The New Normal

The Gap ads had me feeling a whole lotta perplexed last night as I made my way to their gridlocked, tourist-trapped trenches on 34th Street. I work on 26th so this GAP felt like a hop and a skip, without the jump. I went looking for the perfect denim jacket at the perfect price but ended up scratching my head a thousand and one times. The tagline to 'Dress Normal' emblazoned proudly across the glossy ads, featuring the likes of Anjelica Huston and Michael K. Williams.

Dress normal? Why in the world would this be their new attempt to capture ADD-ridden consumers in the digital age? No shade to Gap as I've spent a pretty penny there unearthing hidden treasures in their Sale section but these campaigns just seemed dead wrong. It's 2014. Who wants to be normal? We have Man Repellers skating around the city in clod-hopping shoes and garments that scream with style. We have street style stars unabashedly adorned in the most zany of zany runway looks without the blink of an eye. We have Lady Gaga for Christ sake. This is the time to dress with unapologetic pizazz. This is the time to dress with the same fearlessness as Katniss Everdeen. This is the time to piss off grandma.

From a style and marketing standpoint, I didn't get why Gap would be pushing this message. But then I did my blogger due diligence and found this on AdWeek : "'Dress Normal' boldly instructs individuals to shape their own authentic, personal style—and intentionally challenges every one of us to dress for ourselves." It took me a minute to process and then EUREKA! Gap is actually championing every sentiment I am exploring in this blog post. They are pushing an idea of redefining what normalcy is and capitalizing on how an individual can explore themselves through their clothes and their vision of 'normal.' It's really quite genius. I squealed like a drunk guinea pig and simultaneously gave them a Standing Ovation. It was awkward.

This idea of redefining normal is the basis for today's Outfix (your daily fix of outfit inspo, in case you so forgot). Nix the done-a-zillion-times LBD and opt for a jet-black skirt and a rustically-charming cargo jacket for a night out. Pair with a sensational DANNIJO sparkler, a neon YSL bag that screeches 'look at me! I am fashion!' and strappy heels that could remove the eye of an aggressive cat-calling construction worker. You're welcome. Shop below:

Jacket by Barbour, $623 (similar for under $70 here)  /  Skirt by Isabel Marant, $505  / Necklace by DANNIJO, $770 (similar for under $50 here)  /  Handbag by Saint Laurent, $1,490 (similat for $120 here)  /  Heels by Zara, $60

The Wild Wild West (or How to be a Walking Ad Campaign for Isabel Marant)

In 2009, I fell in love with Isabel Marant. This Style.com slideshow was the shot heard round the world - or perhaps just around New York City and Paris. Nonetheless, it was a shot fired and one that would lead me down a rabbit hole of niche French designers to fall for (Vanessa Bruno's eponymous line and Jean Toitou's A.P.C. come to mind).

Isabel Marant's luxe-bohemian, Wild Wild West-twinged look was a new frontier in fashion. It nixed the frilly-dilly of bohemian looks in years past and gave it a sleek sophisticated je nes se quoi. Even the Wall Street Journal could not ignore the emergence of Miss Marant.  And when Isabel Marant would brought her vision to an H & M collaboration, it was the equivalent of seven Ben & Jerry's pints after a Master Cleanse - yup, that goood. But now that this is an thing of the past, it's time to try recreating the quintessential Marant look with some careful styling, attention to detail, and one piece from her lower-priced sister-line Etoile Isabel Marant. It's totally cowgirl but replace tumbleweed Montana with fashion capital Milan. Catch ma drift? 

Shop this Outfix:

Shirt by H & M, $10  /  Skirt by Etoile Isabel Marant, $300  /  Hat by Zara, $60  /  Clutch by Valentino, $1,595 (similar for under $200 here)  /  Shoes by H by Hudson, $285

A Miranda Kerr Polish

'When I met you in the Summer... We fell in loveeee' raves Calvin Harris' in the jarringly repetitive but wondrously anthemic song. I'm thinking he may have been talking about these Loeffler Randall shoes but am awaiting final confirmation from his people. These shoes are a midsummer's dream of Shakespearian heights - the pastel and leopard touches would pair well with anything from an LWD to boyfriend jeans to some kooky concoction that you thought was a cute look but realized in retrospect was a sartorial mishap of epic proportions. But hey, you live and you learn! Now, back to the shoes... they are pretty and polished, just like this drag queen-unicorn-hybrid but perhaps a little more understated. Pair these shoes with a pastel-pinky Givenchy bag (supa-expensive but supa-worth it as you can wear it with 4207813 outfits, last time I counted!), a slinky Tibi top and khakis of the non-heterosexual-male-variety meaning they're really, really good and a deviation from this hot mess. 

This Outfix was inspired by style-chanteuse Miranda Kerr. She somehow always finds a balance between polished and pretty and I could definitely see her donning this look, if I not-so-humbly-say-so-myself. I look forward to her looks, whether she be strutting through the airport with style and grace or posing on the red carpet, all glitz and glamour. She's so freakin' stylish, there is even a Tumblr dedicated to her outfits. That's how you know you've made it. That and multi-million dollar modeling contracts but mostly a Tumblr! 

Shop this Outfix:

Top - Tibi

Pants - Isabel Marant

Bag - Givenchy

Shoes - Loeffler Randal