Yes Or No?

 
Photographed By Ellinor Forje

I'm somewhat late in the game for "The Question of Fur" discussion that has been going on between everybody and their stylist (and PETA!) since time immemorial. I'm torn on the subject myself. Therefore, last week I decided to inquire for the topic's general consensus on a fashion forum. And here I present to you some of the forumnista's insightful thoughts: 

Catiebeatty: It’s not really a question for the ages, since people used to have to wear it to survive. I wear vintage fur, but I would never buy new fur. There’s not reason to since there is so much high quality vintage and antique furs out there already. I don’t want to contribute to more animals dying!

Tightsandtea: Nope, thanks to the evolution of faux fur there’s no point. But like Catiebeatty said, I’m not going to impose my first-world expectations on people in the frozen tundras of Siberia.

Me: That’s a good point. People in Siberia wear fur. So do the Eskimos. But that's never brought up in the debates.

Catiebeatty: I stand corrected, some people still do have to wear it to survive!

Priscillaraq: I agree with Catiebeatty, I only do vintage fur.

Sednonsatiata: Nope…Just not my style.

BeagleLover: I love the feeling of fur, but I only wear vintage fur.

The beat goes on...What gives on the matter?

Luscious Lips

 
Photographed By Ellinor Forje 

Red.

FCUK You Right Back!

 
Photographed By Ellinor Forje

I've developed a krush (I'm krushing hard - I can't even spell it with a "C") on all things jumpsuit and playsuit.  Having said that, a "fashion critic" recently wrote that jumpsuits are a lazy persons outfit. And I agree to certain extent that they're easy to throw on without you having to go the extra mile to look for what top or pants to pair your top or pants with. But, at the same time you still have to accessorize with what shoes(?) and what bag(?), et cetera. In short, if being lazy is wrong then I don't want to be right.

Last year I did increase my collection of jumpsuits quite a bit, although I still haven't found the perfect black one (fill me in if you have suggestions). No. Actually, I did find at least two or three black jump -, and playsuits by French Connection (to the United Kingdom). However, everytime I set out to order any of them they were gone - sold out -  from the websites I'd found them on. Don't you hate when that happens? Honestly speaking, I don't know if it's just my ill luck or if I'm part of some grand scheme designed to make me miserable. I'm mystified.

By Marc Jacobs

Photographed By Ellinor Forje 

When Johnny Is The Nice One

Photographed By: Elvira Gligoric
Make-up: Gabriella Mattson
Styled By: Ellinor Forje
Modell: G.S
Clothes  By: My Wardrobe

I've been flicking through photos of the recent fashion shows while counting how many black pieces I wouldn't see on the runway this season. The black is there and there's a lot of it. We can't do without the colour in the collections or in our wardrobes for that matter. Why is that?

Angelina Jolie used to wear a lot of black back in the day. She still does. Differently though. Less tank tops and jeans and more sophisticated stuff. She's edgy. Nothing has really changed. Johnny Cash once said*,“I wore black because I liked it. I still do, and wearing it still means something to me. It's still my symbol of rebellion - against a stagnant status quo". Maybe that's true for Jolie, too. But is that really why we wear it? I mean, if you throw a concert at San Quentin aren't you a rebel with or without a black attire on (I'm talking about Cash)? That said, has the puzzle been solved? Why do you wear black?

*Cash said a lot of things - watch "Walk the Line" (2005).

Jillian Mercado

 Photographed By Ellinor Forje

WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND STORY?
I am a 25-year-old fashion writer and blogger. I live in NYC and have two lovely puppies.

USTED ES DE LA REPÚBLICA DOMINICANA ¿HABLA ESPAÑOL?
Sí, nací en Nueva York aunque mis padres nacieron en la República Dominicana. ¡Así que hablo español!

YOU GROW UP IN NEW YORK RIGHT ON MANHATTAN WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?
Beautiful and scary all at once. Manhattan is a great place to live because it's super diverse but at times the energy of the city can get super stressful. Yet I'm use to it and sometimes miss it when I'm travelling.

HOW HAS THE NEW YORK VIBE INFLUENCED YOUR PERSONAL STYLE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS?
There is so much to look at that in some way or another it helps you pick out what you like best and make it your style. I have had different styles growing up until I found my own.

WHAT WOULD THE FASHION LANDSCAPE LOOK LIKE IF THERE WAS NO NEW YORK CITY?
Well I think a lot of the business part of fashion is in NYC, so with that said no designer would have money right now.

WHEN DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU WANTED TO WORK IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY?
Senior year of High School.

HAVE YOU FACED ANY NEGATIVITY CONCERNING YOUR CHOICE OF CAREER AS PEOPLE OFTEN DON'T PERCEIVE FASHION TO BE A "SERIOUS" PROFESSION?
Oh yes, personally my family didn't think you can pay your rent working in fashion, they thought it was  hobby not a career. Now they don't think this way but they didn't understand.

HOW HAVE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY SUPPORTED YOU?
Just by being there to support me in everything I do. It's important to have people to support your career choices.

WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION?
Fashion Writer, blogger and I assist at photo shoots (okay, Jillian is being modest here and not namedropping where she works. She runs her own site "Manufactured 1987" and also works for "We The Urban", "Beautylish" and  PMc Magazine".

HOW DID YOU FIND THESE JOBS?
A lot of internships and connections (and her hard work has been recognised by "Elle" - UK edition, who featured her in their April issue, yes, the one that has Rihanna without an umbrellah ellah ellah eh eh...on the cover).

WHAT IS YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND?
I graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2010.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO STUDY AT THE FASHION TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE?
I heard so many great things about it during high school and when I toured it, I felt I belonged there.

DO YOU RECOMMEND THE SCHOOL TO OTHERS?
Yes, without a doubt it gave me so many opportunities to step my foot into the industry.

WHICH OTHER SCHOOLS DO YOU RECOMMEND?
Parsons and Pratt.

WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE DESIGNERS?
Tom Ford, Alexander McQueen, Alice & Olivia, Balmain and Comme des Garçons, as of right now *laughs*.

 WHO ARE YOUR FASHION ICONS?
 Grace Coddington, Kate lanphear and the great McQueen.

YOUR MAKEUP IS USUALLY  ACCENTUATED AROUND YOUR EYES - LIPS OR BOTH - WHAT BRANDS DO YOU USE AND WHAT TIPS CAN YOU GIVE?
 My to-go makeup brands are NARS, MAC, and recently OCC. Best tip is, if you have a lot of action going on on the eyes leave the lips a nude or rosy pink colour, if you have a bold lip colour do a simple natural eye/pinup look.

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF STARTING YOUR OWN FASHION LABEL?
Many, many times…maybe in the future when I have the money to do so *smiles*.

WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU OFFER TO PEOPLE WHO WANT A CAREER IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY?
Love it with your body and soul because it's the only way you'll survive the good and the stressful moments.

XO Jillian

Hexa By Kuho

Photographed By Pauline Forje