STYLE GURU STYLE: Back In Black

April 23rd, 2015 at 2:00am

All Fashionistas/os know that some of the most significant runway shows happen right here in the good old USA. However, international shows also present the hottest upcoming trends from all around the world. Inspired by a recent trip to Europe, I browsed Russian designer Alexander Terekhov’s most recent collection. Terekhov, who has showrooms in both Moscow and Italy, dresses many of Europe’s most fashionable socialites and has also been featured in various magazines such as Vogue Russia and InStyle Russia. For his fall 2015 collection, Terekhov’s models walked the runway in sharp, bold ensembles that combined strong black hues with feminine features in form of sparkles, space patterns, V-neck and strapless hemlines, full skirts and thin heels. Their pin straight hair, dark rimmed eyes and pouty lips reminded me of Jenny Humphrey in season three of Gossip Girl—the ultimate epitome of glam goth. Basically, this collection composed my dream closet, so I decided to go through my actual closet to recreate a look.

This ensemble stood out to me, ironically enough, for its subtlety. I also loved the turtleneck and full skirt combination. My black turtleneck is more form-fitting, so I wore it underneath a black slip instead of on top, eliciting nostalgic memories of the jumper style I often wore when I was younger. Inspired by the designer’s foreign origins, I also wore an authentic Slovak key around my neck, a Hungarian leather bracelet, Israeli rings and sweet patterned bracelets and tights from Japan. These accessories, as well as an acid-washed denim jacket and black combat boots, allowed me to go back to my own roots by personalizing a basic look.

I loved this outfit for its comfort but also for the challenging opportunity to maintain a simple look without over-personalizing it. While I encourage Fashionistas/os to always let their individuality shine through in their outfit choice, I recognized that the point of this look was to embrace subtlety. Normcore, a recent trend that doesn’t show signs of letting up, embodies this philosophy. And hey, I’ll try anything that allows me to get ready in ten minutes or less.

Get My Look: 1. A turtleneck. 2. A loose-fitting black dress. 3. Your own accessories, like a unique key necklace.

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