Agony and Ivory

All photos by Nakkna

Back while I was in Sweden, I heard some terrible rumors about the demise of one of my favorite Stockholm based labels, Nakkna.  I didn't see any of their clothes sold at boutiques that previously carried them, and their own stand up shop had long ago been replaced by something else.  After a look at their website (which I should have probably checked earlier), I've happily found that the rumors are false, and that Nakkna is still creating its signature brand of minimal, geometrically cut, directional attire.  Rather than following the normal Spring/Fall collection schedule, Nakkna is now releasing small capsule collections throughout the year at their desired pace, and selling them directly to the consumer via their online shop.  Their latest collection features stark black, white, and greyscale pieces that alternate between aggressively angular and dynamically drapey, and even if they're forward thinking in design, they're clearly made for everyday use and wear.  I just wish I had found the webstore before I left Sweden so I could have saved on international shipping fees.

-Tiffany

Gimme A Beat

All photos by Molami

Headphones, in the last few years, have become a surprisingly ubiquitous accessory.  In both New York and Stockholm, many of my fellow subway companions regularly sport various shades of Urbanears (which originated in Sweden, but are so popular that they are even sold in J.Crew's children's section), or, as Christina pointed out, Beats, Dr. Dre's headphone line.  I generally prefer earbuds myself, finding headphones too clunky to carry around, and too easy to get tangled in just about everything.  Recently though, my earbuds broke, and I've been wearing a pair of Eskuches that I normally reserve for behind the DJ booth.  Now that I'm getting accustomed to them, nicer pairs are starting to catch my eye.

I first spotted Molami, yet another Swedish headphone line, at Nitty Gritty in Stockholm.  Since Sweden has pumped out an endless stream of musical talent, while simultaneously maintaining a reputation for forward thinking design, it's hardly surprising that such meticulously designed headphones would originate from the country.  Designer Maria von Euler drew upon her background in tailoring and fashion design to create luxe new headsets that incorporate leather and fabric, as well as silver or gold metallic accents.  The pleat headphones have a dynamic angular shape that flatters the face, while another model features earphones built into a soft silk headband that straps around the head.  They're beautifully crafted, easy to use, and perfectly balance form and function.  If I had a pair, I would wear them everyday---they're simply too nice to wear while hiding behind a DJ booth. 

Put on a Pedestal

Scandinavia has been well known since the midcentury for its innovative and forward thinking architecture and furniture design.  Within the last decade, Scandinavian fashion has also gained traction and become increasingly influential, and is similarly aligned with a minimalist design approach.   Still, I have never seen midcentury modern so fluidly applied to apparel as with FINSK, the line of architecturally structured, extremely high heels.  It makes sense.  Finnish born and London based designer Julia Lundsten was born to an architect father and an interior designer mother, and cites furniture and buildings as major sources of inspiration for her shoes.  Set on elegantly carved wood platforms, they look a bit like Constantin Brancusi's sculptural pedestals. I personally can't imagine a better thing to stand on.

-Tiffany

NORRBACK AW 2012 + Pop-Up Shop Opening Party

I've been working at NORRBACK while I've been in Stockholm, and a while back, I posted some behind the scene photos from the Autumn Winter Lookbook shoot. Here are the results, and a look at the new collection.  My favorite pieces are the zig-zag knit short sleeve jacket, and the illustrated black and white fox print dress.  If you happen to be in Stockholm this Saturday, you can pick up a goodybag with the same print at our Pop-Up shop opening party (invite below).  There will be drinks, snacks, music, giveaways and other surprises--Hope to see you there! 

-Tiffany

BACK Fall 2012

It's hard not to become obsessed with Ann-Sofie Back's particular brand of minimalism.  For the Autumn Winter 2012 BACK collection, she mixes her sharp aesthetic with elements that are less polished. Bright electric turquoise fabrics, sporty athletic materials, transparent plastic jewelry, and metallic pleather are all things that might look tacky in someone else's hands, but Back gives them a refined new look.  Juxtaposed with the more minimalist silhouettes, these elements not only make the clothes more accessible and less precious, but add an element of fun, play, and unexpectedness to what could otherwise become very serious or severe looking pieces.

-Tiffany

New York to Stockholm and Back Again: An Interview with Carin Rodebjer

Swedish designer Carin Rodebjer recently relocated to New York. After the Rodebjer show, which is always the highlight of Stockholm Fashion Week, I asked her a few questions on her move, and how it has influenced the design of her new Fall 2012 collection.  One of my favorite shows of the season, the collection was inspired by male style icons like Jean Cocteau, David Hockney, and Jean Michel Basquiat.

You moved to New York from Stockholm recently. How has that been for you, do you feel like a New Yorker now?
No not really! I just moved there one year ago. But I feel kind of connected to the city--It is such a nice city, and I feel that it is good to have both platforms, because you get so much inspiration and you see things from different perspectives.

Did New York have any influence on the design of your new collection?
Oh, of course it does. That's part of why I moved too, because I wanted to have the local and the global perspective.  That's why we chose to show here [at Matthias Dahlgren's restaurat] too, because Matthias works on both a local and global level. That's how I want the collection to be--more global.

You said that your collection was influenced by menswear this season, so what kind of menswear details did you incorporate?
The buttons, shirt collars, bags, and shoes are very masculine.  All those menswear details were things we added.  But we were also inspired by the mindset, all the men that we were inspired by this season were their own universe, so I wanted to have that mindset, with a very focused woman being the center of her own universe.

Would you ever consider doing menswear? 
Yeah, I am considering it! I would love to do it, but it will take a while because we can still dig deeper into what we are. I want to work a little bit now to focus on the design with the womanswear, and then we will move on to menswear.

I've also noticed that this season and last season you've incorporated more color and prints. Can you tell me more about the digital prints and the floral prints that you used this season?
Oh yeah, we wanted to have really rich prints so it kind of symbolized the rich lives that our icons were having, and the richness of their personalities. So it's kind of rich prints with a more structured outside. I like prints, even though that's not very Swedish.  I like prints when they are balanced, and when they're controlled and clean.

Do you have any plans of showing in New York.
I do a little in the back of my head. So we'll see, whenever we have a little more money, I would love to do it!

-Tiffany

Good Sport

All photos by Beit Ha'ir

A few weeks ago, a received an email from my friend Daniel Palillo announcing his participation in a F? A Year of Fashion in at Beit Ha'ir, a museum in Tel Aviv.  While Tel Aviv is a little bit off the map fashion wise, I was incredibly impressed with the ambitious year long show that the museum's curators put together, tapping both Israeli and international designers to create a series of temporary exhibitions. The roster is impressive, including threeASFOUR, Boudicca, Anne Valerie Hash, and Vibskov and Emenius, in addition to Daniel.

While I had a difficult time navigating the website, as I can't read Hebrew, I only had to look at the photographs to see that they had put on a spectacular opening, which included a fashion show of Daniel's sport and cartoon inspired Spring collection of adult and children's clothes.  Most impressive was a special video made for the exhibition, featuring the Bney Yehuda soccer team, whose members were decked out in custom made Daniel Pallilo outfits.  I'm not usually a fan of sports, or fashion videos for that matter, but this one is particularly riveting, and definitely worth viewing.  And, if you do find yourself in Tel Aviv, the show will be going on with rotating exhibitions through the end of the year.

Daniel Palillo video collaboration with Bney Yehuda football team, was created by Matan Guggenheim and Daniel Kutz.

-Tiffany