Choupette’s Diary – Choupettes Diary

Choupette’s Diary: Guide to Making Every Walk a Catwalk

June, 17^th

The catwalk isn’t the only place where I feel comfortable strutting my stuff; I feel dauntless even when prancing down the château hallways and alongside my model friends on the sidewalks of Paris. This inner confidence exudes from every bat of my lush lashes and every wind-swept fur on my bod.

But where does this self-assurance stem from?

My ability to make every walk a catwalk flows from being comfortable with myself and my personal style. I have identified my spirit humans, I play to my strengths, and I don’t label myself. I am my signature style and I own it every day.

Having a signature style is a hautely discussed topic and not just among my fashion industry peers; if you Google “Signature Style” you will come up with over 1 Billion (yes, BILLION as in Kylie Jenner’s net-worth) results. It’s as if every human is on the same life journey to find out who they are through their expression of style. As if Google will miraculously turn you into the stereotypical French woman with her effortless “undone, done” look.

NEWSFLASH! You and only you can find your personal style that helps you to make every walk a catwalk.

–Understanding signature style is about pinpointing key fashion elements that make an individual easily identifiable. Take “Mommy” Coco Chanel for example. Try as you may to make a tweed suit part of your capsule wardrobe and fail to compete with Chanel herself. The tweed suit is as synonymous with “Mommy” as her pearls, which even made an appearance while she lounged about her apartment.

I am not advising you steal your grandmother’s pearls, mother’s smokes, and pose on a chaise. This look worked for Coco Chanel but in modern day, between scrubbing dishes and Swiffering, those pearl strands are bound to get caught and crumbled.

-Once you understand what key style elements make an individual, well… an individual, then you can find your spirit human. We’re not taking Ayahuasca and going down a rabbit hole connecting with spirit animals. We’re selecting humans, celebrity or not, who embody an aesthetic we hope to achieve ourselves.

Your spirit human is a person who you admire for their fashion choices. Oui, we all admire Meghan Markle but we don’t all have perfectly coiffed hair sans calics that allows for trademark messy buns. My point? Your spirit human is not just a fashion-forward person who has a stylist on call to dictate their red carpet choices. Your spirit human should be alike to you in body type, shape, complexion, and hair that allows you to use them as a standard for which you base a look’s ability to be successful on. Don’t do yourself a disservice by admiring the rich and famous (unless it’s moi) who have trainers and stylists on call. What looks good on them after hours of self-tanner application and tailoring, will not help you to find your own personal style.

-After naming your spirit human, you can create a list of signature pieces, which said human wears that you’re drawn to and that will play to your strengths. Your spirit human (and you) have shorter legs and a petite frame? Your capsule wardrobe will have tonal coordinating tops and bottoms. Wearing too many different colors will overwhelm your petite frame and make your legs look shorter. Your spirit human (and you) are on the go 24/7? Cinderella’s glass slippers won’t be a part of your capsule wardrobe in this lifetime.

Choosing signature pieces boils down to not only what plays to your physical strengths but also what fits with your lifestyle. Outfits and accessories that work for one individual’s job or daily activities might not jive well with yours.

-Now is the fun part: shopping! No need to consult your financial advisor. I’m not advocating for a complete wardrobe overhaul; Unless that’s in your budget and if so, let the games begin dahhhling!

This shopping trip will take place both inside and outside of your closet. In order to shop smarter (aka budgeting, which is a new concept for moi), you need to plan your shopping trip based on what you already have in your closet and the holes you need to fill in.

Open those wardrobe doors, unearth the denim skirt in the depths of the closet (and toss it), and arrange your clothing and accessories based on the signature style you’re trying to achieve. Would your spirit human wear that army-print sequin blouse your roommate passed down to you? Be honest with yourself! She would not.

Now that you have two piles for the “old you” and the “future you”, donate the lightly used “old you” pieces, put on your walking shoes and hit the stores. It’s time to fill in the wardrobe holes.

Enter stores with a mission. You are not lackadaisically walking around a mall with no goal in sight. Know where you’re going and why you are going into each store. Need 3 white tees sans logos? J Crew is calling your name. Want oversized black frames like your spirit humans Mary-Kate and Ashley? Celine is waiting.

-Once mission shop for the “new you” is complete, it’s time to become a more authentic you. You’ve spent the time understanding what having a signature style means, you’ve identified your spirit human, created a list of signature pieces, shopped smarter, and now it’s time to embrace your look. Whatever your look means to you, whether bohemian or “Instagram-worthy”, don’t label yourself.

Your signature style isn’t about fitting into a box, it’s about being the most authentic you who is comfortable enough in their skin (and new capsule wardrobe) to make every walk a catwalk.

[Photo Source: Monica Smiley eighty seventh st]

Choupette’s Diary: Guide to Becoming a Muse

April, 23^rd

You know those heart eyes that cartoons get when they fall in love? Those were the fluttering hearts that danced above Daddy Karl Lagerfeld’s head when he first laid eyes on moi. They weren’t hearts of romantic love, rather of admiration and inspiration.

When my first owner, model Baptiste Giabiconi dropped me off with Daddy Karl it was said to be temporary. Little did Giabiconi know that Daddy would fall madly in love with moi and my short-term stay would become my furrrever home.

Everything from my whiskers to my low humming meows inspired Daddy. He watched my every movement not out of fear I’d knock over his haphazardly strewn illustrations, but out of curiosity. He watched as I taught him the true art of the catwalk and how to purrrfect the catnap, mastering the human equivalent of “beauty rest” minus the need for Botox.

However, I was not Daddy’s first muse and many a beauty has come before moi. From Vanessa Paradis and Kate Moss to Cara Delevingne, Ines de la Fressange and Florence Welch, Daddy was fascinated by the talented female beauty. It wasn’t just models who captured his attention; he equally admired women in Hollywood like Diane Kruger, Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton and Kristen Stewart, who all appeared in Chanel campaigns or runway shows. This celebration of women extended into publishing with fashion editor Carine Roitfeld and creative consultant Amanda Harlech, whose visionary creativity captured Daddy’s attention.

But, what do all of Daddy’s muses have in common besides pure physical beauty that would make even Cleopatra jealous? Becoming Daddy Karl Lagerfeld’s muse takes more that coiffed hair, fluttering lashes, and stems for days.

The four M’s that every muse embodies are:

Mastership: Experts in their given industries, muses have an authority over their skill-sets. They are models gracing the cover of Vogue, Oscar-winning actresses, and media moguls.

Magnanimous: Daddy’s muses were all generous in sharing, whether it be sharing their talent or skills or through benevolent compassion for others. Their hearts were and are as golden as their Academy Awards.

Modish: Muses wouldn’t have their alluring appeal without being fashionable, especially for Daddy. They do not follow “trends” and instead set stylish standards that others follow without second thought.

Mesmerizing: There is a certain je ne sais quoi to muses. One that is not tangible but evident to any and all around them. Their aura and energy transfixes others.

Each of Daddy Karl Lagerfeld’s muses are meritorious beings who straddle the line between being human and goddesses. It’s no wonder he chose moi, a cat, as his final muse. After all, cats have been an indomitable influence on societies and cultures throughout history, first as goddesses and now social media muses.

[Photo Source: Monica Smiley eighty seventh st]

Choupette’s Diary: Guide to Mating and Dating in the Modern Age

April, 16^th

As invites stream in for previews, galas, and spring fêtes, the dreaded plus one on the RSVP card seems daunting. Don’t spend your Friday night indulging in cake, which will only induce a sugar coma. Instead, indulge in man-candy; it has less calories.

In the modern tech-age, it’s not enough to just bat your pretty blues and fluff your fur. Today, the dating scene can be more complicated than the Met Gala dress code.

While I may be a feline, I am no stranger to being courted. Dapper lynx and wildcats regular slide into my DM’s asking for a date. For the most part, I avoid the gents who use social media to woo me, but with the loss of Daddy I have had more time to dip my paw into the dating pool.

Through the years watching the humans around me date, I’ve learned that most don’t know how to win at what they call the “dating game”. Their first mistake is addressing it as a “game”; a game insinuates that there will be a winner and loser but when looking for love, there shouldn’t be a loser. Dating without attributing it to being a “game” will change you mindset.

Changing your dating mindset also starts with addressing your “list”. We all have predisposed ideas of who our perfect partner will or should be. Whether these ideas of perfection stem from friends, family, or the media, we are taught to find somebody who checks off all our boxes.

Tall? Check!

Chiseled jaw line? Check!

Sense of humor? Double Check!

When we hold tight to this “list” we lose sight of the individual who might not be perfect but is purrrfect for us.

So how do you find this purrrfect match? It’s about addressing how you are meeting potential partners, understanding the type you tend to gravitate towards, and knowing how you personally approach dating.

How you are meeting potential matches, whether it be through online dating or through blind set-ups, is the initial step in understanding what works best for you. If you’ve previously tried online dating and find no luck, encourage friends or family to help you in your stalking. Excuse moi; I mean hunt. Switching up how you are meeting others might be the best way to shake things up.

Next, understanding your “type” will give you insight into why previous partners haven’t worked out in the past. Again, this comes down to your “list”. Is this list limiting the type of people you’re dating and if so, are you willing to do a 180 and consider dating outside of the box?

I’m not saying if you typically date models to suddenly court rocket scientists. Let’s not be drastic! Just consider dating outside of your typical type, whether that means the new potential partner looks physically different or has differing personality characteristics. There are as many different breeds of men as there are felines out there so explore your possibilities.

The final step in reevaluating your romantic life is to be more perceptive as to how you personally approach dating. Your approach covers everything from how you dress to how you converse; all of which can make or break a date.

On a first date you should:

Dress the Part — The less you wear, the less-quality of men you’ll attract. Sensuality isn’t in direct relation to how much skin you show.

Wear Confidence Like an Accessory — Be approachable with a smile and exude self-confidence. Human men typically pick-up on simple social cues like a smile, but your body language must engage but not appear stand-off.

Peacock Your Personality — Don’t be afraid to participate in witty banter. Show your playful yet intelligent side with a smidgen of satire and a dash of flirtation. A date is not an interrogation but a conversation where each are getting to know the other on a more personal level.

Now that I’ve given you the basic tools you need to change your relationship mindset, set a date, strap on those stilettos, and set your sights on a soulmate.

[Illustrator: Monica Smiley, eighty seventh st.]

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