Painterly Touch

Though the bulk of the products from the U.S. Urban Outfitters and the European stores generally overlap, I've noticed some key differences in the selection of young designers, based on each region.  For example, I was somewhat delighted to find that I could mail order Jonathan Saunders and Faster by Mark Fast from the E.U. website should I have the desire.  Another exciting discovery were these hand-painted vintage fur coats, done by Urban's own stylist, Katarina Kovics.  Each piece is one of a kind, and is adorned with images of ravens, geishas, and koi fish.  I'm personally obsessed with the sleeveless raven-covered shearling.  If you like what you see, you better act quickly, they're already disappearing.  Or, if you're a bit more crafty, you could give it a go DIY-ing, which I'm seriously considering...

-Tiffany

Designed By:

PJ by Peter Jensen

I think that we all are experiencing a bit of designer collaboration fatigue by now. The thrill and excitement of new partnerships has worn off, as new ones arrive every week, and usually follow a pattern of uber-hype, over-exposure, and then disappointed expectations. Urban Outfitters however has adopted a more sustainable approach, choosing to build continuing relationships with a diverse group of talented designers, collaborating with them each season to produce a few special pieces. Rather than going for sensational names, they've chosen to work with equally hot emerging designers and cult labels for their Designed By series, exposing them to a wider audience than they normally would receive. The project is committed to supporting new ideas in design, rather than simple fast fashion, and the current roster of collaborators includes industry favorites like Peter Jensen, Chris Habana, No. 6, VEDA, Rachel Comey, Sunshine & Shadow, Steven Alan, Pendleton, and many more. Here are a few of my favorites, which have started hitting stores already, and will be trickling in throughout the rest of spring!

Pendleton for Urban Outfitters

MY ENEMY by Chris Habana

KNT by Kova & T

Contributor by Rachel Comey

Lazerade by VEDA

Fletcher by Lyell

-Tiffany

Citizen of the World

Stine Goya blanket coat and sweater, Blumarine skirt, French and English Confectioner's patent leather backpack, Dieppa Restrepo brogues, scarf courtesy of Wood Wood, sunglasses courtesy of Urban Outfitters, vintage turban, H&M tights, necklace courtesy of Ben Amun, Triskaidekaphobia ring.

I know I've already written plenty about the Around the World collections, and the event we DJ'd last week at Urban Outfitters, but I genuinely cannot get enough of it. I have been a longtime fan and supporter of many of the Scandinavian designers involved, and am so happy to have them at arms reach rather than an ocean away that I've started making compulsive visits to the store to see if new stuff has come in (yes, I am a freak and I need to get a life). As I mentioned earlier, I was lucky enough to score the Stine Goya blanket coat that I had been eying all winter at a serious discount during the party, and it's been perfect for the recent round of mild weather we've been having in New York. Now that the spring collections are making their way into the stores, I have my eye on a whole new lot of goods. The U.O. team really outdid themselves putting together the lookbooks, hiring emerging photographers from all across the globe to shoot each of the different designers involved, as well as commissioning infamous director and artist Harmony Korine to shoot the Spring Preview. In some shots, the clothes are a little difficult to make out, but you can get a general idea. I know that our friend Carin Rodebjer's confetti printed pants are on the top of my wishlist!


The Local Firm photographed by Tania Shcheglova and Roman Noven

YMC dress photographed by Zhang Jungang & Li Jie

Rodebjer cape photographed by Charlie Engman

Rodebjer top photographed by Harmony Korine

Rodebjer pants photographed by Harmony Korine

Minimarket dress photographed by Harmony Korine.

-Tiffany

It's a Wonderful World

Christina and I with our polaroid photos from the Impossible Project. Photo by Urban Outfitters. You can see the rest of the photos from the event here.

Last Friday, Christina and I had the pleasure of DJing a party at the Broadway Urban Outfitters celebrating the latest arrivals from the Around the World collections. As I've mentioned before, Around the World brings together some of my favorite labels from across the globe, and on this occasion, fans of the lines got to meet the designers behind Dagmar, Minimarket, The Local Firm, and Rodebjer. Normally, I have to go back to Stockholm to get full access to these lines, so it's really nice and convenient to have them all here in one place. Everyone was given passports to stamp at each designer's booth, which they could later exchange for a treat-filled goodybag, including stuff from Rodebjer, Stila, Nyx and Urban Outfitters. They also enjoyed free manicures by Tracylee, drinks from Izze, and polaroid snaps from The Impossible Project.

I personally was excited to meet some of the designers who I hadn't met before, catch up with old friends who were participating in the event (hi W29!), and eat plenty of the hard-to-find Swedish candy on hand. Of course I couldn't help myself from doing some shopping while I was there, and bought a Stine Goya cape that was on sale from the previous fall collection. Stine, who unfortunately was not on hand for the event, is one of my all time favorites (I even chose to wear one of her dresses to the event), and thanks to Around the World, she's finally available on a large scale in the U.S. market. Now if they could only get the excellent Weekday collaborations in stock, I wouldn't miss Stockholm nearly as much! What do you say Team Urban? Can we work on it?

I wore my Stine Goya dress, DIY Rodarte leggings, Giraffe wedges courtesy of 80%20, Cheap Monday socks, vintage turban, and Triskaidekaphobia matchstick necklace. Photo by Joanne Perez of Pretty Provocative, see her coverage of the event here.

Linda, the designer of Minimarket, in head to toe Minimarket of course! Photo by Urban Outfitters.

Kristina from Dagmar

Some cute pieces from the Wood Wood collection. The kiss print blouse has Amanda's name written all over it!

Lea and Axel from The Local Firm. Photo by Urban Outfitters.

Joyce from Urban with an armful of passport stamps.

Free manicures by Tracylee! Photo by Urban Outfitters.

The crowds getting their designer passports stamped! Photo by Urban Outfitters.

-Tiffany

Meet and Greet

Even though I'm going to try my best to keep everything up to date, there might be a slight slow down in posting due to fashion week. I actually have come to realize that I have a limit to how many shows I can attend, and really can't handle any more than six or seven per day. I don't know how other people do it, in the dead of winter, wearing high high heels and ridiculous outfits. It might sound silly, but you have to have a certain amount of athletic endurance to run between shows spread far and wide across town while lugging weighty amounts of crap everywhere. Either that or the personal wealth/stature to hire a driver to chauffeur you from place to place. Obviously I have none of these things.

Anyway, before I start posting photos from the shows, I would like to invite all of you New Yorkers to a very special event that we're DJing at Urban Outfitters next Friday, once all the craziness has died down. As you know, U.O.'s Around the World series is a favorite of mine, bringing together some of my favorite emerging designers from Scandinavia and the rest of the world. For the first time ever, you will also be able to meet all of these designers in one place too, and from 4-8pm there will be a designer meet and greet at U.O.'s Soho location. Visiting designers include our friend Carin of Rodebjer as well as Carin Wester, Stolen Girlfriends Club, Minimarket, The Local Firm, Stine Goya, House of Dagmar, Wood Wood, Madras by A.P.C., and Le Mont St. Michel. Make sure to RSVP--everyone on the guestlist will get 20% off merchandise during the event! See you there!

-Tiffany

What a Pleasure

After the holidays, I'm hoping that all of you are feeling a little more flush than before. I have a little bit of Christmas cash to use for my Discretionary Fund for Warm Things, and have adopted the not very admirable habit of internet stalking objects of my desire, waiting for them to succumb to further price-reductions. On my daily rounds of checking in on the Urban Outfitters Around the World collections, I came across Pleasure Doing Business. Launched in Spring 2009, the collection appears to consist mainly of elastic band skirts and bustier tops inspired by Herve Leger, and while there are a few standout pieces, many of the previous collections lacked cohesion. Therefore it's refreshing to see that designer Simone Gonzalez has moved beyond the bodycon dresses, and created a Spring collection that is both quirky and cute without being too overtly sexy. The tiered dresses are quite femme (and made out of that same elastic of previous seasons), but the soft color pallet still lend them some sophistication. A lovely step in the right direction.

-Tiffany

Lucky No. 6

6x6 Bow Wedges $78

We obviously have a thing for the number 6 at Six Six Sick. We also have a thing for No. 6, and their gorgeous shearling and leather clogs, which have attracted a cult following amongst fashion insiders. While the prices are a bit steep for us, our friends at Urban Outfitters have come to the rescue, collaborating with the brand on a lower priced line called 6 x 6, which includes three pairs of shoes at extraordinarily reasonable prices. Not only did they make a version of the thick-soled clog boot, but they also have an adorable pair of suede bow wedges and some very smart and practical looking patent-leather lace-up boots. Nothing is over $100, which is about a quarter of the price you'd pay for the regular line. For some extra collab-happiness, No. 6 also recently collaborated with Baggu, the reusable tote bag company, on some leopard print totes.


6x6 platform boots $98

6x6 patent lace-up boots, $98

No. 6 x Baggu bags, $12 each

-Tiffany

Making my list, checking it twice!

PJ by Peter Jensen knit sweater and tiered flannel skirt

I know it seems waaay too early to be thinking about the holidays, but if you are like me, you've already started doing bits and pieces of your holiday shopping, while secretly starting a mental list of all the goodies that you're hoping your loved ones will be buying you come December. Urban Outfitters just sent over their Holiday preview, and I already have added half a dozen more items to my secret wishlist. As many of you know, UO recently launched the Around the World collection, featuring their favorite brands from across the globe, including a few of my Swedish favorites like Dagmar, Rodebjer, and Carin Wester. They will continue to carry these lines through the holidays, and in addition are bringing in Peter Jensen, with a lower-priced line called PJ. Having recently picked up one of the last remaining tees from Peter Jensen's Weekday collaboration while I was in Sweden, I'm super excited to get a hold of Jensen's signature quirky-cute aesthetic again, at the same price-point. Number one on my wishlist? The adorable sweater above, featuring the mug of a giant bunny rabbit.

Pins & Needles puff sleeve faux fur coat.

BDG cardigan, flannel, and sequin mini skirt, UO gold bear purse

ByCorpus sequin stripe sweater, Nom de Plume Yaya skirt

PJ by Peter Jensen sweater dress and three-collar shirt

Carin Wester coat

Pins and Needles velvet bow blouse, Sparkle & Fade burn-out velvet skirt

-Tiffany