Spotlight on Barlow: a new label from the left coast

Photo from the Barlow Spring 2010 LOOKBOOK
If you know me, you know I identify as a New Yorker with a certain sensibility and think L.A. fashion is a bit oxymoronic. Which is why I also love when I'm proved wrong. Designer Raquel Allegra opened me up to LA style last year, and this year I've discovered Barlow a new collection by Molly Girard Coonan. It's tough, sexy and playful all at once. Some of it reminds me of early Daryl K (which is a good thing in my book) and it all feels imminently wearable on either coast...or somewhere in between! I asked Molly about her new collection and her thoughts on LA vs NYC...continue reading in Musings

Mad props to The Uniform Project

ACCESSORY DETAILS: Batwing cloak by Mundi, one of the designers representing Iceland in a competition of sustainable design as part of the Fashion Summit during COP15. Twenty designers from the Nordic countries competed on a sustainable runway show organized by NICE in association with C.L.A.S.S. Mundi cloak worn with hand-knit corsage as hat donated by Dennice Mankarious, and vintage boots stolen from Scary :-)

Recently I was at an opening and happened to take a photo of this girl (which you can see in an earlier blog post) and when I complimented her on her ensemble I was told the dress she was wearing was part of The Uniform Project and that she was wearing the same dress every day for a year! (well technically it's 7 identical dresses -because one would get a bit funky!) My first thoughts were "how is this possible?" and "how much money she must save". But this is not just a genius experiment in accessorizing but a brilliant fundraiser for schoolchildren in India. And if you donate this month E-bay will match your donations. So CLICK HERE to go to Musings and learn more about The Uniform Project, Sheena Matheiken who is wearing the dress and Eliza Starbuck who designed it as well as more ways that Sheena accessorized her dress.


ACCESSORY DETAILS:Bubble scarf and striped military pants donated by Esther Chung. See more of her creations at tornangel012.etsy.com. Vintage granny boots from Flute, Brooklyn.

Secrets of a Stylist

Ever wonder how new talent gets discovered? How that amazing jacket in the magazine by the designer you never heard of (until now) found its' way into the photo? Well Ms. Beagy Zielinski might have had something to do with it. A well known stylist for major fashion publications, Beagy started a unique atelier that discovers new haute couture designers and rents their collections out to stylists. I was lucky enough to get a peek into her studio, which is appropriately named L'Armoire du Styliste. And you can read about it in Musings.