As a younger more impressionable design enthusiast would say: " I DIE!" via lorismarazzi.com Continue reading

This exhibition just ended, but what an amazing digital recreation of this remote region from the South of France! This beautiful multimedia installation was created by New York artist Doug Aitken Described by Aitken as “land art for the electronic age,” Altered Earth: Arles, City of Moving Images explores the relationship between, man, technology, and nature. AND... there's an app for that! Installed in the Grand Hall of the Parc des Aterliers in Southern France, the commission comprises giant cinematic screens that have been hung from the ceiling to appear as though they are hovering. Each screen projects its own... Continue reading

Researching videos for a new Accessory Design class I am writing I came across this video. It gave me so much satisfaction to watch something made by hands. There is something magical about carving the wood and stretching the leather and making an object you can wear. I have so much respect for anybody who spends 30 years to get something right! The Last Clog Maker in England from Artisan Media on Vimeo. Continue reading

This our second story from Derrick Jones, who had the opportunity to spend time with Greek photographer and artist Nikos Rakkas: Nikos Rakkas has recently traveled to my hometown of Rome to take part in an exhibition devoted to photography of the deep and sensual. At The Room gallery in Rome the mix was eclectic. photography from all over europe and each offering a different perspective on emotion mixed with fashion. Nikos seems to grab the essence of the dark mood of Greek youth. Full of turmoil, want, anger, frustration, sex, energy... All portraits in these series, but what Nikos... Continue reading

I'm sure you've seen the troubling news coming from Greece again and again about riots and economic crisis, but what does it mean for the creative industries? Photogrpahers? Fashion designers? How are they adapting and surviving during these difficult times? Some of these personal stories are brought to you in th enext two posts by our Italian corespondent Derrick Jones. It had been a good year since I had stepped foot in Athens for work. It all came back to me quickly. The passion, the sounds and the heat! I reunited with some friends that I hadn't seen in awhile.... Continue reading

Feeling inspired by the upcoming hurricane Sandy, combined with full moon and a nor-easter, this project by Stéphanie Baechler seemed appropriate. It has the windblown look and diconstructed feel, but refined with a solid concept. To put it in her own words: The starting point for her project was formations, shapes and material combinations that resulted from the accidental rather than the conscious. via: http://stephaniebaechler.com/ Continue reading

Sydney Seltzer's thesis fashion collection was inspired by her journal and how obsessively she writes in it. She has been writing in these books for years now and has a total of six of them. After looking at them she realized that they have become progressively more obsessive and controlled. She would write down what she had to do for the day and scribble it out perfectly on each page. For this collection she started thinking about the idea of control, and how she uses these books as a way to have some sort of "control" in her own life... Continue reading

Nicole Ghosn is a fashion design graduate from the fashion design BFA program at Parsons. Her thesis is a crochet-based collection, titled: “From mother to daughter.” Her collection reminded me of my grandmother's craftsmanship and it transported me right back to my own childhood. Nicole's inspiration came to her during a summer she spent in Northern Lebanon, where her family has its roots. Having grown up all over the world, in cities, with modern values she felt disconnected from her family’s roots and tradition. Nicole discovered the crochet table covers that had moved houses and countries with her family, and... Continue reading

Here is part two of the Parsons fashion design thesis show - graduating class of 2012. Continue reading

This is already old news as it happened last week and we all know how fast fashion trends come and go. But I think it is never too late to recognize the talent of the Parsons fashion graduates who have worked on their collections for a full year... blood, sweat and tears. And I swear I have seen it all and more. The Parsons Annual Gala Benefit show happened last night and I am enclosing some of my favorites in this post. In the next couple of weeks I'll feature some of my favorite collections as they happened through the... Continue reading

Laura Siegel, fashion design graduate from Parsons was one of the truly exciting fashion presentations I saw this season. I am so impressed by the ability of a 25 year old designer to create such a thoughtful well rounded collection complete with collaborations for accessories like shoes and necklaces and stationary. She consistently works with artisans in India to create block printing and natural dye process techniques for continued sustainable practices. Laura Siegel F/W'12 - Behind the Scenes from OAKJO on Vimeo. Continue reading

Wishing you lots of love and happiness... and a closet full of shoes! photo by Frederik Lieberath. Continue reading

Interactive designer Carrie Mae Rose's Wearable Weapons are built to provoke, inspire, and protect the wearer. She is currently an Artist in Resident at Eyebeam in Chelsea, New York City. Continue reading

Congratulations to Hyeyoung Kim, a graduate of Parsons The New School for Design, who is the winner of the Christian Louboutin / Bergdorf Goodman contest! The famous red-soled stilettos were used as inspiration for a clothing collection and the winners were unveiled at Bergdorf Goodman. Their dresses will remain on display there through February 8. Continue reading

Hiding inside each one of us there is an untold story of joy and sorrow. No matter how much we reveal to the outside world, there's always another layer... Styling, photos Marieta Tzenova Continue reading

Some clothing stores spend thousands of dollars arranging window displays, others just display the merchandise. Photo by Sajad Jamali for National Geographic Feb 2012 Continue reading

Some of you may already know that I am pursuing my masters degree in Design and Technology. DT is a very broad area of all kinds of design but a large number of people concentrate on interactive design. Here is a really great example of the type of art that is created by DT people. Still Life from Scott Garner on Vimeo. This still life piece of art by Scott Garner is an interactive “painting” where the still life objects fall over when you tilt the frame. Built using Unity 3D, it features a motion-sensitive frame on a rotating mount.... Continue reading

After a couple of weeks of fully realized vacation time on warm beaches in Florida and Puerto Rico I am back to work and graduate school and ready to explore the new year. It is supposed to be really lucky as it is the Chinese year of the dragon. I would love to say that this delicious high heel was actually on my foot as I was diving off the coast of an exotic island, but that's just not true. This image comes from one of my favorite accessories designers Minna Parikka. I am just taking a mental note here:... Continue reading

I often get so caught up in running towards the next achievement I don't even notice when I run out if steam. I used to just "go, Go, GO!" until I was completely exhausted but with the years I'm starting to learn my limits. I love New York but I've also developed a need to get out of town and experience a new place I've never been too. This time it's Puerto Rico. Just a few days on a sunny island feels like a major escape. I snapped a few photos of the beautiful clouds above the island. Doesn't flying... Continue reading

I am starting the new year with an MFA design student from Parsons' Fashion Design and Society program Jia Hua. Her concept is: "the same, not the same". Her inspiration came from the cooking experience of chopping a carrot. The same carrot can be chopped in different ways so that the result can look different. Then she took the idea into building my garments, using the detail shapes from deconstructed shirts and jackets, making them look different from what they used to be. When it comes to photo shoot, she asked herself: "If I can chop a carrot, why can't... Continue reading

Have a glamorous, fabulous, lucky and happy New Year! Continue reading