She and Him / Washington D.C.

If you haven't come across the Kooples boutiques, you'll have to book a flight to Paris to do so. Fortunately for those of us on this side of the pond, you needn't look any further than the streets to find the inspiration for the boutique's concept: well-dressed couples.
There is something to be said for a couple which shares a similar style. It's like they know something we don't know. So when I saw this couple share a kiss on University Yard, I asked for their photo. I love their vintage style, but I especially love her belt, glasses and the camera casually slung around her neck. I also love how his t-shirt and her shorts share the same shade of teal green: subtle and inadvertent color coordination.
Anyhow, if you feel like sharing out other, real-life, stylish couples, check out the website and blog: http://www.thekooples.com/

Weed Leaf and Mummy / Washington D.C.

Colorful, style conscious people make me question my black, white and grey wardrobe. Everything this kid is wearing would look terrible on me, but he has put the outfit together with such effortless style and attitude that everything works. I love the way he manages to wear printed shorts with a graphic t-shirt and then pile on the wooden beads. My favorite is his wooden, Egyptian, mummy mask necklace.

Lego Heart On My Sleeve / Washington D.C.

I feel a sense of humor is absolutely crucial in fashion, but many people lack it; so I was impressed when this kid made me smile after I asked about his Lego heart. He began explaining, "You know how people wear their heart on their sleeves?" I nodded and he continued, "Well, I wear my heart on my shirt pocket." I wonder if any girl's told him that laughter is the key to a girl's heart.

O Canada / Casco Viejo

I am often a tourist, but I hate tourist-wear: cargo shorts, standard t-shirt, practical sandals (which no one can really pull off), or even worse, running sneakers with knee-high socks (Why? Really - why? When did calves become offensive and need to be covered up?). It is such a relief to meet a stylish tourist. This women hails from Canada, and speaks French, English, and Arabic - all of which is impressive in itself, but her Missoni-inspired dress, hot pink lipstick and cute, pink, and comfortable (props for comfortable) sandals made her stand out in Casco Viejo. Plus, the way she effortlessly carries her camera around her neck makes her look more like a photographer than a tourist. Which is fantastic, because after all, no one really wants to look like a tourist.

Clashing Prints / Casco Viejo

I finally wandered out of the apartment, which isn't to say that my cheeks aren't puffy anymore; it's more like cabin fever really, really gets to me. The photos above are of a Kuna Indian in Casco Viejo - the historical, Unesco-protected, area of Panama City, Panama.

I love the Kuna. I admire their courageous and loud colors, because while I practically wear a uniform of minimalist black and white, these women have no problem clashing prints and executing it with grace. My favorite thing about the Kuna style, however, is their beaded arm and leg bracelets. The women wear one, long, wrapped bracelet on each wrist and then wrap their legs up to the knee in the same beaded style. Apparently, they wear the beaded leg bracelets for nine months straight because the only way to remove them is to cut them off. I loved the bright beads so much that I asked them to wrap my left arm up to my elbow in an orange, green, black, red, and gold bracelet. Now to see if I can manage to stick with it for nine months...

Wisdom Teeth Lost / Cabin Fever in Panama

I just had my wisdom teeth extracted, and due to the fact that I look like a chipmunk, it seems as if I'm not leaving the house anytime soon. So instead, here are some collages on what trends I'm especially feeling for Fall 2010. The first collage has a Dries Van Noten centerpiece, which was, hands-down my favorite show for Fall 2010. Evidently, I'm looking forward to tribal wear, army green and khaki colors, and especially leopard and furs. What I love most about the Dries Van Noten approach to army green and khaki shades is that he manages to pair otherwise, subtle colors, with vibrant greens and purples, straight from a garden. Fall doesn't have to be all dreary, and Dries Van Noten's show is pehaps, the best example.

The second collage is all about make-up. What I'm most looking forward to is bare faces, strong brows and the occasional red lip. Although Givenchy's show makes me wonder if I too can pull of red/pink eyeliner.

Summer Flashbacks / Paris

Working on the final project for Istituto Marangoni: seven, different mood boards in under 24 hours. Complete and total chaos.

Pearls / Panama

I'm not a fan of pearls, not on young people anyways. I'll wear pearls when I'm old and grey and look like I can afford them. But this kid caught my eye the second he walked through the doors of Prive, a cocktail bar in Panama. Mixed in with various silver, gold, and black chains, the pearl necklace pulls his outfit together. And I cannot forgot to mention his roughed-up, statement ring, which looks like it can punch out a few teeth, but also have an amazing time on a Tuesday night out on the town.

Voodoo Party / Prescription Cocktail Bar

Prescription Cocktail Bar is the sort of bar you've walked by plenty of times and never notice. The interior, however, is the sort of place you don't forget, what with its 18th century, British imperialistic decor. Billed as a cocktail club, the cocktails are excellent, but the real reason you'll find this place attractive is for the people-watching. On a Voodoo/Safari themed night, the crowd was fantastic. The first girl wore her animal headband in the best way possible: nonchalantly. The second girl lit up the room with her embellished dress and purse. The third photo is a couple on smoking break outside the bar, complementing each other perfectly in their pristine, white outfits with leather details.

Exiting a Vintage Store / Le Marais

Photographed by Monica Rojo.

I can't claim ownership for this photo. This one is all my friend, Monica Rojo. She spotted these two kids leaving a vintage shop in Le Marais and followed them outside for a photo. The outfits these two kids wore were so meticulously thought out, and it is only evident when you look closely at them. But perhaps, my favorite details were the lady-like earrings and the glasses on a chain.

The Cool Kid's Club / Bois du Boulogne

Bagatelle is the cool kid's club. Located a bit far from the Paris city centre, at Bois du Boulogne, no amount of attitude can get you in. You need a reservation. This means that plenty of kids are left hanging outside the hunting lodge / club, and the scene is just as cool on the outside as it is on the inside.

The first is a man who caught my eye with his uninhibited dancing. At 5 AM, the chilly night air and extinguished gas lamps were clearing out the terrace, but he was still going. I loved his ensemble and grape-colored hat. He's a modern-day dandy. And he knows how to have fun. Then, the girl struck me as "French" with her brown, wavy hair, fresh face and lace, white and black dress. She was perfectly casual but perfectly pretty. She's cool without trying too hard, an attitude that the French are best at exuding.

Le Bal des Pompiers / St. Sulpice

At the Annual Bastille Day Fireman's Ball, at the St. Sulpice station, this twenty-something-year-old was dressed rather conservatively. He wore jeans, a button-down shirt, loafers and reading glasses; so I was surprised when I caught a glimpse of his brightly colored bracelet.

Working on Mood Boards for Istituto Marangoni

These are mood boards we had to work on for the Image Consultant course at Istituto Marangoni Paris. Each depicts a trend, the first being the 1950's, the second is Minimalism and the third is Riviera Chic. I have tried taking these photos multiple times with different lighting but there is always a glare, I wish the quality was better.

Utility / Pont Neuf

Photographed by Monica Rojo.

Getting this shot was terribly embarrassing. It involved a bit of power-walking, camera mishaps, and language barriers, but this boy was truly a gentleman about letting me take his photo multiple times. I love his relaxed, utility look but his gold, sports watch and messenger bag completed the look.

Black and White / Le Marais

I ran into this boy while I sat at a bar with some friends. He walked by on the cobblestone street and the first thing to catch my eye was his amazing, ink-black hair and how it lay dramatically against his pale, gaunt cheekbones. But then I caught sight of his collarbone and I decided I needed a photo. However, the detail that ties it all together for me is his white belt and the unique way he wears it.

Youthful Utility / Place Dauphine

This boy can't be more than six years old? I can't say. I'm terrible with ages. But like many French people I have met, he seems to have an innate sense of style, even at his young age. Of course, style isn't just evident in his military green, utility shorts; for the one or two minutes I was snapping away, he remained confidently aloof as he played a game with shiny, silver balls and made the Place Dauphine his own arena.