18 juillet 2008
Trina Turk
Born in California and raised there and in the state of Washington, her mother taught her to sew when Turk was just 11-years-old. She studied fashion design at the University of Washington and took her first job with the Seattle-based sportswear manufacturer, Britannia Jeans. Turk’s next stop was Los Angeles where she waded into a sea of 30 prints per season designing surfwear for Ocean Pacific. Other jobs designing mostly juniors followed.
With design and production headquartered in Alhambra, California, Trina Turk’s sales topped 16 million in 2001. A year later the company opened a boutique in Palm Springs, another in Los Angeles in 2003 and New York in 2006. Trina’s most current honor was being awarded The Fashion Achievement at the LA Fashion Awards in 2005.*
To find out more, click here
*Text taken from the designer'S official website!
05 mai 2008
Canadian designer: Montréal's Joseph Helmer
Yesterday was all kinds of fun. First, I went to the Farha Foundation fundraising event, au coeur de la mode and although I didn't buy anything, I am glad I went. It was worth it.
On my way out of the venue, I crashed into a pot of gold and met designer Joseph Helmer. His beautiful dresses were exposed at the Palais des congrès. I remember reading about him in various magazines and couldn't believe my luck when I ran into him. He was nice enough to allow me to take pictures and here are my favorite pieces from his patchwork collection:
Dubbed the closest thing Canada has to haute couture, Joseph Helmer returned to Montréal after twenty years of European design experience. He started with the likes of Narciso Rodriguez in Spain and Marc Jacobs in Paris and spent most of his "exodus" in the city of lights working with designers such as John Galliano, Thierry Mugler, Karl Lagerfeld and Christian Lacroix.
Today, Helmer is an accomplished designer in his own rights and has received rave reviews from all around the fashion world.
Here are a few pieces from his other collections:
To see more, click here
DID YOU KNOW?
The designer was given a prestigious award from former first lady Madame Chirac for the astounding work he provided to Paris.
02 avril 2008
Accessory designer: Natalia Brilli
"Born in Liège, Belgium, Natalia Brilli studied at the prestigious Cambre school in Brussels. Straddling the worlds of theatre and fashion, she designed sets and costumes whilst simultaneously collaborating with established fashion designers. After joining Paris' IFM (Fashion French Institute) in 2003, she decided to devote all her energy to her life's passion: fashion accessories.
In 2004 she joined Rochas where she still works to this date. That same year she launched her own label, which was snapped up by Maria Luisa, Browns and Barneys.
Appropriating the emblematic codes of classic jewelry, Natalia's pieces have an ethereal presence, monochromatic yet weightless, their essence freed from unnecessary embellishment.
Her inspiration follows the natural rhythm of the seasons without ever forsaking her signature "pearls", and her colour range, limited in the beginning to black, green and purple, now includes pastel tones with natural or metallic finishes."
Some of her accessories are available here in Montréal at the trendy boutique Reborn; for more info, 514-499-8549.
*text from valeriedemure.com, pics courtesy of: l'expresse, valeriedemure.com, hoses-limited.com and erinbasin.com
21 mars 2008
Gerard who? Gerard Darel...by F.
- Once dubbed Europe's best kept secret, Gerard Darel is today, known around the world for its appealing designs. The bags are timeless, chic and covoted by celebrities as well as girls next door. Insanely popular in France, I can honestly say that most of my friends there own at least one Gerard Darel bag.
- My favorite thing about the brand? It is not as pricey as other designers bags. Let's be real: we have priorities and some of us can not afford ridiculously expensive accessories.
- There are unfortunately only a handful of Gerard Darel stores in North America....And yes, we are among the chosen ones. There is a store here in Montréal on 1050 Sherbrooke Street West.
DID YOU KNOW?
The biggest misconception about Gerard Darel is that the designer behind the brand is a man named...well you guessed it...Gerard Darel. Actually, it was created by married couple Gerard Gerbi and Dannielle Darel who both gave their first and last name respecitively to the brand.
09 mars 2008
Designer Jessica Simpson...by F.
Below are pictures of Jessica Simpson promoting her accessories line at Dillards -department store- in Texas over the week-end.
The lime green bag looks cute (from what I can see); see the rest of her collection here.
08 novembre 2007
Canada's own: Corrine Anestopoulos by F.
Meet young Canadian jewelry designer Corrine Anestopoulos.
On how she started her jewelry line, Biko designs, Corrine says : "I fell into the business, as friends kept borrowing all my pieces and coming back with the most flattering compliments. It was at this point that I realized I should get this out to the public."*
Her friends were not the only ones to notice Corrine's talents as she has had her creations as key accessories in different fashion shows and was featured in numerous magazines.
I absolutely love her jewelry. Her pieces are trendy and yet unique; each one perfect for any fashionista in constant search of individuality. She's definitely my jewelry designer crush of the moment. I want them all.
Like what you see? Then head to her website to see more as well as stores that carry her line in your city. If you are too cold to go shopping or live in the US, you can head to Sugardaddy in the comfort of your home and have the goodies delivered to your door. Easy like sunday morning!
*excerpts taken from Sugarcaine Entertainment article written by fashion writer Preety
29 octobre 2007
Happy Monday! By F.
If you are anything like me then you probably loathe mondays especially after a fun-filled week-end; here are a couple of goodies to ease you into the week.
In 2005, Zufi Alexander 
was awarded " New accessories designer of the year". And with her Autumn-Winter 2007-2008 collection, a hip and fresh, timeless and yet current approach to the most functional accessory: the bag, she is definitely on her way to getting more awards. To view the gorgeous collection, click here.
N.B. The white bag is not from her current collection
CANADA ARE YOU WATCHING?
Project Runway Canada
Mondays @ 10:00 pm with Iman
Check your local listings!