Oct 17, 2008 | Fashion
Surpisingly, designer May Tee was originally a software engineer for ten years, working at Intel, before she made the transition into fashion. She attended school at Parsons, spending summers in London and Italy, even working as a freelance designer for Versace. What really catapulted her into the industry was working at a high-end boutique in downtown Portland, where she gained a feel for her ideal customer and luxury fabrics. This background she translated into her Portland-based eponymous line, now a year and a half old. Her S/S ’09 collection was inspired by a recent trip to Australia, where she visited Sydney Opera House and was struck by the architectural curves of the building. She translated the fluid shapes into her designs for the collection (below). She says her clothing resonates with people who really appreciate details and who enjoy quality. Her collection consisted of sharply-tailored suits and sheath dresses, with a fluid, structured quality. Her philosophy on life and fashion is to”have fun! And always follow your dreams.” Visit the brand’s website to learn more at: MayTee.com.
-Carly J. Cais
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Oct 17, 2008 | Fashion
We missed out on the opportunity to interview Seattle-based Alula Clothing‘s designers, Katrina Thomson, Chelsey Burton and Beth O’Leary, but according to their website their S/S ’09 Collection was inspired by thoughts of “sunkissed skin and warm afternoons…the colors and fabrics we dream of in these moments. These are the pretty little outfits we’d most like to be wearing while enjoying those bright shiny days to the fullest.” See a sampling of the collection below.
-Carly J. Cais
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Oct 17, 2008 | Fashion
Nike as a company has set the laudable goals of becoming completely sustainable within the next ten years, both in business practices and in materials they use, and are actively working towards this. (Kudos!) “Nike Considered” is actually going to soon drop the “Considered” from their name (which used to designate their distinction from the clothing under the regular “Nike” label). They are not even a separate division within Nike; in fact, the only way to tell that your Nike-branded clothing is manufactured with sustainable materials is to look at the label. (Now that’s missing a major marketing opportunity, IMHO.) Their eco-friendly apparel is not particularly distinguishable from their “non-eco-friendly apparel” (NEFA? gotta find a shorter term for this) in either look or aesthetic…since they manufacture both men’s and women’s apparel, there were some hot male models on the runways, followed by “cute sportswear for women” (which pretty much sums up the Nike brand in a nutshell). Below, the women’s looks from Nike’s show (and I swear, you’ll never tell the difference between the shots I snapped and the shots provided by pro photographers):
(the first two wonky-looking photos from us, the rest of the uber-fabulous photos from the incomparable Pete Kim. Thanks Pete!)
Alula, May Tee, and Sameunderneath coverage coming in the following posts…
-Carly J. Cais
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Oct 17, 2008 | Fashion
Student fashion shows can sometimes be a hit-and-miss affair…there’s always something jaw-droppingly amazing, along with piles of so-so, seen-it, and just downright-sorry-to-say-so-but-there-it-is ugly. We don’t want to tread even harder on downtrodden, struggling design students, but better you hear it now rather than later. And there were some fabulous looks at the Art Institute of Portland’s runway show (Wednesday, October 8), starting with the assignment to students to reinvent the Little Black Dress. We’ll ignore all the boring, we’ve seen it befor stuff, and focus on the standouts…
Ah, what can we say? Stunning. Whoever thought a ski-parka fabric would work so well with so much pleating. We love. It may be a riff on a Balenciaga silhouette, but we love all the same. Mwah!
And we also have a weakness for military-inspired fashion, chiffon tutus, and deconstruction. Yes, we say, bring it on. We wish the coat were in a little heavier fabric, and that the buttons were slightly smaller and spaced further apart. Besides that, it’s fab.
Then this LBD. Tough 80’s power-chic. We likey. Again, Balenciaga comes to mind. (Those crazy multicolored sandals with the black netting…) But still, very fresh.
Alright, they may look like residents of Whoville, but the silhouettes are striking and unique. Not too wearable, but it is definitely a look. (This isn’t the LBD assignment any more.)
And now for…the ugly. Read on! (because we know all of you want to jeer with us 😉
Now this was sad. A great concept, and it would have been fabulous rendered in a stiffer fabric, with fewer sewing mistakes. But overall, it’s unforgivably puckered on the right side.
Oh honey. Roses on the sleeves? Been done, sorry to say.
And it wouldn’t be a fashion show without the inevitable “straitjacket couture” piece. Okay, we totally sympathize with what you’re feeling, what with the looming deadlines and ominous graduation and the “gosh I’ll never make it in the real world as a designer” self-doubt, and the fabrics that were over budget and just not enough damn time to sew…we get it. You want to be committed. Do you need to be a slave to literalism while you do it? Can’t you just have a quiet, contained little meltdown in the corner? No? Well, if you must…
And what the hell is this? A man’s jumpsuit?? Rendered in an oh-so-fetching shade of beige?? It looks like something Ichabod Crane might have worn after lights-out, except this one’s got extra fabric oozing out his kiester. Love the hot leather city boots dude’s got on – like he’s just going to head out, grab a coffee, black, thank you, and the NY Times. And all we know is, that is one pissed-off looking male model.
(We thank Pete Kim for the fabulous photos. Loyal readers, make use of his services!!)
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