Fashion Pirates brings you daily doses of pioneering style.

We at MFL like to think of Arabelle as a fashion DJ blending all the best fashion cuts with hip new designers, her own fabulous outfits, street style looks and more.

We are officially addicted!

This morning, you woke up:

To Yann Tierson’s soundtrack to Amelie, as usual, and my denim shorts I’ve worn religiously since summer started.

How would you describe your style?

Lazy eclectic. I wear pretty much exclusively vintage, not because I love it more than everything else (I mean, I’d fight over Comme des Garcons any day of the week) but basically because it’s easy to get and cheap for me. It’s got what I like: texture, history, shiny distractions. I don’t have to think too much about what I wear everyday.

What other fashion blogs would you recommend?

Hail Mary is one of the most kind, caring, and fashionable people I’ve met ever. She inspires a lot of girls to reach out in their community and try to make a difference. Sounds cheesy, right? She’s not. She’s just really that sincere about everything. Everyone should know Tavi by now, and my favourite Uncle Karl is hilarious too.

Fashion tip for the season?

Wear what you like, don’t bother with seasons or trends. They all pass eventually so you might as well indulge in whatever you’d like. Rich textures in breezy layers are always fun to wear in summer, though. You can layer them without sweating out.

What’s your super power?

The ability to make people laugh at the most inappropriate of times. Also I am a ninja. Don’t tell anyone though.

Who or what has been your greatest fashion influence?

Japanese street style. It’s a complete cliche, yeah, but I only read one magazine for inspiration: FRUiTS. The first fashion-y thing I ever did was read an issue of that and Style Deficiet Disorder, which is the history of Japanese Street Style. It’s what got me into fashion and I can always look to it for inspiration.

If you owned a shop, what would it be called?

Last Year’s Dream, maybe. I’ve always liked the sound of it and it would sell offbeat vintage pieces. Also Last Years Dream sounds better than “Last Two Decades Dream Which Is Now Your Dream”, which is probably a more apt description.

Who are your favourite emerging designers and what is it that you love about them?

Hmm… I really liked Donguk Womens University Graduate Fashion Show this year, all the designers there had fresh ideas gorgeously executed. I always follow Antoine Peters, he’s getting big and I’m so proud! Anrealage is AMAZING, too.

What item of clothing (if any) do you wish that more of us wore?

Trenchcoats! Long trenchcoats. I think too many people are scared away from them by the Matrix, but not every trenchcoat has to be leather/shiny and BDSM. A good trenchcoat is an excellent layer to any outfit, and it makes everything look very put together.

Favourite quote:

“This is how it works. You’re young until you’re not. You love until you don’t. You try until you can’t. You laugh until you cry. You cry until you laugh. And everyone must breathe, until their dying breath. No, this is how it works. You peer inside yourself. You take the things you like, and try to love the things you took. And then you take that love you made, and stick it into someone else’s heart.”

A phrase you use far too often?

“I need this in my life” followed by whatever I need in my life, like an awesome pair of shoes or a book on how fascism influenced Haute Couture in London in the Sixties. Or cake.

In moments of weakness you…

Bake lots of brownies and watch HGTV, or sit on my roof and talk to whatever is out there in the sky.

In a nutshell, your philosophy is this:

Do what you want, wear what you want. You only live once, make it worth your while.

We know you as a fashion blogger but in truer life you’d have been…

I’ve always really been into politics and literature and art, so I’m probably going to major in politics and art in college. I’ve been a competitive swimmer since I think, 5th grade or so too.

Epitaph:

Here lies Arabelle,

the Awesome, the Woesome,

felled by a gigantic closet falling
and a particularly angry siamese cat.

Finally, what’s the one question you wish people asked you but you’ve never had the opportunity to answer? (And what is the answer?)

Hmm… Who is the most glittery person of them all? MATSUJUN! I love him. He’s all asian and eyebrows and adorable.