“Wearable Wood”
Posted: March 10, 2013 Filed under: Accessories, Women | Tags: accessories, not just a label, tesler + mendelovitch, wearable wood 2 Comments »Tel Aviv-based design duo Tesler + Mendelovitch create “totally original, never-before-seen materials, transforming them into high quality custom-made products for industry, art and fashion”. Their latest work is their “Wearable Wood” series which consists of “architectural looking wood clutches” that are constructed from 100% birch wood and finished with a leather lining. According to Tesler + Mendelovitch, “the wood texture is soft to the touch”, and each clutch features a magnetic clasp and a “soft underbelly for a comfortable grip”. Hand selecting all of the wood they use and hand crafting each and every clutch, I think that this duo is nothing less than superb. With quality and innovation at their heart, I definitely think we’ll be hearing more from Tesler + Mendelovitch in the not so distant future.
You can view the duos entire “Wearable Wood” series and purchase selected pieces through Not Just A Label.
Images courtesy of Tesler + Mendelovitch via Not Just A Label
New Wallet, New Year
Posted: January 1, 2013 Filed under: Accessories, Men | Tags: accessories, bring back time, instagram, leather, mark farhat, mark/giusti, wallet 1 Comment »To ring in the New Year I wanted to share my new wallet with you all, a lovely gift from the guys over at London based luxury accessories brand MARK/GIUSTI. The “Gentleman” Wallet is one of the smaller pieces from the debut MARK/GIUSTI collection, “Bring Back Time”. Made from 100% genuine grained calf leather and featuring five compartments for credit cards, a pocket for coins or business cards and three compartments for money notes, this is by far the most stylish, practical wallet I’ve ever had the pleasure of owning.
I am planning on using this beautiful wallet in my first ever outfit post later this month but I hope this quick snap I took yesterday evening using Instagram will be enough for now.
Wallet, £200.00, from MARK/GIUSTI
Thank you for the lovely gift, MARK/GIUSTI!
Images courtesy of my Sony Xperia T
Interview: Designer Niels Peeraer
Posted: December 12, 2012 Filed under: Accessories, Interviews, Men, Spring/Summer 2013, Women | Tags: 2013, accessories, dresslab, interview, niels peeraer, spring, summer, wenn-kee hsu Leave a comment »In addition to writing an article about Antwerp born, Paris based unisex accessories designer Niels Peeraer for DressLab last week, I also decided to conduct an interview about his background and his admirable Spring/Summer 2013 collection, “Golden rays seal the gift as Zephyr crowns your silken heart”, for my own blog, asking him…
What made you want to become a designer?
My mother always said as a young kid I was always ‘searching for beautiful things.’ Now I want to ‘create’ beautiful things / things that bring people happiness. Why I chose fashion is because for me just illustrating was not enough of a challenge, it’s also about working hard to achieve the same strength in the finished garment as on the drawing. Luckily, I was not the kind of kid that was/is attracted to the glamorous side of fashion, because when you work in fashion there’s mostly hard work and very little glamour.
Do you have a ‘signature’ aesthetic? If so, what is it?
I’ve been known for my accessories made in creamy pink thick vegetable tan leather, combined with brass fittings. The fact that I always work gender-less (and that I always use Asian boys to present this) is also about the first thing people know about my work.
Why did you choose to design accessories rather than clothing?
I found out in my MA that I got the biggest response and the biggest passion for my accessories; these are the things that tell your ‘story’. Accessories are always as an ‘extra’ to make your look complete and to make yourself stand out. So choosing accessories, I would have to compromise less. Although, now I’ve started my label of course I work as hard on practicality as on the design.
What is the concept behind your Spring/Summer 2013 collection?
“Golden rays seal the gift as Zephyr crowns your silken heart”
This time I wanted it to be a bit mysterious and vague so people needed to think about it. It’s inspired on the story of 2 Greek Gods which I interpreted in my own way. Zephyrus: about the tenderness and fragility of love from the gentlest of winds to a young boy. Pandora: about locking up that fragility to protect it from getting harmed. With ‘crowning a heart’ I refer to the action of declaring your love, giving someone the power to ‘rule’ your heart.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I find basically all my inspiration in images online. It’s such a huge and fast database that it would be a shame not to use it. Then I always play with these images. If you place two images next to each other their subject can completely change. Then from this new context I make up my own story. The story for my collection is always a combination of the stories I come across during that period.
You can view the full collection on the Niels Peeraer website.
Photography by Wenn-Kee Hsu
Images courtesy of Niels Peeraer
Leather Peter Pan Collar by YVY
Posted: November 24, 2012 Filed under: Accessories, Women | Tags: accessories, leather, not just a label, peter pan collar, yvy Leave a comment »
I’m a bit of a fan of Peter Pan collars and this one by Swiss accessories and womenswear brand YVY that I just found whilst sifting through Not Just A Label is absolutely beautiful. The collar is made from 100% leather and features numerous decorative double-cap rivets made from a mix of brass and nickel around the edge. The collar is simple, edgy and beautiful, and I highly recommend that you purchase this piece and use it to add some edge to an otherwise simple white blouse, sweater or dress.
You can purchase this collar via Not Just A Label alongside a selection of other handmade YVY accessories.
Images courtesy of YVY via Not Just A Label
Crystal Cuff by Lucy Hutchings
Posted: July 19, 2012 Filed under: Accessories, Women | Tags: 2011, accessories, autumn, cicia, crystal cuff, jewellery, lucy hutchings, winter, young british designers Leave a comment »
I’m no expert when it comes to jewellery and what girls deem as ‘beautiful’, but I’m a big fan of unique, bold jewellery that is more artistic and shows evident creativity than anything else, which is why me admiring the work of Lucy Hutchings is pretty much a no brainer. Lucy studied for her degree in wood, metal, ceramics and plastics at the University of Brighton, and draws inspiration “from a wide array of sources from the intrinsic beauty of the natural world to the derelict architecture of East London”, which is evident throughout the majority of her work.
Lucy’s Autumn/Winter 2011 collection, titled ‘Cicia’, is still selling on Young British Designers, which is where I came across the Crystal Cuff that is currently retailing at £245.00 as part of the Young British Designers sale. The cuff is black, mint, lime and grey with agate, Swarovski crystal, metal and stone detailing. It is incredibly bold and fairly bulky, which is the exact reason as to why I’ve fallen head-over-heels in love with it.
You can view the full collection on the Lucy Hutchings website and purchase the Crystal Cuff, alongside a selection of additional pieces, on Young British Designers.
Images courtesy of Lucy Hutchings via Young British Designers
Duck Egg Swallow Tights by hose.
Posted: July 6, 2012 Filed under: Accessories, Spring/Summer 2012, Women | Tags: 2012, accessories, duck egg swallow tights, hose., spring, summer Leave a comment »
Being a boy who has never dabbled in dance or ballet, I’ve never really had a need to pay attention to tights and the prints on them, so looking at and actually admiring a pair of tights is a whole new experience for me. I mean, before now, I used to be one of those boys who would look at a pair of tights, turn to my friend and mutter, “they all look the same to me!”, which is of course completely untrue in the eyes of a female who is on the prowl for a pair of well-made, long-lasting tights. I’ve also learned that there are approximately one thousand different shades of black. Okay, so perhaps not one thousand, but every shade is different, apparently.
My reason for rambling on about my lack of tight knowledge is simply due to my recent discovery of hose., which “is a new independent label that produces hand screen printed tights”. “hose. aims to create subtle and original accessories for a wide range of outfits and occasions”, according to the website. I have to say, despite my lack of tight knowledge, I can see why girls would flock in their thousands for a pair of hose. tights. As stated before, the prints are subtle, which is great if you’re not looking to drag attention to yourself, but perhaps noticeable enough to get a compliment or two.
These Duck Egg Swallow Tights from the hose. Spring/Summer 2012 collection, which I came across whilst flicking through Young British Designers, are my favourite pair of tights from hose., and I’m sure it’s not too difficult to see why. The tights feature hand screen printed, grey swallows along the rear seam, which look incredibly elegant. Also, as each pair is hand screen printed, you know that a little bit of time and effort went into making each and every pair which, from my point of view, is both admirable and desirable. This pair in particular is just £24.00, and considering you’re likely to get a good amount of wear out of them, I can honestly say that I’m relatively impressed with the sheer affordability of the collection.
You can view the full collection on the hose. website, and purchase selected pieces via Young British Designers; one of my favourite online platforms for independent and emerging, British designers and brands.
Images courtesy of hose. via Young British Designers
Sunglasses by Lazy Oaf
Posted: April 3, 2012 Filed under: Accessories, Men, Women | Tags: accessories, lazy oaf, london, spitfire, sunglasses Leave a comment »
The artistic phenomenon that is Lazy Oaf has released a delightful accumulation of 90′s inspired sunglasses, including designs from Spitfire; a creative label based in London, United Kingdom. It’s not very often that I find numerous pairs of sunglasses that I could actually see myself wearing, yet the designs from both Lazy Oaf and Spitfire are exactly what I’d look for if I were looking to purchase a pair or two in time for the coming summer months.
I’m putting my admiration for the collection down to the fact that the majority of the sunglasses have rounded frames, which almost instantaneously guarantees a hit from my point of view.
The majority of the sunglasses are priced at £21.00; a price that almost anyone would consider a bargain!
You can view the full collection on the Lazy Oaf online-store, where you can also purchase the initial 9 pairs of unisex sunglasses.
Photography by Viktor Vauthier
Images courtesy of Lazy Oaf
