As part of our showroom photo shoot series (see James Coviello and JF & Son for more) we popped into Archetype showroom to shoot the Corpus Fall 08 collection. Earlier that day, we had a rager over the revival of acid wash (didn't this just happen) and when we got to the showroom, low and behold, a pair of cherry red acid washed jeans were looking us in the eye. So, we thought of the shoot from the vantage point of a prep school in the early 1990's. Maybe even an English prep school, we thought, which probably popped into our minds with our model Estella, telling us about her move to New York from sunny London. We first saw the Corpus Fall 08 collection at Capsule, and right away the Navajo print cardigan caught our eye. One of the first major purchases everyone makes when Fall is on it's way is a new cozy cardi. It's hard to think about now, as all New York has on it's mind are the sweet blue skies of summer. But it's true. If you think back to the first time there's a chill in the air, the first time you opt for a hot coffee and a croissant over an iced coffee and a bowl of Margarita, you start thinking about cozy knits and country homes. Queue Navajo print. Seriously, it conjures all of those cozy cravings in one fell swoop. Funnily enough, the guys behind Corpus, Jerrod Cornish and Keith Richardson, live in Los Angeles. Somehow, the pair have captured an East Coast moment with their Fall 08 prep school versus the college professor vibe. Like romanticizing a change in seasons, maybe a little bit of distance makes for a brighter future. Our interview with Corpus below as well as our exclusive Coutorture editorial of the Fall 08 collection.


Can you tell us a little bit how Corpus began?
Jerrod and I had been friends for awhile. One day we were talking and decided that we wanted to start a clothing line. We saw something missing in the market and wanted to fill that void.


What was missing? Was it a few specific garments you envisioned, or a particul aesthetic?
We felt there was a lot missing. This was over 5 years ago when we started the process of getting Corpus rolling. Streetwear was huge and there wasn't much of a middle ground between high fashion and low priced clothing. So we set out to do clothes that were not cheap but also not trying to be a uber fashion like Lanvin. We wanted to make quality fashionable clothes that you can wear but didn't look like you were walking down a runway.


Do you think there is anything inherently West Coast about the brand?
The West Coast is amazing and we are very proud of residing here. But our brand is not like most brands from the West as far as the styling and type of garments we make. There are not many people making moreno cashmere sweaters with navajo prints knit into them out here. But the West Coast resides in places for sure in the brand I just can't put my finger on it.


May, over at Archetype, told me that you were friends with the designers of Fremont. Are many of your friends designers or artists of some sort?
Yes we know Devon. He's great. We have many friends in the creative feilds. Its great to be around like minded people no matter what form or art the do music, paiting, fashion etc.


Is it difficult to be immersed in a community of other designers and artists and yet still create collections that are, to you, nonconformist?
No because most clothing in our category looks the same. And in LA there are not many clothing designers we are inspired by. Its more like minded people that inspire us. We spend a lot of time in New York and get direct inspiration from fashion designers and artists and just the general public in New York but in LA there is a disconnect--your in your car all day. You just don't see many people in LA. Its your home, to your car, to work, back to your car, and home. It's hard to get inspired living that lifestyle. You have to look much harder to see what's out here.
If Corpus had a manifesto, what would it be?
Just to make clothes we are proud to put out there. Never conforming to what the rest of the market is doing.


How do you differentiate between the women's and mens lines? Do you treat them as separate entities, design everything at the same time, design something unisex and spin it in two directions, or some combination of all of these things?
The womens line is growing slowly into its own entity. Soon we will have more womens specific pieces.

Everyone knows that fashion people are much more pleasant to be around when they've a cocktail in their hands (yes, sometimes two at once is necessary). This week there are a few fashion happenings that we thought to shoutout for our New York readers. If you're not in New York, please comment with industry happenings in your neck of the woods. Hell, embed the invite. For all we know, everyone will be inspired to jot down the address and hop on a plane for the occasion.


Wednesday: Spend the day loitering at Bergdorf! From 1-2 you can meet the two designers for Marchesa's eveningwear collection and, let's not forget, take a gander at the gorgeous frocks. Grab a cocktail (it's Wednesday!) and then reappear for a chance to meet designer Roland Mouret from 4-6. Click for more info.


Thursday: One of our favorite showrooms, Archetype, is sponsoring an event that's a surefire bet for long lines and late night dancing. Spring Court, their client, presents Brantley Gutierrez's 'Sound and Light' exhibit in Nolita. LCD Soundsystem and The Secret Machines are playing and then, uhoh, there's an after party at Tribeca Grand. Click for more info.


Friday: Menswear designer Yoko Devereaux is running a Spring sale at their Williamsburg store all afternoon, followed by a birthday party/pre-summer bash at the new Trophy Bar down the street. It's right off the J Train so avoid Bedford Avenue, hit up Moto for lunch, pick up some boy clothes in small sizes, and show-off your tomeboy chic look at Trophy Bar thereafter. Click for more info.


Saturday: This Saturday, Brooklyn's hip and withit Co Op, 3rd Ward, is having an all-day open house. Activities range from Badminton to metal shop tutorials, but for fashionistas, head over anytime from 12-5 for a costume photo shoot. GoFish! in Carol Gardens is bringing over vintage clothes, hats, wigs, accessories, etc. for people to dress up in and photographer Cecily Upton will be on hand to take polariods of everyone (which they can buy for a $1).The party ends at the infamous '??' hour, which we suspect means that by 2pm the next day you'll be sitting at brunch with a complete stranger. Be careful, just because he's an artist doesn't mean he shouldn't buy your eggs benedict! Click for more info.


Sunday: Take a break from Fashion and try watching this video without smiling!

That high waisted polka dot number in Girl Porn has that quintessential pin up (but not too slutty) look. Lorick is all about that kind of girl. The label, started by a Floridian turned Parisian (by sheer will, it seems), is one of the lines represented by New York showroom Archetype. The aesthetic is that American brand of ladylike that suits young girls with a copy of 'French Women Don't Get Fat' stashed under their mattress. Just take cues from the model featured in Fall 2008's look book. Often, this is where the secret aspirations of a designer (and their respective customer) are held. She is well fed (but not fat), she is rosy cheeked and goofy, strikes a pose when the time is right. These are the girls that drink champagne cocktails like there's no tomorrow, listen to Carla Bruni on their ipods, and occasionally have one night stands with rocker boys from Bushwick (and have no idea how to get home the next morning). We like this kind of girl, you know, there are worse things. For Fall 2008 there's a foresty Autumn theme happening which provides the 'Lorick girl' with a ton of navy and brown, something her wardrobe is probably not lacking. Prints of the forest and thin canary blue belts make the classic pieces more interesting. A pair of high waisted trousers, short gloves, and long shorts never hurt anyone. Then there's a pair of leather pants with zippers at the ankle and this is why we like a Lorick girl, on her bad days she a pain in the ass, and on her good, she's a total bitch.

We also have impressive designer video interviews and original editorial spreads. May we cordially suggest perusing our selection? Enjoy New York Fashion Week Designer Video Interviews from Oscar De La Renta, Donna Karan for DKNY,Michael Kors, Isaac Mizrahi, Nicole Miller, Erin Fetherston, Ashleigh Verrier , Adam Lippes, James Coviello, John Varvatos , Monique Lhuillier, Joanna Mastroianni, Tory Burch, Neeam Khan

For our girl porn photo shoot, we've featured a few brands that all have (at least) one thing in common. Namely, all are represented by New York showroom Archetype. Every showroom has it's own personality, cultivated by everything from whom they represent, to the space they occupy, to the state of their toilet and the condition of the their sample closet. As a designer, choosing (or being chosen by) a showroom can play a great deal of importance in your image and success. After all, this is how those precious collections get picked up by buyers or pulled for press.


Archetype, who reps, among others, Corpus, Fremont, Samantha Pleet, The Cast, and Surface to Air is a showroom with a relaxed vibe and a handsome staff. In a space with huge windows and wooden floors sit May Kwok and Steven Rojas, press representatives for Womens and Menswear respectively. The two give off the air of being the cool brother and sister team you used to chill with when you were little. Indeed, while they finish each others sentences, you begin the understand that Archetype is not as disjointed as other operations and that, because of the showroom's history and the personality of the lines they represent, they've a unique strength and purpose.


Archetype, just a few years old, cultivates that appeal by way of their penchant for friendship. Where both Kwok and Rojas have been with the showroom since it's inception (Rojas previously worked with the founder, Audrey Gingras) the showroom also represents brands that have connections outside of Archetype. The Los Angeles based designers of Fremont and Corpus, for instance, have been friends for years. This was, pointedly, the first thing Kwok told us when we asked her about the showroom.


Why is this good? This is good because the press and buyers respond to the cohesion. Simply put, if Corpus is a brand that suits your boutique, chances are Fremont will too. If you're featuring Samantha Pleet in a photo shoot, there's porbably a Jenny Yuen handbag to suit the look. Although other showrooms strive for this sense of lifestyle, Archetype pulls it off earnestly and and successfully.


For more on Archetype, check out our quick interview with May Kwok below, and, to see the Archetype cohesion in action, take a peek at our girl porn photo shoot.


What attitude or personality best describes Archetype and the lines that you represent?
The lines we represent all have a strong connection in the art, cinema, music, and fashion world.


Is this identity ever misunderstood or misrepresented by the press? If so, how do you strive to correct misrepresentations?
No. We are never misunderstood. We make sure each publication, website, client, and fashionista understands what Archetype Showroom is and does!


What are some of the differences between working with the larger publications versus smaller ones or websites?
We are reaching different demographic of people from the uptown fashionista to the downtown fashion icon.


What is your average day at the showroom like?
The showroom has such a great & relaxed environment! I come in, answer emails, work on product/editorial requests and stylist pulls, developing new, creative ways to promote the brands and garnish larger feature pieces. Brainstorm publicity opportunities for the brands. Play with our showroom mascot, Sullivan (The cutest dog ever!) There is always something for me to do.. It never ends.


What is the most stressful part of your job?
I have to admit – I have a love and hate relationship with events. There are so much entailed in producing events and fashion shows… but you know, I'm fine after a few cocktails!


And, your favorite part of your job?
My daily communication with the wonderful people I work with in all the different publications, stylists, the designers and the joy I get when I see them represented in a magazine… Its great! Oh and the free clothes isn't bad either.

March can be a tricky month. In today's Coutorture photo shoot, we've decided to get all metaphorical on the spirit of summer. The past two days have been gorgeous and we're starting to actively fantasize about roof top barbecues and convertible riding over the Brooklyn Bridge. Alas, it's only March. For today's shoot we've featured garments from the Spring 2008 collections of Corpus, Fremont, and Lorick. For a Spring shoot, you might expect 'roof top barbecues and convertible riding on the Brooklyn Bridge' but we just couldn't torture ourselves with it. To that end, we've pulled the darker side of Spring 2008 and left our lady Noelle to wait it out for us. Will three different gentlemen make the time pass? Our answer is, well, yes.

We also have impressive designer video interviews and original editorial spreads. May we cordially suggest perusing our selection? Enjoy New York Fashion Week Designer Video Interviews from Oscar De La Renta, Donna Karan for DKNY,Michael Kors, Isaac Mizrahi, Nicole Miller, Erin Fetherston, Ashleigh Verrier , Adam Lippes, James Coviello, John Varvatos , Monique Lhuillier, Joanna Mastroianni, Tory Burch, Neeam Khan