Leather Babies: Zana Bayne Fall 2011

Usually only serious Bikers and Leather Daddies will be seen wearing their best leather pieces in the sweltering summer heat. Today though, plenty of Zana Bayne lovers, myself included, strapped on their harnesses of all colors and varieties to show support for her first ever presentation, featuring pieces from her Fall collection. I've been a friend/fan of Zana's for a few years now, and it's been amazing to watch her work progress from the minimal, elegant shoulder strap harnesses to extraordinarily complex concoctions made from dozens of straps, loops and grommets. I'm incredibly impressed by the new styles, which include full breastplates and vests made from intricately woven straps and buckles, and an awesome set of leg harnesses that strap under your boot like spats, before winding up and encasing your legs. My favorite harness is still my own classic tan winged harness, which I ordered from Zana a year ago after hours of deliberation (so many choices!). Nonetheless, when fall rolls around, I'm thinking that one of her new patent leather pieces is a must.





Zana Bayne harness, Gestuz dress, shoes courtesy of 80%20, Collina Strada bag courtesy of Urban Outfitters, Slow and Steady Wins the Race sunglasses, spike earrings courtesy of Joshua Hall, Triskaidekaphobia tooth necklace and bandage cuff. Photos by my gay husband, Brandon.

-Tiffany

String Section

All photos by Elisabet Davids and threeASFOUR

Last month I picked up a classic threeASFOUR circle bag at the Opening Ceremony Sample Sale, conjuring up old memories of how obsessed I had been with the design when it first appeared years ago (was it a decade ago, or more?). Recently, threeASFOUR has slipped off my mental radar, and I hadn't really looked at their collections for several seasons. Shame on me, as this fall collection is especially good. This season the eclectic design collective was inspired in large part by string instruments, which were incorporated into the clothes in the form of full violins and miniature harps, as well as plenty of strings, naturally.

I'm particularly obsessed with the bits and pieces they made in partnership with Bollinger Atelier, a family atelier that works with artists and sculptors to help realize their ideas. They created several of the showstopping pieces for threeASFOUR, including this functioning (!!!) harp belt, that was constructed with the help of a harp technician, and two shoulder pieces. The designs fluidly integrate art, music, and fashion, in a synesthetic way that only threeASFOUR could achieve.

-Tiffany

Mermaid Parade

The Mermaid Parade may have happened a few weeks ago, but Norma Kamali's new Resort collection contains many cute suits fit for a long day out in the sea, and fishtailed dresses and flared pants for the little mermaid who made it to land. Made from plenty of black and nude lace, the collection has a bit of a late 80's, early 90's feel to it. The nude ruffle bikini is perfect for an aspiring Ariel, and the black lace bell-bottom jumpsuit has a deliciously camp feel to it, good for when you're feeling more like Ursula the Sea Witch. Like most of Norma Kamali's work, this collection consists of form-fitting, basic silhouettes with a twist, rendered in practical mesh and polyjersey fabrics that allow for real movement and wear. Her simple, sexy designs have inspired plenty of imitators (American Apparel comes to mind), but there's nothing quite as cool and effortless as the originals, making it a brand that populates my Mom's closet as well as my own.

-Tiffany

Best Blog...By A Dog

Bianca, with a portrait in her likeness. All photos by Eponymy.

I've been in a terribly foul mood for the last couple of days, hence the lack of blogging, or interest in anything except for alternatively toxifying myself with massive amounts of caffeine and chocolate and detoxifying myself with long stretches of yoga. For a moment this afternoon though, things took a turn for the brighter. Christina and I visited one of the stores we sell Triskaidekaphobia at, Eponymy, which not only is an adorable place to shop, but is home to the sweetest, friendliest, and prettiest French Bulldog, Bianca. Bianca, who is a model, muse, gal about town, and therapy dog in training, provided twenty minutes of pure playful bliss, making me think that I need to sign up for some of her therapy sessions as soon as she is certified. Since I could not take Bianca home with me, I was delighted when Bianca's mommy, Andrea, told me that Bianca has a newly minted blog, Lady Bianca Miller, where you can follow her photos, thoughts, and style musings, all written with far more wit and humor than most of the blogs by her human it-girl counterparts. Take a click--or better yet, stop by the store and grab a cuddle while you shop--I promise, it will make your day!

Hanging with her mommy, Andrea Miller, owner of Eponymy, and sleb friends Jason and Arrow Schwartzman


Cuteness contest

-Tiffany

The Fabric of Our Lives

Ay Not Dead

A few months back, I attended the launch party for a site called Fabricly, without knowing exactly what it was. I had assumed that it would be your average online fashion boutique, but after a few clicks, a little more research, and an incredible visit to the Fabricly offices to view the pieces in person, I found the purpose of the company to be entirely unique, and especially intriguing from the viewpoint of an independent designer. Fabricly doesn't just sell a selection of clothes from under-the-radar brands. Incredibly, Fabricly looks for design talent that's just starting out, even kids who are fresh out of school, and partners with them to take care of the entire production of a small capsule collection. All the designers need to do is draw their sketches and hand them off to fairy-godmother type Alice Barlow, who then sources the fabrics, and takes care of all the Los Angeles based factory production.

The first collaboration was with one of my favorite brands, Ostwald Helgason, which was a natural start since designer Ingvar Helgason is the brother of one of the Fabricly founders, Ari Helgason. While the incredible collection sadly sold out before I could get my hands on it, there are plenty of other great designers on the site, including Caycee Black, Otis & Maclain, Ay Not Dead, and Mono Lake, and almost everything is under $200. If you aren't familiar with some of those names, it's because a few are launching their first collections on Fabricly. I only wish that the team worked with jewelry and accessories designers too as it would be a wonderful resource to have. Unfortunately they're only sticking to clothes right now, but if you're an aspiring designer, you shouldn't think twice about sending your sketches and ideas over--Alice is always on the lookout for new talent!


OH! by Ostwald Helgason

Otis & Maclain

Eve Gravel

Mono Lake

Ay Not Dead

OH! by Ostwald Helgason

-Tiffany

Dame Vivienne Goes Green

Vivienne Westwood Crochet Yasmine Bag

As eco-friendly design becomes a greater imperative, it's been incredible to see how many designers are becoming more green, in whatever ways they can. It is not surprising then that Dame Vivienne Westwood, well known for her political activism, has taken on the green cause within her work. This week she launches a capsule collection, Ethical Fashion Africa, with Yoox.com's eco-friendly initiative, YOOXYGEN, of handbags and accessories crafted from recycled materials. The collection takes several classic Vivienne Westwood bags, and refashions them out of recycled electric wiring, plastic bags, roadside advertisement banners, safari tents, and aluminum cans. In addition to taking these waste products out of our landfills, the initiative went one step further, partnering with the International Trade Commission to base production in Nairobi, employing and empowering local craftspeople and manufacturers in impoverished communities. Even though the bags are crafted with compassion, they are still designed in Westwood's tongue-in-cheek, clearly subversive style, coming in spectacular colors and graffiti prints. I got a peek of the Fall collection during the Starworks press day, and as you can see, they fit in perfectly with the entire collection which, to my knowledge, isn't eco-conscious, but is still great.



Vivienne Westwood iPad case
Vivienne Westwood clutch

Vivienne Westwood multicolor crochet shopper

-Tiffany

Life: Curated Stockroom Sale!

I've been working a lot this week, but just wanted to write a quick note to let all you New Yorkers know that my dear friends at Life: Curated are having their first ever stockroom sale! Full disclosure: I'm a little biased because they're friends, and they also carry Triskaidekaphobia. Nonetheless, they also carry plenty of other fantastic goods, for both your closet and your home, including favorite friends like 80%20, Mary Meyer, Obesity and Speed, and Mike Gonzalez. I love them all, and even though I am totally cash poor from hitting up all the sample sales that have been happening this month, I'm planning on stopping by--I have my eyes on some Suki Cheema pillows! Everything will be at least 50% off or more, and for a sneak preview, you can check out some of the featured sale items on the Life: Curated blog. For those of you who aren't in NYC, sit tight, their online store is coming!

-Tiffany

Electric Feels, Electric Heels

It's not often that you hear about shoe designers coming out of Helsinki, Finland.
Even though the Finns are very stylish and fashion-forward, the last time I visited, there were only a handful of cool shops to visit, and a few noteworthy designers, the most prominent being Ivana of Helsinki. I obviously missed Minna Parikka, who crafts colorful shoes, bags, and gloves with eclectic details, and has dressed the likes of Beth Ditto and Lady Gaga. Her designs seem to tap into that strange connection between Finland and Japan, with styles that are more colorful, fun, quirky, camp, and generally kawaii than your typical monochromatic Scandinavian fare. The shoes come in about every color of the rainbow, and are adorned with plump lips, paint drips, and enough sweethearts and pussy cat bows to give you a toothache. Some of the styles are admittedly even too over-the-top ridiculous for me (the shoe adorned face mask takes fetish to a whole new level), but there are also plenty of styles to love. I will be visiting Helsinki again this summer, and will definitely try to make a stop at the Minna Parikka boutique.

-Tiffany

Hairy Situations

The kids at Howkapow always have the cutest gems, and I'm constantly ogling their adorably off-beat selection of wares. My latest discovery from the site is Hairy Sock, a line of hand-crafted polymer clay baubles made by visual artist Ruta Kiskyte. The pieces, which are essentially tiny wearable sculptures, have the crafty feel of the Fimo clay that I played with during my childhood, but are enhanced with bunches of pearls, bits of velvet, or hanging tassels. My favorite piece is the clustered pearl broach, which looks like your classic lapel pin, but on second glance, reveals the addition of two wee feet in white socks and Mary Janes. I hardly ever wear broaches, but I am seriously considering ordering one of these, especially since they're not terribly expensive.

-Tiffany