alexa chung, it girl

There's nothing more fascinating and mystifying than the "It Girl." Clara Bow pioneered "It Girl" status in the 1920s, Warhol muse Edie Sedgwick continued it through the 1960s. Plenty of smart, modern women have managed to beguile the status quo with their independent spirit, intelligence and that indescribable joie de vivre that seemed to combine a little of everything -- personal style, aesthetic, personal artistic talent, and a sublime taste in music -- to create a magnetic personality that truly garnered its own bubble of celebrity. Alexa Chung is certainly one of those mysterious, marvelous creatures that have managed to beguile the public, with her effortless sense of smart style and an observational cleverness that keeps you on your toes. 

I was pleased to get a chance to preview Alexa Chung's new book, It, which is like paging through the creative thoughts in her mind. It's a non-linear, scrapbook-like collection of thoughts, favorite things, inspirations, told through her words, photos and drawings. It's the book we wish we could all write ourselves, but let's face it, none of us are that cool. I know I'm not. But it's a lovely exploration of embracing the idea of Just Being Yourself. I like that there's no lists, no lessons. Chung's own thoughts about the book are as honest as her thoughts within it, "I don't really have an objective with the book. I hope that you enjoy it, but I didn't necessarily put it together to affect you in any certain way. It was quite selfish, really; I just wanted to write a lot down. I hope you enjoy it. That's all I can hope for." 

It's kind of like a book form of a personal blog. Which I like. It's not a brag book of all the cool, famous friends she has -- we know her It Girl status has afforded her this luxury, but she doesn't seem to really live in that space, which is what keeps her genuine. She talks about first being entranced by the Spice Girls, along with everyone else when she first heard Wannabe. She wants to be Wednesday Addams. Jeremy Irons' floppy hair is impeccably mesmerizing. Her thoughts are both familiar and comforting. The book isn't about inspiring you to be like Alexa Chung, it's a gentle nod to all the people wondering if they were too weird or obscure for this world, saying, no, embrace You for You. Cherish and value your thoughts. Don't become a product of trends. At least, that's what this Bird got out of the book. I think everyone will take away something unique from this book, and that's the point, so explore it for yourself and seek your own interpretations.

Jaunty Fine Print: Images from Alexa Chung's book, It

My name is the Jaunty Magpie... and I'm addicted to coffee table books. In my collection of giant photo books too large for an average bookshelf height (yay, vertical stacking!), I have books about old clocks, food/cooking, t-shirts, x-ray art, unusual record album designs, even books that aren't even in English but the illustrations are gorgeous -- and now I have another one to add to my book-cave, Barbara Barry's Around Beauty.
 

Whew, let me catch my breath for a moment... Can you believe we've entered into another year? A fresh, shiny, new-car-smelling 2013 is upon us. And we're faced with an endless supply of options, adventures, decisions and promises for the next three-sixty-five and change. 

It's daunting to consider all these possibilities ahead, but I have one item in particular that I had the pleasure of admiring over the holidays that I think is both fitting and fetching for a year ready to take flight. I was very lucky to meet boutique owner, style influencer, and author, Cameron Silver, at an event at Tiffany and Co. in December, presenting his new book, Decades: A Century of Fashion.  He's the owner of a gorgeous boutique in Los Angeles, also called Decades, which speaks to his expertise and appreciation for mixing classic with modern. Vintage clothing paired with contemporary jewelry and accessories, ways to bring time periods together and reinvent new looks. Just because it's a new year doesn't mean we have to only look ahead -- sometimes a trip back in time will inspire where we will move forward. 

Cameron Silver's book is an outstanding collection of fashion photography and portraits. I misspent many productive workdays dreamily paging through the different eras and I was very much in love with the 20s and 30s pieces. Periods where photography wasn't as prevalent as now are particularly stunning because the photos are a rare, beautiful look at a time that seems both far away but very familiar. We can recognize dress styles and shapes, details and accessories that we still see today, and that speaks to the timelessness of true style. 

As you go through the the chronology of photographs, you start to see trends, like Hollywood stars becoming stylemakers, the evolution of silhouettes from pinched-in waists and full skirts, to more simplified, ultra-modern lines that almost erase gender. The book touches on the Reign of the Supermodel, hip-hop/street style -- many recent looks and trends that I definitely remember. And then it softly lands on present-day style, which is that many of the looks we find compelling now are ones that incorporate trends spanning those decades. Fashion is a form of history, one that we see every day and may not take the time to notice, but in the context of a book that views our wardrobe through a historic lens, an item that simply drapes on a hanger gains new relevance. So as we enter a new year, consider Decades a guide book to inspire for how we wish to present ourselves, moving forward.

Jaunty Fine Print: Photos from Cameron Silver's book, Decades: A Century of Fashion