I FEEL LIKE THIS COULD VERY EASILY TURN INTO A 34 PAGE ESSAY OF THE FASHION TRENDS OF COLETTE KULIG (WHICH LET’S GET REAL, WILL ALWAYS INVOLVE HOT PINK AND GLITTER SOMEWHERE..)

BUT IF YOU WANT THE ABRIDGED VERSION, IT’S THIS:

THIS IS MY CURATED WARDROBE I DAYDREAMED OF AND THEN DAYDREAMED OF PHOTOGRAPHING.

SO HERE WE ARE.

(WHICH ALL HAPPENS TO BE SHOT ON MY NEW 7’ SUPER WHITE SEAMLESS PAPER & NEW F/1.4 35MM LENS IN MY OFFICE AT THE DOLLHOUSE)

VINTAGE PREP* MEETS MOD ROCK

*PREP = NEW ENGLAND PREP MEETS OXFORD PREP

but if you want the whole story, it goes a little something like this:

i’ve always been into fashion. not so much like trendy, designers, runway, but using it for joy, self expression, like wearing feather boas to school in the 8th grade. (isaac mizrahi is truly one of my favorite people in life, so by default he is my top designer). high school through college were punk rock days of bleached hair, black eyeshadow and studded belts, which was toned down when i moved to sweden. i felt things got “quiet“ and uninspiring as i was coming into a new identity as an immigrant and finding self expression in a new country. (especially with swedish social norms to fit into.) a new colette emerged though it never felt like me. but i did have an obsession for swedish clothing shops like H&M and Åhlén’s.

rewind to: A. about 4 years ago i became obsessed with vintage varsity jumpers, and found the perfect one from a 2nd hand shop in san francisco, which i am wearing in this collection. B. almost 2 years ago i was laying in bed one spring saturday morning about to photograph four UVM graduating seniors from Pi Phi. my bestie was also in this sorority and what is it about the way a college gal in new england dresses? pearls. cableknit sweaters. hunter boots. navys, whites, burgendys, grays.

I FOUND MYSELF ON PINTEREST THAT MORNING IN BED LOOKING AT “NEW ENGLAND PREP FASHION.”

then because i am the furthest thing from new england prep, i entertained the idea of mixing it with my style of vintage 50s & 60s staples, solid blacks with splashes of red, patterns of horizontal stripes, houndstooth and plaid. i daydreamed of these two worlds colliding. hence the birth of the prep mod rock wardrobe. here is a curated collection of my top picks. some of my pieces have been straight up ripped-off from my own clients and what they bring to our photoshoots. it makes me giddy, it makes me excited, i feel me, i feel like i am home and how 30-something year old Colette should dress. all is well in the universe.

MY ADVERTISING TEACHER IN PHOTO SCHOOL, A FRENCHMAN, GAVE ME ALL THE INSIGHT TO FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY I WOULD EVER NEED:

AMERICAN FASHION PHOTOGRAPHERS SHOW HOW THE CLOTHES LOOK ON.

EUROPEAN FASHION PHOTOGRAPHERS SHOW HOW YOU FEEL IN THE CLOTHES.

I GRAVITATE TOWARDS VINTAGE RALPH LAUREN, PREP SCHOOL UNIFORM, CLEAN BLACK LINES, A-LINE SILHOUETTES, TARTAN PLAIDS, PLEATS, LOAFERS (LOAFERS WITH BOWS!!!) & ALWAYS SAY YES TO PETER PAN COLLARS.

I AM CERTAINLY NOT A FASHION SNOB, BUT I CERTAINLY KNOW WHAT I LIKE, AND WHAT I DON’T.

NOW THAT I AM A GROWN UP, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND GETTING AN ACCOUNT AT THE DRY CLEANERS AND A GOOD SEAMSTRESS (SHOUT OUT TO ROSIE!)

MY LATEST WARDROBE ADDITIONS HAVE BEEN:

A SHORT SLEEVE NAVY POLO, A BLACK SHORT SLEEVE A-LINE PETER PAN COLLAR DRESS & I AM LUSTING FOR THE RED PLEATED SKIRT (FINGERS CROSSED IF IT’S BACK IN STOCK AT H&M).

BEHIND THE SCENES: POSING & OUTFITS //

my process started with piecing together outfits and narrowing down a collection. i started with 26 outfits and 23 made the cut for the photoshoot. my only organization with outfits was hair down shots went first and then changed hair & makeup. i improvised on shoes (i left out some gems!) & made up poses as i went. (i took about .3 seconds in the mirror to “feel how the outfit felt and how to photograph.“) i hope you can find in all the shots the remote self timer which completes the self portrait look to the collection spread!

MY WARDROBE //