Vena Cava SS10 : Smoke & Fire
Now that spring is approaching it is a good time to start formulating a palette. There is nothing worst than pulling out a threadbare garb on the first warm day of spring. Spring colors should have a fresh look, something ultra modern. Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai are two young designers from Pasadena and Los Angeles California. Both are graduates of the Parsons New School for Design.
After graduating, they started a small production house literally, in their house. Fusing a sensual and youthful id into their clothing, Vena Cava provides a clean, elegant, yet youthful alternative to the sometimes revealing and raunchy attire worn by today’s fashionista and glamour girl. The two rely on “the good factor” rather than the trendy seasonal styles. Lisa and Sophie have turned Vena Cava into a fashion powerhouse. Their retailing range is massive in the United States, internationally, and online. Vena Cava has worked tirelessly on pollinating every corner of the market. They not only provide clothing, but lingerie, shoes, and underwear as well.
Their recent Spring 2010 collection evokes a different kind of feeling. The collection touches on the resilience of spring. The collection is filled with lots of dark blacks and greys. The idiom that best describes Vena Cava’s spring collection is, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” Fiery colours were strategically place throughout the collection eliciting spring-like elements. Vena Cava’s spring line could touch on the buoyant nature of society and the recovery from an economic down turn. The depth to which one could dive is endless, but one thing is sure, Vena Cava has staying power.
Bebaroque SS10: Embellished Accessories
Getting ready for a crazy night out can be somewhat tiring not to mention a struggle. The hunt for a quick wardrobe change can leave you enervated. You can handle this debacle with a little embellishment. Being a fashion expert and stylist visionary, I am a firm believer that embellished accessories can make or break a wardrobe. Now that designers have hushed the innumerable amounts of graphic-adorned items in their sample closets, and people are layering plain silhouettes, embellished accessories are free to reign.
When in a fashion frenzy, keep your solid and dark clothes in the middle of your closet. Slip into a nice black Dior-esque A-line dress or the Western woman’s wardrobe staple: the pencil skirt. Additionally, layering a cute vest, blouse or blazer can make a world of difference. Let your embellished accessories speak for themselves. Its not what you wear, it is how you layer that makes them stare.
Scottish accessory company Bebaroque makes embellishment look fun and posh. Their Spring 2010 collection is a great stylish yet simply embellished collection of leg wear. The brand, started by Mhairi McNicol and Chloe Patience, creates a sundry of graphic and embroidered applications on hosiery. Bebaroque experiments with laser cutting techniques, appliquéd pleated fan tassels on leggings, and silkscreen drawings that run vertically down the leg. Bebaroque’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection is an array of hosiery that any young energetic fashionista would be eager to pull from their closet.
All images provided by Bebaroque & Genuine PR company
Simplicity : Phoebe Philo for Céline
As a graduate from the world renowned Central Saint Martins in London, Phoebe Philo is gaining much attention. After working as assistant designer to the prêt-à-porter collection from Chloé, Phoebe was promoted to Creative Director in 2001. From there she launched Chloé’s first and most influential accessories line. She also showed the first Chloé ready-to-wear collection in Paris. In 2005, Phoebe received the ‘London Designer of the Year’ award. After growing the Chloé business globally, Phoebe resigned. After this venture she was appointed Creative Director and board member of Céline. Céline is another ready-to-wear business that focuses on much of the same products as Chloé. To accomplish so much at a young age is not only inspiring but a testament to creative artistry.
Phoebe is now focusing on growing Céline into an equally, if not more, successful business than Chloé. Phoebe’s first Céline SS10 collection provides women with the true simplicity needed in an everyday wardrobe. The Spring color palette is far from a kaleidoscope of colors, but surely brings the word ‘Spring’ to mind. While staying true to women’s work wear, Céline also allows for some updated color options and provides a plethora of Spring specific pieces, like a fitted women’s cigarette pant, or a bright brick red trench coat. The simplicity of Céline SS10 collection is essential in it’s strategic use of color. Too much color or lack there of is the fine line that Phoebe walks so nimbly.
Céline’s Spring & Summer collections are filled with darks and light sandy neutrals. The line is comprised of small hints of phthalo and olive greens. The strong, shiny black dresses and skirts help to ground the collection. The collection is also a perfect blend of couture finishes with ready-to-wear silhouettes. Céline’s clear sleek runway of comfortable loose fitting pants and tightly fitted tops create the perfect landscape for the modern-day women. The models possess a look of conviction when skepticism from onlookers is ubiquitous. Céline’s color palette is safe and classy, but has a bit of “newness” in it’s Spring/Summer mix. Moreover, the collections embody a couturier’s refinement. A female designer’s ability to blend sharp men’s tailoring with a feminine touch is something that has been dormant in the industry for some time. (Céline is sold exclusively in 24 boutiques globally)
How Do I Look : Christian Dior Handbags
“How do I look?” As you inch out of the vestiaire (cloakroom) is a question every women knows so well. Women search for understanding in their wardrobe, never mistaking unvarnished attire with elegance and beauty. They hope to encounter the perfect garb that embody the characteristics of who they are. Sometimes this can mean throwing on a simple top or pare of pants. Through out his career, Christian Dior mastered this understanding & need in the fashion industry.
In efforts to look back into women’s fashion, I stumble across some old photos of Christian Dior’s past collections. A slim waist was popular during Christian Dior’s years, and where there is demand he strived to supply. He did just that by releasing ‘Bar’ in his 1947 The Look collection. The ‘Bar’ jacket redefined the elegance of a women’s tailored jackets. While redefining cut and line Dior began turning the ‘Bar’ jacket in to a staple silhouette for many women. The skill of being a great designer and tailor is not just great clothes but to trick the eye. Fooling people with ones appearance, is a trait of a timeless designer.
Recently Dior’s “new Look” collection from his 1947 women’s couture line was referenced as inspiration for the latest 2010 line of lady Dior Handbags. The collection was aptly titled “New Lock” after the new signature clasp detail that would graced the front of each bag. In honor of the collection, Photographic icon Peter Lindbergh created a series of film shorts staring french actress Nora Arnezeder. Dior New Lock website.
Army Green : Pixie Market
As we usher into 2010, army jackets continue to trend up. In efforts to end the war in and Iraq and return troops home, its not surprising that military influence would find its way into fashion. After all the buzz around Rihanna’s military-couture in her video, Hard featuring Young Jock, a surfeit of looks-alike military jackets have been showing up. In the video, Rihanna sports a dirty green Jacket with cut off black shorts, stomping around in her military boots with a Jeremy Scott Mickey Mouse helmet. In this video, they all scream one thing : military.
Many designers on the runway in 2010 have pulled this same dilatory aroma from the air and infused it in their upcoming collections. Contrary popular opinion, army jackets have been festering for a while. Beyonce Knowles was clad a prêt-à-porter military inspired jacket modeled by Zuzana Gregorova in Balmain SS09. If your not someone who can dish out money for a Balmain jacket, there are plenty of easy solutions to a military-inspired jacket. Check Here @ Pixie Market, and also check your local army barracks store as well. A second hand army jacket is of true authenticity, and great for thrift lovers.
Katie Rowland : The Ring Leader
I have been getting in touch with some of my favorite designers. Not to seem like a stalkerish fan, but more as an admirer of great beauty. After hearing her name buzzing around, I was randomly given Katie’s contact info. Sometimes a great contact can be right in front of you. A couple of days ago, I received an email with a little info about Katie Rowland and her jewelry line along with an amazing photograph of a ring she designed. Rings by Ring Leader (a collection by London-based graphic designer and jeweler Katie Rowland) is not only relevant for today’s youth, but invoke a new found look of promise.
Katie’s work has been described as adornment for naughty boys and girls.The idea of an oath and promise is not something that today’s generation understands too well. The ring featured in this article is titled ‘Until Death’, it acts as a little portable letterpress tool giving you the chance to rub a little love off everywhere you go. ‘Until Death’ is just one of the many new conceptual and innovative peices featured in Katie’s Love & Faith Collection. It is almost post- apocalyptic with a hint of gloomy love—kind of reminds me of Lord of the Rings. It makes you feel like nothing could surpass the ring’s purpose. Katie Rowland’s great understanding of typography allows for a very timeless and noteworthy item . Katie Rowland’s work will become more prevalent as people gain an appreciation for purposeful design.
CALLA : Epicene Languor
Toronto native and Parsons Paris/New York Graduate, Calla Haynes, has a new collection. After vaunting about her simple and clean style, I decided to discuss my views. Claimed as the debutante of Paris Fashion Week, Haynes is now standing on her own two feet in the industry.
After working with many designers, Haynes will make her own mark in the fashion world. Her work is imbued with the qualities of Nina Ricci, Hayne’s previous head honcho, and she has also designed for Alexander Wang and Olivier Theyskens. Haynes’ designs are focused on the sentiments of women. She is very aware that the look and feel of her work is just as important when it comes to women’s wear. All of Haynes’ past collections have been paired with an over-arching thematic print story.
This Spring/Summer collection follows suit, with a very soft feminine look
combined with hand-painted-like fabric. Her silhouettes are proper with a sort of epicene languor. Like Chanel, Hayne’s clothing evokes a woman’s coy nature, as well as their sexy, mischievous ways. Haynes work can be found in New York’s Debut boutique as well as the St.Regis Room (formerly Simpson’s) in Toronto, Canada and Maria Luisa in Paris, France.
Heavy Machine : Malachite Heels
After reading Susie Bubble’s Blog today, I notice she was wearing some absolutly amazing footwear in a photo. She was blogging about running in High heels and the discomfort women face and how she love the Malachite color of the shoes. I was able to look up the design label she was wearing. The High heels were made by a company called Heavy Machine.
Michelle Wu and Yoyo Pan started Heavy Machine after meeting each other during their college years. After realizing their mutual love for shoes, Michelle and Yoyo felt that women’s foot wear, specifically high heels & pumps, were uncomfortable. They felt heels gave women many other problems along with sore feet.
Many women have back problems due to heels. Michelle and Yoyo hope that Heavy Machine footwear, will some day be the comfortable heels that women love to wear without future enjuries of back and foot problems. Both designers agree that high heels are the Heavy Machine that causes women to endure much pain. Beauty & Pain certianly are blured when it comes to fashionable footwear & attire. Michelle Wu and Yoyo Pan are not only creating beautiful High heels that any women would love to wear but they are catering to the never ending quest for the perfect Heel comfort, Go Feet!
Mode en Module : Bespoke Jewellery
London based duo Mathew Gill a graphic designer and Ann Nelving a fashion designer have launched their collection of jewelry entitled Mode en Module. view their 2010 collection. Bespoke made to order jewellery. Mode en module
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