coutorture --

Trend de la Creme For Coutorture: Entomological Comparisons

coutorture — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:58:52 -0700

See, New Yorkers like nature! Promise! Well, it doesn't hurt when there's a bit of fashion thrown in the mix (or black lipstick!). For our second installment of this exclusive Trend de la Creme for Coutorture comparison series, Trend de la Creme has helped us rig up the likeness of bugs and insects with the Fall 08 Giles collection as seen in London Fashion Week. This collection is said to have been inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's The Masque Of The Red Death, a story where a grand party is thrown with each room decorated in a different color. In the story, everyone starts, quite literally, dropping dead. So for Giles, this meant a kind of glamorous gothic inspiration. Why, then, does each garment correspond so impeccably with an insect or bug? We're thinking it's to do with the golden ratio or something. Or, on a serious note, that our eye recognizes only a few general aesthetic characteristics at first glance (color, shape, texture), leaving room for these likenesses. Take a peek for yourself, our gallery of the Giles Fall 08 collection and its entomological comparisons, below.

Link: Trend de la Creme

Interview With Stylist & Network Partner Liz Baca

coutorture — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 06:47:09 -0700

Every photo editorial is the sum of its parts. For our most recent Fall's Top Five: Past & Present photo shoot, each member of our team brought something vital to the shoot. Liz Baca, a Coutorture Network Partner from the website M.I.S.S. Crew, also works as a stylist and vintage supplier to some of the hottest boutiques in America. To see which of her stores she pulled clothing from for our photo shoot, just click on the image and you'll find the credits bottom left. Part of the fun of editorializing fall at the end of August, is knowing that every frock, pair of trousers, and accessory, is available for purchase right now. Thanks to Baca, that includes the vintage items--so long as you're the first the ring or stop by these amazing shops. Below, we asked Baca about her profession (which is of endless interest to us) and what it takes to provide The Goods! to so many chicsters, season after season.

How did you break into wholesaling vintage clothing and accessories?
I am a long time collector, dare I say "hoarder" of stuff. The dictionary defines a hoarder as "a person who accumulates things and hides them away for future use". In all my years of hoarding things, I never really thought I was hiding things away for future use...I just liked my things and liked finding them. About 5 years ago it became very clear to me that I was having way more fun hunting and gathering vintage finds then going to my daily job. I had so much stuff as it was but didn't want to stop getting more (I sound like a crazy lady, right?). My friends had (and still have) a high-end vintage shop in San Francisco called Ver Unica, I started out doing trade with them and eventually starting wholesaling to them. I figured there had to be more people that wanted The Goods! and there where. After a year of testing the waters, I quit my job and haven't looked back since.

We know you split your time between SF and NY, can you tell us a little bit about your bicoastal schedule?
My bicoastal schedule is hella crazy son! I hope at least one reader got my East meets West slang. Yeah, sooo, I venture out to NYC every month to bring The Goods! to my accounts. My time spent on the East side is any where from 3.5 days to weeks...I always hope for the later but based on my West Coast schedule as a stylist I sometimes have to fit in where I can get in. It makes for some very exciting and hectic months BUT I figure work hard now so I don't have to later...well, it's a nice thought at least.

How do you incorporate seasonal trends into the vintage stock you bring to stores?
My vintage accounts are trend based for the most part. Each has their own unique style but generally they are seeking the vintage version of what is currently in fashion. They'll just be stocking the real deal vs. looks inspired by an era as you find with modern clothing. Of course there are always the designer gems that are ALWAYS in fashion no matter the season or current trends. So, it's important that I keep up on what's going down the runway every season so I can work with my accounts to bring them the appropriate merchandise.

What draws you to wholesaling vintage rather than, say, becoming a brand rep?
The bottom line is I LOVE vintage clothing. Don't get me wrong, there are modern brands that do it for me but i will always be more interested in the things that inspire clothing of today. I love the idea of vintage being limited and unique. Part of it is the hunting factor too. The process as a whole is very exhilarating. I have worked with modern brands, on the retail and wholesale side and sure I can sell it but it just doesn't give me the same kind of satisfaction that vintage clothing does.

How does M.I.S.S. Crew fit in to the picture?
M.I.S.S. Crew is a labor of love! It provides an outlet that forces me to have to be in the "know", to be searching out the latest and greatest and a stage to showcase some of my skills. Gabriella of Mama Clothing, my partner in M.I.S.S., and I work hard to "bring it" for the ladies. We work around our skills and talents as well as the skills and talents of the many ladies that we have the pleasure of working with. That is the beauty of creating your own environment.

How does styling fit in to the picture?
Well it all goes hand-in-hand. Styling keeps me up on and involved in current fashion happenings, which can provide content and focus for M.I.S.S. and can also keep me in the loop as to what my vintage accounts might be looking for. Being a vintage clothing dealer provides access to unique items for my styling work and knowledge of what inspired current fashion which can provide fun content/education for M.I.S.S. and my own blog. I can also provide press and exposure to my vintage accounts by pulling items from their stores for my styling work, which can't be a bad thing. In the end it all comes full circle, each helping out the other. These are the things I love in life therefore I have chosen to make it work.

Can you tell us a little bit about how you pulled together the looks for our trend shoot?
There are so many trends every season. I loved the idea of showing the past vs. the present, right up my ally! So I picked trends that I felt had strong roots from eras gone by or would just be fun to showcase fabulous vintage pieces...like Luxe Layers, that vintage Whitng & David top is serious or that Saint Laurent Dress from Winter's Summer. That is a rare piece, the pattern is called the "Picasso Print"...so amazing.

What was your favorite piece in the shoot?
That's really a hard one. It was exciting to work with brands like Christian Louboutin...and the Saint Laurent dress...I'd have to go for favorite looks and that would have to be the vintage "Country Living" and "Boy's Club". Country Living came together like a dream for me and the Boy's Club, although so simple, is something I would totally wear and I felt really represented a strong 80's inspired menswear look. I can't just pick a piece!!!

What advice would you give people about shopping for vintage clothing?
Be patient. It is not as easy as running into the department store and grabbing a blouse or little black dress. Vintage items are unique and limited. Try things on but don't force the fit! There currently is and has never been any sort of standardization in sizing. A vintage size 10 can be a modern size 4, yes it's that crazy.

What don't people know about your profession?
That it is hard work...a true hustle. People always say that I have the best job and granted I have to agree BUT it is the best job for me. Might not be for everyone. It is long hours, early morning digs in the dark, piles and miles of modern day cast off's to find that one gem, lot's of driving, sometimes sleeping in your car, mending and repairing...breathing life back into things that have been left for dead. I call it search and rescue. it's a strange love and wonderful life and it is the life for me.

Trend de la Creme For Coutorture: Spineless Haute Couture

coutorture — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:29:25 -0700

For today's Trend de la Creme for Coutorture comparison, haute couture is given a funny likeness. The Joseph Font Fall 08 Couture show was full of billowing silhouettes and bright colors. Apparently this was a red flag in the mind of our brilliant Network Partner, Trend de la Creme, for she saw an immediate connection to mysterious invertebrates. This is not the first time such a comparison has been made, in fact, our Network Partner saw a likeness in Plankton and in Invertebrates once before. It's quite amazing how she does it, and what we enjoy most about the comparison is that it seems to shed some light on the aesthetic properties of the look. Suddenly that yellow frock looks like a living, breathing organism that's miraculously landed above ground for a Parisian fashion show. At the end of July, when news is slow (alas, fashion week is just around the corner), this vantage point is a breath of fresh air.

Coutorture Community's Morning Must Reads 7/18

coutorture — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:27:42 -0700

Our heads are spinning (and not just from last night's Lambrusco!) from all of the sweet tip-offs our community can conjure in a single day.

First off, Cuffington give us the low-down on the ultimate magazine shop (it's all about the imports) located in Portland, Oregon. In her words, "Rich's is in PORTLAND, Oregon, USA, people. If you don't live there, no need to hit the panic button, just dust off that rotary phone and give them a jingle. They'll probably be able to ship something to you.". Consider our interest piqued.

Clothes-Pin, meanwhile, posted a few shots of Yumi Kim's most recent offerings. We'd nearly forgotten about the designer after a seriously overpriced sample sale left a bad taste in our mouths. Alas, women do love those silk jewel toned shifts.

Something we love to take a gander at on a Friday morning is an effortless display of skinnies and mocks. Sure, it's no Yves Saint Laurent smoking suit, but it still kind of makes us excited for lazy Fall days when you can drink a cappuccino without being drenched in sweat. This, from Painfully Hip.

And last but not least, Shiny Squirrel clues us in to some toned down contemporary line called Eple and Melk that totally suits our fashion mood as of late. That is these duds are colorless, light as air, brandless visions of chic (right). This blogger is a mind reader.

Our Network Helps You Accessorize

coutorture — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:24:40 -0700

Leave it to the bloggers in our Network to keep your extras in check. While scoping out today's postings we noticed a few tricks and deals our Coutorture readers will surely be keen on. To start, Bunny Shop has a special promotion code that will get you 25% off all non-sale items at Fred Flare. That includes the irresistible, albeit slightly retro cum retro, three-pack of red, white, and blue wayfarers. They were twenty dollars and now, with the discount, they're sixteen. Perfect Fourth of July party favor? Quite possibly. Bunnyshop is also running a contest to give away a Jocasi handbag if your fashion question elicits the most comments.

Also on the accessories front, this time in terms of styling is Style Bakery. Alison, the blogger with all of the outfit answers, gives advice on what belting works with a simple cotton frock. Her cobalt and silver product spread has us thinking of putting together a belted number for dinner tonight, so sharp are her choices for the reader that sought her advice.

Also on our radar, after a Style Bubble shoutout on the same topic yesterday, is DIY hosiery. The Coveted, inspired by the recent Christian Lacroix Haute Couture runway show, dip-died her drug store tights for the gradient look she's long been aware of but only now indulging in. In her post she teaches you how to recreate the look making us think, at this point, someone could carve out a pretty successful space dedicated strictly to DIY hosiery tips.

Community Must Reads 6/30

coutorture — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:09:42 -0700

Things are happening in the Network today including outfit-making and original reportage. A wrap up is deserved.

StyleFinds put together a sweet little outfit in honor of Canada's super-fabulous birthday. She included those red Balenciaga sandals we love so much making it a fine birthday present indeed.

SlamXHype had a sweet little interview to boast about this afternoon. Namely, a discussion with the girls behind Checkinit, a creative agency with knowhow on what it takes to take charge of everything from original fashion editorial to corporate branding to website direction. It's 15 mini-pages long and it has pictures, you've no excuse to skip over it.

Chic and Untroubled explains to us another Nike custom endeavor that allows you to place a picture from your camera phone directly onto your sneaker. It's called Nike PhotoID or some such thing. We love it when our Network Partners help us wade through Nike news. It's not an easy task.

The gals over at M.I.S.S. Crew scoped out Hanky Panky's new website (which was not exactly up to par before the upgrade) with screen shots of what you can expect. Sadly, the site isn't ecommerce yet. We know about two hundred women who only wear this brand of underwear. The product might be eighteen dollars a pop but they'd surely make a nice little space for themselves.

Network Links & Learning & Love

coutorture — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:15:40 -0700

We're one big happy family over in Coutortureland and if you read our site regularly you probably know a thing or two about our Network Partners. To that end, we've started a blog for our 250-odd partners, so that, aside from talking all things fashion, beauty, business, streetwear, perfume, and DIY, we can talk about what it is we actually do. Namely, online publishing. Perhaps you fancy some information from what we call our Education Annex. Recent posts include topics like brushing up on your blogging vocabulary, product giveaways, backing up your blog, and how to slow your load time. It's a big fashion world out there and we think it's just as important to have the tools as it is to have the opinions. Have a lovely weekend. Until Monday...

Bloggers X DVF: Behind The Scenes Video

coutorture — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:32:58 -0700

Just when you thought our DVF X Bloggers content had hit its saturation point... With all of the photo galleries, ecommerce tie ins, and posts of posts of posts that were the result of the Bloggers X Diane Von Furstenburg photo shoot, our behind the scenes tape took a backseat. Then we found ourselves in San Francisco where we decided to slice up the footage for a little retrospective post. It was, for us and our lovely Network Partners (we wish it could have been all of them but that would have been one hell of an event), a real blast. More than anything, we think we can speak for everyone in saying that the experience really solidified the DVF brand in our minds. Not only were the frocks flattering on everyone, but the people who helped Coutorture organize the event were accommodating and supportive to no end. That, truth be told, is a combination that will keep us brand loyal for a long time. If there were ever a question in our minds, the wrap dresses we just picked up at the massive DVF sample sale would have sealed the deal. Somehow, we forgot just how sexy, and we mean traffic-stopping, those classic DVF wrap dresses can be.

Coutorture Community's Must Reads 6/9

coutorture — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:22:08 -0700

After a long, hot weekend you can count on our Network Partners to kick start Monday with thought-provoking content. Margaritas and sweat will do that to a blogger. That said, The Runway Scoop started the week off with her Carrie Bradshaw style musings (a lot of questions, a lot of wonderings) on whether fashion magazines should inform readers on how to spend wisely during a recession rather than, uh, please their men in bed. If you ask us, let's leave the fashion magazines alone and quietly go about the real content from our laptops, eh?

Today Miss Crew wondered whether the brands who use Kate Moss as their pretty face aren't confusing consumers who might not be able to distinguish between YSL and Topshop ads. We're all about Topshop editorial but it 'aint no YSL ad, that's for sure. In fact, we suggest that a face so iconic no longer registers in our minds at all. It's like the anti-face, face.

Stuart Weitzman puts out two million dollar shoes and our Network Partner, The Shoe Blog, is there to prove it. Despite the fact that many of the world's most fashionable women are not even wearing diamond wedding rings anymore, thanks to those who think having a conscience need not inhibit one's style, we reckon many women will covet these diamond sandals.

We've a certain pair of high waist Cheap Monday's that are so tight, it feels like we're wearing a denim wetsuit. On that note, our lovely denim expert, Denimology, pulled together a denim swimsuit gallery for our viewing pleasure. We've got to give it to our Network Partner, who reminds us that swimsuits deserve a bit of trend analysis too. Also, props to the blog who makes itself relevant, even when it's too hot to wear jeans.

Coutorture Community's Must Reads: 5/19

coutorture — Mon, 19 May 2008 14:04:03 -0700

Chic and Untroubled reports on Lagerfeld's aggressive footwear for Chanel. She also questions the purpose of a pair of gym shorts we too noticed via ecommerce.

Totally blowing all Monday-morning posts out of the water, Fashion Nation, throws down a comprehensive list of not-to-miss European retail destinations. Two shopping destinations of note, Carnaby Street in London and, of course, Colette in Paris.

There's a beach book that's making making waves and Fops And Dandies has a thing or two to say about it. Bringing Home The Birkin, cleverly titled indeed, piques interest in our partner from a commerce and sociological perspective. In other words, she's taking this beach book to the library.

Did Louboutin rip Dolce Vita? These Cordoba shoes look curiously similar to a canvas shoe DV put out about two years ago (in one million colors). No, it can't be. Louboutin probably designed the shoe in the first place, it cycled through to DV, and now he's bringing it back. Yeah, that's got to be it. The Shoe Goddess is responsible for our brief musing on copyright, as she gave a big ol' thumbs down to the Cordoba otherwise known as, gasp, a sneaker espradrille.

And finally, a welcome reality check from J'adore Couture. Today she reports on recent news surrounding anorexia in the fashion industry, with MSNBC video clips and links to other reportage on the matter. Though the standard for 'thin' in the fashion industry remains somewhat stagnant, this conversation in the press is perpetually newsworthy.

Trend de la Creme For Coutorture: Ritsuko Shirahama for Nebulae

coutorture — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:25:10 -0700

Our esteemed network partner, Trend de la Creme, has curated another uncanny comparison for our viewing pleasure. This week, Trend de la Creme gets nerdy with some outer space comparisons. When talking with her about the likeness of the Ritsuko Shirahama Fall 08 collection, she said, "Oh, you know, it reminded me of "nebula", the interstellar clouds of dust, hydrogen gas, and plasma that eventually form stars and planets.". Needless to say, Trend de la Creme really rocks our world. Any fashionista who uses the word 'intersteller' in its appropriate context, while still staying on the topic of fashion is okay in our book. Check out our review of theFall 08 Ritsuko Shirahama collection as part of our Japan Fashion Week recap series.

Trend de la Creme For Coutorture: Christopher Kane for Invertebrates

coutorture — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 07:40:05 -0700

To our network partner, Trend de la Creme, Christopher Kane's Fall 08 collection left her thinking of, well, jellyfish. The collection was shown as part of London Fashion Week and was both criticized and acclaimed for lacking one accessible concept. Fall 08 was Kane's fourth collection and the range let not one look scoot down the runway without some interesting detail or stimulating silhouette. This is, perhaps, what left everyone so perplexed. The handsome Christopher Kane gave his audience 'information overload' and not in the Heatherette way. That is, whether it was an experiment in color, texture, length, or volume, every single garment was dynamic and (dare we say it) new. One key similarity, which Trendinista poignantly picked up on, was that of an undulating texture by way of layering. Her first thought was of invertebrates and the comparisons are, as always, uncanny.

Click to see more Trend de la Creme For Coutorture comparisons

Trend de la Creme For Coutorture: Louis Vuitton For Architecture

coutorture — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:33:06 -0800

Trend de la Creme has a keen eye for finding fashion's true inspirations. As one of our network partners, she keeps a close watch on the cultural comparisons so relevant to the industry. In today's exclusive 'Trend de la Creme for Coutorture' comparison, the Louis Vuitton Fall 2008 collection is likened to the angles and shapes found in modern architecture. No matter how many times we're told that nothing new can be done, we just don't buy it. And neither, now on a weekly basis, does Trend de la Creme.

Band of Outsiders Blogues Simply

coutorture — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 07:50:36 -0800

Sometimes the bells and whistles are not required. Realizing we sort of missed the Band of Outsiders Fall 08 collection during the madness of fashion week, we poked around to catch up on the happenings of the brand. Boy, the labels womenswear collection, is probably exactly how we'd dress if we lived in the fantasy world we invent while walking with our headphones on (okay, maybe not all of us). What convinced us even more, of the brands alignment with our fantasy world, is the simplicity of their website. Two blogs, one for Band and one for Boy, are made up cleanly with press images, goofy polaroids, and You Tube videos. There's no godawful Flash Player (something we all do agree on) there are no links to previous collections. There's simply a rolling log of succinct, clean images, and some links to likeminded websites. The feeling is like visiting an old friend, someone who you don't 'network' with, who you just like. Before long, you realize that this relationship is just much, much better than peripheral nonsense because, without the flash player, your left to enjoy some funny polaroids and cool clothes.

You Tube video courtesy of Hint Mag

Coutorture Editorials

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