Swan's Way

What is it about swans that constantly capture our imaginations?  While they had their big moment last year following the release of Black Swan, I don't know if we've fully exhausted our obsession yet.  One cruel friend who's known for her Elmyra tendencies (hi Gabbi) says that she fantasizes about taking their long necks and tying them into a knot.  I think most of us though are more drawn to their elegant silhouette and their long-standing fictional romanticization.  Whatever your feelings are, I think it would be easy to fall for the swan-inspired accessory series created by Singapore-based designer Mimi Pong.  The small collection includes the "Bird of Two Feathers" bag that converts from a Swan to a Cygnet when you turn it inside out, and two sweet enamel swan necklaces.   Perfect for anyone who's ever felt like an ugly duckling.

-Tiffany

Walk This Way

I'm always incredibly impressed by the amount of talent some of my fellow bloggers have. While we all have a shared interest in fashion, a few of us are also designers ourselves.  I've known that Monica, a long time blog friend, designed shoes, but she's been pretty shy about showing off all her designs, and has only given us quick flashes of her creations.  I recently did a little more digging myself and found some of her fun, humor filled heels.  Inspired by swinging 60's London and rock and roll, her shoes are decorated with cheeky motifs, including wedges adorned with lips smoking cigarettes and blowing bubbles, giant wire spiderwebs, and golden Pegasus wings.  Having watched my gay husband Brandon fight his way through his shoe construction course, I know how incredibly difficult it is to make shoes, and have an immense amount of respect for anyone who takes on the treacherous field of cobbling.  This whole time I thought the hard part was walking in them.  Anyway, here's a peek at her Spring 2012 collection, which are all, unbelievably, made to order.

-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

Fast Track

I've been following Bangkok based brand The Only Son ever since it arrived at Fiftytwo Showroom a few seasons back.  Designed by Au Ekbutr Udomphol, the collection caters to both sexes, with its structural cuts and incredible construction.  Spring 2012 was inspired by race car drivers, and a look at the clothes reveals hints of the suits that they wear, the tracks of the tires, and the bold colors of the cars themselves. Although I wouldn't necessarily call the clothes futuristic, they do have a bit of a techie quality to them, and even the silkscreened pieces have the strange feel of vinyl mixed with cotton.  Even though I don't know how to drive, two of my favorite pieces are a sheer race car jacket, and a jumpsuit style romper. Obviously, you don't need to be behind the wheel to appreciate these clothes.

-Tiffany