Hot Designer

* Ha ha ha, no, this is not another diatribe….  although, I got a lot of e-mail responses to my little rant from a few days ago . . . I know it’s not my style to share that much about my personal life, but based on your letters, I’m glad I did! Anyway, speaking of my personal life, the countdown to the Vineyard has begun.  I’ve actually never done a 4th there before, so it should be interesting. We rented a place for the weekend and I’m sure I’ll have some  stories when all is said and done. I’ll definitely share if they are worth sharing.

Today’s designer is USE unused… and I really do feel them! USE unsued is one of the most successful young fashion design teams in Hungary.  The founders of the brand are Eszter Fuzes, Attila Godena-Juhasz and Andras Toth.  All three designers graduated from the MOME (University of Art and Design Budapest) in 2004 with a Masters Degree in Womenswear Design and since then they have run USE unused, their fabulous women’s wear line.

The USE unused philosophy rises from the motivation, attitude and mentality of the three designers, which can be clearly seen in their collections.  The designers often go back to the forms and philosophies created by the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s and try to blend them with modern silhouettes.  This philosophy of respecting tradition while also considering modern style ensures that the collections are extravagant, yet elegant at the same time. Furthermore, each time they create something new, they preserve their own continual and unique style and mentality.

The USE unused mission & vision is to create a worldwide-known Hungarian fashion label that is successful and still carries the Hungarian flavor rather than a mass-produced product. The USE team are also looking to add new lines such as menswear, leather accessories (bags and shoes) and eyewear. Their mission is to have an effect on the Hungarian clothing culture and to guide and help other local young, talented designers along the way.You can buy USE unsued at Global Hot Shops (If I hadn’t blown so much on that Badgley Mischka bathing suit I would totally buy the hand braided stalk top they have there… I still might!)

P.S.

It really needs to stop raining. I am so sick of this drabbery (I know drabbery isn’t a word, but that’s the only way I can describe this weather!) A while back I wrote about Living Proof’s no frizz… I know it gets mixed reviews, but I have to say, I am still in love with this stuff… just an FYI if this weather has given you a case of the frizzies…

P.P.S.

I’ve had that stupid car commercial song stuck in my head for days. You know what one I’m talking about, right? I love it. I hate that I love it, but I love it…  anyway it’s by Shiny Toy Guns and is begrudgingly my song of the day!
I would change my sidebar picture in “listening to” section to reflect this, but  Anthony Santos is just too darn cute to take down!

My mother has several “famous expressions,” but one that she brings up often is, “when people show you who they are, believe them.” I think sometimes that’s easier listened-to than done. Especially for someone like me who tends to see things through rose colored glasses. Last night I took a deep breath and took them off. To say I was disappointed in what I saw would be the understatement of the century… but certainly the processes was helpful and necessary. It’s not just about how people treat you, it’s about how they treat other people… who they  hold themselves out to be vs. who they really are. After making some difficult observations I took a little walk in the rain and figured the rest of my night was going to be devoted to coming to terms with this disappointment.

One good thing about removing rose colored glasses and seeing people for who they really are is, some people are actually more beautiful without them… (quelle suprise!) Some people shine the best when illuminated by the full spectrum… imperfections highlighted and all. So with my rose colored glasses still off, I was lucky enough to encounter someone who has had the benefit of them throughout our entire friendship.

In the sharp light of reality, his flaws were brought into full light (don’t get me wrong, mine were too…he did a good job of helping me see myself sans-glasses!) But the crazy, amazing part of it was, all of his beauty was illuminated by that which had been muted before. He is perfectly imperfect. It was one of the most fortunate encounters I could have had… because it sparked a part of me that has been uninspired for some time. On a cold, drizzly, June night, I was filled with a pure, bright, uncensored kind of beauty.

I think that people come into your life when they are supposed to. I think that we come to realizations when we are supposed to, as long as we are open to them. I can’t really change who I am… I think that even if I attempt hide my glasses, or attempt to suppress my idealistic view of people and the world, I wouldn’t be true to myself. But I have learned to open my eyes a little bit wider. To take the glasses off from time to time… And to be overwhelmingly happy (for better or worse) when people show me who they are.

Right. You didn’t come here for my random observations… you came for fashion, so here you go:

Patricia Ayres is the independent Fashion Designer and Artist behind Art Lab. Currently based in NYC, her work has been shown and sold around the world. Her clothes tend to be fun, conceptual, one-of-a-kind pieces. Her accessories…small bags and cases…are all handmade and one of a kind and Patricia does all her own printmaking on those pieces…. tres impressive! Her inspiration comes from dreams, memories, the urban landscape, and film… a fun “TGIF” designer!

You can shop her work on Etsy!

* Points for working it into a post title?

Yesterday was my day of interesting encounters… there was coffee by the waterfront, a figurative trip over the Tobin, heart wrenching eye contact in my favorite District and of course there’s that whole awkward seeing my future thing… although last night I heard it instead of seeing it… anyway, combine all of those experiences with the fact I was recovering from a sunshine-hangover (seriously, never, ever fall asleep on your roof deck in the midday sun… ) and my head was spinning by the end of the day!

Today should be pretty chill and tomorrow I’m looking forward to the Lucky Toes launch event in Cambridge (I’ll take pictures or whatever and post them for you… if you haven’t stopped by LuckyToes definitely check them out!) …

Okay, enough about moi… let’s talk about today’s designer, Karen Karam.  I love her fun, flirty designs, and I’m loving the knee socks over heels thing. I rocked it a couple times last winter and thought it was really fun. I imagine we’ll be seeing a lot of that and a lot of over-the-knee boots this fall… Anyway more about Karen (Bio from Not Just a Label)

Karen was born in the same year as the Smurfs first featured on television, when every woman wanted a pair of wonder woman boots, and when the UK’s first jogging craze swept the country. Yes, this was 1978!
After finishing her psychology degree Karen went to London to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a fashion designer. Central Saint Martins was the first step towards achieving her dream. She graduated in 2006 and presented her collection in the final year press show in which she received numerous publications.
During her placement year Karen decided to go into a mini adventure where she would move from one fashion house to the other in order to have a fully rounded training. She started at Alexander McQueen in London and then moved to Paris to work at Chloe and ended her year at John Galliano. “It’s been probably one of the best years of my life” says Karen “to be surrounded by so much talent and creativity was overwhelming at times. I felt like I was Alice in wonderland.” Much of her work in all 3 fashion houses was used for the ready to wear and catwalk collections.
During her last year at school, Karen won the Mulberry bag award competition and was a finalist at the ITS 5 young talent competition in Trieste and the YKK zip award. She was also a finalist at the Mango young designer competition.
In 2006 Karen’s accessories, that were part of her final year collection, were sold at Colette in Paris.
S/S09 was the debut collection for Karen. Her collection got instant recognition from both buyers and press and saw some gorgeous celebrities wearing her creations.
Karen’s girly, quirky look has set her as one of the new young designers to watch. “Well this is all just the beginning,” says Karen “there will be much more to come and I can’t wait to see how the wind will blow and where it will take me!”

I think that’s all…. oh yeah, don’t forget to check out Aventura’s new album which was released today!

Hola! I won’t bore you with my life this morning… unless of course you have a few hours to devote to my frustrations (that’s what Perez’s are for!).

Instead, I will skip straight to the fashion. Today’s label comes from LA-based fashion designer Freddie Rojas. He spent his entire childhood growing up in the fashion industry absorbing everything he could. His provocative, sexy and detailed designs are the product of years of working and learning everything he could from his family’s business. Freddie Rojas’s design philosophy is fresh and creative. I really love his designs and his use of pockets. For whatever reason I’m a big pocket person and his designs always have fun little hidden pockets in them… anyway, Buy his designs @ 80’s Purple. Also be sure to check out the beautiful Marisa Lauren and her new single (she’s the top model).

I have a friend who has slow-game… he describes it as the kind of game that sneaks up on you, slowly…. so that before you realize what’s happening, you’re madly in love with him. I am starting to think that Boston has slow-game… I refuse to admit that I love this city… but I have to say it’s growing on me. I guess that’s because I’m lucky enough to know some pretty amazing people…  ok, before I get too mushy, on to the fashion:

Today’s designer is Illionaire.
I absolutely love these designs… last seasons’ Spring Summer collection is amazing!  I must say I’m somewhat resisting the W 09 collection’s obsession with the 80s… I know, I know, the resurgence was inevitable… but I’m gonna withhold my adoration for the trend as long as I can. It’s gonna take a lot for me to re-succumb to the 80s!

Ok. That’s all for now.

A long time ago I was reading a book by my favorite author. At that point, it was the last work of his that I had not read, including all of his short stories and magazine articles. There was no particular reason why I saved that book for last, it just kind of worked out that way. Like I have said in the past, I really do believe that books, people, songs and situations find you when they need to. Anyway, when I was about 1/3 into the book, reading the book, when something rather disastrous happened. There’s no way around the disastrous nature of the event, however in retrospect, that event is probably the single greatest thing that motivated me to where I am today . . . giving further credence to the fact that things really do happen for a reason. Even horrible events, even the wildly unexpected or inconvenient, can give way to something wonderful… you just have to patient and cognizant of the connections. That being said, as I was looking for another book on my bookshelf the other day, the unfinished novel fell from the top, almost literally onto my head. I have never finished the book because it reminds me of that rather difficult time . . . but figured, in light of a lot things, maybe it’s time to pick it up again and give it a try. Maybe it will help shed light on this funny little joke Karma has been playing on me over the past few months!

Ok, enough about that stuff. Just needed to vent. Today’s designer is Zoe Chen and I love love love her stuff.  She is a graphic designer and illustrator. She draws stories for kids and  transfers those illustrations into awesome t-shirts and dresses.  Be sure to check out the stories under her designs… how much do you LOVE her grey goose dress!?

TGIF!! I am committed to getting a tan this weekend :).

Today’s designer is JAlvo, by Jackie Alvo.

A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, Jackie’s design aesthetic is inspired by everything she sees, hears, and reads. She translates her life experience into hip, modern, clean designs that work with the fabric’s natural properties. She has been sewing since she was a child, (creating outfits for her Barbies!) and has launched her Brooklyn (I miss you BK!!) company in an effort to live out her dream. I was drawn to Jackie’s designs because I LOVE her twiggy-white sporty mini-dress/ tunic (top picture). This little jersey tunic dress is perfect with leggings jeans or a skin tight miniskirt. From cute pockets to the 60’s inspired contrast seaming and boyish shape this little dress is absolutely adorable!
Song of the day: Major Lazer f. Lexx and Santigold, “Hold the Line (Album Edit)” Thanks Claudio!

I have a list of designers to write about… however I also have a list of things I have to accomplish this morning.
Isn’t that always the way? To hold you over, here is one of my favorite new songs, Playboy Tre featuring B.o.B… We Are The Robots.

You can download the song from okayplayer!