Is Creatures Of The Wind The American Version Of Avant-Garde?
When we compare American fashion designers with the rest of the world, the notable differences are usually the same: It's more wearable, it's more colorful, and — unfortunately — it's never avant-garde. Not so with Creatures of the Wind, the nascent Chicago-based label whose previous collections really raised the bar for unforgettable silhouettes, pattern play, and unconventional layering. For fall '12, their collection is reminiscent of Comme des Garçons, Henry Holland, and Henrik Vibskov, but dialed down on the crazy, meaning you'd actually end up wearing the looks rather than just tacking a print-out of it up on your inspiration board. Metallic PVC prairie skirts and layered, striped blazers definitely aren't for those who like to play it safe, but they've got real women in mind (thank you!).
Photo: MCV Photo
Photo: MCV Photo
11 New Fall Coats To Buy Now In NYC!
Don't let this freaky Indian Summer trick you—before you know it, walking outside sans scarf or jacket will be like asking for a date with some tissues and a bottle of Vicks Vapor Rub. Believe us, having the sniffles won't exactly get you the winter cuddle buddy you're looking for. So, while we've tried to layer up with long sleeves and tights (last week, when it was you know, like, chilly), it'll soon be time to face the blustery music and start considering these 11 fall and winter jacket options. Streamlined, brightly colored, caped, or textured, here are the cutest cold weather shells fresh off the racks at your favorite NYC boutiques. We can't promise you won't catch a winter chill, but with these options—including must-have fall trends like mohair and blown-up plaid prints—we can assure you that at least your red nose will be well accessorized instantly.
We're Feeling Velvet, Here Are 12 Ways To Rock It
We know how hard it is to say goodbye to your woven flatforms and crocheted whites, but to ease the blow, let us introduce you to a cold weather trend you'll actually be psyched to wear: Say hello to velvet in all of its luxe, crushed, and jewel-toned variations, cuz we have a feeling you'll really cozy up to its warmth this winter. Nothing is more lush than a little touch of this classic fabric— be it on a scarf or a full on berry blazer, incorporating velvet into your everyday wear is a sure way to feel rich this fall and add texture to your wardrobe all the way into winter. Take it from us, you don't need to be dancing along to a harp at a renaissance fair or doing triple axels on the rink to feel like you fit in with this trend; Whether you grunge it up on the L.E.S with some McQueen skulls or keep it chic on the U.E.S with a Lanvin bow tie, there's no wrong way to feel the velvet vibe….well, almost (cough, cough Hugh Hefner). So go ahead—substitute your corduroy and suedes and hop on board the velvet train, which makes the booty-hugging white jeans we just can't seem to pack up seem a little more weather acceptable.
12 Cocktail Dresses Worth The Hangover
Feel that chill in the wind? Yes, you have a bit more time to squeeze in your last bit of lace and leg before buttoning up for winter and, sure, that DvF blush silk mini still works in this weather. But if you don't bust a move, you'll hit autumn without the proper wardrobe. It's time to ditch the florals and chiffon and begin shopping darker and sexier before September reaches the midway mark. Start off with that essential season statement piece—the cocktail dress. We've searched high and low and found looks that are short, sweet, and sexy, accented with sequins, pleats, and autumnal shades. We promise these hot pieces—and the cocktails you'll enjoy in them—will have you forgetting about those long summer days in no time.
Click here to see a dozen cocktail dresses worth the hangover!
Click here to see a dozen cocktail dresses worth the hangover!
A Crazy Clown Video (and Lookbook!) That's Actually Pretty Chic
Running around the countryside sounds nice. Being chased around the countryside by a clown in face paint, a plum, and a shotgun sounds terrifying. And yet, somehow, designer Lindsey Thornburg, photographer/director Olivia Malone, and director/editor Crystal Moselle make it more parts glamorous and fun than scary (though, if you're not a clown girl, stay far, far away). In the team's third video collaboration, Tom Fool Are We, models Caitlin Hill and Marianna Rothen shoot, seduce, and worship (what?) an unseen man behind the lens. And isn't it cute that director/editor Crystal Moselle's father wrote the score? Maybe it's due to the witchery at the end, but this dark whimsy's got us hooked. While we're intrigued by the video, we're really enchanted by Thornburg's fall '11 collection—all the while, the girls are decked out in the label's Machu Picchu-inspired garb that's surprisingly totally wearable. No wonder they're running—we'd chase them for it, too.
New Label Jack Robie's Menswear is Casual-Cool and Girlfriend-friendly
A little treat for the men in the audience—Jack Robie's Fall 2010 line just dropped and it's exactly what the doctor ordered. Their NYC approach to reducing wardrobe indecision with a firm set of button-up solids and finely tailored plaids applies to every walk of life, from backstage to the Wall Street. Inspired by a sharply-dressed Hitchock character, the casual-cool upgrade is instant. And ladies, this is where it gets good: every design is begging to be swiped and styled with a female touch. Make fall 2010 the season of sharing... or just buy one for both of you!
September Issues Will Feature Bieber, Aniston, But Not Lohan
Everyone has got to be stoked about the soon-to-be released, and hopefully thicker-than-ever September issues of our favorite fashion magazines—everyone except Lindsay Lohan that is. The legging-crazed and spray-tanned starlet was set to grace the cover of W magazine, but plans have changed. Instead, Stefano Tonchi's first cover will feature Hollywood's good girls including Emma Roberts and Jennifer Lawrence, who will be part a group photo. Okay, so we admit that we felt a slight twinge of remorse for Lindsay, but news of the other star-studded covers cheered us up in no time. Teenybopper's are bound to go crazy for Teen Vogue's Justin Bieber cover, while Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston will glam it up at Elle and Harper's Bazaar respectively. And of course we had to make mention of Ice Queen Anna Wintour's plan for Vogue, a sure-to-be stunner starring recently single mom Halle Berry. But we're guessing after lock-up, Lohan will be sure to make it on Us Weekly . (WWD)
Alexis Bittar Dishes On His Fall Collection
If you want to make a statement, turning to the recent CFDA-winning jeweler Alexis Bittar is a no-brainer. The designer's head-turning signature pieces are not for wallflowers, with bold shapes, exotic materials, and crazy patterns that wouldn't look out-of-place front-row at a Lady Gaga concert. For fall '10, Bittar isn't any more subdued, (thank god!), but skips a decade ahead, with a collection that jumps from his usual '80s sensibility to a '90s grunge aesthetic. There's enough variety for both a goth teen-queen and a confidently cool French girl (his primary inspiration for the season) in the form of powder-coated metal cuffs dripping with liquid gold edges, oversized rings, and for the first time, colored stones (and don't worry, his use of lucite is still very much in play). Lucky for us, Bittar took some time off to share his top-picks from the rad new offerings, from a cr-cr-crazy necklace to some beaded bracelets.
Here's Alexis Bittar's top 5 pieces from his fall 2010 collection:
Above, clockwise from bottom left:
1. Hand-carved, hand-painted large neo-deco gunmetal hinge bracelet ($595):"This season, I really wanted to design a neo-deco collection and this cuff is its epitome. The hand-carved and hand-painted Lucite holds an oversized smoky quartz stone in a gunmetal and Swarovski crystal setting. It has a slight gothic feel to it which I like."
2. Gunmetal beaded black-and-brown collar ($450):"This is a hand-woven seed bead necklace. I love the shape of it and the way it lays on your collar. There's a sense of warrior-like armor to it, which I find quite empowering."
3. Large gunmetal Georgian framed ring ($355):"This ring has what I like to call, a modern Georgian element to it. Its marquis-cut stone determines the cast of the ring's setting, which allows me to explore the nature of negative space within jewelry. Plus, I love the combination of sea-green and gunmetal."
4. Tapestry large and small peacock and geometric bracelets ($195-$280): "I was drawn to the ballet Russe movement, and I was espicially intrigued by its avant garde qualities. They have a very minimalist grunge aesthetic to them."
5. Wooden Druisy horn necklace (price upon request):"This wood and antler necklace is made up of elements that I have found and collected on my travels abroad over the years."
Cushnie Et Ochs' Darwinian Fall Lookbook
When the Cushnie Et Ochs fall '10 lookbook landed on our desks this morning, we got a little chill. The clothes are cocktail attire with a definite savage streak, with sleek leather dresses, perforated skirts, braided cashmere sweaters, and an ostrich feather t-shirt that are all fittingly ferocious. Design duo Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs cite Charles Darwin's theory of transmutation of species for this season's collection, and the shots definitely display a primitive sensibility. The model's hungry gazes, coupled with the dark, moody snaps, make for some awesomely scary clothes, fit for a creature as fierce as you!
All photos by Chadwick Tyler, Model: Meghan Collison, Stylist: Nicole Vitagliano
J.Crew's Fall 2010 Collection Comes Alive In Their Penthouse Presentation
If you're looking for a perfect outfit in a pinch, chances are J.Crew can help you out. With basics that are ideal for mixing and matching, one trip to any 'Crew store will leave you with more than a few wardrobe additions. But unless you're a stylist, it can be hard to put the pieces together to make the clothes come alive. For their first off-site show, MILK studios and J.Crew teamed up to do exactly that so we don't have to. They presented a flawless hour-long show debuting their men and women's fall '10 collection designed by Frank Muytjens and Jenna Lyons respectively. There were lots of layers, messy braids, and of course, tons of gorgeous girls and hot guys lounging around a penthouse terrace (we spotted Phillip Lim admiring the view) drinking Dark & Stormys. Even with the spring sun shining strong this past week, with a collection like this we can't help but wonder what our closets will look like next fall!
Bundle Up In Lars Andersson's Batgirl Knits!
If Batgirl had undertaken a ninja training course in the mountains of Japan, we'd imagine her downtime togs could be found in Lars Andersson's fall '10 lookbook. The Swedish designer's somber new garments pair his knitting obsession with the "dark urban hippie" aesthetic he honed while studying at FIT here in Gotham City. There's a mysterious and mythical quality about the collection, almost as if it were inspired by dresses, coats, and cloaks worn by primeval hipsters living in Sweden's virgin forests. Andersson cites timelessness as paramount to the look, stressing the importance that his customers own "pieces that will last a lifetime [and] defy trends." Each piece is hand-made by a team of knitters in his Brooklyn studio using fine Japanese and Italian yarns, helping support our local garmentos. Vigilantes everywhere suddenly got a lot more stylish!
Lars Andersson will be available in August at Oak. Prices range from $390 for a hooded scarf to $650 for a drop shoulder coat.
Oak NYC
28 Bond Street, (between Great Jones and East 2nd streets); 212-667-1293.
oaknyc.com
Hot Local Line (212) Gives Us A Sneak-Peek At Fall And A Discount On Spring!
Our fair city is busting at the seams with budding fashion, but one newish label that's recently stolen our hearts is (212) . For a little over a year, the New York-based line (which, funny enough, has a boutique in Vancouver, BC) has been serving up some killer clothes for girls with lighter wallets but equally high expectations. The local designers, Scott (a former model) and Anthony (a Parsons grad) met five years ago and have never looked back. We got the exclusive first look at their fall '10 line, which was inspired by the developing Mod scene on the Left Bank of Paris in the '60s. We die over the boyish-cut blazers with shrunken sleeves, and we're equally jazzed the duo threw in some shorter hemlines. Lucky for us (and you, too), (212) offers a few signature staples season after season. So, even if you can't wait till next fall to get your hands on the new collection, the designers are giving us access to three of their classic spring items available in NYC now for a special R29 price. You know that's one number you want to dial.
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