Member Feature: Adam Sinding of Le 21ème Arrondissement

Le 21ème Arrondissement, one of Seattle's most popular fashion blogs, is the brainchild of Adam Sinding.  With his razor sharp sense of style, his image-based blog isgetting a flux of appreciation from viewers from around the world.  Lookbooks.com caught up with Adam to learn more about Seattle's Street Fashion Finder.

Please tell us about ‘Le 21ème Arrondissement’ and how the blog developed.Well, like most, The Sartorialist, Facehunter, etc. all were what opened my eyes to street-style photography.  However, in Seattle, we only had one blog for street fashion...and it...well, sucked.  My goal was to make a street fashion blog for Seattle that the rest of the world could appreciate.  Now we have viewers in over 125 countries.

Impressive!  With you being such a well-respected blogger, please shed a brief background on yourself. My background is anything but glamorous.  I was born in San Francisco, grew up in Tacoma, WA, and moved to Seattle in 2001.  I went to school for Art History at the University of Washington and studied abroad in 2005 in Paris.  This, was obviously the #1 inspiration for me.  I shopped until I dropped at Rue Royale Dior Homme.  Great (expensive) experience!

Paris is definitely an inspirational place and clearly inspired you.  Is that why you came up with a French name?  And what does “Le 21ème Arrondissement?”

Yes.  I came up with the name after living in Paris.  Paris has 20 Arrondissements...or districts.  So I called it The 21st Arrondissement...or en français... Le 21ème Arrondissement.

Your pictures vividly capture the fashion and style of Seattle.  What did you intend your audience to take from them?

Inspiration.  There is nothing meant by them except to inspire people to dress in new and different ways.  Seattle needs inspiration, and photos can be inspiring.

So what are some of the most common trends you’re seeing on the streets of Seattle?  Any favorite trends?

Rock and roll, of course...always rock and roll.  We are not trendsetters, but we tend to push the envelope with the trends we follow.

What do you think is the biggest faux pas of American men and women?Well, NYC has few Faux Pas...but...polarfleece.  If you're in a city, "technical wear" is inappropriate, just as flip flops should be.  Casual can be done right...and oh so wrong.  Juicy suit = wrong.  Rick Owens = perfection.  Both are equally casual.

If you had the opportunity to live anywhere else in the world and take street style photos, where would it be and why?Wow...Paris?  Copenhagen?  Stockholm?  NYC?  That's not fair!  ANYWHERE!!!

Now describe your own style to us.Classic...but details.  I like black/grey...they are so flexible.  You can wear a black coat 5 different ways and have it look different every way.  It's all in the details.  This is why Robert Geller + Hedi Slimane are so genius to me.  Amazing iterations of basic pieces with AMAZING details.

Any other favorite emerging designers then, and what is it that you love about them?Boris Bidjan Saberi, Damir Doma, Giuliano Fujiwara, Julius, LUC, MA+, etc.  I am SO into the artisan guys...and non-artisan Geller is just amazing!!!

What do you do when you’re not blogging / posting Seattle street pictures?Work...all the time...so I can buy lenses and clothes!

Finally, any advice you would give to prospective fashion bloggers?Anywhere besides Seattle...it's easy.  In Seattle...don't do it.  It's frustrating.  I go weeks without finding a subject.  It wears on you.  It is very rewarding to find someone though...makes your day!

Comments (2)

Sarahc698
on 13/1/10

I'm a big fan of Adam now!

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Frambuesas..
on 19/1/10

What an incredible style over here. ¡Love it!

¡Keep on doing that!

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