Meet Sophia Amoruso..she started Nasty Gal as a vintage shop on eBay a little years ago, she was one of the first eBay vintage sellers to put a lot of effort into the styling and photography of online vintage selling which has changed the market from just buying clothes online to buying into a way of dressing.

I’ve been in contact with Sophia over the years, and it’s been very interesting to see the Nasty Gal brand grow, when she moved over to her own site in 2009, all the inventory sold out in the first few days. A good sign! Though these days she’s focusing more on new clothing rather than vintage, there is still a very distinct style that’s true to Nasty Gal.  Edgy, sassy and sexy, the look is very young and daring, all while the clothes are still affordable, that’s no small feat. The other week, we met up and she gave me a tour of the new HQ which is a nice-sized warehouse in Emeryville to take a look at where it all happens. We sat down, had a coffee and chatted for a bit, I asked her a few questions about her Nasty Gal in this interview:

Here is the lovely Miss Sophia, what she wears on a work day…

Where the magic happens… a rack of new clothes after the shoot.

This table makes me want new accessories….

Crazy shoes!

From the vintage racks…wow, this silk pleated bolero is amazing…

Some artists know no bounds in medium. I first interviewed Eric Saeter when he was illustrating. The Coveted was only a few months old, literally two months old, and he gave us a lovley interview. He mentioned that he ‘found the greatest personal reward in creative activity.’ In the interview, so when we reconnected, because of the launch of his new jewelry line L’Âge d’Or I was pleasantly surprised, yet not really shocked to see the the transition. Like his illustration his handmade jewelry has a very human element, imperfectly beautiful, organic and fashion influenced (but not in the sense of trendy, but more wearable art). Gold so rich, I feel like I can eat it. But I won’t because it’s probably too expensive… Currently his silver works are available on Etsy, and gold is coming soon. Here Eric talks with us about his new collection:

Me: About your collection, obviously, it’s inspired by crystals and nature, but do you have any particular reasoning behind going with this aesthetic, any visual images lurking in your brain compelling you?

Eric: My inspiration comes from my desire to gather all of the special little things I notice about life and implement them physically in metal. Instead of holding the shapes and tones and timbres of an environment captive within the rich collection of the mind, I wish to slide them onto my fingers in precious metals to be reflected back at the world that suggested them to me in the first place. Sometimes, though, design is design and it’s not at all emotional. Either way, extending yourself, your hands, with wearable art feels so right.

You can also visit Eric’s blog to see the jewels in the works, and flickr too.

You always hear about people who work with technology to create new things… more than half the time it looks like old things… that is until I run into Seelenkleid (meaning “soul dress” in German) at the Projekt Gallerie Showroom. I had seen her collection last year, and was quite taken by her oil-like silicon drips on flowy silk pleated dresses, and this year, designer Ella Haberlach did fall into a sophomore slump by any means.  Taking inspiration from porcelain, she took paper plate forms with silicon and created these spiral sculptures sewn on to the most soft and sheer jersey dresses. She even took a marbled silicon and sewed it like a ruffle into leggings (see below). One of my favorite pieces, a shawl of laser burned printing on velvet creating a fabric that I’ve never seen before in all my days… then to top that off, the shawl includes silicon scale breast plates. Ella makes each piece by hand, truly merging fashion and art. Here she sits down and talks with us about her newest collection titled ‘blue code.’

Me: What was the inspiration behind the new collection, it really ties into your last one, but it’s gone in a new direction… can you tell us the story behind that?

Ella Haberlach: The fusing of two contrasted beings forms the inspiration for my latest collection entitled “blue code” (SS 2010). Masculine and feminine counterparts intertwine to form an unspoken dialogue; an indistinguishable shrift. Shades of porcelain reflect the lovers merged existence, their shards, indicative of the fragility of togetherness.

Me: So many of your pieces are sculptural, like works of art… how do materials play into how your pieces evolve?

At the moment I am using materials and patterns which are outside the realm of my control; in a way, I allow the work to create itself. The happy accidents often have innovative consequences.

Ella: Through my work, I like to blur the boundaries between art and fashion; I see fashion as a medium through which art becomes wearable and everyday.

I love to experiment and search for new materials, this is always the starting point for my creative process and a tool to give my clothes a soul.

At the moment I am using materials and patterns which are outside the realm of my control; in a way, I allow the work to create itself. The happy accidents often have innovative consequences. Silicone is a very viscous medium which is able be manipulated but never completely controlled. Porcelain fragments shatter how they will, and I use a brush freehand to apply the burn-out paste, all of which allows for unique imperfections in each piece.

The idea for blue code SS10 ties into broken aura AW09. It`s all about the same story. Blue code is the continuance in my visual personal diaries.

Coverings hold the ability to carry the invisible and immaterial aura on the surface, compensating for its shapelessness. Skin, in its essence, is always given an important role in this context. It is the last fine layer between the ego and the world, the “outer”. Silicone acts as another skin layer, a visible aura, able to extend beyond the body and impose on the immediate environment. Silicone is given a new meaning and purpose through this dynamic ability. Using multiple methods of application, I am able to concurrently display sharp splinters of porcelain matter, standing ajar from the body, with the delicate sensitivity of fluidic make-up, which mimics the body’s natural form. Heavily influenced by body modification, my collections also attempt to replicate various techniques, such as scarring and implantation, to undermine the cosmetic effect of fashion. The result appears as fleshy scar-jewelery, set into the surface of the textile forms.

Destruction is used as another form of compensation, that of the artificially created order, evoking chaos. The ‘glamour surface’, created and manipulated by man, is disturbed and destroyed. Burnt out fabrics relay the delicacy of humanness by exposing its figure. As an essential idea, my collections examine the female body and its function as a “living accessory”. – It is a projection screen for signs, images and statements. – The body must speak to connect itself to the mind and soul. Exposure facilitates these functions. At its crux, my collections define human interaction with the World, building infinite layers of protection, guardian architectures, that allow us to indemnify our exposed fragilities.

Me: I noticed how you paired one of your blouses with jeans and a vintage blazer, how would you recommend someone to wear some of your more elaborate pieces?

Ella: When I design, it`s always an escape through the “backdoor” in order to be able to create new silhouettes, new shapes, new appearances of a woman, – to create a kind of “alienation”. To introduce these aliens into everyday life, the woman wearing my clothes has to mix up with “basic clothing” like old denim or business jackets. I quite like the contrast, the fusion of classic elements and the extraordinary.

You can find Seelenkleid on Not Just a Label and on Seelenkleid.com

In the  90′s Christian Francis Roth, known for his upscale innovative collections,  bright colors and pop art inspired fashion. After incredible debut and subsequently exciting collections in the fashion scene, he decided to take a break and learn the business side of fashion. Last year Christian Francis Roth made his return to fashion, now with savvy  collections with great detailing, and his signature playful aesthetic. Just last month he and Wendy Brandes launched a new fashion blog: Francis New York. Here he talks with us so we can get to know him better…

[Jennine] What’s favorite song right now?

[Christian Francis Roth] “Knight of Wands” by Au Revoir Simone

[J] If you had to make a uniform to be worn every day this autumn with items only from your collection what would they be?

[CFR] I really like my patchwork dresses that combine wool and chiffon in stripe or zig zag patterns. The look is sweet, yet modern and graphic.

[J] And why?

[CFR] The sheer/opaque effect makes the dress lighter, which makes wearing it indoors all day more practical. Besides that, the dresses are just wicked cool!

[J] If you could dress any person living or dead in your collection, who would it be?

[CFR] My mother when she was 19,  blonde, fabulous and hanging out with The Rolling Stones at Max’s Kansas City.

(photo via Nick de Wolf)

[J] So tell me, what’s your favorite quote?

[J] What are you doing tonight?

[CFR] Oh, are you asking me out? Great! Where are we going?

You can find out more about Christain Francis Roth’s new collection on FrancisNewYork.com and he’s got a fabulous blog written by the gorgeous WendyB! Don’t forget to stop by.

Happy Friday! Is it me or do weekends seem even nicer now that it’s summer? This time of year, I love to keep things simple and create a sun-kissed look that doesn’t look overdone. Bobbi Brown makes that really easy with her latest launches. There’s a gorgeous collection of sheer colors, stunning, unique bronzers for face and body, and a brilliant mascara that doesn’t budge and makes my lashes look amazing. The colors and textures are heavenly. Today I have a peek at the new collections, an interview with Bobbi, and a makeup lesson I shot with Bobbi’s wonderful education exec Katrina.

The New Collections

In keeping with Bobbi’s signature style, the new collections are very wearable and well thought out. There’s a shade to flatter everyone.

Sheerly Gorgeous

Bobbi says the sheer shades of the Nautical Collection were “inspired by a bike trip I took in Brittany and Normandy. When we were riding around I saw all of these locals wearing these blue and white striped shirts with the most incredible, beautiful lips and cheeks. I tried to recreate their sun-stained cheeks and lips with my new Sheer Color Cheek Tint and Sheer Color Lip Gloss, which leave cheeks and lips with a pretty healthy glow.”

I love to pop on one of the new, limited-edition Sheer Color Cheek Tints ($22) at the start of the day and then keep it in my purse to wake up my complexion during the late-afternoon slump. My favorite is Sheer Coral, which is a peachy-coral with a golden sparkle. These tints come in six shades.

The new Sheer Color Lip Glosses ($20) provide a beautiful sheer wash of color. The formulas have a lighter, less sticky texture than Bobbi’s other glosses. I know a lot of ladies run for the hills when they come across a sticky gloss so this will be especially good news to them. These glosses look bright in the tube; but they’re super sheer on while still giving a nice dose of color. My favorite is Marina Pink, which looks like a deep burgundy in the tube but wears more like a warm, sheer berry. There are four shades of this gloss.

This collection also includes the awesome new Perfectly Defined Mascara ($22). This glides on so nicely and coats nearly every lash with its cool, multi-comb brush. It truly lives up to its promises. It does an excellent job lengthening, separating, and curling. It stays on all day without flaking or smudging but, amazingly, comes off with warm water. It’s a wonderful alternative to harsh, waterproof mascaras. Even though it comes off with warm water, I noticed it didn’t budge with cool water. It’s also more glossy looking than most mascaras, which I LOVE.

Sun-Kissed Face and Body

The Nautical Collection is perfectly complemented with the stunning Illuminating Bronze Collection, which includes one of the Bobbi’s fantastic Shimmer Bricks – but in a super-deluxe size for body. The new, limited-edition, splendidly silky Shimmer Brick for Body ($75) features three bars of color for arms, legs, décolleté – anywhere you want to add a sultry, sexy, shimmery glow. Katrina said this was a big hit at fashion week, because of how amazing it makes skin look. This is flattering on just about any complexion.

To perfectly apply the powder, Bobbi has introduced a new, limited-edition All Over Body Brush ($85) that is soooo luxuriously soft and cruelty-free, like all of Bobbi’s brushes. The size assures a sheer, even application.

For face, Bobbi offers an unusual collection of Illuminating Bronzing Powders ($33). There are six shades – not the usual three shades of light, medium, and dark – to give a warm, natural, sun-kissed look to any complexion – from the fairest to the deepest. These include two shades with coral and pink in them, as well as bronze, to mimic the natural cheek color that arises after we get a bit tan. I love Maui, which has the most pink, and Aruba, which has lots of gold.

Bobbi has also introduced a new Bronzer Brush ($50) with a more rounded head to get a very smooth, even application. Last but not least, the collection includes the new All-Over Bronzing Gel SPF 15 ($28). It’s a longwear, gel-based formula for the face with the added benefit of sun protection.

Everything is available at Bobbi Brown counters and at bobbibrown.com. Bobbi has also just opened two new, free-standing stores in Paris and Tokyo. Would love to play at one of them!

Summer Beauty Tips from Bobbi Brown

Bobbi was kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions to help us look good and travel well this summer.

Keep It Simple for Summer
• I love to play with makeup but often find myself getting carried away and putting on too much for casual summer days. What do you suggest for keeping things fresh and fun without looking overdone?
Bobbi: Summer makeup should be easy and quick. Keep your routine simple with a Tinted Moisturizer with SPF, concealer, lip gloss, blush, eyeliner and mascara.

Makeup That Won’t Melt Off in Warm Weather
• I hate when my makeup melts off in warm weather. What tips do you have for avoiding that?
Bobbi: Some makeup is more likely to melt in warmer weather because of the emollients they contain. Avoid overly creamy products, which have a tendency to become streaky or uneven and consider switching to a lightweight moisturizer and foundation like Skin Foundation SPF 15 or tinted moisturizer. Powder blushes and eye shadows are also less likely to run when it’s warm outside.

Travel Tips
• So many people are traveling right now. What suggestions do you have for beauty products when traveling, especially with all the travel restrictions for carry-on bags?
Bobbi: Stick to double-duty products like pot rouge or a tinted moisturizer when it comes to travel. They’ll keep your makeup bag light and clutter-free. I also like to be able to take all of my favorite products with me on the road, so I created a set of travel empties that are airline approved and can be filled with just enough for a few days.

A Video Tutorial

To see the new products in action, check out this video I shot with the lovely Katrina Rau, Bobbi Brown Education Executive, at the Nordstrom in downtown San Francisco. She shares great tips, shows off the latest collections, and creates an easy, warm, healthy look for summer. To see what Katrina used, click on the face chart (below the video) – one of the nice treats you get when you get a makeover at a Bobbi Brown counter. (Sorry the video looks so yellow. Katrina got us a nice, private room to shoot in but the light was a little challenging.)

(click face chart to
see details on the
products Katrina used)

Fall Preview

More great beauty treats are on the way from Bobbi Brown. For fall, she is introducing the Nude Collection. I’m especially excited about this, because I adore wearing nude makeup. The collection is like a dream come true for me. It includes a Nude Palette of six shadows in a refillable, customizable 3-Pan Palette, a Nude Shimmer Brick, a new rich, deep-brown shade of Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner, and four new shades of Creamy Lip Color. Absolutely lovely!

Do Tell

What do you think of the new collections? Do you tend to wear less makeup in warmer months? Do you like to warm up your skin with a bronzer? Are you a fan of the shimmer bricks? Do tell.

P.S. Check out our regularly updated Beauty Resources page for some amazing beauty deals at amazon.com, beauty.com, Sephora, and more.

Originally form Reykjavik, Saga Sig is now a photography student in London. I stumbled across her page in myspace of all places, and was instantly drawn to her painterly like photos and impeccable style. Fascinated with fashion she collects vintage. She also photographs mostly in film. Still in her studies, she’s photographed for magazines such as Glamour and Elle, made her appearances on stylish sites like Face Hunter, Dirty Dirty Dancing and made the pages of Marie Claire… she still works in a vintage shop on Brick Lane, maintains her blog The Neverending Story and with her amazing life remains utterly charming and sweet. Here she talks with us about her inspirations…

What shop do you frequent the most & what was your most recent purchase?

I work in a vintage store on brick lane, called Vintage Heaven and This Shop Rocks. if you live in London, come and stop by. This Shop Rocks has amazing vintage items, amazing 1920′s dresses and other items that are collector’s items! Last item I got was amazing vintage pink silk pierre cardin shirt. Other shops I love is kronkron in Iceland (I got their shoes kronbykronkron.com and some eley kishimoto socks) . My recent buy is also amazing headpieces by Thelma

What song/video are you loving right now?

I adore Fever Ray.

Amazing!

Can you share with us one image that’s lingering in your mind inspiring you?

Yes. John Millais painting of Ophelia, I want to do a photo shoot inspired by the painting, love it. I’m very inspired by paintings these days, just did a shoot inspired by religious paintings.

If you could photograph any person living or dead, who would it be?

It would be Marchesa Luisa Casati. She was just amazing. I wish I had met her! She was an eccentric Italian heiress, muse of many artist in the early 20th century. She is considered the original female dandy:

“She whirled through Parisian nightlife, making an unforgettable impression on Colette, Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel. Nude servants gilded in gold leaf attended her. Bizarre wax mannequins sat as guests at her dining table, some of them even rumoured to contain the ashes of past lovers. She wore live snakes as jewelery and was infamous for her evening strolls, naked beneath her furs whilst parading cheetahs on diamond-studded leashes. Everywhere she went, she set trends, inspired genius and astounded even the most jaded members of the international aristocracy. Without question, the MarchesaCasati was the most scandalous woman of her day.” (got this from the website http://www.marchesacasati.com/bio.html)

Go google her. You are going to love her! This woman was mad!

What are you doing tonight?

Tonight I’m editing photos from a shoot I did in Iceland. Preparing an editorial I’m shooting next Friday inspired by the Secret Garden! Eating popcorn and hopefully watch a movie

Visit Saga on her blog:

http://saganendalausa.blogspot.com/
and flickr…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sagasig

I admit it. I’m smitten. Bobbi Brown comes out with so many great beauty products that bring out one’s natural beauty in fun ways. I can’t help but fall in love with everything. I love that her cosmetics come in incredibly beautiful, smartly chosen shades and textures that are always very wearable. Her latest releases – the Platinum Collection and new treats to put in her Custom Palettes – add sparkle and shimmer to special occasions, as well as every day, and make it easy to keep makeup organized.

Today I have details on her new makeup, special occasion makeup tips direct from Bobbi herself, a video demo I shot with one of her makeup artists, and info on a special event at Saks.

New For Spring

Go Platinum

First off… some info about the latest goodies. The Platinum Collection simply glistens so it’s perfect for special occasions. She came out with another one of her fabulous shimmer bricks. The new, limited-edition Platinum Pink Shimmer Brick ($40) combines warm and cool tones – soft pink, platinum, bright pink, golden coral, and rose – to add super flattering shimmer and highlights. Swirl them all together on eyes and cheeks or apply the shades individually on eyes. The new platinum shade is so lovely on eyes. It has a touch of gold to warm it up so I would think this would be flattering on anyone. (Check our Beauty Resources page for Bobbi Brown online promotions.)

She rounds out the collection with four new, cool, “smoked up” shades of her award-winning Long Wear Cream Shadow ($22), and three new shades of high-shine Lip Glosses ($20). There’s also a new, limited-edition Shimmering Body Oil ($34) that is to die for. This oil is infused with pink and platinum pearls, and essential oils to moisturize and condition skin. It’s so pretty – a lightweight formula lightly scented with her new fragrance, Party, that debuts over the holidays later this year. This is gorgeous on legs, shoulders, and décolleté.

New Shades for Customizing

Next up, Bobbi makes organizing her makeup a snap with her Custom Palettes ($10). Now she has even more colors and makeup for them. I love when I can pick and choose my colors and keep them all in one compact. My favorite is the six-pan. There are also four-pan and three-pan, which work well for toting in a purse.

She has added new, limited-edition Foundation Stick Compacts ($22) in the full range of her very popular stick foundations, including three new, highly requested shades. There are also three new, limited-edition Lip Quads ($20) – Rose, Pink, and Coral sets, each with four shades of lip colors – and two new, stunning Shimmer Blushes ($22) – Pink Coral for lighter skin tones and Plum Wine for darker complexions. I adore the Pink Coral. It gives such a stunning pop of shimmery color.

Top Tips from Bobbi

Bobbi was kind enough to answer a few questions about special occasion makeup and how to get more bang from your beauty buck.

What was your inspiration for the Platinum Collection? Any tips on how to best wear the colors?
Bobbi: Platinum Collection has an uptown-meets-downtown feeling – fresh, but also edgy. It’s all about contrasts: shimmering cheeks and lips matched with bold, smoky eyes. To get the look, dust the Platinum Pink Shimmer Brick on cheeks, eyes or anywhere you want to add shimmer for a pretty, radiant glow. Finish with glossy, high-shine lips in shades like Glacier, Nougat or Confetti for a luminous, modern look.

What tips and tricks do you have for doing makeup for weddings, proms, and other springtime special occasions?
Bobbi: No-smudge, long-lasting makeup is key for making sure your makeup looks great all day or all night. If you’re not comfortable using a gel eyeliner, apply powder liner with a slightly damp brush to make it last longer. Applying lip liner after lip color is also another good trick. It helps prevent lip color from fading or running.

What are some mistakes you see when people do their own makeup for special occasions?
Bobbi: For any special occasion, you – not your makeup – should stand out. Shimmer is a great way to dress up your look, but never use it on more than one or two features at a time.

Of course, the economy is quite a mess and people are being more cautious in their spending. Do you have any tips on how to stretch one’s beauty buck? Any extra uses for your products that we might not think of?
Bobbi: Investing in double-duty products is a great way to save money. For example, Pot Rouge can be used on both lips and cheeks, while a tinted moisturizer with SPF protects and hydrates skin while also acting as a foundation.

Video Demo

To get a closer look at Bobbi’s new colors and get a demonstration on how to do special occasion makeup, I headed to the Bobbi Brown counter at Saks in San Francisco, where the very talented Dominique set me up with a lovely look.

Saks Friends and Family Event

Now is the perfect time to get yourself ready for a special occasion or simply pick up some of the new spring colors. Saks is holding a friends & family event that begins tomorrow, April 16th, and runs until Sunday, April 19th. Various cosmetics and fragrance lines are having special events. Check in with your favorite counters for more details.

Do Tell

Do you have any special events on your calendar? Heading to a wedding, prom, or other swaré? How do you dress up your makeup for special occasions? Do tell.

P.S. Check out our regularly updated Beauty Resources page for some amazing beauty deals from companies like Bobbi Brown, beauty.com, and spalook.com.

Cooperative Designs is a London based design duo Annalisa Dunn and Dorothee Hagemann known for their playful designs and unreal silhouettes. This year their collection is inspired by a friend, and homage to her personal style.  I really love their work, as they make very special pieces overflowing with personality. Delighted to meet with Dorothee at London Fashion week, we were able to get a small interview…

[The Coveted] The two of you work together on your label Cooperative Designs, you also tend to include other people in your collections, hence the cooperation. What do you find most valuable about cooperating? Most rewarding?

[Cooperaitive Designs] Learning from other people and being inspired by other people and inspiring other people… It´s nice to see how other designers interpret your own work or the brief you give them. We have also done some consultancy work for other designers like Hussein Chalayan, – who always was one of my most favourite fashion designers, and I feel honored to be able to do work with him -, and the menswear designer Tim Soar. We have also done a special collaboration with the department store Henry Bendel, which is in the shop now.

It´s always different, always a challenge.

[TC] Your latest collection is inspired by your friend Amy Gwatkin.. who is she, and what makes her a muse?

[CD] Amy is a good friend of ours and a very talented fashion photographer. (She did our look books for SS08 and AW 08/09.) She also has an amazing and very creative personal style. One day she came to our studio before she was going to see her accountant, dressed up in an attempt to look formal. We found this very amusing and tried to copy her off key elegance with our collection.
Amy deserves to be a fashion icon!

[TC] How did you get hooked up with Scott Ramsay Kale, who did the embroidery for the fall collection?
[CD] We met Scott during the MA at Central Saint Martins College. After graduation we shared our studio with him for about a year. – A collaboration was over due.

[TC] How does English culture or humor manifest itself in your work?

[CD] We always try to give things humorous, slightly ironical side… Our pompom jumper from this season for example is a playful take on fur. I don´t know if that is specifically English (I am from Germany, Annalisa is English), but I believe that every creative person gets influenced by their surrounding and since we live in London, it would be the English culture our case…

[TC] Just for kicks, can you tell us your favorite joke?
[CD] Sorry, we both don´t know any jokes.

www.cooperative-designs.com

❤ Here are some pieces I saw of the fall collection at LFW.. click to see larger view ❤

Last week I attended the “Fairtrade in Spring” event that featured collections from socially conscious clothing company EDUN, which was founded by Ali Hewson and her husband Bono. I got to see some beautiful clothes and chatted with Ali to learn how they’re making a big impact in the lives of people in Africa, India, and South America.

A description of the current collection from EDUN…

“The Spring / Summer 2009 collection is a study in the romantic naturalism of the ‘Origin of the Species’ in which EDUN explores the utopian ideal of two cultures merging into one.  The romance inherent in European culture is grafted with the vibrancy of tribal Africana – weaving classic fabrics and timeless fits with exotic and striking colors and textures.”

Showcase at Clary Sage Organics

The EDUN showcase, which includes a Spring/Summer pop-up shop and Fall/Winter trunk show, runs through April 9th at Clary Sage Organics here in San Francisco. This really fabulous shop carries socially and environmentally friendly clothes and skin care, and offers natural health services. If you’re in the area, it’s definitely worth a visit. Whether you’re closeby or not, be sure to check out EDUN and Clary Sage Organics online.

Coveted Bonus

Get 10% off on any purchase at Edun Online. Offer good through through Earth Day (4/22). Enter the code: SONJA.

Do Tell

What do you think of EDUN’s collections? Are you being more conscious of the social and environmental implications of the clothes you buy? What do you think of the work of EDUN and eco-friendly stores like Clary Sage Organics? Do tell.

Rock Sophisticate. Elegant Punk. I’m wondering if that’s really what’s going on these days.  True filth and rebellion no longer fit into such easy categories, as the elite don themselves stripper heels, leather and studs visual cues that used to be owned by social outcasts. It’s not anything new, we’ve been throwing away conventions left and right for decades. When I came across Felder Felder at London Fashion Week, I stopped to run my hands over the smooth studs over butter soft leather. Everything in the collection is so lush, so rich, so elegant.. yet edgy. The designers, twin sisters Annette and Daniella Felder graduated from, you might guess Central St. Martins in 2006 and have done four seasons each a distinct evolution from the last collection. I was lucky to catch them free for a moment to talk…

The Coveted: This is your fourth collection, can you tell us a little bit about it?

Felder Felder: This collection was a very signature FELDER FELDER collection, with all the leather jackets, fabric mixes and metal works. Inspiration was Iggy Pop and early punk . Obviously, Iggy does not wear very much on stage, so we are talking more about the attitude and mood we aimed to capture in this collection.

TC: Since your first collection, you’ve made several distinctive jumps in your design evolution, what’s pushing you?

FF: We always challenge ourselves to try out new things, but I think we are getting more of an idea what works best for us and are planning to deepen that .

TC: Why did you decide to show this season first in Berlin instead of London?

FF: Although we see ourselves as a British label , we are originally German, and it was a great opportunity for us. When we got invited to show during Berlin fashion week. We had a fantastic time and the response was great, so it was definitely worth it .

TC: You used to design accessories, what made you switch to clothing? Do you ever find they affect one another?

FF: We always did clothes and accessories, it was just that more people saw the accessories first, and they are still a big signature in our brand. A lot of people buy first into the accessories and eventually will buy a dress or jacket , as well. So for us, they certainly affect one another.

TC: There is something special about twins, though not all twins are able to work with each other… how do you do it?

FF: As a twin there is not really an in between – whether you really get on or you really don’t. Luckily , we belong to the first group, so there is no problem in working together at all. I would say, we complement each other really well, and also we can be really straightforward with each other, which is always for the better result.

You can visit them at FelderFelder.com