SHIN, S/S 12

This collection very well may have been on the website for quite some time, but today is the first time in a long time that my semi-regular searching for any new SHIN produced any results. Just the other day, I nearly walked out of the house in my SHIN wool jacket with attached scarf, until I realized that it was June and I should fight the cold weather by refusing to acknowledge it. Now, mere days later, it's the hottest it ever gets here in my hometown (though not nearly as hot as the end of our NY trip, thankfully), and I'm wishing I could trade in the wool jacket for some of these SHIN pieces instead. Those asymmetrically hemmed pants in particular are fantastic. Here's hoping they reopen the online shop. 

By the way, does anyone else think that this jean jacket (which has elbow slits to match the knee slits of the leggings) would be right up Queen Michelle's alley? I know I do...

After all this time?*

Alan Rickman as Severus Snape is definitely a source of inspiration for how to dress in both drapey and fitted black clothing. I couldn't find a photo on the Internets showing the detail at the bottom of Snape's pants, but each leg has a row of buttons going up the side seam (you can see a shot during Harry's first Quidditch game in the first movie, in case you're wondering). As I have the same detailing at the bottom of my mono pants, I can attest to the usefulness of this, especially when you wear extra high Chucks. It also gives the impression of having built-in spats, which are always key when wanting to look uber stylish. Though, of course, Alan Rickman is always uber stylish. Particularly when he's surrounded by books in a Manhattan loft (see Seminar if you can!).

By the way, if you've been wanting to get your own SHIN piece like me, take a look at the SHIN webshop. They're only from the older collections, but they're 60-75% off! goodmorning - midnight also has a holiday sale on Etsy right now. Those wool dresses are excellent alternative business wear, if you ask me.

(Photo via Google Images)


*Always.

50% Viscose, 45% Polyester, 5% Spandex

This morning I received an email informing me that Reborn has bumped down some of their sale items to 70% off. Of course I want the most expensive pieces, making this number irrelevant. However, I came upon a Rad Hourani piece that I absolutely love (even though it's only 50% off) and can't believe is still in stock. Only two of these were ever made, exclusively for Reborn at that, and it looks like both are still available. I think Jackie O would be wearing something like this if she lived forever and became the editor of a fashion magazine. Or at least I would, if I could actually land a job like that in my very northern hometown.

Speaking of jobs, if you're fashion-minded, have some skills, and are looking for a new career, you may be interested to know that International Playground (in Manhattan) is hiring a full-time office manager (click here for details). I would definitely be applying for this one if I lived in New York. Also, SHIN is looking (or at least was a few weeks ago) for some part-time pattern makers (click here for details) to work in their Brooklyn studio. Wouldn't you like to help make my newest favorite piece? Or yours, I spose.

SHIN, F/W 11

So, silly me, I thought that last night would be the end of my nomadic two weeks. However, we arrived home (?) to both a building and an apartment that smells like death*, which makes me wonder a) for whom the extermination chemicals are really meant, and b) why we haven't moved yet. Sigh. It was a good decision on my part any to leave my dear Viv jacket at my parents', where she has lived in safekeeping for the last two weeks. Well, it was actually a non-decision, as I simply forgot to grab her along with my nicely laundered bedding and clothing (which now all smell like death) before returning to what I thought would be a nice couple hours of unpacking before bed. 

Anyway, the one good thing that happened last night was a wee little email from my friends over at SHIN, who were kind enough to fulfill my request for their F/W 11 lookbook after seeing a preview on their website. Let me tell you, each and every one of these are pieces I'd gladly (but only momentarily) part with and send over to my parents' to keep ol' Viv company if it meant keeping them smelling fresh (i.e. not like death), thus allowing me to be both aesthetically and olfactorily pleasing to any passersby. Though I would be the most stylish nomad if I did wear them in the interim (i.e. while I'm in home limbo). And, having all the windows and doors open to air the place out does require a few warmer layers, of which I'm out of at the moment with my wardrobe sadly still in garbage bags...

 

 

Oh you delightful things, I could never put you in garbage bags...

*Please, I beg of you, do not associate SHIN with any odor less lovely than your favorite smell. Or garbage bags, for that matter. It is rather unfortunate that the F/W 11 lookbook reached me at such a time that my random musings would pair the smell of death with anything from Shinwon. Especially as I've been dreaming of owning my own SHIN piece since I first discovered the label, and even more so after seeing some SHIN leggings on my lovely NY host. So yes, think freshly cut wood, freshly cut grass, freshly baked bread, freshly opened original Skittles, freshly shone sunshine, freshly salted ocean...

The democracy of fashion

From left to right (all by Mike Vensel): Organic Cotton Poncho Dress, $95; Silk Chiffon Wrap Dress, $195; Organic Cotton A-Line Dress, $95

The concept of made to order clothing is nothing new for those of us addicted to Etsy and other various channels of ordering directly from independent designers. However, this familiarity with the concept in no way lessens the good it does my heart when I hear that others are both embracing the concept and are able to save money by doing so. Enter FashionStake, an online retail site that offers discount clothing not because they're last season's leftovers (i.e. excess inventory), but because the items up for sale are actually pre-orders. Furthermore, FashionStake only has the number of items that are pre-ordered produced by their respective designers, meaning that there are minute inventory and storage costs involved in running the store. FashionStake then passes on their overhead savings via deep discounts to us, the online consumers. Capisce?

In the hopes that I still have you, there's actually a second part to this pre-order system. If FashionStake worked just like Etsy, where each order resulted in a piece being individually produced, there would be little/no need for a middleman online store. How FS actually works is that a certain number of pre-orders have to be placed before any of that item is produced (ie. we the consumers have to vote for a piece to be made, hence the democracy part of FS). So, say Designer A wanted ten orders for Dress A before making any of them and only eight of us put in a pre-order, none of us would get Dress A (and thus none of us would have to pay for the then cancelled orders). But, if ten of us pre-ordered the dress, not only would all ten of us get (and pay for) Dress A, but Dress A would then be tagged as 'We're doing it!', and any subsequent pre-orders after the minimum ten would also be made. Furthermore, this hypothetical Dress A would not be indefinitely available for pre-order (as the use of 'pre-' would then be erroneous), as FS showcases designers via online trunk shows; once a trunk show is completed, the items within that designer's trunk show are no longer available in the store, and will then only be available elsewhere at the full retail price.

From left to right: Hand-woven necklace by C Pettel, $144; Silk Scarf by David Peck, $99

Having said all of this (can you tell I'm injured and have all the time in the world to type today?), FashionStake is getting plenty of my attention today because they are featuring a Holiday Showcase, in which pieces (some of which are shown here) from 20 emerging designers are all discounted to be under $150 (except for some of the long dresses by Mike Vensel; see photos at top). These designers include Study NY (in fact, it's thanks to Tara's blog that I've heard of FS), SHIN, Mike Vensel, Eighteenth, and other designers I had never heard of before. All the items available in the Holiday Showcase have reached their minimum amount of pre-orders, so each is immediately available and is said to be guaranteed for Christmas delivery. The only catch that I can find is that you have to be a member of FashionStake to both see the Holiday Showcase (and other trunk shows) and to purchase any items. This simply means you enter your name and email, and create a password. I have already done this, and if you click on this link whereby I'm personally inviting you to sign up, you immediately get $15 credited to your new FashionStake account. I'll also get $15 credit if you make a purchase. Cool, no? Also, not all items seem to be locally produced or handmade by the designer themselves, so if this is a key factor for you when making clothing purchases as it is for me, pay attention to the 'Origin' section of the description for each piece. And...I'm done.

From left to right: One Strap Tank by Eighteenth, $62; 4-Way Dress by Study NY, $120; Silk Dress by Maisonette 1977, $149; Double Layered Cardigan by SHIN, $137

P.S. If you were hoping for a certain SHIN piece to be in this Holiday Showcase, as I was, you may want to just check out the normal SHIN online store, as some of the new collection's pieces are on sale there anyway.

Doors? Where we're going, we don't need doors...

One of the very few disappointments encountered on my NY trip was the fact that I didn't get to see any SHIN pieces up close at OAK, as I had arrived a week or two ahead of the expected fall/winter shipment. Really, I should've seen that coming, as it took me over an hour to actually find the store on Bond Street, and then another fifteen minutes to figure out how to open the door. And by 'figure out', I mean wait for someone to come out and realize that the door opened inwards, and not outwards. Have I mentioned that I'm a natural blonde? Sigh. At any rate, an email that showed up in my inbox today makes up for this hiccup a little bit (though I still might not want to show my face at that store again), as it contained a nice 10% off code to use in the SHIN online shop from now until November 8th. I really love all the little details Shinwon has put into these jersey and wool pieces, such as the back hem slits on the long sleeved tops, the thumbholes (something I'll never grow too old for), elbow slits, double layers, and attached scarves. 

Most of the pieces from the last collection are already marked down 25-50% off, and it wouldn't hurt to see if that 10% off code would work on top of that. Oh, right, the code is WINTER (you didn't think I'd leave you standing at the online door you were convinced was locked, did you?). Just think of all the acupuncture/beekeeping training sessions I can afford with the money I'll save...

Top 18 Finds of Summer '10

I feel like I should've posted this even before my trip, as it's been fall here for a few weeks and some trees have already lost most of their leaves. Did I mention it's supposed to snow this week? Also, this is the first of my Top Finds posts that I now have to label with a year, since I've already done a top summer post here on kOs before. In case you were wondering. Ah, it's good to have my scarves back. Though they were never really gone. But before I (continue to) enjoy them, here's some warmer articles to (re-)read first.

1) Designer: Wolfgang Jarnach
2) Fashion grad student: Laura Siegel
3) Label: SHIN
4) New collection: Dori Tomcsanyi's S/S 10 collection, Marie Saint Pierre's F/W 10/11 collection
5) Fashion show: Fashion's Night Out - The Show
6) Basic piece: Button up shirt from Wolfgang Jarnach, Mad Marv jeans from Ravishing Mad
7) Future purchase: Emily Ryan dress
8) Future purchase if I win the lottery: Anything from Marc le Bihan.
9) Most musical post: Interview with Tyler W
10) Favorite new-to-me album: Swing Swing by Nicolas Repac
11) Best use of cross-stitch: This, from Susie Quillinan.
12) Most interesting way to recruit blood donors: This.
13) Most worn pieces: complexgeometries wave t, mydearthing Carly Dress
14) Most proud moment: Konrad Parol on Dazed Digital
15) Most commented on thing worn in NYC: ArtLab's Couture Pleated Harness No. 3
16) Best vacation ever (ie. Biggest understatement ever): One spectacular week in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
17) Most bizarre vacation ever: This, as depicted by some ArtLab skirts.
18) Most amazing insect-inspired dress ever: This, by Donovan Tjon.

Interview with Shinwon Yoon of SHIN

I have surely been in a New York state of mind these past few days/weeks/months. Since booking my trip eons ago, I've noticed that New York is in nearly every movie/book/magazine/website I look at. And now it's hard to believe that I will be embarking on this adventure in a mere 36(ish) hours. As I don't know if I'll have access to a computer during my stay (and my loaner flip phone is not very smart), I can't promise you any posts next week. And so I thought I'd leave you with the last interview of the summer (or at least of summer proper), with none other than a Brooklyn-based designer. FIT graduate Shinwon Yoon is the lovely lady behind SHIN, a fabulous drapey essential line which I am very much looking forward to seeing up close and personal in a few days. And as you've seen some of these SHIN pieces already here, I've intermingled some photos of places I shall be visiting during my stay. So it's almost like you're there with me, no? 

***

How did you get into fashion design, and do you have a formal educational background in design?

I studied architectural design back in university and did an associate degree program for fashion design.

Do you wear your own designs?

Yes, all the time.

How does living in New York affect your designs and personal style?

I have to say everything around me in New York inspires me.  I am constantly affected by art, buildings and even people on the streets in New York.

What is your favorite thing about New York/Brooklyn that you would miss if you moved away?

Diversity. Of fashion, people, food, etc. 

What is your favorite experience as a designer so far?

To meet someone who actually loves my clothes and wears them a lot!

Which designer inspires you the most?

Yohji Yamamoto.

What album/musician has inspired your work the most?

Philip Grass; Massive Attack's "Heligoland".

Who would you most like to create an outfit for?

Matthew Barney.

What is your most favorite piece in your current collection?

100% Merino wool coat with scarf, which can transformed into different styles.

What are your future plans for SHIN?

Expand line more and debut at New York Fashion Week on the runaway.

***

If you can't make it out to Oak on Bond Street, who should have the new F/W 10 collection as we speak, make sure you visit the SHIN online shop. Before I go, can anyone tell me what this building is in TVland? 

Have a great week folks!

That's SHINtastic

I wanted to post this as soon as I found it, but as it's basically a re-blog job, I thought I should wait a tad. Found via the Kingdom, Brooklyn-based designer Shinwon Yoon's label SHIN is one of the most exciting label finds for me since complexgeometries...especially as it reminds me of cg. Not only are there perfectly draped pieces just begging to be layered and mixed with my current wardrobe, but each SHIN piece is 100% cotton jersey, in either black or white. Also, many of the pieces are relatively reasonably priced (comparable to cg), especially as most (if not all) pieces are made in the US. Sizing is quite simple too, as it goes from XS to L, and apparently runs fairly true. In short, this label is entirely perfect for me, as these pieces and shapes are what I'd want to wear most days anyway. The wonderful Stefen from SHIN informs me that Oak on Bond Street should be receiving the new F/W 10 collection (see above) at the end of this month, so that's a definite stop for my trip (I hear they also got some SILENT by Damir Doma in...). Though there are a couple of gorgeous S/S 10 pieces (see below) still available in the SHIN online shop that I'd be more than happy to get...

I think this shot from the S/S 10 collection is my new favorite outfit. Simple, yes, but I've been striving for a more simple life as of late.