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How to Develop a Personal Style [Tuesday]

"Good morning," Irene chirped from her perch on her desk at the front of the room, "and welcome to How to Develop a Personal Style. My name's Irene Adler, if you didn't know already -- I'm not a professor, so don't call me that, but anything else is fine. 'Hey you' works in a pinch, even, but you only get one of those per term. I want to commend all of you on taking your first step to defining your own fashion sense, if you haven't accomplished that yet. So many of us go through life aimlessly buying things because they're in a color or fabric we like, or because they appeal to the senses in some way, without thinking about how the item might incorporate into our wardrobe." She tsked, shaking her head. "Impulse buying is the closet's enemy, and my greatest vice, personally."

"But!" She clapped her hands together briskly. "That is precisely the sort of thing we're going to cover in this class -- how to build what we call a capsule wardrobe, how to define what you want out of it, and what it means to have style."

She didn't feel the need to explain her credentials, especially since she didn't really have any official ones. Irene rather thought her Roland Mouret and Jimmy Choos spoke for themselves, anyway.

"So, since it's the first day, let's continue in the grand tradition of first days, and do the introduction thing. I want your name, why you're here, and how you'd describe your current style in a single word. And yes," she added, smiling, "I want you to introduce yourself even if we've already met. Can't hurt, right?" She pointed at random. "You first, darling."

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Name, why you're here, and describe your current style in one word.

"Hi, I'm Alana," Alana said, figuring there were probably at least a few new people in the classroom. "I'm here because I tend to go for really practical clothes, and I want to add, y'know, pizazz. My personal style in one word is: simple."

She was wearing a black tank top, waist-length gray Army jacket with wing slits tailored into the back, and black pants. It was all clean and fit her, but it was indeed pizazz-free.

"You've already got a great head start in that it looks like everything fits," Irene offered with a smile, giving Alana a quick once-over. "Simplicity is often key, in certain situations, but we can definitely add in some pizazz. They don't necessarily have to be mutually exclusive. And I'm glad to see you back, Alana."

Edited 2015-01-06 15:14 (UTC)

"I'm happy to be back," Alana answered, smiling. "I really liked the way you taught last semester, so you're part of the reason I'm here, too. That and the pizazz thing."

Re: Introductions! [1/6/15]

begmetwice.livejournal.com - 2015-01-06 16:18 (UTC) - Expand

"Ronan Lynch," he said, voice clipped. "I'm here against my will."

It wasn't that much against his will but yes. He'd rather be somewhere else, most definitely.

"Current style? I don't know. Leather. I like leather." The entirely too expensive leather coat he was sporting probably spoke to that.

"Well, I'm certainly not going to trap you here if you'd rather be elsewhere, Ronan," Irene offered, raising her brows at him. "The door's right there, luv, and if you want to make use of it, I'm not going to tackle you or anything."

It would mess up her hair, for one thing.

"But I do hope you stay," she added, giving him a warm smile. "Because that coat is quite nice. Leather suits you."

"I'm not going anywhere," he grumbled, shaking his head. He was making an attempt. For how long, he didn't know. "I just didn't expect to be in a class about clothes."

Re: Introductions! [1/6/15]

begmetwice.livejournal.com - 2015-01-06 16:09 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Introductions! [1/6/15]

thegreywaren.livejournal.com - 2015-01-06 16:23 (UTC) - Expand

"I'm Alex," she said when it was her turn, "I'm here because I'd like to know more about updating my style to be more modern," she paused, "I'd describe my current style as being denim," since she usually tended to alternate between jeans and overalls, today she was wearing her overalls with a plain white tee underneath.

Irene took a moment to study Alex's outfit, cradling her chin in her fingers thoughtfully. "Forgive my asking," she said, smiling at Alex. "When are you from? I could hazard a guess, but I'd rather hear from you."

Alex nodded, "it's 1997 where I come from," she told her.

Re: Introductions! [1/6/15]

begmetwice.livejournal.com - 2015-01-06 16:10 (UTC) - Expand

"I'm called Cosette," began the girl who couldn't tell you how her mother had derived that from 'Euphrasie,' "and I'm here because I'd like to learn a little bit more about how to dress stylishly, as mine is . . ."

She brushed an imaginary bit of lint off the front of her plain black, somewhat shapeless schoolgirl dress, and looked up with a wry smile. "Childish."

And her attempts at more contemporary fashion were a bit scattershot so far, so not exactly worth considering a style.

"And you are not a child," Irene agreed, surveying Cosette thoughtfully. "And when are you from, Cosette? And are you open to suggestions from this time period? I promise not to force you into anything too scandalous -- we don't need to veer to the complete opposite end of the spectrum to achieve sophistication."

"It ought to be 1830 at home, if time is moving the same there as here," answered Cosette, "though I live here now. So I wouldn't mind more modern ideas as well ~~because 1830s period fashion is RIDICULOUS~~."

Her father would probably notice if she suddenly started wearing midriff-baring tops and miniskirts, so that would be out, but it wasn't like he knew what was considered an acceptable neckline for a 15-year-old girl. So.

"Though no, nothing too extreme, I think."

Re: Introductions! [1/6/15]

begmetwice.livejournal.com - 2015-01-06 19:27 (UTC) - Expand

Anna stood and offered the teacher a generous curtsy. "My name is Anna of Arendelle," she said. "I'm here to learn more about fashion and style. I don't -- know how I'd describe my current style? I like rosemaling details, especially floral patterns, and greens and pinks."

Spring was the word that best described her wardrobe. Elsa was winter, and Anna was spring.

"I don't know that I've been curtsied to before," Irene said with a little smile. "Fortunately enough, we're heading right into the season that would suit your preferences, just now -- we'll start seeing floral prints in designers' collections, if they're to be, sometime in the next few weeks."

She paused, eyeing Anna, and added, "Arendelle -- you aren't related to Elsa, by chance, are you? She was in my last class."

Go ahead, Anna. Ask what that class was.

"Oh, that sounds wonderful," Anna breathed. "And maybe I can try some -- some clothes like people here wear? Some. Not many. And not -- anything -- too much."

She possibly shared some of Cosette's concerns, on this one. For the rest, she brightened.

"Elsa's my sister," she said. "Well, not my sister? She's -- my sister is back home, and her sister is back home, but we're both here. Alternate universes?" She couldn't help a nervous laugh. "I can't picture Elsa needing a class on style."

Elsa was graceful and refined.

Re: Introductions! [1/6/15]

begmetwice.livejournal.com - 2015-01-06 23:56 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Introductions! [1/6/15]

elated-or-gassy.livejournal.com - 2015-01-07 01:22 (UTC) - Expand

"Ezra," Ezra said, with a lazy smile. He was dressed in all-black in a casual, light suit with the jacket hanging open. Not his normal class attire (entirely), but he thought it'd fit the beginning of this class. "I'm here because, honestly, I wanted to take classes I'd find easy."

That suit fit him really well.

"And my one word would be... effortless."

"If it's all the same to you," Irene said, good-naturedly, "as your teacher I'd like to see a bit of effort along the way, even if you find it easy. Though that is a perfect way to describe what you've got on, darling -- do you usually wear suits to your classes, or am I special?"

"Ms. Adler, I think you know perfectly well whether you're special or not." And yes, Ezra was, in fact, exactly this incorrigible. "But to answer the actual question, I dress for the occasion. For instance, this is my first class in a long time, and it's about style. So it felt appropriate."

Not that his clothes were ever all that shabby.

"I'm Kathy Li," she replied, "and I'm here because I don't know anything about fashion or style or whatever. My sister got all the fashion sense in the family."

And, looking down at her outfit, she added, "My aesthetic? Either colorful--" she did love her some rainbows, "--or, umm, 'hand-me-downs.'"

"Patterns, too," Irene suggested with a small smile. "From what I've seen, you favor colors and patterns, right? We can make bold work for you, Kathy -- while keeping it from being overwhelming. And some of my favorite pieces have been hand-me-downs, but in fashion, we call those vintage." She winked.

Re: Introductions! [1/6/15]

spin_kick_snap - 2015-01-06 23:56 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Introductions! [1/6/15]

begmetwice.livejournal.com - 2015-01-07 00:02 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Introductions! [1/6/15]

spin_kick_snap - 2015-01-07 00:05 (UTC) - Expand

"Hi! I'm still Cecil." Which he said very matter-of-factly. Because honestly, he might not have been, right? "I thought this class sounded like fun, and your class last time was pretty non-lethal. And my style is...um." He frowned down at his glittery shoes, floofy, printed pants, and button-up striped shirt. "Comfortable?"

"Bold?" Irene suggested with a small smile. "We can keep you comfortable without clashing, if that's something you're into, Cecil. Though I do love a sparkly shoe."

Re: Introductions! [1/6/15]

voiceoverdue - 2015-01-07 00:36 (UTC) - Expand

"Hi! I'm Minako Aino!" Minako said, waving at anyone she didn't know. "I'm here because I love fashion magazines and clothes and shopping with my friends!"

"My style, uh, colorful or bold. I'm not afraid to try things. Except, you know, boring things."

"Then you, my dear," Irene chirped, "are in exactly the right place! You'll get to try all sorts of new things this term, and hopefully you'll even like a few."

Probably more than a few, but better to undersell herself than oversell, she thought.

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