Beyond Boston Chic: Alyssa

Boston is the quintessential New England city, with four very distinct seasons, an abundance of red brick architecture, and a chic, but conservative, sense of style. While the city is deeply rooted in history, there’s a definite buzz of newness in the air, stemming from the constant turnover of brainpower, as provided by the dozens of colleges and universities in the area, including Harvard and MIT. This constant influx of young intelligence keeps Boston fresh. Bostonians like to take classic styles and give them a little twist with jewellery, shoes, handbags, or other accessories. This makes it easy to purchase investment pieces that can be worn for years, while changing up the look with trendy accent pieces. It seems Boston’s brainpower extends even into fashion choices!

Sophisticated Prep

When the word “dressed” comes up in reference to Boston style, it refers to the finished quality of the outfits that Bostonians put together. On the T (subway), in boutiques, at restaurants, and throughout Beantown, residents dress in a style that’s a step up from preppy, incorporating shapes and accessories that raise the bar. Like the city, fashion in Boston is a combination of old and new; timeless pieces with a contemporary air. It’s a place where Burberry, Longchamps and Tiffany & Co. are respected and invested in, but where H&M and Forever 21 are also resources for fashion greatness.

Packing for Boston

Boston Tea Party: Boston Style

Broken down into its most basic elements, Boston style is very simple — it’s about choosing basic pieces that fit well, and pairing them with tasteful accents for a look that’s uptown and elegant. Pack a great pair of jeans, a blazer, a few tops, a frock, and some cardigans for a wardrobe that will get you through the weekend easily. Add in a sprinkling of accessories, including a simple pair of earrings, some funky bracelets, and a great pair of comfortable shoes, and you’ll fit in with this stylish city’s residents.

This outfit perfectly balances the timeless and the trendy, all while giving off a summery nautical feel — a look that Bostonians bring back with them from Cape Cod. The navy blue dress transitions easily between day and night, with a striped wrap sweater for chilly mornings and evenings. Dooney & Bourke’s Small Satchel is an ideal bag for carrying all your necessities while on the go, complete with a cross body strap for hands-free travel. A gold pave bracelet brings the look some sparkle, while the sunglasses incorporate a bit of Jackie O. glamour. Ballet flats are pretty, preppy, and practical for walking on Boston’s cobblestone streets.

Shopping in Boston

Newbury Street: This is Boston’s high street, located in the heart of the city just off of the gorgeous Boston Public Gardens. Here, high end stores mingle with more affordable lines, all located in old brownstones.

Charles Street: Charming boutiques and independent restaurants line Charles Street, which is a must-see for fashion savvy visitors to Boston. Check out Mint Julep and Wish boutiques, and stop at Cafe Vanille when you’re ready for a tasty bite.

Coolidge Corner: Located just outside of Boston’s busy center, Coolidge Corner is a buzzing neighbourhood with a fantastic independent theater and bookstore, several boutiques, and lots of good eats. Here, you’ll find the fabulous consignment shop Second Time Around, and the best brunch in town at Zaftig’s.

This past spring, Japan hosted the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tokyo; a seven day event of fashion shows, exhibitions, and events centered around current Japanese fashion designers. The Fall/Winter 2012 collections contained visually and tactically interesting dichotomies — voluminous and slim; light and dark; flowing versus chunky.

Kamishima Chinami

Tokyo Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: Kamishima Chinami: Autumn/Winter 2012

After graduating from the Esmond Japon Fashion College, Kamishima Chinami went on to work in the fashion industry before travelling around the globe, drawing inspiration from the countries she visited. She first showed at Tokyo Fashion Week in 2002, and has since been one of the most talked about designers each year. Chinami is greatly influenced by nature, which is easily visible in the fluid movement of her pieces.

Her Autumn/Winter 2012 collection theme was “Winter Forest,” and the pieces, though city chic, demonstrated organic qualities in their dimensions and shapes. With pieces that could be worn in any fashionable metropolitan city, her travel experiences continue to be evident in her collections as well.

Yasutoshi Ezumi

Tokyo Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: Yasutoshi Ezumi: Autumn/Winter 2012

Yasutoshi Ezumi’s background in fashion design is the stuff of dreams. Before launching his own line of clothing a few years ago, he worked for both Alexander McQueen and Aquascutum where he honed in on the space where style and substance intersect. Ezumi is known for his knitwear, and he stayed true to these roots in his Tokyo Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2012 collection. His collection of sweaters, sweater dresses, and ensembles were done in his exquisite knit fabrics, but they featured a romantic quality brought about through elegant draping. Ezumi kept the colour palette neutral for the cool months, choosing instead to focus on shape and movement.

Matohu

Tokyo Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: Matohu: Autumn/Winter 2012

The fashion line Matohu is the brainchild of husband and wife team Makiko Sekuguchi and Hiroyuki Horihata, who are known for their contemporary takes on traditional Japanese clothing. The designers both don kimonos every weekend, and their experiences have influenced their clothing line. Walking through the streets of Tokyo in traditional kimonos while caught in the swirl of contemporary street clothing, the two were inspired to create their Autumn/Winter 2012 collection, which is an organic combination of both worlds. The flowing lines of the bell shaped sleeves and overlapping wrap tops and dresses are reminiscent of kimonos without being obvious or old world. Instead, the collection calls to mind a simplicity that defines Japanese aesthetic.

Lookbook

This outfit draws from each of the Tokyo Fashion Week designers featured here. The dress recalls the proportions and organic shapes of the Chinami collection, with its easy to wear shape and draping features. The chunky cable knit shrug with turtleneck collar are reminiscent of the romantic knitwear that Ezumi is known for, and it also stays within the palette of his Fall/Winter 2012 collection. These riding boots bring together the traditional and the contemporary, and similar styles were paired with the ensembles at the Matohu show. This look demonstrates the simple lines and elegance that are pervasive through Japanese culture, while staying grounded in a contemporary global appeal.

Shanghai has long been a place influenced by the ebb and flow of the travelers and businesses who pass through or set up camp. In particular, when the British claimed China in the mid-1800s, Shanghai served as the most important centre of commerce between the East and West. Although the city has evolved and come into its own, this long history of European and Asian cultures coming together has impacted the way the city grew into itself. Everything from the architecture to the food to the fashion reflects Shanghai’s personal history. The result is an elegant glamour specific to Shanghai and its inhabitants.

Shanghai Style

Photo Courtesy of Street Peeper

Shanghai is one of the most fashionable cities in the East, dubbed “Oriental Paris” by many fashionistas, and it’s not hard to see why. Walking down the streets of the city, you’ll see that the style, though varied, is one of elegance, simplicity, and richness that fuses the city’s Chinese culture with a European flair. While there certainly are trends in Shanghai, this isn’t a trendy city — people aren’t going out of their way to stand out. Instead, they put together chic, stylish looks that seem effortless in their pairings.

There’s a kind of updated timelessness to the clothing worn by the women in Shanghai. A slightly oversized white collared shirt paired with a ruched skirt gives off the a sense of sexiness without straying from the outfit’s ladylike nature. In the second image, the black and white striped shirt, long skirt, and ballet flats are joined by a large red purse, invoking classic Paris in both style and colour scheme. The third outfit is perhaps the trendiest of the three, although the A-line skirt and collared shirt are classic shapes done in a current palette of kelly green and navy blue. All three looks could easily travel from China to Europe without missing a beat.

The Outfit

Trip to Shanghai: Shanghai Style

When dressing for Shanghai, it’s all about keeping things ladylike. We’ve taken some traditional Chinese elements, like a mandarin collar, but kept them low-profile and sleek in Shanghai fashion. The white blouse paired with the lacy, feminine skirt perfectly demonstrates why the East meets West quality of the city works in its favor — each balances the other.

While accessories are subtle, they play a key role in Shanghai style. The flat sandals are a nod to the new with their contemporary lines and practical comfort. Stacking rings and a delicate necklace complete the outfit, giving it the glamour and sparkle that are fundamental to the Shanghai way of life. It’s a look that works for so many occasions, including work, garden parties, or brunch with the girls — whether at home or in Shanghai.

Buenos Aires is a unique mixture of Latin American and European culture, and that influence is everywhere — in the architecture, music, food, and fashion. Nicknamed the Paris of Latin America, there’s a distinctly European quality on the streets of the city, and it’s not hard to see why people flock to Buenos Aires from all parts of the world. This international quality brings a universalism to the fashion of Buenos Aires, making it easy for a fashionista to hop a flight to any other big city, and still look chic and appropriate.

Street Style

Photo Courtesy of Streetpeeper

Current street style in Buenos Aires is all about layers, even as the days get longer as we head into summer. There’s a certain preppy quality to the clothing, with cardigans and mary janes taking center stage, but it’s mixed in with a hint of something a little more rebellious, and perhaps a little hipster. This style works well for the quirky personality of Buenos Aires, which is known for its creative residents. No one in Buenos Aires looks like they’re trying too hard to look fashionable, but the unexpected colour pairings and the fit of the clothing proves that plenty of thought is given over to wardrobe.

Runway Style

Photo Courtesy of Zitta: Fall/Winter 2012

Fabian Zitta is one of the rising stars in the Buenos Aires fashion world, with his sleek designs and excellent construction. Perhaps part of his talent comes from his familiarity with the physical body. Zitta was once a medical doctor before re-training at the University of Buenos Aires to become a fashion designer. He takes much of his inspiration from the art deco movement, which is apparent in the architectural shapes of his clothing. At the Fall/Winter 2012 Buenos Aires Fashion Week, Zitta’s entire collection was done in black, but the pieces were so individualistic and well-executed that it felt like a cohesive but exciting show.

The Outfit

Good Girl Gone Bad: Buenos Aires Style

Combining the street and runway styles of Buenos Aires is all about mixing good girl and bad girl elements to create an outfit that’s quirky, chic, and expressive. The mesh black dress contains the architectural qualities of Fabian Zitta’s style, which grounds the look in an elegant foundation. The dress itself can be dressed up separately with a pair of heels and some chandelier earrings, but for our purposes we’re pairing it with a bright cashmere cardigan and a pair of mary janes for the preppy vibe that’s everywhere on the streets of Buenos Aires. The airy infinity scarf adds that Parisian element that Buenos Aires is so well known for. Just as the dress can be taken to another level with different accessories, the cardigan, mary janes, and scarf would also be perfect with jeans and a T-shirt. With that much diversity in just a few pieces, it’s easy to pack for a getaway to B.A.!

Rad by Rad Hourani

Style.com: Rad by Rad Hourani Autumn 2012

Born in Jordan and raised, in part, in Montreal, Rad Hourani launched his namesake line in Paris in 2007. He’s known in the fashion world for creating slim, stark pieces that slant toward the unisex — worn easily by men or women. His Autumn 2012 line was no exception, as the collection was kept almost completely black, with just a few hints of muted green accents. Models wore little makeup and hair was slicked back, making it difficult to tell the beautiful men from the equally beautiful men. Each piece was so crisp that they seemed to bring together the art forms of origami and fashion.

Joeffer Coac

FashionMagazine.com: Jeffrey Coac’s Autumn 2012 Collection

The inspiration for Joeffer Coac’s Autumn 2012 line, dubbed “Remix”: the housewife with a rocker past. It’s not difficult to see this idea interpreted in the looks that hit the runway at the most recent Toronto Fashion Week. Tweed was paired with black leather and feathers, intermingling an affinity for both the bad girl and the ladylike. The shape of the pieces were classic — blazers flared at the hip, knee length suits, and cowl neck tops. It’s the leather that brings them into sharp focus as rocker chic. The result is a collection that’s at once elegant and tough.

Saniya Khan

Saniya Khan: Official Website: Autumn/Winter 2012

Toronto Fashion Week isn’t just a showcase of Canada’s top designers; it’s also a place where up and coming designers can launch their careers. Saniya Khan isn’t a newcomer to the fashion industry, though her line of clothing is still in its early stages. Khan’s background as a textile designer led organically to the development of a line of accessories, and then a line of clothing. The best pieces of her Autumn 2012 collection are ethereal, inspired by the idea of the soul’s journey — reaching a period of light after surviving dark times.

Joe Fresh

Toronto Life: Gallery: 94 shots from Joe Fresh Autumn/Winter 2012

Joe Fresh is an affordable clothing line led by Club Monaco designer Joe Mimran. The idea behind the brand is to make fashion approachable and affordable for everyone. The brand has been around since 2006, and is sold in over 300 stores in Canada — not just in standalone shops, but in supermarkets and megastores as well. As the popular line launches in America this year, the focus of the Autumn 2012 collection was a little retro, but always wearable, with chunky knits, clean lines, and flouncy skirts all in the shades of autumn leaves.

Translation

The Toronto Look

By combining the masculine and feminine elements of the Autumn/Winter 2012 Toronto Fashion Week looks, it’s easy to create a chic look. While leather trousers and jackets usually call to mind biker fashion, the proportions of this season’s fashions keep things slim and elegant. The trousers and leather jacket are reminiscent of the Coac and Rad shows, while the softness of the jumper comes from Joe Fresh. The feather earrings recall the floaty, ethereal nature of the Khan textiles. Slimmed down to these elements, the pieces are classic and will be wearable for years to come, making them worth the investment.

While the Berlin Fashion Week is still young and not as well known as the big four fashion weeks, it has still garnered a great deal of attention for the young designers showing their work. It’s also been an opportunity for everyone from high end design houses to detail-oriented avant-garde artists to sell their wares at one of the niche trade shows.

The most recent Berlin Fashion Week focused on green fashion, emphasizing eco-conscious industry practices and trends. As more designers grow into their own in Berlin, the city’s many boutiques have begun to fill up with pieces designed and constructed locally.

Global Traveller Style

Boessert Schorn Official Website: Current Collection

One of the most popular designers currently in Berlin is Boessert/Schorn. Their Spring/Summer 2012 collection is full of bohemian style clothing that calls to mind globetrotting. The palette is very neutral, with beiges and pale greys intermingling with shots of rusty red-orange.

Pieces are layered, each one draped in a highly stylized effortlessness, and the effect is that the outfit looks like something created entirely through draping. This look is popular on the streets of Berlin, although toned down for real life wear. Long, drawstring trousers, loose sleeveless tops, and flowing floor length dresses, all with dramatic draping, are popular with locals.

Ballerina Style

Karlotta Wilde Official Website: Spring/Summer 2012

On the other hand, clean, highly tailored classic looks are also popular in Berlin. Designer Karlotta Wilde creates simple, very wearable clothing that is in high demand, and her pieces easily translate to the social life of fashionable Berlin residents.

Although many of her Spring/Summer 2012 pieces are loose and flowing, they carry more of a feminine feel than the Boessert/Schorn collection. This full skirt and scoop neck top bring to mind the leotards and tutus worn by ballerinas. It’s a romantic look, perfect for a special night out in Berlin.

The Outfit

A Weekend in Berlin: Berlin Style

This look combines the elements of the global traveller style and ballerina style by indulging in the romance of the latter and infusing it with subtle elements of the former.

The standout piece is the full organza skirt, which hints at a tutu but stays comfortably within the arena of streetwear. The top is basic but the draping gives it the feeling of the Boessert/Schorn pieces, and balances the volume of the skirt when tucked in. The long necklace is somewhat ethnic and a little bohemian with the turquoise stone.

The outfit is finished off with a chic pair of snake-patterned sandals that somehow marry city and tribal. The Berlin look easily travels from one international city to another, and is the perfect excuse to add to your collection of flirtatious evening wear.

Sydney, Australia is one of the most thriving cities in the world. With over 4 million inhabitants from all over the world, it’s no wonder that Sydneysiders are eclectic in their tastes and interests. One of the biggest cultural events in Sydney is the Mercedes-Benz Australia Fashion Week, which is currently in its 17th year. The event draws celebrities, socialites, designers, and the media, and puts the spotlight on some of Australia’s biggest names in fashion, including Akira, Josh Goot, Zimmermann, and Carl Kapp. The Australia Fashion Week designers set the tone for much of the streetwear in fashion-forward Sydney, where locals look for comfort and timelessness within the trends .

Street Peeper: Eleanor Pendleton, Instyle AU

Stylish Sydneysiders are wearing clothes that are tailored but flowing, so that the feminine shape is easily discernible beneath lightweight fabrics. Long, wide legged trousers are currently a hot trend in Sydney. The width of the trouser leg allows the fabric to shift like a long skirt would, allowing for a sense of elegance and movement. Women are pairing these trousers with wedges or stacked heels, covered up by keeping the trouser hem floor-length. The result: legs that go on for days .

There’s a deceptive simplicity to Sydney fashion — outfits move easily and are simple in their pairings, but look closely and you’ll see that the fit and drape of the pieces are essential to an outfit’s success. Sydney fashionistas are thinking constantly of contrast and juxtaposition — as in the image above, with the pairing of the trousers and the seemingly modest top with the peek-a-boo of her sexy bra once she turns sideways.

Madrid

While Sydney is undoubtedly the fashion capital of Australia, Madrid fights with Barcelona for the title in Spain. As one of the biggest and most populous cities in Europe, Madrid maintains the international flair that comes with a constant influx of new residents, travelers, designers, and fashion forward individuals. While traditional Spanish fashion brings to mind shawls, espadrilles, and matador suits, contemporary fashion in Madrid is a more subtle interpretation mixed with the chic stylings of international influences. The result: a street style that’s neither buttoned up nor overtly sexy, which hints at the history of Spain’s fashion roots.

Madame Rosa: Photos by Piminti Rose and Sara Maroto

Madrid style takes the classic nature of Sydney fashion and adds structure to the tailoring. In current Madrid style blogs and on the streets of the city, you’ll see hints of classic Spanish influence — but only hints. Corset tops and chunky jewellery are layered beneath suits cut with a woman’s shape in mind. Trousers, again, are worn with floor-skimming hemlines. Since Madrid is such a cosmopolitan city, much of the fashion could easily translate into other big international cities, like London or New York.

Fusion: The Outfit

In the spring and summer of 2012, white was a hot colour for designers in both Sydney and Madrid. This fusion outfit keeps things monochromatic while adding gold toned jewelry for drama. The woven bustier is a call to Madrid’s past and current style, while the long, flowing trousers are reminiscent of those seen on the streets of Sydney. Since both cities favour high heels beneath floor-length trousers, these heeled sandals perfectly fit the bill to create the long legged look. The chunky cuff bracelet and complimentary statement necklace also add a touch of Madrid’s dramatic style to the outfit, perfect for summer soirées.

There’s some debate in the fashion world about the relevance of Los Angeles Fashion Week, with some experts pointing out that a country should only have one big fashion week. For the United States, it would be New York. However, Los Angeles Fashion Week is a place for new, fresh designers to show off their talents to a broad base of media outlets, celebrities, and fashion forward individuals. Where the big four fashion weeks (New York, London, Paris, and Milan) tend to emphasize the outrageous, Los Angeles Fashion Week puts a deeper focus on wearable fashion .

Photo Courtesy of Huffington Post: Los Angeles Fashion Week: Sue Wong Updates the Flapper for Fall 2012

The ‘Red Carpet’ Trend at Los Angeles Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2012

This past March, Los Angeles Fashion Week’s Fall/Winter 2012 lines put an emphasis on feminine glamour. Designer Sue Wong’s dresses conjured old Hollywood, with beaded cocktail dresses and intricately detailed floor-length gowns that immediately bring to mind the red carpet. Sue Wong credits the spirit of the 1920s and that era’s flapper style as inspiration for her current collection. While the craftsmanship and detail of Wong’s gowns are of couture quality, the gowns are generally priced at under $400 at Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, RueLaLa and Ideeli.

Photo Courtesy of Los Angeles Times: Style Fashion Week L.A.: Stop Staring mines Mexican cinema

The retro-chic label Stop Staring also focused on film fashion in their glamorous collection, but this time the inspiration was Mexican cinema. Alicia Estrada, head designer, drew on Mexican film legends like Lupe Velez and Delores del Rio in creating form flattering, often sparkling dresses that were at once seductive and ladylike .

These were the two standout shows of the Fall/Winter 2012 Los Angeles Fashion Week, and it’s no coincidence that both were inspired by something the area is known for: film. The words “red carpet” hung in the air at both shows, which makes a statement about the fact that this coast’s fashion week is coming into its own.

Translation

The Los Angeles Look

Have a red carpet event of your own coming up this spring and summer? These movie star looks easily translate to the warmer months, and you can even find wearable styles that won’t break the bank. This pale pink lace peplum dress is reminiscent of the shapes shown on the Stop Staring runway, but in a colour that’s appropriate for weddings or garden parties. The feather headband calls upon the flapper style shown at Sue Wong’s show, and it’s an unexpected complement to the structured frock. And no one can deny the glam factor of these Badgley Mischka pumps – an investment, for sure, but one that will make you feel like a Hollywood starlet every time you wear them.

The pieces we’ve chosen are classic staples that will be useful additions to your wardrobe now and in five or ten years. Though Parisian fashion can be flamboyant and playful, it’s always been grounded in a foundation of elegance, which is why people around the world appreciate and emulate the style. Parisian style takes prep and makes it effortless and feminine – an art form in itself .

A Weekend in Paris: Parisian Style

The Trench

Although spring is slowly fading into summer, the cool evenings call for a practical trench coat, and this fitted trench coat from Topshop does the trick. Wear it open and knot the belt in the back for an open, casual look. The trench is an international wardrobe staple, and there’s no denying that French women work their coats better than most. The key to finding a great trench is fit – make sure that the belt hits the smallest part of your waist so that you can show off your shape, even while covered. Subtlety is very French, after all.

Simple Tops and Jeans

Photo Courtesy of Warner Brothers: Coco Avant Chanel Official Website

While it may seem like a stereotype, there really are a great many striped shirts on the streets of Paris, and for good reason: they never go out of style. When paired with skinny jeans or leggings, make sure the top isn’t too fitted or risk losing the elegance of the piece. Tighter tops work well with the emerging trend of ankle-length straight leg (or slightly baggy) jeans. Tops with ties at the neck, buttoned up tops, and simple t-shirts are also hugely popular – especially worn beneath colourful blazers or scarves.

Little Black Dress
Parisian women young and old can be seen all over the city wearing trench coats with just a hint of a fancy hem peeking out from underneath. If you’re headed to the opera – or just out for a late night drink – a little black dress with a slightly full skirt will work no matter what time of year you’re in Paris. If black isn’t your colour, any ladylike dress will do. Keep the hemline knee-length and go for something with an A-line and you’ll achieve the same look with a more playful palette.

Shoes and Accessories
Teetering on cobblestones in high heels is no way to spend a weekend in Paris. That’s why we highly recommend bringing a comfortable pair of ballet flats to use throughout your trip. Of course, scarves are a must in Paris – in fact, if you wanted to pack a single plain t-shirt and just switch from one fabulous scarf to another, you could successfully change your look while capturing Parisian flair. Simple jewellery, and, of course, a fabulous pair of sunglasses, round out the Paris essentials.

Lagos

Photo Courtesy of Global Post: Nigeria’s Fashion Week in Lagos

Lagos, Nigeria is a bustling metropolis, which became even more congested this year when it hosted its first fashion week. The streets of Lagos were swarming with cars, bikes, mopeds, and those who gave up on wheeled transportation in favor of traveling by foot. Often, walking was faster – trips that should have taken ten minutes took over an hour. The influx of visitors caused a strain on Lagos’ resources, causing a power outage, but the turnout was welcome. Hundreds of Nigerians showed up for the event, both because of a deep-rooted love of fashion and to support the African models and designers taking center stage. Lagos Fashion Week put this African city on the map as a burgeoning center for fashion .

The runways were covered in styles that felt contemporary, elegant, and sleek. Designers seemed focused on showing off clothing that’s wearable, both on and off the runway. The result: structured, streamlined pieces that played with color and femininity.

Milan

Photo Courtesy of Street Peeper: Mixed Plaids in Milan

Photo Courtesy of Street Peeper: Aurora Sansone, Milan

While Lagos is the new kid on the block, Milan is an established city of fashion – one of the established “big four” when it comes to fashion weeks (the other three being New York, London, and Paris). The fashion from the runways of Milan spills over into the street wear of its patrons, who aren’t afraid to experiment with shape and colour in their day-to-day wardrobes. While there’s a vintage sensibility about the fashion in Milan at the moment, there’s also a sense of humour about the way pieces are layered. Stripes on stripes, plaid on plaid, disproportionately large fur collars, and whimsically clashing colour combinations make for a sense of play when it comes to fashion in Milan .

The Outfit

Taking cues from Lagos and Milan, this outfit is a manifestation of the chic glam styling seen on the runways in Africa and the playful sensibility on the streets of Milan. Tight fitting, high waisted skirts were big in Lagos, and the Ruffled Static Zebra Skirt from Forever 21 echoes that sensibility, while the texture and volume of the ruching, along with that of the white Studio Jacket, takes a cue from the nature of Milan street wear. The chandelier earrings are a nod to the upscale Lagos socialites, and the teal Badgely Mischka Ginnie Pumps point to the high fashion of both cities. The Mirror Animal Racerback Vest is what really draws it all together – nearly a tribal print, with a global appeal, it’s something that you could wear in the heat of Nigeria’s tropical climate or layered beneath a scarf and blazer on cool nights in Milan. This outfit is a tribute to the women of both cities, uniting new with established fashion.