Sui Generis Swag Icon of the Week: Willow Smith

Willow Smith at the 2012 Kids Choice Awards in a Chanel Spring 2012 dress

I've decided to start a little segment on the blog about the people I admire called "Sui Generis Swag Icon of the Week". 'Sui generis' meaning unique and 'swag' is style. Those of you who follow my twitter know that I use the term "sui generis swag" quite often. Being the basketball fan that I am, I first created the term to describe Craig Sager's sense of style. If you don't know who Craig Sager is please look him up and you'll see why he inspired me. Did you see the suits? I know right. Insane. Swaggah.

For the first feature I want to talk about Willow Smith, the tween queen at the tip of every tongue these days, in part due to her fame but mostly because of her style choices. The 11-year-old is certainly at the centre of the style spotlight what with her widely varying haristyles and hair colours (Rihanna got nothing on The Wils), her edgy shoe collection and overall cutting edge style. What I've observed with all the press coverage is that a lot of people have opinions about what this child does or should do. The keyword there being "child", a noun people seem to forget applies to little Ms. Smith. I've seen some pretty outrageous shit said about her (and to her). Shit I don't even think people would say to adults so it's baffling that it's being spewed so vehemently at a child.

I saw a video of an interview between Michael Yo and Willow on "The Yo Show" (really Michael?) where she talked about how her style evolved over the years (check it out below). What struck me most about the interview is how completely innocent she was. She doesn't seem motivated by press coverage, or attention but genuinely seems like she's just about having fun and expressing herself. Which is what children do!

From a fashion pov Willow Smith has a lot of the same characteristics we love about our own style icons but people criticize it because of her age. Yes she cut off her hair, dyed it almost every colour of the rainbow, wears crazy shoes and mixes prints and is unpredictable but aren't those the same traits we love about our own style icons? I know that what I love about Anna Dello Russo is that you literally never know what she's going to wear next and even when it's outrageous it's fabulous. But alas, adults are hypocrites of the "do as I say, not as I do" mentality. In truth, we simultaneously love and loathe the idea of our children "being themselves" because we have no idea what that entails and neither do they. It's a risky experimental process but we all need to be allowed the option.

As far as I'm concerned, Willow can whip her bald colourful head anyway she pleases and I hope she stays on the straight and narrow path in the areas that matter i.e. no drugs, sex and rock & roll shit. 

Yours,

A.

Yea or Nay: Opening Ceremony x Norma Kamali Sportsgear

The London 2012 Olympics is fast approaching and with all the excitement in the air I wanted to take a moment to regroup. In this moment, scrolling casually through my Facebook and Twitter updates, I was assaulted stopped by the above image from Opening Ceremony promoting their collaboration with Norma Kamali.

Now, while this is the designer behind the sexy silver/pewter swimsuit that hugged Rihanna's bod in Hawaii (see pic below) and many other designs that I've admired over the years, I am not a fan of this headlining look. At all. In my mind, it belongs in the movie 'The Fifth Element'. I've seen that movie at least 50 times and as much as I love it, I don't necessarily  yearn to look like a stray extra wandering the streets of the city 15 years later. In another fabric choice, and with shorter sleeves, I could have loved this.

Rihanna in Norma Kamali's Snake Mio Swimsuit

I do actually like the swimsuit with the red bottom and the red dress could be exquisite for the right occasion but somehow the other looks are rubbing me all the wrong ways like polyblend. What do you think of the Norma Kamali x Opening Ceremony collection, Yea or Nay?

Yours,

A.

Current Obsession: Crochet

I'm currently experiencing pangs of regret for not learning how to knit when I had the chance. Oh the days of my youth. Fortunately for me, and the rest of us crochet junkies, there are those who paid attention to knitting 101 and became the experts who can bring us stunning looks on the runway a la Isabel Marant's Spring 2012 Collection (this is my favourite look from the collection shown above). 

I especially love this trend because as much as it can be a mainstay in winter, it can also be warm-weather friendly for fashionistas like myself who live closer to the equator.

The Crochet Trend as featured by WhoWhatWear this month

The new crochet has evolved past our grandmother and great-grandmother's skillset (unless you're exceptionally lucky) and come in a wide range of colours and looks for all shapes and sizes and even all dress codes (see Zoe Saldana's elegant look above). I've been doing some digging and compiled a few affordable looks (under US$60) for you to get in on the trend this season with dresses, tops, shoes and swimwear!

Dresses

Asos Skater Dress With Crochet Sweetheart Neck: $46.40 (Lime, Navy & White)

Nasty Gal Pleated Crochet Dress: $48.00

Modcloth Weave Come So Far Dress: $42.99

Tops

Nasty Gal Crochet Pocket Tee: $38.00

Nasty Gal Free Love Crochet Top: $48.00

Bottoms

Nasty Gal Jillian Crochet Skirt: $40.80

Miss Selfridge Cream Crochet Shorts: $57

Shoes

Modcloth Wed And Breakfast Wedge: $44.99

Modcloth Crochet By Me Flat: $49.99

Asos Mickey Crochet Espadrilles: $24.86

Swimwear

Mango Crochet Trikini: $54.99

Cheers!

Yours,

A.

Beyoncé in Paris: All Yellow Everything

Ok maybe not yellow everything but Beyoncé stepped out with husband Jay-Z in Paris yesterday (leading up to the Euopean leg of his 'Watch the Throne' tour with Kanye West) wearing this yellow monochrome Surface to Air short suit and looking absolutely radiant. Yellow is enjoying it's moment in the spotlight recently from suits to dresses to nailpolish and in some cases, hair. She complimented the look with a pair of Spring 2012 Prada Jewel-Toe Flame Sandals and an Alexander McQueen animal print Demanta clutch.

Short suits are a must have this season and every season actually for those of us who, like myself, live in warm weather climates.  Admittedly, keeping up with the trends is a daunting task but I believe the short suit is timeless. You can toss the jacket during the day if you like then throw it on in the evening when it gets a little cooler. It's perfection.

Yours,

A.

Rihanna Covers Esquire UK July 2012

In other Rihanna news, the pop sensation strips all the way down (again) for the July issue of Esquire UK which hits stands today. She was shot by Matt Irwin in what Esquire is calling her "sexiest ever shoot".

Don't know if it's sexier than GQ's January 2010 Issue or Esquire's own shoot last year when they dubbed her "the sexiest woman alive" but that's a matter of everyone personal opinion. It begs the question though, are sexy and nude synonymous terms now?

Watch the behind the scenes video of the shoot here:

And a look at the spread (some of which she tweeted):

Will you be rushing to get your copy today or have you seen enough of Rihanna in various states of undress?

Yours,

A.