It’s almost the end of New York fashion week: Marc Jacobs has stunned the fashion world (again) by NOT wearing a kilt (ok, ok, his quality show/celebrity-free afterparty at the Standard were factors, too) and Donna Karan celebrated her label’s 25th anniversary of pumping out designed-by-woman-for-women urban chic with luxurious fabrics in a mostly black color palette. [Though I would live in the bat-sleeve fitted-yet-baggy DKNY sweater I’ve recently acquired, I DIE for Bessie Afnaim’s collection (par example) at Donna Karan’s alt store, Urban Zen. It’s layering at its most fearless; a single garment has its own layers and those in turn are designed to be layered upon each other. I love this young designer! Of Turkish descent, Bessie trained at Parsons. She has tremendous energy and a fabulous British accent. I can’t find a picture that does her work justice, so visit the store at 705 Greenwich St. in the West Village.]
I digress. Fashion week is an awesome circus (snow! Rachel Zoe!) but not entirely tangible for most of us: Fall 2010? $5,000 for a single item? What I really wanted to write about is a smaller label called Standard Finery created to “marry understated feminity and function.”* The superb Jessa Blades, a friend who does their organic makeup, introduced me to the line, which is produced in New York’s Garment District with organic fabrics whenever possible. I have taken a gander at designer Caron Callahan’s superb spring 2010 collection, a reinterpretation of “classic New England weekend wear” and meant to capture a “sensual mood” with “urban appeal.” It’s still fashion, but slightly more accessible, and totally to die for. Look & be inspired for fashion for warmer temperatures:

Lolita-esque top, a la Urban Outfitters/Lolita (see prior post!)

Can’t quite grasp the fabric, but it looks like a totally live-in-able, March-to-May transition piece that goes with everyyything. Loves. LOVES.

Must.have.shorts. Just about the only tasteful, fashion-forward midriff peek-a-boo I’ve seen.
Yay for Standard Finery! More small(er) label finds to come…
*P.S. As a writer for Festo, I must include Standard Finery’s thoughtful & eloquent manifesto-like vision:
“Standard [stad-derd] 1. a rule or principle that is regarded as the usual or most common size or form of its kind 2. an average or normal requirement, quality, quantity, level, grade, etc.
Finery [fahy-nuh-ree] 1. fineness, beauty 2. adornments, especially fine clothes and accessories
Standard Finery is a collection created for women who love beautiful clothes but don’t need to make a fuss about them. As the name suggests, the company ethos is rooted in well-made, feminine clothes, while keeping in mind that they should be playful, purposeful and wearable.”
[mairin]
Read Full Post »