The new spring/summer 2014 show from London fashion house Orla Kiely is definitely getting me. It's one part Suzy Bishop from Moonrise Kingdom, one part Anna Karina, and one part outdoor sock hop. I always appreciate the retro-inspired, feminine details that she puts into all her pieces along with her signature patterns. Clothing aside, I also love the styling of the set which is reminiscent of a natural history museum diorama. Looks like it's time to buy a beret and some pointelle knee socks for my next safari. See more from Orla Kiely here.
just the other day i was looking into my closet and that's when i realized i may officially have a problem with printed shirts - i have many of them - florals, dots, stripes, and oftentimes some that are covered in tiny animals. much to my dismay and horror, i realized that i am completely lacking in the cat print department. that's where fellow illustrator and seeming cat aficionado leah goren comes in. her scarves and simple tops feature her hand-drawn illustrations (a mix of old and new, above) which oftentimes end up being some version of a feline friend. i love her loose, illustrative style that walks the line between playful and sophisticated, and i'd be happy to have any of these cats, panthers, or other furry creatures join the rest of the gang in my closet. see more of leah's very lovely work here.
today i'm swooning over the pre-summer 2013 collection from alice by temperley, and while like many she is embracing the trend toward geos and native-inspired patterns, the pieces all still feel very feminine and flirty - the temperley signature! i'll take one of each. learn more about the brand here.
i love a good fashion exhibit - and there's a fantastic one out now, schiaparelli and prada: impossible conversations - so i'm a little miffed that i missed the opening at the met by mere days. the exhibit explores the similarities between the two iconic italian designers elsa schiaparelli and miuccia prada, despite their multi-generational gap, the former having worked in the 20s and 30s and the latter working from the 80s to the present. the exhibit is broken out into seven themed galleries, ranging from "the surreal body" to "naif chic," but all explore the way the women tackle similar concepts through different approaches to fashion. paired with each gallery is a baz luhrmann film featuring an "impossible conversation" between prada and an imaginary schiaparelli about the topic at hand. i was already a huge fan of both designers, and the clever way the museum has arranged their bodies of work just makes me appreciate them all the more. and hey, now i have an excuse to return to ny this summer! see more here.
i am oohing and aahing over the latest autumn/winter line by australian designer kate sylvester, inspired by the cult fim secretary. the collection is elegant while still being quirky, and despite the slightly risque origins each piece still feels completely wearable. minus the restraints. see more here.
this isn't totally new, but i've just come across the fabulous winter 2011 campaign for new zealand apparel brand twenty seven names. i was already a fan of their schoolgirl style, but i think this is a really clever, straightforward way to showcase their patterns - particularly that stripe which i am lusting after. photographed by guy coombes.
i'm really loving the pre-fall line that jonathan saunders showed this week, with its shades of turqs, oranges, yellows, grays and maroons. i'm a big fan of the retro interiors-inspired patterns and '60s schoolgirl silhouettes. and that orange dress? to die for. see more from the designer here.
sibling is a london-based knitwear company comprised of the very talented joe bates, sid bryan and cozette mccreary (my new favorite name by the way). it's always exciting to see people taking a traditional craft like knitting and still finding ways to make it fresh and new, especially with a nod to old school british style in the process. and i mean, there is a panda kiss sweater with sequins - these people can do no wrong as far as i'm concerned. while the line is designed for men, i'd happily sport one of these sweaters with a skirt and combat boots any day! learn more about sibling here.
