(Author, Lilian, sporting her own style in Malaysia)
First came the Portugese. Then, the Dutch rolled in. After a while, the Brits took over, followed by the Japanese. Finally, the Brits conquered this country named Malaya, and made plans for the native Malays, Chinese and Indian migrants to unite the country’s administration so they could eventually call Malaya their own.
With Malaysia’s impending 55th birthday, I can find plenty to celebrate about my heritage. While I am grateful for 365 days of summer, a huge array of multi-ethnic cuisines and some pretty amazing beaches, today I’d like to celebrate how our racial and religious diversity has influenced our personal styles and created a fashion nation unlike any other. So, I sat down with three Malaysian stylistas from different backgrounds and talked about what it means to represent Malaysia in the realm of fashion.
When I came home from Howard University this summer, the last thing I expected was a ticket to Los Angeles! Being a fast paced East Coast girl, I couldn’t wait to touch down on West Coast land. Trust me, there’s no better (or different) place than Los Angeles if your’e looking for a change of scenery from the hustle and bustle of city life, a new vacation spot where it seems everyone is happy, or if you’re just hoping to run into a celebrity. There’s plenty to do and see, even on a college girl budget.
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Welcome to the 2012 Style Olympics, where our fashion all-stars are weighing in on the ways in which where they’re from have effected their personal style. Don’t forget to stay tuned for more this week!
I grew up in a small college town in the Midwest. Bloomington, IN was a little pocket of (relative) diversity and progressive thought in the heart of corn country, USA. I spent a pretty significant time around horses and haystacks for someone who didn’t grow up on a farm. This might be where my soft spot for everything cowboy developed. In the fall, especially, you can almost always find me in some combination of denim and worn in leather boots.
Bloomington is the kind of place where the county fair is the biggest event in town one summer and the next it’s a visit from the Dalai Lama. The small town had a population with people from all over the world, including my parents, who emigrated from Nigeria to study at Indiana University.
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Welcome to the 2012 Style Olympics, where each OTY contributor is weighing in on fashion in their hometowns and how it has effected their personal style. Don’t forget to stay tuned for more this week!
Growing up in the D.C. Metropolitan area and now attending college right in the heart of the city means you never miss out on a fashion beat. Washington D.C. is truly up-and-coming in regards to its style credibility and effect on the fashion world. Although there are some dominating trends you may see here, the stores are really your oysters in the nation’s capitol.
For me, growing up in such a diverse and culturally affluent area has effected my personal style by making it very carefree and laid back. I don’t restrict myself to fashion trends or high price points, I simply wear what I want. You’ll often see me sporting a $2 shirt from the thrift store paired with $170 Jeffrey Campbell shoes. It is for this reason no one word explains my style – it changes daily.
Recently, the fine people at Sugarlips Apparel gifted me with their lovely Native Meadow Dress. Clearly, they the know the way to this girl’s heart.
The dress itself is a beautiful contradiction. There is the shape, which is a classic A-line dress that makes me want to pull out a pair of pearls and grab a martini with Don Draper. Then there is the print, which is a Navajo design that is begging me to let my hair down and run around barefoot as if I was in a Free People Catalog. In other words, I adore it, as it fits perfectly into my Southern California lifestyle. It is true to size and because this dress is tailored while tribal, I am able to wear it both day and night, creating two entirely different looks.
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