Parsons Produces Another Great Pair

The work of Cushnie et Ochs is not what I would really wear. However with that said, their designs are extremely inventive, creative and not what many of us have seen before. Like dynamic duo, Proenza Schouler, Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs of Cushnie et Ochs graduated from Parsons with the Designer of the Year Award and immediately jumped into the scene with their Spring '09 collection. The very edgy and seductive line has been worn by celebrities like "Gossip Girl" leading lady Leighton Meester. What makes Cushnie et Ochs completely unique is the way their clothes are designed. Each piece is tailored to accentuate the female body in a beautiful and flirtatious way and bring out their inner confidence. As the designers told Vogue's Esther Adams, "It's a reflection of the duality women face daily: the librarian and the vixen."  

The Spring '10 collection follows this concept while also drawing inspiration from German artist Peter Zimmerman. The silhouettes and colors of the dresses featured here 

deeply reflect the style of Zimmerman's paintings. Take the painting to the right, titled G.E.M. The way the colors compliment each other in his works can also be seen in the way the differing elements of Cushnie et Ochs' pieces, in not just the colors but the textures as well. For Zimmerman, the concept is to mix together colors that can stand out to the naked eye out without creating a harsh effect. When looking at the pale blue dress to the far left, one wouldn't imagine cutting it up and replacing the missing fabric with that darker texture. However it is completely innovative and does not carry a harsh effect at all.

Cushnie et Ochs carries an originality that is daring and has produced some of the most artistic work I have seen in Vogue in a while. It will be very interesting to see how far this line expands and what the come up with next.

xoxo Miss Honeybun

Original article: "New Guard" by Esther Adams. June Vogue 2010, pg. 90
other links: http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2008/09/cushnie_et_ochs_isnt_a_fan_of.html;
http://www.sundancechannel.com/fullfrontalfashion/blog/2009/12/market-appointment-cushnie-%20et-ochs-spring-2010/
photo credits: Stewart Shining (Vogue), Peter Zimmerman

Simple Sophistication

The first time I looked at Aimee Cho's line, Gryphon, and scanned through the spring '10 RTW pieces, I completely fell in love. Not including my a fore mentioned guilty pleasure of AE Outfitters, my style is very stereotypical Northeastern and lets just put it this way: If my love for fashion was an appetite, Gryphon would be that one restaurant I can never get enough of. Cho, a former fashion writer for Vogue, based the entire line on one single piece of clothing - the trench coat. 

"A reinterpretation of the trench is the foundation upon which Gryphon was built.The trench gained prominence in the visual language of popular culture - evolving from its initial purpose as a soldier's n   protective cloak to become the uniform of film noir anti-heroes and ultimately, a staple of a man or woman's modern wardrobe. We took the iconic coat and played with fit and form, but always with an eye to practicality." (concept from the line's bio) 

It may not seem like much of an idea to start with, but through her creative work she has successfully designed a line that is, in my opinion, simple yet sophisticated - exactly like a trench coat. The two images below are my favorites from the Spring 2010 collection and are featured on the website.

I'm honestly not even sure where I should start with what I love about this collection. If I truly have to decide....the attention to detail would be my overall favorite aspect. Gryphon's pieces really pop out and grab one's attention without being over-zealous or annoying by adding details like sequins, a touch of glitter, quirky buttons, or jewels here or there. Cho's ability to capture just the perfect amount of these things make them a great addition to your wardrobe. Which transitions to my second reason. A piece of clothing has to be able to find its place among the others in your closest. Even if it stands out it still needs to fit with something and with Gryphon there is something for almost everybody. Finally my favorite part of this collection is its versatility. Take those blue hot pants for example. During the day they'd be great with probably just a plain cotton t-shirt and tons of accessories, but at night, pair them with some pumps and maybe black tights, like the pair Cho wears in this picture,  and one of her sequin tops or detailed jackets shown in the collection on the website and those hot pants become part of a great look for a night out. Once a piece has caught your eye and it can fit into your closet without any fuss, it has to be something you can pull out and wear day or night, rain or shine*. Yes, versatility is key. Cho claims Gryphon was founded around the idea of the trench coat, but beneath that I would like to believe that like all good collections it was founded on versatility.

xoxo Miss Honeybun

original article: "New Guard" by Esther Adams. June Vogue 2010, pg. 90
http://www.gryphon-ny.com
other link: http://www.marieclaire.com/fashion/trends/articles/find-your-signature-style-2
photo credits: Stewart Shining (Vogue). Perry Hagopian (Marie Claire)

*p.s. - to find a little something extra that's great about Gryphon, check out their rain or shine policy

Super Woman

She's graced the cover of US Vogue twice as well as international editions and has been in the campaigns of Dolce & Gabanna, Louis Vuitton, and Tommy Hilfiger. Two kids and two years later, supermodel Liya Kebede has been able to bring jobs to her people in Ethiopia through her successful clothing line, Lemlem. Lemlem, which means "bloom", started off as a line for kids and has now branched into women's clothing as well. The pieces are inspired by the culture of Ethiopia and are rich in ethnic patterns and earthy tones. Through traditional form, the cotton for the designs are spun by the women and woven by the men, making each piece original and unique. "This is my little way of trying to support their creative talent, by bringing them to the Western market where they can showcase their talent. It’s also so the Western market can experience something beautiful from a different world. So it sort of helps both worlds," Kebede told Tammy La Gorce of Babble.com To experience this beauty from a different part of the world is very refreshing. There is something incredibly intriguing about wearing something made by not just human hands, but by the hands of someone who can appreciate the beauty they are putting into their work; someone who takes pride in their work. My Favorite piece from her collection is the tunic she's wearing in the photo to the right. It's simple enough to throw on with some summer sandals and light jewelry to wear during the day or night. Yet it makes a statement without trying too hard; its a juxtaposition of being simple and bold. Contrast it to the Tie-dye pieces by Proenza Schouler, those are completely in your face - they scream, "Look at me!" But Lemlem's are saying "Hey look at me, I'm different and completely unique from what you've ever seen." What makes it even better is the good this line is doing for the people of Ethiopia. "We're employing them so they can be self-sufficient, so they can send their children to school or rise from poverty," said Kebede. (Florence Kane, Vogue) Her work is admirable - her designs are excellent; Liya Kebede has definitely proved that when comes to making an impact, she is much more than a pretty face.

xoxo Miss Honeybun

photo by Patrick Demarchelier 
original article: "Style Ethics" by Florence Kane. June Vogue 2010, pg. 98 
other link: http://www.babble.com/Liya-Kebede-The-supermodel-mom-on-her-charitable-new-clothing-line/

Tie-Dye summers

Oh, tie-dye. The best activity for a summer-camp kid with a usually short lived appearance in most people's wardrobes...and for those past the age of 25 it becomes another one of those fashion fads that one wishes they could forget. So...how did it end up in a Spring 2010 collection? It shouldn't even be surprising that this risky idea came from dual geniuses, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler. They have most certainly earned this month's honorable mention. Although I wasnt able to find out much on their inspiration behind it all, they shared with Vogue editor Alexandra Kotur that, "Tie-dye is the perfect left field element. It has an organic quality, making it an ideal counterbalance to slick fashion."  And how right on they were. When will you ever be able to find a dress, that has an edgy tie-dye print (two words I never thought I would put in a sentence together) and is cute enough to go clubbing in but doesn't look like a ten-year-old made it....all at the same time

I never have. To create this look, they used a Japanese style method known as Shibori. I'm not sure which technique they used because for Shibori there are six, however we are most familiarized with the technique Kanoko. But instead of rubber bands, the Japanese use thread (I'm assuming for a cleaner look). Once again, a very impressive line. They have managed to push the envelope a bit without making it look amateur-ish. To view the entire spring collection, click here  Job very well done.

xoxo Miss Honeybun

original article: "Live and Let Dye" by Alexandra Kotur. Vogue June 2010, pg. 84























June Vogue's cover featured "Gossip Girl" actress Blake Lively photographed by  Mario Testino. 

The Beginning

Mission Statement

     This is not to be confused with another typical fashion blog. This is about inspiration. I am less concerned with who wore what and where and more interested in where popular and up-and-coming designers of today find their inspiration. 

     The creative process of the fashion industry seems to have been lost in the mix of beautry trends. My wish is too pull it back and put a spotlight on it; to educate the masses on something they may have never known about: the actual art of fashion. 

The title of this blog is a quote by Elbert Hubbard, an American writer.

The way it works

     Each month I'll highlight the work of a few different designers usually three or four with one honorable mention, meaning I didn't find much on their inspiration but love what they put out. 

     There will a “flashback” each month from a past issue of Vogue Magazine highlighting great art that we may have forgotten about. It will be about as small as a honorable mention. Occasionally I may do a few end of the month favorites which will include product reviews howeve,r remember that this is not a beauty trend blog so don't count on it to be a monthly addition. 

About Me

     I'll share a few basics with you but most of what you need to know can be viewed in my profile. I'm a second-semester sophomore at a State University. I'm a journalism major with minors in spanish and women's studies. My favorite mags are Vogue then Elle, favorite designers Michael Kors and Betsey Johnson and my guilty pleasure is anything from AE Outfitters. If you have any questions or requests just send them to me in a message. I'll be covering designers that I find in Vogue but if you have a designer you want me to feature I'd be more than happy too. Other than that, happy reading loves. :)

xoxo Miss Honeybun