July 17th, 2008
Belts are one of my favorite accessories. They can make you look slimmer, add punch to an outfit and make a boring dress fun, all at the same time.
I really like the belts by Ann Lansing. This little bird buckle is super cute and reminds me of a phoenix (my name means phoenix and I even have one tattooed on my back)
The belts have interchangeable buckles, so you can go to something a little more simple if you’d like. Each belt and buckle are handmade, so they’re each a work of art. The belt straps themselves are reversible, so you’re getting at least two belts, not to mention changing out buckles.
Find out more about Ann Lansing
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By Kim -- 0 comments
July 16th, 2008
omg. omg.
How did I miss this? I glanced at the designers for this season’s project runway a couple days ago, but I must be going blind.
Leanne Marshall, whom I love and adore, is one of the designers! This is much more exciting than when I realized Rami Kashou is a name I recognized.
Leanimal is an amazing line. Lookit this dress.
image: leanimal
I’m am amazingly excited to see her on Project Runway tonight! We’ll totally keep an eye and let you know how it goes!
Thanks, fashionindie, for being more observant than I.
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By Kim -- 0 comments
July 16th, 2008
What a fun, bright little bag!
It’s made by Loverly Ink and is made from this vintage print that reminds me of an painting. There’s pockets abound and nice black handles.
The paint-inspired trend is getting big, and this is a great way to add it to your wardrobe if you don’t want to wear big ol’ painting.
$35
Get the paint-inspired bag
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By Kim -- 0 comments
July 16th, 2008
We’ve all read plenty about Forever 21 stealing other people’s designs.
But now, I find out that independent designers also face the risk of being copied (thanks to Miss Malaprop) by other indie designers and small stores. It’s quite disheartening to hear, because one of the best things about indie is the sense that you are helping an artist out. To find out that some artists are too lazy to come up with their own ideas is more or less disgusting to me.
Here’s one designers story. She used to sell to a store, who then began totally copying her designs.
This etsy seller found others who were using the same cute monster design that she’s been selling for years.
David Goldman is getting a little too well-known for his practice of ripping off indie artists and Threadless tees.
Be on the lookout and be a good consumer. If you spot a design eerily similar to something you’ve seen before, ask. An indie designer should be more than happy to talk about their designs with customers.
Tags: design copyright, newsShare This
By Kim -- 3 comments
July 15th, 2008
image:peggy li
I love this new necklace by Peggy Li. The turquoise is an interesting shade, kind of speckled like dinosaur eggs. Or robin’s eggs.
You can have gold or silver for the chain. I like silver with turquoise.
Get the Turquoise Slab Necklace
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By Kim -- 0 comments
July 15th, 2008
image: oak
So maybe you can’t wear a bra with this top. That’s OK.
They keyhole in back is so sexy and not overtly in your face hot. I think showing off your back is a great demure way to look your best. The darker grey stitching and accents are fantastic.
$89 from $100. Size small
Get the key hole top at OAK.
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By Kim -- 0 comments
July 14th, 2008
Remember how excited I was about my Holly Stalder interview?
OK, now remember when I gushed about the new Rose La Biche collection?
Well, the fantastic Lucy, the genius behind the gorgeous tees, is here to answer some questions. As a bonus, I’ll sprinkle in some pictures of the collection again. Just in case you forgot how freakin’ talented this woman is.
Tell us a little bit about you. How old are you and where do you live?
I turned 33 last month (ouch!) and I’ve been living in San Francisco for the last 2,5 years, right in front of a charming park full of century-old trees. I lived in a lot of different places before that – Paris, London, Lisbon, Buenos Aires, Los Angeles – but SF is a city with one of the best urban-nature mix to me : you’re right in the middle of downtown and still, you’re surrounded by a breathtaking nature. I cherish this ‘duality’ a lot.
What do you love about indie style?
What I value the most in indie style is that you know who makes the apparel you’re buying and in what conditions it has been crafted (contrarily to trendy mass-market brands that usually outsource their production in some Third World countries). I love that ‘intimacy’ with the indie designer, its work, its vision, its philosophy. That’s what inspires me when I design my collection: very modestly, I wish to create apparel that brings authenticity, confidence and joie de vivre. Indie style goes beyond fashion to me, it has to do with values you identify with. I love to wear clothes that mean something to me and I truly hope this is what my customers feel when they wear a Rose La Biche tee.
Why t-shirts? What is about them that inspires you?
Because a t-shirt is a quintessential wardrobe staple - the most simple, versatile go-anywhere piece of clothing ever. And whereas screenprinted t-shirts are everywhere now, I find the offer pretty small for chic feminine tshirts that are truly different. As a designer, it inspires me to think about how to transform a basic tee into a chic, refreshing and unique piece. I’m thrilled to constantly challenge myself to reinvent the “perfect elegant yet atypical tee”. I deliberately choose to work on a sober urban color palette (white, black, grey, charcoal) that pushes me to be even more creative, more innovative, more precise. Artistically-wise, it is very fulfilling. That’s what makes me happy!
Give us your favorite undiscovered designer/shop.
Marie Labarelle is a Parisian designer whose work I admire a lot. Her website is unfortunately in French only but you can still see her marvelous creations http://marielab.canalblog.com. She has a very artistic and poetic approach towards fashion and towards creation in general. Her work is very nature-inspired, just like mine, and I like that very much. Her dresses and coats are delicate and airy, like flowers or leaves. Just beautiful. Her small Parisian boutique is a true gem.
What is the story you are telling with the latest collection?
I shot my latest collection in two different moments, in two separate parts of the World: in April in Madrid, Spain and in June in NYC. Because this collection tells the story of a cosmopolitan woman, a woman who travels, a woman who speaks different languages, who likes to discover other people’s cultures. She is sophisticated yet cool, confident yet sensible, atypical yet uncomplicated. She is Spanish, American, French, Australian, Mexican or maybe Italian or Argentine or Japanese. She’s a citizen of the World. She is a urban-nature woman and her style fuses ‘wow factor’ & ‘everyday wearable’ in a clean yet creative way.
Are you a cake or pie person?
Oh my, that’s a difficult choice! I think I’m both actually! As a good French woman, I love to cook and I’m known for my small chocolate fondants cakes and my super creamy lemon custard pie. These are my two specialties and I love them both SO much that I wouldn’t be able to choose! So I guess I am a cake-pie person (does it even exist?)
(Kim says: indeed in does. I love cake and I would kill for a lemon custard pie right about now)
After reading about why Lucy makes these great tees and how she works, you’ll want to go shopping.
So go shopping at Rose La Biche.
While you’re at it, read more from Lucy at her blog.
Tags: etsy, rose la biche, take five interviewShare This
By Kim -- 0 comments
July 14th, 2008
Got some guts and need a killer party dress?
I’m in love with this Shrinkle dress. I have absolutely no where to wear it, but I like the girly heart print plus the sexy lace insets.
In my former life I was a little Goth, so I feel like this is something I would love deep down. The bodice is exquisite and really, the whole thing is just impeccably made.
$145. Size medium to large
Get the Hearts Rainbow Dress
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By Kim -- 1 comment
July 11th, 2008
Locher’s, the french tee-shirt store with an attitude, is having it’s annual sale.
I know lots of stores have annual sales, but I’m not kidding. This is theonly time you’ll find Locher’s on sale and it’s well worth it to hurry, because this is the last chance you’ll have at some of these designs.
Go shopping at Locher’s
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By Kim -- 2 comments
July 11th, 2008
Ohhh. Joanne over at Eterknity is giving reader a good 20% off on the heavenly halter, the top I featured earlier this week.
That makes the classic halter only $95, which is a steal for a handmade knit top. Just let them know where you heard about it!
(pssss, hey also have their own site outside of etsy)
Tags: eterknity, halter top, isf discount, knitShare This
By Kim -- 0 comments
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