boo

photo - coutorture.com

wild wild jewelry

The renewed hype over Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are is touching everyone these days. Whether you read it for the first time twenty, thirty, or forty years ago, the story - and the characters - were unforgettable.

How fitting it is those illustrations and characters would inspire a limited-edition jewelry line by one of my favorite designers, Pamela Love. Her designs are characteristically dark, edgy, and a little scary - perhaps the perfect mix of young Max's wild imagination, and Ms. Love's talent.

Pamela Love for Opening Ceremony

Douglas Feather Cuff

$ 575

Pamela Love for Opening Ceremony

KW Claw Bracelet

$345

Pamela Love for Opening Ceremony

Max Boat Bangle

$288

These precious pieces (and several more) can be found at Opening Ceremony, ShopBop and Barney's for a very limited time.

Images from barneys.com

marco is the man

After sharpening his design chops at Fendi's accessories department for eight years, Marco de Vincenzo finally set out to do what he'd always dreamed of: launch his own line. His debut at Milan Fashion Week two years ago was applauded both for its technical skill and its modern sharp aesthetic. And after winning Italy's "Who is On Next?" competition, an initiative set up by Vogue Italia editor Franca Sozzani, it's clear that de Vincenzo is set to stick around.

–Refinery 29


The clothes de Vincenzo shows combine optical and Art Deco effects. They're layered, technical, handmade and sexy all at once. He likes slicing and re-stitching strips of fabric and playing with textures (two-toned jersey, glittery suede, granite varnishes and laser picking) in a collection based on his obsession for the intense costume changes in Wong Kar Wai's In the Mood for Love.

– Interview Magazine

photos compliments of Refinery 29

super fierce

You must read the new book Fierce Style by Project Runway’s Christian Siriano!

“When I was younger I was especially skinny. So shopping posed a real problem. A size Small in most stores wouldn't even fit me! So instead of dwelling on what I didn't like about my appearance, I learned to take the emphasis away from what I didn't love and move it to something I did, like my hair!” – from Fierce Style

why do women wear crazy shoes?

Alexander McQueen's ten-inch spring 2010 heels.

Photo: Imaxtree

FROM NEW YORK MAGAZINE --- The New York Times asks why women like to wear shoes that are impossibly high, uncomfortable, and difficult — perhaps even dangerous — to walk in. Various (what we suppose are) experts weigh in. Soap star Tina Sloan of Guiding Light offers this:

In brute defiance of reality, we wear heels we can barely walk in and much like sitting in the sun bathed in oil to get a darker tan or smoking so as not to eat and get fat, we suffer the consequences. But somehow the consequences are too far out to care about. It is just such fun to look glamorous in high, high heels.

Well, that's silly, because high heels don't actually give people cancer, like sun exposure or smoking. Moving on to a better answer from Robert H. Frank, Cornell economics professor.

Taller people earn more, for example, and command greater attention in social settings. And hence the attraction of high heels.

But height is relative. If others wear flats, a woman in two-inch heels seems tall. But that same woman seems short if others wear four-inch heels. Which explains why heels have grown taller as fashion markets have become more competitive. On Paris runways weeks ago, models had to wear five-inch heels atop two-inch platform soles to get an edge.

He goes on to note that in the end no one gains, because high heels can injure the feet, knees, and back. We wear high heels sometimes because we like the way they look. Also because it's just fun to be taller.

Your thoughts?

first thursday @ relish

relish holds a dear place in my heart - they were the very first store to carry my sterling-silver designs now known as metallust.

The new space on Lovejoy (they expanded last year) is gorgeous and well-stocked with modern furniture, accessories, textiles, and jewelry.

Trisha and her staff invited me to be the featured artist for First Thursday this November. I'll be showing a capsule line, made especially for relish. I'll also give a lecture on inspiration in my design work, as per their request. :)

Please join us for wine, snacks and browsing!

First Thursday with grayling. at relish design
November 5th :: 5-7pm
: : :
1715 NW Lovejoy Street

Portland Oregon 97209
http://www.shoprelish.com/

avec wellies

This hat would look really good with a pair of wellies, don't you think?

Eugenia Kim - Sammy Plaid Earflap Cap - $176 - shopbop

a hunter we will go

One of my favorite online shopping sites, Tobi, stocks one of my favorite brands: HUNTER. My stylist friend Allison wears hers nonstop from October to April, and she totally swears by their comfort.

Hunter Original Lace Boots - $115 - tobi

Hunter Original Short Boots - $105 - tobi

(love the chocolate color!)

A snippet on HUNTER from Tobi:

If you have visions of puddle-hopping but can’t imagine what shoes you’d wear, Hunter is here to make your daydreams come true. This classic Scottish brand has crafted Wellingtons since 1856 when Hunter was called the North British Rubber Company, spawned by American entrepreneur Henry Lee Norris.

After supplying boots to troops in the trenches during World Wars I and II, Hunter’s functional style has spread to the masses. This collection of high quality boots continues to live up to its credo of fit, comfort, durability and performance...

So you can splish-splash to your heart's content and look good while doing so!

schlompin with the boys

I've said it once, and I'll say it again: boys have all the fun. When it comes to shoes that won't break your ankles (take it from an emergency room veteran) the boys win almost every time. I'm not trying to be frumpy, but don't these look comfy?!

photos men style (dot) com

socks with sandals

Chloe Spring 2010
Paris Fashion Week
Photos – www.coutorture.com

a little byrd told me

(Almost) every day I get lovely updates from the {frolic} blog. The other day Chelsea wrote about these attractive laptop bags by Byrd & Belle – they struck a chord, and I thought I'd share.

felted laptop bag by byrd & belle

janeane marie X grayling.

Above: Janeane Ciccante's clothing line, Janeane Marie, lights up the "sustainable-green-eco-friendly-bamboo" runway during Portland Fashion Week 2009. These pieces were from her collection, Totem Coast.

She's currently working on an installation for CONTENT09 at the Ace Hotel. Keep this gal on your radar - she interned with Anna Cohen and Leanne Marshall, Winner of Project Runway 5.

Photos - compliments of Portland Fashion Week

the procession draws to a close

These portraits of The Procession by Anthony Georgis capture the dark, somber mood of the dimly-lit evening perfectly.

Pinkham Millinery blew me away with the amount of detail (literally) woven and sewn into each of their hats. The plumage was perfect. The styling was impeccable. What a wonderful evening. And, now I can fully share it with you.

You can read more about the gorgeous event through my previous posts The Procession and The Procession Continues.

Hats: Pinkham Millinery. Clothing: Elizabeth Dye, Frocky Jack Morgan, Kate Towers, Emily Ryan, Holly Stalder, Jayme Hansen, Duchess Clothier, MothLove, Emily Bixler, and Valerie Mathus.

the procession continues...

Before I left for The Procession last Friday, I wasn't entirely sure where I was headed. All I had was an address. As it turns out, the Lone Fir Cemetery is a captivatingly gorgeous place for a show at dusk.

One of my friends promised to send over photos from the evening, but in the meantime, I'm dying to share. Here are a few shots Pete Springer snapped:

Pinkham Millinery organized the show and provided the swoon-worthy hats while a long list of local designers including Emily Ryan, Kate Towers and Frocky Jack Morgan supplied the Victorian-era attire. The gorgeous styling was by the talented Allison Jones.

More to come...

content 09

35 (thirty five!!) of Portland’s finest independent clothing and accessory designers will inhabit 28 rooms on the 2nd floor of the Ace Hotel in Portland, OR.

Attendees will explore at their leisure while enjoying live music, libations, art installations and more, extending into the adjacent Cleaners event space.

This event is designed, in its curation of talent and selection of venue, to harness and highlight the individuality stemming from the independent fashion community. CONTENT will feature local darlings Hazel Cox, Janeane Marie, Emily Katz, Elizabeth Dye, and Sarah Wizemann... plus thirty more.

Yours truly will be ushering you in the door upon your arrival! And while my involvement is limited this go-round, I do hope I will be part of the exhibits next year. (hint, hint)

CONTENT09:

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

From five to ten o'clock in the evening

@ the Ace Hotel 1022 SW Stark Street

In lovely Portland Oregon

http://www.content-portland.com/

a.c.b. jewelry

Check out this necklace by Annie Costello Brown:

“All of the studding, quilting, weaving, hand-dyeing, and chain oxidizing are done by Brown in her own studio. (After all, she was a fine arts major.)” –Daily Candy

A.C.B. is available at OAK and other fine retailers.

just for pretending

My future backyard.

photo - vogue italia

the procession

Masters of hat radness, Pinkham Millinery, will host an assemblage of some of Portland's most-loved independent designers tonight during The Procession.

The secret event location was held close to the chest for several weeks, and now the mysterious address has been revealed: 639 SE 26th street (which is near a cemetery, perhaps in one, if I am not mistaken)...

janeane marie

Janeane Marie, the sweet-as-sugar Portland designer who recently graduated from the Art Institute, is showing tonight in the Emerging Designers Competition during Portland Fashion Week.

With a knack for structure and a slight disdain towards jersey, Janeane Marie's eponymous line is absolutely stunning. This young designer is cutting and sewing incredible tailored jackets, exposed-seam dresses, and patterned silk blouses that will knock your socks off.

It just so happens she and I discovered my jewelry and her clothes compliment each other nicely - her models will be wearing my designs during the show and I couldn't be more excited! I hope to post pictures of our creative mash-up later this week. For now, feast your eyes on this gorgeous dress from Janeane Marie...

Available by special order and Radish Underground

meet the locals

@ urban weeds

bound for greatness

Check out these accessory heavy looks from Ann Demeulemeester's Spring 2010 Paris Fashion Week show. A few of the chains are reminiscent of Bliss Lau, whose work I adore.

And the clothes? I would definitely wear the first look (plus a shirt underneath, minus the headwrap) and the last look (swap the leather leggings for denim, minus the headwrap).

Now that's what I call interesting fashion.

Photos – www.coutorture.com

on the cheap: black attack

Everything less than ten dollars at

http://www.forever21.com/

you’ve got maille

Cuff from Rebecca Schiffman's IMK Collection

IMK by Rebecca Schiffman is inspired by the art of medieval armour as well as art deco artifacts and post-apocapyptic science-fiction. The Ill-Made Knight Collection (IMK) is named after Book II of T.H. White's version of the Arthurian legend, The Once and Future King.

Doo.Ri Spring 2010

Doo-Ri Chung's line, Doo.Ri, is full of subtle beauty. New York magazine applauds, "...interesting architectural details that are consistently clever but not too tricky —and, of course, there’s that perfect drape. Chung made her name with jersey, but she’s no one-trick-pony. She’s experimenting with fabric ... and designing her own accessories..."

-New York Magazine

images – imaxtree