i'm sorry what were you saying part III

Oh, Jonny. It's been a while. I see you're still as handsome as ever.

Your fans are lucky that eye candy has no calories or we would all be obese from looking at your Jon K tumblr blog.

photo credit: www.jonkortajarena.tumblr.com

inspiration: missoni

We are loving the combination of pattern and texture from the Missoni runway. We are incorporating several colorful elements in the creation of our Summer 2011 jewelry collection - coral, turquoise, wood accents and metal are some of the materials we're weaving in.

image- 180grams.com

the latest links: jewelry

emerald, the birthstone for May

These links are worth a click:

Not your typical birthstone jewelry

A young jewelry queen reigns in Queens, NYC

Jewelry designer Philip Crangi and family strive to create a dynasty of design

Bankruptcy for offshoot of Portland, OR institution Carl Greve Jewelers moves ahead



image credit: www.pkbennett.com

nice pair(s): up on oak

Dear Oak,

I desire much of what you have on the website. And since you and I believe in one key concept (black has no season, it is excellent year round) I see lots of shoes I want. However, I wish you had more in my size (41/42).

Until then, I will merely dream.

Love,

Katy

p.s. I especially want these little cuties below

finsk wood wedge at www.oaknyc.com

united nude wedge at www.oaknyc.com

all photos - oak

on the job: jasin weiner

Jasin Weiner is an apparel designer and recent graduate of the Art Institute in Portland, Oregon.

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Jasin worked in theater and costume design before moving to the Northwest. He's also helped at-risk teens who, "...were just like you and me, only they got caught", according to the often humorous Jasin.

Jasin's senior collection, named Pale Rider, took on an apocalyptic desert theme; part fantasy and part reality. His costume designer background is obvious his styling choice, but one can also pluck out simple pieces that would make sense in any woman's closet.

Pale Rider's abstract-armor meets mix-and-match sensibility contains several key details. Contrasting elements include pin tucked cheesecloth and organza offset by buffalo nickel buttons and leather.

from concept...

...to reality:

Catch Pale Rider on the runway during the

Portland Art Institute's 12th Annual Fashion Show

on June 5th, 2010.

football and fashion

Despite the two worlds’ apparent divide, consideration reveals numerous points of fusion, and not only Gisele and Tom Brady.

CHAINS - Football: checking for a first down, Fashion: Roger Vivier chain bag

Rather, the two disciplines share an impressive lexicon of terms.

The sack? In one world, a hit on the quarterback; in the other, a waistless dress. Spiral names the prettiest of passes or a lovely swirled frock. Double coverage can be two defenders on a wide receiver or layered cardigans. Blocking: the job of the endearing giant in "The Blind Side" or how you shape a sweater.

Football has its helmets (granted, not an accessory, but an essential in minimizing head injuries), while fashion boasts Pierre Cardin’s Space-Age headgear as well as Lang and Newton, give or take a vowel. As for a redshirt, it’s a term for a college player who sits out one year so he can stay five, or something Dries Van Noten showed in a spicy cinnamon.

The two worlds share snaps, spikes, clips and chains. Yet not all is S&M; a down is a step in the right direction or a cozy coat; a pocket, the domain of a drop-back passer or, well, a pocket; the pigskin, a ball or a bag.

Then there’s the secondary. The Colts have Antoine Bethea, and Donna Karan, DKNY. Tight end? A guy with good hands or a model’s posterior. While in football a team can’t get far without an offensive line, in fashion, too offensive a line spells disaster.

Yet the last word — make that two — in this wondrous fashion-football crossover? shoulder pads.

-excerpt by Bridget Foley for Women's Wear Daily

photo credit: WWD

puss in boots

I am dying to know if the hat, or шляпа, in this photo is vintage or by Chanel. I can't really tell from the credits - what a great shot.

Vogue Russia Feb 2010
Shot: Willy Vandeperre
Styling: Oliver Rizzo
Model: Miranda Kerr
Scans: kito09 for Fashion Copious

vogue russia

I'm still in love with the looks from a spread that appeared in the November 2009 issue of Vogue Russia. I would wear the Armani Prive jumpsuit in a heartbeat. And, if I had the guts anymore... the hair!

I just noticed all three photos have a strong V-shape at the neck - I swear that wasn't on purpose...

Model: Rayna Mordanova
Agency: Supreme Management
Photographer: Tom Munro
Styled by: Simon Robins

images courtesy of www.thefashionspot.com

oh, the possibilities!

Platforms at Givenchy

After years selling denim from all the big players - I'm quite frankly, bored with jeans.

By the end of my tenure as a denim specialist at a boutique the thought of jeans made me tired. Even I couldn't keep up with all the trends, much less care, if a new-new-new hot brand came out.

Layered Necklaces at Lanvin

Perhaps this is why I've rediscovered my love for shoes, bags, and jewelry. Bags can be vibrant, jewelry can be sparkly without being trashy (remember embellished jeans?), and shoes can be just plain magical.

Jeans - no matter what Brand X may tell you on a hangtag - are just not as fun. They are foundation pieces. Without them you'd be wearing a skirt, pants, or leggings. Boooo-rinng. Now where's the fun in that?

Futuristic/Athletic Wedges at Proenza Schouler

I was digging around Trendzine: Fashion Information (they predict what the trends of the future will be). I especially liked their trend analysis from Paris Fashion Week for Spring 2010:

ATHLETIC - a luxury meld of motocross, scuba and lounge...
ELEMENTS - patterns dip into watery, airy or earthy themes...
BONDAGE - from tough black leather to khaki fatigues...
CLERICAL - sculptural tailoring, rigid stripes and minimal colour...
FREEFORM - the artistry of effective drape and ingenious pleating...
REVEALED - revealing lingerie and ‘40s Film Noir frou frou...
SKINTONE - sheer skin-revealing-mesh/lace and a fleshy palette...
ROUGHS - surfaces are rippled, ruched, destroyed or textured...

Killer Shades at Stella McCartney

Oh, the possibilities!

Photos courtesy of style dot com

kate the great

I'm not sure whether the lower half of this outfit by Katie Gallagher classifies as a pair of pants or a pair of tights. You be the judge.

photo from refinery 29

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/

meet the locals

@ urban weeds

on the job: davora of prairie underground

Davora Lindner and Camilla Eckersley are some of the smartest and most successful women I know in the industry. Success is measured in many ways, but it all adds up for the designers of Seattle-based Prairie Underground.

Read on for my interview with Davora...

Piles of cords for Prairie Underground's signature hoodies

KK: How did you and Camilla meet and why did you start a line together? Why the name "Prairie Underground"?

DL: Camilla and I met when we were kids at a park in Nebraska, but we didn't become friends until High School. We were a part of a group of like-minded teens in the mid west who were interested in independent music, art, politics and avant-garde fashion.

We started the line because Camilla was relocating from San Francisco and she needed a job! She approached me about moving to Seattle and doing a collection with her.

Naming the line was impossible - seriously we had pages of lists. I practiced writing different names with a calligraphy pen in a journal and Camilla came with piles of books that were important to her and of course every possible combination of our personal names was explored.

We ended up with Prairie Underground because the line was an extension of a friendship and community in the midwest. there are so many memories that we share and our cultural references intersect in really easy ways, there is a very healthy dose of our past in everything we do that is filtered through the present.

Your Orbit shown with Tuxedo Legging - Prairie Underground

KK: You are the designers of the somewhat iconic Prairie Hoodie and the Cloak Hoodie. I know women who own four or five! What was the original concept?

DL: The Prairie Hoodie was always a sort of robe or duster jacket. It was a garment that Camilla wanted personally, and it was our response to all of the hoodies we saw on a trip to LA. The first production ended up fitting rather small, so stores perceived them as dresses. It was designed to fit the body whereas traditional hoodies have a boxy volume.

The Cloak Hoodie evolved out of hood Camilla was working on for a vest. The vest was never finished but the hood inspired a series of drawings that looked like Angel caricatures and with this hyper feminine triangular skirt and puffed shoulders. It's a Victorian silhouette that both Camilla and I are drawn to that also shows up in the forties and the eighties and continues to inspire us.

Triple Layer Hoodie - Prairie Underground

KK: Can you describe your design process? What pieces are you excited about?

DL: We aren't thematic designers and we don't work from mood boards. We like them, it just isn't our method. Our design process is more of a dialogue. Sometimes themes emerge but this is always after the fact. We're more inspired by previous collections and we build on styles we have offered previously. We haven't ever consciously reinvented the collection for a new season though it has appeared that way at times. Some of our favorite styles from upcoming collections are the Kite Top, Triple Layer Hoodie and Your Orbit.

Phillip Guston

KK: As the line has grown, I've noticed an emphasis on organic and natural fabrics in the line. Can you tell me about that?

DL: We have always worked with sustainable textiles or textiles that are produced in a way that does less harm to the environment. When we first started selling the line no one cared about organic or sustainable fabrications, but they responded to our collection. At the beginning we made the decision to establish a business that was in sync with our personal beliefs.

In the last couple of years clothing made in this way has become more mainstream and as a result we are able to offer more styles in sustainable fabrications. The majority of line is organic cotton. We continue to work with a variety of hemp blends as well as recycled poly, but we also produce a few styles made with conventional cotton lycra. We have always wanted the line to be financially accessible for a contemporary collection, and this has meant offering some conventional styles.

Laura Ingalls Wilder

KK: Prairie Underground appeals to a wide range of sizes and ages. Is this intentional?

DL: We've never intentionally limited our customer to a particular age or size, it always been more about a shared lifestyle or point of view. Beginning with Spring 2010 the entire collection will be available in XL which is something we're excited about.


KK: What kind of music do you listen to? Who are your favorite artists?

DL: Recently we have been listening to Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter, Bill Callahan, Devendra Banhart, The XX, Jack Penate... We're big 90.3 KEXP fans. Our favorite artists include Phillip Guston, Alice Neel and Samuel Delaney.

- - - - - - - - -

P R A I R I E U N D E R G R O U N D

is available at these and other fine boutiques:

Pin Me Apparel Portland, Oregon - 503.281.1572

Parts + Labour Hood River, Oregon - 541.387.2787
http://www.tobi.com/

Have something to say? Please comment.

mastering it

While we're busy reading about Jennifer Aniston and the new line of jeans from the GAP (double yawn) in this month's US Elle, Bristish readers are feasting their eyes on Master Pieces, a spread inspired by the Old Masters from Vermeer to Velazquez.

The whole stunning thing was shot by photographer Matthias Vriens, and they somehow neglected to share the entire story with their readers here in the States. Playing favorites, are we, Elle?

For more of the shoot, head over to Fashion Copious. You won't regret it.

photos www.elleuk.com

boy oh boy

Piles of menswear-inspired oxfords and lace-up shoes are flooding stores this Fall. There are plenty of heel heights to choose from, and the fabric options are endless. The question then becomes, "What do I wear these shoes with?".

Personally, I love a pair of heeled-oxfords with a white shirt, pencil skirt, and layers of pearl and chain necklaces. For a casually elegant vibe, I'd pair the spectator flats with a cardigan and rolled-up boyfriend jeans.

Christian Louboutin - Estoteri

Lanvin - Oxford Pump

B0ttega Veneta - Spectator Ballet Flat

All images from http://www.barneys.com/