I just took a look at my office table where, more often than not, last night’s jewelry ends up in a pile.  It’s often a good indicator of my week’s mood.  Judging from these hefty, dark metal pieces, I’ve been feeling a bit aggressive.

It’s a rare day when I reach for really delicate, feminine jewelry, and I’m often collecting and wearing statement pieces that are bold, shiny, or just plain big.  But, as I am a total closet goth, my secret shadow self makes itself known, especially in my choices of vintage accessories.

Wearing jewelry that looks dangerous and dark excites me and makes feel like I could do damage to someone’s face if I had to.  The industrial vibe I get from these steel, iron, leather, and brass pieces makes me feel hard and untouchable, and when navigating through my urban environment, subconsciously reflects my inner dialog.  I equate it to saying, “Get out of my way, F~cker, I could bust your lip!”

Massive metal cuffs, like the bronze/brass 6” wide Arts & Crafts piece or this steel link fringe bib necklace are like body armor. They empower.  Just as a woman might adorn herself with a status-worthy Chanel necklace before a business meeting with intimidating bigwigs, another might don a huge tribal cuff to mentally suit up.  Certain people may even say, “I feel naked without my [insert favorite piece of jewelry here].” At that point, jewelry becomes like a talisman and you are literally weaker without it.

I’m not too sure I want to delve too deeply into my subconscious for an explanation for this week’s growl-worthy, aggressive jewelry selection, but I’m grateful to have my vintage jewelry translate my mood. Nonviolently, of course.

occupation: fashion stylist

“Heels + Hair = Power.” Cary Tauben

I am wondering if Cary was a supermodel in his mind when he was piling on beaded bracelets to his elbow in day camp, even before his supermodel hair. I would have no doubt been as inspired by his boundless aesthetic then as I am now. I love that Cary finds it amusing to be mistaken for a girl from the back, and I find it hard to believe that most men and women wouldn’t die, in their deepest truths, to have Cary’s hair, sense of ecstasy over a heel, and freedom within themselves to manifest their most current character for the day (whatever that may be). I have no idea where these clothing phobias begin and end and who created them, but what’s scary is that we all follow without questioning, and why? So that men can remain trapped and in a mass of nondescript khaki pants and Crocs?

If you like Cary, you might also enjoy Paul Alexander, Leo Cerezo, or Sonny Groo.

Striped Breton Shirt, Bowler Hat from Target, Blazer from Korea, VOV Leather Jacket, Vest from Atrium, Blank Denim Jeans, Jeffrey Campbell Clogs

Biggie and Fatima Al Qadiri

occupation: designer

Angela, our Milan correspondant, said that Cristina’s love of the clean and linear comes from her experience of living in Berlin, which has been the capital of “rational aesthetics” since Walter Gropius of the Bauhaus. In fact, her love of shapes can be seen in her designs, where she creates conceptually conceived geometric pieces that allow a person’s personality to form the garment, rather than the garment forming them. For Cristina, it’s all about discovery, whether it’s finding fifteen different ways to drape a rectangle or digging through a pile of clothes at a psychiatric hospital, one of her favorite places to hunt (at one point in her video, Cristina points out how this institution uses the exercise of uncovering old clothes as a way of escaping their reality). I love how Cristina rolls up a pencil skirt and belts it, and the way she takes a man’s tie and throws it around her neck. In keeping with her Sardinian heritage, she loves black, but will venture out to white, navy, gray, and brown, always with the underlying minimal line. There are not many moments where I am tempted to leave my layers, Victorian bustles, and chunky rings behind, but after seeing Cristina, now is one of those times.

If you like Cristina, you might also enjoy Lauren Boyle, Fatima Al-Qadiri, or Crayon Lee.

Striped Breton Shirt, Fur Scarf from Malin Landaeus, Samantha Pleet Romper, Express Tights, Converse Sneakers

Top: Kristine Barilli and Gareth Pugh Fall 2008 RTW. Bottom: Dechel McKillian and Burberry Fall 2007 RTW

Striped Breton Shirt, Marc Jacobs Trench, Margiela Dress, Wolford Tights, Balenciaga Booties

occupation: party promoter

“Everything in life is mental. It’s just an attitude. If you want to be rich, rich is all a mindset. Everything is a mindset. You can be anything you want to be, but first you have to become it inside, and then everything that you want gets attracted to you.” Jose Pozo

This was a first for me – getting serenaded to a freestyle rap about StyleLikeU (though it wasn’t a surprise coming from Jose, whose warmth filled the room as he danced throughout most of our interview). He says that he loves people and feels that there is no such thing as a bad one. I was freaking over his signature layers of bracelets, rings on every finger, and piles of necklaces, all of which have immense significance to him. The abundance of skulls and bullets might not appear to reflect Jose’s belief that one is most powerful when coming from a place of peace, but don’t let his alpha-male side fool you – his right arm is filled with saints. “You are what you wear,” he says, and in his heart he is a superstar and dresses like one.

If you like Jose, you might also enjoy Matt Parrotti, Heron Preston, Tay Trong, or Maurice Pierre Saint-Hubert.

Striped Breton Shirt, Thierry Mugler Jacket from Joe Sundlie’s Vintage, Cropped Vintage Riding Pants, Phi Creeper Boots