R&B songstress Mary J. Blige aka the “Queen of R&B” has teamed up with Gucci’s creative director, Frida Giannini, to create an original watch design for Mary’s charity, the Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now (FFAWN). FFAWN is a women’s resource organization dedicated to helping women from all backgrounds gain the confidence and skills they need to reach their full potential. The limited edition timepiece is a spin on Gucci’s Twirl watch. The FFAWN watch is a sexy all-black metal with the Gucci GG monogram pattern, rotating face, and ring of black diamonds. The rotating face allows the watch to double as a bracelet. The watch will debut on September 16, 2009 at the Gucci flagship store on Fifth Avenue, NYC. You can purchase this limited edition item for $1,895. A portion of the watch sales will go to FFAWN.

Picture from Christian Siriano’s Twitter page

At 23 years old, Bravo’s Project Runway season four winner, Christian Siriano , is creating quite a name for himself. Christian began designing at 13 years old and has interned for Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. He has also shown full collections every season as part of New York’s Fashion Week. In addition, Christian has designed for celebrities such as Victoria Beckham, Heidi Klum, Vanessa Williams, Lady GaGa, Estelle and Whoopi Goldberg, among others. Christian Siriano is hot on the fashion scene. Like many other designers, he is creating a recession friendly collection. Over the past few years, several high-end designers have teamed up with lower-end stores to offer a more affordable collection for the everyday fashionista. On September 8, 2009, Christian’s handbag and shoe line will debut in select Payless stores and online. His Payless collection is expected to grace the stage during his New York Fashion Week show. In addition to this fall line, Christian will create a special holiday collection for Payless in December.

Does Christian Siriano’s line incite you to shop at Payless?

Tattoo Stories by Smart Imagination is the premier book in a series dedicated to a four-year documentary on the stories behind tattoos while progressively raising funds for children in need through the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

In forming Smart Imagination LLC, the project foremost on our thoughts was Tattoo Stories the book. Why do people get tattoos and why are tattoos more readily acceptable in parts of today’s society compared to generations ago? Is there a deeper meaning or connection that most people do not realize when they make the decision to get tattoos? Most people that have tattoos will say that they got them for a specific reason such as remembering someone or a time in their lives. Others say that they feel more sexy or adventurous because they have gotten the tattoos. For some, tattoos have molded their way of life, from ancestor tribes to daily reminders of vices to avoid. Continue reading “Tattoo Stories” »

Continuing on with their minimalistic yet stunning footwear designs, Common Projects continue that same aesthetic with a look into a new collection for the Fall. Present are various high top and low cut sneakers as well as several boot designs, all sharing tonal and two-tone color arrangements. Continue reading “Common Projects 2009 Fall Footwear Collection” »

Orange County design brand, 9Grand, focus on creating aesthetically detailed ready to wear garments. Drawing inspiration from premium lifestyle brands such as Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers, 9Grand, puts a heavy emphasis on garment construction. 9Grand develops menswear with the workingman in mind. The Fall Men’s collection features hand built tee basics, slim cut dress shirts, work wear slacks, distinctive headwear, and premium raw denim.

The entire 9Grand collection is conceptualized in house. The entire line has been built from trial and error. Self taught students of their own passion, the 9Grand creators are carrying their vision onto the masses. Struggle, chance, and determination have created everything you see in the Fall Men’s collection.

9Grand can be purchased online at www.80spurple.com, Karmaloop Kazbah, Avenue in Orange County, Abakus in Philadelphia, and Politics in Louisiana. Continue reading “9 Grand Collection Fall 2009” »

55DSL, the younger lifestyle arm of Diesel, will literally hijack prime real estate within 15 top Diesel stores across the U.S. selling 15 of their key pieces from the Fall/ Winter 2009 men’s collection for 15 days only. 15 Diesel stores will be taken over in this exciting event in cities including: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, Chicago, Hawaii, Boston, Miami, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Atlanta and Georgetown. Continue reading “55DSL Hijacks 15 Diesel Stores” »

Richard Haines is a man who uses great use of his free time. Richards is one of New York’s most talented dwellers, he run’s a site “What I Saw Today?” where he walks the streets of Gotham City and sketches the many looks of our fashion warriors. We got a chance to speak to Richard and find out what are his favorite locations to sketch and his plans on having a book of series of sketches from different cities.

Where’s the best place in the city to watch people? Where do you find individuals with the best style? the coolest looks? Does that normally follow money lines?

New york has so many different places to people watch – I moved to Bushwick a few months ago and there is so much to look at between my neighborhood and places like Williamsburg. I love the Lower East Side too – and usually art openings are great for people watching.

I find the less money involved, the better the people watching. There’s an empty lot a few blocks from where I live and there were bands that played there all weekend – the cover for the whole thing was $10 and I saw the most amazing looks there – I was in heaven! Continue reading “Q&A: Richard Haines” »

Dazed Digital spoke to director R.J. Cutler about following Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington in the making of this long awaited documentary. In his new film, The September Issue,, documentary filmmaker R. J. Cutler takes Dazed Digital behind the scenes of American Vogue, and provides a fascinating insight into the most terrifying woman in fashion: Anna Wintour. An experience he describes as ‘hell’

Dazed Digital: You don’t look like a typical fashionista…
R.J. Cutler: Well I’m obviously not into fashion as a consumer (gestures to scruffy attire). But I appreciate beautiful women in beautiful clothes. And, having made the film, I have an appreciation for the characters and the importance of the industry. It actually helps to be naïve when making a movie like this. The questions you need to ask are so simple. You have to be like a child, which is a beautiful thing about it.

DD: How long did you spend filming with them?
R.J. Cutler: Eight months.

DD: They’re planning the September issue that whole time?
R.J. Cutler: They start when the fashion shows start, at end of January. They were going to Paris for couture and I thought going on that trip would be a good way to get the ball rolling.

Continue reading here.

The second It Came from Brooklyn concert will take place September 25, 2009, at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum with performances by Julian Plenti (aka Paul Banks of Interpol) and I’m In You and readings by authors Rivka Galchen and Hampton Fancher. Comedian Eugene Mirman will serve as the MC for the evening.

It Came from Brooklyn, the new concert series showcasing Brooklyn’s emerging and established talents in the fields of music and literature was conceived by coproducers Sam Brumbaugh and Bronwyn Keenan as part of the museum’s 50th Anniversary celebrations. The title of the series references Robert Gordon’s book It Came from Memphis, which details the birth of rock-n-roll in the 1950s. Continue reading “It Came from Brooklyn” »

This Saturday marks the release of the Product (RED) 3 Strap Jack Purcell by Ian Ginoza exclusively in Hawaii at our KICKS/HI Makaloa flasghip door.

“So basically before Converse’s 100 artist program we ( Saint Alfred + KICKS/HI ) did two different versions of the Chuck Taylor Low in late 05′ early 06′. For KH we did a material play utilizing Sig Zane fabric, and for Saint Alfred, we did a black epi leather treatment. Shortly after Converse launched their 100 artists program-where they approached individual creatives to collaborate with to create product, and proceeds from the sale of those products would go to the (RED) global fund to help fight the battle against AIDS in Africa. Fast forward to Mid ’09, the 100 artists program is wrapping up, I now live in Boston, work for Converse and the shoe is finally launching. Anyway long story short-every shoe has a story. Converse really has done an amazing job with the (RED) product and have made a positive step in the right direction to help where they can. Creating product to help save lives, I can’t think of a better reason.” –Ian Ginoza   Continue reading “Product (Red) 3 Strap Jack Purcell by Ian Ginoza” »