DIY: Proenza Schouler x J Brand Graffiti Jeans

Ever since I first saw these Proenza Schouler x J Brand collaboration jeans make their way down the runway as part of the Fall 2010 runway show, I’ve been contemplating ways to make these jeans find their way into my closet. The jeans are Japanese stretch denim that have been graphically printed and then hand painted to accentuate texture making each pair uniquely fabulous.

Unfortunately this level of fabulous does not come cheap and at $550 a pair they are out of my Fall budget. Fortunately with a little bit of time to spare and a lovely pair of black jeans already in my closet, I was ready to take a stab and create my own take on these jeans. I sort of combined 2 of the combos together using both white and blue to create a slightly different finish. I started off with a trusty pair of black skinny jeans (I used Rich & Skinny but you can use just about any pair).

I had picked up some bottles of both white and primary blue fabric paint at the art supply store. They cost me about $1.50 a bottle. I used a styrofoam plate for carefree mixing and easy brush access and a nylon bristle brush. I also had an old plastic container available with clean water and a scrap piece of paper to cover my work area.

Then I started with the white paint making scribbly loose circular patterns across the front of the jeans while occasionally dipping the paint brush in water to help create more fluid lines and varying opacities.

Continue creating scribbles/circles until you have completely covered the front of the jeans. I was impatient and was curious as to how it would look so I actually did one leg at a time. The great thing about this project is that there is a lot of room for your own interpretation and you don’t have to be too careful about the order in which you do things, I actually went back several times later on to create more scribbles in certain colors on areas that appeared to need more attention.

I started to add in blue and other colors in the same family. I actually decided to use some acrylic paint I had at home for additional color variation. I’m not sure how it will hold up in the wash but seeing as it’s plastic when it dries, I’m hoping it will be all good.

When the front is dry the back is ready to work on. Make sure that you cover all areas, including waistband and around the pockets if possible. When the back is complete, allow to dry before working on the sides. You can flatten the legs out sideways and fill in any gaps that you have missed for a more continuous effect.

Voila! And there you have it! Although it’s a slightly different finish, I think it get’s the overall statement across. I’m pretty happy with the results! What do you think?

iWant: Cynthia Rowley's Fall Feathers

Ever since Erin wrote about Cynthia Rowley's fall 2010 show, I've been dreaming of fall feathers. I love the movement and volume of feathers, especially with these pieces. They're so feminine and fun!

Silk & Feather Tufted Dress


Wear It Now Feather Dress


Grey Feather Tutu
These pieces are now available in-stores and online at cynthiarowley.com. They range from $330-$495, so not exactly something I can buy today, but one can dream!

Big K gets Stylish?

I don't know about you guys but when I picture K-mart, I can't get some of the negative connotations behind the store out of my mind. Linoleum beige floors, unflattering fluorescent lighting, mysterious wet substance on the floor, jogging pants but in a bad way. Yes, I know it's the K-mart of the early 90s in Canada and probably not representative of what you all know! I've since checked out K-mart in NYC and definitely been surprised at the changes in the store but still fashion is the last thing that crosses my mind. But if Target and even Walmart are making/attempting to get in the designer high-low game why not Big K too?

Well according to Style.com they are well on their way with the recent recruitment of "designers from the trenches of Gap, Ralph Lauren, Club Monaco, and elsewhere. (The senior designer apprenticed at Yves Saint Laurent!)". With this kind of pedigree behind them, what can we expect to be hitting the shelves come Fall 2010? "Staple items such as a military-inspired A-line peacoat; a fitted, zip-detailed bomber jacket; and a skinny cargo pant, as well as more daring pieces, like a cropped faux fur vest". Most items will be under the $50 mark while nothing will top $100. I'm def curious to see more and plan to run by stores as this merch is hitting shelves any day now!

TopShop Fall 2010 Lookbook

I personally don't TopShop too often because in my opinion it can be bit expensive for the quality, but I am always a fan of their lookbooks and styling. Going through TopShop's fall 2010 lookbook, I noticed that a lot of trends from last season are still strong such as: studs, mesh, oxfords, lace-up boots, black and neutrals, all of which I have in my closet! In an effort to attempt minimalism or at least practice a little more self control, I've identified a few key pieces that I'm placing on my wishlist to update my closet.


Cape JacketCape jacket, capelet, swing coat... I've been wanting one of these for years, but I just haven't found one that I've been in love with. They look so elegant over skirts and dresses, and they add a touch of sophistication and drama.


Leather ShortsI love the look of leather shorts - the texture and slight sheen. If I were to buy a pair of leather shorts this season, I would probably go with black to match with my existing wardrobe. If I had plenty of money and space, then I would consider a brown pair to wear into next spring.


Hats & Hair PiecesI have a weakness, and that weakness is for novelty items like pom pom pieces and studded caps. The piece on the left reminds me of the pom pom hat I wanted from Diane von Furstenberg's fall 2009 Nomad collection. Perhaps TopShop will be my affordable solution!

Preview: Neurotica Fall Winter 2010 Lookbook

Browsing through Neurotica's new lookbook, I started to get excited at the thought of fall and winter. This collection titled "Thief in the Night" stays true to Neurotica's signature look of soft jersey and hand-illustrated prints.

These are my favorite looks from the lookbook. A hood with cat ears is obviously a little kitschy, but I think the ears on this piece are subtle enough for everyday wear, especially when compared to the bunny ears popping up at mass market retailers like TopShop and Forever21.

The bottom photos, I'm in love with drapey pants. I have yet to find a pair that work on my shorter frame, but I may give these a try when they hit stores. If not the pants, I will definitely consider the circle scarf - or "snood" (hood + scarf) if you must. And of course, I'm in love with the cape dress. You know how much I love capes!

The pom pom necklace (top left) is part of an accessories collaboration with textile artist Gemma Marissa. Neurotica can be found in the US at Reward, OAK, Pixie Market, Acrimony, Buy Definition, Candystore and 80's Purple.

Trends: The Big Tease

I was looking at the Dior cruise collection this morning and I noticed that the 60s styling and it's time for us to bring back the pink but I couldn't help but be fascinated by the great big hair on every model! In fact it was virtually identical to the hair Rochas had in Fall 2010 collection.

What can I say except the bouffant look has me reaching for the nearest comb and ready to tease the heck out of it. The bigger the hair the more confidence a woman has! Sexy, demure perfection or better left in the past? Woud you wear this look?

Preview: Funktional Clothing Fall 2010

A couple weeks ago Erin and I previewed the fall collection from Sugar Rock Catwalk favorite, Funktional. As with the past two seasons, Funktional's fall 2010 is on trend and well made at an affordable price point!
This collection is full of useful, versatile pieces. Our favorites include the military anorak and flannel dress; both would be great for layering in the fall.


Funktional is perfect great for finding those relaxed, downtown cool pieces. Think flowly, drapey and voluminous tops and lots of cut outs. Almost all of our favorite pieces from Funktional fall 2010 have sexy scoops.

Erin's favorite piece from the collection was this leather jacket. It's a shame we didn't have better lighting or a better camera to highlight the fabulous draping and panels. This is another really versatile piece; it looks great opened and closed.

My favorite "must-have" piece that we previewed was actually from Funktional's summer 2010 collection. I loved this floral dress because it's unlike anything else in my wardrobe. It's pretty feminine with the open back and flowly fabric, but the black zipper and cutout shoulders make this dress fresh and edgey.

As mentioned before, we're both huge fans of Funktional. Good design, quality construction and affordable price point, what's not to love? You can find Funktional in-stores at boutiques and online at Revolve Clothing, Nasty Gal and Need Supply. And for all you bargain shoppers, several pieces are marked down at shopacrimony.com though sizes are running low - act fast!

For a full store locator, check out funktionalcollection.com.

Preview: Le Sang des Betes Fall 2010

Le Sang des Bêtes by Trang Chau has been on our radar ever since we saw her spring 2010 collection. Last night we had the wonderful opportunity of previewing her fall collection.


The fall collection, titled Holding Pattern, consisted of gothic, drapey pieces made with a minimalist color palette of nudes and black. The pieces were well-made with high-quality fabrics, and seeing the pieces in person, I could see Trang's attention to detail like perforated leather trim.
Compared to the previous collection, the fall pieces are softer and more appropriate for everyday wear. While I do miss some of the playfulness and sculptural elements of the spring collection, I also appreciate the darker, more somber look and feel for fall.

Preview: Doo.Ri's Under.Ligne Fall 2010

Doo-Ri Chung's diffusion line Under.Ligne is looking pretty sizzling hot for Fall 2010. I got a chance to stop by her studio the other night and chat with the designer about her collection and get an intimate look and feel for the designs.

She started her diffusion line in Fall 2009 after some encouragement of some friends who thought that the world would benefit from the designer bringing her aesthetic to a wider audience. She started small with 8 pieces in jersey meant to be worn on their own or mixed and matched with pieces from her signature line. The response by the public and retailers was phenomenal and as a result the line as grown dramatically.

It's not hard to see why with the easy to wear separates that are not only super flattering but flawlessly sexy and cool as well. I've picked some of my faves from the lookbook and her studio to share with you.

This trench coat is one of my personal faves it combines a watercolor print on a brushed twill fabric that is soft to the touch and a really great piece for transitional dressing. This piece could easily work it's way into spring a well. Another great piece are these Ponte/Leather leggings in a fabric that actually has some substance, so you could wear them as pants without feeling overly exposed. The drapey shirt behind the pants I think is absolutely great in super soft jersey as it could be worn as a top or open as a cardigan. If I owned this, I think I would wear it to bits!

I think that Lani would have loved to see this shaggy vest! It is a very warm and textural piece that adds instant drama to some skinny jeans and a basic t. Even the basics have gotten a bit of flair added from lightly padded shoulders to the soft drape across the hem ensuring this top won't cling to the stomach!

I can't wait for this collection to hit stores! Pieces retail from about $175-475.

The designer is super petite and adorable in addition to being friendly, personable and undeniably real. She tells me that she started styling her hair in twin braids out of function and not necessarily style. She actually taught girl's how to braid their hair when she was in college but she didn't start wearing her hair this way until she started sketching as it was hard for her to concentrate with her hair falling in her face. As tight ponytails gave her a headache, she discovered braids did not hurt her head and she has been wearing her hair this way ever since. Perhaps I need a lesson in braiding because although it's functional I think it's also a great way to wear your hair!