Fashion Scout
Ever since we laid eyes on Brook&Lyn’s bewitching “Deflected” collection, we were taken by the brand’s unexpected and original approach to jewelry design. Combining natural materials with bold shapes, their work gracefully walks the line between delicate and strong, such that we see our own femininity reflected in its construct.
I am absolutely jonesing for Givenchy these days (oh Antigona…). And I can just add this painterly statement tee to the lengthy list. My closet is already a veritable shrine to the men’s tee, with my favorite look being a half-heartedly tucked-in tee, some skinny jeans, a pair of exuberant socks and my trusty Tretorn sneaks. Any more fuss than that and I’m wasting precious time. But that doesn’t mean it’s careless. With my carefully curated tee collection, I always find just the right design for any day’s mood. This toothy shark? Mondays, for sure.
As Sandy comes creeping towards us, threatening to shut down NYC for the better half of the week and – oh the horror – seriously screwing with every child’s Trick-or-Treating plans, I, as a responsible mother, am checking my list twice for our household hurricane preparedness. Candles? Check. Batteries? Check. Chocolate? Check. As worried as I am for those who will surely be impacted by the brunt of the storm, I can’t help but get a wee bit gleeful as I consider the possibility of a week cuddled up at home with my kid. And, beyond chocolate and good books, cosy socks are a must.
These bright, fair trade bracelets coming out of South Africa are made using upcycled flip flops. They’re dirt cheap, eco-friendly, and the perfect lighthearted accompaniment to all that studded, metal arm swag everyone seems to be wearing this fall. No two are alike. Get a set of ten from Paper Source and rock the 80’s vibe.
DEERDANA’s minimalist portrait tees have been on our fashion radar for some time. But when Jay-Z broke out their Basquiat for his now-famous subway ride to Brooklyn a couple weeks ago, we knew the NYC brand had hit the tipping point. Featuring a mötley crüe of iconic characters hand-scrawled onto classic white cotton tees, DEERDANA takes a wardrobe staple and gives it the tastemaker treatment. They also have their finger firmly on the pulse. From Rick Ross to Frida Kahlo to Maggie Smith’s Countess on “Downton Abbey,” their subjects transcend pop- and sub-cultures, and can best be qualified as, quite simply, cool.
For all of us tough chicks who think that wearing heels is just foolish and keeps you from getting to where you need to go, this brand is for you. A little outdoorsy, a bit seaside, and a lot classy in that tomboy sort of way, Kat McMillan’s line of women’s shoes, named Mrs P. Hicks, are sumptuous for-her renditions of those leather Chukkas and Canoe boots that you have been coveting in your hubby’s closet.
Lulu Frost has the power! Enough to collaborate with J.Crew four times, to turn up regularly on fashion’s favorite street style subjects, and most of all, to make Lo’s List weak in the knees. The jewelry brand was founded in New York City in 2004 by designer Lisa Salzer, and her most recent Power Collection is a bold, breathtaking ode to goddesses and ferocious female empowerment.
Artist-gone-fashion-designer David Saunders started his fashion career as an attempt to spiff up his fashion-party ensembles. From there, he quickly became known for his hand-painted geometric tees and apprenticeships, collaborations (Fred Perry, House of Holland), and a label (David David) quickly ensued. Although he did offer a few seasons worth of separates and sportswear, the David David line is now concentrating on what the designer loves most: tees (and an accessory here and there). You can snag your very own pop art piece from his shop. We particularly love these stripes and polka-dots…
If space is the next frontier in fashion, British designer Markus Lupfer is leading the way. He married his London roots with galaxies beyond, showing mod-style A-line dresses (reminiscent of swinging ’60s London Town) in shimmering fabrics. The look was confident – clean tailoring and classic shapes – but not without subtle handiwork that required closer inspection. Lupfer is known for his sequined embroidery skills and he decorated the arms of sweaters, fronts of mini dresses and sheer silk blouses.
Here in NYC, the summer already seems like a distant memory – but there’s always the chance of a final freakish weekend of Indian summer weather. So here’s a bit of swim-ready style to keep in reserve for our return to the beach or that rooftop pool. London Fashion Week was certainly bursting at the seams with colorful, exuberant patterns, and the collaboration between swimwear/lingerie designer Auria (Diana Auria Harris) and illustrator Margot Bowman was a standout favorite for the Lo’s List gang.
Imagine the cuts and artistry of today’s Balenciaga blended with a cheeky approach to print and color. That’s Louise Amstrup. The Danish-born, London-based designer just showed her best – and dare we say most imaginative – collection to date for her eponymous line. Known for striking, offbeat ready-to-wear, Amstrup advanced her work with absurdly cool anthropomorphic prints. Bathing beauties with chameleon heads and swan centaurs graced superbly constructed separates.
I must say, it was hard to stomach day after day of unworthy, too-blurry-to-discern-a-thing Instagrams of fashion week’s runway moments. For an industry brimming with editors, where had all the editing gone? The need for a hash tag along the lines of #holdstill or #frontrowcantfocus needed to be released upon these despicable shots. Photo faux pas! Yet, scattered throughout this NYFW refuse were some gems: true photojournalistic moments that painted a picture of the whirlwind week. I’ve gathered up my top ten to share here. #decisivemoment
As if my Rocco duffle isn’t reason enough to love Alexander Wang (it is). Now he sits the snarky duo – Yo-Landi Vi$$er and Watkin Tudor Jones aka Ninja – that are Die Antwoord front row and center at his SS 2013 show and has them headline his after party. True, they are quite the poster children for Wang’s reptilian bondage SS 2013 presentation and have previously collaborated with Wang on a video promoting the designer’s Spring 2012 T campaign. Happy to see that Wang wasn’t just riding the Zef wave.
We can’t wait to get our hands on the SS 2013 Post Street Little Nadine satchel we spotted at Kate Spade’s NYFW presentation. But, in the meantime, we’ve got our eyes square on these anything-but-ordinary Signature Spade Earbuds to replace yet another shitty pair of Apple iPhone buds tossed to the trash over our vacay. Now, where is that new Flying Lotus track that I can’t stop listening to…
Thursday, as preparations for Fashion’s Night Out were underway, I had the rare opportunity (sleeping baby!) to do a little window shopping in the city; more specifically, at Marimekko’s 5th Avenue flagship store. My love for the brand runs deep and far back, to these quintessential Pikku Bo Boo children’s sheets that I’m sure many of us had. Then there was my 1967 Marimekko prom dress (more on that here) which I will be pulling out of the closet for Marimekko’s very first New York Fashion Week show on Monday… Now, looking around the house, I need more than the digits I have to count the Marimekko that has found its way into my life. It’s a good fit: the Finnish brand is an explosion of glowing colors and painterly textiles, channeled into clothing (and beyond) that need not follow seasonal trends of color ways and cuts. Each fresh collection has me counting my pennies and coming back for more: something that I cannot say for many other labels making their way into my closet.
