Designer Feature
The Birds and the Bees
June 25, 2012
...and the flowers and the trees. This summer's it-accessory is nature-and-fairytale-inspired: gilded dragonflies and leaves, petals and swans. Check out our new pieces from ALCHEMIE. Made by hand in California from reclaimed metals...and a thing called love.
Artist Interview
Linda Smyth
June 20, 2012
Linda Smyth is an alchemist. And the part we love most about her creations: we get to wear them. Smyth borrows from nature, then teaches it a lesson: leopard print on feathers made of leather? That's just the beginning. There's dark play and mischief in her hybrid designs. Here's a look into the mind and art of Linda Smyth:
How did you get started?
I went to school for jewelry and wanted to continue on that path after school, I had always dreamed of owning my own store and was able to manifest that and continue to include the jewelry making into my career.
What do you love about your job?
Jewelry has always been a way for me to hone in on all my inspirations of life and create a wearable form of self-expression to share with the like-minded.
Where do you find inspiration?
I am inspired by nature and its elements alive or decomposed, the animal kingdom especially, the cosmos, a feeling where rock n’ roll meets romanticism and the idea that adornment is the most readily available tool for self-expression.
Fleathers
Who is your role model?
Vivienne Westwood, because she is a pioneer of fashion that is always willing to express herself without question of social consequence.
What is your dream project?
To design my own home with an endless budget.
What are your plans for the future?
To move to NY and continue to develop my brand, collaborate with other designers and companies and work as a stylist and creative director.
If I wasn’t doing this, I would be...
Traveling the world, which I hope this will eventually lead to.
What's your favorite movie, song, or book?
Favorite movie of the moment is “Party Girl” favorite book “The Alchemist.”
If you were a piece of clothing, what would be and what color/pattern?
I would be a pair of shoes, some sort of ankle bootie, if I was a color I would be sea hawk blue, and the pattern would be a kaleidoscope of ikat.
You’re building a robot. What does it do?
Everything and anything.
What is your favorite word?
Meticulous.
Twin Bees from the Rabid Fox Collection
What's your go-to "happy" song?
Any Beatles song.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
Less is more.
What super power would you like to have, and why?
Shape shifter, then I could be anything I wanted to be.
Featured Look
We’ve Got Your Back
June 17, 2012
Showing off some leg or a little cleavage is always going to be sexy, but it's time to show another body part a little love with this summer's back revealing-and-revelling dress. Here are a few ways to show some unexpected skin:
Try it out at that summer wedding. This pine green dress is smartly architectural in the way it highlights the mid-back. We love the daring neckline and peekaboo display.
Shake up your old notions of the sundress. We've got a few for you - this halter top ikat dress (above) and keyhole t-strap mini (below) in bold prints bring backless into everyday wear.
Geometric cutouts create bold lines in contrast to these feminine colors and shapes - easily wearable from poolside BBQ to date night.
So try it out. Make a great entrance...and an even more memorable exit.
