Just Mike

While you might not have heard of Mike Gonzalez yet, you probably have heard of Mike & Chris, the designer's previous line, which was well known for leather jackets and incredible outerwear. Having shed his previous company name (there was never any Chris), Mike has brought his signature leather pieces to his eponymous line, while also building up his women's ready to wear collection. I was first introduced to the line via Blue Stripe PR, and then ended up also freelancing for the company at the last Intermezzo show, so I really got an up close look at the collection, and really fell for the casual but luxurious feel of the clothes. I'm particularly impressed with the lookbooks, which Mike, who started out his career as a photographer, styles, shoots, and edits himself. Additionally, each season he creates some fabulous headgear exclusively for the lookbook shoot, but so many buyers were clamoring for the turbans that they ended up going into production. I know how amazing they are, and was wearing the one that Blue Stripe gave me almost everyday until I inevitably lost it. Unfortunately the fantastic hair-pieces from the summer lookbook shown here won't be on sale (who knows, maybe demanding buyers with change that too), but everything else should be hitting stores shortly!

-Tiffany

Joomi's Jewels

A few seasons ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Joomi Lim while working at the D&A tradeshow. Her booth was not too far away from mine, and Joomi is so friendly that I quickly struck up a conversation, and soon found out she was a blog reader. Joomi designs and runs the line with her husband Xavier, and I was immediately attracted by the unusual plating colors that they use on many of their pieces, which are alternatively bright blue-green or an almost iridescent oily purple color. I almost never encounter metal jewelry in these colors, aside from cheap aluminum chain, and I was incredibly impressed by the quality. It turns out that Xavier has a background in industrial design, giving the pair a toolbox of non-traditional design resources that they've applied to their jewelry.

The results combine feminine motifs like rhinestones and pearls, with tougher materials such as spikes, industrial looking chains, or the aforementioned titanium plating. Maybe it's just my imagination, but I feel like you can see a little bit of Joomi and a little bit of Xavier in each of the pieces, a lovely marriage (literally) of two complimentary creative aesthetics. Here are a few of my favorite pieces from the current and previous collections, which are available at Opening Ceremony and on Joomi's website.

-Tiffany

Comme As You Are

Comme des Garcons jumper, Comme des Garcons x H&M jacket, shirt from Bangkok, Banana Republic tights, Alexander Wang boots, Devaki hat, Charles Anastase sunglasses, French and English Confectioners backpack.

As soon as I got word of the first ever Comme des Garcons public sample sale in New York, I was jumping with excitement. Brandon, who is a Japanese designer fanatic, was hoping that word wouldn't spread while simultaneously leaking the information to everyone within earshot. Of course it didn't end up being much of a secret, and by the time I got there on the first day of the sale, there was a long line looping around the block. No matter. Some things are worth waiting for, and all of my friends who waited patiently to enter alternatively described it as "Christmas" and "heaven." I went with the intention of finding a plaid red jumper from the Fall 2008 collection that I had once made the mistake of letting go when it was severely discounted at Saks. I've kicked myself ever since, and knowing that the sale would be full of archival pieces from previous seasons, I set about to find it. I was lucky to grab the only one that I saw at the sale, and even though it still cost a pretty penny after 70% off, it was certainly worth it. Can't wait to see what everyone else got!

-Tiffany