Kenya Inspired Design

In this recent sea of minimalism, Suno‘s stimulating collection jumped right out at me. While everyone’s been predicting a Chinois trend, I was still all about Africa (blame it on the stylings of Precious Ramotswe) and clearly on the same wavelength as designers Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty (so technically this is a style icon male and female entry and you, know what? I went to high school with an Erin Beatty, so I wonder…)

Anyways, fellow Cheyenne Mountain alumni or not, I think I would literally wear every piece from this fall/winter delivery. Every piece!! And that’s rare. The Suno name is a new one for me, but looking at the archives, they are clearly designers I wish I had discovered sooner. The prints are incredible, and inspired by years of Osterweis collecting textiles from visits to Kenya. Absolutely beautiful.

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Posted on February 21, 2010

directed by Berry Gordy (1975)

On a co-worker’s recommendation, I pushed the Diana Ross as young upstart fashion designer/model vehicle Mahogany to the top of my queue strictly for the over-sized jewelry (which, no doubt you know, I’m a big fan of – ever want to get me a gift, just type HUGE into the vintage jewelry section of eBay).

It’s a terrible movie, but the style is fantastic – plus, you’re exposed to constant flashes of the unbelievably broad smile of one the most charismatic men around (the great Billy Dee Williams) as well as a riveting and creepily realistic performance by go-to weirdo Anthony Perkins as a Machiavellian fame wrangler (at least, it feels accurate to me, though I’ve never personally been to the gun room of a Phil Spector type, but I imagine Perkins got it right).

The plot (which calls to mind a dumbed-down, simplified take on the story lines of Jacqueline Susann) is as thin as Ross, who plays “young” not entirely convincingly, but with an amazing amount of sassy charm – there’s a reason that this broad is a star! And there’s a reason her creation, Mahogany, is my style icon: it’s all kimono sleeves, rainbow gowns, jersey capes, feathers, statement hats, body paint, gonzo hairstyles, Egyptian influence, and sequined or Navajo wraps. LOVE IT. There are a good many stills to peruse below/after the jump.

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Posted on February 14, 2010

Amazing Costume Designer

Becoming a crazy warlord queen has never been at the top of my list of things to do – but if it was guaranteed that all my extreme headgear would be designed by Danilo Donati, I might just reconsider my priorities in life.

It was, funnily enough, one of his least revered films (Red Sonja) that got me into the man’s work. Featuring an achingly bad performance by Sandahl Bergman and a lanky Bridgitte Neilson who is out-shined by her monumental mullet (seriously it’s so long and crazy it takes mullets beyond ugly, beyond so ugly it’s kitschy and cool, and brings them to someplace special), Red Sonja is no masterpiece, but the costumes are the stuff of big necklace and golden spiked dreams.

With a little research I found that Donati was also responsible for the costumes in some of my favorite Fellini films, many of the films of Pasolini, and the disappointingly boring but visually wowing Caligula (see stills below/after jump). He also was behind the Roberto Benigni Pinocchio, right before he passed away, but before you judge him for it, you have to admit that funky suit is phenomenal. In 2007, Italians got to see his work in the Costume a corte exhibit, of which I found a few photos online here. I am so in love!

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Posted on January 10, 2010

Affordable Fashion

December 20th ladies, and it’s all bow belts, lace cardis, high waisted tights, skeleton dresses, flowy skirts, and envy of anyone living close to a quiet, empty Target for all!

In probably one of the most inspired and anticipated Target collaborations, sisters and dream weavers, Laura and Kate Mulleavy will grace the masses with their Rodarte creations.

I missed the pop up store at the Highline, but will not miss out on mustard colored lace when it hits stores!

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Posted on December 13, 2009

Couturiers

It would have been quite impossible not to choose Valentino and his partner Giancarlo Giammetti as this week’s style icons after watching Valentino: The Last Emperor. Their career and legacy of making beautiful couturier clothes for exquisite women speaks for itself.

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Posted on November 22, 2009