Touch of Neon

11" Pink Fluoro Cambridge Satchel, iPad with Nicola Formichetti Zombie Panda cover

There's no better way to fight Seasonal Affective Disorder, something everyone deals with in this region, with a big walloping dose of fluorescent pink.  Even though I already have a large purple Cambridge Satchel, which Urban Outfitters gifted me a while back, I've been longing for the small neon version ever since it started making the blog/fashion week rounds earlier this year.  I finally decided to put it on my Christmas wishlist after Michelle mentioned that they sell lightly damaged factory seconds off the website, and Jimmy got me this "imperfect" bag, which has two barely visible nicks on the flap.  What Cambridge Satchel doesn't mention on the website is that the 11" bag is actually the perfect size for an iPad.  Even though it is quite small and gets cramped up pretty quickly, I managed to squeeze a decent amount of things into it, albeit with bulging satchel buckles.

Inside my bag: Pippi Långstrump (Pippi Longstocking, which I'm reading to practice my Swedish), iPad, Miu Miu wallet, iPhone with cover courtesy of Rebecca Minkoff, keys, and dinky Swedish phone.

-Tiffany

Dreams of Electronic Sheep

I'm always keeping an eye out for fun knitwear lines, and Electronic Sheep is a new favorite.  Designed in the U.K. and produced in Greece, the colorful and illustrative patterns manage to convey entire stories using the medium of scarves, hats, hoods, and knit capes.  For the fall collection, the theme was "The House of Many Mansions." The patterns, including overflowing fruitbaskets, distorted tartans, and roaming peacocks, are meant to evoke a life of plenty, as well as the sense of the shabby glamour of a reclusive eccentric along the lines of Edie Bouvier Beale.  I'm particularly obsessed with the knit capes, which were made in collaboration with the awesomely dressecd British DJ duo, The Broken Hearts (make sure to take a peek at their photo gallery).

-Tiffany

God Jul!

Ursidae scarf, Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair tunic, Uniqlo leggings, sunglasses c/o Norma Kamali, Alexander Wang shoes, Triskaidekaphobia tooth necklace.

Just a quick note to wish everyone a God Jul and Merry Christmas, for those who celebrate it! I got back from our vacation to Nice on Friday, just in time to celebrate in the self-proclaimed Christmas capital of the world, Stockholm.  As incredibly cozy as it is here right now, it was really nice to catch a tiny bit of sun and warmth in the south of France.  I got to wear my new Ursidae scarf, which I ordered from my friend Maja, and which is a little too light to wear in the middle of Scandinavian winter.  It was the perfect weight for a breezy bike ride on the Côte d'Azur. 

Anyway, after two full days of feasting with Jimmy's family, we're heading out to celebrate with our friends at Top Nice.  Hope you all have a wonderful holidays!

-Tiffany

I'll Follow The Sun

I don't even know why I bothered bringing so many pairs of sunglasses to Sweden considering the fact that I've barely seen the sun since I moved. http://casteyewear.tumblr.com/ I'm currently on a short escape to Nice before Christmas ( hence the short pause in posting) and have been soaking in every last moment of cherished sunlight, wearing all of my beloved sunglasses. I just discovered a line of sunglasses that I feel compelled to add to my small collection. Cast eyewear, is based out of Indonesia and designed by the fascinating Fa Empel, who can be seen modeling a pair of her designs above. In addition to creating the line of statement shades, Fa also has a sick tumblr, which I've been lurking around for hair color inspiration. Take a look at the video lookbooks for a pre-holiday treat, and then add a pair of shades to your Christmas wish list, I know that the "tell him that you and I are in love" model is on the top of mine.

The Cast Eyewear
CAST Eyewear x Markus Diyanto from Miles Pitt on Vimeo. -Tiffany

90's Kick

Daniel Palillo dress, shoes c/o 80%20, Carin Wester scarf, Jo Gordon hat, 0770 ring from Wobblin Betty.

Recently I've been on a big 90's music kick. While grunge has experienced a huge style revival, for some reason all the over-the-top techno music and accompanying candy-raver looks, which were equally popular, haven't really made much of a comeback.  This Daniel Palillo dress reminded me of all those old-school rave looks, and actually seems like appropriate attire for Stockholm's new underground rave scene.  I recently wore this outfit to one of Cheap Monday's parties out at an old factory in the suburbs of Stockholm (you can see my coverage on Papermag.com).  The music is different now, but the feeling is the same.  Anyway, here are some of my all time favorite 90's songs--not all of them are rave appropriate, but they've definitely been in heavy rotation of late.

-Tiffany

Everyday Hero

My friend Aapo recently started working at Finnish Elle, and his new job has included some awesome business trips.  On a recent visit to attend some fashion-related parties and events in Warsaw, he met Polish designer Robert Kupisz, who got his start as a celebrated hairdresser before deciding to launch his clothing line in the spring.  Robert's collection is very Aapo, and of course he sent over the images for me to have a look at.  For winter, Robert was inspired by the historical Polish heroes of the Warsaw Uprising, the rebellion staged by the Polish Resistance to liberate Warsaw from the Nazis (I admit, I had to do a little Wiki research, as Polish history isn't exactly my area of expertise).  While the inspiration may be serious, the overall feeling was uplifting and lyrical, with a strong sense of national pride.  I look forward to seeing more from Robert, who can be seen modeling his menswear collection below.

-Tiffany

Postcard Perfect Picture

After recently spying Bora Aksu's incredible line of paneled tights, I felt inspired to take a closer look at the London-based designer's entire Spring 2012 show, which I immediately fell in love with. The romantic collection of flowing, semi-transparent dresses adorned with perfectly placed frills and plentiful peplums was inspired by a series of antique postcards that Aksu found at a flea market.  The postcards, sent between Rose and Charles in 1905, and written in curvaceous French script, conjures vivid images of turn-of-the-century romance.  Even though the inspiration and the overall sentiment is laden with nostalgia, the designs themselves remain firmly planted in the present, perfect for some modern day romance.

-Tiffany

Knock it off with the knockoffs!

The original Bijules Nail Ring design

I've always thought that being a jewelry designer is like being the drummer in a band: every jackass thinks that they can do it, but very few can actually do it well.  The easiest thing to do when you're either lacking in skill, talent, or inspiration is to copy other designers, which is a sadly commonplace practice in the fashion industry. Fast fashion retailers are often the most brazen and frequent perpetrators of knockoffs, and every single one of them has been called out for their shameless design thievery. Topshop, however, has hit very close to home for me on multiple occasions, first replicating a dress we made (which was then replicated by everyone else), and later, according to my friend Sara Zucker, copying our Triskaidekaphobia tooth necklace.  We learned about the tooth necklace too far after it happened to actually see it, but Sara assures us it's the same.

Now, Topshop has knocked off our dear friend Jules Kim of Bijules, creating a near-exact replica of her signature nail ring, which she's been selling in various styles for years.  The price is probably cheaper, the quality is definitely dinkier, but the design is quite obviously the same, with only a slight difference in the shape of the snake's head.  I'm pretty sure Topshop targets younger designers in particular, under the belief that they, unlike Louis Vuitton, will not have the money and resources to retaliate.  However, I know that Jules is a very feisty lady who will fight back. As for the rest of us, the very least we can do is speak out.

The Topshop knock off

-Tiffany

Northern Exposure

Here in Sweden, where winter nearly lasts six months (conveniently the six months that I'm here, heh), you cannot underestimate the importance of warm knits and sturdy outerwear.  Stockholm-based designer Camilla Wellton seems to be an expert in both areas, and her online shop is loaded with dozens of gorgeous styles that combine her feminine aesthetic with architectural cuts and silhouettes.  They're figure flattering, yet directional, and have the added bonus of being functional and warm.  Most intriguingly, Wellton offers made-to-order options: if you see a coat that you like, but find a collar from another style which you would prefer, Wellton will custom make it for you.  She also offers custom fit pieces made to your measurements.  Of course, the prices for such garments are on the steep side, but Wellton is offering 40% off of coats before Christmas.  When the only thing anyone is going to see is your coat, you may as well make it a good one.  

-Tiffany