our may catalog was inspired by the paintings of henri rousseau, in which bright pops of color jump out of lush tropical landscapes painted with rich layers of green. models tallulah morton and elsa hosk dance across the pages as best friends on vacation, glowing from the sun and losing themselves in long summer days spent surfing and exploring. the images capture the elusive feeling of freedom that hangs in the air in summertime, when you just want to let your hair down, kick off your shoes and run through fields or lay in the sand as the waves wash over your body.
shot in hawaii by fashion and travel photographer frédéric lagrange, our may book is a celebration of both the raw beauty of the landscape and the high summer fashion. look for the catalog in the mail and online on tuesday!
New York City is a place that excites me. Here’s some quick inspiration from my recent weekend in New York. I always get so inspired when I go there; everything is so visually pleasing and the energies are sky high.
I visited Brooklyn flea market, which had some great vintage stalls and beautiful terrariums. This idea is a perfect little hobby to do on summer days and to bring the outdoors/indoors.
I always love the fashion in NYC and how people always hit it right when it comes to looking “cool”
Check out this girl that was hanging outside a bar.
A little kitten that was adopted looking proud under a British flag
An afternoon snack, Nothing beats a New York bagel – tomato, mozzarella and pesto
And a quick stop into these lovely stores made my inspiration rise to another level.
Darr Williamsburg and creatures of comfort Mulberry St.
It’s always refreshing going to New York, don’t you think?
have you guys seen our new accessories page on our website? our team put together bags for the lou, ginger, sandy and meadow girls and they are so cute! they inspired me to do another edition of the “what’s in your bag” post – here’s a peek inside the bags of some home office gals – and guy :)
store manager/recruiter:
retail operations coordinator:
new store openings/store coordinator:
she actually really did have a free people bathing suit in her bag :)
campaign specialist:
web marketing analyst:
direct operations coordinator:
direct operations manager:
i love seeing how different they all are!
you can view what’s in lou, ginger, sandy and meadow’s bags here.
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.
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!
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.)
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!
look three – as a skirt with a comfy pullover:
look four – worn as a high waisted skirt with a cute printed bralette:
look five – worn as a skirt with oversized pullover and cute bralette peeking out:
look six – dressed up with a statement belt and knee-high boots:
or look seven – casual cool with a concert raglan and fringed belt:
all i know is i need this item in my life now! vote away… and check out all of our convertible styles online here.
Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.
I don’t think you could do away with it. It would be like doing away with civilization.”
-Bill Cunningham
The legendary Bill Cunningham has graced the big screen in a rather interesting heart touching documentary about his passion Street Style Photography.
Street Style has been a No1 go to inspiration for me, there’s something so raw and fresh about how people choose to dress, the decisions they make to achieve such a visually pleasing outfit is incredible.
I’ve been waiting to see this documentary for quite some time. He has always been a guy that intrigued me.
”
Bill Cunningham works for The New York Times as a photographer that shoots and curates the paper’s “On the Street” and “Evening Hours”
This enchanting eighty- something guy rides around NY wearing his signature bolt blue work jacket on his bicycle, shooting silhouettes that excite him “Some marvelous, exotic bird of paradise”
He captures the upbeat fashion Scene in New York recording the changing street life of one of the world’s great cities for us all to see. It shows his lifestyle and how the little in things in life are most important to him.
It shines a light on a guy who needs nothing more than his happy passion.
He has touched my heart in more ways than one. His passion is overwhelming because he loves what he does so much that not much else matters. Street Photography is his life
not just his job and it was great to see that in the documentary. He is world renowned for his work and his pleasant embrace. A true inspiration to anyone!
Accessories jazz up any outfit ensemble. I’m addicted to adding a quirky belt and an unusual necklace to any outfit.
Us girls here at the office love accessories especially rings, and I’m always blown away by some of the collections people have.
People style in the office yesterday was on fire.
with earth day literally just around the corner, i felt that the timing was perfect to tell you guys about some special bags we’re carrying right now that are made out of recycled materials. not only are these bags gorgeous, but you can take comfort in knowing that they are crafted out of repurposed items like vintage military bags, vintage fabrics and old leather jackets.
the gorgeous belmont backpack by ashley watson is my favorite. the vancouver based designer draws her inspiration from leather jackets she finds in thrift stores, and each bag is crafted from recycled leather jackets, incorporating features like pockets and seams to make them unique and special. the leather is perfectly worn and soft, carrying with it a history all its own.
i fell in love with both of these bags by foley and corinna when i saw them on sasha pivovarova in our april catalog, but i love them even more now that i know they are made from recycled and vintage materials. dana foley and anna corinna met when they both had booths at the chelsea art and antique market in 1998 – dana sold her original creations and anna sold vintage clothing. they joined together and started designing pieces that were both original and incorporated vintage elements. the musette satchel is made of vintage military bags with delicate, hand-crocheted fringe, and the bora hobo is made of varying, colorful found fabrics so they are each one-of-a-kind.
this fanny pack is another favorite, by artists and revolutionaries – an organic and eco-friendly label based in brooklyn. their philosophy is “to create unique handcrafted items, using eco-friendly materials and processes.” like the designers above, they use repurposed and up-cycled materials in addition to hemp and organic cottons. the fanny pack is made of repurposed vintage leather and has unique details like buttons and pockets, and a braided belt buckle strap.
by now you guys have seen the lovely martha hunt on our website and in our catalogs, but did you ever wonder what her real life is like? martha was kind enough to put together a post about a recent trip she took to paris for our blog!
~*~
I had the lucky task of jetting to Paris for a couple of weeks to schmooze with clients. The City of Lights has a lot to offer, so I try to fit in as much as possible in between castings!
I checked out the Montparnasse Cemetery on the left bank. It is a hauntingly beautiful cemetery jam-packed with tombstones of many famous names, including the legendary Serge Gainsbourg and philosopher Jean Paul Sartre. Rest in peace!
Donned a black bob – I loved my Mia Wallace moment. Elderflower juice takes me to my happy place– you just can’t find it in the states!
Luckily I bumped into one of Free People’s very own, the lovely, Lauren. I hung out with her and her friend, and one of my favorite photographers, David Bellemere. Tres chic!
Je ne sais pas?
The American explorer in me values a good road trip. My boyfriend and I drove to a town called Cambremer, two hours northwest of Paris. We visited Chateua Les Bruyeres, which happened to be the perfect spot to rock my new Free People skirt! We rode bikes, tried local cuisine, checked out a few Normandy towns, but mostly enjoyed the country view. Not too shabby! One hard lesson learned: tripe is a delicacy that consists of intestines, not fish.
“Je moooooo fous!”
Never miss a photo op…
…never leave a field un-frolicked.
Back in town, stolling through the Place des Vosges.
I can’t leave Paris without having grilled-over-an-open-fire-steak at my favorite restaurant, Robert et Louise! It’s located in the heart of the Marais district.
Model or C.I.A. agent? I’m a woman of many faces, er well— hair do’s.
I shot at Hotel Le Meurice with famed photographer Guy Aroch. Just another hard day at the office!
Not a bad view. The Eiffel Tower in the distance fades away. Until next time, Par-eeeeeh! Bisous! X
![IMG_4647[1]](http://bldg25blog.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_46471.JPG "IMG_4647[1]")
