In This Corner...Jinxed Armory

I just did a shoot with model Sharon TK & photographer Kencredible recently when I visited Philadelphia.  These pieces are brand new additions to my Jinxed collection.  We shot up at the old armory in Philadelphia that was built for the War of 1812.  There are over 50 historic buildings inside of this place.  The whole complex was built up over 150 years & now over half of it is decaying. 

The first picture was shot at the old Captains' Quarters.  Sharon is wearing a latex & mesh halter top with a ponte high waist skirt.  Then we made our way to the very back & shot at what I think were the old electrical buildings.  She is wearing a custom 18" under bust corset made of vintage military drab.

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This gorgeous Corner is brought to you by Jessica Darwin, who's working on a new collection as we speak! Though I'm quite happy with the current Jinxed collection, which is still available for custom orders from Jessica. Thanks for sharing these new photos, Jessica!

In This Corner...Transit Transit

Photo: Carla (drummer of Autolux) shattered her elbow after falling off the stage opening for Elvis Costello, and I JUST found a really awesome picture of the 8 titanium screws she has in it. 

All I want for Christmas is for Autolux to release a follow-up to the 2004 Future Perfect. Also, does anyone know how to get in touch with Carla Azar? I want to make her dresses! God, I love this band.

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This Corner is brought to you by Lauren Jones of mydearthing. And yes, you read right, this is Lauren's Christmas wish. Truth is, this Corner got stuffed in...umm...the corner, and it wasn't allowed to come out until now. So Happy Christmas in July Lauren! ...or August - Autolux's new album Transit Transit is out this Tuesday, but you can hear it here. Just a hint, it sounds even better whilst wearing this. 

In This Corner...San Moritzz

My musical adventures lately.... just saw my friend Dom perform solo as San Moritzz - the MySpace doesn't do it justice - I really loved him live. Cleverly playing with so many influences throughout genres and time.

Here is a photo I took of Dom (San Moritzz) performing live at Cafe Oto (one of my favorite places in London) on 18th June 2010.

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This Corner is brought to you by my fashion soulmate herself, Alexandra Groover. Do you remember that interview I did way back with her? Yeah, you do. You could reacquaint yourself with her gorgeous noir creations though. Couldn't hurt.

In This Corner...Sword Throat

Fashion is...

1/3 amazing, shocking, mesmerizing mirage that we can't help staring at

2/3 technical, precise, analytical data of measures, patterns, industrial processes, market and commerce

...selling neatly bottled dreams...

.

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Today's (Cutting) Corner is brought to you by the enigma that is Dusturbance. We'll be exploring just what Dusturbance is together here on kOs, because you and I both know that they're more than just a pretty dress. But until then, have a gander over here and here.

(Photo via here)

In This Corner...A Song for a Whisper

A Song for a Whisper by Tyler W

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Here's another Corner that doesn't really follow the Corner rules. This is a track by my friend and fellow Canadian, Tyler W. As you all unfortunately do not know him, I'm going to remedy that shortly with an interview he was kind enough to grant me. It's not the usual fashion-y fare of kOs, but I feel that music is one of the basic tenets of human life. And I don't know nearly as much as I'd like to about electronic music, so Tyler is going to help me, and subsequently you, with that. Stay tuned...

In This Corner...Tea Party à la Attila Design

Steff's Tea Party Coat in Khaki Green Jersey by Attila Design, 2010

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Technically this isn't a proper Corner, but today's featured designer is partial to flying under the radar (and most of you have probably forgotten what a Corner is...). And so these photos of Tiina's newest experimental design are as Cornered as this spectacular designer is going to get in the near future here on kOs. Though I for one won't complain. And neither should you, as this is the first the Internet world has seen of this incredible creation. So enjoy. And remember you can place your own order for a one of a kind Attila Design piece here.

In This Corner...Untitled

Untitled, 2001, Pinar Yolacan

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Today's Corner is brought to you by the fantastic Patricia Ayres. By the way, you should click on the artist's name above (and do some Googling) to see more of Pinar's work. Quite interesting, Anyway, some lovely new Spring pieces can be found now in Patricia's main shop and her ArtLab shop. And, as always, you can read my very first kOs interview with Patricia herself right here.

In This Corner...Darwinian inspiration

I found a really wonderful personally inspiring photo that I love & want to use as part of the inspiration for my next collection - love everything about it. I am working on new designs right now.

(Photo: from Vogue Germany, Frida Gustavsson wearing Balmain) 

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Today's Corner is brought to you by the ever-so-talented Jessica Darwin. Stay tuned for an exclusive interview with Jessica coming up here on kOs. And you might even get to see me wearing one of her spectacular neck corsets in the near future, as seen here and in my sidebar on the right. Excited? Well, that makes two of us.

(P.S. No, that is not real alligator.)

(P.P.S. In case you've forgotten about this, "In This Corner..." is a semi-regular segment where a guest designer writes the post or posts a photo and lets us all know a little bit about what goes on upstairs.)

In This Corner...Claire Danes' hair

I am constantly changing my hair. Length, color, cut etc. Needless to say,
quite a bit of my time has also been spent growing out various hairstyles.
Throughout the years I find my focus has been the same during these in
between periods. Claire Danes in Romeo and Juliet during the costume party
where she meets Romeo, dressed as an angel. With her hair in a halo.


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This Corner is brought to you by the gorgeous Lauren of mydearthing (who should dye her hair black and keep it long), just in case you were needing a semi-Valentine's Day themed post. We're both anti-VD in it's commercial form, so I think highlighting perhaps the most tragic of love stories is quite fitting. I highly suggest you check out the mydearthing Facebook page right away (ie. before tomorrow). I'd even recommend it above reading my interview with Lauren.


(P.S. In case you've forgotten about this (since I almost have), "In This Corner..." is a semi-regular segment where a guest designer will write the post or post a photo and let us know a little bit about what goes on upstairs. If you're a designer and would like to write a Corner, just email me!)

In This Corner...Phenomenology of Repression

Imi Knoebel, Room 19 in the Kunstakademie Dusseldorf, 1968

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Because I lied and won't be posting about that wondrous coat that I received yesterday (and thankfully so, as it was rather cold today), please accept the first Corner of the year as both a peace offering, and a hint of said future post. For this Corner is brought to you by none other than the Patricia Ayres. While both of her Etsy shops should be regular stops in your daily Internet wanderings, you can click here and here if you haven't yet been there today. And, of course, my very first kOs interview with Patricia is always a good read.

(P.S. In case you've forgotten about this, "In This Corner..." is a semi-regular segment where a guest designer will write the post or post a photo and let us know a little bit about what goes on upstairs. If you're a designer and would like to write a Corner, just email me!)

In This Corner...Last Christmas

I am a retail worker from way back and during the holidays this means that I was stuck in a shop for 40+ hours a week listening to Christmas tunes beginning on the day after Thanksgiving. It is enough to make even the most celebratory person despise any sort of holiday music, but especially George Michael’s ‘Last Christmas’. Don’t get me wrong, I am a Wham! lover from way back. Really, I am. I think George Michael is awesome, it’s just that having worked retail for the majority of my adult holidays I was conditioned to hate this song. Thankfully, I have been out of the field just long enough to recover and Christmas music is actually starting to sound good. Even ‘Last Christmas’ which my friend Jessie Williams (www.edgeofurge.com) just covered with Gordon Merrick, under the pseudonym Cilla Danone. Here is the link (Last Christmas is the new track). There is hope for me yet. Maybe next year I will mull some wine and go caroling. I am sure I will be able to find some place that is doing ‘Christmas Karaoke’ at least!

(Photo I took of a bizarre Christmas light sculpture that showed up in my neighborhood inexplicably. It is apparently the season to celebrate Tiny Tim - and I mean TINY Tim.)

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This Holiday Corner was brought to you by the lovely Lauren Jones. I'm really feeling this one today, as 'Last Christmas' has quickly become my least favorite song this year. But I really do love Christmas music! Lauren's Etsy shop is closed for the holidays, but make sure you check out the photos of her collection here and here so you know what to buy with your holiday cash when she returns on the 26th!

In This Corner...Christmas Enchiladas

I'm staying in London for Xmas, along with some other expats mostly from US, Canada, and Australia (basically anyone who lives more than 10 hours away from home!), and we're going to have a big feast in which everyone brings their favorite dish from their home country - so of course it will be Mexican food for me, since I am from Southern California and it is so hard to get good legit Mexican food over here!

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Yum! Today's Holiday Corner is brought to you by Alexandra Groover. If you get some spending cash for Christmas, perhaps you should check out her online boutique. That's what I would do anyway...Ooo, and check out my interview with Alexandra here.

In This Corner...Christmas Wish from Tara St. James

After a particularly overwhelming gift-giving Christmas, my family looked at the 3 garbage bags filled with wrapping and packaging and decided to go on a hiatus from giving gifts to one another. That was two years ago. Instead, we decided to spend time together making breakfast, volunteering at a soup kitchen and talking. Not great for all the stores trying to sell us stuff to give away, but great for our budgets and our sanity. I am in a constant struggle between wanting to sell goods to customers and trying to preach restraint. After all, my business depends on sales.

This year we set a minimal budget and are hand making gifts. I won't tell you what I'm making for my boyfriend because he might read this, but I will tell you it has made me rethink the whole idea of giving gifts. And believe me, I love giving gifts. But I don't think they need to be given out all at once in mass quantities. Next year I'm going to buy or make little gifts for people when I want to give them something, or when I think they need cheering up.

As for myself, I need a sweater stone. That's it. Some of my sweaters are in dire need of a little TLC. Besides that, I feel very fulfilled, and am looking forward to Christmas breakfast with my family, sans-presents.

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This Holiday Corner was brought to you by Tara St. James of Study NY. Tara also has a great gift idea if you still need to buy something for someone (or yourself): for the whole month of December, she's donating absolutely everything she makes from her Etsy shop to The Uniform Project. Amazing.

Don't forget to read my interview with Tara here.

In This Corner...The Best Worst Christmas Sweater

I am attaching a picture of what is clearly the best worst Christmas sweater ever. In NYC there is a big trend of ‘worst holiday sweater’ parties. These sweaters are all too readily available and some of them are so hideous that I cannot make direct eye contact for fear of being sucked in. This 3-dimentional Rudolph sweatshirt on the other hand, has me entirely captivated. I mean, look at how much work went into this! Years later (unless, gulp, it is new), it is still standing up. I just love the idea of beheading the most famous of all reindeer and mounting him on a giant sweatshirt in the name of Holiday Cheer.

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Today's Holiday Corner was brought to you by the lovely Lauren Jones of mydearthing. You should visit her shop now, but don't expect to see any ugly sweaters for sale there, Christmas or otherwise. Oh, and you need to read (or re-read) my interview with Lauren here, because she's just that awesome.

And by the way, we need to come up with a vaccination for ugly Christmas sweater parties. The virus has reached all the way to Canada, and I'm afraid it has become the next pandemic.

In This Corner...Hydra Dress

My favorite piece of clothing at the moment is my AW-09 Hydra Dress. It's so comfortable I can wear it all day, yet it's dressy enough to go out for a fancy dinner, etc.

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Today's Corner is brought to you by the lovely and ever so talented Alexandra Groover. Besides the plethora of posts about her and The Hoody on my blog, you should read my exclusive interview with Alexandra here, and visit the Alexandra Groover website and online shop here (or click on her ad in the sidebar). You can also buy a few of her pieces on farfetch.com!

(P.S. In case you missed the memo, "In This Corner..." is a new segment on my blog, where a guest designer will write the post and let us all know a little bit about what goes on upstairs. Much more coming up!)

In This Corner...Inspiration

"Before the Fall"

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Today's Corner is brought to you by the amazing Susi Quillinan of Quillinan. You simply must read my interview with Susi if you haven't already, and do visit both of her Etsy shops (here and here - free shipping on all Quillinan pieces this week!).

(P.S. In case you missed the memo, "In This Corner..." is a new segment on my blog, where a guest designer will write the post and let us all know a little bit about what goes on upstairs. Much more coming up!)

In This Corner...Gareth Pugh

And, speaking of Gareth Pugh's LiveStudio session, Gareth was also answering questions via the Internet during the dress-making process, and he answered one of mine. And so, he has unwittingly become today's Corner designer...

In noticing not one but two Alanis Morissette songs playing in the background during his second LiveStudio day, I said: Glad to hear you love Alanis, Gareth! Have you ever been to Canada? And Mr. Pugh said: No, ive never been up there before.

This is exciting top-notch stuff folks. Stay tuned for more stellar questions from myself the next time I get such an opportunity (I swear I asked a couple of better questions, he just never answered them. Really!).

(P.S. In case you missed the memo, "In This Corner..." is a new segment on my blog, where a guest designer will write the post and let us all know a little bit about what goes on upstairs. Much more coming up!)

In This Corner...Jeggings

I just had a moment this morning when I got dressed and felt a need to profess my love. I know its not a new thing... But here in Denver, being fashion on point sometimes gets you weird looks too!

I love jeggings... I truly truly do. Here is why...

-Jeggings, if you get the right cut, are the perfect skinny jean, and skin tight.
-Jeggings do not stretch out more than they are supposed to, or after 3 wears like a lot of regular denim does. They stretch and then they go back...
-Jeggings are the perfect pant for under a dress or tunic top, you get no waistband bulge.
-Jeggings are made for our "fat" days.
-Jeggings are made for eating... no uncomfortable feeling or unbuttoning your pants in secret... now you know what I was thankful for on Thanksgiving!

You can get jeggings in a variety of ways... I have quite a few that are stretch pants, some with the pockets printed on, some without. I bought a pair of jeggings at Candy Store Collective in San Fran... they are from Prairie Underground (pictured to the left)... and perfect (though I would have liked back pockets). I have been wearing them non-stop!

Before jeggings were readily available, I was buying maternity jeans (well, I really did need a pair for the reasons anyone would need a pair), but I tell you, I wore the best ones till they wore out! My favorite pair was a pair of Juicy Couture (pictured to the right)... all of the comfort of a stretchy skinny jean in the back (supportive for your butt!) and a great elastine waist. Not only did it do the job for my impending belly, but once I had no bun in the oven, the jeans fit me better than any skinny ever could, and no one ever knew!

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This Corner was brought to you by Tricia Hoke, whose amazing convertible creations I mused about before here. Check out Tricia's Etsy shop for her current collection, and her website for more pictures and updates. And I must say...I'm almost convinced on the jeggings, Tricia! Almost...

(P.S. In case you missed the memo, "In This Corner..." is a new segment on my blog, where a guest designer will write the post and let us all know a little bit about what goes on upstairs. Much more coming up!)

In This Corner...Save Gas

Photo by Robert Frank.

(Robert Frank has an exhibit currently at the MET.
Here's the link if you want to find out more about him.)

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This Corner was brought to you by the incredible Patricia Ayres. If you still don't know who she is, do yourself a favour and read my interview with her here, and get all your Christmas shopping done here and here (at least for yourself...and for me).

By the way, can anyone else see the faint double exposure in this picture? If I tilt my screen just right, I can see a grand room with high windows and curtains in the sky...Perhaps it's a photo from the other side of the page?

(P.S. In case you missed the memo, "In This Corner..." is a new segment on my blog, where a guest designer will write the post and let us all know a little bit about what goes on upstairs. Much more coming up!)

In This Corner...I Am Not A Paper Cup

I have attempted to go No Impact for the month of November, not a terribly difficult feat considering I don't eat meat, I walk to work and I live in New York, where life is relatively sustainable to begin with. However, one of my apparent vices that I was unable to kick during the past month was buying coffee from local (fair trade, organic) coffee shops in disposable paper cups. I know, I know, coffee is not grown locally, so it's a vice in itself. But I'm taking baby steps!

Enter my new ceramic "paper cup" bought for me yesterday by my very considerate boyfriend. It is available at the MoMA store and Whole Foods, among other places. While it is going to encourage my coffee habit, at least my trash bin at the studio will no longer be filled with used cups and lids. Like I said, baby steps.

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Today's Corner (the very first Corner in fact!) was brought to you by Tara St. James of Study NY, whom I previously mused about here. You can also read more about Tara's first solo collection, The Square Project, here. And stay tuned for an exclusive interview with Tara, coming up soon on this very blog.

(P.S. In case you missed the memo, "In This Corner..." is a new segment on my blog, where a guest designer will write the post and let us all know a little bit about what goes on upstairs. Much more coming up!)