The Free People Wholesale team is at Coterie in NYC, it’s a massive trade show filled with exciting labels. Department stores such as Saks, Harvey Nicholas and many other cute little boutiques and department stores from around the world visit to see what labels they would like to buy and showcase.
The wholesale team set up a beautiful booth accessorized with ipads so customers can view our digital Fp lifestyle and beautiful fashion forward lookbooks. Whilst I was there, I snapped the style of our girls. Don’t they look adorable!?
Our Creative Director made the necklace to the right!
i mentioned artist sylvia marius the other day…we were particularly inspired by her deconstructed umbrella for our store displays, but as i was looking through her website i found myself completely in awe of all of her beautiful work. this quote helps give you an idea of where she’s coming from:
“I am an inexhaustible collector of fragments of life.
With these roots as my own vocabulary, I create fragile and
delicate objects with a more-than-uncertain use; scarified
sculptures put-back together by a hazy hand.
They are: Aerial objects, a sum of fragments put together from
end to end…
Often, in my world, things seem to hold each other together by
one thread. However, in reality, they are connected by several
links.”
her home looks incredibly inspiring as well:
“There is the first sight… Casting itself onto various objects.
Then… A gathering of objects: Building blocks fashioned from
a collection of testimonies:
Fragments of history, gathered during the constant
movement of life…
Fragments placed together for a purpose:
Observe… But particularly… Repair.”
with our latest catalog being shot in california, i wanted to get some insider scoop on what its like to live there – i’ve been to LA several times but could never see myself settling there…san francisco was much more my speed. so who better to ask about life in so cal than two fashionable bloggers that were born and raised there – natalie and dylana suarez!
where in LA do you live?
in the valley area of los angeles.
what is your favorite thing about living on the west coast?
natalie: i love the beautiful weather and constant sunshine. i’m not much of a gloomy weather type of person!
dylana: my favorite thing definitely has to be the beautiful weather we always have year round, all the amazing beaches we can go to on a sunny day, and the amazing thrift / vintage shops.
what are some essential pieces every girl in LA must own?
natalie: a great pair of skinny jeans and comfortable boots! also, a big bag is great for toting around everything you need on hand.
dylana: every LA girl must own a good pair of denim shorts, maxi or ankle length skirts, a good pair of leather ankle boots, silk blouses, and a lightweight blazer.
where are your favorite places to shop/eat/go out?
natalie: we were born and raised in santa monica so that is definitely my favorite part of the city. i love main street and montana avenue for the cute, little restaurants. i love 3rd street for the shopping. from there, i usually walk to the boardwalk and beach.
santa monica
dylana: i love to shop on the santa monica promenade or the americana in glendale. my favorite place to eat is also santa monica because you can get just about anything there and there are a lot of cute little restaurants to eat at. i also really love main street in santa monica.
3rd street promenade, santa monica
is there a certain spot/place you like to go to get away from it all?
natalie: i love hiking up will rogers park on the westside. you get beautiful views of all of los angeles and it is super relaxing.
inspiration point, will rogers park
dylana: if i want to get away from the city, i can just stay right at home in the valley, where things are of a much slower pace. i also like to go up to ventura and to relax on the beach or do some thrift shopping on main street over there.
what’s your ideal way to spend a day off in LA?
natalie: my ideal day off would be biking along the beach from santa monica down to venice. in venice, i usually grab abbot pizza and gelato at nice cream!
dylana: i like to meet up with friends at a new restaurant that i haven’t tried yet to just hang out and laugh. i also love to spend a few hours at the bookstore reading magazines or i head to the movies. another thing i love to do on my days off is take a nice long bike ride or hike around my neighborhood. it totally clears the mind!
venice
and here are their picks from our february catalog – i could see them wearing any of these pieces and looking lovely in them!
this month when walking into our cafeteria you must pass by a brigade of jackrabbits, perched alertly on their haunches with their ears straight up in the air, like they’re about to take off running. i looked up the artist who makes them, and the story behind them is pretty cool.
artist beau buck uses recycled materials, including hunting vests, denim, mexican blankets, and even remnants of a betsy ross american flag. he also collects coats, bags and other fashion items that are made with fur, leather, teeth and feathers, and repurposes them as sculptures of the animals they originate from. very neat idea!
his other work is pretty interesting too, check out his website here.
We thought we would try something new on our blog today. I went to see ‘Somewhere’ the other month and wanted to share a short review with you. ‘Somewhere’ is Sofia Coppola’s fourth run movie starring Stephen Dorff who plays Johnny Marco – a movie star living in limbo at the very fashionable Chateau Marmont and Elle Fanning who plays Cleo – the mature daughter of an adolescent movie star. I couldn’t keep my eyes off Elle. Her presence was captivating; her fresh look reminded me of typical Marc Jacobs advert.
I had mixed feelings about this film; I can say I didn’t enjoy it as much as her previous ‘Lost in Translation’ and ‘Virgin Suicides’. However the high end hotel, the guy in limbo, the cusp on recovery and the tenderness between two unlikely characters are all familiar feelings that were provoked in Lost in Translation. The difference is that this film is about Hollywood – the place and the ideal, there’s a hint of the sinister side of celebrity land that was a bit hard hitting. A typical lost movie star wanting a way out… bored of the ideal and the materialistic lifestyle that Hollywood offers.
I get comforted by the quietness and the moody feelings that dominant Sofia’s work. She has a great talent with letting you experience a picture through silence.
If you haven’t already seen it yet, you should. Rising star Elle Fanning sure is a one to watch!
As the subtitle suggests the film evokes the thought “sometimes you just need a good reason to grow up”
If you’re anything like us, you love nothing better than a good old nosey through somebody else’s wardrobe. We always end up feeling inspired! Here’s a little tour though my wardrobe. We hope to post more of these from some of our favorite Free People muses.
My style inspiration is a Rock ‘N’ Roll chic verses a hippie folklore rebel. Tattered sweaters mixed with ditsy florals, holey rock Tees and denim shirts.
My dad is a huge Eagles fan so owning this very rare Eagles in concert shirt is extra special to me. Pattern and texture consume the majority of my wardrobe. I have a huge love for crochet – my favorite item is the crochet swing top that I bought from Free People last summer. I own bags that look like they have been traveled and been on an adventure throughout life, old satchels and run down rucksacks. I collect Native American jewelry, Turquoise and necklaces that have been made in Indian pow wows.
My style developed from looking at Vogue from the tender age of 13, and my dad’s collection of American rock vinyls and books – I used to admire Joni Mitchell, The Stones and get a kick out of seeing bad ass rebel films such as The Wild One with Marlon Brando; I like how denim and leather give you an attitude. Fashion excites me every day and I love owning pieces that are extra special and have meaning behind them.
ever wish you could take a peek inside the home of a fashion blogger? i always imagine what their homes look like, what they surround themselves with and what inspires them – the way people decorate their place is so indicative of their personality – i love checking out peoples’ music and book collections in particular :)
our stylists snapped some photos at louise ebel’s home in paris and isn’t it charming? i love the little knick knacks everywhere – you can tell she’s a sentimental person who holds on to gifts, treasured items and dried flowers, which i love! i’m the same way.
some of our arizona fp girls were featured on azcentral.com for their awesome style! check it out:
left: brianna from tempe AZ, wearing the off the shoulder tunic pullover. personal style? girly and bohemian. must-have beauty product? nars blush.
right: zoe from scottsdale, AZ, wearing the floral cozy vintage coat. personal style? flats, florals, skinnies. must-have beauty product? mac “ruby woo” lipstick.
left: michaela from tempe, AZ. personal style? urban meets contemporary. must-have beauty product? mac foundation.
right: colby from gilbert, AZ, wearing the windows of lace top. personal style? vintage inspired. must-have beauty product? philosophy hope in a jar.
pretty paper lanterns that went up in our stores in the interim between holiday and spring display. these pics are from our dallas store.
how adorable is this little girl modeling her wee people dress and boots? a little fashion blogger in the making!
and last but not least…
cute kitty in a pile of fp bags, from our bellevue store :)
