Men's by Rapha - Merry Christmas Eve!

Happy Christmas Eve to all!

My husband was just traveling for to the UK for work and heard about Rapha.  Beautiful site for cycling goods if you are (according to them) a "cycling dandy."   (LOVE IT!)  Just look at this collaboration with bespoke tailor Timothy Everest.

 

(Here's the link to this jacket.)

And here's a collaboration with Paul Smith:

I love how it is so clearly PS.  (Here's the link to the softshell.)

[I only wish they used responsible fabrics, but I know this isn't exactly happening worldwide yet, as it should - and hopefully sooner than later.]

Happy Christmas Eve again to all and hope you are all enjoying any breaks you are getting at this time of year, as well as being with family and friends.

Yours truly,

Alex

Brigitte Schwenner and Betsey Johnson

Talented pattern-maker/designer/artist extraordinaire (and I'd-like-to-say friend) Brigitte Schwenner  of Sievering with Betsey Johnson at a recent trend presentation.

I have been lucky enough to meet Brigitte through my job and worked with her on one project - but even that little amount of time taught me that she is an extremely talented artist - she made that zipper dress that she is wearing!  Want one?  Email her at info@sievering.us or call her at 914-358-5336.  You can also check out her blog (with more images) HERE and her website with more photos of her other fantastic designs HERE.

WAY TO GO BRIGITTE!

Happy art!

Yours truly,
Alex

PS: One of my favorite things about the ZIPit dress is that you won't ever be without your business cards again - great design, Brigitte!

Inspired by Tiffany Bozic - Thanks Juxtapoz!

"Toxic Longing" by Tiffany Bozic - you are truly inspiring - beautiful work in Juxtapoz!

Happy Finals-Last-Day to Me!

Yours Truly,
Alex

NY New Years

NY New Years by Alex Whatton on Polyvore.com

Slip on a pair of glittering shoes and some fab jewelry or head piece and you've got yourself a perfect New Years look. It's perfectly unexpected with the blue but the lovely combination of the bright orange down-filled coat with that sheath will surely put all eyes on you when you walk through the door. (I should know - I bought the jacket!) And just wait until the host takes your jacket and all the guests gasp at your lovely little surprise - a Lands End Canvas dress. Happy Holidays all!

Draped Dress - Too Christmas Tree-ish?

Thoughts?

Happy zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's!

Yours truly,
Alex

Back to Winter - Lands End Canvas Coat!

Again, I have to thank Lucky Magazine here.  I was just talking to my husband about how we both need winter coats.  You see, we both have recycled poly (they're made from plastic bottles!) Nau raincoats (unlined, which makes them great in late Spring or early Fall...or with layers), and our respective snowboarding and ski jackets, but smart, fashionable, winter jackets - we have not.  Poor hubby then, when I should receive an email just one day later from Lucky telling us that Lands End Canvas is giving us $100.00 to play on their website with.  Wow!  What great timing!

The second I clicked through to the Outerwear page I knew what I was buying.  I was certainly willing to pay $140.00 for a water resistant, down-filled, (and cute), winter jacket in show-stopping coral orange!  But to only have to spend $40.00 of my own hard-earned (and highly limited) cash?  SOLD!

But here's the best part - this jacket is WAY more than it says it is!  I thought that I would zip off that faux fur immediately, but to be honest that bright orange (it's is bright!) needs a little brown and it is kind of fun!  There are three internal pockets, two patch pockets with separate hand-warming pockets on the side (via zip - that was an AMAZING find), two-way front zippers (stay warm while driving without pulling at the seams), buttons below the zip in the front if it's really breezy, buttons in the back if you want to run through a snow-filled field, and fleece at the wrists to stop the wind from going straight-up your sleeves. Did I mention the hood zips off if you don't want it?  But in the NYC chill - I need it!

Thank you Lands End Canvas and Lucky (once again!).  What a great find and a beautiful new addition to my winter wardrobe.  I might actually be sad to put this one away in the Spring...

Happy, sweet, wonderfully stylish warmth.

Yours truly,

Alex

PS: Happy Finals to my fellow Parsons students!  TWO MORE WEEKS!  (Then hopefully I'll look decent enough to take photos in my new jacket...)

Snowing Yet? Dreaming of Surfing?

I know I am.  So it was serendipitous that Lucky sent us Alpha's on a mission this weekend; check out Swim Spot!  I immediately went to the Bikini Builder and "built" this little baby from Splendid that I'll be dreaming about all winter:

It's perfect for my small-up-there, athletic (yes - boy straight), body.  And if I had the body of these models I'd wear:

Maybe after the amount of skiing I'm doing this winter I'll be able to pull-off this number surfing the Jersey Shore (while thinking of Kauai) next summer:

The ruching on the butt is SO adorable:

And that floral print screams old-school Hawaii.  Love it.  But what is really genius about this site is the concierge service - their Fit Specialist Program means that you can call or email them to have personal help picking out a bathing suit that works best for your body type.

Oh!  And if I was ever headed to Vegas or yachting around Monaco, I'd wear this beauty with Christina Aguilera's Louboutins from the fantastic BURLESQUE movie that I saw yesterday!  (Oh yeah, I LOVED it!)

Eeeep - THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL!

But, I definitely can't pull off that look like Christina.  For the rest of us, at least there's SwimSpot!

By the way - and here's the best part - it's free shipping, free exchanges, and free returns.  Your own personal swimsuit dressing room with personal concierge.  You can thank Lucky Magazine for sending us their way.  I know I am!

Happy Winter Dreams!

Yours truly,
Alex

Nail Brush from Uncommon Goods

Just happened across this:

From Uncommon Goods.  Amazing - ha!

Happy...cleaning?

Yours truly,

Alex

Knit Fluid Dress - the Future?

Fluid Dress from Charlie Bucket on Vimeo.


Thanks to my amazing friend Brett for sending me this link!

Happy knitting!

Yours truly,
Alex

What I Came up With...

Okay, so it's only three of the eight, but I couldn't give it all away, could I?!

Happy Sketching!

Yours truly,

Alex

The Theory between Tuesday and Thursday

Ciao Nomads!

What would this inspire in you?  Anything?  Leave a comment below.  (If you want, I can post the designs that I came up with.)  Thoughts on the layout, images, choices?  My terrible title?  :)

Happy Wednesday!

Yours truly,
Alex

Luminous Macabre Luminous

I visited the Museum of Arts and Design to view the “Dead or Alive” exhibit recently.  I went because Time Out New York had an image of a skull made from cockroach wing fragments pasted to translucent paper in front of a light box – it was an unforgettable picture and I was struck by the color of the wings in relation to the image of a skull always in my mind – a seemingly perfect match.  How did this artist think to cut-up cockroach wings to get this across?  I had to see it in person and I dragged my husband along.

Fabián Peña

The entire exhibit was in environmental colors – as best as I can call it.  Bones, feathers, leaves, beans, rice, fur, branches, yarns, and lots of art supplies to hold it all together.  There were pitch-black trees with roots like skeletons and bright red bleeding drips falling from the ceiling.  Brilliants colors on butterfly wings in mandala-like shapes and bird feathers surrounding rough diamonds that had been created from the carbon of the pet birds.  Chirp.  Chirp.  

Jochem Hendricks

Sardines covered in resin and placed in a circle so that they looked like a golden mirror from a Mexican flea-market escapade.  Mandalas reoccurring as an artist had used corn, beans, and rice to create words and bones in one corner of the floor.  Flies in the thousands pierced with plastic fishing wire and hanging in a perfect cube – creating a swarm affect but in a graphic shape not found in nature – a single spider thrown in the mix.  Metallic scarabs covering a human skull holding a stuffed animal in its mouth.  Bees and beetles and bugs frozen in time and re-arranged to look like a futuristic warzone, muted tones and bright feathers intermixed to look like some sort of sick children’s stop-motion film.  (I can only wish.)  A pile of mouse skeletons taken from owl pellets sitting next to a loom with the fur taken from those same pellets in the middle of being woven in to a grey fabric.

Tessa Farmer

(Image from this insanely perfect article.)

Needless to say, the images and colors are stuck with me and I would say it is one of the best museum exhibits I’ve ever been to (especially in Manhattan) and stands right up to the “Telling Tales: Fantasy and Fear in Contemporary Design” exhibit that I saw at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in July 2009.  Both had colors used in such a way that both occurred naturally or made you want them to occur naturally outside your door.  Brilliant hues, muted naturals, and sparkling crystals flinging light thrown-in for good measure.  All in all, this macabre exhibit has me putting colors together that I wouldn’t have normally imagined and inspiring me in dark ways that actually seem to bring light in to my work.  A wonderful color cultural experience!

Any exhibits you would recommend?

Happy Winter!

Yours truly...and somewhat morbidly,

Alex

PS: Speaking of Victoria and Albert...I watched The Young Victoria recently.  Wow - I highly recommend it.  Emily Blunt is terrific, I love to look at period design, and it's a beautiful love story.

I Need YOUR Help!

Good Afternoon Nomads!

A fellow Lucky Alpha Shopper entered the fabulous Sunglass Hut Blogger Competition that I missed when James was in the hospital (it wasn't mean to be!) - and since I loved her very personable video, I used my one vote for hers!  Please vote for Charity HERE!  And her blog: What is Charity Wearing?.  Thanks in advance, Nomads!

Here's todays post for the Lucky Alpha Shoppers Blog and where I also need your styling help...  (See original HERE.)

[Hmph!  I will not be wearing those tights again - what a weird thing they do to my legs!]

Dress: "Keyhole Dress" made-up of 90% Organic Pima Cotton blended with 10% Lycra® and is from http://www.restoreclothing.com (Full Disclosure: I work for RESTORE™Clothing and exchanged hours worked for this dress)...it was COMPLETELY worth it...really comfortable and socially responsible.

Socks: Happy Socks - so much fun and just the right pop of color for an otherwise dark outfit.

Shoes: Timberland (after Lucky and Timberland sent us [Alpha Shoppers] the first pair, I went to the NYC Soho event and purchased these beauties!  The color is much more versatile than I realized.  I'm totally impressed with Timberland's new direction!

Any styling suggestions?  I'm a Fashion Design Student, but as you can tell, my styling isn't where I want it to be yet.  I love to have fun with clothes and color, but I don't think I know my own body well enough yet, thoughts?

~ End of Lucky Post ~

Here's another idea: head wrap when you oversleep?

I'm sure this isn't a new idea!  But, it was the first time I've ever done it.  Ironically, I got more compliments the day I wore this "panicked-I-can't-be-late-for-class-what-happened-to-my-darn-alarm?!" look than I ever have while at school.  And I have to admit, it feels good to get a compliment from Fashion Design and Marketing students at Parsons!  Thanks peers!

Happy Friday!

Yours truly,

Alex

Beach to Mountain

Thinking about surfing again.  By the way, has anyone else tried CeraVe AM?  I can't believe how much clearer my skin looks and it was all based on the recommendation of a friend of mine - thanks D!

Happy Killington Opening!  (Guess I need to start draping my ski romper!!!)

Yours truly,
Alex

Visual Update

Empire State - what a view!

Color Theory Homework!

Cleaning up!

Happy Homework...

Yours truly,

Alex

Timberland, Surfing, and Illustration

Hi Nomads,

Just from my title, I'm realizing how great life is.  With the exception of losing my phone last Thursday on the way home from the Lucky Magazine/Timberland event, it's been one heck of a weekend - in a good way.  But who wants to hear the negative stuff?  Me neither, let's get to the fun stuff!

This is a shot from the Timberland/Lucky Magazine party last Thursday, October 7, 2010.  I'm an Alpha Shopper for Lucky Magazine and they send me products to review.  The most recent being the most amazing pair of boots you've ever seen:

Yeah, you aren't alone.  All my friends are coveting them and Parsons students ask me about them in class, in the elevators, and at the sewing machine.  I love them so much (especially their comfort level), that I've only really taken them off to sleep and shower.  Timberland definitely is stepping-up their women's collection.  In fact, I bought another pair while I was there:

These are the Women's Wedgebrook Buckle Ankle Boot and I thought they would round out what I believe will quickly become a large collection.  Why?  Because they have great arch support, are comfortable even when you are on your feet all day, have great design elements, and are eco-friendly.  What's not to love?  Plus, while I was at the event I was told about the great stories behind each shoe.  Little details bring them all to life and there is something so romantic about the new designs, but they are certainly for strong women - true to Timberland's core values.  I'd say their new direction is working already.  Check out these babies that I'd love to own - Gavie Oxfords:

I love their new Timberland Boot Company collection as well - old school factory, vintage, and victorian details meant to be reminiscent of the times when women began to really go to work - functional, beautiful shoes.  Here's their photos from the event on flickr.  It was fantastically fun and overwhelmingly exciting - I would love to work with them in the future!  (I've got to get in to Howard Davis's shoe design class next semester!)

Then, on Friday, I was lucky enough to attend the Sustainability Panel at the Afingo "Behind the Seams" conference at FIT.  Read more about it HERE - the post I did for RESTORE™Clothing's Responsiblog:

I also went surfing in Cape May this weekend.  (After losing my amazing Blackberry Bold on a NJ Transit bus - devastating - I needed a weekend with laughter, wine, and good friends and family!)  My husband bought me my first wetsuit and I'm determined to put it to good use.  [Hmmm...eco-friendly wetsuit design in my future?  Anything is possible!  But I digress...]  Here's my hubby waiting for a wave:

And our friend and instructor-for-the-day, TJ actually catching one:

I also found an amazing store in Cape May called Uniquely Yours at 24 Decatur Street.  The shawl outside drew me (and a few others) in (I wish my photo did it justice, the burnished velvet with intricate beading was truly stunning):

But I ultimately ended-up buying this shawl that can be worn two different ways... (and guess what?  They loved my boots!  Thanks Timberland & Lucky!!!)

And I've already throw so much at you for one night, but here's my last three images - new illustration homework (completing the clothing next week):

Alright, hope I didn't scare any of my 7 readers away with all that - certainly had a lot going on this weekend and I hope you all had a wonderful, exhilarating weekend as well!

Dream on and live it up - happy LIVING!

Yours truly,

Alex

Random Got Beautiful

Remember to breathe.

My Color Theory Professor at Parsons just reminded me of this website this week...I forgot how wonderful it was.  Just what I needed today.

Random Got Beautiful.

That is all for now.  Happy coloring.

Yours truly,

Alex

Projects and Photos!

Here's a little pictorial update for you, Nomads.  Enjoy!

Draping my shift dress (will have a peter pan collar soon) for Construction 2 at Parsons.

Making my outfit for the BurdaStyle Project Runway ReMake Challenge.

Achromatic Master Study for Color Theory at Parsons: half paper collage/half painting.  I used August Macke's "Hat Shop" (1914) originally done in oil on canvas.

My new Timberland Earthkeeper collection boots whilst apple picking in Randolph, NJ.  (Photo by James Whatton.)  Use coupon code: LUCKY to save $20.00 off your purchase of $125.00 or more (valid in stores and online thru Oct. 12, 2010).  Thank you to Lucky Magazine and Timberland for sending me these free boots to try!

Happy Autumn!

Yours truly,

Alex