Brian Stanziale – Fashion Fridays

 

Brian with Courtney wearing a Brian Stanziale design

Full disclosure: Brian is a dear friend of mine and I adore his designs. Why I felt I needed to state this first thing, I'm not sure but because this is the first post for FF that might smack of nepotism (translation: I am friends with the person I'm profiling) I thought I'd mention it first. That doesn't mean that he isn't the epitome and definition of chic! Just the opposite, actually!

Brian started designing under the label Sloane but has recently changed it to his own name, Brian Stanziale. He takes old pieces and makes them new through re-construction and re-imagining of possibilities.  You can see some of his work firsthand at EVA NYC. Or check out his website here. And of course there are a few more pix on pixie warhol.

Brian's answers to the Fashion Fridays questions!


If you could live in another era, when would it be and why?
The 1930s. The music was amazing and the fashion was great and people could look chic even if they had no money.

What’s your favorite movie?
The Great Muppet Caper!


What is a current obsession?
Lola Albright!-the NEW actress!

Do you read fashion magazines? If so what is your current favorite?
The Times Fashion Mag is Magical!

Describe your style as a friend would.
Homeless Chic

What style/trend (current or past) do you hope is never recycled?
Jam Pants!!!

What style/trend would you like to see come back?
The Side Ponytail... Which is weird, because usually both the side pony and jam pants are found together, but I just can't handle the jamz!!!

Has the internet changed the fashion industry? How?
It totally has, now you can create the illusion of having a way bigger brand then you actually have! And suddenly people all over the world are no longer looking to magazines for their access to genreal fashion info, they can nwo go to a blog that focuses solely on their tastes, which is great... and terrible!

Can we find you on twitter?
what?

finish this sentence:
I love New York because…
all it takes is one phone call to change your life!

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Mandy Coon - Fashion Fridays

 When I decided to start "Fashion Fridays" to highlight someone working in fashion in NYC I asked Erin Dixon, the editor of Dossier Journal who she thought would be good to feature. Mandy Coon was one of the designers at the top of her list. I knew Mandy had shown this past NYFW at Milk Studios but didn't know her background first as a model then a DJ and finally becoming a designer via FIT and apprenticing for Camilla Staerk. What I did know was that when I checked out her designs I found the mix of sleek satin and leather with more architectural knits creates the perfect cocktail of sexy/smart/sophisticated for the downtown set.

Here are Mandy's answers to my FF questions:

If you could live in another era, when would it be and why?
The '50s were a pretty amazing era decade for design....

What’s your favorite movie?
Visually, I love The Night Porter. It's pretty intense, but Charlotte Rampling is so amazing in it.

A purse from her Fall 2010 Collection

What is a current obsession?
Rabbits (real ones). And my dog.

Do you read fashion magazines?
Occasionally. I used to read them a lot, but this days, I'm super busy, and I think I might be unconsciously trying to avoid them, to some extent. I don't want to be unconsciously influenced by anything....


Describe your style as a friend would
Dark, but fun.

What style/trend (current or past) do you hope is never recycled?
Uggs

What style/trend would you like to see come back?
High-waisted trousers- not the ridiculously high ones, just the ones that sit at the natural waist, instead of falling off and showing your bum.

Has the internet changed the fashion industry? How?
Definitely. I was not exposed to much, growing up in texas. Now kids are exposed to everything.

Can we find you on twitter?
Yes- but I don't tweet much.
I do have a facebook problem, though...

finish this sentence: I love New York because…
literally anything can happen here.

Autumn/Winter 2010 lookbook, photo by Samantha Rapp

Autumn/Winter 2010 lookbook, photo by Samantha Rapp

 

 

 Where to find Mandy Coon
NEW YORK:
ASSEMBLY (www.assemblynewyork.com/)
EVA (www.evanewyork.net)
OPENING CEREMONY (www.openingceremony.us)
BIRD WILLIAMSBURG (www.shopbird.com)

LOS ANGELES:
OPENING CEREMONY (www.openingceremony.us)

PARIS:
COLETTE (www.colette.fr)

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Samantha Pleet - Fashion Fridays

The story began in 2006 when Brooklyn Designer Samantha Pleet debuted her namesake collection, intertwining elements of the mysterious and fantastical with a sense of modernity.
Each season new and ancient ideas from music, art, history, and literature are conjured along with various feelings and are transformed into Pleet's silhouettes, then shown in collaborative projects from films, photographs to unique installations.

The clothes, made in New York City using organic materials whenever possible, have become favorites among creative girls around the world including musicians like Beach House, The Dirty Projectors, and Au Revoir Simone.

She has collaborated with Urban Outfitters on Rapscallion by Samantha Pleet which led to curating the inaugural pop up shop at Space 15 Twenty in Los Angeles. The  Pratt graduate gardens, paints, travels, and hunts for treasure in her spare time.

If you could live in another era, when would it be and why?
 I would want live in Venice in the middle ages for many reasons, it was beautiful, there was influence from different cultures brought in by all the merchants, there were fun parties, good wine, and the women wore really tall platform shoes. 

What’s your favorite movie?
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders

What is a current obsession?
Plants

Do you read fashion magazines? If so what are your current favorite?
Dossier Journal

Describe your style as a friend would
She wears an alchemy of influence from French New Wave, grunge, and wizardry.

What style/trend do you hope is never recycled
Polyester shirts

What style/trend would you like to see come back?
Hats everyday

Has the Internet changed the fashion industry? How?
Yes dramatically, now resources, designer collections and other information is easily accessible, trends spread faster, and more people can be a part of the industry.

Can we find you on twitter?
@samanthapleet

finish this sentence:
I love New York because…there is magic in the air

photos by ANDREW DEFRANCESCO

 You can find Samantha Pleet's designs
in NYC
Bird
203 Grand Street (between Bedford and Driggs Avenues ) Williamsburg, Brooklyn

US Online
Bona Drag

UK Online
The Moon and Mars

for her complete stocklist visit www.samanthapleet.com

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Chrissie Miller from Sophomore - Fashion Friday

Chrissie is wearing Sophomore's brilliant "Flowers in the Attic" t-shirt -from the book that i stole from my babysitter to read the "dirty parts" when i was a kid and jeans by Court Jeans
Chrissie, along with Madeline von Froomer is the designer for the label Sophomore. Unapologetically at ease with herself in the world, she has none of the pretensions that you sometimes find in the fashion world. Which makes sense since she's a native new york city girl who began by making t-shirts for herself and her friends. So she wasn't trying to be a fashionista: she just did her own thing and the girls who loved her cool/casual style started following Sophomore. Not unlike how the really cool girl in highschool will inevitably divert a little attention from the Queen Bees without even trying...

You can find Sophomore at Opening Ceremony in Manhattan and Bird in Brooklyn and a bunch of other places as well as online. All the deets are on their site.

If you could live in another era, when would it be and why?
The 1960's in Los Angeles, Laurel Canyon.
I could have hung with Jim Morrison, Graham Parsons and Waylon Jennings!

What’s your favorite movie?
Beaver Trilogy

What is a current obsession?My boyfriend

Do you read fashion magazines?
I really dont. I mostly just check out style.com

Describe your style as a friend wouldI'm a jeans, t-shirt kinda person.

What style/trend (current or past) do you hope is never recycled
Ugg Boots

What style/trend would you like to see come back?High waisted jeans, I'm not into a low waist.

Has the internet changed the fashion industry? How?I think its great that anyone can look at images both old and new. I think it helps people who are interested in fashion learn their history.

Can we find you on twitter?
Yup! @chrissiemiller and @sophomorenyc

Finish this sentence:
I love New York because…I was born here.
or
Momma always told me…the future!

Looks from Sophomore's Fall Collection

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