January 2024 saw the introduction of a new trend: Ins and Outs. While I know it’s no longer January, February 5th offers the first anniversary of Raison! In recognition of Raison’s first birthday, and the welcoming of a new year (which I am affectionately referring to as Raison’s sophomore year), here are my ins and outs.

Ins and Outs for Living

The following list of ins and outs is curated to address my interaction with the process of living. While this is a fashion focused blog, we might as well talk about the blog itself on its birthday! Here are my ins and outs for the future of Raison.

Ins:

Consistency

2023 was a year full of highs and lows for the blog. There were weeks full of inspiration and weeks full of none, which I believe is evident. Among my personal favorite articles was “Is Art for Everyone”, which was inspired by Brooklyn street art and posters sprawled across New York City, all calling for us to question our interaction with the world. Production alongside direction is valuable, but production alone is necessary. While the release schedule may change Raison’s second year will see more consistency.

Discipline

Jumping off of of consistency, production without direction requires discipline. I see it less as forcing myself to create and more training myself to engage in uncomfortable creation, pushing the boundaries of my own art.

Authenticity + Assuredness

I don’t think i’ve ever lied on here. I was honest when I said I had problems with Barbie, I was honest when I criticized aesthetic culture, and I was honest when I argued for fashion romanticism. However, I believe I was dishonest by omission. There’s a myriad of topics I didn’t speak on simply because I worried my perspective was too radical, too obscure or just too weird. I have a tendency to ramble (as you may have noticed) and a tendency to question my own validity. But 2024 isn’t made for that, so this year we’re engaging with the true purpose of this blog: exploration.

Positivity

I criticize a lot! While there’s a lot of problems with fashion and art, theres also a lot of great things. I’m sure anyone who’s read any of my work knows plenty of things I don’t like but does anyone know what I do like? Do any of you know why I do love fashion? I doubt it. But 2024 — you’ll learn.

Experiences

Fashion, just like living is an experience. Whether it’s getting dressed or actually going out, physical fashion and the fashion industry is truly an experience and I want to engage and document more of it!

Outs:

Commodification

Ok I promise this is the last time i’m going to gripe about conceptual actions (this year). Beauty and expression should never be commodified. Living in a world where beauty can make you money seems great but it also creates a dichotomy of self destruction, valuing beauty over everything else. That being said, I don’t think we should remove the concept of beauty, merely appreciate all of it!

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Personal Ins and Outs

Fashion is subjective! Personal style is just that, personal: so here are my ins and outs for fashion and beauty this year.

Ins:

Cherry Red

I’ve been saying cherry red is in (check my older posts) and I was right. From a true cherry red to a deeper, more mature cherry red, its in and its one of my personal favorites. Ideally i’d want it in a mini skirt, handbag or slingback heel but I’ll never say no to a monochromatic cherry red look.

Navy Blue

Navy Blue is cherry red’s cool cousin (don’t check my color theory). What I mean by that is, they convey similar messaging in different ways. While red is busy flashing its style in your face, Navy is standing just slightly behind it, confident in its own appeal. Together, navy blue and cherry red is the power combination of this trend cycle, and while nothing will overtake the classic black and white, navy and cherry is a close second. Personally, i’d pair a navy sweater with a red mini skirt (or vice versa) alongside a classic pair of black tights and loafers that never go out of style.

Print Mixing

I never thought i’d be this person but here I am. Strategic pattern mixing (excluding anything with neon) is the perfect way to create texture. Keeping with a consistent color scheme but contrasting (never competing) patterns is perfectly eclectic and gives a look apparent personality. Keeping with black and white, stable blues or earth tones creates a curated collection of personal style I can’t say i’m opposed to.

Bold Makeup

I personally don’t believe in using makeup to “look better”. Makeup isn’t a mechanism to make yourself more palatable but instead its a way to show who you are. No, I wasn’t born with bright red lips and thick winged liner, but I do like it and that alone is important!

Americana

Ok hear me out: I don’t mean traditional Americana. I mean the growing display of culture that exists in America. No longer is Americana just red white and blue with American flags. Americana is long acrylics, Chicano flannels, and qipao crop tops. Modern expressions of culture by its creators and inheritors is the legacy of Americana. But, I think we cal all agree a pair of 501s will stay a hallmark of American fashion.

Ribbon

Yes. It’s cute, it’s reminiscent of girlhood, and it’s a healthy connection to classic expressions of femininity. I’m not taking feedback on this one — it’s cute.

Mini Skirts (with white lace tights)

My obsession with mini-skirts is nothing new, but the combination of a black mini-skirt with white lace tights is a relatively new phenomenon in my taste that I will champion through december 2024.

1960s Fashion References

1960s fashion is everything and you can’t convince me otherwise. Whether it be an A-line dress, contrasting collars and cuffs or even fringe (its giving 2012!), bring it back. We’re on schedule for a 60s reboot anyway, might as well lean into it.

Outs:

Lip Liner

Hot take, I know. There’s no deeper meaning behind this, I just don’t want to feel like I HAVE to wear lip liner with my makeup.

“Clean Girl” Makeup

This is the antithesis to my IN for 2024. If it works for you great! But I don’t want to wear makeup that doesn’t look like makeup, I want it to be bold and make a statement.

Ballet Flats

I generally dislike flat shoes (I stay in platforms) but ballet flats are the absolute worst kind of flat to me. It feels too thin for the outside world, something that should only see the glossy finish of a ballet studio, never the concrete streets of a big city.

Neon

I like color but not this kind. Bold colors, yes. Fluorescent colors? No.

Repetitive Prints

Don’t confuse prints for patterns. I love a houndstooth or stripes, but a repetitive moon decal or overwhelming cherry print (i’m calling myself out here) just generally doesn’t work for me. I think it has a place, (I’ll be keeping my cherry sweater for Valentines Day), but its not my favorite thing for this year.

White Pants

I’m not sure this was ever in, but it’s staying out for me. Even as someone who doesn’t particularly care for practicality, white pants are too much for me. They get too dirty too fast and are never worth it.