Fall Winter Trend 2012/13: Dark of the Night

Another big trend we noticed during the fall winter 2012/13 shows was that there was a whole lot of black. The color black, classic, and always in fashion has definitely made its mark in several designer’s collections for the season. Givenchy’s show had a skin-tight black leather turtleneck dress that would mesh quite well with the likes of Cat Woman. Gucci kept it sexy and sophisticated by bringing on blouses in black sheer fabric with velvet sewn on embellishments. The overall mood for this dark trend is very sleek, cat-like, mysterious, and with just enough mystery involved.

Lucky for us, this dark trend fits the Harlequin&Lionhead’s Whirls collection spot on. Accessories are half of the fun when it comes to dressing trendy, besides, with accessories you can really express your own fashion sense and style. Accessories are best used to add that little extra ‘something’ to your look, and most importantly, your own flare and voice. A great piece from Harlequin&Lionhead’s Whirls Collection is the Whirls #7 Pendant (shown below). This pendant is the 7^th design from the Whirls collection and features a beautifully set octagon metal centerpiece amidst a feather nest. This is definitely the ideal statement piece, and the high polished octagon stone looks wicked in oxidized metal, as well as the satin brass version.

 Another lovely piece that fits so well into this dark moody trend are the Whirls #3 Earrings. These stud earrings are inspired by chrysanthemum flowers, which give a very wicked feeling on their own. The earrings come in gold plated or white gold plated, your choice.

For more information on both of these lovely pieces, please visit Harlequin&Lionhead.

Did you read about it?

Thank you for a great interview of Harlequin&Lionhead by Flourish & Thrive Academy! Read more here.

The happenings at Harlequin&Lionhead this Dec!

I have waited until Thanksgiving is over to talk about Christmas and I just cannot wait anymore! Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. It is not only the festive decoration, the numerous wrapping (I love gift wrappings!) and presents, but the spirit of giving, and celebration with the beloved. This year, my mother will be here with me and some of you may get to see her in my coming trunk shows. Here is a load down where you can find Harlequin&Lionhead in person!

1) Krrb Home for the Holidays Pop-Up Production

Krrb.com is made uniquely for local and in-person commerce. They bring you an online environment where you can find what you are looking for right in your neighborhood, made and sold by local businesses. 

From November 29 to December 20, at their Brooklyn headquarter, they will be hosting a pop-up trunk show featuring various local goods from designers and makers in NY. Harlequin&Lionhead rings and earrings will be available for purchase at their show. I'll post more info next week about it. Go check it out! 

2) Urban Alchemist Design Collective

Yes, I will be back at the store with all the other amazing US designer goods! Harlequin&Lionhead will be available for purchase at this lovely boutique, located in Brooklyn Park Slope. And I will be there various days in December. Find out more when I will be there on my facebook page!

3) Brooklyn Trunk Shows

A small quantity of my rings and earrings will be available at the Bunnies Can Dream table on sale. Below are the locations and more info. I will be personally there with many local artists and talents. So come say hi!

South Slope Holiday Craft Fair is hosted by PS10. All proceeds will benefit the school. 

PS 10 in Park Slope, Brooklyn 

511 Seventh Avenue between Prospect Avenue and 17th Street

Dec 15, 11am-5pm

Brooklyn Craft Central Holiday Market 2012 is an extended version of the famously exciting holiday market in Brooklyn. This year it will be 2 weekends, Dec 15/16 and Dec 22/23. Each week there will be different vendors. 

Harlequin&Lionhead will only be there on Dec 16. 11am-5pm

Littlefield, Park Slope Brooklyn

622 Degraw Street, New York, NY

Want to save a bit on your X'mas shopping? Make sure to sign up for my mailing list and get 10% off your first purchase! An early happy holiday to you!

Femininity and The Collar

There is no denying that this winter season is all about bringing out your feminine side. The words that may come to mind are dainty, sweet, ladylike, soft, and delicate. Designers such as Jill Sander and Isabel Marant (both shown above), featured beautiful pieces that fit the feminine vibe to a T. Lovely dresses that were light and airy fluttered down the runway which were perfectly fitting for the other big trend on the horizon: the collar trend. With the huge collar trend on the radar we have seen many different adornments to the “typical” collar. From button down shirts featuring studs, to necklace collars made of chains, to hammered metal, and the like. However, to stay on trend with the femininity there is something else to set your eyes on, and that is the newest addition to Harlequin&Lionhead’s Rose Collection, the Rose Bib Necklace. The Rose Bib Necklace brings out a girl's feminine side and allows it to fit nicely into the "trendy"and delicate way of dressing this season.

The Rose Bib Necklace stays true to the rest of the Rose Collection and makes a lovely addition to the range. Celebrating beauty and a woman’s feminine nature, the abstract sculpting of each flower presents a beautiful impression of the fragile nature of the rose, as well as the core focus of femininity in this current trend. 

For more of the lovely pieces found in the Rose Collection visit Harlequin&Lionhead homepage here! http://harlequinlionhead.com

A look back on my trunk show at Urban Alchemist

Thank you for Urban Alchemist Design Collective for hosting my trunk show last week at their Park Slope Brooklyn store! Love the atmosphere of the store and the folks are sweet, the merch are great, I had fun selling my jewelry and buying things there!

This great boutique is a local favorite for the past 4 years, featuring designers and artists around the country. The store owner Imaan is a loving mother and a talented mixed media jewelry designer too! And her husband Jeff personally selects the vinyle LP collection in the store. Store Managers Tara and Eric runs a cool T-shirt company called The Fencing & Archery Printing Co..

Check out Imaan's jewelry brand, Eswera Jewerly. On top, Alison Corrie's Stuffed Animal Collection. The aligator and dodo are the only 2 left. Almost took home the aligator! 

We're Wolves T-shirt design by Fencing & Archery

Recent hot items in the store belongs to one of the store's coop member, Zsuzsanna's Roots In Rust.

There are some other great finds too! The great Swan ring and the silver Rhino ring are created by Melany. And check out some of my other shots below.

Ceramic necklaces 

If you are in the neighborhood, visit the lovely Urban Alchemist, a door away from the corner of 5th Street and 5th Avenue, Brooklyn! They open noon-8pm from Tues to Sats, and noon-6pm on Suns ;)

Meet me this weekend in Park Slope!

Date: November 10-11, 2012

Time: noon-8pm

Location: 

Urban Alchemist Design Collective

343 Fifth Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Tel: 718.499.0758

Urban Alchemist Design Collective offers an eclectic mix of work by independent designers. It has soon became a Park Slope neighborhood fav boutique since its opening in 2008.

I will bring entire collections from Harlequin&Lionhead, including great statement pieces not available on my Etsy shop. Limited quantity only so come early or they are out.

Another November event I will be in is The 1st Annual Beat-the-Crowds Handmade Holiday Happening presented by Two Fair Ladies on November 17. Are you ready for some holiday shopping? Leave a comment below ;)

On Trend: Femininely Gothic Fall/Winter 2012/13

With the chilly months moving in on us we look to warm up with thicker clothing, like knits and heavy coats. Staying up to date with trends is ideal for any fashionable gal, and this fall winter 12/13, it is all about the gothic vibe. Gothic inspired many collections and has become a key trend this season. Leather, velvet, and lace are the fabrics most used to convey this darker mood, and are definitely on trend. When going for the gothic trends opt for long silhouettes, and of course, the color black. Remember Roccobarocco’s collection that featured a stunning fitted knee length dress with a white collar and cross? (see above) This look is the perfect example of femininely gothic. The dress had a body conscious fit, yet still classic and sophisticated with the stark white collar, cinched belt, tights, and heels.

Harlequin&Lionhead features many pieces that will fit well into this gothic trend. While you don’t want to go overboard with accessories, for fear of looking like a vampire, keep things simple, and bold. The piece that I would like to mention is the gold plated Rose Bouquet Ring from Harlequin&Lionhead. This ring works amazingly for the gothic trend because roses are a classic symbol of the gothic era and this ring brings that beauty, in a colder way. The beautiful cocktail ring infuses a romantic feeling with old world charm, and works perfectly with the darker clothing this season. The ring comes in oxidized sterling silver, as well as pink silver, which has a lovely hue close to the more popular rose gold color. The ring is bold enough to make a statement and compliment the gothic trend well, while still being delicate and feminine enough to keep the romantic edge.

Accessorizing the Military Trend this Fall/Winter

Fall has arrived! As we switch gears from our summer wardrobe to fall, we’re faced with some new fall/winter trends. The military look is making its mark once again, with the emphasis on strong structured blazers and trousers. A beautiful blouse in olive, with a black leather collar, was seen in Jason Wu’s collection, and Belstaff featured a stunning pea coat adorned with metal detailed buttons. This structured look was seen in various runway shows for fall/winter 2012, and the same question always arises, “How does one accessorize these looks?”

Accessorizing pieces that have strong lines, such as blazers or pea coats, takes just as strong of an accessory to make the look flow. Harlequin&Lionhead has many complimentary pendants, necklaces, and rings that fit well into this seasons most trendy garments.

One of which is the Large Heart pendant from the Whirls Collection. This is a statement pieces that will add that final touch to your winter wardrobe. Alexander McQueen’s Horn of Plenty inspired the pendant, molded out of clay, and then cast in brass. The pendant presents two feathered wings forming the shape of a heart; the back is hollowed out, reveling a lovely heart chamber inside.

Keep in mind a little goes a long way. Make sure not want to over accessories this fall/winter. Try to find a strong piece to work into your look, and let it be the key addition. With the military look you want to keep your accessories to a minimum, but bold and upfront! 

Introducing our guest blogger, Reese Herrick

Reese Herrick, the Editor-in-Chief and Creative Director of CHAOS Magazine will be my guest blogger in a series about fashion and accessory and gifting tips for the fashionable. The series kicks off tomorrow and will be posted every other Thursday. So subscribe to the RSS feed now!

Reese is also a fashion stylist and an art director who splits her time between SF and NY. Known for her edgy and raw aesthetic, she has worked with various photographers in both US and Europe, as well as their top modeling agencies. 

I am very excited to have Reese here on my blog! A round applause and come back tomorrow to see her first post!

Also, remember to sign up for my mailing list on the left hand side of the blog to receive a 10% off your first purchase ;)

Fashion Trend Update - Fall2012 / Spring2013

Image credit: http://newagexbrainwash.com

If you have read my trend summary from earlier this year, you will see that the early prediction for Fall  has become a guide for mainstream commercial fashion and some of these trends may have already taken over your wardrobe. And a lot of it are here to stay for spring 2013!

First off, a recap of Fall must haves:

1) Silhouettes - iron lady (update - suits, peplums are still here, adding full skirts now, restraint elegance, specifically buttoned up or closed colars), modern military, global aristocrate, chic sportsman (sportswear rules!), matrix PLUS roomy 20s and 80s jacket and slouchy pants look (updated)

2) Materials - FUR, or rather faux fur! (update) Leather, ultra-feminine lace, velvet, AND lots of jeweled embellishments! (updated)

3) Colors - Stark black and gold contrasts, white, burgundy and LOTS of RED

4) Patterns - (updated) Opulent floral patterns are more romantic and dark. Also latticework or tiled toned down smaller patterns on suits, coats and pants. Symmetrical images or geometrical shapes creating curvy illusions

From top to bottom, left to right: Balmain, Rick Owens, Givenchy, L'Wren, Jason Wu, Dolce&Gabbana,  Max Mara, Lavin, Giles

Where do I get a good look at the designers examples of these trends:
HarpersBazaar.com
Elle.com
NYMag.com

Where do I get a good how-to-wear guide of some of these trends:
Instyle.com


Then a quick snapshot of Spring/Summer 2013 from the ongoing NYFW:

So far it is a bit sedated compared to the popping colors of the previous SS collections. There are some colors here and there but used quite strategically in the shows. Seems like it is all saved for the crazy nail art! Ok, here are some key highlights so far...

1) Tough romanticism (or BDSM inspired) leather and lace (really?!)
2) The Jazz Age is here to stay
3) Sportswear
4) Globe Trotting (it kinda faded out in the fall, and I'm not exactly sure if I like the latest DVF collection so you decide...)
5) African influence in color
6) Black fading into blues, coral, and nude
7) White
8) Flowers
9) Color blocking and geometry

From top to bottom, left to right: Tibi, Tracey Reese, Giulietta, Prabal Gurung, Helmut Lang, BCBG, Lela Rose, Rachel Zoe, Calvin Klein

Where do I get a good look at the designers examples of these trends:

HarpersBazaar.com

Elle.com

Where do I get closeups and goodies about NYFW:
Go to MBFW Facebook page!

More to come after the FW and remember, you can watch it from the comfort of your desk (no tickets required!) on the Fashion Week youtube channel!

And I'll be putting together my new collection pinterest boards soon. So go check it out later.

Fashion's Night Out 2012 trunk show at Henri Bendel!

Thank you all for coming to my FNO trunk show at Henri Bendel last week. It was a blast and I am excited to have met all of you. At the trunk show there was a sneak peek of what is to come for the fall. The new addition to the Rose and Whirls collection got some excellent feedbacks and I will be releasing more info on those shortly! Thank you again for the generosity of Henri Bendel and I hope to be back soon for a fall trunk show. Love you all~

In the shadows of the sun

Last year I went to Storm King Museum, my all time favorite. That was my second time there. I went there first on 2010 during fall. I have decided to return to the installation part every year. I will be visiting it probably in October again when the leaves are yellow and red once more. These are 2 pics from last year. They are on my mind when I work.

I love my mom! She is totally Harlequin&Lionhead!