Printed item of the week

This one is easy, stylish and affordable! Available at Urban Outfitters and only $39!! It's the perfect piece to dress up a tee and transition into fall... There is just SO many scarves out there, printed, fringed, gathered, wide, skinny. A trend not to be missed!

TGIF everyone!

xoxo

The ueber cool Henrik Vibskov

Henrik Vibskov

Fall/Winter 09

Quinny by Henrik Vibskov

Spring/Summer 09

(possibly on sale at Aloha Rag)

Spring/Summer 09

Spring/Summer 09

Fall/Winter 09

The hippest thing you can own right now is something (anything!) printed by clothing designer, artist and musician Henrik Vibskov www.henrikvibskov.com - no matter if you're boy or girl!

This creative soul studied Fashion Design at Central St. Martins in London and has been active in film, music, and the visual arts for several years. During the past few seasons his fashion shows have been installation like settings and besides his Oslo boutique, he also opened one recently in Copenhagen. Either one, not to be missed during your next shopping trip!

I personally can't wait to get my hands on some pieces of his from another ueber cool place - the multi brand boutique Aloha Rag www.aloharag.com - one of the few places in NYC who carry his clothes.

And for all of you hipster parents out here, now you can stroll your baby in style, because Henrik also collaborated with the company Quinny on the design of a stroller (see above). Check out the website for more www.quinnydesign.com

Can Peter Dundas, Pucci's new artistic Director fill Emilio's shoes?

Peter Dundas first collection for Pucci F/W 09

Matthew Williamson's last collection for Pucci S/S 09

Pucci 1960s

Emilio Pucci at his workshop 1960's

Last September Norwegian-born designer Peter Dundas was appointed new Artistic Director of Pucci replacing the "king of boho" Matthew Williamson.

The house of Emilio Pucci, back in the 50's and 60's, was best known and loved for its prints and lightweight fabrics. Emilio Pucci, the son of a wealthy Italian aristocrat, revolutionized the fashion world by introducing lightweight casual wear in bold prints in the early 1950s. His use of clashing colors was so unique that it made his creations stand out from that of other designers of his time. Soon he was declared the King of Casual Couture with a fan following that was almost unheard of at that time. Celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall and Jacqueline Kennedy were seen in Pucci clothes.
As most of you know today scarves from his early years, along with vintage Hermes scarves, have become highly collectible items.

Knowing about about the history of Emilio Pucci and seeing his early creations makes me wonder and seriously question the direction of Pucci with the appointment of Peter Dundas. Dundas showed his first catwalk collection for Fall/Winter 09. It was somber, non identical (a mixture between Rodarte and DVF) and almost grunge - Nordic, to say the least. Now this might as well be Mr. Dundas' style and were it carrying his name , it might even evolve into something hip, but at this point I am wondering how much dissolution is good for a brand? Why turn a hot, colorful, Italian brand into a cool, grungy Nordic affair? Admittedly, after the 50s, 60s and 70s, the brand never lived up to it's hip reputation again. Even with Matthew Williamson as Artistic Director, it looked more Palm Beach than downtown hip, but in my opinion it did not need a 180 degree switch. It needed someone with the eye of Marc Jacobs or Proenza Schouler to shake it up, twist it and give birth to something everybody wants. I have some ideas myself...;))

Above some looks from Matthew Williamson's last collection for Pucci Spring/Summer 09 and Peter Dundas' Fall/Winter 09 Collection for Pucci.

Francis Bacon inspires Dries Van Noten - art executed in design

I went to see the Francis Bacon exhibit recently and - oh my was I blown away! I knew his work from images mostly, but seeing his work in reality was a unbeatable experience. Every painting slapped me in the face not only with its content but also with its COLOR! I was so inspired putting color palettes in my head....and apparently I was not the only one.

Dries Van Noten, as you know the guru of print and color, for his Fall/Winter 09 woman's wear collection has "taken the shades of Francis Bacon's paintings—shrimp pink, beige, ocher, orange, and mauve—and deployed them in a way that gave life to pieces that might have seemed boring in other hands"- according to http://www.style.com/. And what life he gave them! I could see the whole collection clearly - solids, prints, color combinations, put together in such refinement and in consistency with their inspiration.

Above I put together 4 "boards" to show you how art and design collaborate in the very best way.

...and if you live in NYC - go see the Francis Bacon Centenary Retrospective at the http://www.metmuseum.org/special/se_event.asp?OccurrenceId=%7B3AF19FEC-F29F-4C13-9544-59FCD426201E%7D through August 16, 2009 - no excuses!

Enjoy:)

Alexander McQueen - QUEEN OF PRINT

Resort 2010

Resort 2010

F/W 2009

F/W 2009

S/S 2009

S/S 2009

We all know Alexander McQueen for his creative, crazy yet very focused, cutting edge vamp designs.... AND as of late for his unusual, gorgeous prints that are so breathtaking I can't stop looking at them.
This year's by now well known Spring/Summer collection which included full on looks in wood textured prints and exploded shattered glass patterns definitely created a frenzy in the textile design world..... But McQueen didn't seize to amaze there - he continued with a super innovative fall collection followed by a surprisingly wearable but still edgy resort show. Alexander - since Dries has already taken the King of Print place in my heart, you can be my Queen!

Sweet Fairy Tale - art meets fashion

Remember last year's S/S Prada collection with the fairy tale prints? I just found out who the talent behind the creation of this delicious dreaminess is. It's Taiwanese born artist (1979!) James Jean, currently residing in LA. Through his work he creates a fantasy world reminiscent of one of my favorite movies Pan's Labyrinth. Leprechauns, fairies, beautiful aliens, transforming figures - everything is skillfully sketched out with such easiness it seems. Absolutely stunning! Check out his website http://www.jamesjean.com/.
Prada's choice of fantasy illustration and print was in my humble opinion a spark of genius. Her collection and James Jean's drawings launched a series of interpretations and knock offs in the fashion world to be seen to this day.
BTW - notice how popular collaborations of designers with artists are becoming? Stay tuned for more!

Enjoy and start dreaming..............................................

Europe trip - zoom on Dries

So you guys - I am finally getting a chance to catch my breath and report about my trip to Europe.  First print stop was one of my faves - Dries Van Noten in Antwerp. The building, the store, the window displays and of course the prints - absolutely to die for! Needless to say, I wanted EVERYTHING!!

Stay tuned for more inspiring news from Antwerp, like printed paper dresses....

xoxo