Miyako’s Mood Board: My Well-dressed Mentors

March 10, 2014

Artist Lenor Fini. 

Every Monday, MM.LaFleur’s designer Miyako Nakamura ruminates on what’s inspiring her this week. 

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We all have a way of expressing ourselves through the way we dress. The word “style” is often used to describe this quality and expression. But what does it mean to be “well dressed” or even “stylish” in such a subjective world?

Coco Chanel said, “I wanted to give a woman comfortable clothes that would flow with her body. A woman is closest to being naked when she is well dressed.”

Writer Ann Desclos & designer Coco Chanel. 

I agree that women (or all human beings) are most beautiful when they have nothing covering their bodies. Truly beautiful nude photographs take my breath away more often than some editorial photo spread in a magazine.

So how can we bring ourselves closer to being naked, while still wearing clothes?

Fashion Director Phoebe Philo. 

Is it to find clothing that’s cut well? Or the best color to complement your skin tone? Yes, these are important elements to make you “look” appealing in a certain way, but there is something much more important that you should wear every day.

Confidence.

Women that I admire—fashion bloggers, designers, artists, writers, art directors—no matter what they do, it seems that they all have one thing in common in their wardrobes. That is confidence.

Artist Louise Nevelson.

It’s less about the clothes, and more about the life they are living and the confidence it brings them. In some of these portraits, their clothes are not even visible, but I can say that they are absolutely “well- dressed.” 

I truly believe when you are confident, your clothes come alive on your body. (And yes, Marquesa Casati is actually wearing a living snake as an accessory—which takes quite a bit of fashion conviction). I find it absolutely admirable.

Art director Eiko Ishioka & Marchesa Luisa Casati. 

 So when it comes to the subjective concept of “being well-dressed,” I would say: If you live fully and dress in confidence, you’ll always be well-dressed.

– Miyako Nakamura