style defined nyc

Where Have All the Musings Gone?

2010-03-15T13:20:00.000-07:00

Hello lovely readers-

I started this page so I could write longer articles on Style Defined and not mess with my photo-a-day format on the front page. However, Blogger has since made it possible to hide part of the post until the reader clicks "read more" which is essentially the same as having you continue reading in Musings. So now all my musings will be incorporated into the blog which will simplify it for me and for you as well if you read this through email or an RSS feed. xoxo katya

FW Favorite: Katie Gallagher

2010-02-24T20:04:00.000-08:00

While her collection title might reference the woods the actual garments make me think of post-apocalyptic urban warrior princesses. Her color palette is made up of blacks and neutrals and leggings and leather dominate. But what is striking is her mix of textures and how the fabric wraps the body.

The leggings are by far the most complex I've ever seen; she mixes in sheer fabric and zipper hardware and the fabric wraps around instead of just going straight up in one piece. While many of her leggings require a model thinness or height to wear well, they are paired with jackets that anyone can wear with confidence. Many had asymmetrical elements and they all had great detailing. I especially love the jacket above right with the banding down the sleeves and the cinched waist.

I also love the cuts of both of these jackets.

I have been intrigued with Katie Gallagher since I first met her through her friend Alex who interviewed her for Style Defined. I remember her telling the story about how she had an internship with a prestigious designer in Paris. She didn’t like it so just booked a plane to New York and left. Without warning or notice. It just wasn’t working for Katie in Paris and she didn’t feel the need to “stick it out” for the experience or to please anyone. This attitude is refreshing to find in someone starting out in an industry that has often been described as cruel and cliquish as your worst high school nightmare. She has a clarity of vision and belief in herself that allows her to stay true to her own conviction and not try to follow trends or please the fashion tribes…and in doing so she is quickly gaining a following of her own.

Q + A with Tr3y Stylez

2010-02-03T11:30:00.001-08:00

How did you get into styling?
I was working in a high-end retail store on the Upper East Side, and overheard a woman talking about a photoshoot she had coming up. At first I was hesitant, but thought “Hey what do I have to lose? I decided to intervene by asking her if she needed any assistance. Right after I took a deep breath, (hesitant that this women would simply react as one would pestered by a salesperson), she came over and asked me for help in returning an item. We went from talking about returning an item to her introducing herself as Debbie Dickinson. Actress, Supermodel, and sister to the famed International Supermodel Janice Dickinson. She told me she was looking for a makeup artist who needed to be at NBC studios the following morning at the crack of dawn. I knew that this was more then a task. This was a test to see if I could make it in styling -beyond assisting customers. And I did it.

Do you do editorial, fashion or personal styling?
I do both editorial and fashion styling.

What is the most challenging aspect of what you do?
I can't think of anything specific. There are challenges with everything you strive for. It’s doing something that you love doing every single day. Being challenged to achieve while doing what you truly love and are passionate about.

What is most rewarding about what you do?
The most rewarding thing about styling is seeing the clients face when they truly love what they are wearing. When I see how they pose and react to their clothes it gives me the seal of approval that I did a job well done!

What are 3 places to find great pieces in NYC?
I would name exact stores but I notice that people love to really take in every single aspect of the city. So I broke it down into three neighborhoods: Greenwich Village(Abington Square) L.E.S.(Stanton Street) & The Garment District.(23rd Street)

What are some emerging trends?
Some trends that will be taking light soon include women wearing little to no jewelry and focusing on the actual garments which we're seeing from designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Calvin Klein and Donna Karan. Another trend we will begin to see is the sophisticated man being more aware of fashion; you can see designers such as Comme des Garçons, Viktor & Rolf and Givency executing this in their collections. Say goodbye to those sneakers and hello to Military boots and Doc Martens.

What inspires you the most about NYC?
People. Everyone from the stylish woman on the Upper West Side holding her Hermes Birkin bag to the baby in his Valco stroller in Williamsburg.

Best advice you've ever given or received?
Style as if you are getting paid millions.

Be sure to look for Tr3y Stylez around town next week. He will be everywhere at the tents.

Q + A with Krystyna Printup

2010-01-27T09:10:00.000-08:00

What inspired you to start The Printup list?
It seemed like in college I was the go to person to ask about "whats going on tonight?" Maybe it was because I worked in the club scene since I was 16, or that I was a Native New Yorker, Im not sure, but it was something that drew people to me. I was getting tired of people calling, texting and email me all the time at all hours asking that same old question. I remember I woke up 2 years ago in the middle of the night and was like "I'm going to start a blog and just post that info up there..." and BAM! the next morning I got up and got right into developing The Printup.

How often do you go out?
During what I call Peak seasons ( Sept/ Feb- Fashion Week, Sept-Gallery Season Openings, Dec- Holiday Parties, March- Art/ Armory Week) I go out every day to events for about a couple of weeks straight. The rest of the year I tend to go out at random depending on the night and event. Usually I like the random gallery openings on Thursdays, or a dance party at a weekly event.

Top 3 places to go out in NYC?
To go out..hmmm well depends on what OUT you are talking of. Dancing is always hard to find a good gem and I tend to want to go dancing over drinking. I'm really addicted to dancing at OPEN which is a weekly at Santos Party House on Fridays. Its a reggae / hip hop party where you really get the "I'm in NYC" feel minus the bridge and tunnel. As for drinking I love going to Norwood, where I am a member, and lounging and sipping some well mastered cocktails. For that hip and local feel I've been visiting The Woods in Williamsburg: a bit of dancing, taco eating and cheap beer, you just can't go wrong. But seriously nothing beats a good ol' fashion house party (yet those are the rarest of gems.)

NYC is always shifting in terms of where people go and what’s popular. From hip hop to raves to balls there is always something that seems to grab the popular imagination. What do you think are the scenes and sounds that people are gravitating towards now?
If I was interviewed 2 years back I would of said that whole NueRave or GhettoCrunk fad that hit quick. Sadly I want to say that the hard club sound is coming back, but NYC is in a sound vortex. We have now recycled everything and there's nothing to go back to so we are in this bit of a transition. What ever comes next will be something new and never done before for sure.

Is there a certain trend in music or fashion or art that you wish would go away or think is over-hyped?
LOL! Oh boy I could really write a whole post on this. Trend-wise I am tired of just about anything flannel, the "sneaker head" look for guys... for girls the aviator glasses/ leather jacket/ black knit hat/ studded bike boots"rock-goth" Taylor Momsen look, -and please please please the girls who wear spandex that really are tights and you can see all the bit and pieces of them hanging out..eww not a good look.

Amen sister on that last one!
How would you define your personal style?
My style depends on my mood. Do I feel like a Japanese Gallery owner? or an early 90s black man? Am I a whimsical storyteller? Maybe a club kid from London? Or into Norwegian Death Metal? I have many faces to fit every mood and every event.

How has it evolved over the years?
I use to be a raver in High School and a lot of my flare for big baggy color from those days. In college after the death of a family member I entered what I call "my black period" and erased all color and went from bright and loud to dark and modern. As I grew back into colors I was engulfed into a bike subculture in Brooklyn and began introducing clothing that was designed for a purpose into my style. Currently I am torn between all worlds and really enjoy clothing that is simple and functional and mixed with some highlights of shock and color.

Top 3 favorite places to get cool clothes in NYC?
Seven NY, OAK, Opening Ceremony

What inspires you about NY?
I love the fact that you can walk into almost any country possible and never leave the island of Manhattan.

Best advice ever given or received?
Just buy it......the worlds going to end soon anyway!

Q + A with Christopher Lee Sauve

2010-01-19T12:01:00.000-08:00

How did you come up with the concept for the Save Anna t-shirt?
The Save Anna shirt was a response to the blog rumours that Anna Wintour was to be replaced by French Vogue Editor, Carine Roitfeld. I first drew a little Anna character with the words SAVE ANNA (like how the political t-shirts say SAVE THE WHALES). It seemed like a funny thing to be saving while the amidst all the serious news on the TV at the time.

And what about your upcoming t-shirt collection?
The upcoming collection is inspired by religion, politics, pop culture and fashion. I took these subjects threw them in a bag and shook it up.

What do you like most about what you do?
I am happy to be creating art that people can wear. I am not a fashion designer, but a graphic designer. I was tired of creating posters and graphics and just having them on a poster, so for me having the images on t-shirts is sort of like walking canvases.

What is the most challenging aspect?
The most challenging aspect would be production, having the colors set correctly, image size, also coming up with ideas sometimes, I have to be inspired.

Do you see any trends that will really emerge in 2010 in fashion/art/culture?
For 2010, I see the theme of love and community coming into play, not in the way it did during the 1960s but in a futuristic, survival way. The way we live, interact and shop has changed drastically the past couple of years and our view on money as well. This has brought us to create new appreciation for things that really matter.

Top 3 favorite places to go out in NYC
Top 3 places that I enjoy are the Maritime Hotel balcony (La Bottega), Sugarland in Williamsburg and Vandam at Greenhouse on Sunday evenings.

What inspires you most about NYC?
I would say the crazy people and the energy, the feeling you can do whatever you want and on your own terms without being judged. NYC is a very freeing city I think.

Best advice ever given or received
Best advice would be
"All that we are is the result of what we have thought" - Buddha

See more t-shirts and other stuff by CLS
here and here.

Thoughts and things by Megg

2010-01-03T17:15:00.000-08:00

I went to Megg's apartment thinking I was going to interview her - but instead spent an afternoon talking about art, Berlin and the importance of knowing what you want in life. A few things that impressed me: she's self-trained as an artist and is passionate about making things. She recently lost internet access and not only doesn't care but said her creative output has soared since then. (note to self: get offline more!) She works as a model but has been able to find a balance between working and her art and sees the value of both. She also has great style and would rather wear something from a thrift store so that it's uniquely her own than buy a pretty dress when there's 100s of identical ones on the rack. She is cool, quirky and unique and her art is the same...of which only a few pieces are shown here.

A drawing from a series she's doing inspired by a fashion photoshoot.

It’s important to be yourself and express that. Not worry about how good or bad it is while you’re making it. Just make it and get it out there…and then you can always improve upon it. But don’t stop yourself. You can’t go wrong. Just stay in the moment.

Another from the same series

I know this sounds intense but I honestly feel that if I ever –for some reason- couldn’t create I would fucking kill myself…but I can’t imagine..

Creating work on the fly

The art has to reveal itself to you. I can have an idea of what I want to do but I can’t overthink it. I just layer things and see what happens….take things off and see what’s revealed underneath.

Megg next to her work-in-progress collage

I would love to put my work into a photoshoot…to make it more than being about making money.

How to care for your diamond

2010-01-01T13:03:00.000-08:00

As it's New Year's Day, I'm taking the day off of writing but since one of my personal New Year's Resolutions is to take care of what I have better I thought I'd post this information on how to take care of diamonds. (because another resolution is to buy quality over quantity and I'd rather have one great piece of jewelry than alot of cheaper pieces.)

A diamond is the hardest substance most people will ever own. Even though they are very tough, strong and sturdy, however, a diamond can still fracture, break and chip. When someone owns diamond jewelry they will need to take special steps to keep it looking its very best.
Diamonds are cut and polished by highly-trained professionals who work to enhance the natural beauty of each stone. A diamond is graded according to its cut, clarity, color and carat size, but these issues end up having very little to do with how the diamond appears after it has been worn many times.
Naturally occurring body oils, skin care lotions, everyday dirt and grime and materials encountered when gardening, doing housework or participating in sports or other activities can all take a toll on a diamond.
There are several ways that a diamond owner can clean their stones, but the primary concern should always be the stability of the stone within its setting, and the safety of the other gems or stones during the cleansing process.
Most jewelry experts would recommend that all diamonds are cleaned at least once each year. This is best done in a mild detergent bath or in a cold water soak. The mild detergent bath contains a 50/50 mix of warm water and liquid detergent. The jewelry is placed in the solution and allowed to soak for several minutes, and then it is gently scrubbed with an extremely soft toothbrush before being rinsed and dried with a soft, lint-free cloth.
The cold water soak uses a 50/50 solution of ammonia and water. The diamond jewelry is soaked for thirty minutes, gently brushed with a super-soft toothbrush and then rinsed and dried in the same manner used for the detergent bath.
While there are many “dip” varieties of jewelry cleaners available, some of them can be very caustic and harmful to softer stones and even certain jewelry glues. For this reason it is best to avoid them if a piece appears particularly vulnerable.

Spotlight on Barlow - Continued

2009-12-16T12:46:00.000-08:00

ABOUT BARLOW (excerpted from their own description)
The conception of Barlow stems from the friendship between designer Molly Girard Coonan, and muse Alice Barlow. Like their friendship, BARLOW is the dichotomy of “tomboy and vixen”, “sex and geometry”, “his and hers”, “avant-grade and traditional”. They are inspired by the unexpected, and find humor in everything, from marshmallow peeps to Bayside High.

My Q+A with Molly

What was the inspiration for this collection?
Chino biker, power 90's and future parka

How would you define your collection?
Cool sportswear. Some cozy, some sporty, some sexy.

You used to design for Cynthia Vincent and also worked with menswear designer Andrew Buckler. –What’s the biggest change now that you design your own collection?
I don't get edited.

How did designing menswear inform your current collection?
New shapes, details, construction

Your press bio says that Alice Barlow is your muse. What does that mean exactly?
She amuses me. hahaha she is able to be cool and unpretentious all at the same time.

What are you currently reading/watching/listening to?
**the lovely bones
**you tube music videos, Current TV’s Vanguard, Food Inc.
**Kleerup, the new Jay-Z and Rihanna albums, The XX, Miike Snow, Dead Mans Bones, Mayer Hawthorne

You’re in LA but were in NYC before. How do you see the difference in fashion/style on the 2 coasts?
**NYC- Comfort reins above sexy. You can’t as easily prance around in 4 inch stilettos and valet to your favorite club. Even fancy people have to do a lot of walking.

** LA- I'm still trying to figure it out. Lots of different styles- similarly to all the different architecture you see jammed into one neighborhood- confusing and interesting

Where do you like to go out in LA? In NYC?
LA- Music shows. People get into it and spaces are bigger.
NY- Beatrice. people danced on tables and didn’t care how dirty the floor was. Chinatown. Brooklyn always.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever given or received?
Own it.

WHERE TO GET IT

Barlow will arrive in stores worldwide this January including Fred Segal, Harvey Nichols Hong Kong, shopbop.com and more.
All photos from the Barlow Spring 2010 LOOKBOOK

The Uniform Project: 1 Dress, 365 Days

2009-12-11T15:28:00.000-08:00

ELIZA STARBUCK & SHEENA MATHEIKEN ROCK THE UNIFORM PROJECT

Eliza Starbuck is the designer of the uniform dress that is the backbone of the uniform project. With a BFA in fashion design from Parsons School of Design and several years in the fashion industry she created a dress that can be worn both front ways and backwards or as an open tunic. She also created deep pockets to "appease my deep aversion for carrying purses" states Sheena. It's made from a durable cotton to make it as all-weather as possible.

Sheena Matheiken is the performer in what I see as a socially conscious ongoing performance art piece. Each day she wears the dress with accessories donated, found at flea markets or designed by aspiring designers. The details of her accessories for each day can be found on the site and you can also find information to donate something that you've created.

ACCESORIES DETAILS:Vintage dolman sleeve blouse from eBay seller Hi Vogue. Vintage embroidered gloves from Old Hollywood Brooklyn and 60's pumps from eBay.
And all of this is a fundraiser for the Ankanksha Foundation a grassroots movement that is revolutionizing education in India. At the end of the year, (meaning May 2010, a year from the beginning of the project) all contributions will go toward Akanksha’s School Project to fund uniforms and other educational expenses for children living in Indian slums. This project has already raised over $40,000 to date and this month E-bay will match your donations dollar-for-dollar.

ACCESORIES DETAILS: Vintage hat with blue stockings fashioned as rosettes. Vintage Koos maxi dress donated by Scully and pumps from eBay.
In addition to being a fundraiser, this project is a radical challenge to our consumer culture that encourages us to always buybuybuy moremoremore. I know that when I'm considering buying yet another thing that I might not really be able to afford the biggest deterrent is when I remind myself I can generally wear only one top, or dress etc at any given time. So will this particular piece I'm considering win out over my favorites? They say we all wear only 20 percent of what's in our closet 80 percent of the time. How great a reminder of how creativity can bring something fresh to an old dress this project is as well.

ACCESSORIES DETAILS: Vintage altered blouse and metallic tank from eBay, tights donated by Sockdreams, and platforms donated by Tara St. James.

And on why she chose fashion as a vehicle for fund-raising, Sheena said:
Fashion is such a visual and subjective medium, it offered an intrinsic draw. I wanted to take the daily act of dressing up – a routine everyone relates to – and make it a part of something bigger, something more consequential. The repetitive model of a 365 day project brings viewers back on a regular basis, which made it a great platform for fundraising.

ACCESSORIES DETAILS:Vintage blouse donated by Kristina at Beulahveda, stockings from Sockdreams and vintage wide rim hat and ankle boots from eBay.
So I encourage you all to go on The Uniform Project and check out all the other photos of Sheena's looks for inspiration and the sheer fun of it. And by all means contribute what you can as well.

A little Q + A with Kink Ador

2009-12-10T18:15:00.000-08:00

Katya - You guys are based in Nashville.

Sharon - The move to Nashville happened because I knew I wanted to make music and Nashville is a place I could afford to do it. And there’s a lot of rock bands doing really well being based out of Nashville.
Brad - And everyone who goes there is…they’re dreaming so hard and so there’s this dome of hope over the city because we’re all working so hard to make something happen so it’s just an awesomely inspiring city.
Sharon - And if you go by city mottos – they call it music city!

Katya - Who are some of your inspirations – musically or otherwise?

Sharon - Well you mentioned one before we began the interview which is Prince. Not so much stylistically but as an amazing performer who puts on a killer show every single night no matter what and that’s something we love to do and are inspired by. And The Red Hot Chili Peppers…The Yeah, Yeah Yeahs…
Brad - I think the spoken word: writers, poets and those who just want to do there thing and give it back.
Katya - What about writing the songs? How does that work?

Sharon – I come up with the structure, the lyrics, the melody and then I bring it to the guys. I have to have it as a complete thought or idea that I can defend and then let them hack away at it and then we polish it and it becomes a song. It really is collaborative but I start by steering it in a certain direction.
Brad - and then we steer her in another direction!

Katya - Are your songs based on your own life?

Sharon - We base them on a lot of things
Andrew - Class struggles of the Russian Oligarchy!
Sharon - Our song Animal is inspired by Toni Morrison’s book Beloved. The idea of freedom and finding your own path.

Katya - So you’re currently touring. How do you like it?

Andrew - We love it. We’ve all had day jobs and this is the best one so far.
Brad - When you go to a show and you feel that and are gone from your reality…and you leave and feel better…that positive energy that comes from being a part of that –that performance- that is what it’s about.
Katya - Do you feel like people in different areas have distinct energies or are the audiences kind of the same everywhere?

Andrew - I think everywhere we’ve played people have slightly different expectations. We’re sometimes playing with what seems like very random acts so you don’t know what the audience is expecting. But we’ve found that the more we play the more we realize that whether or not people have an idea about us by the end of the set we’ve won them over. Like we were in Chicago a few weeks ago and there was this man…this giant tree of a man that could break you in half and we thought whoa this is gonna be a tough crowd but by halfway in the set he was dancing his ass off. And that’s just an example…it’s not anything we know how to do, it’s just there’s this connection between the 3 of us that people are drawn to –they see how much fun we have and they can’t help but smile.

Katya - It’s infectious!

Andrew - Yeah, like swine flu! (laughter)
Brad - It’s fun! Somebody said to me you know I don’t know what it is about it – I don’t know what I’m gonna hear but I know I’m gonna have fun.

Katya - So you have an album out called Animal. How would you describe it?

Sharon - The EP "I Am Animal" is a collection of songs that really define the Kink Ador sound. Especially the song ' Animal.' The grit of the guitar sounds, the primal rawness of the bass and drums, and the journey that is happening in the lyrics create a unique tension that defines the sound of the band. We tried to go for fresh sounding rock and roll on the record, and i think we have achieved that.

Katya - And where can people get it?

Sharon - Get it off of iTunes or directly from us on the Kink Ador website.

Katya - Okay, that's it. Thanks guys!

Andrew, Brad and Sharon rocking out!

L'Armoire du Styliste

2009-12-05T19:39:00.001-08:00

When I met Beagy Zielinski recently at the Paper Magazine/Adidas party and she told me about L'Armoire du Styliste, I was utterly intrigued and wanted to learn more about this haute couture rental studio and the woman behind
it.
KATYA Did you start out as a stylist?
BEAGY I started out as a stylist and I’m still styling. First I was in design and merchandising and then a bunch of friends and I started a magazine called SLY and just out of…lack of funding in the beginning – we just had to do it ourselves and so I began doing all the shoots and found that I really enjoyed it. And it grew from there and other people started asking me to style for them and I was doing this for free as a hobby and then realized I could be charging for it!
KATYA So what is L’Armoire du Styliste?
BEAGY This is a clothing rental showroom. I rent clothing, shoes, and accessories to other stylists for photoshoots, celebrity appearances, concert tours etc.

KATYA Is this a common thing?
BEAGY There actually are a few of them in the industry. None of us alike, and what I specialize in there is none other in the United States. I specialize in couture and new designers. Most of the new designers that I carry do not have any other representation in the U.S. so I’m the only place you can get these samples.

KATYA Wow! How do you find them?
BEAGY It’s kind of a hobby of mine! A lot of them come from the Royal College (in Belgium), a lot of these are graduate collections, believe it or not! I feel like the collections abroad are pushed more to make art in school, while here we’re pushed more to make wearable garments. And that’s the difference. I don’t steer away from US designers, if there’s a designer who can, you know, hang with these designers I absolutely will represent them and I do have a few designers from the US. It just so happens that the designers abroad just have this wild imagination to them and, I don’t know I find them everywhere – I have friends acting as lookouts all over the world. I used to live in Europe so my friends from there will send me photos of collections or blogger friends will send me information and if I like it I’ll get the designer’s contact information immediately.

KATYA That sounds like fun, actually.
BEAGY It is! It’s like a scavenger hunt around the world for the best, coolest design!(going over to the clothing)This is one of my current favorite designers. Her name is Eva Nyíri and she’s from Hungary and I don’t even begin to know how her brain works. She’s a young designer. This is her first collection. She’s not represented or sold anywhere else…and there are a few other pieces mixed in here...

KATYA So how did you find Eva?
BEAGY Eva, I found on Facebook!

KATYA Shut up.
BEAGY I find these people on Facebook. I have a ton of Facebook friends and this is partially why. I like to scavenge through my Facebook friends and Eva came to me by sending me a message “I heard about your showroom and think it’s really cool” and I looked at her photos and said “I think you’re really cool and I’d love to carry your stuff. And this just came in yesterday.

KATYA How does your showroom work?
BEAGY Well usually a stylist will call me up and tell me what they’re looking for and even send photos of inspiration. For example a stylist came in yesterday and said “I’m going for a futuristic look” and while I was unpacking Eva’s clothes I was thinking “You can’t get more futuristic than this!” The stylist thought it was perfect, asked me for the prices on each piece, I told her and she’s good to go. Because I’m rental it’s really really simple.

KATYA And the designer gets the publicity.
BEAGY Correct. I get the rental, the stylist and photographer get great pictures and the designer gets the publicity which means more money for them in the end. I see no reason for this not to benefit everyone in the process.

KATYA And you've been doing this for how long?
BEAGY I just opened in March, this year!
KATYA How has that worked out during a recession?
BEAGY Well, we’re affected like everyone else in the industry. No one gets their regular day rates but I do believe it’s kind of a good time to test out a new business…I can test different ways to do things in a way I couldn’t if it was too busy.

KATYA From your work are you seeing any big trends coming up?
BEAGY I don’t think these are designers that follow trends. These are really seasonless designers. The one big thing right now –which has been around for awhile now- is shoulder pads. Shoulder pads are really in demand. I even have extras lying around for girl’s to rent. But these designers don’t stay on trend because they are couture. They go with their vision. And of course, I don’t only carry new designers, I have well established high end designers as well such Givenchy or Ann Demuelemeester...but I really like to bring out the new designers so they get to shine…because that’s what’s fun!

Give this girl a break

2009-11-22T17:12:00.000-08:00

So recently Kate Moss was quoted saying “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” and caused a minor publicity storm. (although the full quote was “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels -you try to remember, but it never works.” She goes on to discuss how she likes making jam.)
Online columnists claimed she she was encouraging anorexia and comments from people ranged from calling her “tragic” to “pathetic” –and those are the nicer ones. I’m bringing this up because I am tired of people thinking it’s okay to constantly criticize how women look –whether "too" skinny or "too" fat. These are some of the main points that are being made and my response.

Unrealistically thin women promote anorexia.

Ummm….our culture that values women more for how they look than their accomplishments promotes extreme behavior from anorexia to breast implants to putting make up on 5 year olds and parading them about in beauty contests. You can’t blame this solely on models! If girls got as much attention for their artistic and athletic ability we’d have less anorexia (and probably fewer middle school girls giving BJs)

Women should have curves. Like Beyonce and Scarlett Johansson for example!

Isn’t this just another standard of beauty? And one that is as unrealistic to attain if it doesn’t come naturally as is a model physique?

Fashion should be about “the average woman”

News flash: fashion is a fantasy. It is fulfilling a designer’s vision and a fashion show is not just the clothes and model but hair and makeup that “the average woman” wouldn’t normally wear. If this vision is in sync with the public it may be successful. No, models don’t have “average” bodies. But neither do ballet dancers who are also underweight and conform to a certain aesthetic. If you don’t like it don’t go to fashion shows. Or the ballet.

And instead of attacking one another for being too skinny or overweight, or listening to a Britney Spears song one day and calling her a slut the next we can challenge what we don’t like with how we choose to consume. Stop watching television shows that seem too limiting in their representation of women and cancel your magazine subscriptions if you want. And then make sure you let the Editors or Producers know what you’ve done and why. Better yet, make a petition with friends and send it in.

And don’t vapidly buy into something because a celebrity with minimal talent is wearing it. Writing Style Defined I get emails almost daily from PR people requesting I promote their products and the majority of the time there is a celebrity name attached to it. By principal I won’t promote it. I don’t believe that a paid sponsor validates a product –and I am mildly insulted that someone thinks I will be impressed with such endorsements. But this is the culture we live in. And if we don’t like how the media represents women we need to respond with how we buy things because that’s how we’ll get their attention. And as for Kate Moss: the quote was taken out of context and it’s her opinion. So let’s give her -and each other- a break already and stop judging.

An Interview with Marie Evelyn, CoDirector of Devotion Gallery

2009-11-11T14:08:00.000-08:00

You're one of the Directors of Devotion Gallery, which recently opened in Williamsburg. What's your background? What lead you to open a gallery?

My background is a hodgepodge: I have an undergraduate degree in Mathematics and an impending Ph.D. in Computational Biology; I am a sound- and conceptual-artist; and I serve as the founder and Executive Director of Analogous Projects, a not-for-profit committed to Interaction Art.

I codirect Devotion Gallery with Phoenix Perry, a designer, artist, and digital-media curator I met through a prior collaboration. Phoenix had initially asked me to serve on Devotion's founding Board of Directors, which currently consists of Brian Jackson, David Last, Jeffers Egan, and Meg Schedel. From that point, my involvement in the gallery increased and she asked if I would, instead, oversee the Board with her as Artistic CoDirector and Gallery CoDirector.

What is your vision for the gallery and/or how is it unique relative to a traditional art gallery?

Like any gallery space, Devotion serves as a venue for discourse. Because of this, we take an integrated approach to curation: Each exhibition, in addition to tangible artworks, incorporates sound and video performances, lectures and workshops, and handmade and limited-edition wares by local artists. We are especially interested in works that incorporate other disciplines -- such as fashion, biology, architecture -- or utilize new media.

The current show is called "Aire:The Second Fourfold Root" and is the second of four exhibitions. What was the first one and what are the ones following?

"Aire: The Second Fourfold Root" is part of a larger six-week exhibition titled "The Fourfold Roots of Everything", which references the four classical elements and Plato's recasting of Persephone as Pherepaphe "for seeing that all things in the world are in motion". In order to celebrate this in-motion quality, we decided to incorporate a series of events as part of the exhibition.

The first event, "Pherepaphe: The Fourfold Roots of Everything", took place on Halloween and focused on Pherepaphe as the primordial of the four elements. "Aire: The Second Fourfold Root" will highlight "Atmospheric/Pressures", the Cyberoptix collection constructed almost entirely of vintage military weather balloons. This second event will be one part immersive art installation, one part performative exhibition and will feature hand-crafted and upcycled fashion works with a romantic aesthetic. The third and fourth events will focus on fire and earth, and will manifest as modest private functions for Devotion members and other friends of the gallery.

This show has a strong focus on clothing as the material of artmaking. How do you see fashion intersecting with art?
It always confused me that fashion and interior-design are sometimes regarded as narcissistic (rather than creative) practices. It seems most natural that visual creativity would express itself through the decoration of self, loved ones, and the immediate environment. Fashion, design, the arts-and-crafts movement, and the practice of graffiti are all very human: They reference everyday life, the art of living, and our own mortality.

Do you view dressing day-to-day as a performative event?
Definitely. Children grasp this innately: Shy and outgoing children alike express themselves through their choice of color, fabric, pattern, and combination. Architecture, fashion, crowd dynamics, and the natural environment all contribute to the living installations that take place each day in our public spaces.

I am told time and again that NYC is no longer the creative hub it once was. It's too expensive, it's a bunch of capitalists etc etc. What's your take on the creative scene in New York and how do you refute the naysayers?
There is a wealth of creative dialogue in New York. New York is well-suited to the exploration of contemporary art forms -- such as social sculpture, microeconomies, psychogeography, performative ecologies -- and there is an overwhelming amount of current examples to point to. A favorite of mine for a few years has been Natalie Jeremijenko's ongoing "Amphibious Architecture" project, which was recently commissioned by the Architectural League of New York for the "Toward the Sentient City" exhibition.

A few of Karlo's Favorites

2009-11-06T08:41:00.000-08:00

We interviewed Karlo Steel of Atelier New York recently. While he is not a trend follower we think he definitely qualifies as a taste maker and asked him to show us some of his favorite pieces. It should also be noted that while Atelier carries only "mens" clothing many pieces are wearable and worn by women as well.

ITEM 1: The Coat by Julius

This is a coat by a brand called Julius. It is unstructured, very long and there’s a lot of volume - a lot of fluidity -that’s something that I am very drawn to. I like the shawl lapel, the tie belt; it has a very monastic feel, which I like a lot. And beautiful movement.

ITEM 2: Kilt by Comme des Garcons

This is a pinstriped kilt by Comme de Garcons. It’s taking a very traditional material like grey flannel pinstripe and doing something a little adventurous with it. You can wear it back to front or front to back depending upon how you want to look. It’s not for everyone and one would have to be drawn to this particular thing in order to want to explore it.

ITEM 3: Jacket by Boris Bidjan Saberi

This is a washed lamb leather jacket by Boris Bidjan SaberiHis clothing has a nomadic feel. This particular garment is made and then it's washed so you get this pre-worn look and feel.

ITEM 4: Cashmere Loungewear

And to wear underneath it all we have cashmere underwear created by m.a+ as a project with Atelier New York. As it's cashmere it's more to be seen as loungewear than as actual underwear. There are coordinating cashmere tops as well.

Forte Fashion Show

2009-10-30T17:07:00.000-07:00

Okay, I get invitations to many fashion shows by emerging and lesser known designers and often I don't have the time to attend. But as a Project Runway fan when I heard that Kenley Collins from Season 5 -the girl you hated to love or loved to hate- was going to be showing her collection I decided to attend this event...because after all, who doesn't want to "watch what happens" after the show is over? That being said, Kenley was one of four designers who showed their work that evening.

Kenley's collection was the first down the runway. Inspired by the 1940s and Amelia Earhart the collection was fun and flirty with fabrics that moved with the models. Waists were cinched with skinny belts and the emphasis was on shorter, fuller skirts that had a girlish quality. One of my favorites was a dress made with a black and white striped fabric. The stripes changed from moving horizontally on the top (which also has a beautiful fullness in the sleeves) to on a diagonal on the bottom. It is this sort of attention to detail she showed throughout her collection that made it stand out.

The next collection, by Sheila Frank, was a study in greys and blues. At one time Ms. Frank had an internship with Charlotte Ronson and although her work isn't the same it feels as though it's created for a similar clientele: the hip downtown girl who is cool and confident in who she is. She had a great utilitarian romper with large silver snaps down the front and brocade detailing. This brocade was also seen in a cropped tailored jacket. It was a cohesive collection for spring and summer in the city.

Elizabeth Rynish's dresses are a mash up of the 60s. The cuts reference the ladylike first half of the decade but the vivid colors and swirling prints are suited for the "free love" or latter part of the decade. And yet somehow it works brilliantly. In addition to being a designer Ms. Rynish creates textiles and she created these for her collection. The colors are rich with great tonal variety and the dresses feel like wearable works of art: because even though they are pretty as a picture you still feel the woman is wearing the dress, not overwhelmed by it.

Marissa Erskine's label is RisSa and this collection was inspired by butterfly, cocoon and tulip silhouettes. It was filled with delicate fabrics and colors and beautifully executed. The attention to detail was flawless and each look seemed to balance at an intersection of delicate femininity and sophistication.

Overall I was impressed with the designers and with the event itself. The show was emceed by Sinsu Co and was a benefit for Gilda's Club NYC presented by SEAM COLLECTIVE an organization dedicated to aiding female designers break into the fashion industry. An excellent event for a worthy cause full of inspiring clothes...what more could you ask for?

Betsey Johnson feted by The National Arts Club

2009-10-15T16:55:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday evening The National Arts Club Fashion Committee, chaired by Chrishaunda Lee, awarded Betsey Johnson a Lifetime Achievement Medal of Honor. There was a cocktail reception and dinner as part of the celebration and attracted fashion insiders and devotees of all ages. Betsey inspires the instigator inside everyone with her clothing that successfully juxtaposes delicate ballerina tutus with a boldness in color and design that rebels against stereotypical femininity. The result is a girlie-girl that plays in the dirt and wears her fairy-princess dress for everyday wear. As one might expect, the event was utterly delightful and filled with characters that understand wit and humor in fashion and everything else. Fashion writer and icon Lynn Yaeger, DJs Andrew + Andrew, and fashion front row queen Rosemary Ponzo were some of the eclectic New Yorkers who attended.

Chrishaunda and Mr. Lee & Betsey Johnson

Dianne B. Bernhard & Betsey Johnson

Lynn Yaeger

The genius of Katie Gallagher

2009-09-26T13:59:00.000-07:00

During this past fashion week Katie Gallagher showed her latest collection, Veil, at the Tribeca Grand. If somehow you missed it here are some images from the show. (all images shown taken from KatieGallagher.com by permission)

Sculptural and dramatic, Katie Gallagher’s designs focus on non-traditional cuts and patternmaking that elaborate the line and proportion of the garment, and exaggerate the personality of the wearer. When speaking about her design philosophy, Katie Gallagher says “I don’t believe that fashion is the end goal; stories, personalities, moods, ideals, and attitudes are. Fashion, when executed successfully, communicates these attributes quickly and eloquently

Of the collection, Katie Gallagher explains that it’s “really mine – I designed it, made the patterns, sewed the samples, and hammered the leather; I stole groceries and fought off landlords in the process. It’s a very pure personal statement, and I feel that it’s a perfect way to introduce my aesthetic.”

The collection uses a variety of luxury fabrics, treated leathers, and soft cashmere mixed with washed jersey, stretch lycra and light, treated textiles to create a layered collection offset with chain detailing. Leggings and trousers with curving seams and variously treated leather jackets and organza and silk tops with unusual cuts, sculptural forms, and draping techniques make up the basis of the 22 look, 70+ separate collection.

Katie Gallagher was inspired by the dramatic, hyper-curated beauty of Butoh dancers, and the dystopic low-life, high-tech world of cyberpunk classics such as William Gibson’s Neuromancer and Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash.

the twentyten - designers to know

2009-09-17T18:47:00.000-07:00

Jeff Dodd, Nina Zilka and David J. Krause who comprise the twentyten met each other at the Pratt Institute and began designing together. According to their site, the twentyten creates architectural shapes that flatter the wearer’s body. their aesthetic has a sculptural focus, yet a wearable ease. their mission as designers is to create interesting, architectural garments that still maintain an ease and comfortability. the twentyten's designs are for the woman and man who always like to look sophisticated, but never look like they tried too hard to get there.

Earlier this week they had a showing of their most recent collection at the Envoy Gallery on Christie Street. The models lined all four walls of the back room as living sculptures with highly stylized hair and makeup. The clothes were primarily black and white with occasional hot pink or slate blue accents. There was an interesting juxtaposition of delicacy seen in transparent and draping fabric contrasted with garments like a skirt literally edged with nails. It felt like clothes for this moment that also succeed in riding above any trends thus remaining timeless.

Nina kindly answered a few questions for Style Defined:
I know you met at Pratt but how did you end up working together?

David and I became friends really early on because we both shared an appreciation for more avant-garde fashion, although David was more into vintage at the time, and I think my work skewed a bit girlier. And we both admired one of Jeff's final pieces for our end of year review, and when we asked him about it he had some weirdo answer about being inspired by Dildos. So I think we all knew we'd be friends. And then one of my best friends Mariel invited me to do some pieces for a project she was working on in Mexico City, and asked if my two close friends (the boys) would want to be involved. We started designing pieces together for that show, which didn't end up happening, but morphed into something a lot more exciting, when we realized that we love working together, and with three of us designing a piece with all of our input, the work was even better than any of us alone.

And now we all live together, which makes it really easy to wake up and start designing.

Is there a particular process to your collaboration?

Yes, everyone’s favorite question. We usually start with a really large piece of paper, and sit around it. David usually is holding the pencil and doing most of the drawing, because he’s hands down the best illustrator of any of us (he did the illustration on our invitation). We start talking about what we’re really feeling at that moment, or things we’ve been excited about lately. This collection all started with the desire to make garments where we could pull the hems up and unto the shoulder. And we really wanted to have these straps everywhere, which disappeared for a bit, and then came back in the men’s jacket with the blackstrap and our nail harness. We’ll say, ok, we have three shirts drawn. We need a skirt and at least one pant now. And then usually we create our really wearable pieces first, and then leave a full day each for some of our weirder pieces which we build organically.

What thoughts/ideas/concepts inspired your current collection?

Again, the desire to make these pieces where the hem turned into a strap that could be worn on the shoulder, or around the neck, like our shoulder dress, the drape gowns, and the men’s knit drape tank (which makes an awesome minidress, by the way). Also, this idea of industrial wreckage. We found all these old nails, which were free, and used them in our nail harness and the make out guard…thriftiness often drives our creative process. And as always, we love the juxtaposition of drape and structure, as in our snail dresses, and the coral skirt. We’re always inspired by that.
How does being in NYC influence you? (Or your creative process)

New York is a very expensive city. We spend most of our day figuring out a way to spend the least amount of money, which New York City makes hard. But it has pushed us to do things that have ended up being very cool, like our tights over shoe look we’ve done the past two seasons. No one knows how cheap those shoes were; now they just look cool. Well, now people will know. Also, we can’t really afford a hair person, so we’ve made hats/head covering the last two seasons and sewn in fake hair to keep our cost down. But the effect is pretty nice.

Anything else you want to add?

Thanks for coming to our show!

VISIT THEIR WEBSITE

The Academy of Art University Spring 2010 Show

2009-09-16T13:31:00.000-07:00

This show has become one of my favorite as they are all emerging designers and so there is no preconceptions about the work...except that if it's in this show it's damn good. This spring was no exception:seven MFA students showed their collections in the tents. They varied a great deal in content but the quality of the work was excellent. Two of my favorites were the collections of Richelle Valenzuela and Brittney Major.

Richelle's collection was finely cut layers of silk and satin-faced organza constructed to reflect the facets of a gem. The effect was an intriguing blend of architectural precision and softness.

I'm not going to lie: I am not a fan of preppy nor the south. So I was a bit skeptical when I read that one of the designers, Brittney Major, was inspired by both. That being said there was something remarkably vital about her collection. A bold use of color and fearlessness about mixing her plaids has created an urbane preppy that feels simultaneously nostalgic and au courant. A hard feat to pull off that she manages exceptionally well.

The other five students Marina Nikolaeva Popska, Kara Sennett, Amanda Cleary, Jie Pan and Sawanya Jomthepmala had strong collections as well. As always when I leave the AAU show I look forward to seeing the future collections of these bright new talents.

Can Any FW party beat Paper Mag's 25th Birthday?

2009-09-09T13:45:00.000-07:00

Seriously. Fashion week starts on Thursday and I'm betting that I've already been to the best party of the week. Or of the season. Last night Paper Magazine had a grand gala in the public library on 42nd street for their 25th Birthday. I have to say upfront I love Paper Magazine. The cast of characters that create Paper and their cohorts personify the best of New York: they are creative, irascible, tenacious and talented. And like at Vandam, my favorite club night, Paper's parties are always a celebration of the outrageous and fun. Too much of the life got sucked out of the nightlife scene with the vulgarity that is known as "bottle service". (which made money the only thing that mattered to a nightclub)

Last night was like a return to an earlier era when everyone was broke but happy (kind of like now, actually)...and filled with fabulously fun people as well as amazing performances by The Virgins, Queen Latifah, and the unbelievable I-can't-believe-she's-still-got-it-but-damn-she-does incomparable Liza Minnelli. When Liza ended the night singing "New York, New York" it was like one big sing-a-long and I felt like "life can't get any better than this." And you know what? It can't.

LOTS MORE PHOTOS COMING SOON!!!

The genius of DEX New York & John Henry

2009-09-06T12:02:00.000-07:00

As everyone knows, a runway show is comprised of much more than simply clothes and models. It is the embodiment of a designer's vision:an entire picture is painted through music, set, hair and makeup. DEX New York is both a brand and a studio that is a major player during fashion week. Started by Dexter Phillip, the studio is described as "a multi-faceted makeup studio, photography studio, progressive hair studio, learning center and a relaxing beauty oasis."

It really is an amazing place. In addition to all of this there is a DEX New York cosmetic line. And this is really what I want to share with you because I'm wickedly impressed with it. And no, they're not paying me to write this!

My relationship with Dex (the person and the studio) began with a spray-on tan. Seriously. I am white. Not the "never tan" kind of white but the blonde hair/blue eyed "you are more susceptible to skin cancer than your darker toned friends" kind of white. So while I love being tan I am loathe to lay out in the sun without an SPF of 20+. I became addicted to tanning lotions and I've tried the range: from the kind that advertise as moisturizers that give your skin a "glow" to ones that guarantee a brilliant tan. And I was always disappointed. Until last month when an invite to a pool party had me rummaging through my things and I came across the DEX Body Glow Sunless Tanner which I got in a swag bag. I grabbed it and quickly sprayed it on my legs. I was really amazed at how natural it looked -like nothing else I had ever tried- and how it was both easy to use and had instant results.

I was so impressed I sent Mr. Phillip a note and he in turn invited me to visit his studio. There I was introduced to the DEX New York cosmetic line by make up artist John Henry Edington.

With gorgeous colors created without cruelty to animals and named after New York landmarks I was instantly enamored.

Mr. Edington, who also gives make up instruction, insisted on giving me a makeover on the spot. He explained everything he was doing in detail and talked about the benefits of the various products. I learned more in the time I spent with him than a lifetime of reading "tips + tricks" in various fashion magazines. But not just about make up but about life: John Henry is the only boy in a family with 12 children and the youngest. Being surrounded by women, he says, helped make him the perfect gentleman and taught him to be concerned about the most important things in life: "love, family and friends. And to find something passionate and that you love to do" because by doing what you're passionate about you'll give back to the world. As John Henry says, "Love the life. Live the life. Live the life you love."

My Self Portrait after make up application by John Henry Edington
My top 3 favorite products:
Mineral Tinted Hydrator truly multi-tasks as a foundation, sunscreen and anti-oxidant moisturizer. It feels great on and gives decent coverage.
Mineral Glow is what I imagine pixie dust to be like. Although their description as a "liquid light" is more accurate. It gives a natural glow to the skin without the "sparkles" that give away similar products.
Mineral Pressed Eyeshadow in Empire State the color is a little iridescent but still has strong pigmentation and it lasts.

Chris Habana - Designer to Know

2009-08-24T14:57:00.000-07:00

Jewelry designer Chris Habana had a party for his new collection, Legends of Pop at a.ok in the basement of Oak on Bond Street last Thursday night. Here are some photos from the party and a brief Q+A with the man of the hour.

Katya: How did you get into doing this collaboration with A.OK?

Chris: Well I was represented by OAK for a while and when they started there A.ok venture we started talking about working together for a.ok too. And I always thought that if I started a secondary line it would be a little on the cheaper side instead of going high end so it was a good fit. My pieces as it is are not so expensive but I wanted the challenge of going even a little more affordable.

Katya: So what’s the price range for this collection?

Chris: Between $36 and $54.

Katya: That is really reasonable. I always love it when designers that I think have really fresh sensibilities are sensitive to their markets – which with this line I’m thinking younger kids, fresh out of school -maybe who are just starting out. They want to have something really fun and unique to wear that isn’t cheap but also want to pay their bills.

Chris: I really love the idea of something more accessible. And I thought what’s more accessible to everyone than the whole pop/pop music thing? And I thought of all the artists I loved from the 80s and 90s and really wanted to pay tribute to them with jewelry. So I am coming up with a Madonna cone bra, Boy George fedora/pork pie hat, a Michael Jackson glove, a Janet Jackson one earring, and a New Kids on the Block hang tough –one earring as well.

Katya: The 80s is really huge in fashion right now. Do you think there’s a reason for this? Is it fashion recycles every 20 years or…?

Chris: I don’t really think about what’s in or out in fashion – especially with what I do. I’ve just learned to do things more inherent to what I’d do or what I’m into at the moment. And the 80s and 90s are where it’s at.

Katya: I know this just came out so this might be a crazy question but is there anything up and coming in addition to this collection?

Chris: I’m coming up with my spring/summer 2010 collection for women. There’s another collaboration coming up but it’s top secret at the moment!

Katya: No worries, we’ll let you keep it a secret! Well I personally love this collection: it’s fun and affordable and it really celebrates pop culture. I also look forward to seeing your spring/summer 2010 collection. Thanks!

Chris: Thank you!

Check out the chrishabana & a.ok collaboration here!

PHOTOS OF JEWELRY COURTESY OF OAK
More party photos:) -ps some will go up on the main page as the look of the day in the coming weeks!

Iran Inside Out at the Chelsea Art Museum- Until 9/6

2009-08-22T12:10:00.000-07:00

Recently I attended a Gen Art reception for the show Iran Inside Out at the Chelsea Art Museum. To be honest I usually attend these events for free drinks and to socialize. Not because I don’t love art, but because much of what passes for art are pieces that are highly conceptual but poorly rendered or have great craftsmanship but nothing more. So it was a wonderful surprise to view an exhibition with such complexity and timeliness of the work on both a pop art, fine art and political commentary level. Thus the reason I’m writing a musing about this is because I loved it. Since it runs until September 6^th I encourage anyone who hasn’t seen it to check it out. Iran Inside Out is the 2^nd of 3 exhibits in a series dealing with East/West. (The final one will be about the Berlin Wall and it's fall)Meant to be commemorating the 30^th anniversary of the revolution, it has been made all the more potent by the spontaneous protests that erupted at the same time and continually potentially undermine the current regime. The 56 artists in the exhibition represent the younger generation of Iranian artists both from within and outside of Iran, and the exhibit is divided into five sections which touch on current cultural interests and obsessions with names such as “From Iran to Queeran and Everything in Between” and “In Search of the Axis of Evil: On War and Politics”. I had the good fortune of meeting Hanna Azemati, who volunteers for the museum and offered me a personal tour explaining discussing works with me while offering up cultural trivia. (One note of interest: homosexuality is illegal in Iran yet they offer 6,000 sex change permits per year because they believe they are “fixing” gay people.)

I obviously can’t cover all the works but here are a select few that I really liked: Shopping Malls of Tehran by Saghar Daeeri (image Courtesy of the Artist and Aaran Gallery, Tehran). Reminiscent stylistically of Otto Dix, it shows the highly exaggerated to the point of vulgarity expression of femininity such as the long nails and highly arched eyebrows that are the result of women’s overcompensating for being forbidden from expressing their femininity in the public sphere.

Oil Barrels by Shiva Ahmadi (image Oil Barrel #6 Oil on steel, Courtesy of Leila Taghinia-Milani Heller Gallery) is another work that I really responded to. Using actual oil barrels, Ahmadi decorated them in a traditional style based on Persian miniature paintings. She then proceeded to gouge holes into them creating bullet like wounds and painting headless horses at war with one another bleeding out of them. The effect is both beautiful and grotesque.

I was initially attracted to this sculpture because of its colors and shape. Entitled SmartFilter2, Twice As Bad by Pooneh Maghazehe, it is made out of gold elastic and 1000 o.b. brand tampons. The use of the tampons as a material would make it “morally unsuitable” for public view in Iran. Nevertheless the material was used more for the materiality than to make a feminist statement. It attempts to grapple with the issues of institutional power, censorship and conformity by specific color coding related to censorship on the internet in Iran.

These are just a few of the works in the show. In addition to the exhibition there will be a Contemporary ballet performance by Cedar Lake with live music performed by Reza Derakshani
on September 1-3 at 7:30 pm and an open rehearsal prior on August 27^th from 6-8 pm.
The description from the website:
A spectacular contemporary ballet performance by Cedar Lake based on Iran Inside Out. Artistic Director Benoit-Swan Pouffer creates a new performance experience interpreting the artworks exhibited in Iran Inside Out. Using the visual artworks as points of inspiration, the collaboration will incorporate movement, art and live music by Iranian visual and performance artist Reza Derakshani, whose paintings are also included in the Iran Inside Out exhibition. Cedar Lake is a contemporary ballet company dedicated to the development of dance by providing choreographers a comprehensive environment for creation.

Interview with Designer Raquel Allegra

2009-08-18T13:40:00.001-07:00

L.A. based designer Raquel Allegra was in NYC last spring and presented her F/W 09 collection at Ludlow on the Lower East Side. Her unique one-of-a-kind pieces are delicate and edgy at the same time. I interviewed her at the time but decided to wait until now to post it...when you'll all want to go and get your own Raquel Allegra original. You can find her clothes at Assembly or Curve downtown or online at shopflick. And of course, check out her own site.

KATYA: So when I look at your work you seem more art based than fashion based. Do you agree with that? Or maybe you don’t even like thinking in those terms?
RAQUEL: I don’t mind you saying that actually. I feel as though I almost put myself in the “anti-fashion” category…I’m a bit anti-fashion because I feel that it loses site of things that are special and so I think I just create things I love to create. I don’t do it for fashions sake, I do it for the sake of creating…and people love to wear them. So it’s a perfect little marriage!

KATYA: So do you think you’ll stay in this same sort of vein, of deconstructing and see how far you can take that?
RAQUEL: Well it keeps changing for me. The more I do it, the more I understand it. And the more I play with it the more it changes. So I see that it has a future, that there are a lot of things I can do with it. But I see expanding it to different mediums. Doing it with cashmere…

KATYA: Cashmere would be amazing!
RAQUEL: Right, and different jerseys. And a ready to wear line that is cut and sewn is coming. It’s right around the corner. This, what you’ve seen is a capsule collection because it is recycled, it comes from a very specific place, and we’re running out. So we’re going to channel the concept into a cut and sew. We’ll add to it, we’ll keep doing the deconstruction but probably in a few different ways…who knows? I’m open to anything!

KATYA: What inspires you?
RAQUEL: Honestly, because each t-shirt that I work with is so different I get inspiration from the t-shirts themselves. But this gets to my process. My process is playing. I feel like the heart of what I do comes from a very playful spirit and so I play: I play dress up, I experiment…I love removing and putting back…I think it’s authentically playing by myself which takes me into being creative.

KATYA: So it’s like you’re a little girl in your bedroom but you get to do it for your job!
RAQUEL: Totally! About a year ago I woke up really early, I wanted to enter this design competition, and I was in my bed and I was designing the last piece I wanted to make in my bed. And I got up and I cut my pattern out and I had my Beatles record on and I went to my sewing machine and I was shivering because I was in my nightie and I was cold but I didn’t want to stop being creative and it shot me into this moment remembering when I was seven; I used to wake up, and I’d be cold, and I’d be alone because my parents would still be sleeping and I would put my Beatles record on (it was always the Beatles) and in this very authentic way I found myself back to where I began. So I’m never not having fun. Even as hard as we work it’s still fun for me it’s still play and I get to meet incredible people and they inspire me and it’s like a give and take. Constantly.
So that’s the creative process. It’s very organic, what I do.

I wanna rock 'n roll all night -continued

2009-08-14T16:44:00.000-07:00

Just a few other photos from the party last night ;)

I have no idea why I thought of this but

2009-08-12T16:27:00.000-07:00

I had a flashback of seeing this as a kid on Sesame Street and felt compelled to share. Admittedly it has nothing to do with fashion or New York and requires a bigger attention span to watch than your average 20-something now has, but I love it. More and more I am seeing the genius that was Sesame Street...later I'll share animations with music by Philip Glass(!)

Artist Olan's reception hosted by Kenny Kenny

2009-08-10T11:50:00.000-07:00

Saturday night there was on opening reception at the Ward-Nasse Gallery in Soho (one of the few remaining in a neighborhood that is otherwise a suburban mall). It was to promote Olan Montgomery's new book POP: Art inspired from New York's own subcultures from celebrity to subway. It showed his paintings along with-the best part-art by his mom, Eslye, who is also an artist. And as one would expect there were legends from the fashion and nightlife underground in attendance. My personal favorite to meet was Kevin Aviance. I love his total commitment to a look and think he's beautiful.

The paintings are fun and colorful and the show runs through August so check it out - or better yet buy the book!

one of the reasons I love nyc

2009-08-08T14:15:00.000-07:00

The other night I went to a party at the Soho Grand (which honestly I don't normally like as well as the Tribeca Grand) and when I entered the bar I was immediately stopped by this man Theo* who complimented me on my jacket. He followed this by saying "don't worry I'm not hitting on you, I'm gay!" and I replied "no worries, me too!" and he then introduced me to his gorgeous companion Christine and soon we formed a triumvirate party of our own. C + T are from across the pond -London currently- and were in New York for Christine's birthday. Later in the evening we befriended the guy sitting next to us - a mild mannered hedgefund manager from Chicago...whose name I have sadly forgotten. And even sadder still I had to leave them to go on to my next engagement...but I don't know another city where it is so easy to play with strangers...

*Theo was not his real name. He decided we should guess one anothers names and this was my guess...and then he decided revealing our real names would ruin things so even though I found out by the night's end he will always be Theo to me.

Mr. Hedgefund + Theo admiring Christine's Vivienne Westwood shoes.

A photo of Christine's fantastic Balmain jacket from this fall season. I love it.