As you all know by now - fashion is my thing. I truly believe it is art in the form of shoes, clothes etc...Having a ‘good eye’ is one of the (actually it is the) only true talent I possess. So, why is it that when it comes to the gym or in my case, Pilates classes, does ‘my look and eye’ go right out the window? Take last Tuesday evening for example, I walked into the studio looking pretty on point if I say so myself - red Maje silk top, matching red lips and black Zara cropped baggy trouser - simple yet effective. As soon as I changed into my gym gear I looked like I was in desperate need of a style intervention – can you Adam and Eve it?!? – Picture this: grey ‘sort-of-yoga’ pants and navy ‘I ♥ NY’ t-shirt all bought at a bargain price from a couple of hip and happening (?!) market stalls in Chinatown, NYC! Other than the said outfit I’m usually in some nondescript black get up...the shame...
No one in the ‘know’ would believe or see that I was one of them - a ‘true fashionista’ (Oh get over yourself girlfriend what does that really mean!). I look around and I cannot tell if my fellow classmates are into Chanel or Church Street market. Nor, can I tell if someone’s wearing Stella McCartney or whichever designer that has a sportswear range, or an actual 'designer' range like Sweaty Betty (unless I see a logo, but who’s looking when legs are akimbo). It all looks the same anyway. No one really cares or appreciates designer gear in this environment. Being stylish or fashionable is not the common goal* (I can't believe I just said that!) - muscle tone and weight loss is.
The funny thing is that even the most gorgeous instructors make very little or no impact on what women in my classes wear - maybe the odd girl/woman will come to class wearing some up-the-bum thingy, ultra-tight skimpy outfit or short shorts and no knickers, but that’s not commonplace. The rest of us are just trying to make it through the gruelling workout. (Unlike the reaction to a new hot guy in an office - the attention-grabbing style stakes go right up!). Also, I’ve yet to see a woman with a full face of heavy make-up on - tell a lie, there is one woman but I’m sure she’s been tattooed, as she never has that smudged/washed away post-workout look.
So, why is style given a miss? Maybe it has something to do with sweating like a pig during these sessions. Yes, that has to be the reason. I personally try and avoid sweating in my non-gym ‘good’ clothes. Depending on the material, sweat can stain. Staining = sometimes having to throw away some fab pieces – and it cuts like a knife!
Interestingly, women in this environment look at other women’s bodies not what they are wearing. There is no moral or style advice to this story. It’s just an observation I wanted to share with you all.
Are you a fashionista in the gym? Am I discriminating against gym wear fashions? Let me know – email me or leave a comment.
Speak soon,
Camillea
*This is an exception to the rule. Style is ALWAYS the common goal.
The Designer Bag God Complex
The numerous conversations I’ve had and overheard about designer bags (DBs) have inspired this blog. A whole lot of wo/men out there have a bad case of what Karma-Style (K-S) has diagnosed as DBGC.
The Definition:
Designer Bag God Complex (DBGC) is a psychological state of mind in which the individual believes he/she is, or is destined to become god-like in the fashion world. The person generally believes they are above the rules of fashion society, and are better than everyone else because they own a certain designer bag.
Overview & Facts:
A whole lot of women out there have a bad case of DBGC. Forget swine flu, this is an epidemic disease of the mind and body. It’s all good to buy this season’s Fendi or Balenciaga, but unfortunately there are women (and a few men) who think that by buying DBs they are worshipped by us all – and thus exalts them to a god-like status. The media plays a major part in this big con. Celebrities are walking advertisements, as soon as they are seen with the ‘latest’ bag; it becomes a surefire sell-out in stores.
K-S says buy a bag YOU LIKE and that LOOKS GOOD on you for you. It can be an unnamed designer; it can cost 30 or 3000 quid as long as it works for you as an individual who cares/gives a s….t!
The Disease:
Very recently I had a conversation, well, it wasn’t really a conversation as this particular woman spoke at me for twenty minutes about her …guess what…Louis Vuitton (LV) bag. I wouldn’t mind if she was just as enthusiastic about ‘a gorgeous bag’ she had bought I would have listened with respect. She went on to say “You know, you know, people really treat me differently when I’m wearing LV you know, they just do” blah LV blah blah LV blah LV this LV that - in this elevated tone of delusional grandeur. I tell you Karma-Stylers I nearly fell off my chair between the ummms and uh-huhs of my responses. I had to stop myself from cracking up laughing in her face when I realised she was deadly serious about a bag?!? This is what she truly believed. Diagnosis: a classic, critical case of DBGC.
Symptoms:
If you have any of the symptoms such as; continuous DB name-dropping, delusions of grandeur etc. or notice them in any of your friends; you/they may well be afflicted with DBGC – DO NOT WORRY. There is a cure. K-S has the remedy.
The Cure/Remedy:
Firstly: take a BIG dose of humble pie, this will help you come back down to earth, then an EQUAL amount of sorting out your head to acknowledge that “the bag doth not maketh the wo/man”. Finally when you’re next out shopping for a new bag purchase, take a HUGE thought process of quality, style and cost with wearability and add a little longevity before you buy. Don’t be blind-slighted by the brand name.
Remember to take the above remedy every time, in order to make a non-DBGC purchase. Feel free to email me whenever you feel a slight or major DBGC fever coming on.
One of K-S’s missions is to free all wo/men from this awful disease. Join us now.
One more thing, there is no excuse on this planet to use a DB for a lack of style. I don’t care how rich or poor you are. What is the point of walking around like a tramp with a DB in tow? Make an effort for ‘god’s sake’.
Please, please don’t buy anything ever because you think it makes you more superior to others that’s just not cool.
Until next time
Camillea
The Definition:
Designer Bag God Complex (DBGC) is a psychological state of mind in which the individual believes he/she is, or is destined to become god-like in the fashion world. The person generally believes they are above the rules of fashion society, and are better than everyone else because they own a certain designer bag.
Overview & Facts:
A whole lot of women out there have a bad case of DBGC. Forget swine flu, this is an epidemic disease of the mind and body. It’s all good to buy this season’s Fendi or Balenciaga, but unfortunately there are women (and a few men) who think that by buying DBs they are worshipped by us all – and thus exalts them to a god-like status. The media plays a major part in this big con. Celebrities are walking advertisements, as soon as they are seen with the ‘latest’ bag; it becomes a surefire sell-out in stores.
K-S says buy a bag YOU LIKE and that LOOKS GOOD on you for you. It can be an unnamed designer; it can cost 30 or 3000 quid as long as it works for you as an individual who cares/gives a s….t!
The Disease:
Very recently I had a conversation, well, it wasn’t really a conversation as this particular woman spoke at me for twenty minutes about her …guess what…Louis Vuitton (LV) bag. I wouldn’t mind if she was just as enthusiastic about ‘a gorgeous bag’ she had bought I would have listened with respect. She went on to say “You know, you know, people really treat me differently when I’m wearing LV you know, they just do” blah LV blah blah LV blah LV this LV that - in this elevated tone of delusional grandeur. I tell you Karma-Stylers I nearly fell off my chair between the ummms and uh-huhs of my responses. I had to stop myself from cracking up laughing in her face when I realised she was deadly serious about a bag?!? This is what she truly believed. Diagnosis: a classic, critical case of DBGC.
Symptoms:
If you have any of the symptoms such as; continuous DB name-dropping, delusions of grandeur etc. or notice them in any of your friends; you/they may well be afflicted with DBGC – DO NOT WORRY. There is a cure. K-S has the remedy.
The Cure/Remedy:
Firstly: take a BIG dose of humble pie, this will help you come back down to earth, then an EQUAL amount of sorting out your head to acknowledge that “the bag doth not maketh the wo/man”. Finally when you’re next out shopping for a new bag purchase, take a HUGE thought process of quality, style and cost with wearability and add a little longevity before you buy. Don’t be blind-slighted by the brand name.
Remember to take the above remedy every time, in order to make a non-DBGC purchase. Feel free to email me whenever you feel a slight or major DBGC fever coming on.
One of K-S’s missions is to free all wo/men from this awful disease. Join us now.
One more thing, there is no excuse on this planet to use a DB for a lack of style. I don’t care how rich or poor you are. What is the point of walking around like a tramp with a DB in tow? Make an effort for ‘god’s sake’.
Please, please don’t buy anything ever because you think it makes you more superior to others that’s just not cool.
Until next time
Camillea
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