Joy to the World.

 Hello friends and readers (although I think you're pretty much one in the same)! First things first, I'd like to (in true Meredith fashion) say I'm sorry for the lack of posts over the past two months. I guess I just wasn't feeling it, but I have been keeping a long list of potential post topics so that I'd be ready when the time was right. Well now the time is right, and I have some lovely videos, music, fashion (not to mention a new header I created!) and lots of other things I'm dying to share with you.


So let's get started. The video posted below is a short fashion film created by Jae Song and Claire Carre for fantastically over-the-top fashion/costume designer Christian Joy. Most of you may be familiar with Miss Joy's work with Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman Karen O, for what seems like the larger part of Karen' career. Although Christian Joy's design aesthetic may be far, far away from my own, I can definitely respect and admire her use of kaleidoscopic colors and patterns of the 70's (perfectly demonstrated in this video), as well as her nod to the anti-fashion and DIY style of the 80's and 90's. She's a designer and artist who had/has most certainly found her niche and continues to show her point of view, regardless of trends or seasons.

some of Karen O's costumes over the years.
all images: www.christianjoy.us

We all know how much technology has been changing all aspects of fashion, from digital printing on textiles and e-shopping, to live on-line streaming of high-profile collections during Fashion Week. With many designers in the past year opting for video presentations over, or at least as a supplement to the typical runway show, I have found myself more often disappointed than impressed by them. I think that fashion film is a great way for a designer to have complete control over the feeling and mood they wish to convey with a collection, much more than they do with a typical runway show. It also gives designers who may not have the chance or means to be a part of Fashion Week a way to showcase their work, in a medium which may have a greater reach and impact on potential customers than photos from the runway. However, it seems that some designers wanted to get on the digital bandwagon and whip out a fashion film of their own, but lacked the clear vision, or something... I'm not sure what, to make the film an asset to their collection.


Phew! All of that being said, Christian Joy's video impressed me instantly. The hair, makeup, models, and overall styling are all spot on, and the director/producers did an amazing job at making the film look as if it cam straight out of the 70's (which was to the definite benefit of the clothes). Most importantly, the piece is short and sweet, and leaves you wanting to see more of the collection. The focus is always on the clothes and the feeling the clothes create. Okay I'll stop gushing now and let you watch it already! Enjoy.



I couldn't help but post some more images from Christian's website... be inspired!

 

 editorial for Christian Joy shot by ioulex.

all images: www.christianjoy.us

"I eat doughnuts man, I eat doughnuts!"

It seemed like only a matter of time before (one of my all time favorite designers/inspirations) Ms. Stella McCartney took her name from the household, the gym, to the playroom. Having done two collections for Gap Kids and Baby Gap last year (I couldn't resist posting some photos from the SS2010 lookbook below) her own Stella McCartney Kids collection (clothing for ages 0-12) will finally be available Nov. 3rd and Vogue.com just posted pics of looks of yellow-wellie-clad darlings donning all the looks on their site. (I've posted a few of my favorites below)

  
As I have already mentioned, I have been inspired and influenced, and to be honest, somewhat enamored with Stella since I first realized I wanted to be a designer myself. It still surprises me when I hear people say (very naively) that she is only successful because of her name and her money (she's Paul McCartney's daughter). Initially? Perhaps. Perhaps she may not have had the money, the contacts, or the resources to put on a runway show when she first started out. However, she took the opportunities she was given (i.e. Creative Director at Chloe from '97-'01) and almost immediately made a name for herself as one of the most loved and respected womenswear designers today. What is particularly impressive about Stella is that time and time again, she presents a collection that could literally be worn right off the runway. She knows exactly what women want to look and feel like, yet somehow manages to create pieces that are at once modern yet look like they exist without a time period, trend, or any sort of context.


Taking what she has done for Adidas as an example, it's clear that Stella isn't simply expanding her market simply for the sake of doing so (like some other designers/celebrities out there who seem obsessed with splattering their name everywhere) she has waited an ample amount of time, and being that she has three children of her own, I'm sure childrenswear seemed like the next natural move. Her easy, not overly-designed, modern and always slightly quirky aesthetic translates so perfectly to children's clothing and the result is just spot on. The clothes are playful but smart, rather than tacky or too doll-like (as I think kids clothes can often be). The pops of color and cool graphics/patterns also keep them young, but the carefully placed details remind you that it is also, carefully designed.


I guess what intrigues me most about this collection and the shift towards more "designer" childrenswear is how drastically different the look is from when I was even a kid (that's only 20 years ago). It really makes me wish I was even half as cool-looking as these kids, or at least had clothing half as cool, when I was that young. Oh, and the little video on the homepage of the Stella McCartney Kids website features an adorable bunch of dancing finger-painting kids running around to a song repeating the words "I eat doughnuts man, I eat doughnuts!". Could you get any cooler than that?

Images from the SS10 Gap Kids collection. (I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't wear
every one of these pieces if they came in my size. Yup, even the striped onesie)

  All Stella Kids images from Vouge.co.uk.

All Stella for Gap images from nitrolicous.com

I'm sorry, you're just not my type.

I love everything about the interactive video-test created by the brilliant minds at global design firm Pentagram. I originally found "What Type Are You?" via one of my favorite bloggers, Bobby Solomon at   Kitsune Noir (which I check daily). I took the test and receiving the font Archer Hairline as my diagnosis, have come to the conclusion that this little quiz is extremely true and quite intuitive! I won't give too much away because I want you to see for yourselves, but I love the simplicity of the video, as well as the quirkiness of it. It's fairly short, as to not lose your interest, but long enough to make it feel as if you are actually being analyzed. I love the voice and accent of the psychiatrist character, and the background music, and of course the fonts themselves. Upon finishing the test, you can see how popular your given type is, as well as get a summary and history of the design of each type shown. It's definitely one of my favorite things on the internet right now. Enjoy!

Find out "What Type Are You?"
(couldn't embed this one either, sorry kids)

Scissor Sisters.

I am currently in love these awesome hand-made brass and steel fabric scissors which not only seem super tough, and have that great weight to them, but are super affordable! Only $18 for the 6 inch pair, and $21 for the 9 inch) They also have an antique look which I am often drawn to (probably under the influence of my Mom) when shopping for sewing supplies or tools because it adds to the sort of nostalgic feeling actually doing a craft with your hands.

The scissors are from an online shop called Spartan which I know nothing about because they don't provide an "About" section on the website... but what I do know is that they have a great selection of understated yet interesting jewelry, tools, and housewares (like the vintage Bolivian wool rugs I am also loving). There is also a sister site Bows + Arrows which is an online clothing store, although I don't know which one came first... While Bows + Arrows carries some great brands (A.P.C. Rachel Comey, BillyKirk, Band of Outsiders) and definitely shares a common aesthetic with their other online store, I think I was definitely more impressed with the careful and smart choice of products on Spartan.

 

Spartan also sells a set of smaller brass and steel "Barber" scissors which are perfect for seam ripping, and other little delicate sewing tasks. So I'm thinking about getting one of each (one big and one little pair) so they can be scissor sisters! GET IT? LIKE THE BAND? ANYONE? Ok, nevermind. Anyway here's a really cool video for "Any Which Way" by Scissor Sisters (whom I was obsessed with in High School).

Volleyball.

New work by my good friend Sean Hudson (whom I wrote about back in June). I love getting updates from him because I feel like I've seen his style and talent grow just in the few years I've known him. Keep an eye out, he's extremely talented!

 

 

"It has some boobs in it (tasteful)"

So, sadly I don't know much yet about the Animal Collective-esque musical stylings of Spanish musician El Guincho. He was first introduced to me by my good friend Sean Hudson (whose awesome illustrations I blogged about back in June) a few weeks ago, and just today, another good friend Casey (whose quote is the title of this post), sent me this music video that happened to be for the same artist. The video has moments of what seems like unnecessary nudity (almost every shot of a female in the video is a topless one) but in that harmless, sort of ironic-hipster-y way. Or like the non-sexed, natural, nonchalant nudity of the 1970s. There's also a fair share of weird futuristic 80's images including one with a glowing globe in a forest. Did that make any sense at all? I doubt it. Sorry. Well the point is, I still haven't decided if I love it or hate it, but it is most definitely very impressive. Between all the slightly strange disturbing imagery I realize that the cuts and editing are pretty spot on (in my opinion), and fit the beat and overall tone of the song perfectly. The song is awesome and I think the video definitely served as its compliment. Now only if I knew what he was saying.