For its 2010 Autumn/Winter collection, DLC Brooklyn – DLC being the abbreviation for the oh-so-entertaining “Dirty Librarian Chains” – has found inspiration in the world of rock-n-roll. Founder and jewelry designer Susan Domelsmith has hand-selected and deconstructed vintage pieces, giving them new life through unique pairings, draping, knotting and tangling.

Primarily a mix of blue and gold tones, the new line calls to mind the warmer colors of autumn and winter. And DLC’s rock influence comes through in the combination of chains, charms and brooches, along with playful titles like the “Frequency Necklace,” the “Sound Wave Pocket Chain,” the cascading “Crescendo Earrings,” and the “Metronome Bracelet.”

DLC’s upcycled, modern style is perfect for dressing up or down, and comes at an affordable price point too. Most of her statement pieces range between $25 and $240. Available internationally, the line is getting some major celeb play as well, gracing the likes of Debbie Harry, Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow and the Vivian Girls.

And the latest line reinforces DLC Brooklyn’s commitment to sustainability as well. Working with pre-existing, often vintage pieces and packaging made from recycled materials, Domelsmith believes that beyond sustainability, that resourcefulness is also part of what makes the line so memorable. In her own words: “The materials and components of each design constantly change based on what is available, making each piece special and unique, as well as creating a dynamic history that arises from the interaction of individual vintage components.”

To learn more, visit www.dlcbrooklyn.com.

*above: DLC Brooklyn’s Metronome Necklace

*above: Amp Necklace

*above: Crescendo Prelude Verse

*above: Crescendo (detail)

*above: Cadenza

*above: Cadenza (detail)

*All images courtesy of DLC Brooklyn.

For anyone curious about the current pulse of global street fashion, here’s your new guidebook.
Street View, a new title from Nylon Magazine and Rizzoli, takes a globe-trotting look at style on the streets in seven of the world’s most fashionable cities: New York, London, Tokyo, Stockholm, Barcelona, L.A. and Montreal.

Exploring the differences and similarities in trends round the globe, Street View goes straight to the source, with photos and profiles of stylish residents from each city, including their sources of inspiration, favorite local shops and websites. (See below!) The result? Aspiring fashionistas can enjoy the look and deconstruct it all at the same time.

And let’s face it, what better way to start than by hitting the streets for inspiration? Especially since today’s street style can often inspire next season’s runway looks.

Street View comes out next month, but is available for pre-order now on Amazon.

Street View: The New Nylon Book of Global Style
by the staff of Nylon Magazine
Paperback/256 pages/225 photographs
Published by Rizzoli
$24.95 US
Available in September

*above: Tokyo’s “Baby Mary,” dressed in a Maison Michel & Chanel headpiece, Valentino blouse, and skirt boots and bracelet by Louis Vuitton. Describing her style, she says, “I love to be a hardcore princess today!” And her city in three words? “Harajuku!! Can’t stop loving.”

above: Writer/law student Noah, from Los Angeles, here dressed in his “casual fall attire,” says his style icon is Theodore Roosevelt. His city in three words? “The finest around.”

*above: Barcelona’s Andres, in a vintage jacket, t-shirt and scarf from American Apparel, H&M trousers and Marc Jacobs chain, calls Winona Ryder his style icon, “because she never spends a cent when she goes shopping.”

*All images courtesy of Rizzoli

French-Colombian designer Sylvia Toth’s fashion line, WARMI, blends tradition with modernity by interpreting Latin American folk craftsmanship with a European flair. Launched in 2008, every WARMI collection is entirely handcrafted by women weavers of the Colombian villages of Tausa and Sutatausa. Each handmade item is numbered and signed by the artisan who made it. Their traditional, meticulous techniques result in whimsical garment and accessories collections where “every piece has a particular aura, charged with the soul of the weavers.”

Born in Colombia, Toth is now Paris-based, though she makes frequent trips back to Colombia. A child of two cultures, her dual-identity serves an inspiration for what is ultimately a very personal brand, and one that bridges her cultural backgrounds. “In Paris, I’m at the center of information, arts, culture…that’s where I create,” Toth says. “Bogota is the city where everything is possible, a rich mixture of modern architecture, blue mountains, misery, wealth and the bizarre. A place where people always wear a smile… This is where I recharge my batteries and produce my creations, shoulder to shoulder with the artisans.”

The word WARMI means “woman” in Quechua, one of the last indigenous languages that still exists in the Andean region. Describing the brand, Toth shares, “WARMI is not only a tribute to women – as artisans, a life force and the ultimate creators – but also to the tradition of a craft and ancestral ‘savoir faire’ from a culture that is fading away.”

For each new collection, Toth is inspired by everything from classical art to the streets. “I am very inspired by medieval art, especially the animal representations found in the ‘Bestiaires.’ I love their mythical and ‘brut’ dimension,” she says. And her list of varied inspirations goes on. “All the work done by the naïf painters: Seraphine, Douanier Rousseau. Their primitive yet very modern vision! Or in a more contemporary scene, Walton Ford. The Colombian popular culture is very inspiring too… a kind of surreal POP-FOLK! An indigene, African and catholic syncretism…In fashion I love the work of Nicolas Ghesquière or Muccia Prada for Miumiu.”

Currently, Toth is working on a series of prints inspired by Jean Cocteau’s drawings, and enjoying the power of Frida Khalo’s work.

Check out highlights from WARMI’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection below, named “Delices,” the French word for “Pleasure of a great subtilité and intensity.” This playful knit collection reflects Toth’s signature talent for combining modern elements with classic imagery and folklore, and, according to Toth, expresses a desire to find the divine condition. Featuring Eden-like figures – a bird, a peacock, a serpent – “Delices” calls to mind Eve’s grace period before the fall…

*All images courtesy of WARMI.
For more information, visit warmi.fr.

This summer, London’s Somerset House is proud to host Maison Martin Margiela ’20’ The Exhibition; a major exhibition celebrating 20 years of one of contemporary fashion’s most influential and enigmatic designers.

Young as its history is, no other fashion house has had quite the same impact on our understanding of fashion and its relationship to history, craft, commerce and innovation. 20 years on, Maison Martin Margiela’s radical questioning and rethinking of what fashion is, how we clothe the body and ideals of human beauty, is still as groundbreaking as ever. This multi-layered exhibition captures Margiela’s one-of-a-kind aesthetic and vision spanning the past two decades, by incorporating installations, photography, video and film.

The show provides an opportunity to learn more about the brand and its philosophy through a visual examination of themes that underpin the essence of the fashion house since its creation – from its deconstructivist, subversive design aesthetic and avant-garde couture to its understated branding, unusual boutique interiors and ‘trompe-l’oeil’ or optical illusion and its couture atelier white coats. Various iconic pieces from both the women and menswear collections will be on display, such as the highly replicated ‘Tabi’ boots, as well as specially recreated garments for the exhibition.

Conceived in close collaboration with Maison Martin Margiela and curated by the Mode Museum, Antwerp, the show makes its London debut where it will be specially reconfigured for the Embankment Galleries, following critical acclaim at the MoMu, Antwerp and Haus der Kunst, Munich last year.

A graduate of Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Martin Margiela formerly worked as design assistant to Jean Paul Gaultier before showing his first collection under his own label in 1988. Employing a ‘deconstructivist’ approach – monochromatic palette, outsized garments, non-traditional fabrics, the use of recycled materials and exposing the construction of his clothes – Margiela displayed a radically new visual language that diametrically opposed the power dressing of the 1980s. Often referred to as the seventh member of the “Antwerp Six,” Margiela early on decided to let his fashion speak for itself and remain anonymous. As a result, Margiela as a brand is driven by product and sheer invention rather than fad, hype and celebrity often linked to other fashion labels.

Visitor details below. And if you’d like an abbreviated walk-through of the exhibit, take a look at Somerset House’s video below!

MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA ‘20’ THE EXHIBITION
Now through September 5th
An exhibition at Somerset House, London:
Somerset House Embankment Galleries, Stand, London, WC2R 1LA
Open daily 10.00 to 18.00.
Tickets: Adult £6, Concessions £5, Under 12s Free
For further information, call 020 7845 4600

*Images courtesy of Somerset House.

British milliner Jane Taylor‘s handcrafted, stunning hats and headpieces are inspired by vintage materials and classic designs, embellished with vintage feathers, veiling, lace, gems and antique adornments. Every hand crafted piece is unique, and Taylor works closely with clients throughout the design process to achieve tailor made pieces to perfectly suit clients’ specifications.

Taylor has collaborated with leading British designers such as Caroline Charles and has worked with well known figures in the music industry to create bespoke headpieces used in music videos and television appearances. Her pieces have featured in fashion pubs like VOGUE, Elle, Tatler and Harpers.

Jane Taylor’s pieces can be purchased online, and in the next week, her whole diffusion range will be available to view and buy in the online shop: www.janetaylormillinery.com/catalog/Shop/.

For us, it was love at first sight. Check out Taylor’s latest works below (beautifully photographed by Sarah Jones), and let us know what you think!

CREDITS:
Photography: Sarah Jones Photography
Make-up Artist: RMP Makeup
Fashion Styling: Kate Anya Styling
Dresses: Lisa Redman

Not too long ago, London-based shoe designer Lislie Yeung became very interested in the idea of albinos. It all began when she read an article about the spotting of an albino dolphin in Louisiana. The idea that something natural could look so surprisingly unnatural – based on our personal familiarities and expectations – really struck the young designer. So she began to explore albino-related images, and created a list of vocabulary that encapsulated the overall mood and qualities she associated with them. The result? Flash forward a short time and Yeung introduces the Albino shoe collection, a series that goes just a bit beyond the expected. It combines various shades and textures of white in different, exotic skins, shades of blush and gradient-dyed lace and strong, contrasting blacks.

Yeung was born in Hong Kong, and received her BFA at Parsons School of Design in fashion womenswear. Post graduation, she designed for 4 years for the likes of Sam Edelman, Calvin Klein and Tara Subkoff. Following in the footsteps of shoe legends like Jimmy Choo, Yeung got her masters at Cordwainers college in London. Her shoes have been displayed, among other locations, at the V&A for a LuLu Guiness 20th anniversary event.

For more info and images from the collection, visit notjustalabel.com/lislieyeung or lislieyeung.com.

*Images courtesy of Lislie Yeung.

New York-based handbag designer Jess Rizzuti‘s Spring/Sumer 2010 collection features handcrafted, timeless pieces with just the right amount of edge. It includes three signature styles: the Fifi Carry-All for everyday use, the Lola Satchel day-to-night bag, and the Fiona Baguette for a night out. All three are constructed with a self-frame handle and include details such as a detachable shoulder strap, inside zipper pockets, and pockets for phones and accessories.

And, new for this season, Rizzuti introduces an elegant little cork bag, available in a natural cork with gold leaf flecks, a gilded burlap handle and a hand-printed wavy gray details. The cork handbag incorporates eco-friendly materials while maintaing the sophisticated style of the rest of the signature collection. In terms of materials, according to Rizzuti, “Each bag features a diverse combination of the finest Italian and Argentinean skins, each rich in color.” The collection incorporates embossed croc, patent leather python, and pebble grain in combination with smooth leathers. The collection ranges from $290-$558.

Rizutti has a background in textiles, and earned her stripes at RISD and FIT before launching her eponymous line in 2008. To learn more about Jess Rizzuti, visit jessrizzuti.com.

*above: Fifi in gunmetal

*above: Cork Bag

*above: Fiona in smoke

*above: Lola in champagne

*above: Fiona in black graphite

*All images courtesy of Jess Rizutti.

Opening this week at the Brooklyn Art Museum, “American High Style: Fashioning a National Collection” celebrates the unique costume collection-sharing partnership between the Brooklyn Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. An easy solution for anyone in need of a major fashion fix, the exhibition will include some 85 masterworks from the newly established Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and mark the first time in more than two decades that a large-scale survey drawn from the Brooklyn Museum’s pre-eminent collection will be on public view.

A simultaneous exhibition, “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity” (the first show at
the Metropolitan Museum to be drawn from the Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection), will be on view at the Met from May 5 through August 15, 2010.

The Brooklyn exhibit will present works dating from the mid-19th century to the late 20th century, augmented by a selection of accessories, drawings, sketches, and other fashion-related materials.Display pieces include fashions by the first generation of American women designers such as Bonnie Cashin, Elizabeth Hawes, and Claire McCardell, as well as material created by Charles James, Norman Norell, Gilbert Adrian, and other important American designers. Also included will be works by French designers who had an important influence on American women and fashion such as Charles Frederick Worth, Elsa Schiaparelli, Jeanne Lanvin, Jeanne Paquin, Madeleine Vionnet, and Christian Dior.

Objects range from ball gowns to beachwear. Included are Schiaparelli’s Surrealist insect necklace (see below!), considered by experts to be one of the most important works in the collection; elaborate ballgowns and day wear by Charles James; evening ensembles by Charles Frederick Worth, Christian Dior, and Mainbocher; street wear by mid-20th-century designers including Vera Maxwell and Claire McCardell; a group of hats by legendary milliner Sally Victor; and dazzling evening wear by Norman Norell.

“This is truly a landmark moment in the history of museum exhibitions. It is at once a celebration of a unique collection-sharing program between Brooklyn and the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a remarkable history of the Brooklyn collection that traces the evolution of fashion in America from its 19th-century European beginnings through the late 20th century,” says Brooklyn Museum Director Arnold L. Lehman.

“American High Style” is on view May 7 through August 1, 2010.

Brooklyn Art Museum
200 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11238-6099
(718) 638-5000

*above: Schiaparelli Necklace, autumn 1938. Jean Clement (French) for Elsa Schiaparelli.
The Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

*above: Scaasi Evening Ensemble, ca. 1958. Arnold Scaasi (American, born Canada, 1931).
American Silk. The Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

*above: Norell Pajamas, 1970–71. Norman Norell (American 1900–1972). Cotton, silk, beads.
The Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

*above: Maxwell Ensemble, ca. 1958. Vera Maxwell (American, 1901–1995). American Wool.
The Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

*above: James Ball Gown, 1955. Charles James (American, born England, 1906–1978). American
Silk. The Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

*above: American High Style Installation Image, courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum.

*above: American High Style Installation Image, courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum.

*Images courtesy of Brooklyn Museum of Art.

Next week, Zac Posen‘s new style- and wallet-friendly line hits Target stores nationwide. The limited-edition celeb-designer collection is part of Target’s GO International® program, designed to provide affordable fashion created by world-renowned designers. Available through May 30th, Posen’s offerings capture his characteristic streamlined feminine aesthetic at prices the rest of us can afford ($16.99-$199.00).

The Zac Posen for Target collection offers fresh takes on some of the iconic pieces that have sculpted the New York-based Zac Posen brand. With a focus on dresses and strong prints, it includes Target’s first designer full-length gown, a tuxedo suit, a red suede jacket and bold, metallic swimwear. Other highlights include: seek silhouettes modernized by neon lipstick graffiti, flirty floral prints, exposed zippers and large bows, 80′s inspired chiffon ruffles and pleats, retro-inspired swimwear, rock tees, knitwear and summer dresses.

Check out a sneak peek of the collection below (the top dress is a personal fave)!

*Images courtesy of Target.

London-based fashion designer Lu Flux presents “Dame & Knight,” a fairytale-inspired Autumn/Winter 2010 collection. Working with salvaged, vintage and organic fabrics, she applies traditional techniques like knitting and patchwork to create contemporary mens and womenswear collections. Her aim is to make something new out of something old, consuming less and reducing waste. Check out Lu Flux’s “Damsel in this Dress” (top) and other looks below…

*All images courtesy of Lu Flux.