Nanette Lepore for Thompson Hotels courtesy of Starworks
Nanette Lepore teamed up with Thompson Hotels to create a cocktail dress for the lady staffers. For Thompson Properties, this is the first time they've used one designer across all their locations.
Though, high fashion teaming with planes, trains, hotels and restaurants are nothing new. Every year there seems to be a "trend" piece on high fashion design uniforms overtaking the work place.
But with does a designer hand always know where to put all the pockets a server needs, or the varicose veins that a girl can get from nonsensical shoes on a 12 hour shift? And what about the pervert who keeps looking down a girls dress every time she bends over to place a cocktail on those tiny 2 ft tables?
When waiting tables at Dos Caminos, owned by B. R. Guest, our black velvet ribbon timmed can-can style skirts were custom made by designer label Lafayette 148. It wasn't long though, before the some ladies protested the skirts, which hung about 10 inches above the knee, stating that they were just too impractical to serve margaritas and tacos in. Feminists asked why the guys didn't have to wear cod pieces. Others wanted to keep them, arguing they got better tips with the booty bearing skirts. I just threw tights under mine, though my orthopedic style Mary Jane sneakers didn't add any sex appeal.
Dos Caminos Restaurant was not Lafayette 148's first foray into the hospitality industry. In fact, Cintas, a company which brands itself as the creators of corporate identity uniform makers has collaborated in the past Lafayette 148 and also with Cynthia Rowley for United Airlines, Michael Kors for W Hotels.While most people may not notice the labels of their servers duds, companies like Cintas feel they do...and hope they do as well.
I think its fair to say that if you work at Taco Bell, someone designed those turquoise and purple striped polos to contribute to its corporate identity. I don't know what they wear these days, but back in 1994, that's what I wore, while shouting over a head piece to drive through customers: "Welcome to the Border! Can I take your Order?!"
Take a trip through the past and present with this gallery of wacky, wild and even conservative work apparel. From Oscar de la Renta for he Boy Scouts of America to Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B. dress for W Hotels.
A friend and I were talking about where we like to shop. When I said I have a slight J. Crew addiction she said, "I don't like J. Crew. They are too preppy." She loves vintage shopping, has a very unique,cool style and comes up on vintage Chanel, Dior and YSL for obscenely cheap prices. I dont have that kind of patience.
Fair enough. We all have our own style. But, I have to disagree. Sure, the styling of their catalog is often reminiscent of well-to-do Ivy leaguers hailing from Connecticut, but piece by piece, they are the best quality basics for my money.
I wouldn't consider myself "preppy". I love more utilitarian, harder looks with a slight feminine touch. Vanessa Bruno, Rick Owens, Kris Van Assche, and Helmut Lang are always on my wish list. However, my bank account harshly disagrees.
This is why, when I swear I've bought my last piece from J. Crew, they reel me back in with another piece that is the perfect blank slate to create what ever look I want. Whether it's their great sales or their new arrivals, I always open the email.
You don't always have to take what is given to you as a whole, like the catalog picture of "starfish" printed navy blue shorts that was paired with the funky black jacket (pictured below). But, a closer look reveals that that jacket can be cool on its own, with a white ribbed tank, tee, or button down and some messed up jeans.
Though, their shoes have always made me roll my eyes with the lack of creativity and sheer old lady boringness, but I give them accessories points for teaming up with the hip rock-chic jewelry line Fenton-Fallon.
Even Net a Porter, the web's most forward luxury fashion site has bought up a few J. Crew pieces. Is that validation enough?
Helm Handmade boots, created by designer and entrepreneur Joshua Bingaman, takes classic men's boots back to their roots. The six styles of effortlessly cool footwear are made by leather expert shoemakers in Istanbul.
The materials are specially curated for the footwear from all over the world, with leather from Holland and Australia, and soles from Italy and France. Carefully and with a personal touch, each shoe gets its own mold according to the designer's sketch. The leather is cut , nailed and stitched by hand. Last they are polished up and ready for you. Yes, you! Each shoe takes about five days, which justifies the price of $400-$600 per pair.
Guys, we love a man in no bull sh*t custom boots. Ladies, don't feel left out. No one says you cant wear them too.
Helm Handmade shoes will be available this fall, at Atrium in New York and Miami, plus selected retailers in Texas. Orders can also be placed by phone through Helm Handmade Boots website.
You don't have to worry about finding your headphones in the bottom of the washing machine anymore.
The HoodieBuddie™ and InSound™ have brought together your sound and your clothes in one comfy package. These casual hoodies, designed by Jerry Leigh Apparel combine function and fashion with built in headphones in the strings of the sweatshirt, and a pocket for your iPod.
You can find them this Fall at Macys and Karmaloop. Now if only someone could develop a sweatshirt with a built in George Foreman grill, I'd be all set when I'm running around the city and don't have time to stop for lunch.
James Dean's trademark was his white tee and jeans. Perhaps that is because he (and the look) was immortalized in the 1955 "Rebel Without a Cause" as one of his only three leading roles before his untimely death. It is said that t-shirt sales sored after teens saw the tough, angst Dean in the role. As for the jeans, the waist lines were much higher in the 1950's.
She needs no introduction. Like her young male counterpart, James Dean, both stars died young and were frozen in time. Marilyn Monroe, a much copied fashion icon, was known mostly for her glam dresses and nude pictorials. Lindsay Lohan was featured in a frame per frame copy of the 1962 "The Last Sitting". The original photographs were shot by photographer Bert Stern. Since then, Lohan, Madonna, Christina Aguleria, and most recently Kelly Osborne in People Magazine have given a nod to the infamous tragic blond. Though, a more casual side of Marilyn Monroe is often missed. Casual wear included denim, cropped hot pants, button downs and tees.
David and Phillip Blond know how to put on a runway show, design for the stars, and can make anything sparkle. But what do you know about them? Along with finding out what happens when the two sit down to create, I wanted to find out what they do on a day off, what they wear and what it really means to be "blond."
If you had to wear one designer for the rest of your life, who would it be? You cant pick yourself.
Oh, God, I can’t pick myself? [laughs] Tom Ford is my staple. He is, to me, just it. It’s pretty much my uniform. Anything he’s ever done, whether it’s been with his own label, Gucci, Yves St. Laurent, it’s my look: the blazer, the button down and the black trousers.
I can’t speak for Phillipe though. He wears so many different things. Though he loves the Christian Louboutin shoe. That’s his staple! It’s funny, we are both kind of inspired by shoes, in particular high heels. Its something we both love. We both have a shoe fetish. He loves wearing them and I have fun seeing him wear them. It’s a match made in heaven, if you will.
My sister and I are both natural blonds. We've both been dying our hair red for years. Is that blasphemy?
No! No! I love that! Phillipe and I are both Hispanic and we have dark hair and we both dye our hair blond. What we are trying to say with The Blonds is that it’s a state of mind. You don’t have to be blond to be “blond.” Its about having fun. We want to inspire people to use fashion as an escape. Fashion is like a legal form of a crutch or drug. It makes you high, it makes you giddy and it makes you feel beautiful when you are wearing something you like. Don’t be afraid to try different fashions. Everything is temporary. It’s the quickest, simplest, and easiest way to have fun. If you put on a sequin scarf, or skirt, its something that will make you smile and make other people smile too.
Everyone has some sort of pet peeve. What is yours?
Mine would be a lack of creativity, just a lack of glamour. It’s someone being totally disinterested with what they look like. I know were not supposed to focus on the outside. It’s a big no-no, to look at the outside. But, fashion is so important because we live with it everyday. It’s an extension of you and what you are like on the inside as well.
I don't like tracksuits!
No. I totally get the tracksuits, though there should be a little twist there, something to make it look interesting. Like looking dirty on purpose, like Kate Moss. You know a lot of work went into that hair, but it looks dirty as hell!
Let’s say you have a day off. What do you do?
We rarely have time off, but when we do, sometimes we do movie marathons. We’re really into films. If it’s nice out we’re out walking around. I loveNew Yorkbecause you can do anything at almost any time.
One of my favorite things to do this summer, a friend and I joined acommunity gardenon6th Streetbetween B and C. It’s tiny but its really beautiful. I swear to you, walking in is like walking intoAlicein Wonderland. It’s so insane! A morning ritual has been to get our coffee, take our dog [a Chinese Crested named Bijou] and go there. It’s a decompression.
This is not David and Phillipe's dog...but its the breed. Theirs may have a blond streak and spiked collar.
Betty White of the Golden Girls, recently took the media by storm with her appearance on SNL. What would you design for Betty if she approached you?
I love Betty White along with everyone else. I would make something for her in a minute, no questions asked. I would do whatever she asked for! I don’t think she’d be able to handle one of our metal corsets, but I’m sure we could cinch her a little bit and pull off a Marlene Dietrich look if she wanted it…or a Pavé pantsuit, and since its Betty White, we’d make it all white. She’d look amazing in that.
Credits:Be Cool! Please do not re-post or republish any portion of this copyrighted interview or photos without crediting and linking back to the author, Amber Stolec, the website, Fashion Funhouse Emporium, and the photos to Mao Public Relations.
A special thank you to Matt at Mao. Best of Luck on your travels! And a HUGE thank you to David Blond for being an awesome, sweet and inspiring interview. So much so, I made it two parts!!
The Levis Store wants you to channel Woodstock with their window display on Lexington Avenue and 59th Street in New York. I'm not much for the hippie look, but for those of you that are, this rope-hair-moustache dressed mannequin is you. The rope work is awesome!
When I walked by the window dresser was outside, checking out his work. I asked "is this you?" He said yep. And thats it. I think he thought I was a tourist and wanted to avoid having to give me directions to Times Square.
Phillip and David Blond of The Blondshave been creating in-your-face spectacular designs since 2008. Yet some still describe the two as "up and coming." But, they are already "there." After all, they've dressed the biggest A-list celebrities: Britney Spears, Christina Augilera, Fergie, Rihanna, Debbie Harry, Dita von Teese, Katy Perry. And most recently, some of their designs can be found on Carrie and Samantha in the upcoming movie "Sex and the City 2."
I was at your Fall 2010 New YorkFashion Week show. I have to say, it was the most fun and energetic show of the season that I saw. The crowd was just crazy! I loved the cricket noises playing when I walked in!
Yes, the crickets! [laughs] We wanted to relax everyone to a point they were so serene that when the show started, it would be this huge impact. Mr. Wilson DJ did the soundtrack. He’s done the music for shows like Gucci and YSL He does the music for all of our shows.
Your shows remind me more of European runway and couture. Do you consider yourselves more of fashion designers, couturiers or costumers?
We feel like a show is a “show". I feel like we actually are beyond the idea that buyers are coming to shows just to purchase from the runway. They go to designers after the shows and do it there. Buyers just don’t do that anymore.
Basically the whole fun of the show is to be able to add creativity, and to be able to express yourself in front of an audience. We are a combination of all these different things: designers, couturiers, costumers. We don’t like to box ourselves in with labels though. I think that’s where it can be cut short and limit creativity. If we said we just did evening or club wear, or evening gowns, that’s when it stunts ideas. It becomes cumbersome or suffocating.
You've designed for everyone from Britney and Christina, Rhianna, Debbie Harry, Fergie. What inspires you?Tell me about what goes on when you're asked to make a design.
The core of our inspiration comes from film and music, and women in general. We [Both Phillip and David] like that old Hollywoodglamour mixed with a modern edge. It’s very much a showgirl aesthetic, not like traditional Vegas, but with an impact and individual flair.
For instance, Katy Perry is coming out with her next album. The theme is kind of this candy, rollerskating, fun in theCalifornia sun vibe. This is where she comes in. We listen to her, we do sketches, work with the stylist—her’s is Johnny Wujek. We take all of that into consideration so we can make the entire package. Then it’s always the artist that brings the garment alive.
What is in the works for The Blonds right now?
For Katy Perry’s new album release, we are doing a bunch of things. Rihanna will be wearing some of our new stuff coming soon. We’re still working with Fergie on her tour. And we’ve always been a huge fan of Kylie Minogue and she actually came into the showroom recently. We were invited to her concert and got to meet her. We thought we’d never see her again. One day we got a call to get to the showroom because Kylie was coming in. We dropped everything and ran over. She is so beautiful, like a little fairy. You can’t take her eyes off her. She ordered pieces and then she disappeared. Sigh.
Are you currently working on RTW? Can you give me the low down? There’s a lot of interest in Carrie Bradshaw’s embellished jeans from “Sex in the City 2."
What we do right now is all made to order. We work with each client individually. At this point though, we’d probably work our way into fragrance and accessories. Maybe after that there is a possibility that we might do ready to wear, maybe a line of party dress, or even other types of collaborations. Hopefully that will be coming soon!
The“Carrie” jeans, unfortunately you can’t buy them in a store. We’ve had a couple of calls for them, but I keep telling people that they are made-to-order. They have to wait about two to six weeks to get even a piece like that made. People want instant gratification though!
Phillipe started out as a M.A.C. Makeup artist and freelance fashion Illustrator and you did displays and windows for Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue, but how did you begin to design?
We met ten years ago, out one night and we hit it off. We didn’t start really working together until a few years after. We were always creating things, clothes for ourselves and clothes for friends. It wasn’t really until Pat Field suggested that we make a few things for her store that we even considered thinking about making a line. It was always in the back of my mind. Phillipe was always interested in doing it. I took a year off my job to help Phillipe get started doing his own thing, but working with him made me realize it was something that I wanted to do as well. We officially launched the line in 2008 with our show. We did a few things before then, but it was more like working out the bugs, making pieces here and there. Some of it was kind of scary...you have to polish the penny!
Check out The Blonds fashion video lookbook starring Phillipe Blond and directed by Fashion Photographer, Mike Ruiz!
Credits: Be Cool! Please do not re-post or republish any portion of this copyrighted interview or photos without crediting and linking back to the author, Amber Stolec, the website, Fashion Funhouse Emporium, and the photos to Mao Public Relations and Mike Ruiz Photography.
A special thank you to Matt at Mao. Best of Luck on your travels! And a HUGE thank you to David Blond for being an awesome, sweet and inspiring interview. So much so, I made it two parts!!
Charles James Butterfly Dress, Photo: Brooklyn Museum
Need a Stay-cation? (Or are we over that now that there was supposedly a little up-tick in the American economy?) This would be a good time for all of the Manhattanites who think Brooklyn is a world away to visit us over here on the other side of the East River.
And if you're from out of town, visiting New York City, let me tell you that there are more exciting things to see than the M&M's store in Times Square. Though, it could be a tough draw from the crazies you may see on the street there.
Do you think this woman is a little too calm for standing in a pile of money that was ejected from a malfunctioning ATM?
My friend said she should have filled up the trash can and ran!
Though, Im hoping to share with you the awesome store windows of NYC on my daily errand travels. I love this one! Its Moschino logo money and a mannequin in a Spring 2010 wild print dress.
