Psst… there are some April catalog sneak peeks in there! Can you guess the location??
The Latest from our Instagram!
Blogger Lookbook: Ode to Philly
The other day I mentioned that Jemma, Naomi and I hit up some of our favorite spots in Philadelphia to shoot a mini “Ode to Philly” lookbook in celebration of our store opening on Walnut St! We had so much fun shooting these photos, and we hope you love them too :)
Julia
My location was the street I grew up on. I felt it was symbolic in many ways, as our Philly store opening definitely feels like a homecoming for Free People. Despite a brief time in San Francisco, I’ve lived in Philly my entire life – from the Fairmount neighborhood pictured below, to the suburbs just outside the city, to West Philadelphia, Manayunk, Center City, and now Old City. Home is where the heart is, and my heart will always be in Philly.
I’m wearing the FP Light Weight Stretch Skinny Jeans, California Love Tee, Studded Plaid Buttondown, Vegan Leather Jacket, Wingtip Boot, Sam Feather Trim Fedora and Mari Flap Bag. This is pretty much the type of thing I wear every day – I’m definitely a jeans and tee girl, and I am currently in love with the studded plaid shirt and wingtip boots!
Naomi
My favorite spot in Philadelphia is the train station. I first discovered it when I came to the city for college. On breaks, I would often travel by Amtrak to get home. The first time that I walked into the giant hall, my breath sort of leapt from my body. It feels exactly how you’d imagine a train station should feel. Sounds echo off of the huge high ceilings and passengers await their trains on long wooden benches. The elegance takes me back to days when people traveled on trains everywhere. The station also reminds me of my dad (he has a bit of a train fascination/hobby) which was a very comforting feeling when I first left home for college. I’ve now lived in Philly for about five years, and I’ve spent a lot of time in that train station. For six months I was commuting to NYC three days a week to intern, and that place became my best friend.
I wanted to wear my favorite new Free People item there for this shoot. I fell in love with the Thrifty Eyes Dress the minute I saw photos come back of Karlie Kloss in our January book. I just got it this week, and I can’t wear it all different ways. This time around I paired it with our new Denim Button-Down and these awesome platforms which we’ll have on the site soon!
Jemma
My favorite place in Philly is Johnny Brenda’s, a bar in Fishtown, but yesterday I wanted to go to a place that I’ve been itching to go to for a while – I’m still kinda exploring Philly having moved here from the UK so… Franklin Fountain was the place I wanted to feast my eyes upon. I’m a girl who loves sweet things and things that are pretty to look, and during the summer months ice cream is my No1. Franklin Fountain apparently has the best ice cream so I went to try and it didn’t disappoint – I was like a young girl in a candy store.
Wearing the Retro Sleeve Dress, Lace Up Leather Jacket and Marrakesh Floppy Hat.
Glamping
Lately I have come across a few pretty stellar examples of “glamping.” This is not something I was familiar with until recently, but glamping is, basically, glamorous camping. Ideal for those who love the great outdoors, but don’t exactly love roughing it. I for one would definitely be down for some glamping – especially in either of these amazing spots.
Whitepod Resort, in the heart of the Swiss Alps, Switzerland
Treehotel, Sweden
January Lookbook: Behind the Scenes with 4th and Bleeker
Bella Donna Dress, Betty Platform, Whiskey River Pendant.
Cutwork Tap Short, Sequin Pullover, Darcy Cork Wedge.
Stripe Boy Tee, Washed Vegan Leather Short.
FP New Romantics Geo Embroidered Cutout Dress, La Playa Turquoise Collar.
Cropped Stripes Pullover, Destroyed Skinny Jean.
FP One Diani Dress, Daisy Chain Headpiece, Sanibel T Bar Clog.
So… who’s ready for a trip to Palm Springs?
View the full January Lookbook.
The Year of the Dragon
Images of the Chinese new year celebrations are always so incredible. I love that they take each new year and the symbolism behind it so seriously. 2012 is the year of the dragon – a symbol of power, strength and luck…a year to take control and breathe fiery life into everything you do.
Monday Quote
“In this modern age everything, everywhere seems to lead the senses outward and away from oneself. Don’t be afraid of quiet. Find the time for peace and introversion, and life will have new meaning.”
– Aaron Fisher
Featured Artist: Bernadette Pascua of Decade Diary
Decade Diary is an illustrated diary chronicling past, present interests and future perspectives of a decade lived in New York City, by Illustrator Bernadette Pascua. The second I discovered her site, I knew I had to feature her on the blog. She has a wonderful creative eye, and is a very talented illustrator and collage artist. Her creations convey not only a sophisticated style but a unique take on fashion and the world around her as viewed through New York eyes.
Bernadette was kind enough to create this amazing New York themed collage just for us! Read on to learn more about her and see more of her lovely work.
Collage by Bernadette Pascua for Free People
City lights photo and all watercolor by Decade Diary.
Film still from Andy Warhol’s “Empire”
Press photo of the Neue Galerie
Patti Smith on the Bowery, photograph by Godlis
Press photo of Saturdays Coffee Shop
Press photo of Diner in Brooklyn
Where in New York do you live?
I live in Brooklyn, in the Southside of Williamsburg, right along side the bridge. It’s such a great location – the city is just a ride across the bridge and most of the buildings on our street are turn of the century cast iron, dating back to the 1800’s. The street is quiet but with a little liveliness that comes from having a row of favorite restaurants like Diner and Marlow and Sons (plus their amazing grocery store Marlow and Daughters).
What do you love most about New York?
I love the constant flux that the city is in. It keeps a great balance of feeling like you are in your own world yet it brings people together in the most odd ways. There’s something magical about the way New York serendipitously brings people into your life. I love those moments of camaraderie New Yorkers can have, all of those chance encounters. Everyday is a big surprise.
Describe a typical day in NYC:
Each day is never the same for me, but I think the most typical day in NYC has to be the Sunday Brunch Day! It’s like an unspoken holiday of sorts that every New Yorker celebrates on the weekend. Waking up later, reading the paper and then going to a brunch with your boyfriend or friends. Then taking a walk around wherever you find yourself going.
What is your favorite coffee shop in the city?
Right now my favorite coffee shop is Saturdays Surf in Soho. It’s on the way to my subway station going back into Brooklyn. It’s a surf shop that has a small counter in the front where coffee can be ordered, there is usually only one attractive guy working the coffee who spends a really long time making your drink, so it always turns out good. They have a casual backyard with simple benches for hanging out which is great in the summer. In the winter looking at all the Surf memorabilia sort of keeps your hopes up for some sun.
Describe New York City fashion in three words:
Of the moment.
Where do you go in New York to get away from the crowds?
I love going to a museum or a gallery for some quiet time. The rows of galleries around 9th Avenue in Chelsea are along some very calm streets. My most favorite museum ever is the Neue Galerie by Central Park. It’s a small and uncrowded museum devoted to early twentieth-century German and Austrian art and design, housed in a beautiful townhouse. So it feels like you are looking at art in someones home. Downstairs it has a Café inspired by turn of the century Vienna, its like being transported out of New York for an afternoon.
How long have you been doing Decade Diary, and how did it come about?
Wow I’ve been doing Decade Diary now since 2009, so four years now! It seems like a really long time but I’ve actually been doing projects similar to Decade since my teenage years. In High School I used to make a lot of xerox copied zines with my Illustrations and stories, and would send or trade them via snail mail. So blogging only seemed like the natural thing to do!
Thank you so much Bernadette! xx
Behind the Scenes with Jessica Hart in LA!
Back detail of the beautiful Bella Donna crochet dress.
I love the laid back cali vibe of these two outfits… up top, the fp denim cutoffs, destroyed tee, sheer maxi bedroom jacket, northridge necklace and romana fest sandal; on the bottom, the must be dreamin tee, denim cutoff short and charlie converse.
My favorite outfit! The destroyed skinny jean, california love tee, studded fringe blazer and wingtip boot.
The pretty fp one pintuck slip.
The boardwalk romper looks soooo comfy!
The fp one japanese flower romper and charlie converse.
dream house!
Jess in the awesome dune hoodie.
We love LA!
Shop the January catalog.
Monday Quote
“To those who stay put, the world is but an imaginary place. But to the movers, the makers, and the shakers, the world is all around, an endless invitation.”
Source Unknown
Don’t Give Up The Ship
We have a beautiful exhibit hanging in Gallery 543 at the Navy Yard right now that consists of flags by artist Emily Manalo Ruiz. The main portion of the exhibit is the “1000 Works Project”, which consists of 1000 small fabric flags, each of which are unique, sewn out of salvaged materials and inspired by old battle flags. The exhibit also includes some of her larger flags, also made with reclaimed materials, that are text-based and printed with meaningful, personal phrases.
“Art, for me, is cathartic. It serves as an outlet for releasing deep-seated pains, capturing fleeting memories, and for understanding and documenting my life experience. My work conveys a sense of nostalgia, longing, and sometimes, hope. It helps me to make sense of things, to communicate, to find closure and contentment, and to attempt to make permanent what is impermanent.” – Emily Manalo Ruiz
Go see more of her work here!
The River that Ran Away to Paradise
It is crazy quiet in our office today, and I just got completely lost in daydream world looking through photos of this beautiful river, the Caristales, located near the town of La Macarena in Colombia, South America. Each year, during a brief period of time between the wet and dry seasons, when the water level is just right, the multiple varieties of algae and moss that live in the river bloom in a dazzling display of colors. The photos are so beautiful, I can only imagine what a breathtaking experience it would be to see it in person.
Unreal, right?
Behind the Scenes with Karlie Kloss in NYC
Fitted with Daisies Dress
Stretch Eyelet Bodycon
Striped Low Back Top, Woven Crop Top, Silk Pop Blazer, Alarra Necklace, Orbit Necklace
My favorite outfit… Mermaid Sequin Harem Pant, Destroyed Tee, Alarra Necklace, Orbit Necklace, Vegan Leather Jacket, Miguel Buckle Boot
Pilot Graphic Tank, Studded Plaid Buttondown, Cutoff Denim Vest, Vegan Leather Short, Converse
Marrakesh Floppy Hat
The Printed Skinny Jean & Stacked Wingtip look so cool together.
Denim Knit Shirt Dress, Jenny Floppy Hat
Thrifty Eyes Dress, Peter Pan Lace Top, Embellished Vegan Leather Jacket, Patriot Ankle Boot
Marrakesh Floppy Hat, Sequin Pullover, Orbit Necklace, Bold Suede Ladder Necklace
FP One Diani Dress, Textured Zip Up Jacket, Laredo Turquoise Bib
FP One Diani Dress, Laredo Turquoise Bib