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Finnick’s Look is Key for Fall Chic

The fisherman knit sweater from District Four.

by Monica Corcoran Harel

Nothing speaks to clan heritage like a fisherman knit sweater. Typically passed down through generations, these rugged pieces date back to islands off the west coast of Ireland. Finnick Odair’s own Aran cardigan—comprised of over 100,000 artful stitches—is a sartorial relic from his father, who fished District 4 back when sea bass and cod were bountiful. Rumor has it the debonair Victor sees his sweater as a talisman representative of his family’s Celtic strength and pride.

Clearly, fashion designers are inspired by Odair for fall.  The runways teemed with these traditional knits—seen at Kenzo, Alexander Wang and Theysken’s Theory. Marc Jacobs paired a roomy silhouette in a deep heather brown cashmere with a mink stole. Think Edie Beale meets Ernest Hemingway. The Olsen sisters of the The Row opted for a slouchy neckline and long sleeves that seemed to elongate their stoic model. They also added winter white pants, which lent a ladylike elegance to this salty staple.

But it was Ralph Lauren’s sophisticated take on the look that made my pulse jump. The designer fitted the sweater slim in the bodice and sleeves and added an architectural shoulder. It’s tough and ladylike – perfect for the witty Capitol hostess serving crab cakes and lobster rolls at a District 4-themed formal dinner party. Pairing it with a long, ruffled skirt and a Greek fisherman’s cap—a favorite chapeau of mine—heightened the juxtaposition of grit and glamour.

Since this sweater has such classic heritage, it’s fun to complement the look with a thoroughly modern accent. Odair’s stylist smartly updated his sweater with square, silver buttons. Think about pairing this knit with black leather leggings or a purple houndstooth pencil skirt. One of my favorite ways to wear a fisherman knit sweater is to invest in an extra large style and wear it as a cocoon dress–a la Balenciaga–with a pair of weathered motorcycle boots or short suede booties with a stacked heel.

Victor Style: Authentic or Just Attitude?

It takes a village—and an Avox—to make magic.

by Monica Corcoran Harel

Like anyone thrust into the public eye of the Capitol, our tributes undergo a dramatic transformation. In the case of Katniss Everdeen or Johanna Mason, a starlet is polished, primped, poised—and then, reborn. But the most talented stylists know that fashion becomes art when it lends subtext and reflects a deeper meaning. Imagine our fierce Katniss Everdeen with pin-straight hair or edgy Johanna Mason in stiff pink taffeta instead of cork and shredded organza?

Our best Capitol prep teams eke out the essence of a tribute and enhance it to new heights.  Sometimes, they misfire in their zeal to be recognized. There was the year that a District 4 tribute was dressed in a suit festooned with fishhooks and buoys—too literal. Or the clunky marble clutch a poor District 2 tribute was forced to carry for her publicity tour. It’s no wonder she was exhausted when it came time for the Games.

Behind the scenes, it’s the quiet, submissive Avox who adjusts the final nuances of every look, from pinning a hem an inch higher to sewing on a nebula of sequins.  And unlike certain high profile stylists—except for subtle, humble Cinna—the Avox understands that his or her role will always be eclipsed by the tributes they assist. Edith Head, the famous costume designer of long ago pre-Panem days, once said: “I always wear beige, black or white. When I’m beside a star at a fitting, and she looks into the mirror, I don’t want to be competing in any way.”

DUAIRAK PADUNGVICHEAN (or Lun)

b. 1997, Bangkok, Thailand