly need a pop of red, include something that’s restrained: a red bag or clutch, shoes, jewelry (preferably a cocktail ring), or even your choice of lipstick or fingernail polish. The idea is to win his heat, not look like a heart.

3) No evening shoes (strappy shoes almost resembling sandals typically with a sling back). It’s not Easter Sunday.

4) Not everyone can trot around the city in 5 inch heels and a cocktail dress. For those who lean towards the more comfortable side, opt for a pair of ballet flats (or wedges or flat boots), pants that fit you appropriately, and a structured blazer that puts an emphasis on your curves. The sleeves of the blazer shouldn’t exceed the actual blazer itself or end meeting the hemming of the blazer. This will create an unflattering boxy look, ultimately making you look more masculine than your date. Length matters with skirts as well. Depending on your height, the skirt should end between the tips of your longest finger to your wrist.

5) Dresses should not surpass your knees. You’re not attending a black tie affair nor your sister’s wedding as her bridesmaid. Show off your body. But don’t be too provocative.

6) Next to diamonds, bags are a girls’ best friend. But for Valentine’s Day night, I suggest that you leave your best friend behind. Carrying a bag can be a hassle. But if you feel you’ll be incomplete without it, bring along the smallest bag you can find (i.e. a shoulder bag or a clutch. Not a weekend tote). If anything you should at least bring a coin purse or no purse at all (in other words, he should be paying).

7) Coco Chanel once said, “When accessorizing, always take off the last thing you put on.” With that being said, wearing your entire jewelry box is deemed as objectionable. Earrings, a necklace, bracelets and bangles on both wrists, and cocktail rings on both hands is too much, “A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous” (Coco Chanel), not a noise maker.

8) Unless the date is planned in a locker room at the gym, which I hope wouldn’t be the case, tennis shoes are inappropriate. Your date will runaway in his dress shoes faster than you can catch him.

9) Never forget your own personal sense of style! A white linen dress cinched at the waist with a leather roped belt, denim jacket (or a vest) and mid-calf cowgirl boots and a few accessories is entirely acceptable.

10) Steer clear of: shapeless tops, sequins, bright (neon) colors, jeans with holes in them, miniskirts, hats, worn out shoes, t-shirts, scarves, prints in bright colors, low cut tops, lace tights, corseted tops, fur, and leather (with the exception of a clutch or shoulder bag).

11) Lengths are crucial. For example, if you were to wear a dress with a cropped cardigan (ending are your waist), it would totally diminish all of your curves and make you look shorter.

12) It’s simple. Less is more.

13) Before you channel all of your excitement by rushing out the door eager to meet your date, ask a friend how you look. Opinions can be useful. They could notice something that you don’t and make all the difference.

14) Last but not least: Feel comfortable in your own skin and your own clothes. As mentioned before. Confidence is key!

This is a look I styled myself. Attire that’s deemed appropriate for a Valentine’s Day date.






Dress ∙ Urban Outfitters ∙ $68
Shoes ∙ Endless ∙ $50
Shoulder bag ∙ Modcloth ∙ $38
Earrings ∙ Marc by Marc Jacobs (Nordstrom) ∙ $38
Necklace ∙ Additions Direct ∙ $29

-Jordan Mixon, Delaware