click on images for sources.
Monday Quote
Just Because
Handmade Heart
On Thursday February 16th our Brooklyn store is holding an event that will include an art exhibition and raffle with local artist Jennifer Contini! Jennifer does beautiful heart installation paintings, incorporating a multitude of mediums, so it felt appropriate to share some of her work today with the approach of Valentine’s day! At the event, customers who spend $150 or more will be entered in a raffle to win a piece of her lovely work!
Jennifer’s website speaks of her love affair with New York, about which she says “I live and work in a place that beats to the same drum as I do. The fast urban pace of Manhattan is home, and my vibrant downtown neighborhood defines and inspires my work. This is the space where my artistic vein finds higher meaning.” Her pieces have a distinct urban, street art feel, and are like artistic valentines to the city she loves.
See more on her website. We’ll have more details on the event next week!
Book Love: Pilgrimage by Annie Leibovitz
An outtake from the iconic shoot with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, which took place hours before he was killed.
When it comes to role models, one of mine has always been Annie Leibovitz. She inspired me from a young age to study photography, and to this day her work sets a standard that few others can live up to. From her role as chief photographer for Rolling Stone magazine in the 70s, to touring photographer with the Rolling Stones, to her more recent fashion editorials, she has a gift for capturing people and history through her lens – some of the most iconic moments in music have been brought before our eyes because of her talent.
Pilgrimage is a book of photos that are unlike her other work – they contain no people. It began with a trip to Niagara falls with her daughters, and plans she had made with partner Susan Sontag, who has since passed. They had talked about making a book of all the places they wanted to go, and years later Leibovitz returned to the idea, and thus came Pilgrimage. The photos are of spaces, places, things – heavy with the ghosts of the legends who lived in and used them, like Virginia Woolf, Thoreau, Elvis, Georgia O’Keefe, and so on.
“I NEEDED to save myself,” she says of the work contained in the book. “I needed to remind myself of what I like to do, what I can do.”
Niagara Falls
Emily Dickinson’s only surviving dress
Virginia Woolf’s Bedroom
Elvis’s Television, in storage at Graceland (he shot it).
Georgia O’Keefe’s handmade pastels
Annie Oakley’s heart target.
You can also see the photos on exhibit right now at the Smithsonian Museum in DC!
A New Free People Girl: Meet Molly
Molly has that classic retro look – it’s preppy and sophisticated but in a cool modern way. She takes signature styles and makes them fresh again; her clothes have details such as tipping and pleating and she loves the Peter Pan collar like no other. She’s reserved but her personality exudes confidence… you’ll see her walking elegantly in a city, perched in an old library or quietly sitting in a coffee shop soaking in her thoughts.
Molly is our new style girl who was inspired by the retro things in life; she gives vintage a modern twist! To celebrate Molly’s debut online and in our catalog, we did a special photo shoot featuring FP Jemma, who embodied Molly perfectly – we want to thank the lovely people at One Shot coffee shop in Philly for letting us take photos, be sure to check out their place it’s pretty great – a wonderful atmosphere and delicious food and coffee!
In this look: Denim Bustier Dress, Sweet Spring Gingham Buttondown, Radio BBC Boot.
In this look: Vintage Thrift Wash Straight Leg Denim, Peter Pan Lace Top, Hardware Loafer.
In this look: Printed Romper, Traveler Denim Jacket, Studded Saddle Shoe.
Check out our Molly Shop for more retro styles!
We’d love to hear your thoughts on our newest girl! Are you a Molly?
Monday Quote
“The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with nature.”
– Joseph Campbell
image by John Ciamillo.
Bicycle Portraits
I saw these Bicycle Portraits on Miss Moss and was so intrigued by the photos and the story behind them. Over the course of a 2 year journey in South Africa, Stan Engelbrecht & Nic Grobler compiled portraits and stories from over 500 cyclists. The beautiful photographs have been divided into three books, each containing 55 stories as well as essays by local South African and major international cycling figures.
On their website, the photos are displayed along with the location of where the photo was taken, pin-pointed on a google map. In the books, the photos are laid out with little water-color depictions of the maps – so lovely and creative!
Go see more of the portraits on their website.
Monday Quote
“While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
— Steve Jobs
The Girl With 7 Horses
“Once upon a time there was a girl who had 7 invisible horses. People thought she was crazy and that she in fact had 7 imaginary horses, but this was not the case. When autumn came the girl spent a whole day washing all her clothes. She hung them on a string in her garden to let the gentle autumn sun dry them. Out of nowhere, a terrible storm came and its fierce-full winds grabbed a hold of all her clothes and all seven horses (authors note: since they are invisible they obviously didn’t weigh much). The girl was devastated and spent all autumn looking for each horse spread around the country, wrapped in her clothes.”
I was so taken with this photography project by Ulrika Kestere, I had to share. Wonderfully creative and beautiful!
Love Letters from Around the World
Over the past few weeks, I have had the pleasure of seeing many of your love letters come through via email and snail mail – they have brought a smile to my face every day and we’re so grateful you shared them with us!
Free People Walnut Street Opening
Yesterday I left work around 5pm to head to our brand new store on Walnut Street in Philadelphia. We were having a private celebration for home office employees, family and friends before the doors officially opened this morning. From the moment I walked through the carved wooden door, I felt like I was in a very special place. If you live in the area, I definitely recommend making the trip to see the store in person – but if not, I hope these photos can do it some justice!
Bracelet heaven!
The view from the upstairs loft.
The upstairs fitting room area is cozy and tranquil – I literally could live here. The fitting rooms were painted by five of our amazing fp girls, who made them truly special and unique.
Intimates hang delicately on subtly sparkling walls.
How amazing are the patchwork rugs?! A great DIY project, perhaps…
Yummy food from Steven Starr Restaurants and Root, Snap & Rhuby drinks from Art in the Age – the Root and ginger beer was to die for!
I adore the brick wall and necklaces hanging from nails – I bought one of these zodiac necklaces – you can only find them in our stores! I also love the falling whistles.
Former Belle put on an awesome show!
It was such a magical night. Stay tuned for another post, on two of my favorite parts of the store!
Photos by Julia.