Brook&Lyn Lookbook: This Is the Stuff We WISH Our Dreams Were Made Of
That's it. We officially love jewelry line Brook&Lyn. And it's not just because designer/blogger Mimi Jung epitomizes outer-borough avant-garde in the most irresistible way.
Back in the day, we were drooling over her gorgeous geologic-cool "Surrounded" agate medallions, but homegirl is at it again with the "Deflected" collection. As with "Surrounded," the pieces here are built with natural materials and textures, but they take the idea in a new direction.
This time around, Jung's ethos was "deflecting darkness, reflecting light," and it definitely shows. The necklaces switch out the over-shiny baubles for smoky, mirrored panels, but definitely do not sacrifice statement, in the process. And not that we're surprised, but the brand new video lookbook is hauntingly beautiful to match, if you're into that whole mysterious-model-surrealist sort of thing (we are). Watch, then then adore, then buy here.
Photo and video: Courtesy of Mimi Jung
Brook&Lyn Deflected Collection from Brook&Lyn Studio on Vimeo.
Photo and video: Courtesy of Mimi Jung
Exclusive: Waris Makes Necklaces For Your Boo (Or Lil' Kim)
Still don't know what to get your boo for Valentine's Day? Why not a nameplate that's "just for them?" Moda Operandi and Waris Ahluwalia will be launching a special jewelry collection TODAY. Appropriately themed "Boo," (the cute kind, not the scary kind) the collection features just three pieces. Simple right? A gold bracelet, necklace, and earrings all deem your special someone your "boo" your "boo-boo" or your "boo-boo-boo-boo" depending on how many pieces you gift her. We love the idea of the universal term of endearment in a gold, honey script — it's a little bit Lil' Kim, a little bit romantic, and totally wearable no matter the outfit.
Plus, the collection is great for couples who haven't had the dreaded talk of exclusivity....yet.Photos: Courtesy of HL Group
Carry Karl Lagerfeld Everywhere You Go... Like, Everywhere
Surprise, surprise, Karl Lagerfeld has given us one more thing we hate to want and want to hate, but naturally find ourselves craving anyway. Combining his love of literally being everywhere by, you know, putting his face on stuff , the couturier slash hi-fiver's newest endeavor seeks not the key to our hearts, but a spot on our chains. The pint-sized portrait, available as a pin or keychain, is part of a(nother) new project for the designer: A pop-up shop in the West Village selling his new line, KARL. Swing by Bleecker's newest haute spot to score your own jangly thing—and you too can gaze into kartoon Karl's dark eyes every time you come home.
Available at KARL, 375 Bleecker Street (between Charles and Perry streets); Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m; Sundays from noon to 7 p.m.
Photographed by Jaka Vinsek, Courtesy of Shiraz Events
My Style: It Jeweler Sara Beltran's Beachy-Chic Chelsea Crib
When you hear "beachy chic," your mind probably drifts westward to some Pacific bungalow where sun-kissed girls hang ten and sip drinks out of coconuts. But that's only because you've never met local jewelry designer Sara Beltran, the creative genius behind Dezso (or "desire" in Latin). Desire indeed. The line (an instant obsession of glossy editors and Barneys' buyers) consists of simple, well-made bracelets, necklaces, and earrings that channel her love of the ocean, her Mexican upbringing, and Jaipur, India, where she just opened up a design studio. In a time when jewelry can feel limited to large impact pieces, Beltran's spare collection stands out, an aesthetic that translates to her home life as well. We visited her Chelsea casa and discovered a total oasis of calm away from the overzealous galleristas below — rustic and earthy, clean and subtly sophisticated, this crib is one chic getaway. Of course, we didn't leave without some snaps of Beltran's personal style, too. You can bet her ensembles are as cleverly understated as her line, even though she rocks a Birkin on the reg. We just hope it doesn't get sandy.
Check out Sara's laid-back Chelsea crib and read up on her designs before she shows at NYFW for the first time!
Check out Sara's laid-back Chelsea crib and read up on her designs before she shows at NYFW for the first time!
Watch: Alexis Bittar's ABsolutely FABulous New Campaign
Isn't it just amazing Ab Fab when fashion has a sense of humor? Alexis Bittar's certainly struck a high note (and hit a funny bone) by including the ever-fabulous Edina and Patsy, front women of the British sitcom hit, Absolutely Fabulous, in his latest campaign. The slapstick duo get decked out, sip champas, pose, pose pose (let's hope there's some La Croix in there, sweetie), and mingle with other industry fancies — it's basically their ultimate dream come true besides easy going sex with gorgeous, underage youths... And as a die-hard fan of the Brit babes, it's Bittar's wish granted, too. Check out the sneak-peek video below—we can all agree that at least the jewels are no joke. Oh, and obviously no Saffron in sight.
Photo and video: Courtesy of Alexis Bittar
Photo and video: Courtesy of Alexis Bittar
Yes, Please. Dreamy Mix & Match Bikinis For Your Next Island Getaway
Missoni, Eres and Zimmerman are the rockstars of quality swimwear — and they tend to come with MSG-sized price tags. Yeah, we feel your pain, and it's only the beginning of getaway season. Similarly disappointed by the sub-par swim options at a reasonable price, fashion publicist — and part-time street-style starlet Gabby Sabharwal — dreamed up Giejo, a pint-sized collection that's already heavy in print-cred.
The idea was to offer six mix-and-match separates inspired by her favorite vintage fabrics and silhouettes. After scouring the garment district for swatches and samples, Sabharwal chose both the classic and unexpected. The nautically-oriented will love the bandeau top in cream and navy, and underwire number in the sweetest periwinkle floral is straight-up gorgeous. For those who dare to go bold, the zoomed-in ikat triangle in noir and the retro bottoms are must-haves. And if you're somewhere in the middle like us, there are plenty of patchworked styles to indulge your indecision!
Check Barneys for the Giejo collection soon, or shop online here!
Photos: Courtesy of Giejo
The idea was to offer six mix-and-match separates inspired by her favorite vintage fabrics and silhouettes. After scouring the garment district for swatches and samples, Sabharwal chose both the classic and unexpected. The nautically-oriented will love the bandeau top in cream and navy, and underwire number in the sweetest periwinkle floral is straight-up gorgeous. For those who dare to go bold, the zoomed-in ikat triangle in noir and the retro bottoms are must-haves. And if you're somewhere in the middle like us, there are plenty of patchworked styles to indulge your indecision!
Check Barneys for the Giejo collection soon, or shop online here!
Photos: Courtesy of Giejo
Watch: Die Antwoord Freak Out For Alex Wang's Newest Campaign
As many of you music mavens may know, Die Antwoord is a rad South African rap 'n' rage 'n' rave trio that makes no apologies for their gritty style and in-your-face lyrics. And, given their raw, aggressive style, it's somewhat surprising that they'd play poster children for T by Alexander Wang's new video campaign, below. Don't get us wrong, they're totally awesome. But they're just not screaming "chic simplicity" as loudly as Mr. Wang's clothes do. Instead, they scream things like "yipee kay-yay motha-f*cka." Either way, we like it, and we're thinking this might be a little preview of songs to look for on the runway. For reference, it's called "Fatty Boom Boom."
Exclusive: Mena Suvari Flirts With Us In Christian Siriano's Video Lookbook
Yeah, we know what you're thinking. Femme, perhaps, but since when has anything Christian Siriano ever sent down the runway been demure? Well, a quick look at his new video lookbook (boyfriend Brad Walsh produced it and provided the tunage!) for spring 2012 shows that, while the young designer is still whipping up his share of frilly, red-carpet showpieces, he's also managed to work sophisticated, understated wearables into his new collection. His simple white jacket, gauzy chartreuse skirt, and striped, sleeveless top certainly belong in the R29 shopping list, and other, more ambitious pieces here – worn by the ever-beautiful, ever-eye-catching Mena Suvari at NYC's own Soho Grand – are more than worth a try. Siriano may still be "fierce", but it seems he's willing to relax a little too.
Photo/Video: Courtesy of Christian Siriano.
Photo/Video: Courtesy of Christian Siriano.
The 10 Kate Spade Pieces We'd Pack For A Warm Weather Vacay
It's never too early to start planning (or dreaming) of your summer getaway, so why not skip to the fun part and start shopping for your ideal vacation wardrobe? Without all the surf and sand, Kate Spade manages to illustrate a sunny 'oliday with clean lines and foolproof color combinations in this very minimal lookbook—letting the clothes and accessories speak for themselves. To help you narrow down your wish list a bit (someone has to!), we picked 10 of our favorite pieces, including the Hayley jacket in a refreshing yellow-white color block, and a bright blue bib necklace that we think Wes Anderson would use in his next flick. Who says you can't look prim and proper even on vacay? If you're dying to wear something printed, save the Hawaiian sarongs and Havaianas for the locals (you say comfort, we spy tourist), and try the Explorer silk pants with sea foam leather pumps or an eye-catching scarf or bracelet. No matter where you go when the weather gets warm (or even now, if you're lucky), looking chic should never be something you'd take a vacation from, amirite? Oh and don't forget to pack your retro bikini , too.
Photos: Courtesy of Kate Spade
Photos: Courtesy of Kate Spade
Studio Stalking: Rachel Roy's Glam Work Digs
Rachel Roy's garments are immaculate: The cuts are neat, the colors bold, the styles universally flattering. So, naturally, we had to stop by her midtown showroom and office to look for SOME semblance of chaos in all that outward flawlessness. No such luck — all we could find were rows and rows of perfectly tailored separates, a design studio Parsons students would kill (or cheat) for, cupboards of brightly colored thread, a well curated bookshelf of glossy coffee-table books that could stock a small Phaidon store, and, of course, Rachel, sporting a stunning smile and dreamy outfits. It's not that Rachel isn't too busy to keep things tidy (she's got two young daughters, a new line of makeup, and a collection to finish before fashion week), but her excess of cool collectivity, poise, and effortless grace doesn't allow for anything like a mess. And yep, aside from the bright-and-neutral wardrobe, we'll also borrow some of that inner zen, if you don't mind.
Click through for an exclusive look into Rachel Roy's high-fashion (and ultra-glam) life with our studio tour.
Click through for an exclusive look into Rachel Roy's high-fashion (and ultra-glam) life with our studio tour.
Karl Lagerfeld Makes PVC Shorts We Want To Wear To The Gym
While there were no Choupette spottings at yesterday's KARL by Karl Lagerfeld collection preview, the designer's new kitten would have felt right at home at the presentation. Everywhere you looked, you couldn't escape the Kaiser's sunnies-and-ponytail-bedecked profile — we're talking about everything from sweatshirts to bags. Besides the obligatory face-shots, there were definitely some pieces to love in the new line — to be sold exclusively on NET-A-PORTER.com starting Wednesday, January 25: silver sequined leggings and detachable collars, stop-and-stare metallic dresses, leather biker jackets, and gleaming, buckled wedges. And, the price-point will leave you with a little bit of cash left over for your Chanel fund — the average sticker-shock hovers in the $200 range. Of course, no Lagerfeld moment would be complete without a little something extra, and we think these PVC "Sabine" shorts do the trick quite nicely. So, they're not exactly billed as workout wear, and at $175, they're a bit steep for the daily grind at Equinox, but we're still thinking of sweating it out in these babies (take that, girl who stuffs her sweaty socks in that new Céline bag). And maybe wearing them out of the gym...after a nice, cold Magnum, of course.
Photo: Courtesy of NET-A-PORTER.com.
Watch: Has Alice Temperley Found The Next Florence Welch?
Alice Temperley is known for her celeb fans like the sisters Middelton (oh, and her playful, floaty ethereal dresses and separates, too). But now the designer has found she's in a fan club of her own. She recently discovered new singer, Isabel (and her insane Florence + the Machine-esque voice) in Glastonbury, and immediately employed her to be the soul behind Alice by Temperley's new video lookbook for her pre-fall '12 collection—one listen and you'll hear see the crooner and the clothing make a perfect pair. There's something delicate and powerful that makes us want to re-watch and re-watch the playful-yet sultry wares and the belt-out ballad, "Kiss Me Madder" in a continuous loop throughout the day. Okay, we know it's British, but there's definitely some sort of New York Groove going on here (perfect soundtrack to a winter East Village weekend walkabout, right?). Plus, there's something kind of comforting in knowing we're rocking out to the same tunes as Pippa Middelton— it's like being a music snob without being a music snob.
Check out the music video below, and tell us what you think!
Photo: Courtesy of Starworks
Check out the music video below, and tell us what you think!
Photo: Courtesy of Starworks
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