A Few Fashion Week Favorites - Designers are Nailing Print Mixing

SS2013 has sent collections catapulting down NY Fashion Week runways with customary sultry panache.  For the fashion crowd this means eye candy for days. And stress, caffeine, and blisters. But that's all kind-of-sort-of-part-of the collective pain that brings the fashion community together. Only walking through this tiresome yet thrilling experience can birth the "we just really love and also abhor fashion week with all our heart" glance that can be shared knowingly between industry insiders.

This season is no different, of course. The reason we endure it all, again and again, is to be there to bare witness to the rare but exulting moments of brilliance and art that inevitably occur, season after season. Several of this season's special moments I'll mention here. For several seasons print mixing has been a heavy theme. The trend continues but it seems this season's designers have really polished this dance. Handling an intuition based, rule-less idea with more dexterity and ease. The wild-west of print mixing is being tamed and it is delightful to watch. For example, the prints at Mara Hoffman were jaw dropping. Always suckers for a classic t-shirt with playful words across the chest, we especially loved its classier sister - her tongue and cheek sleeveless 'ALOHA' shift.  

 

 Photo Credit: Randy Brooke

And then there was the  Look Good/ Do Good favorite, Cambridge Satchel Company, and it's  collaboration with another one of our all time faves, Chris Benz.  Each of Benz's outfits were accessorized with a color blocked CSC bag. Can you even? This is one of the most joyful little bags we've seen in a long time. 

via: Glamour.com

Also this bralette by Bono's line EDUN is just darling.  The perfect accoutrement to a sheer overlay or  peeking from the wide neckline of a slouchy fall sweater.  We love EDUN because the line proves socially conscious can be unquestionably high fashion- as a brand they actively work to increase trade with Africa. Aiming to produce 40% of their seasonal collection in Africa by 2013. Crunchy and boring equals socially conscious? We think not.

And finally, these shoes from Kork-Ease Jackie Fraser-Swan' s EMERSON collection. Killing it. (Photo by moi. It's much harder than one might thing get a good photo of models's fast moving feet! Slow down speed racers!) 

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ISARO by Flutter - Indulge in pattern mixing without committing to entire clown outfit

Flutter by Jill Golden, always one of our jewelry favorites, has come out with another design hit. As usual her pieces are lux and gorge but this time they also have a helpful spin. Through a partnership with the Social Enterprise Indego Africa, a design driven, nonprofit outfit helping women gain access to education and economic independence, these handwoven beaded bracelets and necklaces are  produced in Rwanda, Africa.  Made of Japanese glass beads with Swarovski crystals and lambskin suede details, the mix of patterns and colors are also a perfect way for the faint of heart to indulge in this season's pattern/print mixing trend without committing an to an entire head to toe clown outfit.

Each piece is signed by the Artisan and comes in a unique Dutch Wax fabric pouch.

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Beast of Burden: Sustainably Sourced, Handmade Crocodile Skin Bags

Beast of Burden Sheba bag

from $6,175

Look Good

Walk around like you own the place carrying a Beast of Burden Sheba bag. Oft referred to as the 'CEO bag', it won't be hard to hold yourself in the manner of an executive carrying a purse with such fierce crocodile and leather blocked panels. 

Do Good

Whoever said leather or croc skin was bad? We beg to differ. Beast of Burden's bags are handcrafted locally in Italy and sustainably sourced alongside artisans in Africa - they come at a pretty penny but you get what you pay for. This bag is good all around.

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I Die Friday: a little Balenciaga, a litte bomb metal

 

 

 

 

From Top

Rani Arabella Cashmere Love Pillow, $149

Balenciaga V-Neck Dress , $2,150

MorningMug, $29 

Chie Mihara Mar Wedges, $420.74

Topshop Chiffon Overlay Shift Dress, $80

peaceBOMB Story Bangle, $60

Look Good

OMG TGIF right? Here are a few things for your oracular enjoyment. Black, white, and red are always a classic combo. Isn't this Balenciaga V-Neck Dress major? Both this and the Topshop Chiffon Shift Dress seem like the perfect two LBD's - one feminine and whimsical, the other a little edgier and structured.  

I just discovered the Spanish Chie Mihara shoe label and it's really fantastic. I lived in Spain for three years and I don't remember ever seeing this brand. Wish I would have picked up a few pairs when I was there (since shipping can be a tad $$)! But I highly recommend taking a look at the site- there are are several some fantastic and original designs.

Do Good 

 

peaceBOMB Story Bangles!  PROJECT PEACEBOMB makes something ugly into something beautiful and for a good cause. These aluminum non-war and war scrap metal bracelets are made from the metal of undetonated bombs. They tell a story about  the Secret War, 1964-1973, during the Vietnam conflict which left Laos the most heavily bombed country per capita in history. Profits go towards supporting artisans in the area, the community development fund , and the removal of undetonated bombs which, at the current rate, will take 800 years to remove.

 

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Cambridge Satchel Company x Christopher Shannon

Look Good:

Loving this snazzy collaboration between Cambridge Satchel  Company x  Christopher Shannon.  Gracing Spring/Summer 2013 men’s runway in London last week, for me, it was love at first (thumbnail) sight. Cambridge Satchel Company is already king of the sleek English schoolboy bag. The collaboration with Shannon maintains the satchel's classic shape but, of course, Shannon funkti-fies them in his signature, spectacular way - color blocking, fringe, shine, even just a good old sleek black model. The backpacks belonged to men on the runway but I’m pretty sure they’ll be unisex on the street.

Last year Cambridge Satchel gifted me a black satchel with my initials monogrammed on it, seldom do we part. The genius of Cambridge Satchel is in their mastery of the classic combined with fearlessness of the fresh and progressive. In addition to the classics, they offer a variety of bags in vibrant colors including some of the most intense neon shades around. So what started as a cult blogger fad has become a global fashion staple. Superb quality and equally fantastic design is not something that fads are made of- Cambridge Satchel Company is here to stay.

Do Good:

Locally produced & Handmade-

All CSC bags are handmade in British factories. Employment is kept local and employs over 40 people  in the area.  

Anti-Bullying -

Cambridge Satchel Company is not just a little committed to Doing Good. Company founder Julie Deane began the company in part because her daughter was being bullied. CSC contributes to anti-bullying charities.

 *prices and stockists forthcoming

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This Blog is a'Changin: Look Good. Do Good.

Have you noticed that I've changed the description under my blog title from "All things WTF? OMG!!" to "Look good. Do good."? This is because since this blog's inception in 2008, it has transformed along with me. DMU-DMD began as a vaguely fashion related project, documenting my life and visual fashion inspirations in a fun tongue in cheek way - before, during and after my move to New York from Cleveland for fashion design studies at Parsons. Since 2008, obviously, I have changed and so has the world. Let's be clear I am still hilarious and stylish and humble. But I have also become more focused on how my love for the art of fashion, and all things visual, can somehow align with my dedication to doing good and living well.

Perhaps the inherent consumerism in fashion has started to rub me the wrong way - it is an art form but it's also a big business. I'm not jaded enough to think that fashion is all bad. I don't think we should feel guilty about wanting to look good and express ourselves through esthetics. This desire is as old as mankind. But in my opinion it's our responsibility as visitors on this planet, including businesses, to somehow give back and to live fairly and responsibly. I will now cast a wider and hopefully healthier net, focusing more on balancing aesthetic discussions with topics regarding giving back to 'from which we came' and leading healthier, more earth friendly, empowering lifestyles. 

From this point forward all posts will have not only a Look Good bent, but a DO GOOD focus. I would love to hear from readers about anything they think is relevant to the above. Submissions welcome. Art, books, music, fashion, design, people, interiors. All of this will now be included on this blog. and I'd like your input. And let's have a sense of humor about it all mmm k?

We're in this together.

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My friend Nettie is a mermaid - Nettie Kent Jewelry

Photography -  Betsy Blundell  {Nettie and I took the ones of Betsey in them...of course :)}

Nettie Kent (above image) is the closest I've ever come to meeting a real, live mermaid - her hair, her beauty and her spirit just don't belong on land. Besides the fins (and thank God she doesn't have fins right?  where are mermaid's pee-holes?!) she is the real deal. Growing up on Martha's Vineyard, Nettie's backyard was the ocean.  Her line, Nettie Kent Jewelry, is a bit like wearing a beautiful jewelry version of the ocean: slices of sand on your fingers, gorgeous sea foam on your wrists, whispering sand dune grass dangling from your ears. Srsly. All her pieces are made from two of my most favorite materials - brass and leather. Nettie, who worked for Philip Crangi, has designed a line that is so on point it is truly difficult to decide which piece(s) to purchase.  It's no wonder Nettie has already received attention from trendsetting moguls like Agyness Deyn.  What better way to celebrate Nettie's line than to do a shoot at the beach with our friend and photographer Betsy Blundell, getting to wear all the jewelry!  We took these shots a few weeks back at Ft. Tilden.  And man, as I sit here writing this, cuddled up under a comforter with the sniffles,  it makes me nostalgic for summer already.  I think I'll go call my mermaid friend Nettie and have her take me with her back to the ocean…

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Verameat: jewelry for the twisted little kid in all of us

A few weeks back my friend Claire took me to the East Village flagship store opening of her favorite jeweler Verameat , located on East 9th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues. I have always admired Claire's Verameat jewelry- there is something so raw, and yet irreverent and silly, about the hand hanging from her neck and her sterling silver knuckle ring made from the mold of a set of teeth.  The artist behind the line, Vera Balyura, was at the store opening and we got to chatting. She informed me that this denture-type design was made from actual molds of her own, uniquely vampire-like, teeth.  

There were so many different, whimsical, yet comical, yet horrifying charms to choose from: little cowboys shooting guns, airplanes, french bulldog heads, sea creatures, and the list goes on.  I walked away having purchased a Wolf charm necklace- 14K gold fill over gold brass - and I have gotten countless compliments on it since.  There is something for the twisted little kid in all of us from Verameat's line and I'll definitely be returning for more.

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I Die Friday: the perfect summer sandal

Miu Miu Sandal in Fluo

Coveroo

Need it. Want it. 

There are a few things on earth that I'm convinced I'd be a more complete, happy person if I owned them.  You can't tell me differently.  The first item is an iPhone (I know, I know.  I'm the last person on earth who doesn't have one but for some reason I have two Blackberries instead. Lame, long story #whitegirlproblems), the second is some sort of small dog such as a chihuahua or a french bull dog, and the third is this Neon Miu Miu Sandal.  Donations welcome.  BTW isn't this iPhone cover awesome? I found it on the internets.  

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I Die Friday: When '90's Winona Wasn't Cray Cray

'90s Winona {minus the hair}

Low Luv x Erin Wasson Thunderbird Cuff 

Low Luv x Erin Wasson Skeleton Thunderbird Necklace

Wasn't '90s Winona so amazeballs before she became a Cray Cray Klepto??? Her earrings are so fly!   The turquoise and silver Native American jewelry vibe is currently making a huge comeback thanks, in no small part, to the influence of Erin Wasson x Low Lov Jewelry (see this and this). 

Before I was born my parents lived on an Indian Reservation.  My mother passed on a lot of turquoise, silver and beaded jewelry to me but my '90's kid self wore the jewelry constantly and lost most of it. FAIL! God I'm mad at my irresponsible '90s  kid self right now!  Anyways, thank goodness '90s Winona's hair in this picture has NOT made a comeback. But, whatever, 90's Winona, who cares about your awful hair? You were PERFECT to me. Tweet

Things That Touch Me

I ganked the first image of the ring from my friend Claire's tumblr blog. Rings with animals on them really make me feel warm and fuzzy and fierce, all at the same time.  This  particular ring can be found on Etsy and is called "Rabid Fox". SOLD. 

It makes me want to crawl into it to read, nap and laze when I should be doing many, many more important things. REBEL NAP!

I love homeless dudes. What can I say?

Patti Smith: you're my heart.

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Southern Design brought to NYC: sustainable and green

 Mickey Lynn Jewelry

 Amoena Lingerie

Smart Glass Art 

Suzeseams, milliner

 

Fashionable Notes, reusable maket bags

Moo Moo Designs

 

Sushistyle

Mark Edge Jewelry

Amy Bubes Jewelry

Yesterday I attended an event hosted by Southern Designer Collections.  The annual event  presents a very selct group of southern designers to New York City media, stylists, and industry insiders. I was excited to be invited as I have soft spot in my heart for all things Southern since I did my undergraduate degree at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia (see this and this).

Yesterday I was very impressed by the high level of design and craftsmanship but I was even more impressed by the huge focus on sustainability in much of the work.  It looks like Southern designers have fully embraced the concept of "green," perhaps even more so than New York designers.  Kathleen Plate designs all her "Smart Glass Art" using recycled glass, Mark Edge designs using only reclaimed metals, and Juan Hernandez of Moo Moo Designs uses all "green" materials, dyes and finishes- including the use of gorgeous animal hides and horns sourced only from animals that have already been used for meat.  Not to mention Fashionable Notes, a cute and reusable market totes line in lovely sherbet colors.

On another note, I'm completely flipping out about Amoena Lingerie.  Get this: beautiful lingerie for the full busted woman. Yes, I said 'beautiful'. They even have sizes for smaller rib cages.  I am a 32DD and, since puberty, it has been like looking for a needle in a haystack to find a supportive bra that is also pretty.  Ladies like me know that it is next to impossible to find a bra that keeps everything in place but doesn't look like a bra you stole from your grandmother's underwear drawer.  Our choices are pretty much limited to bras that look like parachutes held up by 5 inch thick bungee straps.  Believe me, Victoria's secret bras don't cut it- their straps are too thin and their bras are just not made for women who have large breasts.  he Amoena bras are gorgeous and also use a hi tech fabric that regulates your body temperature- cooling you when you need it and transferring heat back to you when you're cold.  

I also must add mention the other designers. Sushistyle, a really cool little company where all the designs are inspired by sushi!  I loved their furniture especially and would love to get my hands on one of these pieces when I move into my new place in October- so fun, sleek, cute and modern!  And Amy Bubes Jewelry was very pretty,  all one of a kind, hand crafted aregentium sterling silver where no two pieces are alike.  Amy and I shared our love for combining silver and gold jewelry together. So there you have it, it is jeweler confirmed: mixing gold and silver jewelry is ALLOWED. Mickey Lynn  Jewelry was very 'on trend'- employing the use of crystals galore.  Absolutely gorgeous.  And Finally, Suzeseams had unique handcrafted millinery.  Southern women just know how to do hats! 

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