Friday, February 27, 2009

London Fall 2009 Fashion Week

London fashion shows always have many looks that surprise and delight. So unexpected and forward-looking, here are photos from my favorite shows from last week.

Issa


Graeme Black


Christopher Kane



Erdem

All photos via Style.com

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Oscar Fashion Faves

The ladies of Oscar night delivered. Many beautiful gowns, displaying a wide range of looks, reached the high expectations we have of the night. What do you think?

Winning looks on the Winning actresses:

Penelope Cruz in vintage Balmain and Kate Winslet in Yves Saint Laurent

Ethereal Couture:

Marion Cotillard and Sarah Jessica Parker in Christian Dior Haute Couture

Modernity at it's best:

Halle Berry in Marchesa and Marisa Tomei in Versace Atelier

Luxe Layered Looks:
Taraji P. Henson in Roberto Cavalli and Miley Cyrus in Zuhair Murad

Bold Shoulder Baring Brights:

Natalie Portman in Rodarte and Amy Adams in Carolina Herrera

Runway to Red Carpet: Oscar Night

It's Oscar night!  Here are a few runway to red carpet transformations.  
 
Armani Prive Spring 2009 Couture, Anne Hathaway

 
Marchesa Spring 2009 and on Vanessa Hudgens

 
John Galliano Spring 2009, and on Freida Pinto

More Oscar fashion to come!  

Saturday, February 21, 2009

NY Fashion Week: Behind the Curtains

Here is a small peek of some of the fantastic backstage photos from NY Fashion Week.  The photos speak for themselves...but wouldn't it be phenomenal to be there to feel the energy?
See these and more photos at the great fashion blog, Crave.  

Friday, February 20, 2009

NY Fashion Week: Focus: DKNY

Going over the photographs of NY Fashion Week for Fall 2009, I see a lot to look forward to even in these financially trying times. While not typically a huge fan of the DKNY line, I thought the collection was inspired and inspiring for office grunts like me. Black with bold primary colors combined with an elongated pencil silhouette is certainly a trend I can work with:



All photos by Marcio Madiera found on Style.com

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

NY Fashion Week Focus: Peter Som

Peter Som's capsule colletion for Fall 2009 is both rough and tumble and soft and sweet at the same time. Love all of these pieces...especially the mix of textures.


Isn't that technicolor fur crazy?

Stay tuned for more of my favorites from NY Fashion Week - Fall 2009.

All photos via Style.com

Friday, February 13, 2009

Designer Insider: Interview w/ Michelle Brusegaard

I'm excited to introduce a new blog feature: interviews with my favorite Etsy designers! My first interview in this series is with the very talented designer/photographer/painter, Michelle Brusegaard.


Ana: Describe your first sale on Etsy. And how about your 1,000th?
Michelle: I listed about 10 of my silk Batik Scarves on etsy, and two weeks later while I was checking my email at work (bad!) I got the ever exciting transaction email. I was in shock. I kind of wanted to quit my job right then and there…. 1,000 sales later, was still shocked, just in a different way. By then it was becoming apparent to me that I could make a living this way, and I felt so lucky! I still get excited when I check my inbox and I see the old familiar “Congratulations on your sale at Etsy!”

A: I love your shop because of the breadth of mediums you employ. Tell us a little bit about your Barbie photography series.
M: I started this series in my last year at college. I began by just photographing the old dresses that I had saved, and then began collecting vintage, homemade ones. I love the tiny fabrics and shapes, especially if they’re well-worn and stained here and there. They seem to have lives of their own…sometimes naturally appearing abandoned or castoff…other times reminding people of how much they loved them when they were kids, which makes them equally as precious and beautiful now.

A: Describe your studio / work space. What does it sound like?
M: My studio space is kind of a dump! I work in two places: a tiny office that I share with a giant futon and an unfinished basement that I share with all the junk I can’t seem to throw away. I sometimes find the clutter inspiring, while other times I find it encompassing! That being said, I don’t know if I could function in a neat and orderly studio-I feel the need to have all my supplies within reach at once, so it’s hard to stay organized.I usually work with music on (mostly Minneapolis’s 89.3 The Current). I also sometimes work in my living room, especially when I have something monotonous to do, like iron 100 scarves, and then I will watch junk television.


A: How do you motivate yourself each day?
M: I am really motivated by the growth of my business and that growth just motivates me to make more. Everyday seems to be a bit different. I am realizing that the reason I work in so many mediums is that I am easily distracted. So I try to structure my days around several activities rather than just one project. For example, today I started by eating grapes and drinking coffee while answering customer emails and making proofs (it’s wedding invitation season!). Then I took a yoga break (I just started incorporating this a few weeks ago). Then I had lunch over more emails. Then I headed down to the studio and did a little painting (and some laundry). Then back to the office for some packaging design, and then to the living room where I made some fabric-covered buttons for awhile. I think having a running list is a good thing to do…but not sticking to it too much is also important for me. Sometimes when you’re working creatively, you just have to go with the flow and not force yourself to do something your not feeling—that always seems to come out in the work!

A: I love that you incorporate bold graphics on your scarves and table linens, are you looking to expand your line of cloth products?
M: I am slowly, but surely. I am not currently set up to burn my own screens, so I’ve been having them made for me by a fellow Etsy seller (Zengirl). This limits me a bit as to how frequently I “make” a new screen, and thus a new design. I do have a few new designs just waiting to be printed, that should happen sometime later in February. I love working with fabric and screen-printing and am excited to learn more about it and expand my line.


A: Tell us about Minneapolis. How does the city influence or inspire you?
M: Minneapolis…I moved here about 3.5 years ago with skepticism. I am really more of a small town person (although many people tell me this is a small town….not when you’re from North Dakota like me!). But I really like it now. The indie craft community here is burgeoning. I don’t know if the city inspires me, per se. But I do often get inspired here!

A: You've made 2,584 sales on Etsy (as of today)...tell us what the site means to you.
M: Etsy has changed my life! I feel super lucky almost every day that I discovered it, because I really didn’t have anything else up my sleeve in the way of making a career out of art. Without it, I think I would have been destined to a life in Art-related retail.

A: What's the last book you read? the last movie you saw? or the last CD you played?
M: Book: No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July
Movie: The Namesake
CD: Sigur Ros

A: Who was the last Etsy seller that made you sit up and say "wow."
M: The last seller I added to my favorites was Jill Bliss, since she just started an etsy shop. I am a huge fan of her work. But I guess I didn’t discover her there, so….One of new favorites for knitwear is Wool and Brick, making things out of unraveled sweaters really speaks to me! Also, Pursecution...these purses are hot and super well-made-I’ve seen them in person!


A: Do you collect anything?
M: Miniature furniture and old doll dresses.

A: My blog tends to focus on fashion, too...so...what are you wearing?
M: It’s embarrassing, right now I’m wearing yoga pants. Not very fashiony. I’ll tell you what I was wearing yesterday:
Black Piecemeal Dress by The Machine Stops,
Old pink slip peeking out,
Grey and black striped knit leggings from Target,
American Apparel hoodie in black,
Fatty fall scarf fromWool and Brick,
Red leather boots from Anthropologie


A: How do you see your work evolving in 2009? What should we look forward to?
M: More paintings and photography…new jersey scarf designs….the rest is unpredictable!

Thank you so much, Michelle!

(All photos are from Michelle or her Etsy shop)

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Cover Girl: Michelle Obama



"I love clothes," she admits. "First and foremost, I wear what I love. That's what women have to focus on: what makes them happy and what makes them feel comfortable and beautiful. If I can have any impact, I want women to feel good about themselves and have fun with fashion."



The next cover of Vogue features the lovely First Lady, Michelle Obama. Take a sneak peek of Annie Leibovitz' portraits and the insightful interview by Andre Leon Talley. Both the photographs and the interview were taken prior to the inauguration day.

Monday, February 09, 2009

Lessons from the Grammy's

Here are a few fashion lessons from the ladies on the 2009 Grammy red carpet:

Lesson #1. Shine is not always your friend

Sheryl Crow's choice of this Toni Maticevski gown (and shoes!) was unfortunate.
I loved
Gweneth's Versace look until I looked at the legs. Excuse me while I throw out all tights with shimmer. Her hair is fabulous, though.

Lesson #2: There is a right way and a wrong way to wear metallic accents:

LeeAnn's Philosophy di Alberta Ferreti dress was the perfect balance of color and texture. Paula's look by Basil Soda (umm...who?) was heartbreaking.

Lesson #3: Short and structural shapes are super!

Jennifer Hudson in RM by Roland Mouret and Estelle in Bernard Chandra totally channeled the futuristic vibe...which is both a wink to 60's fashion and fashion-forward for the Grammy red carpet.

Lesson #4: Don't take yourself too seriously, but don't downplay a "moment."

Jennifer Nettles in Rachel Roy and Sara Bareilles in Luisa Beccaria looked fresh and appropriate in these short looks.

What do you think?