first blog entry yeahhh!!!

Finally, I started doing what everyone else seems to be doing right now: blogging. I was confused as to how to start my blog. I have written a long essay enlisting my love of fashion and so on and so on, but I found it too boring and obscure. So, while skimming through theSartorialist courtesy of the great Scott Schumann, I found out this Q and A and straightly went for it for my first blogging entry(thank you Mr. Schumann). I hope you could find out more about me by reading my personal answers. Sorry for the bad English, it's late at night and my eyes are in need of some resting

What I'm wearing(my inspiration: the leather/jeans look from Alexander Wang runway)

Me:
1. biker jacket from Tanah Abang
2. denim shirt from Topman
3. ripped jeans from Topman
4. gladiator sandal from Linea
5. various bangles from Bali
6. vintage ylex briefcase from Pasar Senen
7. Michael Kors watch
8. my always-ready digital camera
9. wayfarer-inspired reading glasses I purchased in a distro in Bandung
My beloved friend, Inge with her on-trend jumpsuit paired with a flirty vest and simple but gorgeous gladiator sandal


Dennis Lauren

Job?
Student at Singapore Management University

Best Sartorial advice from your parents?
Don’t wear anything that’s too matchy-matchy. It will end up being tacky

Style icons?
Chloe Sevigny, Kurt Cobain, Alexander Wang, Steve McQueen, Erin Wasson

Describe your personal style...
I am still fairly young so I don’t have any particular personal style – yet. However, I’m always drawn to a particular grunge look circa the 90s. I also love anything dramatic that’s straight from the runway. Right now, I am really in love with the girls from the Alexander Wang runways and also Balmain, Givenchy, and Lanvin. I love eccentric menswear collection, but I also adore simplicity. I’m kind of a mix between gothic and romantic. I’m all in between.

I build my daily look around?
That one particular item I really want to wear. For example, I will chose a beautiful vintage messenger bag and I will make it the attention of my dressing that day. I’d build my look around that particular item, but I love ‘surprise element’, so I would not exactly gone all-grandpa with that vintage messenger bag

Personal Style quirk?
I always follow trends not only from the menswear collection, but also from women wear collection. I read magazines from Bazaar to French Vogue. I think that women wear is not only limited for women. It sort of gives me the edge and innovative inspiration for my daily look. I also play some 80s acid music whenever I want to dress up, esp. for special occasions.

Favorite designers?
constant fave will be Maison Martin Margiela, Marc Jacobs, and Alexander McQueen. However, currently I’m also keeping my eyes on newcomers like Rodarte, Alexander Wang, and threeASfour

Most cherished item?
I constantly found things from my mother’s treasure chest like vintage Chanel that’s unisex to me, and various old brands accessories from the likes of Paloma Picasso and Versace(my mom is a big fan of 80s Versace)

Never caught wearing?
Never vow to not be caught wearing anything. After all, fashion is unpredictable and the most banal or outrageous trend can be chic suddenly

Most underrated item in menswear/womenswear?
White stuffs like t-shirts, shirts, all-oversized. I also think that motorcycle jacket and nice flip-flop is underrated

Dress to impress who?
Anyone, particularly those who have seen my style evolving every season, strangers on the street, and myself

Flats or heels?
I’m a guy so of course I don’t do heels. However, I like challenging shoes for men, like gladiator with cut-out details or intricate woven sandal. It gives me the strength to do difficult tasks each day. It sounds silly but shoes does motivates me

Favorite stores?
I am an avid vintage stuff collectors. Everytime I go back home, I also search through pilage of things at Pasar Senen, Tanah Abang, and Gedebage(my personal favourite). However, I also mix up my things with high-end stuff. Club21 is a great go-to store when it’s on sale. I also love purchasing stuffs at x.sml, an Indonesian fashion brand designed by the renowned Biyan. They always have pieces that are sort of ‘limited’ in quantity and ‘avant-garde akward’ in quality. I also buy stuffs from Zara and Topman because face it: Everybody does. I buy bangles and rings from Forever21 for they’re cheap and chic

Your next "must have" purchase?
Pajama pants inspired by the Dolce and Gabanna runway, a jeans military jacket that I will bleach slightly and accessorize so it will look like it came out of the Balmain runway, a nice pair of oxford shoes(I still haven’t found one)

I skimp when buying ...
Expensive stuffs that are too on trend. When in doubt, it’s always safe to buy classics when buying something that’s exorbitantly priced. Go for quality, because ‘wow factor’ only lasted for a season or two, but the ‘quality factor’ will go on forever. Plus, you can always pass it to the next fashion generation

I splurge on...
Leather accessories and nice shoes

Favorite item of clothing?
My Italian-leather gladiator will always be by my side. I can always dress it up and down. I also have stacks of rock tees that I will wear for years and years to come

Favorite fashion magazines?
many. But I particularly love Harper’s Bazaar, Purple, V, L’Officiel Hommes, Arena Homme, and Pop(the Katie Grand days)

Favorite (style) books?
I find photography books with great styling interesting, particulary those that are captured by Helmut Newton and Amy Arbus

Favorite stylish movies?
The Darjeeling Limited, Annie Hall(Diane Keaton always looks smashing and one of a kind), Kids(such inconic 90s street look), and Funny Face(I’m a sucker for some Hepburn)

Favorite vacation spot?
I’m not a world-class traveller. However, I always find a special spot for Bali

Favorite neighborhood restaurant?
Singapore: everything’s so expensive here so I don’t even go to restaurants. Indonesia: currently I love Social House(the lounge) for hang-out. I also order Chinese Food from Wong Fu Kie in Asemka. They’re the best. and we hungry eaters love the desserts at cork and screw, esp. the melted chocolate cake