Street Style: Full Moon Festival

by LOOKBOOK, photography by Driely Carter • August 26, 2015

Described as a lush urban jungle covered in 20-foot high walls of plants, The Full Moon Festival (the best music festival you've never heard of) at The Brooklyn Mirage serves as a euphoric oasis during NYC's hottest summer months. It draws inspiration from lunar beach parties held in Haad Rin on the island of Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand under a mysterious moonlit ambiance. The musical vibe is mostly house, indie rock and the types you get at EDM, made up of an international mix of live bands and DJs like Yelle and MOTHXR. 

Meanwhile, the fashion scene was exploding with its own electric colors of lime green and bright colorful prints on flowing kimonos and flared pants. There was an overarching theme of black summer goth pieces like strappy, lace-up swimsuits, transparent embroidered dresses and silver bangles. Stylish comfort was king with drawstring shorts and jumpers in chambray and breezy cut-out boho dresses. Round shades from the 70s and 80s paired with grape-colored lips were major trends at the festival as well as for transitioning from summer into fall!

Photography by: Driely Carter

To Paris and Back - Reflections on Tragedy & Hope

by LOOKBOOK, featuring Beatrice Gutu of The Fashion Cuisine • December 1, 2015

It's been quite the whirlwind for Beatrice Gutu of The Fashion Cuisine this season. After being whisked away to the magical city of Paris for the first time in her life, she comes home only to discover that a horrendous tragedy has occurred in the city within days of her departure. This past month has become a wake-up call for many, and for Beatrice, a journey of highs and lows.

As the air gets colder and ominous clouds fill the skies, we’re thankful for the spirit of the holidays, and its ability to bring about a fresh perspective and a renewed hope. Beatrice quotes human rights’ trailblazer Martin Luther King, Jr., reminding us that only light can drive out the darkness. 

This 21-year old beauty from Germany possesses a level of sophistication and intelligence that is well beyond her years — evidenced by both her sense of style and perceptive insight of the world. Like a fine wine, her outfits are full of rich colors and sharp-looking silhouettes. We love her simple, chic, slightly moody festive looks, beckoning visions of mistletoe by the fire and sweet holiday cheer — and of course, fresh hope in the morning.

It's not news that borrowing from the boys is a big thing this season. So, I suggest you go and grab that hip blazer from your boyfriend's closet and those classic brogues you've been eyeing for months. Masculine style is definitely one I feel comfortable wearing.

Two basics I cannot go without this season are the trench coat and the striped shirt. As long as I have these two, I know what to grab in the spur of the moment. Stripes, burgundy, patent shoes and neutral tones are just a few things I'm currently obsessed with — and nothing can be better than combining all of these into one look. That, and some tortoise sunglasses if you want to look 10x chicer.

Me being me, I also couldn't resist the urge to dress this super elegant trench down, with some ripped knee jeans. Hope you like this outfit as much as I do!

I was over the moon when I discovered I'd be traveling to Paris this year. This was one of my favorite looks for the trip. My Maison Scotch coat is certainly one of the best and most timeless pieces in my wardrobe. I can't even begin to tell you how much I wanted a classic black coat and now that I finally have one, nothing seemed more appropriate to wear it for, than my first time in Paris.

Chic to me obviously associates with black, as well as Paris — the original city of lights.

I can't exactly pinpoint what is so special about Paris but there is just something that makes you want to become a part of it. I must have walked at least 10 km my first day here and there wasn't a second where I would have rather taken the subway. The tricky part is choosing an outfit that can be both comfortable and chic enough for traveling — which is why I've developed a recipe for the perfect travel look throughout the years. 

I always start with wardrobe staples. In this case, a classic coat, a white shirt and a pair of black high-waisted jeans. I then add some small accents, like wearing my new bandana as a neck scarf for that final Parisian touch.

We know an all-black outfit can get a bit dull at times, so I spiced it up with a grey hat and a statement red tote. What do you usually wear while traveling?

I have some serious love for this fringe jacket, which I've wanted since I was about 15. I usually wear it with my pointy ankle boots, but I decided to switch things up this time with my Stan Smith sneakers. As you know, I'm the type of girl who will always try to combine opposites, so I just couldn't resist putting these two together.

It's good to be back in ol' Dusseldorf!

I posted this look during one of the darker days in Paris, just a couple days after I left. It was originally going to be about my love for black and how to style a bow tie blouse, but my thoughts were elsewhere at the time.

Walking on those streets just a few days earlier, I couldn't imagine something like this happening. My heart breaks from all the cruelty we have in the world right now. If we've learned anything from the horrible things that not only occurred there, but continue to occur around the world, it's to be more kind to one another, to help and support each other, and to live for the happiness of others.

Only we have the power to make this world better. 

As Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." #spreadthelove

I'm very excited that checked blazers are kind of a thing this season. I've owned this vintage Cerruti 1881 one for three years, but it hasn't stopped me from making room for more of them to come.

Neck scarves are quite the lifesaver when I feel like I have nothing to wear (or when I get bored with my wardrobe items). It's a small accessory, but what a difference it makes!

Pair some high-waisted tailored trousers with Stan Smiths and the magic neck scarf, and everyone will start confusing you for a fashion editor. Believe me — it works every time.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! A magical time of the year when they turn on all the lights in the center of the city and you simply can't pass by a market without buying something festive. I absolutely love dressing up for the holiday parties that will ensue, but don't get me wrong. Dressing up for me usually means putting on some ankle boots with track sole and pairing a super cozy oversized coat with a deep red 60's-inspired dress.

The outerwear piece is the one item I can't go without. Whether at a Christmas party or a meal out with friends, it needs to be warm for me to totally enjoy it. Other than that, this is all I basically need for the perfect party outfit. What about you?

Fall Fairy Tales

by Evelyn Moon of The Hereabouts • November 30, 2015

Inspired by a unique mix of fairytale editorials and unforgettable traveling postcards, infused with high quality street style and food photography, The Hereabouts is a lifestyle photography journal created by Sandra Negrea and Evelina Munteanu in 2010. 

Not only is Evelyn a talented and beautiful storyteller, her whimsical, romantic style is as poetic and imaginative as her writing. At the core of every good writer exists a love for reading, a passion we can tell she fervently possesses, referencing various books, stories and poems when describing her looks and where she decides to travel. Always seeking to understand the origin of places and things, the most poignant of thoughts spill out from the crevices of her mind and imagination. 

Here, we provide a glimpse into her world through the paradoxes of fall, a season for breaking down and building up, for weeping and for laughing, for mourning and for dancing — and to pluck up the things we once planted.

Fall is by far my favorite season. I still get a bit nostalgic every time I go into a bookshop and the smell of new school supplies fills the air. Nowadays, it means the return of my dearly missed shows and some new additions to the wardrobe, like this embroidered white peplum top and blue floral kimono.

Who doesn't love a wide-brim hat? I am pretty obsessed with head accessories, from hats of all shapes and sizes, to berets and cozy beanies (my choices for cold season headwear can be endless). Although some women don't wear hats in general because they don't think it looks good on them, I disagree with this theory. A perfect hat is like a great book — you just have to find the right one for you.

I love fairy tales and if there's a dark element to them, even better — I blame it on those Grimm Brothers' stories.

We've become so familiarized with the watered-down versions by Disney, that we've forgotten how the original storylines played out.

In my opinion, the best fairy tales are those combined with a pinch of wisdom from Time Lord. These are the most terrifying ones, where you discover monsters that can haunt your adult nightmares.

The outfit I'm wearing today is part of a challenge I accepted from FashionTribes.ro, a new concept introduced on the market in Romania. I joined the "Urban" tribe with a classic biker jacket look. What tribe would you join — stylish, urban, nonconformist, office or sport?

When the present is too much to bear, we need to take a step back and contemplate on the past. Here I am, in front of the Knole House, situated in Sevenoaks, West Kent, England — a place where time stands still.

Construction on the house began in the late 15th century. The building gathers 365 rooms, 52 staircases and 7 courtyards and is believed to be a calendar house. The architecture reflects a mix of Elizabethan to late Stuart structures, surrounded by an endless estate that includes a deer park, beautifully preserved for more than 400 years.

When it comes to London, there is no surprise that I keep finding new and exciting places to visit each time I come back. On this occasion, we decided to spend the day visiting vintage markets and the famous Portobello Road area for my birthday.

The weather was perfect, much sunnier and warmer than expected — that right there is one heck of a present.

Dear November, you've been so peculiar this year — warm, bright and colorful. You've brought out the best in some and the worst in others. You've made us laugh and you've made us cry.

You've made us think about the future, while always remembering the past. You've made us better humans, forged by a new sense of purpose.

One thing we ask of you dear November, tell December to be merry and kind. Tell him to bring us joy, peace and hope. Let him heal all wounds and inspire us into building a new and better future.