Commes On!

 If ever there was a statement skirt, this is it. Purchased 15 years ago at this incredible store in Englewood (Galleria Neoponti of blessed memory), this was a very daring move for me at that stage. My style had not even begun to shape itself, and most of what I wore then I’d never wear now. First of all, I was 25 with two kids. I was in full on mom mode, which didn’t look like the mom mode of today. The 25 year olds I see in these here parts are generally way cooler than my friends and I were. I’m not going to say we didn’t care; we did, we just didn’t know. We looked cute and fine but not particularly fashion savvy. There was no internet onslaught that exposed us to what was out there, so we bought what we saw. If it was cute and comfortable that was enough. But alas, one day I ventured into this avant- guard, way too cool for me at the time boutique, and connected with this incredible skirt. It remains one of my most prized purchases. It’s Commes Des Garçon, a designer I have always loved for its daring, cutting edge style. I love their deconstruction and distressing of fabrics and patterns. This piece is made of overlapping fabrics, frayed edges, and non obvious layering. It’s heavy and often falls off hangers, so it’s definitely a cold weather item. I have worn it with bodysuits, button downs, t shirts, and turtlenecks. I always wear a black top to keep the statement super strong. This cutout shoulder top is perfect, in that the little flashes of flesh give it some air. This is a heavy piece in both weight and affect. You need no accessories here; the skirt and the head to toe black are enough. Anything additional would clog the look. It’s so gratifying when an investment pays off, in any area. I’m glad I had the foresight to boldly go where I’d never gone before, and bought this skirt which was out of my then comfort zone. Even if you think something is “so not you” but you really love it, follow that. We get so annoyed with ourselves when we leave opportunities behind. It’s a frustrating feeling. Trusting our instincts won’t always be right, but the more we practice doing it, the more right decisions we are likely to make in the long run.