Where did common sense go?

Where did common sense go?

It's a weird feeling, to have your picture taken in the middle of the street when you have absolutely no idea you're being photographed...  

I thought I would actually feel ecstatic when I would see my outfit shown off in some Instagram account dedicated to real street styles. Turned out it was quite the opposite.

Last Saturday, while I was enjoying a rainy day of shopping around Paris to find the perfect dress for a friend's wedding, something quite weird happened to me. As I was leaving the store I'd spend most of my morning in, someone snapped a picture of me getting rained on while I was on my phone trying to figure out my way back home. The funny thing is I didn't realize it until later when I was having lunch with my boyfriend and a friend messaged me: "Isn't it you?", with a picture attached. 

Indeed it was... 

What spooked me is when I realized that it was the same outfit I was wearing on that particular day. Either I had been guilty of outfit repeating or this picture was taken on the same day. Examining it closely with my boyfriend, we soon realized that I must have been photographed at least 30 minutes prior. It felt weird. And it didn't take long for other people to share the same picture they have seen on someone's Instagram I didn't even know. Turns out the account, that had taken my photo and decided to share it to Instagram,  without my consent I might add, was 124K followers, content creator and pilates instructor Alice Pilate. 

Should I have felt flattered? 

Spoiler alert, I didn't. In fact, it was quite a strange feeling, a sensation of intrusion, and voyeurism. It felt weird. 

What really struck me was the fact that she was facing me when she took the picture, she didn't hide my face, she didn't wait for me to turn around so she could capture my outfit from the back. She simply stood in front of me, snapped a picture and left, without acknowledging me. Truth be told, I kind of felt used.

 

So let me ask you, where did common sense go? When did we say, as a society, it's okay to photograph or videotape random people on the street without them knowing? 

Why is it so easy to hide behind our screens? Do our phones actually serve as a barrier, a protector so we can do or say whatever we want on the internet? Because I didn't get the notice saying so. Is it really that hard to come up to people afterwards and say: "Hey, I love your outfit, I took this picture, do you mind if I share it with my 100K followers on Instagram?". I'm honestly asking... 

If you're wondering, I did message her when I saw the picture, saying "Hi, it's me in the picture", waiting for her to respond to say a bit more about this whole exchange, but obviously my DM must have gotten lost in the ocean of messages from her community. 

It didn't end there though. 

Later that day, another friend shared another Instagram story with me. Another account, another 100 K-something audiences, and yet another Instagram story with my picture, nicely taken by @alicepilate. I'm sorry, where is my mention? 

I did message the account @parisiensinparis, saying again: "It's me in the picture!"... No response. 

While I didn't capture the outfit was wearing on that particular day, I had been wearing a similar version of this outfit, as pictured above. Please enjoy it, as I have decided to share it on my own terms. 

I really thought that I would feel great the day I would end up on this particular account. I didn't imagine I would feel so frustrated with the whole situation. But on the bright side, more than one person liked my picture on that very first rainy weekend of February. 

And I guess I had my 24 hours of Instagram fame. 

Elsa

7.2.23 Comments: 0

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How to dress like a fancy grandpa

How to dress like a fancy grandpa

While I was heading to work a few weeks ago, I came across a very nice-looking man. As he passed by me, I was subjugated, mesmerized, I couldn't look away from him. He was probably in his 80s and looked a bit grumpy, but he was stylish as hell. 

The whole interaction probably lasted around 10 seconds, if not even less. And when I resumed to real life I realized that if I was so obsessed with this complete stranger was probably because I was almost wearing the same thing. 

Please note that I'm not saying my style is amazing, but rather that I have the style of a french grumpy grandfather. Let's call that the "Grandpa style". 

I must admit it didn't really come as a surprise since a couple years ago I found myself speechless in front of this old Taiwanese couple that went viral on Instagram. Wan-Ji Chang and Sho-Er Hsu, both 83 and 84 years old own a laundromat in Taiwan and have been in the laundry business for almost 70 years. They became internet-famous when their grandson, Reef Chang, set up an Instagram account for them to show off outfits they put together using clothes left behind at their laundromat. 

If the idea behind the account @WantShowAsYoung was mainly to prove that there's certainly no age barrier when it comes to fashion, and you can be the most stylish person in the room no matter where you come from or the year you were born, for me, it was quite different. In fact, I wanted to dress like them. And there they were, this 80-year-old couple from Tawain, my new inspiration, the influencers I actually needed in my life, the new show that would be the end of my Netflix subscription. After all, who needs to binge-watch the new Netflix show when you have this couple on Instagram both inspirational and entertaining. 

well, actually, the reality is you can have the best of both worlds, especially when Netflix came out with the second season of The Politician and a new serial killer documentary that same year. 

Maybe you'll have realized from my last couple of blog posts that I care less about trends than I do about A timeless style. I'll grant you that I do love myself a good grandpa outfit, I'm sure if you look at Wan-Ji Chang and Sho-Er Hsy, you'll find out that they don't have much of an "old people look". They have a fun and colorful outlook on fashion, not caring about the trends but rather caring about the clothes they wear and the style they love. But to be fair, there is something timeless about the way they dress too. 

There is something so compelling about older people in general. The way they couldn't care less about what people think, and don't mind saying what's on their mind, even if it can be a little bit hurtful. I love my grandmother but the moment she told me that she didn't like my new hair when I tried new highlights will forever haunt me. 

If a new generation of 50 and plus influencers is currently rocking the blogosphere and showing off at fashion week, I'll forever idolize grandpas (and grandmas but mainly grandpas) walking slowly around Paris with a baguette and the newspaper in their hand, or strolling with their shopping basket, glasses on their nose, hat on their head. And like I said I do dress like them without realizing it. 

Large pants, a white tee-shirt, a sweater or a masculine blazer, a cap, and sneakers have been my "off-duty" and "weekender" look for a while. The kind of outfit you put on when you don't know what to wear, the one you feel good in. Sometimes, I'll feel adventurous and swap the oversize blazer for some kind of oversize jacket. Need actual proof I actually dress like an old man? I shop secondhand and strictly into the men's section, buying way too much large pants, shirts, or blazers. I did buy not one but two vintage men's coats last year. 

So if you feel like dressing like an old man or a less cool version of Diane Keaton, you'll need :

- A blazer, preferably vintage, mandatory oversize (aim two or three sizes up), and from the men's section. Note that your blazer must have at least two inside pockets if not three. 

- Large pleated pants. Keep in mind that it's quite hard, if not almost impossible to find the perfect pair of vintage men's pants in thrift stores. I'll allow myself to digress from secondhand and go for new but timeless pants from COS, Arket, The Frankie Shop, etc. 

- A vest. I'll be honest, I haven't really succumbed to the charm of this not so newly trendy piece. I've seen it too much on Instagram to associate it with the "fancy grandpa" style. I do love an excellent sleeveless fitter blazer kinda vest though. 

- a large sweater or sweatshirt you could sleep in at the end of a full day of running errands while doing crosswords on the couch. Living the life of a fashionable grandpa can be exhausting. 

And the list could go on and on. What I do find useful for inspiration is to look up Pinterest pictures of this New Balance campaign, where they used older people to show off their sneakers to prove that no, New Balance sneakers are not for runners only. 

Please follow me on Instagram for more grandpa inspos. Don't be fooled by the very feminine outfits. Winter is coming, and so is my true old-man style. 

Love,

Elsa.

6.10.22 Comments: 0

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This is why I hate Fashion Weeks

This is why I hate Fashion Weeks

While this event is the most expected one for most people, well the ones that care about fashion in the world anyway, I actually hate Fashion Weeks. Here's why.

Defining time for the fashion industry and most closets following trends, fashion week is, for me, a dreading moment, a not-so-kind reminder that I'll always be under-dressed while going out, and that I might not actually like my outfits, no matter what. And as expected, the starting point of the oh-so-existential question: "should I get rid of everything in my wardrobe?". 

(Spoiler alert, the answer is always no.)

Coming back from a week in New York, where I managed to avoid Fashion Week by arriving just a few days after the mayhem, I was quite pleased with my fashion findings in the city that never sleeps and apparently never stops to amaze you with vintage treasures. Going from vintage boutiques to thrift shops, watching all my savings disappear in just one credit card swipe, I was unstoppable. Well, until my bank decided it was time for me to either stop all shopping activities or reload my account. After two or three money transfers from one account to another, it was time to stop the bleeding and put an end to the shopping addiction. 

But it was quite hard to not look at everything the vintage shops had to offer. How could I resist a vintage Tahary yellow skirt when she fit me perfectly, although the lining could have been less tight? But who cares when the skirt would go amazingly with the yellow vintage Saint-Laurent blazers my boyfriend got for me for my birthday. How boujee of me to pretend I'm a high-end vintage lover, when in fact, I dress like an old man or a cheaper version of Diane Keaton. 

Anyway, as I was saying, shopping in New York went great. Well, if you ignore the fact that I thought I bought a vintage pleated checked skirt that made me look like Blair Waldorf if she had been nicer. It took me a few days, a week to be real, to realize that I didn't get the skirt while going through my NYC laundry and checking my account balance. I'll blame that on the jet lag and the stress of starting a new job. 

I'll go back to the main subject now if you will. Coming back from the big apple with two suitcases full of new vintage founds, I couldn't be happier... Until I stepped foot in rainy France where the temperatures had drastically dropped and the sun had definitely left for greener regions. While I did find some great pieces in New York, I forgot to mention, all of my new timeless wardrobe additions were perfect for warmer days. Back in France, I was left with old pieces that I'd worn a hundred times. But that was fine with me, the new me, on a journey to buy less and more sustainably. The key issue here was to learn how to wear the clothes I've already worn so much, in a different way. So I tried things out. 

A few days ago, while I was strolling around Paris with my most fashionable friend, I realized I was not happy with my own outfit. It didn't feel like me. I've been so mesmerized by the outfits inspiration on Pinterest, I've lost my way. But lately, I've been lacking inspiration, the envy to dress up, the idea to put out outfits I'll feel good in. And trust me when I said that going out in the middle of Fashion Week, was not the best idea. 

Walking along the gardens of Palais Royal, I was surrounded by the most fashionable people. It was a fashion show on its own. A catwalk of fashion experts. Among them, I was just a wannabe, an outcast, a tourist, and a visitor. I was ready to get rid of all my clothes and give in to the whole idea of changing a wardrobe according to trends. And there I was, ten steps back on my sustainable adventures. It was the moment I realized I truly hated Fashion Week. 

While the idea of people coming together in a city for a week of fashion extravaganza is inspiring and mesmerizing, the idea of waiting to see what the future of fashion is holding for us is disturbing.  Let's face it, if fashion people organize their whole year around fashion weeks, it's not a good sign for a more sustainable world. After all, the idea to buy sustainably is to buy less and review the way we buy. You could say "what we see on runways can inspire us to shop in our own closet to recreate the same look", and most of the time it works. Until the moment you end up searching for the perfect vest because you got rid of the vests you had in the 90s, thinking the trend would not make a comeback. Same with low-rise jeans. Or ballet flats. 

Aiming to buy less or find timeless pieces, I've officially let go of fast fashion to look for quality pieces that will last. Obviously, it also means shopping for items that I will wear for years and years, and not trusting the trends in the process. I know I still have a long way to go but I'm trying my best. If I hate fashion week so much, it is also a problem of always wanting more. But if the industry doesn't change and keeps going on its fashion week track, what will the planet be like in a couple of years?  

Just a few thoughts. 

Love,

Elsa

4.10.22 Comments: 0

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The Wonder Woman Syndrome : The benefits of a Power Outfit

The Wonder Woman Syndrome : The benefits of a Power Outfit

The power of a good outfit is striking.

I’ve never felt more powerful than when wearing a blazer. I put one on and "tada" I look like this girl who knows what she wants. I’m like a superwoman, minus the whole saving the world thing. Okay more like a businesswoman who doesn’t have time to look up to make sure she’s not running into a moving vehicle. 

No, forget about that, I’m a French woman. The authentic, the original, the unbelievable French woman. And people are looking at me like « damn who is that girl ». And I feel so good. That is... until I walk into dog poo. 

Well, that's actually just storytelling. Don't get me wrong, I do feel powerful in a blazer, but for the whole 'walking into dog poo' part, that actually never happened to me. Yet. But it is funny, isn't it? The way a simple clothing item can give you the confidence and the power you never knew you needed to start the day. 

The fun fact is I've never really liked a blazer until I reached a certain age where wearing a blazer was the other way to show how professional I was, that is, the day I started interning. Even at that stage, wearing a blazer was an image of working, I couldn't wear a blazer outside of work, it felt uncanny, strange, deeply uncomfortable. The reality was far from it, I simply hadn't found the right jacket! 

So here I was, a couple of years later, wearing a blazer and heading out to work. As I was walking, I realized how good I felt. The lines I wrote to start this article, I actually wrote two years ago. To this day, the feeling hasn't changed. The only thing that did change is my habit of wearing a blazer. 

What has changed? You may ask. I found the right jacket, the right fit, the right feeling. 

 

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par Elsa Lauron (@elsa.lauron)

 

I may be a fashion addict, but believe it or not, my collection of workwear jackets was quite limited. Not being a fan of blazers for many years, I had maybe one grey checked print blazer, fitted, bad quality, and uncomfortable. The funniest thing? I only wore it when I had a job interview, or when I graduated from college. 

I put blazers aside, keeping my small collections for special occasions. But on a sunny day in Paris, walking through the Marais with a good friend, trying to find the entrance for the Vintage fair we were attending, something unusual happened. On the crowded alley of second-hand clothes, between tons of Levis 501, and flowery dresses, there it was, the vintage blazer I never knew I'll fell in love with. But the deal wasn't set from the get-go. If the brown checked pattern was screaming for my attention, the man fit, added to the XL size, was intriguing. As my friend was trying to convince me to try it on, I slipped the large jacket on my shoulder over my badly chosen dress of the day. Though my snake printed dress is a statement piece on its own, the no-name blazer couldn't care less. It was there to stay and make a statement on its own. 

It didn't take long for me to decide if I would take this good looking guy home. Swiping my card on the machine, I didn't think twice. And to this day, I still feel lucky I came across this second-hand item. 

 

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par Elsa Lauron (@elsa.lauron)

 

As my love for blazers grew, my collection expanded, and my desire to wear them outside of a work environment changed. Slipping a blazer on my shoulder is now a synonym f empowerment for me. Maybe it's the large padded shoulders or the whole meaning behind this workwear piece, blazers give me the confidence, the power, the desire for greater things. They turn me into a Wonder Woman on my own. 

So that's my power outfit, what's yours? 

Love,

Elsa. 

4.6.21 Comments: 0

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Cardigan is the new black

Cardigan is the new black

Remember when you would go out and your mother would always say before you'd head to the door in your cute tank top: 'did you take a jacket?', 'wear a sweater, it's cold outside', 'don't forget your cardigan, you don't want to catch a cold'?

Do you still hear her voice now as an adult whenever you step outside? Thinking how you should have listened to your mom, even though she has stopped reminding you to add layers to your look after the 258th time you rolled your eyes at her.

Well, guess what? Cardigans are back and they are in. If growing up, you thought those cute little buttoned-up jumpers were more practical than trendy, now as an adult, you can say they are definitely part of the must-have type of pieces. Who knew our grand mother's favorite piece of fashion would the number one trend that everyone is dreaming to get their hands on?

I'm not the one to judge honestly. I love and have always loved a good old cardigan. The way they fit around your bust and make a simple outfit look great. They've been my best friends for a million years, although I didn't like, and still don't like, to pair my cardigan with a dress. I'm sorry but too much of the granny looks for me.

And now more than ever, cardigans have been my favorite thing to wear. With a tank top, a matching sweater top, a t-shirt, or nothing underneath but a lacy bra, paired with jeans, or a satin skirt, they are the easiest fashion item to wear, especially when you don't feel like dressing up. Their buttoned-up looks are always so flattering for the décolleté, making it a sexy, chic, and casual piece. A must-have, as I said.

Care to try one?

If &Other Stories has undeniably the best selection when it comes to cardigans, the price range may through you off. But to the rescue, there's Zara, which has amazingly updated their collection with pastel tone and soft cardigan, with embroidery or matching cami top, bralette, or shorts. But the original trendsetter, the one behind the whole Katies Holmes street style extravaganza is the brand Khaite. Now ladies, be prepared because as trendy and beautiful this New-York based brand is, it is on the most pricy side. Paloma Wool has also a well-curated selection, perfect for those social-distancing times. Might as well call your banker right now and let him or her know that there's going to be some damage to your account.

Love,

Elsa.

2.5.20 Comments: 0

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