Backstreet’s Back

Feb 6th 2013

Alright?
When I first asked my non-fashion friend if I looked chic in this outfit, her initial reaction was this: “You look like a damned Backstreet Boy if a Backstreet Boy resembled Bobby Lee, was consumed by an orange Gumby and wore their mother’s chunky jewelry.”

Ouch, why am I friends with her again?

I get the 90′s boyband allusion with my white on white on cream look. I can actually just picture Brian Litrell sporting this exact outfit–along with the wide-brimmed hat–and make it look supremely cheesy, and maybe a little Johnny Weir-esque, singing “I Want It That Way.” And I totally understand how people can opine that wearing white jeans before the summer is totally inappropriate and a huge faux pas since the weather here in NYC is so dark and gloomy: doomy.

In a city that is so accustomed to black on black on black and then adding even more black, especially in the winter, it’s become socially unacceptable to wear anything in any other hue. Even a lighter shade of heather grey is frowned upon.

But I will go on a limb and say this rather boldly: this outfit can become the quintessential New York winter outfit. I mean, if Robert Redford pulled off turtlenecks in the seventies, why can’t all men? Who’s with me?

Do I stand alone?

Redford, after all, was the style icon of his time and his signature look was a knit turtleneck, peacoat, furrowed brows and overall badassery.

And other than being like Redford–and who wouldn’t want to be like him?!–the following reasons why this outfit works:

First of all, it’s comfortable and there’s nothing better than wearing something that you can live, breathe, dance, and booty clap in. These DL 1961 jeans are actually what I dream of–so comfy that I could practically sleep in them.

Secondly, it’s practical, people!  My turtleneck protects me from cold weather. It’s warm enough to get you through 30-degree weather without having to layer yourself with itchy wool scarves that leave marks on your neck after scratching everywhere, making you look like that recovering fashion meth addict. Also, the added hat not only helps my head from freezing, but it also covers up a bad hair day which seems to happen every other day for me these days–greasy, sweaty hair that I get right after my hot yoga classes (I go daily). In these cases hats only work in your favor, the bigger the hat the easier it is to imprison that crazy hair from seeing the light of day.

Lastly, it attracts attention: the good kinds. This H&M coat by itself is a statement piece, so by muting everything else it makes it snap, crackle and (Dirty) Pop. By then adding some heavy chunky jewelry that shines bright like a um, Die-mun, it makes it unexpected and interesting. People may not understand the look, but they still give me a good minute-long stare and sometimes, if I’m lucky enough, a double-take, which is exactly when I know I’ve pulled off something special.

I later called my friend the next day to argue why my outfit was much more Robert Redford than the Backstreet Boys.

After much discussion about the 90′s and early 2000′s, which bands we loved and hated, and then finally my outfit, and Doug, my friend explicated further why she still wouldn’t budge on her stance.

“I get your point but it still looks a little you know, campy boy bander which isn’t the worst thing ever.”

“Well, tell me at least that I’m not Kevin, please!” I pleaded with her over the phone. “No one cares about Kevin!”

Someone once told me When in doubt, look down. It makes you look serious, or something.

Shine bright like…cubic zarconia!

Cause I want it that way…

What I’m wearing: coat by H&M, hat is vintage, turtleneck from Ralph Lauren, jeans by DL1961, shoes by Rag&bone, necklace from India.