Jazzi McG » fashion

The More You Know: Notecards & Handwriting

Jazzi — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 05:18:12 +0000

an old note sent to me from Teen Vogue’s Eva Chen

Since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated by handwriting and the art of letter writing. I’m that girl who scribbles her name on everything. In fact, sometime after I write this, I think I’ll finally go get my handwriting analyzed. As my mother tells it, I taught myself to write by copying her signature (from her checkbook no less) at a very early age, which resulted in a lifetime of perfecting my own signature that I can’t wait to use on something other than checks & receipts…

I know I’m not the only one who keeps everything written to me stored for years after that best friend/summer fling/birthday/note passed in class and all those inside jokes have lost their relevance. Because years later we’re still clinging to some fleeting sense of nostalgia.

The fashion industry seems to have a particular affinity for handwritten notes. I will always remember a certain editor-boss of mine whose office filled up daily with enough flowers and notes (mostly from PR firms) to rival a funeral home. It must be some combination of ass-kissing and a need for unique communication. Anyway, at some point I noticed a particular stationery convention that seemed like such a common practice that I should have known it, but didn’t: many of these notes had their author’s personalized headers crossed out. I came up with all kinds of reasons I was seeing this everywhere… Perhaps all these editors were simultaneously getting married and awaiting new hyphenated-last-name cardstock (coincidentally, a lot of them actually were engaged)? Maybe it was everyone’s way of testing the ink in their pen? Did Anna do it once and has everyone been blindly striking through their name since? Whatever the case, I was definitely over-thinking it, but I needed a solid answer.

While I feared sounding uber-déclassé, I did ask an assistant editor once. She had no idea why, but said everyone did it. I had the urge to pull an “if everyone jumped off the top off a building would you do it to?” but alas, I was a lowly intern and I have a feeling the answer would have been a resounding “yes” anyway.

I searched Google to no avail until I found myself on Crane & Co.’s blog where some commenters came to the rescue. Anticlimactic as it is, turns out the name strike-through is just a nod of sincerity. Crossing out the last name in your letterhead is a way to convey intimacy and de-formalize the note. Basically saying “come on dude, you can just call me [first name].”

The more you know…

And since you’ve made it all the way to the end of this tale (I am so sorry), I reward you with more fashion-peep handwriting! And if you want even more check out the Details link below for a slideshow or Soma’s Last Word features.

below: notecards from Tom Ford & Stephano Pilati to Details for their 10th anniversary; a note to AnOther from Miuccia Prada; and of course my own handwriting

Trendspotting: Boxers?

Jazzi — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:37:28 +0000

AA shirt, Habitual jeans, Sean’s boxers, Ray-Bans, Balenciaga wedges, Sweetmint gum courtesy of Orbit

I’ve had my eye on one particular not-yet-a-trend for months now. It hasn’t sprung up but I really think it will. If you put on your Trend Forecaster hat for a second, you’ll note that underwear as outwear has come “in” and then there’s the whole 90s thing (which I swear never really left). Aaliyah was obviously an early adopter but I think this time around boxers will be more femme and prepped up. Or totally grunged up, who knows. I don’t see it being a super mainstream trend or even making it into an F21… it will probably be more like that dying foxtail thing… Wow, I swear I don’t spend this much of my time thinking of fashion as science!

Anyway, I saw this photo on Nikki’s blog and I am currently completely obsessed – I think it’s a great look. I realized I had most of the fixins to try it out, so here is attempt #1 with some old jeans that have sat unworn for years because I’m not a fan of pocket designs… Obviously I need to steal the bf’s jeans too or finally find that elusive pair of perfectly destroyed vintage Levi’s.

And even if my trend prediction is totally off-base, I fully plan to play with boxers a hell of a lot more soon.

Aaliyah in Tommy Hilfiger boxers, 1996. RIP Baby Girl; Boxers photographed by Dom Smith via DirtyFlaws

Inspiration: Styling by Panos Yiapanis for AnOther SS10

Jazzi — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 03:53:03 +0000

Eniko Mahalik by Willy Vanderperre, styled by Panos Yiapanis for AnOther magazine Spring/Summer 2010 via tFS

May be a teensy bit “old” in Internet-years, but I’m still not over the genius that Panos Yiapanis lent to this spread (and video) for AnOther mag. Too many editorial stylists feature looks that are more or less straight off the runway. While one could potentially blame advertising contracts, general trepidation or just the Anna Dello Russo ethos, I personally find it completely uninspired and even more so – lazy. And as a consumer, it doesn’t give me any new incentive to buy the clothes. I’m a firm believer that if there’s a will, there is a way to be innovative with even the most commercial of jobs (which AnOther is not, but you get the point). Luckily, AnOther is always food for the vision-starved and this spread especially highlights Panos’ artistry. This signature stylist/magazine combo is definitely one of my favorites.

I would also like to point out & applaud the AMAZING credits that AnOther includes with their shoots. It is so rare to see a publication crediting everyone for their work. Sometimes great ideas on-set originate from someone other than the leads and it can take a lot of people to pull off a great shoot – yet very rarely is everyone (Photo Assistants, Fashion/Stylist Assistants, Studio, Post, etc.) given due credit. I speak from experience.

Oh and of course, I’ve already begun twisting and cocooning up my shirts and cutting the cups out of my old bras… We’ll see what becomes of that IRL…

What Would Jazzi Do: Miu Miu & Vogue Gioiello

Jazzi — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:30:25 +0000

I’m really trying to break my bad habit of micro-blogging more than main blog-blogging! I posted this last night to my tumblr, but I’m re-posting it here:

Wouldn’t a re-imagining of this Vogue Gioiello (Vogue Accessories Italia) cover be so awesome with Miu Miu’s Spring/Summer 2010 collars!? Birdy, puppy, kitty, and lady-print collars! Someone get me on this job pronto.

Charvet Paris collars in Vogue Gioiello Gennaio/January 2010 cover by Inzaghi Dell’Oro; Miu Miu Spring 2010 collars via style.com

I, like many, am completely beside myself about this Miu Miu collection. I find myself constantly day-dreaming calculating how many pennies I would need to scrape up to buy just one dress or perhaps a pair of chunk kitty-print pumps… I’m planning a visit to Miu Miu this week just to see everything up close. I will be bringing along a voice of reason and likely leaving my credit card at home.

Inspiration: Prada Fantasy Lookbook

Jazzi — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:16:37 +0000

Prada Fantasy Lookbook Spring/Summer 2010 (via fashioncopious)

I don’t know the full story behind these Prada S/S 2010 images yet (i.e. who shot them/art directed), all I know is they rock. I may have to reinterpret the top image for myself somehow. SO Alice. Definitely my dream portrait.

Inspiration: Mercedes Helnwein in Lula magazine

Jazzi — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:31:42 +0000

Mercedes Helnwein for Lula, by Glynis Selina Arban, styled by Aya T. Kanai

So I thought about it and decided that while this entire shoot from Lula is stunning (as is their entire catalogue), this particular image is one of the most beautiful & striking images I saw all year. The colors are just perfect, the mood is right, and it was absolutely no surprise when I found out it was styled by my friend & brilliant stylist Aya T. Kanai. After falling for Mercedes Helnwein in her in all her redheaded glory, I decided to check out more of her artwork and – no shock here either – it was awesome. Her pencil drawings are like stills from a fashion-bent arthouse film that will make you swoon because… well, what’s not to like about a gorgeous redhead (I think I’m redhead fetish-status) with hot style and the talent to draw even more gorgeous girls with hot style? Exaaactly.

Inspiration: Hint Magazine’s Mind Trip

Jazzi — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:40:56 +0000

Hint magazine – Mind Trip via urbn

Hint magazine’s interactive editorials are one of very few things I’ve found that, with a little tweaking, could potential outdo the buzz I get from a glossy. When I looked at this trippy editorial I was completely mesmerized by the use of fashion, art, design, and the web. Only wish there was a click-to-buy & full screen option, since I could totally get used to this.

Tokion Covers: Chloe Sevigny / Aurel Schmidt

Jazzi — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:30:01 +0000

The last two Tokion covers have been two of my favorite girls who just so happen to look like they could have come from the same womb. Too good not to post. Can’t wait to check out the rest of the Aurel issue, and I’ve already checked out the Chloe issue (a tad underwhelming, but great interview with Chloe). As self-proclaimed #1 fangirl, I would like nominate Chloe and Aurel to SHUT IT DOWN with some kind of collaboration… Someone please make it happen. Please?

What I Would Wear: Chasing Tail

Jazzi — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:49:05 +0000

benjamin glasses, all saints dress & headband, striped sweater, chanel polish in diabolic, suede PS1 bag, taxidermy tail, dolce vita april pumps

My DREEEAM YSL pumps are on sale for $499. Sadly, still just out of my reach, so these Dolce Vita knockoffs will have to do until I can upgrade. It might look a little rando, but I would totally wear this whole look together, and trade out the dress for some denim on a simpler day. Since I saw Fantastic Mr. Fox (awesome movie!), I’ve been pretty obsessed with taxidermy tails… probably not what I was supposed to come away from the movie wanting, but hey. Maybe I can find a good faux tail.

My Work: Style Section LA Q&A with Gale Parker, Clothespin Boutique

Jazzi — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:19:51 +0000

My first piece for Style Section LA, a new website started by two former LA Times editors, is up. I did a Q&A with the inspirational lady mentioned in my last post, Gale Parker, at her new boutique Clothespin. Gale is pretty fucking rad; she was muse to YSL, Valentino, and friend of Andy Warhol, DVF, and my personal style idol, Diana Ross. When I met Gale, she approached me to tell me just how much I looked like “her friend Diana Ross” and I just about died.

Read the Q&A, some of Gale’s amazing life story, & learn about her gorgeous new boutique here.