Beyond Obsessed / by Cara Gordon

"Get obsessed, totally obsessed. There is no use just liking what you do. Get obsessed with it." - Mario Testino

[beyond-obsessedd-blog]

NYFW: The 8 Looks That ~Literally~ Changed My Life

It’s been almost two weeks since the conclusion of New York Fashion Week and I just finished flipping through the looks of all 254 presentations/shows (if I counted correctly) for Spring/Summer 2016.. in the process I’ve categorized my favorite looks into folders by designer and additionally created a folder of everything I absolutely loathed for contrast purposes. Now onto London and Milan (I’m so behind..)!! And it’s already freaking PARIS FASHION WEEK... I’m awful!! 

I was fortunate enough to be in the city during the week but regardless, I couldn’t be everywhere at once (more on my personal experience to come..)!  Here’s the 8 looks (in no particular order) that either made me gasp, cry (I wish I was exaggerating but one of these actually brought me to tears), moved me to text someone about it, inspired me, made me get up and change my outfit, and/or most importantly, made me fall in the love with the industry all over again. 

1) Nanette Lepore: Look 1

This one I actually got to experience first hand! Last minute a friend of mine couldn’t make it to the presentation so I got to take his place on the list; guests were skin to skin (it felt like a college bar) and the event was wild. Complete with music as loud as the neon makeup on the models, pinot grigio floating around in cans, herds of media, it all made complete sense in correspondence to the collection. Young, loud, fun, new; everything spring should be. In particular, this look amazes me. Smart trends have everything to do with pop culture and Nanette nailed the whole digital/tech wave with this spunky piece. From the font, the silhouette of the sleeves, the colors (or lack thereof), YES YES and YES. I need this!! 

2) Christian Siriano: Look 43

I have no idea what it was about this but my jaw dropped upon seeing it. Maybe it’s the halo of tulle that is perfectly thought out or the angelic effect despite the overwhelming beige. Even though beige isn’t my go-to, I am thrilled that it isn’t white. For this look, white would have been too predictable. White can be too pure. White has too many connotations. But this... off-white... blonde... floating.. masterpiece? It’s simple. It’s honest. It’s weirdly perfect. How it changed my life: I no longer want my wedding dress to be white (assuming I get married one day).

3) Alexander Wang: Look 36 

It was difficult for me to elevate just one look from since this entire collection is E V E R Y T H I NG ! The [star-studded] party was definitely at Pier 94 for Wang’s 10th anniversary collection on September 12th. With leaving Balenciaga post October 2nd, I feel like there will be major pressure on him next season but if this is a foreshadow, he definitely re-proved himself as able to exceed all of our expectations. I am swooning over this coat/fringe/pants/shoes/entire look. If I saw this girl walking down the street, I would want to be her. 

4) Diesel Black Gold: Look 11

I prefer to look at the collections before reading the backstory/reviews/social media posts/etc on them so my thoughts are 100% organic. I like to create stories for myself and draw on how I relate to the pieces before learning how they came about. While flipping through Diesel Black Gold, the first phrase that came to mind was “breaking rules”. It turns out the inspiration is “the image of a girl wearing her boyfriend’s button-down shirt as a dress”. Pretty close, eh? I loved most of the collection (the navy/black combos weren’t my favorite) but this look in particular! The backwards-overalls..thing?! They are also black.. and leather.. !? I’ve never seen it before! Anything that makes me think... I am drawn to. What else can I turn around and reinvent in my closet..? So dope!!

5) Marc Jacobs: Look 36

New York Fashion Week definitely went out with a bang thanks to Marc Jacobs; not that I’m surprised. “The show was a love letter to the movies, America’s greatest invention; to America itself; and to a New York City that’s all but vanished” (vogue.com). Jacobs has always been one of my favorites and I was looking forward to see what he could commingle into his single label since the discontinuation of his sister brand. The tribute, the show, the theatre, it was genius. This ensemble just works for me. Even the hair. 

6) Marchesa: Look 35

Every once in a while I remember some mastermind has to come up with all of this. And like, put it together!? Marchesa blew me away and this subpart of the entity struck me and made me fall in love with this industry all over again. impeccable details. Structure. Color. Concept. Absolutely flawless.

7) Carolina Herrera: Look 33

The one word that comes to mind here is “elegant”. My personal style has been morphing into a “gothic princess” (in lack of better description) aesthetic lately and I’ve been drawn to more grungy pieces. I forgot how much of an impact a well made, simply pretty look can have. The movement of the skirt / I want to know what this top is made of. Even the shoes are flattering! How it changed my life: Head-to-toe pink is not always tacky! Might try it again come spring.

8) Vera Wang: Look 38

“Florals for spring. Ground breaking.” Nope. Not here. Head-to-toe black may not be Anna Wintour’s thing but Vera reminds us that it never goes out of style. Any season. Ever. The all black allows the freedom for the various trends that this look teases.  Oh and remember when Kendall Jenner’s sheer top at Marc Jacobs caused more uproar than a presidential election? Clearly society got over that. Thank God. 

Now onto the next..! Sorry again for being so late! XX

[beyond-obsessedd-blog]

How did you get an ask me anything box on your blog?!

There’s an option in your settings!! Just go to “Edit appearance” and switch the “Ask” section to blue! “ Super easy :) 

[beyond-obsessedd-blog]

Chapter Two: Life Beyond the Rink

For anyone that knows me personally, a hefty amount of this content might be redundant so bear with me.

For those of you that don’t, I spent the last half of my life as a competitive figure skater. Specifically, as a synchronized skater, which means I’ve always been a part of a team. Up until a few months ago, I would have told you that skating was my life. 

At the peak of my career, I spent anywhere from 30-60+ hours a week training. I never saw myself as naturally talented so I worked a lot harder than everyone else to keep up. For instance, my teammates had this crazy idea that was I was born flexible but little did they know that for years, I showed up to practice an hour earlier and stayed an hour after just to stretch. I generally didn’t leave the rink until around close to midnight but I didn’t want to! I loved it more than anything.

When I was 16, we earned the opportunity to represent Team USA in international competition. We went to Paris, Venice, and Milan all within a two week span and the experience was magical. I still remember the exact moment of when we found out we had captured a bronze medal in Milan - the screams, the hugs, the tears. I still get chills remembering the “USA, USA, USA,” chants and the blaring national anthem.. hand over heart. Home of the brave. I still refer to that day as one of the best in my life.  

I continued post high school and was a part of the Michigan State University Synchronized Skating Team for the past three years. It was my first time being on a team where we all went to the same school and could actually hang out outside of the rink! I was afraid I would never find another group who would accept my quirky self like in high school but I found just that and more. My best moments in college so far have been with these girls. My sophomore year we were crowned the national bronze medalists and my junior year I served the duty of captain. It was really during these seasons I truly resonated with the phrase, “these are the moments”. 

I was obsessed to say the least. The idea of having to stop always terrified me; I felt that without skating I wouldn’t be me. I would become depressed, purposeless, out of shape, and painfully average. I felt that skating always justified my existence and brought out the best in me. 

A former coach once told me that leaving the skating world is like leaving a real first love. It’s heart-breaking, I’ll have moments of regret, I might cry a lot, and it could take a while to re-build and to feel happy and complete again. 

It isn’t the same for all former skaters since the reasons for stopping vary (notice how I never say “quit”) but I’ve had moments that have felt parallel to a bad break-up scenario. However, similarly to one, it gets easier. A flaw of mine is that too often, I hold what I do and who I am as one of the same. In other words, what I do and who I am are no different to me. I get too lost in what I do and love; I never differentiate it from the person I am or hope to be. I guess this is where my obscene obsession for everything derives from. I’m not one to say whether this mindset is a “flaw” or not but it definitely amplifies the day-to-day for better or worse. Since I associated my worth with my sport for the last half of my life, the absence of it has left me feeling worthless. With not being in New York or doing anything directly fashion-related either (my next great conquest if it isn’t obvious enough), it has taken a lot of confidence to get up, explore, and choose to be a happy/functional/societal human.

My relationship with New York has aided me in realizing that I have talent and something to offer outside of the rink. But beyond knowing that I hold value, skating curated just that. The successes I know I’ll have in the future will always have skating to thank; I wouldn’t be who I am today without it. I credit any time I fell for teaching me how to get back up and any victory for teaching me how to brush past the hype and keep working toward the next thing. I’m proud of what I accomplished as a skater and I know it won’t be the last experience I’ll be proud of either. 

Not only was I training for the next competition or the next season, I was training for the rest of my life. 

It’s been six months since I’ve last put on a pair of skates but I’ll probably put them back on for old times sake sometime within the next six. The skating world is a special family that I know I can always come back to and that will always hold a very special and sacred place in my heart. I’m more than grateful for the experiences I had, the people I’ve met, and everything I’ve learned along the way; I had the time of my life. But just because I’m not competing doesn’t mean it isn’t there and just because I’m not “skating” doesn’t mean I’m not a “skater”. While the experience itself was fleeting, what I took from it will last forever and I can’t wait for what’s next. So, here’s to chapter two.. 

[beyond-obsessedd-blog]

There’s a first for everything..

“Well, what is your strength in this industry, Cara?”

My ADV professor sang to the class. Still in my 9 a.m. on a Friday daze, halted from clicking through Brandon Maxwell’s debut collection via Vogue.com, I almost choked on my chai tea latte from being put on the spot like that. As outgoing as I’d like to think I am, I hate speaking in classroom settings.

“Well, writing. I enjoy it..” I stuttered. “Are you a writer?” He asked. “Yes,” I shot back. “Do you read?” “I don’t really read as many books as I’d like to, so I write them.”

He looked amused with my fairly confident response. He then turned back to the board to scribble, “Cara - Writer” in faint yellow chalk.

I’ve always enjoyed writing. Who knows if I’m really a “writer” but maybe I will be one day. What really makes a writer a ~writer~ anyway?

Which brings me to my next point: WhY aM i On TuMbLr AnYwAy? Why does anyone care?

For those of you who are complete strangers, my name is Cara, I’m 21 years old young, and I’m one of those crazies attempting to pursue the fashion scene, as of now in New York City, hopefully beyond one day. I’ve been told “no” more times Britney Spears has been caught lip singing and have been laughed at, ridiculed, shot down, judged, rejected, eye rolled at for my dreams for as long as I can remember. Saying you want to go into fashion in Michigan (where I was born, currently live, and go to school) is like saying you want to become a famous ice cream taste tester/Miley Cyrus/the first human to legitimately fly/President of the United States. All at the same time. Close to impossible, right? I’m not saying I’ve made it (not even close) but I’ve lived in the city the past two summers interning and just got back from New York Fashion Week recently; I’m working on it!!

I title this page “Beyond Obsessed” because that’s what I am. I’ll never apologize for being over-the-top, loud, dramatic, passionate, bizarre, etc. because it’s part of me and I wouldn’t want to live life any other way! So for this 34323th attempt at a “blog” or whatever; I hope to maybe educate, inspire, entertain or provoke thoughts/opinions/feelings from whoever comes across this little digital space of mine..

So let’s see what happens! Welcome! Thanks for stopping by :-)

xx

~Cara