Going sheer, is it you?

The transparent look is all over the spring 2011 runaway shows – Items that showed off what was being worn underneath, A bit controversial? Yes!

The looks on the runways are not necessarily meant to be worn as-is in everyday life. They’re artistic presentations of a designer’s inspiration, presumably to give you inspiration for ways to wear the pieces yourself. Obviously, the completely sheer ensembles are too extreme for most people’s taste in day wear, but perhaps as inaccessible as this trend may seem, mixing in pieces to suit your personal taste would make it more wearable.

We played around in the studio yesterday to see what works under such sheer items.

We toned down what could be very provocative to the eye by making them a little tomboy; Sheer maxi shirts worn over bootie shorts with a relaxed shirt pattern, bodysuits under sheer tops to add a bit of interest, and lace trimmed bike shirts worn under those adorable chiffon slips.

Would you go sheer?

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Mesh maxi half slip embroidered mesh crop we the free long sleeve burnout baseball tee crossover stripes bandeau skinny stripe bodysuit.

brand we love: hollywood trading

i couldn’t help myself, i had to do a post about these amazing pieces that we are carrying by hollywood trading. born out of a love for vintage handmade american leather belts, the company has evolved to carry accessories and apparel for men and women with an aesthetic that is heavily vintage inspired, handmade and rough hewn. personally, i’m a sucker for straw hats and these two are quite special with features like hand-painting, hand-tooled leather, metal and stud details, and they are made out of hemp and canapa. love!

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tattered feather fedora/tattered painted fedora

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the beautiful suede peyote waist belt

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and these sienna boots i’ve been dreaming about since our march catalog! psst…they’ll be back in may :)

Meet our Art Director

I caught up with this beautiful lady to find out what she’s inspired by right now as she moves into her new role of Art Director. She’s the lovely lady that works in our studio creating, along with the associate stylists, the beautiful looks on our web. She also comes up with some of the catalog concepts along with our creative director.

Her knowledge and vision, mixed with her exquisite taste are pretty inspiring.

What has been your most memorable fashion moment and why?

 I think the most memorable moment related to FP and fashion has do to w/ a shoot we did in Morocco last year. We drove 13 hrs into the Sahara desert, about 3 km from the border of Algeria- and stayed with a Bedouin tribe in tents in the dunes. The first night was unbearably warm , so the team decided to pull our mattresses out of our tents and sleep under the stars for the remainder of the trip. Our Norwegian photographer and Swedish model sang us Scandinavian lullabies, and our hairstylist told us stories that made us laugh so hard we cried. We slept like starfish with our heads together and our feet pointed outward. All beneath the Saharan moonlight – the whole thing was pretty surreal and magical.  Doing cannon balls off of sand dunes wasn’t so bad either.

 When are you happiest?

 I think there are so many different kinds of happiness – I am the happiest when I arrive in a new country or city I’ve never been to before- I find newness/ new experiences completely exhilarating.

I am happiest when I am filled with hope and anticipation about a new project – I’m a total Pisces, always dreaming about what’s to come.

I am happiest when I find a new book that I can’t put down.

I am happiest in Paris.

 What is the one habit you just can’t break?

 It’s not a habit, but every time I travel the contents of my toiletries bag spill all over the place. I am a total klutz- an unbreakable habit. No matter how tight I close the lids of my makeup, shampoo, etc – they will find a way to open. I am undeniably prone to spills and stains.

 Who are your style influences and why?

 I think my personal style is very different than the style I am attracted to…  Anita Pallenberg, Mick Jagger, Zelda Fitzgerald, Brigitte Bardot, Ingrid Bergman, Marianne Faithful, Bob Dylan, Lauren Hutton, Kate Moss, Katherine Hepburn are all people whose style I am so inspired by – but don’t necessarily try to adapt for myself.  I also love the instant gratification of street style blogs – I’ve had many mornings when I’ve had a difficult time getting dressed, checked out some blogs, and completely reinterpreted (knocked off) someone else’s awesome outfit. Like instructions on a lazy day.

 What are you currently obsessed with?

 I am taking French lessons through Skype – no excuses to not show up for lessons!

The Hunger Games trilogy, a young adult series recommended by a friend this weekend. Kind of a speed reading nerd, I read two of the series in one day.

Photography by a friend, David Bellemere. His work is rich,  architectural, sexy and totally inspiring- Hoping  FP will be working with him soon!

 The last movie I watched was…

 Last weekend I went to my friends new apt in Brooklyn and  watched a film called Micmacs by Jean Pierre Jeunet. We ate gummy bears and peanut butter m&ms at 10 am and watched the movie.  It was kooky and fantastical.

 My favorite food is…

 I think the ritual I am most in love with is a coffee first thing in the morning, though not necessarily any food in particular.

 My biggest indulgence in life is…

  Facials! I love them.

  My wardrobe consists of…

 My style is simple but romantic- high-waisted trousers, lots of silk and chiffon, menswear, vintage, and some core pieces I wear all the time.  I am definitely a proponent of investing in items you think you will wear forever. I am curvy, and I definitely tailor my style to what works for my body shape- I think that’s a huge part of feeling confident in your style… Knowing what works, what doesn’t, and embracing that! ( Easier said than done, I know, especially when you fall in love with a style or silhouette that isn’t the best for your shape.)

thursday poll – edition 132

last week in the studio our stylists went crazy putting together a bunch of different looks using the cascade convertible skirt – items like this are my favorite! i love being able to wear something in a bunch of different ways, and i love all of these looks! which one is your favorite?

look one – cool and casual as a dress with sandals and a patterned belt:

look two – layered with the same item in white!
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look three – as a skirt with a comfy pullover:
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look four – worn as a high waisted skirt with a cute printed bralette:
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look five – worn as a skirt with oversized pullover and cute bralette peeking out:
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look six – dressed up with a statement belt and knee-high boots:
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or look seven – casual cool with a concert raglan and fringed belt:
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all i know is i need this item in my life now! vote away… and check out all of our convertible styles online here.


party time!

our creative director’s birthday was yesterday but we celebrated today with a special party for one very special lady!

the amazing card our graphic design team made- the dog is modeled after her sweet frenchie georgia :)

chewbaccas everywhere! i never knew this, but apparently the character chewbacca was inspired by george lucas’s own dog and his characteristic loyalty, which is why she loves him so much. so sweet :)

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love this bright shirt/necklace combo!

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awesome gifts – a chewbacca pez dispenser and this amazing vest!

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happy happy birthday!

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one of the things that i admire and respect most about musicians, is the fact that they are able to not only write music that is often intensely personal, but they perform it, on stage, in front of crowds – sometimes alone.  that thought terrifies me… but it’s also incredibly inspiring.  geron hoy, today’s featured artist, is not only a talented singer/songwriter but i happen to know him personally and he’s one of the most humble, thoughtful and hilarious people i’ve ever met.   he inspires me because he is accomplishing his dream of putting out an album and because of the passion he shows for his music both on and off the stage.  it definitely comes across when he performs, leaving you with the feeling that you just witnessed something very special.  his debut album came out today on itunes and i have been listening to it all morning – his thoughtful lyrics and skillful guitar playing seem to have a wisdom beyond his years. oh and he also plays the harmonica – my weakness!

read on for an interview with geron to get a better idea of what he’s all about, and as you read, listen to the first single from his album, “lady crow.” it’s addicting!

Lady Crow by GeronHoy

when did you write your first song, and what was it called?

oh man… a pretty wretched little ditty called ‘near to you.’ god, it was awful. i knew three chords and i took a complete shot in the dark just to see what would happen. but some of the friends i had back then would sing along to it and ask me to play it. that was enough to get me to write another.

if your music was a place, where would it be?

there’s an image on the back of a record i have. i think it’s james taylor but i can’t be sure.  i’d go look, but all my records are in a storage unit in texas. but it’s of these musicians jamming in a dingy room with a wooden floor, an old beat-up piano with a glass of whiskey on it, speakers hanging from the ceiling, the sunlight battling through the cigarette smoke. it just looks like the perfect environment. where i’d want to spend every day. and i remember pointing the photo out to friends and saying, ‘why cant we be there, right now?’

why did you decide to name your album “soldier”?

there’s a track on the album called ‘soldier.’ i recorded that song with my friends about four years ago in new york before i had a label, and it’s the song that got me signed because one of the owners of the label fell in love with it.  the song itself is about fighting with everything you’ve got for something when you have no control over the end result.

is there a certain song you’re most proud of?

they’re all my babies and i constantly tell them to keep cool…

you’ve lived in a bunch of different places, is there one that has had the most influence on you personally and/or musically?

i went to new york when i was eighteen. that was my songwriting school. i probably wrote at least a hundred songs in the five years i was there. and kept fifteen of them. there was so much inspiration… living in the city was like being on cruise control at 300 mph.

what’s your favorite venue you’ve ever played in? and is there a particular venue you dream of playing in one day?

if i played at the beacon theater in new york i’d die a happy man. and my favorite place so far i think would be this small bar in the upper west side in new york where i used to play every thursday with some of my closest friends. it was in a basement surrounded by stone walls. we’d drink and play all night and the audience always asked for more. it was a great time.

if you could jam with any musician, dead or alive, who would you pick?

well, i automatically start sifting through all my heroes and i’m incredibly intimidated and awestruck by all of them. so i’m not quite sure who i would pick. townes van zandt? but what about neil young?? but what about mozart??!!! would i have to wear a puffy shirt?? i’d be down…

if your life was a movie what would the theme song be?

“changes” or “ziggy stardust”?, “space oddity”? pretty much anything by david bowie.

if you had a time machine where would you go?

2015 so i could ride a hover board with michael j. only four more years! i can’t wait for the self-drying jacket!!!

if you were deserted on an island what three things would you want with you?

a fire-breathing dragon, a saddle, and wilson.

tell me something most people don’t know about you.

i own a fire-breathing dragon named wilson.

mee

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the album, soldier, is available now on itunes – get it here!

and check him out on facebook or his website!

thank you so much geron!