Streetwear

I could have sworn that I’ve written about Tina Kalivas before… I was realy into her Polyrhythms, 2009 collection and vividly remember posting about it, but alas, I couldn’t find it anywhere on the site! Anyway, here is Kalivas’ Totem 2010 collection. I love the way she implements color and shape into all of her collections. Check out more from the designer here, here, and here.

Side note: I have a bunch of stuff coming up this summer and I’m in desperate need of a few good dresses. Specifically, I’m looking for one spectacular wedding-guest worthy dress. You know, something fun, playful, and sexy without being too obnoxious… but maybe just a little tiny bit daring. Any suggestions?

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Gearing up for a crazy August….the next few weekends have me going everywhere from NYC to the CT shore and beyond. I have a favorite journal that I have been neglecting all summer . . . I really should be writing some of this stuff down . . .

Anyway, speaking of journals, it was love at first sight when I saw these awesome necklaces from The Black Spot Books on Etsy, by way of Kingdom of Style. . .

Designer Margaux Kent creates her pieces from, “old things, treasures found and recovered from misfortune and neglect, relics of the unusual, the confused and the macabre, cut and pulled and bound into wearable curiosities and inscribable keepsakes.” Like many great deisgners and artists that I know, she started making things for herself and has since branched out and created her shop on Etsy. With the exception of the cast pieces, each piece that she makes is one of a kind.
All of her jewelery is handcrafted, using images from old catalogs, medical texts, field guides, reference books and various other goodies.

Her gorgeous books are made using archival insides and vintage outsides. Inside you’ll find line-free strathmore drawing paper - thick, hand-torn, acid-free pages that work perfectly with ink, pens both thick and superfine, pencil, charcoal, and myriad other mediums. The books’ covers are made using hand-picked scraps and worn leather, cut to fit the appropriate size. The leather she uses has been bartered from farms in Ecuador, ripped from old chairs in Holland, taken from boots and shoes and saddles, and found in abandoned houses across the United States. She hand-stitches each unlined page to the next, clumping them into 3-sheet signatures and gluing the sewn book to its soft leather cover. The images, like those in the jewelery, are taken from old books, embedded in the cover and sealed with varnish. Every book is made with different materials, so no book will ever have a duplicate. She also does custom orders!
Be sure to check out Margaux’s interview on Tique!

Side Notes:

You know I am primarily into independent designers . . . obviously I have my mainstream obsessions: Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, Badgley Mischka, and, my personal favorite Rachel Roy. I mean…her stuff is just perfect! I am so excited about her Rachel Roy for Macy’s Collection! For a preview check out Nitro:licious! There is also a nice write up about the collection and the designer in this month’s Elle (you can read it online)!

Free Music Download the day, from our favorite source for new music, Pocket Full of Paper: K-Salaam & Beatnick - “Where The Streets Have No Name”
From the site:

We world premiered our latest project ”Where The Streets Have No Name” this weekend on imeem.com, our music player got over 260,000 views in just 2 days. Featuring our production as the backdrop for street anthems from the likes of: Lil Wayne, Bun B, Young Buck, Talib Kweli, K’naan, & much more; the project is already being heralded as a classic. Now we are making the entire album available for free download. I would suggest that you download it, and then listen to it all the way through.

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Every time I think I have things figured out, things get more complicated. Not in a bad way, in an intriguing sort of way . . . but complicated is complicated and I am definitely a fan of simplicity (contrary to what my current circumstances may suggest)!

Good thing fashion is simple! Today’s designer is MercyHouse, a new label from London that takes a playful approach to the typical tee. MercyHouse believes in beauty, equality and innovation. They are a season-less women’s t-shirt label that incorporates the understanding of women’s elegance and style through a unique backdrop of luxury fabrics, yarns, leathers, clays, precious metals, stones and beading. These components are used for stunning and exclusive handmade embellishments appliquéd onto beautifully cut and sewn 100% cotton and bamboo t-shirts. MercyHouse chose T-shirts because they are universal, not bound by gender, race, religion or even weather! MH aims to take this age-old clothing item that is usually dominated by graphics and revamp it into a funky, vibrant and fresh closet must have. I love the top tee… so cute!

P.S. For whatever reason I have had Aerosmith’s “Crazy” stuck in my head all morning. I’m pretty sure the guy in the video who steals her purse is Sawyer from Lost :)!

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Finally the sun is out! I was literally one-click away from heading out to FLA this weekend!
Anyway, one of my favorite things about spring is adding to my ever growing collection of t-shirts. To that end, I have been loving the designs coming out of Madrid-based  OZZ Fashion.

OZZ is truly a multicultural design company. They are based in Madrid, and their design team is led by top talent originated in Gothenburg, St.Petersburg and Tel Aviv. The OZZ brand is about inspiration and self-expression, accordingly, every item is infused with the fast pulse of urban life. OZZ has have developed a young brand that combines the aesthetic experience with that of total comfort… allowing everyday art to enter your life. OZZ keeps up with the tempo and capriciousness of the city and provides a fitting T-shirt for every occasion. Among OZZ’s varied designs you’re sure to find a tee that matches your life-style!

The OZZ team consists of young talented artists and designers who get their inspiration from looking at the people around them. Their collections strive to inspire and encourage individuality. They use exclusive illustrations and the latest techniques in order to create the kind of fashion line you won’t find anywhere else.

I really like the “summer girl” tee (top, orange).

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

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It’s never good when you wake up in the morning to a horoscope that claims you will spend the day, “picking up the pieces of your shattered calendar.” It’s even worse, when as you read this prediction, you find yourself sitting there trying to figure out how that is different from any other day…

Calendars,  appointments, meetings, time, blackberries… it’s enough to make your head spin. That’s why I love Flud Watches and their playful take on that thing that mocks me throughout my day (time).

Flud Watches was established in 2007 by a few good men who loved the streetwear scene and good business. In an effort to bring the watch back to its rightful place as one of the ultimate accessories, the concept for Flud was born. Their goal is to create unique, fresh watches for the casual and streetwear scene without the pretentiousness or price tag. Fresh style, nice price, its a simple formula.

Love it!

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21 degrees and good morning! BRRR!!! I have been walking around my apartment trying to think of something cozy enough to tempt me outside… the short answer is nothing… then I remembered Abigail Adams‘ infamous Peahoodies. Taking the best from both (the cool classic shape of a pea coat and the warm cozy comfort of your favorite hoodie) these great designs will make you smile while keeping you warm. Abigail Ingram and Sarah Adams are the designers behind this fun brand and you can buy Peahoodies at their etsy shop and at buyolympia.

Stay warm!

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For once, I am not going to go on some random tangent about my life and I’m going to go straight to the fashion (don’t get used to it, I’m just happen to be in a state of internal analysis at this point… rest assured,  you will get some long convoluted post with the final conclusions!). Ok seriously, on to today’s designers:

For starters, I’m not fan of the word “Negro” for what I hope are obvious reasons, however designers Sebastian and Demetrius have done their part to create a strong political statement with thier line of stylish, thought provoking t-shirts.

“A dangerousNegro is a Danger to America’s racial paradigm, a Danger to low expectations, a Danger to degenerate black mentalities, and is Dangerously contagious to the miseducated individual. Are you a dangerousNegro or soon to be endangered Negro?” Dead Prez much? (Actually you can check out DP’s newest single on their blog, now that I think about it!)

dangerousNEGRO’s  mission is to help promote the Black Empowerment Movement through fashion and entertainment. DN hopes that by serving as a visual representation of the Black Empowerment Movement, the brand can help to inspire action and combat the apathy that has taken over many aspects of the Black community.

I loooove the goal digger t-shirt… if only switching mentalities was as easy as switching your t-shirt!! Anyway, they’re cool, so check them out.

check out their blog  or  become a fan on facebook

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