Read this Business of Fashion article about Paula Cademartori that discusses her roots, story, and journey into the high profile designer she is today. She's branching out into shoes now, and they are incredible!
~burn bright~
Jess
A Place in Milan Although Cademartori handbags are expensive, they're absolutely gorgeous and are a favorite of fashion bloggers everywhere for their distinctive shapes and colors. Read this Business of Fashion article about Paula Cademartori that discusses her roots, story, and journey into the high profile designer she is today. She's branching out into shoes now, and they are incredible! Someday I'll own a Cademartori piece!
~burn bright~ Jess
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I struggled with the categorization of Anuschka into the fashion category as the art component of their creations is so important to their core philosophy. Still, as a handbag company (with exquisitely crafted, hand-painted products that can be classified as 'wearable art'), it felt right to highlight the brand in this section. Anuschka first caught my eye while I was casually clicking through online websites looking for a cool travel bag. The wildly vibrant colors and beautiful scenes depicted on each bag made for unique standout pieces that are sure to be conversation starters. The more I learned about the company (they are also an ethically responsible brand) the more impressed I was with their vision and their dedication to their customers. Take a look at this video that describes the Anuschka's creative process: I especially love the connection the brand has with telling stories- this blurb from the About Me section of their website beautifully sums it up: Each Anuschka accessory is unique. It is rich in design, form and possibilities. Above are just some examples of Anuschka's hand painted accessories. They are so beautifully painted!
~burn bright~ Jess I've always considered Tory Burch to be a very preppy brand; the popular Reva flats are ubiquitous in Boston, home of the pastel-colored shorts, boat shoes, and striped everything. I'm not knocking that particular style- it fits with a certain type of lifestyle- but it's not something that I really identify with. However, the sculptural heels inspired by tree bark in Tory Burch's newest collection (Spring / Summer 2016) caught my eye: These unique heels are so beautiful! I'm a huge fan of interesting footwear, and these babies fit the bill 100%. I went to look at more items in the collection (check it out here) and found some other looks that were inspiring. I love the colors and the fabrics that Tory used in this season. I can't wait for warmer weather to come! All the above screenshots were taken from the Tory Burch website. I love the variety of fabrics, from smooth silk to textured tweed and fringe. Do you like any of the items in Tory Burch's Spring / Summer 2016 collection?
~burn bright~ Jess The Lizzie Fortunato accessories line is full of unique and interesting earrings, necklaces, handbags, and more. I follow the sisters' instagram, @lfjewels, because I love seeing how they were inspired to design certain pieces and how they style their creations. Some of my favorites (screenshots from their Instagram page) are below: Their website is: http://www.lizziefortunato.com/ And here is a short excerpt about the twins from the About Me section of the site! Twin sisters Lizzie and Kathryn Fortunato founded Lizzie Fortunato in 2008 with the intent of creating unique accessories that use unexpected materials and champion handicrafts from a breadth of places and cultures...Lizzie constructs a distinct narrative with each collection, naming each style, and often drawing on historical, artistic, and architectural references as she goes. Fortunato’s designs marry found, reclaimed and precious materials in fashion forward silhouettes, and the sisters’ brand has become synonymous with unique, ahead of the curve accessories that are influenced by fine art, travel, and artisanal craftwork... Because these pieces are so unique, they are quite expensive. Still, they are really fun to look at and they definitely make a statement!
~burn bright~ Jess Just wanted to share these gorgeous and sexy heels by Brian Atwood ;) These are the "Yana" pumps from the Spring 2013 collection. They're made of Stingray-effect leather and are trimmed in gold chain. I'd feel like such a rockstar in these!
~burn bright~ Jess Ivy Kirzhner is a Filipino-American shoe designer. I love seeing a successful Asian female in the design industry! She was born in the Phillipines but was raised in New York, majoring in accessories (shoes/handbags) design and graduating summa cum laude from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Her father was an architect and an engineer, which influenced her direction in life. She ended up combining her interests of architecture, engineering, and fashion to become a shoe designer. She describes shoe design as involving “aspects of industrial design and engineering that make[s] the entire process multi-dimensional, challenging, and fascinating” and notes that “sensitivity to footwear ergonomics and proper fit is extremely essential”. Her debut collection consisted of “luxuriously designed shoes with 18-carat-gold detailing, cloissone, Egyptian-inspired embellishments, and fine Austrian crystals” that first caught my attention a couple of years ago. These Tutankhamun Braided Ornament Slide Sandals in the cognac/orange color were so vibrant and really spoke to me- and they’re just as arresting in person! I snapped them up and am beyond happy with them. She’s had a few collections since then, all of which have “deco-enameled hardware embellishment, luxurious exotics, laser-engineered textural print effects, and bejeweled beadwork” which give “a new twist to rock-and-roll glam to reflect Kirzhner’s global influences”. (I just love that sentence; it perfectly sums up her personality!) Her shoes range from badass rocker boots to decadent sandals and heels. They’re really eye-catching and fun. Take a look at her website and her instagram to find out more about Ivy! Image Credit Blogger Victoria Herrera interviewed Kirzhner- read it here. Top 3 rules for style: 1) There are no rules. 2) If there are rules, learn to break them so you can… (jump to #3) 3) Be original in expressing yourself. The Spring Summer 2016 Collection is now out- theme is Aqua Botanica. Check out the gorgeous campaign photography! Again, Ivy Kirzhner's website is http://ivykirzhner.com/ ~burn bright~
Jess As promised, a post that is not about technology and fashion! I did a little shopping the other weekend. Most of my shopping is done online, and I'm constantly looking for new websites with cool brands that really speak to me. I now know when an item is worth it and I have become much more adept at buying items I instantly fall in love with. It's harder than it sounds because of the seemingly infinite amount of clothing/accessories/shoes that are available on the web. A click here leads to a click there; there are so many temptations outside of those chosen few that say Jess, you know you want me...you'd wear me at least once! When online shopping, one must have very strict rules or questions to ask yourself in the decision-making process. Some of mine are:
5. Is this an impulse buy? One action I find extremely helpful in guiding online purchases is to never buy right away. Bookmark the item, and come back to it the next day. If you're dreaming about it, constantly thinking about it, and can't keep it out of your head, then that is a sign that piece of clothing or jewelry or that pair of shoes is really IT for you. If you've completely forgotten about it, or know that you can live without it, then let it go. Spend your money on something that is really worth it. It's pretty much common sense, I know. But this step is really important! It will help prevent impulse purchases, which is a source of many unwanted purchases for online shoppers. (Of course, if you are on a limited time frame- sale that ends soon, coupon that expires soon, etc.- then you can shorten the waiting time frame. But always try to take a step back and leave your computer screen for a while. It will clear your mind.) Anyway, back to the point of this post. Last weekend I went digging through The RealReal, a luxury consignment website that resells lightly used designer brands, just for fun. I don't buy for brands usually, I buy based on the style. Still, I enjoyed clicking through the site. I ended up buying two items that fell into the category of love-at-first-sight. LULU FROST CRYSTAL AND RESIN COLLAR NECKLACE PROENZA SCHOULER EMBROIDERED SKIRT Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge color fanatic. I'm obsessed with colors- bright ones make me happy. The Lulu Frost necklace was the perfect fit for me. It's colorful, playful, and fun- plus, I love statement necklaces! I am also a big fan of ocean themes and rich water/earth tones. I wanted to be a marine biologist when I was younger (and work on ships like Jacques Costeau) and am currently an avid recreational scuba diver. The Proenza Schouler skirt spoke to that part of my personality. The blues, greens, and whites are calming and remind me of the sea, yet the slight shimmer in the fabric make it fun rather than staid. To finish, I'd like to give an example of the thought process behind a piece of clothing that I really liked but have decided not to pursue for a multitude of reasons: RODARTE JACKET Pros: (1) Rodarte is one of my favorite designers (2) I love the 3 colors together- that shade of blue is close to teal, which is one of my favorite colors (3) I think the different textures are very interesting and it's definitely a standout piece (white fur on the shoulders, felt-like lapels, glitter body) (4) It's super fun and quirky and fits my personality
Cons: (1) Way too expensive (2) Don't really have anything I would wear this with, or wear this to (3) The glittery body is actually a bit much for me, I wish it was that color but not shimmery...or perhaps even a deeper blue would be nice? (4) Not easy to match (5) Not too sure about sizing/fit, and measurements look too big for me The cons outweighed the pros, and this jacket did not become a new addition to my closet. Hope you all enjoyed that peek into my shopping thought process! Let me know if you have any questions or want to talk about anything. ~burn bright~ Jess One of my favorite shoe brands is the London-based brand, Miista. As of now, I currently own 8 pairs of Miista shoes (the most of any one brand in my shoe collection!). I remember when I first discovered their website a few years ago- I felt immediately connected to their ethos and their inspiration, and knew that I would continue following the Miista journey. They have launched a new website since then, so unfortunately I do not have the original inspirational text that first drew me to the brand. However, their current 'About Me' still captures the wacky and fun spirit of the brand! MEASURED MADNESS Miista is a fashion forward footwear brand based in Hackney, London. As a curator of styles, Miista brings together seemingly opposites. Miista deliberately juxtaposes elements that would be at war without creative expertise. Miista is always searching for an elegant balance in the unusual. MIISTA IS: Independent – against uniformity and imitation Irreverent – breaking the rules without causing a riot Curious – always looking… THE MIISTA STYLE In a world that has become cluttered with similarities, carbon copies and conventional styles, Miista brings an uncommon beauty to the street. Full-bodied – robust and bold features Crafted – thoughtful and with unexpected details Elegance – for headstrong women http://miista.com/ I bought my first pair in 2013: the Siri Agate Satin Heel in ROSE. The heels remind me of an intergalactic universe, a pink and magical world of stars and mysticism out in space. The heels are incredible pieces of art- clear angled lucite blocks with slices of color in them. My second pair of Miistas are the 2014 Angela Panther Combat Boot. They are bad-ass, lace-up leather boots with a golden panther clasp adorning the back. I really started collecting Miista shoes in 2015-2016. While these are the ones I have managed to get my hands on, there are many more Miista shoes out there that I would looooove to have as part of my collection! EEight Nelly Ankle Boots: the stars really got me here. Embracing the space theme! Miista Ryan Leather Boots in both Black and Red: the embossing on the leather and the unique carvings on the heels are incredible. The Fiona in Pink and Teal. I'll soon have my hands on the Blue as well! These oxfords are stunning flats that capture light in different settings. Bright light really brings out a deep, rich, and eye-catching flavor. Normal lighting allows the shoes to take on a more muted tone. I love the variability of these flats! The Zoe Mermaid, a glittering pair of eye-catching sequined oxfords inspired by the curiously fleeting creatures that may live beneath the ocean. The Miista SS16 Collection is currently out. From their blog: "Entitled, 'AZUL,' meaning 'The Colour Blue' in Spanish, the collection is a combination of electric nights out and faded sunrises. The theme of the collection takes inspiration from summer nights and gathering memories with friends. Using complimentary colours and accents in sky-like hues, the collection emulates Miista's winning characteristic of combining two opposite elements. The materials feature reflective prints and soft, yet strong leathers. Miista's most experimental collection to date, it's true measured madness. " It is the meaning behind Miista's collections that make me fall in love with their shoes. The above description is absolutely amazing and makes me reminisce over travel in Spanish-speaking countries, with their love for color, and the beautiful sunsets and wonderful friends I have made throughout my journeys. Two pairs in this new collection that I am eyeing are the Vivienne heels in Navy Orange White, and the Botega Blue Reflective sandals. Check out the Miista collections if you have the time!
~burn bright~ Jess |
About
Fashion is all about fun! I love that it is an external expression of my personality. I've been mixing and matching shoes, clothes, and accessories since I was a little girl, and I think it is a great way to be creative every day. My style has evolved over time, but one thing will always be true: unique, quirky pieces will always have a place in my closet. [As well as shoes, shoes, and more shoes...I love them!]. This page will cover all aspects of fashion, from cool designers to magazine pieces and more. Archives
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