Fashion: The New Face of Lace

faceoflace1

There’s true intrigue when it comes to lace. Delicate and dainty, it both conceals and reveals. While we’re all accustomed to seeing its multitude of personalities in fashion, home goods and accessories, reoccurring ties to privacy and obscured visibility have been a constant theme over the past few seasons, making us wonder if everyone’s watching Eyes Wide Shut all over again.

The editors at Dazed and Confused are continuing to manipulate eyes in sadistically interesting layouts just as designers are racing to reinterpret them into tactile accessories. This Karl Lagerfeld tote is brilliantly inaccessible and proves our point with it’s € 1500.00 price tag.

Uma Thurman’s styling on the May ‘09 NY Times Magazine cover adds a layer of intrigue just as the geometric lace pattern on these Urban Outfitter curtains convey feelings of graphic obscurity. Pulling from past influences, Aperture’s Weegee Spoofs the New Spring Hats spread by Michael Caccaro provides a playful window into the world of advertising and photography in 1957. Fast forward 52 years and Jean Paul Gaultier has created his own interpretation of hooded mystery.

Bringing beauty back to the forefront, this delicate Shu Uemura portrait paired alongside this seductive Dazed spread, reveals the ease with which we can jump mediums and industries, proving sexy or sweet, lace is truly a gatekeeper.

Coverage by: Emily Gup, Kelsey-Lee LeGassick and Shayna Kulik

October 20, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Follow-up: The Spherical Formula

starburst-followup2

Few motifs are as powerful as the starburst. We recently highlighted this symbol’s universal appeal and versatility in relation to logo design and beauty editorial. Today’s theme follows a similar track with other inspirational layouts. This R & Y Augousti mother of pearl serving tray is comprised of natural materials, giving it ethnic appeal. Following a similar path, Kate Miss, a New York based designer, advertises her Etsy shop organizing vibrant necklaces in a playful circular formation. The French footwear company, Repetto incorporates photo effects to emulate a snowflake with their Fall/Winter 08 advertisement. All successful executions inspired by the spherical formula!

By: Shayna Kulik

October 13, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Event: Yarnz Sample Sale

yarnz-scarves

Over the past few months, we’ve grown rather fond of Gilt Groupe. It appears we’re not alone, as they’re expected to rake in more than $500 million in revenue in 2010, 20 times what they reaped in 2008. Not bad for an internet start up born at the heart of the recession. Today marks the start of the Yarnz sample sale and we have to say that we’re completely smitten with the patterns on these amazing cashmere scarves. The prints range from artistic and abstract to graphic and playful.

By: Shayna Kulik

October 12, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Homegoods: A Global Treasure Hunt

man-shops-globe-patterns

Who wouldn’t want to trek the globe in search of culture and innovation? Sounds amazing, right? Meet Keith Johnson, Anthropologie’s top cool hunter and craft curator, otherwise known as their buyer-at-large. From commissioning new works by unknown artists to uncovering dusty treasures, Johnson’s travels supply his company with the insane retail displays, trinkets and textiles we all wish we had in our own homes. Starting yesterday, viewers can live vicariously, as Man Shops Globe just premiered on the Sundance Channel.

October 8, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Crude Glamour

city-grunge1

New York City can be dirty, no doubt about it. Amidst the fashionistas making the sidewalk their runway and store windows elaborately offering their fineries, the harder you look, the more you’ll notice the city’s grit and grime. Emptied storefronts, sidewalk cracks and multicolored oil ponds fill the streets from Fifth Avenue to Chinatown. While dirt can be menacing for some, designers seem to be finding inspiration from these contaminated city corners. This beetle wing necklace from Econe mimics the rainbow palette found on this oil-slicked wall in Lexington. Gucci also taps this grit inspired trend with these combat boots. It appears we have a new kind of grunge here- one that’s dark and offbeat, a little worn-in, and highly ironic.

city grunge 3

The irony of it all is that fashion is a huge contributor to the problem, as noted in Crude, a new documentary that focuses on oil’s impact in the Amazon. Climate consciousness may be the inspiration for iridescent leather flats, such as these from Repetto, but sadly the message is lost when the inspiration is really the wake up call.

Compiled by: Emily Gup

October 6, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Web: Lonny Mag fills Domino's Shoes

lonny-mag-patternpulp

The baton’s been passed, or so it seems, with the premiere issue of Lonny Magazine. Many readers of this site are probably aware that Domino Magazine closed it’s doors at the beginning of the year. While decorating aficionados immediately mourned the death of this inspirational gem, Michelle Adams and Patrick Cline, along with a talented team of creatives, banded together to create a new editorial vision for budget savvy decorators. Not only is the online publication a stunning compilation of work, all of the imagery is linkable- an extremely useful tool for readers and advertisers alike. We see a bright future for this magazine and are thrilled there’s a new player in town.

October 5, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik