January 26, 2013

Love it or Leave it!

Rozi, Store Manager
Glasses: Ray-Ban
Cardigan: Vinatage Store New York City
Trousers: Massimo Dutti
Boots: Zara
Many people associate important memories with their closet. Those memories often tell the story of an impressive trip. Same goes for Rozi. She touched gently the oversized vintage cardigan and recalled the smile she smiled when she walked through New York City some time ago. I have noticed that especially this love for New York City comes up in association with clothes memories a lot. Why do people love New York so much? I think because New York makes you feel at home. Anything goes no matter which race, color, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin. Everyone is New York! Hair color, look and even language are no indications for authenticity. The city of endless opportunities. I want to part of it, New York, New York, Frank Sinatra.

January 25, 2013

The Key is to Translate Fashion into Your Personal Style

Ezgi, Style Consultant
Glasses: illesteva
Jacket: Marni for H&M
Skirt: Chloé
Shoes: Prada
Necklace: Zara
Click here to see what trend Ezgi will never follow...
If you don't have the time, energy or expertise to go shopping on your own, considering the latest trends and how to mix them with your personal style - you should maybe think about a personal shopper. Personal Shoppers are hired by clients to shop for everything from clothing to shoes to more personal items. Personal shopping is all about individualized attention, and a personal shopper generally meets with a client to determine what her personal style is and what she is looking for in terms of fashion. The shopper will then go on to shop for the client and do her best to stay within the client's taste. Yesterday I had an inspiring encounter with two personal shoppers: Lian and Ezgi - the owners of Luxuryshoppers. They call themselves "Style Consultants". Other people would probably call them "Time Savers" or "Miracle Makers". Besides image consulting, personal shopping and wardrobe planning they offer corporate styling and seminars about trends, styling and image, among other services. It's pretty obvious that Ezgi and Lian work hard and love what they are doing. I think, people aren't born with great style. It's something that is learned by those who pay attention. Ezgi and Lian help people to translate fashion into their personal style. 



January 22, 2013

True Luxury is about Having Time

Nergis, Make Up Artist 

Hat: knitted by her mother
Coat: borrowed from her friend
Trousers: Bershka
Boots: Stradivarius

Nergis appeared totally relaxed to me when I saw her sitting outside, enjoying the great weather and chatting with her friends. Although my Turkish knowledge is insufficient for describing Imprimoloco properly we could communicate surprisingly well. To the question of her occupation Nergis answered with a satisfied facial expression: At the moment I don't work. In a world in which occupation, permanent deadlines and stress are understood as status symbols her answer fascinated me. Nergis used to work as a make up artist before, including Estée Lauder. But now she enjoys obviously the time. The encounter with Nergis makes me realize that time is priceless. True luxury is about having time.

January 15, 2013

An Istanbul Woman does not go out not Looking her Best

 Cihan, Stylist
Leather Jacket: Party 21
Trousers: Zara
Pumps: Zen Ayakkabi
Canta: Zen Canta
Contrary to the opinion that fashion is superficial, I have noticed that fashion works on the surface, but does not deserve the attribute superficial. From the beginning fashion has been a mirror of society, created to present the individual need of expression. The range of expression is huge, so much that the effect depends on subtle details. It strikes me that Istanbul women have their own style. Modern Turkish women love to dress elegant, fashionable and feminine. No matter what, high heels are an obligation. The Style of some Turkish Designers confirms my observation: Dresses, skin-tight cuts for trousers and skirts and leather. Black is omnipresent together with flashy cuts, colors and expensive adornments. For me Cihan represents perfectly the modern, elegant Istanbul woman. Her style is ladylike: Black Leather jacket with adornments, black jeans equipped with golden rivets and flashy red patent leather pumps. Cihan showed me that an Istanbul woman does not go out not looking her best. 
It's definitely worth showing Cihan's hairstyle!

January 14, 2013

Why does It take a Minute to Say Hello and Forever to Say Goodbye?

Carolina, Visual Communication Student 
Fake Fur Jacket: Zara
Skirt: Bershka
Boots: Bata
Carolina and her fellow students were filming when I passed. It turned out that they are Erasmus students from Portugal spending their last days in Istanbul. They asked me about Istanbul, about my neighborhood and about the people living there. Carolina spent the time of her life in Istanbul. The thought of farewell makes her very sad. I perfectly understand. 
Istanbul is a magnificent city - one full of beauty, history, spectacular architecture, nice restaurants, views to die for, exceptionally kind and honest people, fun filled nightclubs, exotic sounds, exotic smells and much more. Istanbul is also a city of dilapidated buildings, dirty streets, lots of cats, stray dogs, carpet sellers who can be annoying, taxi drivers who can't drive and few scammers. Istanbul is not perfect. Istanbul is not plastic. It's real and it's gritty. It's Asia, it's Europe. It's a total contradiction!! And all of it, the good and the bad, combine to make it one of the most vibrant, unique and amazing cities in the world. I hope you can understand now why it's hard for Carolina to leave. The good thing about saying farewell is that you could be lucky to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. 

January 12, 2013

Keep it Short and Sweet

Birtan, Bershka Employee
Coat: Bershka
Jeans: Bershka
Yesterday I was lucky because I even met two style conscious men. I can indeed consider myself lucky, as there are usually more interesting dressed women on the street. Why does it seem to me as women like fashion more than men? Women talk more about trends and there are much more fashion magazines for women. Men's fashion is still characterized by classic suits. Although men depend more on trends than before - women's fashion is affected by extremely significant and dynamic changes. When Birtan told me that he works for Bershka, I was not any longer surprised by his style sense. To my question about his "personal no-go trend", Birtan answered like a shot: Classy. He never wants to look like the classic man in a suit. While talking to him, I noticed one more relevant difference between women and men: Interviewing and photographing goes much faster with a man.

January 11, 2013

For Some it's a Trend, for Others it's a Way of Life

Barkın, Store Manager at Lastikpabuç
Coat: Barbour
Trousers: Mango He
Lace-Up Shoes: Mango He
Barkin works for one of the biggest Sneaker Stores in Istanbul - take a look: 
The heroes of my childhood all had beards: Heidi's grandfather Almöhi, Wicki's father Halvar, Pumuckl's Meister Eder and last but not least Santa Claus. It seems to me that somehow people give you an authority and respect if you have beard. "I have the terrible feeling that because I am wearing a white beard, you expect me telling the truth" - Orson Wells' quote confirms my assumption. Currently, there are many men wearing mustaches and  full beards. And I have to ask myself if this is just a trend or if there is a deeper meaning. I decided to ask Barkin. His accurately trimmed beard caught my eyes immediately. He laughed, touched his beard and assured indignantly that he would never ever shave his beard. Then he paused for a second and added that he would maybe shave the full beard, but not in any way the mustache. I believe him and I realise that for Barkin the beard is part of his identity - much more than a matter of style. For some it's a trend and for others it's a way of life. 

January 7, 2013

Charisma is an Invisible Energy with Visible Effects

Duygu, Digital Strategist
Quilted Leo Jacket: Mango
Velvet Boots: Marjin
Right now I have to deal with the fact that snow, rain and cold make it difficult to work on the street. I was already on my way back home when I saw Duygu. She stood out of the crowd: One side shaved hair, nose piercing, Leo jacket, velvet boots and a colourful shoulder bag. But most conspicuous was Duygus's personal charisma. She was immediately on fire when I asked her to become part of Imprimoloco. During my work for Imprimoloco I noticed that people with charisma usually have an interesting style. Including Duygu. And suddenly, I am not sure any longer if I talked to her because of the refreshing style or because of her positive attitude. I have come to the conclusion that charisma is sparkle in people. It's an invisible energy with visible effects.