Cultural Chic: A Celebration of Individual Style

I love looking at pictures of women of individual style.  In a society that is determined to promote a certain "Kind" of beauty, these women whom I greatly admire inspire me with their grace, elegance and willingness to stand out in the crowd.  Here are a few reasons why I'm inspired:
1.  These women are NOT afraid of color! In fact, they embrace it, from their garments to their eclectic accessories, their ensembles pop with the vibrancy of color.
2.  They are not afraid to buck the status quo.  Whether it's rocking a natural do or mixing patterns and prints, the woman of individual style is not interested in following the trends. Instead she starts her own trend and people follow her.
3.  Women of individual style realize that fashion is fleeting, but style comes from within. The woman of individual style is no slave to the latest fashion craze.  Instead she chooses to be fashionable on her own terms, mixing high-end with low-end, vintage with newer pieces, ethnic designs and accessories with mainstay pieces such as the LBD (little black dress), other solid pieces, or combining prints and patterns with bright colors or neutrals.  Whatever suits her fancy. She plays by her own set of funky, fierce and fashionable rules.

Finally, women of individual style are not afraid to take risks and to be true to their stylish selves.  This to me, is the epitome of Cultural Chic.

All photos courtesy of Essence.com Street Style

Disclaimer:  Cultural Chic holds no claim to the above photos and is not affiliated in any way with Essence Magazine, Essence.com or its subsidiaries.  Ownership of all photographs is retained and remains the property of the original photographers.