style blogger – MIA ZARRELLA

Where I Shop, Why I Shop, How I Shop

My Instagram followers have been asking me about where I shop, so here I am, breaking it all down for you guys.

First of all, I think that we (the general consumer culture) shop too much. Fast fashion stores like Zara, Primark, and H&M have created a culture of the “Friday night outfit.” This is when you go shopping for an inexpensive dress so that you have something new to wear for a party, but then you never wear it again, it falls apart, or you replace it with another one the next week.

This isn’t how I shop, though. I prefer quality over quantity and outfit repeating isn’t social suicide, it’s my normal. When I shop, I invest, therefore I only make purchases about once a month. I’d rather have a small wardrobe of reliable and timeless pieces than a large wardrobe of poorly made, trendy clothes.

So here’s where I shop:

I work at Rue La La and Gilt, which are off-price designer retailers. This is where I can get some of my favorite designer items at discounted prices. It takes a lot of hunting because these sites change their inventory multiple times a day, but it’s so worth it when you find what you want for less money.

Sweater & shoes from Allsaints; vintage Lee Jeans from L Train Vintage; belt bag from & Other Stories

If I’m looking for a pair of shoes, my go-to is Gucci and All Saints. They have the most reliable and beautiful leather goods and incredibly comfortable shoes. My black Gucci Brixton loafers and Princetown slippers are some of the best investments I’ve ever made. Also, I’ve bought the same pair of combat boots from All Saints twice because of how much I loved them.

I also love All Saints for dresses and sweaters. Their quality of clothing is great and their designs are edgy and sexy.

Reformation dress

If you look at my Instagram you will see that a large portion of my wardrobe is from Reformation. Ref is a California-based environmentally-friendly, ethical clothing manufacturer. Everything they create has just the right balance of sex appeal and timeless style (think: silk dresses with high slits, or sun dresses with open backs). I love how I can buy a plain, modest LBD from them but just how the dress falls and moves on the body, I will immediately feel confident.

Lastly, since Natacha Ramsay-Levi became the creative director of Chloé a year ago, I’ve been obsessed with their inventory and splurged on a pair of white Rylee boots. The quality of Chloé is divine and the style is a perfect mix of Parisian-meets-Western-meets Cate Blanchett from Ocean’s 8. It’s a very empowering look.

When I’m searching for my next purchase, I like to scroll through Moda Operandi, Net-a-Porter, and Man Repeller for inspiration. Otherwise, I just head to a thrift store.

If you have any more questions for me feel free to comment below or message me on Instagram @miazarrella.

Examining the “I Really Don’t Care Do U?” Jacket Fiasco

Screen Shot 2018-06-26 at 7.30.29 AM.png — SOURCE: Andrew Harnik/AP/REX/Shutterstock

I’ve written about FLOTUS Melania Trump’s attire before. The first time was her powder blue Ralph Lauren Inauguration suit. Everything from the choice of an American designer to her Jackie Kennedy-inspired aesthetic demonstrated that Melania was trying to convey the image of American royalty (an image Jack & Jackie had accomplished). It was strategic, as many of her outfits have been. She wore Ralph Lauren that day because she recognized the importance of wearing an American designer as she and her husband were sworn in as the leading family of the free world. It was incredibly calculated.

That’s why I struggle to believe that the jacket she wore to the Upbring New Hope Children’s Shelter, a Texas detention center for undocumented minors, doesn’t mean anything.

At least that’s what her spokesperson Stephanie Grisham claims. When Melania boarded her plane to Texas she was photographed in a $39 spring/summer 2016 collection Zara jacket emblazoned with the saying: ‘I really don’t care, do u?”, and the public was outraged.

Screen Shot 2018-06-26 at 7.32.41 AM.png — Click to view on Twitter.

According to Bustle, “Grisham denies that there was any message behind FLOTUS’ jacket in an email to Bustle, writing, ‘It’s just a jacket. There was no hidden message. After today’s important visit to Texas, I hope the media isn’t going to choose to focus on her wardrobe. (Much like her high heels last year.)'”

Oh, Stephanie, there is a message, though. According to The Washington Post, at least 2,300 children have been displaced and separated from their parents since the Administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy- a policy which President Trump later changed his mind about as nonchalantly as one changes their mind about ordering a soup instead of a salad. Therefore the message we are getting from your jacket is that you simply don’t care about the traumatized children you’re visiting. It’s not “hidden,” it’s blatant.

Fashion DOES mean something which is why politicians have been using style for years to subliminally communicate with the world. Do we have to mention Hillary Clinton’s power suits and strategic use of the color white, a hue associated with the suffragette movement and purity? Or what about Barack Obama’s dad jeans that proved he was “one of us”? Or what about Michelle Obama’s affinity for J. Crew that showed she didn’t need expensive labels? Oh, oh! And let’s not forget how Meghan Markle’s wedding veil featured hand-sewn tributes to all 53 countries in the Commonwealth.

Clothing is a way to speak without using our voices. In this digital age, a photo really does speak a thousand words, so we can’t afford to make reckless outfit decisions. In our FLOTUS’ case, her jacket spoke volumes. It said, “I don’t care about these traumatized families.” Yet, we could argue it actually says, “I don’t care enough to think.”

Maybe the FLOTUS didn’t take a second to think about her outfit decision on this important day, but that would be dumbfounding. This event follows her visit to Houston after Hurricane Harvey destroyed a nearby city. That day she was scrutinized and attacked by the public for wearing stilettos to the site. (She later changed into white tennis shoes, but the public frenzy had already broken out.) So it baffles me to assume she just “didn’t think” about the green parka’s message. After all, she did wear sneakers on this Border visit, so she learned something from past mistakes.

Perhaps our FLOTUS thought wearing an outdated jacket from a fast fashion company would make her relatable (like Michelle). Perhaps she thought it was practical for the day and would go along well with her Stan Smiths, which she remembered to wear this time. Perhaps she thought it was appropriate because it was casual. And even though she put all of this thought into those gritty details, she didn’t take the time to read the fine print. Literally. And that’s what has us all shocked.

It must be difficult having to pretend to care all the time.

Side note: I don’t believe, as the President has tweeted, that this is a message to the “Fake News Media,” nor do I believe the conspiracy theory that her jacket is a middle-finger to her husband.

Fashion, meet Music.

If you can listen to music & read at the same time, tap here for my Spotify playlist that goes along with this post.

Fashion holds up a mirror to our culture. It’s a reflection of our society’s goals, values, interests, and standards. Style– as in personal style which is not solely influenced by the industry’s trends– is a reflection of that person’s values and interests— and that includes music.

That being said, my outfit here says: “I wish I was a Highwayman,” and well, I do.

The Highwaymen have been described as “The Mount Rushmore of Country Music.” Comprised of solo artists Mr. Johnny Cash, Mr. Waylon Jennings, Mr. Willie Nelson, and Mr. Kris Kristofferson, the Highwaymen was a joining of forces in 1985. This grouping is comparable to Marvel’s “The Defenders” or when the “Suite Life of Zach and Cody” and “Hannah Montana” did an episode together.

I’m a big fan of old country music. If you were to ask me if could have dinner with anybody dead or alive, I’d say Johnny Cash. And if you were to look at my Spotify history you’d see I’ve been on a Waylon Jennings kick for three weeks (and counting). However, I’ve never worn anything country-inspired (after all, I do live in the Northeast). I first saw this “Waylon on Tour” belt buckle on Johnny Knoxville, another self-proclaimed country music fan and personal hero of mine. The Chloé boots are a new addition to my wardrobe and I believe I was so drawn to them because of my new appreciation for country & western themes. (Not to mention: These boots look incredible on bare legs, which has always been a huge struggle of mine while boot shopping.) So even though I’ve never considered myself a country girl, my music taste has undoubtedly affected my wardrobe, and this isn’t the first time.

When I’m in deep with a band or musician, I become so enamored with their style that I find ways to incorporate it into my daily looks. Whether it’s a band T that I style with trousers and a blazer, or something more subtle like western-inspired ankle boots, the music I listen to has helped me shape my wardrobe.

Here’s the outfit breakdown:

The button-down is an old piece from Madewell. The shorts are my mother’s Gap shorts from 25 years ago (gotta love vintage). The bamboo handle purse is thrifted. The belt buckle is Waylon Jennings tour merchandise (available online still). The sunnies are Ray Ban and the boots are Chloé (both still available for purchase).

My Street Style Interview with Boston Magazine

Tap here to read the article onsite.

(Or just skim this screen-grab.)

Photos by: Diana Levine

Continue reading “My Street Style Interview with Boston Magazine”

My Aesthetic Conundrum

Click here to view on Instagram

I captioned this photo “Italian Vogue circa 1959” because A.) I thought it was funny and B.) I had (rather unintentionally) styled myself in vintage-inspired pieces. The result: This 1950s-era European swim look. From the checkered tin lunchbox (which is a TJ Maxx purchase by the way!) to the straw hat and one-piece, I had transformed into a new retro Mia, as opposed to my usual modern grunge look.

Something I’ve always grappled with is the idea of looking like a certain aesthetic. I used to get embarrassed if a label was attached to me. In high school and college, I was oh-so creatively called “biker chick” and “Grease lightning” because I wore a leather jacket. I used to think people thought I was pretending to be somebody else, which has never been the case. Yet, that’s not to say that I didn’t draw style inspiration from models and movies during my formative years.

In this age of personal branding, I thought it was important to have one clear-cut aesthetic. Some influencers are Parisian chic, while others are goth, and they hardly dabble outside of those style genres. I no longer believe that that is how it has to be. I now have a new perspective on embodying different aesthetics and personas in my wardrobe choices.

I believe that fashion (and style) is derivative, so all designers and fashion icons are influenced by preexisting or historic styles and designs. So, why can’t I be? I’m finally letting myself delve into different style tribes from punk and Parisian to retro and minimalist, as long as my persona and individual style is still there at the core.

So go ahead, call me Sandy.

Style Breakdown:

The swim suit is a one piece with a lovely cutout from Reformation. I bought this straw hat from a street vendor on Long Beach Island, but TJ Maxx has an almost identical version right now. And the shoes are White Mountain espadrilles that feel like sneakers (seriously, I once walked 9 miles in them while on holiday).

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In Defense of Outfit Repeating

By Mia Zarrella, Berkeley Beacon Correspondent – October 12, 2016

Click here to read the article on BerkeleyBeacon.com.

If Kate Sanders were a real person, she wouldn’t like me.

In The Lizzie McGuire Movie, mean girl Kate Sanders calls the main character, Lizzie, an “outfit repeater” after she wears a powder blue puffy-sleeved dress under her graduation gown—the same blue dress she wore to the spring dance. In Kate’s opinion, repeating an outfit was social suicide.

Screen Shot 2018-06-19 at 6.58.16 AM — Disney’s “The Lizzie McGuire Movie”

After seeing that movie in 2003, I was convinced outfit-repeating was a crime.

The negative association with this practice is still perpetuated through pop culture and social media. Celebrities get “spotted” wearing the same dress or hat and it makes tabloid headlines. And even I feel a little embarrassed when I realize I posted two pictures in a row on Instagram in the same shirt.

Will people think I am unhygienic or too uncreative to wear something different? It’s silly, yet it’s reality.

The idea that I couldn’t (noticeably) repeat the same outfit was planted in my mind during my tween years and it’s reinforced every time my roommate asks me if I am going “to branch out and wear a pair of pants other than my blue Levis.” The answer to the question is a resounding no.

When moving into my Boston apartment this summer, I only brought pieces I wear all the time. I donated or sold the garments with irrevocable stains, loose waistbands, itchy collars, and heinous patterns, and I was left with my favorite pieces of clothing—my staples.

These are the clothes I invested money in, fit me the best, and make me feel the most confident and comfortable. I tend to wear these pieces regularly, and since most of my clothes are black, blue, or white, they are highly equipped for mixing and matching.

Similar to the concept of the “French wardrobe,” I use the same articles of clothing in different ways by tucking in, tying up, cuffing, accessorizing, or layering. It’s an inexpensive way to expand a small or basic wardrobe, and it’s creative.

Dolly Parton, who in 2011 told Q Magazine that she never wears the same outfit twice, has also famously said, “It takes a lot of money to look this cheap.”

The singer-songwriter has the money to buy new clothing all the time—I, on the other hand, do not.

Unlike tissues and disposable razors, clothing is supposed to last. Yet, expendable clothing is on the rise. Fast-fashion stores like Zara, H&M, and Forever 21 restock their racks with new styles weekly, permitting shoppers to keep their wardrobes fresh for a low cost. There is no need to wear the same outfit when you can purchase a whole new look for less than $20. And once the $10 shirt stretches out or the jeggings rip, you can always go back and buy replacements, right?

However, much of the clothing sold by fast-fashion companies is produced in developing countries for cheap costs. And when clothing is manufactured for cheap, the quality suffers. When a product is beyond the point of being worn again, it often ends up contributing to the 15.1 million tons of textile waste that the Environmental Protection Agency recorded back in 2013.

The pieces that we can wear all the time are usually the ones that can sustain the wear and tear. My Levi 501s are sturdy jeans that can go weeks before needing a break.

And sometimes garments that cost a little more last a while longer. I’ve gone through an embarrassing amount of cheap leather jackets and ankle boots before deciding to invest in ones that would last more than one winter season. When I invest in an article of clothing, I tend to want to wear it all the time to “get my money’s worth,” as the expression goes.

And perhaps First Lady Michelle Obama and Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton share that same mindset.

Middleton has been photographed repurposing and styling pieces like her navy Smythe blazer and cork wedges on multiple occasions. She has also worn eye-catching dresses like the red Alexander McQueen dress and emerald green Diane von Furstenberg dress to different distinguished events.

Michelle Obama has done the same, wearing dresses by Thom Browne and Barbara Tfank multiple times.

Prior to his death, Apple CEO Steve Jobs practically trademarked the combination of a black turtleneck, faded blue jeans, and white New Balance sneakers.

Grace Coddington, a former model and the creative director at-large of American Vogue, is known for wearing outfits of all black. Meanwhile, Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief at Vogue, has sported the same hairstyle and sunglasses for so long they’ve become iconic.

As style icons and public figures, what these people wear says a lot. The faux pas of wearing the same outfit more than once might have originated with bourgeoisie attitudes, but that’s no longer the case. Instead, it’s a demonstration of eco-conscious fashion, a mark of creativity, and a display of personal style.

Clothing is a utility to showcase personality, interests, and ideas. It can be a manifestation of your true self or it can be a presentation of different personas. Personal style incites confidence and comfort, so whether it is a powder blue peasant dress or black turtleneck and New Balances, if it feels good and if you like it, you should wear it and then wear it again.