INSPIRED BY ROMANCE: MEET FABIANNE THERESE

 Our new favorite indie actress on her timeless, elegant style.

She may not know it, but Fabianne Therese exudes a sense of mystery and romance. Even her childhood has a kind of fairy-tale quality to it: she was born in Kansas City, but grew up in Abu Dhabi,  in Sri Lanka, in Palm Springs, LA, Florida, and Austria. Now, resolutely settled in LA, she’s carving out a career for herself as an indie actress. She’s worked with the likes of Roman Coppola and starred opposite Paul Giamatti, and this year she has a spate of new releases coming out. We’re looking forward to seeing her on the red carpet, where we have a feeling she’ll radiate with Old Hollywood elegance.

What does the word “romance” mean to you?

Romance is… it’s kind of like a dreamy idea of something. Or like the best version of something. I don’t know. I fall in love when I walk down the street every 50 seconds. Like, ‘I love this person and I love that person and I love that tree…’ But it’s genuine. I have a lot of real love and enthusiasm for lots of things, and maybe it doesn’t always last that long but it doesn’t really need to. Romance isn’t real, but you’re constantly striving for it.

Wow, that’s a really nice description! Do you feel like there’s a particular style of romance you wish would come back?

I feel like before phones and computers and “instantness,” you kind of had to stay with something. I like that. I feel like past decades really had that.

How does that factor into the way you dress?

I stick with the same things; my closet is the exact same as it was five years ago and my style hasn’t really changed that much. The more worn-in and loved my things are, the better.

Is there a common thread in the way you dress?

I think just a sense of elegance or timelessness. I always try to keep something that my mom would have worn as a kid in Sri Lanka.

Do you recall the first time you used style to express yourself?

I don’t recall exactly when that was but probably when I could first think thoughts. I was imitating things that I loved when I was a kid. I would force my parents to play Peter Pan with me. I literally dressed up as Tinkerbell to their wedding. I’m really into costumes.

Are there any movies or characters that influence your style?

I feel like you’re not allowed to say Audrey Hepburn, but just that kind of vibe. Or a photo from San Tropez in the sixties, some espadrilles and a flowy skirt; something that would look really good on the back of a Vespa. Any of those old films, they all have a classic element to them. Except the ’40’s. I’m not into shoulder pads. They look great on Katharine Hepburn, but not on me.

So, more Audrey than Katharine?

Yeah, I mean she looks so good in everything. But not just her! There’s Lana Turner or Lauren Bacall. Oh my god, Lauren Bacall, that’s what I wish I could look like every day when I walk outside the door.

INSPIRED BY SHAPE: MEET PHOEBE COLLINGS JAMES

You can tell a lot about a person from their Instagram (yes, we know, file that in at the Department of No Duh). But beyond the selfies and the duck face and what kind of phone case they’re using, you can also find out important things, like what kinds of books they’re reading, what they think is funny, and what they’re really into. To put our theory to the test, we decided to stalk Phoebe Collings James’ Instagram – because she’s rad. If you don’t already know who she is from our campaign, here’s a quick review: She’s been modeling since she was 13 years old for fashion outlets like Purple and British Vogue, but these days her art is at the forefront. A graduate of the prestigious Goldsmiths University in London, this half-Jamaican Brit has exhibited internationally, from Brooklyn to Beirut and beyond. This year alone sees her with shows in London, Singapore, New York, and the Venice Biennale. And her love of form and figure is apparent in even her most casual photographs. Phoebe Collings James is the real deal. So let’s get creepin’!

1- She hangs with Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing.

2- She’s funny. (And we must say her iPhone case is on point.)

3- She’s got legs for days and curls to die for… said every girl with straight hair ever.

4- The last books she gram’d about were the front cover of Frantz Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth, an important work from 1961 about the effects of colonization and the autobiography of Malcolm X. Brains beyond the beauty.

5- She seems like good friend, who asks all of the right questions and even dog sits for her friends.

INSPIRED BY SEASONS: MEET OLU ALEGE

NOV 5, 2015 by ALDO TEAM

A co-founder of Street Level Culture, a creative agency with its thumb in all of the pies, New Yorker Olu Alege was born in Brooklyn and raised in the Bronx. As such, he’s witnessed New York utterly transform in the last couple of decades (as he points out, they used to call it the meatpacking district for a reason). One thing that’s remained totally consistent is Olu’s love of nature. You can see it right away because he’s a down to earth guy, and he’s able to have fun and enjoy himself without pretentions. He’s also a particularly dapper gent; a fine example of what happens when style and smarts intersect.

You’ve lived in New York for twenty-five years. What continues to inspire you about the city?
Street culture is so big for me. Like every five years there’s something new. I’ve seen so many subcultures and that just inspires me so much. The people, the clothes, my surroundings. I guess I’m just inspired by what I’m around and that’s why I feel like I always have to continue to travel. New people, new cultures, new food. I love meeting people from all over.

Where would you live if you weren’t in New York?
I would go to London and have that Euro experience, because everything there is so close to each other. I just came back from New Orleans and it was so chill. I thought it was going to be a slow city, but everybody was doing stuff.

What characteristics do you need in a city to call it home?
I think I need to be around nature and people; good energy, you know?

You’re particularly inspired by nature. How do you express that in your day-to-day?
I used to always go to the botanical garden, I still do. There’s these parks all over the city that people don’t go to. There’s Fort Tryon Park all the way uptown near the George Washington Bridge. I go to Madison Square Park a lot, I like to go upstate to Storm King, that’s a dope spot. I’m always hanging out in the park for hours, especially when I have long days or rough days. I just need to be around grass and trees and wind and water.

Does your appreciation for nature inform your aesthetics?
Everyday. I love earth tone colors, the colors of nature and trees and grass. Nature is a hundred percent always on my mind, because I love color and I love things from the world, things from the earth.

You are very into following your ambition. Can you tell us a bit about that?
I think we live in this Do-It-Yourself culture. I went to school for accounting but I followed my heart and found what I love. So to everyone out there, follow your heart, and if you feel like you want to do something, don’t be afraid. Even though millions of other people do it, you have your own voice. Everyone is unique in their own way.

FINAL TOUCH: PATCHWORK PATROL

Let’s face it: perfect style isn’t as easy when you can’t just throw on a jumpsuit and a pair of sandals and call it a day. As the days get shorter and the temperature drops, you’re probably finding that one extra layer isn’t enough. Now it’s a long sleeved shirt, now it’s a sweater, now it’s a jacket. We feel you. But there IS a bright side to all this less-than-sunny weather. Do we need to spell it out for you? Okay…here it is: B-O-O-T-S. Your failsafe-wear-everyday-anywhere-casual-outfit-statement-maker-and-winter-style-saver. The right pair of boots will bring heat to any outfit (not to mention remind you what you love about your legs) and pulling them off is as easy as pulling them on.

Our current obsession is a pair of seventies-inspired tall boots with a lush, sophisticated look and dark patchwork details. Easily incorporated into a casual look for day and equally as easy to dress up at night. Throw them on with an LBD for an event, or wear them like we do: all day everyday. We like the idea of pairing them with a denim button-up skirt and a turtleneck for casually elegant daytime appeal. Pay homage to your favorite decade while still looking ultra modern? Don’t mind if we do, thanks.

Twirl With Me!

 am an avid Pinner (click my link up there to follow me) and if you use Pinterest too I’m sure you’ve seen all the cute ways girls are rocking tulle skirts! I scoured the internet for the perfect one and I finally found it! My new favorite skirt of all time is made by Space 46 Boutique. It’s exactly what I wanted and with a rainbow of color options and different lengths, (mine is the Wendy in dusty blush, 25″ length) you’ll find your perfect skirt too :)

I wore mine for this shoot for Love Luxe Life with a white cropped top and my Chanel candy necklace. The Chloe shoes I’m wearing are now considered vintage at nearly 10 years old, and they’re one of my all time favorite shoes. Perfectly pretty and girly!

Wanna come twirl with me? It’s really fun, I promise!

The Perfect Wedding Shoes…

It’s hard enough to find the perfect shoes for your wedding. You know… the biggest day of your life? But could you imagine trying to design them!? It sounds (and is!) amazing and fun, but it’s also super intimidating. You know me as The Shoe Girl, my friends and family know me as a shoe obsessed girl, so the first thing people ask me isn’t “what does your dress look like?” it’s “OMG what SHOES are you going to wear!?” Sure, I could just buy a super fabulous pair but that would be too easy. Plus I feel like since I have the ability to make pretty much anything I want, I kind of have to right?

No pressure.

Jon and I are a mere eighty seven days away from our big day and, well… I’ve been doing what I do best. Procrastinating. So I decided to to approach this formidable and daunting task the way I do my job. I started with an idea, some mood boards and a few quick sketches. Here’s what I have so far…

I’m really into pearls right now and I think I kinda need to wear them on my feet. Do I go all out and use real pears or do I fake it with some costume ones? I’m also really into single soles, but I know that a platform would be way more comfortable and easier to dance in.

Decisions, decisions! Do you see my dilemma?

So I’ll keep at it but I think I may be getting close. I can’t wait to show you guys my FAN-EFFING-TASTIC dress. I love it SO much. And the shoes of course ;) Who knows how many pairs I’ll end up wearing on my big day.

Paging Dr. Hakakha!

This past Sunday, March 8th, was National Women’s Day and the perfect day to honor an amazing woman with some of her patients and closest friends, celebrating the third edition of her popular book, Expecting 411.

My future cousin-in-law, OB/GYN Dr. Michele Hakakha, MD, is a totally awesome rockstar doctor who just happens to have delivered the babies of some pretty famous (and beautiful!) moms. I got to meet some of them and we all bonded through our love of Michele. She is truly an incredible soul. And a total babe!

 It was a great party and I got to hear some really great stories about motherhood and giving birth and especially about what an amazing doctor and friend Michele is. We all laughed so much! It was truly a celebration of being a woman.

Michele gave me a signed copy of the book- NO, I’m not expecting (yet)- and I went to flip through it and found myself not being able to put it down! It’s really great and easy to read… as if you’re chatting with your very well informed BFF about what’s going on with your body before and during pregnancy. I’m looking forward to the day I get to read it for real :)