Fashion for everyone

I remember when I used to work with Rue Jewelry, all of the pieces were rendered in a noirish palette of black and white, with shots of cobalt blue in the mix. There was something precious yet mildly grotesque about the microscopic fruits, vegetables, and plant matter preserved in a coating of matte paint that adorned rings, and the perfectly frozen statues of perched birdies that swung from necklaces. This season, many of the same flora and fauna themes appear, but this time they're covered in candy-coated pastel hues and metallic paints that remind me more of my childhood collection of My Little Ponies, or my niece's juvenile collection of peel-off nail polishes. The pieces seem sinisterly saccharine, deathly sweet. My favorite piece is a heart-shaped ring that's textured to look like hair; girly and gross all at once.

Last week, I stopped by Agentur V to take a peek at the Spring 2010 collections. One of the most immediately captivating lines was Misomber Nuan, based out of Berlin. Although the drapey clothing looked deceptively like women's wear on the hangers, a quick flip through the lookbook made it clear that the collection was meant for men. Not the waifish androgynous types, but strong, brooding men, of the Ernest Hemingway variety. Amongst the abstract sources of inspiration, the image of a shipbuilder hauling loads of twisted steel is referenced, and one imagines this hulking man shrouded in various layers of Misomber Nuan. Although I don't know many muscle men myself, I do know plenty of svelte lads who would still love to swath themselves in these precisely crafted and constructed clothes. In fact, the dim photographs of the lookbook model almost appears to be my friend Chris, of Violet Hour. Listen up boys (you know who you are!), I think I just found your new favorite designer.

When we last visited W29 Showroom together, Christina and I both agreed that Alexander Koutny presented one of our favorite recent additions to the showroom. Johannesburg-born and New York-based Koutny's Spring 2010 collection is only his third, yet he's already established a strong aesthetic of structural silhouettes constructed in light-as-air silks. For this season, Koutny introduces his penchant for prints, but his bold and graphic patterns are rendered in softer hues. The resulting garments strike the balance between being voluminous and eye catching, and ethereally diaphanous and otherworldly: pieces that you would definitely want to add to your wardrobe. Before I do something ridiculous, like blow my savings on one of these dresses, I will content myself by sitting here and staring at the lookbook images while listening to Warpaint- Billie Holiday (MP3), which I think is the perfect soundtrack for daydreaming about these clothes.

Last week, I stopped by Fiftytwo Showroom to photograph some of the Spring collections. I already got a peek during market week, and the first thing I did was take a look at the jewelry that E.M. made for this season. While there weren't that many new pieces, the few items they create are always incredible. I was instantly drawn to the plastic rings from their Tiptoe collection (designed for kids, but worn by childish adults like myself), featuring a menagerie of microscopic enameled animals. Each ring resembled a chunk of glacial ice, and alternatively featured a wandering polar bear, a pack of penguins, and two frozen sharks. So cute, and so well crafted--It's like wearing a tiny little universe on your finger!

Giraffe-print pony wedges courtesy of 80%20, Stine Goya cable sweater, The Bitches With Cigarette Burns sheer dress, American Apparel mini-dress underneath, Alexander Wang sunglasses, turban courtesy of Mike Gonzalez, bag courtesy of Katherine Kwei, H&M tights, Triskaidekaphobia tooth necklace and buckle ring, Iosselliani ring.

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending Blue Stripe PR's blogger get together, where I got to catch up with some of my favorite internet ladies and meet a few amazing ones I'd never talked to before. In between chatting, we snacked on candies, sipped on mini-Sophies, and previewed the showroom's new Spring collections, which included 80%20, Pleasure Doing Business, Mike Gonzalez, and GAR-DE. I was so busy talking that I only got a few photos of the clothes, but photos of the event the lovely bloggers who attended are up on Laney's blog.

I did however snap a few of 80%20's spring collection, since I'm always a big fan of Ce Ce's, and have been wearing my Heide boots all winter. The spring shoes were full of colorful french linen prints, tie-dye leather, and rainbow striped wovens, which provided a nice contrast to the black/grey slump I've been in due to the drab conditions outside. At the end of the night, we each got to take a bunch of goodies home with us, including our choice of 80%20's from the fall collection, and I picked out a pair of giraffe-print pony wedges that I'd been lusting after for a while. They've got a hidden platform, which provides the height of a heel while making them as comfortable as flats, and I already know that I'll be stomping around in these all fashion week.

My Mom told me that this hairstyle made look very "ancient Asian" whatever that means. I think she was talking about the people on her antique vases. Uh, thanks Mom.

Then my husband told me that my shoes looked like a cross between London punk and orthopedic comfort shoes, but are still cool, which is kinda the truth. Does your family comment on your outfits like you're not in the same room with them?

The Feather cork wedge

The Yossi wedge

The Dawn wedge

A show-stopping printed evening gown

Holly Fulton is one of my favorite young designers, and I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to view her collection in person last week at the London Show Rooms. Holly is known for her continued use of Art Deco motifs in her clothes, and this season, she said she was particularly inspired by the Memphis Group of Architecture. The Memphis style, which emerged in the eighties, is defined by striking and sometimes clashing colorways, and bold and outrageous design statements. Holly adopted the movement's mix of bright colors, Art Deco influences, and mishmash of materials into her clothing, which one might describe as highly stylized retro-futurism.

Both of my parents are architects, and my father is quite a big fan of the Memphis and New International Style, so I grew up surrounded by it, and all of the pieces remind me a bit of my parent's first over-the-top apartment back in the 80's (they have since moved, and gotten more minimalist). There wasn't a single piece I didn't love, and I was particularly blown away by the massive amount of work that goes into many of the pieces, which are alternatively covered in Swarovski crystals, or millions of tiny little beads. If you are like me, and would like a piece of Holly's collection, but can't afford the prices, don't fret! Holly informed me that her new collection for ASOS.com just launched, and is available for a pretty reasonable price right here. Not a bad substitute at all.

A skirt which is hand-embellished with thousands of beads

More birds, more beads, more crystals!

A sampling of Holly's gorgeous jewelry, which is made of a mishmash of cut perspex, wood, studs, and crystals!


Holly's adorable sketches for the Spring collection

A cartoony cloud-printed dress

One of several gorgeous bags

Holly Fulton for ASOS dress $112

Holly Fulton for ASOS printed jersey top $77, and leggings $77

One of my favorite leather jackets, styled with a pair of Rodebjer's new line of sunglasses and a paisley print scarf

Today I stopped by my W29 Showroom for their press day, and finally got to snap a few pictures of the Spring 2010 collections that I got a chance to ogle a couple of months earlier. While I have plenty of pictures from all the collections to show in upcoming posts, my top priority was getting shots of one of my eternal favorites, Rodebjer. Even though Carin Rodebjer just had a baby, she still managed to produce one of her most impressive collections to date, including her new 10 x 10 line, a limited edition high-end collection, of which only 10 pieces are produced per garment.

Though Karin was unfortunately not present today to explain the collection, her inspiration board revealed pictures of a young Patti Smith on stage, as well as The Spark's album Kimono My House, and there was definitely a sense of 70's rocker channeled through Rodebjer's refined styling. Sequins, draping chain detail, and perforated leather are major staples of the collection, but never fall into any of the trite rock'n'roll cliches that abound these days. Instead, they are rendered in softer, draping shapes and looser bodies that provided the perfect counterpoint to their edge. Rodebjer's girl isn't a groupie, but her own woman, which is what I love about these pieces.

This leather blazer is on my wish list

One of the sequined 10 x 10 dresses, featuring a beautiful window pane inset

This full length leather coat has the best ballooning shoulder detail

I'm definitely going to try and order this printed tee. The new sunglasses also looked really good.

Another favorite from the 10 x 10 line was this double-breasted dress with plenty of buttons

This is one of the few leather dresses I've ever seen that wasn't made to be overtly sexy, and I love its classic appeal

A 10 x 10 dress with a printed silk top

I love the contrast between the demure sillk top and the leather bottom of this dress

A 10 x 10 dolman sleeve dress with chain details