Odd goes kaleidoscopic

From day one I've been a huge Odd-fan. Odd Magazine is "completely conceptualized and realized by a group of 30 students of the Amsterdam Fashion Institute, It explores six connections between seven people in the creative industry. Inspired by their personal stories and fashion visions, the magazine reveals an unexpectedly beautiful world of fashion, photography and illustration that is just a little bit odd."

An concept and initiative that continues to exceed many expectations. And now, with the magazine being available for the iPad, and the movies featured in the online version, it's mindblowing. W.O.W.

Retrospective dolls

After debuting in London and then traveling to Utrecht, the Netherlands, Viktor & Rolf's now iconic dolls - hand-made dolls wearing exact miniature replicas of key pieces designed by the duo - are now on exhibition in Studio Job Gallery.

The exhibit, comprised of more than 30 dolls, represents Viktor & Rolf's eccentric, often quirky look upon fashion design, balancing between wearable clothing versus wearable art.

The dolls are a great statement; perfect to show the Dutch fashion design duo’s retrospective, spanning 17 years of innovative and boundary-pushing fashion. A phenomenal exhibition showcasing many of their brilliant work since their characteristic brand's formation in 1993.

Happy Valentine

In daily life English Zoe Karssen is art director for the Dutch Blue Blood brand, but 'on the side' she designs some - as she would probably call it - ace t-shirts, like this one. Enjoy!

McQueen

You probably have heard the sad news that Alexander McQueen is no longer with us... The fashion designer who always knew how to re-invent fashion; his designs were always surprising, trendsetting, exceptional and unique. His collections were the best, magical and futuristic, and always using the best techniques and materials. My respect to one of the best fashion designers in the world. Ever.

AIFW

Some more eye-candy. A selection of some of my personal favorites as shown during this Amsterdam International Fashion Week (AIFW).

Some other designers (also amongst my favorites!) that were definitely mentioned in 'the talk of the town' were Marloes Blaas and Matthijs van Bergen. We'll be hearing from both of them in the future, I'm sure!

1 - Shirt & skirt by EnD; 2 - Dress by Elsien Gringhuis
3 - Blouse & skirt by Claes Iversen; 4 - Dress by Claes Iversen
5 - Dress by Jan Taminiau; 6 - Dress by Mada van Gaans

Étranger

Some of you may know that this past week was Amsterdam’s International Fashion Week. An event that always leaves it’s marks in the city, and makes us all curious to see the best, most creative and inspiring autumn/winter 2010 collections.

This year Taiwanese designer Lifu Hsiao presented, in a 17th century cellar underneath a monumental bridge, his simple but oh so perfectly tailored debut collection for winter 2010.

Lifu Hsiao graduated at the Fashion Institute Arnhem, the Netherlands, in 2008. After gaining working experience at Veronique Branquinho in 2009, he launched his own womens label Étranger. With his label, he strives to help women reaching “humanity and emotions” through his designs. Lifu Hsiao works and lives in Amsterdam.

Chelsea Rebelle

In 2010 Orange Pop Design hopes to bring you the cool news in the area of art, architecture, fashion, design, interior, shopping and more! As my New Year’s resolution is to make the blog a joy for all Orange Pop Design’s readers, I intend to make this (blog) year one that will be full of articles, finds, gifts, surprises and interviews. If you feel your designs or products cannot be missed and should be featured on the blog, please give a shout. Would you have any suggestions or ideas, please do let me know… I am looking forward to your feedback!

Now, let’s kick off with an exclusive interview (thank you again, Sarah!) with the wonderful, ever enthusiastic Sarah Brannon from fashion label Chelsea Rebelle. Sarah's designs are modern and flirty, whimsical with a dark twist, always focusing on luxurious fabrics and a sleek silhouette. Sarah just launched her the 2010 spring/summer collection ‘Oh you pretty things’, which is absolutely amazing. Aren't the items fabulous and fun?

~~


Chelsea Rebelle (CR) seems to be quite ‘new’ in the fashion industry, but you have been around for almost 10 years. Was it hard for you to enter the existing industry?
CR officially launched in 2005, prior to that I did different lines on the side but never confident enough to go head first into my own line. It was a natural transition though, upon studying fashion I began making clothes for myself, then for friends, then for friends of friends, then for strangers and so it grew organically. Once I decided to start a "proper" label I had relocated from New Zealand to the United States. The United States is a much different market, harder to break into, so nearly five years into it and I'm finally getting some recognition. It has not been without it's ups and downs though, the biggest down been a fire in my studio just three months after launching the line…it destroyed everything! I persevered though, and I'm glad I did as I can't imagine doing anything else.

Can you tell a little bit about CR? Where does the name come from and how your signature can be described? How can a true CR be recognized?
I came up with Chelsea Rebelle because my own name is a little dull! I took Chelsea from a song by a little known English band called These Animal Men and Rebelle is Rebel in French. I thought Rebel sounded a little harsh; Rebelle is a little softer but still tough. My signature
look is feminine, flirty, playful and a little rebellious! I think the bow is becoming a standout CR feature…I just love bows!


The last couple of years more and more magazines and stylists seem to have picked up on CR. Can you tell us how this has impacted CR and yourself?
It is great! Not only is it amazing to get some recognition, it definitely helps with sales! I have worked so hard to get to where I am, I've done everything on my own. It is easy to start a line, get a showroom and a PR company and get recognition immediately, but I feel I’ve earned it. I want longevity out of this as I think it can be a bad thing to get over exposed too soon so I'm happy that I'm only just gaining momentum in the fashion world.

Is CR about fashion, or more? And what or who inspires you/who do you admire and is reflected in your design?
It's definitely about more! It's about creating a story, an escape, a fantasy. My inspirations are rather vast. I have my staples, Lolita, England, youth culture, music, outcasts, misfits and rebels but each season I take on a strong theme. I am a total sponge, and love to absorb things from art to films to buildings, photographs even cemeteries. I can literally be inspired by anything. The specific theme I take on for a collection is reflected in my designs in different ways, sometimes it's obvious and sometimes not so. It can be in a print, fabric finish or trim. As far as people I admire, there are so many! Edie Sedgewick is high on my list, Lolita even though she is fictitious!


Who is the woman you have in mind when designing a new collection?
She is stylish yet quirky, a bit of a rebel and an outcast but always the cool kid and a free thinker!

What has been the inspiration for your latest (awesome!) collection?
Awww….thank you! "Oh you pretty things" was inspired by listening to far too much T Rex and David Bowie! In the early stages of dreaming up this collection I found myself sitting in the studio listening to these two constantly, then my friend showed me some old footage he had of the both of them; they were both just such amazing talents not to mention their
incredible style. They were well ahead of their times both musically and style wise. I took aspects of their style such as glitter and spandex and incorporated it into a CR girl.

What to you is the perfect outfit or creation?
Oh, gosh, that's a tough one; I just love so many different things! I guess I'd have to say anything Viktor & Rolf! From their couture to their ready to wear to their branding, logo and packaging, it's perfection!!!


Best advice you’ve ever received?
On the business side of things a wonderful fashion writer once told me to preserver and told me how she has watched many designers come and go over the years and the ones that can tough it out eventually make their mark. Perhaps that seems like logic, but it's a hard industry, sometimes you just want to quit so it's inspiring to hear something like that from a well respected writer.

What brands do you wear yourself?
I tend to wear a lot of vintage, band tee shirts and Marc Jacobs. I love vintage because it's like no other, band tee shirts are just a staple in my wardrobe and Marc Jacobs is brilliant, totally wearable and on trend but classic and timeless. Oh and my friend Linda Wong's line The Battalion, they make the best pants ever!!! Black, skinny, stylized, and super comfy, they are an eco bamboo knit but they look like jeans! If I had the option I think I'd wear Viktor & Rolf, Chanel and Vivienne Westwood everyday but I will always love vintage and band tees!


Are there any plans to expand and have your designs sold in more countries ?
Yes, I really want to expand CR into the European market, I think CR is very suited to Europe. Also Australia, I think they have a great fashion sense. Of course New York is on the list as is Japan…I pretty much want world domination!!!

Where your designs can be found?
The current season is will be available from Feb 2010 at Wolf and Badger in London, online at Not Just A Label, Coco Career and The Moon and Mars. There will be more to come but we are just coming out of a recession, many stores I did sell too have closed down so I'm taking things slowly and placing myself in hand selected boutiques.

Droog goes fashion

Droog, a Dutch Design collective based in Amsterdam and set up in 1993 as a statement on design, might be known for setting fashions in the world of product and furniture design. However, per this month creative laboratory Droog will also bring Dutch fashion items and accessories to the Droog collection in New York, including labels by Corné Gabriëls, Gluejeans, Orson + Bodil, Painted, and Jan Taminiau.

Since Viktor & Rolf seems to be the only Dutch fashion design you will find in New York, Droog wanted to tap these talents and broaden the range of products in the New York store with exclusive fashion, books and items connected to architecture like the Lace Fence by Demakersvan. Way to go Droog!

Ola!

A while ago I shared some of Denise’s work with you, her being one of my favorite illustrators. Here’s another illustrator I think delivers briljant work and has more or less a similar style to Denise’s: the Spanish Sandra Suy. Do you like her work as much as I do? Sandra's work is available here.

Viktor & Rolf

With all the shows during the last Fashion Week in Paris, Viktor & Rolf's managed to be the most talked about, again. For the spring/summer 2010 collection Viktor & Rolf collaborated with Nynke Tynagel and Job Smeets from Studio Job. To see the complete runway show, check out the two videos (part I & part II). Music performance by the wonderful (pregnant) Róisín Murphy.

All I want...

One of my favorite brands for clothing is French Connection. They have amazing jackets, dresses, shoes and knits. The above would be such great addition to my wardrobe. This selection of clothes could easily be working for a dinner with friends, a galery opening and visiting clients for work...

1 - coat; 2 - jumper; 3 - necklace;
4 - shoe; 5 - trousers; 6 - mini skirt;
7 - top; 8 - bangle; 9 - dress

Good cause

The Uniform Project is a fun, inspiring good cause initiative, that just crossed the halfway mark. To celebrate, Sheena Matheiken created this video to give you a little update on the whole. Love it!

Run

Just love this image: the colours, the composition, the light, the contrast of the autumn nature versus the black high fashion outfit... beautiful.

Knit

These hand knitted wooly wonders are from Isobel and Cleo and pretty much blow my mind.

Humanoid

I love the Dutch fashion label Humanoid; their clothing is so comfortable yet stylish at the same time. (I wish they'd sell the interior props as used in shoot for this autumn/winter collection too...) Good thing I don't have to wait too long any more; next weekend we're going to Arnhem, which is where the store is located. Weehoo, shopping it is!

Eclipse

I've always liked contemporary fashion, the sculptural lines and the almost architectual details, and in this fall/winter's line of Conny Groenewegen everything just comes together perfectly. Not to mention I love the color combination, inspired by the eclipse of the moon.

Liking the lace

Images by Merel Boers

Lace has been back for a while now, I mean lace is all over the place when it comes to design. A great event I visited earlier this year, completely devoted to the latest lace trends and ideas, was the 'Kantlijnen' exhibition in Bruges, Belgium.

More and more young artists and designers are unashamedly using lace in their patterns and themes. They have discovered the true beauty of lace: the richness of its transparency, the fluidity of it silken lines and the delicate interplay between ornamentation and structure. With new techniques and new materials, they have given lace new meaning. Lace once again has its own place in contemporary culture.

I'm expecting to see a lot of new lace-a-likes design soon...

Plastique Fantastique

Yesterday me and the Mr visited the Plastique Fantastique Market in Amsterdam, the event for designers to present their creative hand-made unique items.

One of my favorites there was Charlotte Kan, fashion designer and illustrator. Her clothing line 'Play & Pose' exists of pieces of clothing that can be worn in various ways. To encourage the 'play' element, Charlotte sends pieces to girls all over the world who'll photograph themselves wearing the items. Besides this being an original promotion of her work, it also results in an unique photography project including work of Elkie van Stiphout.

More of Charlotte's work (and some other great designers' original clothing) can (also) be found here.

Fashion in a bottle

One of my favorite (online) shops is Colette. The Colette concept store is the destination for products that reek of cool and thus Paris' shoppers' paradise. Colette sells great fashionable luxury goods, including one of my favorite perfumes (speaking of 'reeking'): Lady Vengeance by Juliette has a gun. Since last Friday Colette sells APC's new perfume, in a limited edition of 300 units. Too bad exploring fragances online is not possible, but just the wood turned bottle might do the trick for you already...