pleet tv

Check out this public-access style clip by Samantha Pleet and We Make It Good; it's a video lookbook for Pleet's Fall collection, featuring music by Chairlift and appearances by model Coco Young, artist Dan Estabrook, photographer Jacqueline Di Milia, friends Carlen Altman and Peggy Wang (The Pains of Being Pure at Heart), Heather d'Angelo (Au Revoir Simone), and others, if you can catch them. Between the tap-dancing, champagne and off-kilter antics, look out for pieces from Pleet's new line available now in the I Dont Like Mondays Store!

designer q&a: stolen girlfriends club

Stolen Girlfriends Club is a pop culture label built on vision and creativity. Their innovative ideas are based on the influences of fashion, art and music. Youthfulness, irreverence and a tongue-in-chic attitude are the driving forces behind the New-Zealand made brand. This attitude has earned the Club a celebrity following that includes Juliette Lewis, Kate Bosworth, Daisy Lowe, & The Cobra Snake alongside cool kids everywhere.

Co-founders and directors Marc Moore, Luke Harwood and Dan Gosling want people to interpret Stolen Girlfriends Club in their own way. "It’s a way of life – the brand represents a lifestyle we live and share with our friends”. All three come from a background in the commercial surf industry – Marc and Luke are both ex pro surfers – and all have worked with international fashion forward brands. In time the boys outgrew their boardies (surf shorts), each taking their attributes in creative marketing, distribution, and business knowledge to form Stolen Girlfriends Club in 2005.

IDLM - Skeletor or Hordak?
Marc Moore - Skeletor, mainly because I don't even remember Hordak so he mustn't be that memorable.

When and how did you become interested in fashion?
About 4 years ago. I grew up in this tiny seaside surf town called raglan. I decided to move up to the city for work. And from then on I got really inspired. There was so much going on, all these different people with their own forms of style and expression. I got pretty hooked!! I started experimenting with art and that soon turned in to fashion. Making clothes that me and my friends wanted to wear. 4 years on and it is now more than a hobby - but we still have a lot of fun!

Where did the name "Stolen Girlfriends Club" come from?
It came from my first art show. Stolen Girlfriends Club was the theme and title of that exhibition. It sold out on the opening night which was amazing! Everyone seemed to love the name so we thought it was the obvious choice for our brands name.

How do you sleep @ night?
Well mostly, I sleep well. Except when it's coming up to range release. I get pretty stressed out with new collections. It always seems like your running out of time - there's such an urgency to it!! Once the collection is complete I sleep much better!! We are about 2 weeks from finishing our next collection so I'm a walking zombie at the moment.

What famous designers have influenced you, and how?
Hedi Slimane influenced us early on. Mainly because we felt we could relate to what he was doing. He wasn't just a fashion designer. He was heavily into music, art, his photography. We also loved the aesthetic and detailing of his work. So polished and refined, yet had this gritty rock & roll feel that was very wearable and timeless.

What’s the most played song on your iPod?
At the moment it would be 'Now Wow' by The Kills.

How would you describe your personal style?
Hmm that's a hard one. I kinda change depending on my mood/feeling. A little bit rock & roll, a little bit nerdy/preppy, and a touch fruity.

What brands or designers are currently on your radar?
Christophe Decarin at Balmain, Ricardo Tisci at Givenchy, Stefano Pilati at Yves Saint Laurent, and Alber Elbaz at Lanvin - all seriously nuts!

Describe the Pretty Vacant collection in a Haiku.
The rebellious
grunge punk sensibility
ripped plaid leopard lace

Outside of fashion what inspires you?
Music. Escapism. Romance.

What's your favorite childhood movie?
E.T. I cried like a mofo.

In your eyes what makes a good collection?
Beautiful fabrics, good shapes, wearability, clever detailing, a clear concept that runs right throughout, with a bold identity.


View the Stolen Girlfriends Club collection in the store.

Visit the Stolen Girlfriends Club Website.

designer q&a: kenzo minami

Kenzo Minami, originally from Hyogo, Japan, graduated from Parsons School of Design with a BFA in Product Design after majoring in Western Philosophy in Japan. Before he established himself as an artist / designer, he started his career as a set designer for TV broadcast networks, working with MTV, the Sci-Fi Channel and others. This lead to shooting his own shorts and TV spots, and working in broadcast as an art director, director, and motion graphic designer for 7 years.

When and how did you become interested in illustration and visual art?
When I was very little, at my father's die-cast metal factory, because there was nothing else to do. I also think that the fact that I grew up surrounded by metal parts my father's factory was producing, which was essentially a bunch of abstract shapes since they are different parts for larger whole of machinery or products, did have a huge influence and impact on me getting interested in and become visual person - considering that I grew up watching those different shapes and imagined how they all fit and function after they are packaged and shipped. Combined with the fact that my parents didn't really give me any pre-made toys, except Lego Blocks (this is Lego before they had too many pre-made, pre-molded specific shapes) and plastic models to build, I was bound to become someone who automatically start building things out of different parts in different shapes and colours.

What’s the most played song on your iPod?
Even though what I listen to is all over the place in genre, the most played song always come back to be one of the songs by Bob Dylan. At the moment, They are "Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" and "One of Us Must Know", for some reasons.

How would you describe your personal style?
Old Fashioned, in a darker hue.

Describe your spring collection.
After the end, before the beginning.

Outside of art and fashion what inspires you?
Words.

What’s your favorite childhood movie?
Ghostbusters.

Must art have a relationship with fashion?
Within my understanding of definition of fashion, I think that it is bound to have some level of relationship.


View the Kenzo Minami collection in the store.

Visit the Kenzo Minami Website.

designer q&a: maurie and eve

Maurie and Eve is the Australian brand from Kelly Davies, Scott Davies and Maya Clemmensen. Kel and Scott are brother and sister, Scott and Maya are partners while Kel and Maya are best friends. Kel began a few years back sewing singlets and selling to a few boutiques around the country. And in 2006 Scott and Maya came on board, designing and helping run the business.

The brand is named after Kel and Scott's grandparents. Maurice and Evelyn Williams passed away in 2001, their deaths caused by a tragic car accident. Eve was a model in the 40s and her old Singer Sewing machine was left to Kel. Inspired by this, Kel began making singlets for friends and family and before she knew it was selling to boutiques across Australia and around the world.

Kel was sweet enough to share with us some insight on her life and the new spring collection.

Kelly Taylor or Brenda Walsh?
Brenda all the way… You've got to keep things interesting!

When and how did you become interested in fashion
I think it's fair to say that all girls love dressing up, Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan was definitely an opener to a little girl! It's interesting to see how different people interpret fashion, the way they put themselves together… Girls dress for other girls, everyone wants to look the best, and with that kind of market, who could resist giving it a go!!

How would you describe your personal style?
I'm not sure if it's a good thing, but I'm pretty over the top… more more more of everything…. A fist full of rings, oversized handbags, high high high heels, scarves, big hair, the whole bit!!

What brands or designers are currently on your radar?
Alexander Wang is definitely on our radar at the moment, we love his relaxed tailoring, while still having that hard edge. We're all about mixing styles and seeing how far we can push it… Jeremy Scott is another, he's just crazy and it just works!

Do you sing in the shower and what song?
No… and I've never actually come across a person that does!!

What is the inspiration behind your Spring collection?
The Spring Collection we were in a real Woodstock haze… tie dyes, flowy dresses, bleached ripped denim, midriffs… it's all about the 70's.

What's the most played song on your iPod?
It changes pretty often, but at the moment I have Send Him Back – The Pointer Sisters Pilooski edit on repeat!

What's your favorite childhood movie?
The Labyrinth… I don't know how as I child I could watch that movie and not have nightmares… It scares the hell out of me now!! David Bowie in tights…. I don't know about that!!!

In your eyes what makes a good collection?
We always try to make sure there are enough elements to each collection… make sure we cover all bases with colours, prints, short, long, day, night. We always have 3 or 4 different stories running through each range and tie them together with colours or fabrics. And it has to be easy to wear…

What do you enjoy most about being a fashion designer and having your own label?
Working for ourselves is such a luxury, everyone wants to be their own boss! But its so cool to be able to make EXACTLY what you want to wear, and it's even better when people want to wear it too! We also get to travel a lot; and the 3 of us are so lucky we get to do it all together!

View the Maurie and Eve collection in the store.

Visit the Maurie and Eve Website.

Friend Maurie and Eve on MySpace.

designer q&a: priestess nyc

Cody Ross is the ballsy brains and talent behind the cult label Priestess NYC. The quirky womenswear label has become an overnight sensation since its launch in late 2007. Cody's unique creations have been worn by celebrities and models, donned by everyone from Bjork to Juliette Lewis.

Cody grew up in Dallas, Texas, and went on to earn a BSc from the London School of Economics as well as credentials in Pattern-Construction+Design from London's Central Saint Martins.

After working as a financial analyst in China for several years, he returned to the states and launched Priestess NYC. Cody currently designs and manages his line out of his West Village townhouse-cum-atelier in NYC.


What famous designers have influenced you, and how?
1. Bernhard Willhelm. For his ingenious pop references, his use of toys and video games to trash and freaky-minimalism, he has a swashbuckling approach to design, hands-down.
2. Jeremy Scott. He is King of exaggeration and visual-razzmatazz. I love his satirical and tong-and-cheek approach, especially his new stuff.
3. Rick Owens. For his subversive, sartorial style that is raw and refined, haunted and haute. I know he’s a super-star but he seems to always operate on the fringe. His goth-androgyny is weird and cool.
4. Walter Van Beirendonck. For his audacious shock-and-awe, fetish-fantasies, kaleidoscopic color-ways, crazy materials and total rejection of mainstream stuff. He’s the maverick risk-taker -- and always has been.
5. Marjan Pejoski/KTZ. Because he’s the master of unisex and conveys happy-absurdity in all his stuff.

Describe your Spring Collection in a Haiku:
Goth-glam punk girl stuff
Colorful kitschy soft screams
Silky-smooth yummy

What brands or designers are currently on your radar?
Georgy Baratashvili. . . Henrik Vibskov. . . Marjan Pejoski . . .Comme des Garcons . . .

If you were a letter of the alphabet, which would best describe you and why?
“Z” . . .because it’s the last one . .and ‘the best stuff comes at the end of the sequence.’

Outside of fashion what inspires you?
Mathematics. . .Japanese toys, David LaChapelle’s photography. . . I’m interested in finance and economic history. . .and all things kitsch.

In your eyes what makes a good collection?
A broad range of selection . . . ability to ‘transcend demographics’ . . .versatility.

E.T. or ALF?
Both are cool!

What do you enjoy most about being a fashion designer and having your own label?
Creative freedom.

What's your favorite piece of clothing you own?
Biker Jacket in silver-metallic finish.

What advice would you give to a designer just starting out?
Don’t spend beyond your means.

View the Priestess collection in the store.

Read Cody's blog.

Visit the Priestess NYC Website.

Friend Priestess NYC on MySpace.

Friend Cody on Facebook.

sneak peek spring (part two)

Here's a few more peeks of new designers and their Spring 09 collections, arriving soon!



T by Alexander Wang
The new diffusion line from CFDA winner Alexander Wang feature just about the comfiest tees, tanks, and T-shirt dresses we’ve seen yet. Armholes are lowered, necklines are stretched, all cut in the designers fetchingly enervated style with colors like white, gray, charcoal, black and chartreuse. As the designer describes, “'It’s like sleeping in a T-shirt and then wearing it the next day.” All pieces are under $100.




5Preview
Swedish/Italian designers Emeli and Diego have screened iconic tongue-in-cheek prints onto unisex tees and tanks.




Anzevino and Florence
Using silk and twill blends, L.A. based designers Richard Florence and William Anzevino have created a sophisticated yet edgy collection of womenswear, menswear, and unisexwear.




Something and Something Else
The new collection "Spirit World" from Melbourne-bred designer Natalie Wood is downtown-cool with a feminine touch.



Sign up for our email newsletter to be notified when collections arrive.

sneak peek spring (part one)

Spring is just around the corner and the new pieces arriving soon are so stunning, they've got us delirious and down-right obsessed. Here's a tiny taste of things to come:



Stolen Girlfriends Club
The New Zealand music/art group have created a dark and brooding collection of sultry pieces for men and women, featuring subtle lace finishes and ox-blood plaid.




Kenzo Minami
Japanese visual artist Kenzo Minami has created another sleek collection of bold geometric graphics for his super soft unisex tees for Spring. As usual the tee shirts are enzyme washed to give them that vintage worn-in feel, and the detail and color variety in the silk-screened graphics are phenomenal.




Scout
The L.A. store’s spring collection of contemporary womenswear is a street-chic ensemble of baggy tee dresses, leaf print leggings and the occasional hunting and trapping motif.




Brian Lichtenberg
The new collection by celebrity-darling Brian Lichtenberg is a fiery hot blaze of lace and sequins. Welcome to the future.




Ground-Zero
The Chu brothers have returned with a whimsical collection of high-end unisex "pajama-wear as outer-wear." Their Spring 09 collection titled “Lazy, naughty n Sleepy” features cheeky and subversive graphics involving...Care Bears!




Sharon Brunsher
The Israeli fashion designer and Tel Aviv Design Institute graduate has formed a beautiful and well crafted set of hand-dyed dresses and feminine tops.




Maurie and Eve
Young Aussie designers Kelly Davies and Maya Clemmenson have smartly fused beachwear and evening wear into a debonair collection brimming with free and easy femininity.


Stay tuned for more featurettes on upcoming collections...

designer profile: DEER DANA

Dana Veraldi, is the ink genius behind Deer Dana. Just recently having moved to New York, her unique artwork, photography and wicked style has quickly attracted attention. Her line of illustrated t-shirts feature tongue-in-cheek and obscurely cool prints. These unisex tees celebrate everyone from her ubiquitously downtown cohorts to the idols and tastemakers not yet part of Veraldi's everexpanding circle of "It"-kid friends and admirers, but soon sure to be.

Dana was kind enough to divulge to us a bit on her artistic endeavors and her life in NYC.

How did DEER DANA begin?
I created my website years ago as a showcase for my photography. I used to live in a big artist warehouse in Baltimore and I started screen-printing shirts in my loft while in college. I then decided to put the shirts up on my website as well. It just made sense to call my line Deer Dana.

You graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2007. What brought you to New York?
The people and the treasures.

DEER DANA has developed a cult following practically overnight. What is your reaction when you see people wearing your shirts?
It's very flattering and funny.

You assist some of the top stylists in New York, you are a photographer, and you run DEER DANA. Which do you find the most rewarding?
My days and weeks are always different which I love. I was never keen on having a proper 9-5 job. I am lucky to be doing what I am doing. I have met so many great friends here in New York. I learn something interesting from each thing I do.

How do you choose who to feature in your designs?
I make drawings that become shirts of people I admire. They are all important people to me - whether they are close friends or people I find interesting and inspirational.

How would you describe your personal style?
I just wear what I like.

What brands or designers are currently on your radar?
I really like Ralph Lauren, Woolrich, Bess, Stubbs and Wootton, Iosselliani

Outside of fashion, what inspires you?
Suri Cruise

Who's next to be featured on a DEER DANA tee?
Right now I am working on my two Oliviers - Olivier Zahm and Olivier Theyskens.

View the Deer Dana collection in the store.

View the Deer Dana blog.

designer profile: Ground-Zero

Ground Zero was established by brothers Eri and Philip Chu. The brothers started fashion design in high school by remaking their own vintage clothing. Eri graduated from the Design School with a major in graphic design and went on to work for a classic tailor shop. Philip chose a degree in fashion management at Middlesex University in London. The brothers then teamed up to take the fashion world heads on with Ground-Zero. They continue to find inspiration in the street fashion of London, their home-base.

Philip kindly answered a few questions we posed him about the collection.

How did you get into fashion design?
There was a time when my brother and I were doing absolutely nothing in our lives so we decided to do something that interested us, just for the hell of it. We made music, art work and t-shirt prints...Ground-Zero was just one of those projects. As time went by, I came to realize that I was really interested in fashion design so I went to the university for a course.

What does the Fall 2008 collection represent?
The Obsession. We just put it in an exaggerated and funny way, drug-taking and all.

Why did you name your company Ground-Zero, what does it mean to you?
We feel that 'ground' and 'zero' are the start of everything.

How has London street culture influenced your collections?
Nothing that you can see, but the charisma of the collections.

Outside of fashion, what inspires you?
Everything but nothing. Some things I can't really tell but they are in my body.

What brands are currently on your radar?
Jose Castro, Junn. J, and JC de Castelbajac

In your eyes what makes a good collection?
Surprise, out of the ordinary.

What kind of person do you imagine wearing your clothing?
We never think of that. We just do what we want to do, never really doing something for someone randomly.

view the Men's Collection at I Dont Like Mondays

view the Women's Collection at I Dont Like Mondays


visit Ground-Zero at www.ground-zero.co.uk

designer profile: Purlieu

Purlieu was formed in response to the summer Sky Ferren and Wynnie Crews went mad. Their first collaboration was an exhibition titled Get Happy and Mothers, an installation where children and rabbits played freely with pretty thugs and happy gangsters. They shared a common interest in illustration and all things made by peoples’ hands. Soon after meeting, they were living in Los Angeles on facing couches in a friend’s apartment. In L.A., they visited the garment district every day and developed their product.

I had the pleasure of asking Wynnie a few questions about her line, the idea behind her fall collection, and her inspirations.

How did you get into fashion design?
I was in high school. My mom had a sewing machine, and I started altering my clothes to make them fit better- I shopped mostly at thrift stores, and this gave me the freedom to buy just about anything I liked, regardless of the size, and customize it. But I knew nothing of the real "rag business" until Sky and I moved to LA and saw it first hand. That's when Purlieu was born.

What does the Fall 2008 collection, titled 'Native American,' represent?
Native American is about Americana, and the culture of the modern-day Native American (i.e. anyone who calls him/herself an American).

Why did you choose the name Purlieu?
To us, the name is about the idea of a haunt or a special place that a person frequents- possibly a remote or secluded place where you would go to be alone.

How would you define your personal style?
Experimental, intuitive

Outside of fashion, what inspires you?
Nature & American culture

You develop and produce everything personally, from the patterns to the screen printing. What process do you find the most challenging?
Patternmaking - It can take a lot of trial and error to perfect an idea.

In your eyes what makes a good collection?
Quality vs. quantity, cohesiveness, freshness.

What kind of person do you imagine wearing your clothing?
Girls ages 16-30 - Intelligent, fashion forward, with a sense of humor.

visit Purlieu at www.purlieu.net

the ghost of grunge

Every fall, grunge seems to be a recurring theme. However this season, it's stronger than ever. We saw it earlier this year on the runway from the Alexander Wang and Erin Wasson collab and now we're seeing it take over the streets. So throw on that old flannel, panda eye makeup, cherry lipstick, barrettes and combat boots. And here's a bit of styling inspiration - we've been dying for a reason to post some of these awesome videos!

Babes in Toyland - Bruise Violet



L7 - Pretend We're Dead



Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit



Hole - Violet



Check out the Courtney dress, inspired by Courtney Love.


Courtney Love & bandmates



Angela and Jordan Catalano - M.S.C.L.