Greetings from the South China Sea! I’m currently on an extraordinary program called Semester at Sea that’s taking me around the southern hemisphere in 105 days. Thus far, we’ve hit the Bahamas, Dominica, Brazil, Ghana, and South Africa, Mauritius, India and Singapore. From one HerCampus Collegiate to another, I want to tell you about a style transformation I’ve had.
Let me start with a little background information about my stylistic attitude. For some time now, I’ve struggled with animal prints’ place in the world of fashion. We all know it’s a Snookie favorite, and most of us know her style is not one that is desirable. In recent years, I’ve associated leopard print with overly tight bandage skirts on thunder thighs and a fake tan. Yet, I never completely removed animal prints from my closet.
One day, I read an article in Harper’s Bazaar about Roberto Cavalli. I admire Cavalli greatly, but like Emilio Pucci and Missoni, I never quite grasped how certain loud prints can translate into chic wear. (As if I could afford couture.) In the article, Cavalli explained that he never takes inspiration from anything but nature. “God created such a fantastic world. Leopard is an animal design, and my designs come from nature,” he said. I immediately fell in love with this notion. It made me look at clothes in a whole new light.
Though I occasionally get highlights, I’ve always been of the belief that “Mother Nature knows best” when it comes to self-image. I think most people look best with their natural features and appear most confident when they dress to accentuate their own bodies. Prior to reading that issue of Bazaar, I had never thought to translate the idea into clothing itself. But subconsciously, flora and fauna have definitely made an impression on me, most apparent in my utmost respect for Alexander McQueen and his ability to manipulate actual feathers and flowers.’
Back to the world. If there’s one thing being abroad has taught me it’s that “The more I see the less I know”. With each port, I witness a new animal or a new flower I had never seen before. (The rumors are true… I became quite close with a sloth in the Amazon. If you don’t believe me, check out my blog, earthhavewemet.blogspot.com !) In particular, a certain tree in Brazil sparked my interest. I first noticed its leaves on the ground. They look like pine needles but were less sharp, and the most vibrant color of pink I had ever seen. I always thought that rave-goers made up these colors, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover they existed in nature. (Other eccentric colors were found in the Indian sun and the semi-precious stones manipulated into intricate designs at the Taj Mahal.)
On an overly romanticized wine tour in Cape Town, I pet a leopard and couldn’t help but notice my turquoise ring beautifully mixing with the leopard’s coat. (I bought the ring last summer when I did SMU-in-Taos! If you ever do it, I highly recommend coming with a jewelry budget.) I was reminded of Cavalli’s love for animal prints. I’m not about to get Cruella Devil on cheetahs, but suddenly I see that there are so many elements of nature that have been altered into magnificent clothes, jewelry, shoes, and handbags. (In CT, I also had the opportunity to hang out with Michaela Cawley, designer of KKINI swimwear! The vibrant colors in her bikinis remind me of the flowers I saw in the Amazon.)
Like Miranda in The Devil Wears Prada, I see that “a shade of green” is no ordinary color. It, like all other details in fashion, was fabricated from the mysterious and endearing features of nature. A color, print, texture and shape is never simply made, but starts from a simple form of life and goes through a series of modifications to better sympathize with one’s lifestyle.
Since my epiphany, I have not shopped much, but I know the next time I step through the doors of North Park, I’ll have a new attitude in mind. No longer will I dismiss clothes because of their seemingly gaudy features. Instead, I will take the time to remember that each of these designs has, in some way or another, come from nature, and therefore is beautiful. I won’t cringe at prints I once would have, but will try to imagine the place they might have originated in the world. Ultimately, I hope that by romanticizing this aspect of style, I will be more accepting of what I considered to be “vogue”. I now have more respect for clothing I once thought was crass.
If beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder, then expect this beholder to embrace beauty in everything that is fashion.