FabSugar

As Madewell's Epic Road Trip Begins, Creative Director Shares Her Wardrobe Must Haves

Noria Morales — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:23:41 PDT

Madewell launched a massive road trip yesterday, using a vintage Airstream as a kind of nomadic pop-up shop to bring its awesome (we can personally vouch for this) denim to cities and college campuses from Boston to Seattle. We stopped by the Airstream yesterday morning to share coffee, donuts, and Spring shopping tips with Kin Ying Lee, the ever hospitable and eternally cool creative director of Madewell who, by the way, was wearing a pair of floral-print corduroys from the forthcoming holiday collection. That means printed pants are not going away, yay! To get Kin's rundown on Spring basics, read below, and if you want to see this seriously cool refurbished Airstream (boasting dressing rooms, a denim bar, racks of clothes, and iPad docks so you can order whatever you want from the Madewell site), check out its special map for this road trip paved in denim.

Creative Director for Madewell Kin Ying Lee's Spring shopping essentials:

A chambray shirt: "This is key. I wear one ALL the time. It's great because you can layer with it, and wear it open. I wear it as a jacket as well."
Skinny ankle: "These look amazing with heels, sandals, short boots. It's a great denim jean for Spring because it's got a shorter inseam so it hits right at your ankle. You can show off those manicured feet. It's really sexy."
The boy jean: "I think in Spring and Summer you want something that's not so tight. A boy jean gives you that little slouch, and that casual, more effortless look. This and the skinny ankle are my two go-to jeans."
The crisp jacket: "More for layering, I like that it has a little structure, a little more tailored."
A burst of color: "Even if it's just a great t-shirt or a silk shirt, it gives you a little splash of color."
Shift dress: "It's straighter, that fit is great and friendly, because not everyone can wear a waisted dress."

Fashion Insiders Reveal Their Fashion Week Essentials, Hidden Talents, and More

Chi Diem Chau — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:15:18 PST

With New York Fashion Week starting today, we can only imagine the frenzy that comes in the weeks beforehand. If you've ever wondered how fashion insiders stay sane, beautiful, and calm during this hectic month (maybe they don't), listen up. We spoke to some of New York's most tenured about their Fashion Week essentials, beauty product go-tos, and, for our pure curiosity, their special hidden talents. Just click the slideshow to get up close and personal with Olivia Palermo, Rachel Roy, Rebecca Taylor, and more now.

Runway Retrospective: Alexander Wang

FabSugar — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:00:29 PST

Ever wonder how your favorite designers started? Fashion Week is almost upon us, so we're prepping with a study of some of the top American designers.

By now, the Wang girl is totally iconic; it's hard to imagine the world without Alexander Wang's vision of the downtown, edgy-cool chick. While urban street style existed before 2007, Alex Wang took it and refined it into something so insanely chic and wearable that every girl wants a piece, whether it's his slouchy denim, killer bags, or body-conscious dresses. Today, Alexander Wang is a global brand and one of the first places you look for something not so much sweet and pretty as utterly cool. Take a look back with this runway retrospective of Alexander Wang's relatively short - but unstoppable - career, and stay tuned for our full report on his upcoming Fall 2012 collection, taking place on February 11 during New York Fashion Week.

Flux Productions Creates a Brilliant Version of the Classic American Quilt

Elka Karl — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 04:00:44 PST

Ever since I first ran into Ryan Greer's stand, Flux Productions, at the Brooklyn Flea Market this past May, I've been a little obsessed with his line of handcrafted leather and cork bags, bracelets, and bicycle packs. I'm far from his only admirer, either - Ryan has collaborated with Thakoon and Osborn Design - and he's also dressed Justin Bieber's backup dancers. His work has also been featured everywhere from J. Crew's blog to GQ

Flux Production's latest offering are these very cool leather and cork wall art pieces, which remind me of a classic quilt. I talked to Ryan about his inspiration for this new offering from Flux Productions, which are available in numbers of 12, 15, and 20 and will cost $120, $150, or $190, respectively, for the sets. Currently, there's one listing for a set of 15 availble.

CasaSugar: What was your inspiration for this new project?

Ryan Greer: I'm very interested in old textiles and woven rugs and the new project seemed like a good opportunity to create something that referenced traditional quilt and rug patterns while using materials that have a more masculine, industrial feel (leather and cork).

Keep reading for the rest of the interview and a closer look at the new project from Flux productions.

Happy 80th Birthday to Design Legend Sir Terence Conran!

Lizzie Fuhr — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 05:00:54 PDT

You may not be familiar with the name Sir Terence Conran, but don't let that fool you. This man has left a lasting imprint in the world of interior design.

A pioneer in design work that transformed the look of the British home, Conran kicked off a design studio and later an architecture practice that has had a global impact on the world of interior design. In order to celebrate Sir Conran, a new exhibit, The Way We Live Now, at The Design Museum explores Conran's accomplishments whether it be key themes of his career or looking at where he channeled his inspiration. We wish we could go to London just to check it out!

Since we can no longer hop on the Concorde, we've decide to celebrate in our own way, by sharing some fascinating facts about Sir Terence Conran's legendary career. We could list his astounding accomplishments for days, but here are five things we find oh-so intriguing about Conran's legacy.

He's the brains behind the iconic store Habitat.
There was nothing cooler than London in the 1960s; Conran's spot, Habitat, totally broke down the preconceived notions of furniture stores of the past by blending pop culture, modern design, and an unprecedented retail experience.
He's a philanthropist.
In the '80s, Conran developed the The Conran Foundation, "an educational charity focused on promoting a better understanding of design." Its first big initiative was the Boilerhouse Project, a gallery housed in the basement of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Age doesn't define him.
Well into the late 2000s, Conran continued to open restaurants like Boundary in East London and Lutyens in Fleet Street.
He's a restaurateur.
Conran's background in architecture and designed propelled him into being a key player in the development of the new restaurant culture driven by a passion for simplicity.
He's a real knight!
Terence Conran became Sir Terence Conran in 1983.

Source

Runway Retrospective: Diane Von Furstenberg

FabSugar — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 04:00:28 PDT

Getting the pre-Fashion Week jitters? Us, too. Let's brush up on our fashion designer IQ and take a look back on the beautiful clothes that got them where they are today.

For more than 40 years, Diane von Furstenberg has designed beautiful, covetable dresses and ready-to-wear pieces for a strong, stylish, independent woman. Among her other chic milestones? Giving us a plethora of signature wrap-dress prints, being honored with the CFDA lifetime achievement award, moonlighting as a judge on America's Next Top Model, and committing millions of dollars to New York City's High Line public park. That said, each season DVF delivers a runway collection that celebrates bold femininity via print, color, and ultra-wearable silhouettes. There's a sense of playfulness, with a sophisticated finish, that evolves with the ebb and flow of trends. With her Fall '12 line debuting at the Lincoln Center on Feb. 12, we're taking a look back on von Furstenberg's collections from the past decade. Click through for our runway retrospective and make sure to stay tuned for our Fall 2012 DVF report.

Christophe Decarnin Leaves Balmain: A Look at How He Reinvented the House

Noria Morales — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 07:42:16 PDT

Short, tight, sexy, edgy. That pretty much sums up Christophe Decarnin's wildly successful design mantra during his five-year stint as head designer for Balmain. His collections helped reinvent the Parisian fashion house, ushering in a period of glamorously sharp-edged dressing that was part rock 'n' roll, part futuristic, and all provocative.
Regardless of the brand's success, WWD's report of Decarnin's splitting with Balmain comes as little surprise after rumors of mental health problems when the designer, following doctor's orders, missed his Fall 2011 show. A successor has not yet been named, so in the meantime, we're honoring Decarnin's transformative work at Balmain with a look of his work over the years. Click to see how Decarnin changed Balmain and our feelings about sharp-shouldered jackets.

Designer Karen Beauchamp Reveals the Inspiration Behind Swarovski's New Wallpaper

Elka Karl — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 05:00:55 PDT

Want to add some sparkle to your walls? The luxe new Swarovski Elements Wallpaper Collection is the perfect way to dress up your home. The wallpaper collection, which was designed by illustrious wallpaper designer Karen Beauchamp, features rich colors and classic designs that have all been adorned with meticulously placed Swarovski Elements. Check out my interview with Karen, and peek at some of the gorgeous designs in this collection.

Vena Cava's Designer Duo Dish on NYC Spring Essentials, Brooklyn Street Finds, and More

Marisa Tom — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 07:06:11 PDT

Without hesitation, Vena Cava is on my shortlist of must-wear brands, and the designer duo and BFFs Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock are two of the coolest PopSugar City girls I know. The ladies haven't taken a break since debuting their 2011 Fall collection in February. Currently, Buhai and Mayock are in Vietnam, rounding up inspiration for Spring 2012 (talk about springing forward). They just launched their awesome new ecommerce site, and even a world away, they still managed to give us the inside scoop on what every New York girl should have in her Spring wardrobe, where they find inspiration in the city, the best street "treasures" they've come across, and more.

PopSugar NYC: As a fellow West Coast defector, I'm curious, what was it about NYC in the initial stages that made you stay indefinitely?

Sophie Buhai: We both attended Parsons, so school is what brought us out to NYC. New York is really the place to be if you want to start a small fashion line; the industry is very supportive, and you have access to amazing production and all the editors. We felt very connected to an emerging group of designers who were all starting brands around the same time. The early 2000s were when the word "young designer" was exploding, and the economy was ripe for new talent. We were lucky to be in New York during that time, I don't think that could have happened if we had been in LA. We hope to make it out to LA at some point . . . perhaps when we launch our caftan line!

To find out what else the ladies have to say, head over to PopSugar NYC to read the whole interview.

John Galliano: Bad to the Bone or Just Misunderstood?

Noria Morales — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 09:40:05 PST

The news came out of Paris today - only a week before his Christian Dior Fall show - that John Galliano was arrested for verbal assault. We realize we don't know much about the brilliant designer whose most recent haute couture collection made us drool. He is undeniably a colorful character, with a cast of celeb fans including Charlize Theron and Natalie Portman. Click through the slideshow to see some of the designer's most unique style moments, and let us know your opinion! Is John Galliano bad to the bone or just misunderstood?