Posts Tagged ‘bradley smith’
The House of Dangerkat
Their perfect combination of fashion, funk, and movement has the right people talking.
They worked it out in Central Park with Diplo. They twerked it at Colette in the company of King Karl Lagerfeld and Sir Jeremy Scott and again for Self-Service magazine. They vogued their way through London Fashion Week, performing for Nova Dando, PPQ, and the Queen Herself: Vivienne Westwood. Now they are ready to serve.
With the beautiful Kaiti Dangerkat at its helm, this House serves up an innovative mix of voguing, waacking, hip hop, contemporary and West African dance. Going beyond just the movement of dance, the House of Dangerkat explores the broad creative world, combining fashion, music, dance, and visual media into truly unique and innovative performance art.
Get a little peak. Click the image to play the video.
OPULENCE
(click to begin)
ADDICTED
(click to begin)
-bradley smith
Adore-La!
We aren’t Oprah nor are we Fraulein Maria, but these are a few of our favorite things!
Lola by Marc Jacobs
Meet Lola, Marc Jacobs’ new girl of the moment. She’s a sweet and vibrant nymph, one who will take off her shoes and run through fields of peonies, letting her long disheveled hair blow loose in the wind. Sensual too, she is a pure balance of sweet and grassy florals. Sure, with such a sleek, playful silhouette, she might look pretty on the shelf, but you’ll unquestionably want to bring this lovely blossom out to play!
Yogi Tea
Brooklyn has been cold, and I’m not referring to the cold lad who held me up at gunpoint. Although while going through that encounter, being cold wasn’t really on the forefront of my mind. So I guess I have to thank that creature of the night for stalking me down the street at 4am and threatening me with a gun because without him and his kind words, I would have had a cold, boring walk home. But after an evening stroll through the city, a mug of tea (my favorite being the Throat Comfort variety) hits the spot unlike any shiny toy gun.
Fresh Rose Marigold Tonic Water
Always one for unnecessary indulgences, I’ve met my new winter friend. Rose Marigold Tonic Water by Fresh is not simply a toner, it is spring-time in a bottle. It is a most perfect, momentary escape from a harsh and dreary winter. I close my eyes and, with just a spritz, I am walking through a botanical wonderland, a refreshing mist-rain on my skin. Not only are all my senses totally pleased, I have a curiously amorous glow that lasts all day long.
Buraka Som Sistema
I have no idea what they are saying but I don’t care as I dance myself into a sweaty oblivion. Their tropical jungle beats are more infectious and as fever-inducing as malaria. BSS is based in Lisbon and is a popular Kuduro group, creating heavy Afrotech beats with M.I.A., Pongolove, DJ Znobia, Saborosa, and many other talented individuals in the global music scene. It’s enough to make even the darkest emo kid want to dance. www.buraka.tv
-chelsey bingham & bradley smith
LAEKEN
Drawing from international travels and personal creativity, LAEKEN is a label with not only a strong palette of color and sexy silhouettes; it also is a label with a conscience. $1 of each garment (which will never be made from fur or leather and always incorporates organic fabrics) is donated to Friends of Toms, a non-profit organization supporting philanthropic work abroad.
The charismatic founder of LAEKEN, Mallyce Miller, and I had an entertaining chat one evening, which we feel should be passed on in its original form:
4:26pmMallyce
whatcha wanna know?
4:27pmBradley
well first off, what do you want to tell me? what direction do you want this to go? i dont want it to be all the boring questions that everyone asks ya know. BUT i still want it to be beneficial in expressing you as a designer
4:28pmMallyce
hmmmmm. i like long walks on the beach…
the truth is…im not one of those people who can bullshit about their work…you know the ones in school that would show a crappy painting and have the best “BS story” behind its inspiration that that person would get an A…well, im more of a sarcastic creative type that would rather have a glass of wine with you and chat about ..uh…BEACHES..and show you my clothes..but since you are TOO FAR AWAY…i will attempt my best
4:31pmBradley
yeah i totally understand that. i love that you are sarcastic. its great!
well first off, you were inspire a lot by tokyo street style. how much time did you spend there?
4:35pmMallyce
so last time..right before i started my line..i went to
AUSTRALIA< NEW ZEALAND< FIJI< LAOS< CAMBODIA< VIETNAM< THAILAND< TOKYO
I fell in love with tokyo!
seriously..if i could live there i would. All of the images on my site are from my travels.
4:36pmBradley
what an amazing trip! did you kind of have it planned out or did you kind of take it as it came?
4:36pmMallyce
i scheduled it for 3 month
but kept extending it
met up with an ex (aussie) …and kept extending it
the style was AMAZING!!!! i could take the best outfit i have in my closet and look the LEAST stylish one on the street
4:37pmBradley
did those travels inspire your design a lot?
4:38pmMallyce
yeah…at that time NEONS/80s were really huge in Australia..they hadnt really hit big yet in the US
i loved their use of color and how men there wear more “obnoxious in a good way-type” clothing
in tokyo they have REALLY interesting silhouettes!
4:40pmBradley
yeah i love all the layering that is done in tokyo
4:40pmMallyce
much more layered and voluminous
4:42pmBradley
so, to get the technicalities out of the way, i have just some basic questions:
1. where did you study
2. where is LAEKEN sold
3. what is the origination of the name
4:42pmMallyce
1) USC…Business
2) SATINE, OAK, Delta in Japan, Revolve, and i have an online store too!
for spring …some more in Canada..and Steven Alan.
3) the name is from an amazing place in Belgium. Royal greenhouses and gardens are in Laeken..
oh and speaking of….always capitalize it…..LAEKEN
4:48pmBradley
alright so now i have some more fun/random questions!
what was your favorite cartoon as a child?
4:49pmMallyce
snorks..or…uh,..yeah i guess snorks
thats the first that came to mind
4:49pmBradley
what is the last song you listened to?
Mallyce
hmmmmmmmm..driving home probably something on that station COAST. 103.5
probably Phil Collins or something
id say that because I shamelessly rock out to Phil Collins
4:51pmBradley
haha really?? thats amazing.
4:51pmMallyce
love the Cure..Love song..I remember that song playing last night
4:51pmBradley
what did you eat for breakfast?
4:51pmMallyce
its 2pm..havent had breakfast yet. i had barrys tea
4:51pmBradley
blackberry or iphone…or neither!
4:52pmMallyce
BLACKBERRY!
but
i HATE IT!
4:52pmBradley
hahaha why??
4:52pmMallyce
i have to email uber long emails daily on my phone so i assumed bbs are the best for that
my phone is more of an office-toy than a play-toy
4:53pmBradley
so, when was the last time you had a hickey?
4:54pmMallyce
haha
hmmmmmmmmmm
the last time i remember is in college…and..
it was sooooooooo giant..that i had to borrow all of my friends (tank turtlenecks..which thankfully were in style at the time)…and wear a new colored one each day for a week!!!!
it was about 80 degrees that week
4:55pmBradley
haha brilliant!
what was the last movie you saw?
4:56pmMallyce
hmm..movie…..
sector 9?…
haha
wait…district 9
4:56pmBradley
hahaha!!
4:57pmMallyce
sector 9 is a skateboard company
ha
i like manly movies.
action packed.
4:57pmBradley
i guess so!!
4:57pmMallyce
weird..i know
5:00pmMallyce
fyi i just shaved 8 diagonal steps into the side of my head
5:00pmBradley
8!!! thats intense!!
i need to see pics of this! when we met you had a few steps…dont think 8 thought
5:00pmMallyce
skinny ones
I had 3 when we met
5:01pmBradley
yeah. i loved it!
5:01pmMallyce
it looks weird now though..not too into it…i liked 3 better
5:01pmBradley
ha oh sad!!
yeah the 3 worked for you!
so, would you rather see sound or smell?
5:02pmMallyce
ohhhhhhhhhh….
see sound…….i have uber senses actually
5:03pmBradley
haha yeah?? what uber senses do you possess???
5:03pmMallyce
i can see, hear, smell everything that others cant
5:03pmBradley
like dead people?
5:04pmMallyce
i cant sit in libraries because i hear the lights…like a dog i suppose
i smell everything others cant!
5:04pmBradley
ha that actually really cracks me up!
5:04pmMallyce
i can probably see dead people
5:05pmBradley
haha
hilarious
alright, quick word association game. i say a word and you tell me the first thing that comes to your mind, cool?
5:05pmMallyce
ok
5:05pmBradley
tofu
5:05pmMallyce
soft
5:05pmBradley
mole
5:06pmMallyce
dirt
5:07pmBradley
critter
5:07pmMallyce
room ….uh..i need to explain
5:07pmBradley
haha please do!
the critter room?? creepy!!
5:08pmMallyce
yesterday! i had to run upstairs to my neighbors to get him to come to my room and get that CREEPY CRITTER..jurassic type centipede out of my house
it was sooo scary..i must find a pic..will send later..cuz i need to find out if it kills people
here it is!
http://theora.com/images/centipede.jpg
5:09pmBradley
hahahahaha! serious?! yeah that is terrifying
5:09pmMallyce
i did actually google jurassic centipede and found it!
5:09pmBradley
ew serious?? that thing is sick
that is unreal! haha
5:10pmMallyce
go on
5:10pmBradley
parrot
5:10pmMallyce
cage
5:10pmBradley
diva
5:10pmMallyce
bradley smith
5:10pmBradley
ha!!!
5:10pmMallyce
SNAP!
5:10pmBradley
serious!
Ok…midget
5:11pmMallyce
little person
5:11pmBradley
(how very PC of you!)
5:11pmMallyce
totally!
5:11pmBradley
slurp
5:11pmMallyce
peeee
5:11pmBradley
moist
5:11pmMallyce
eww..im not gonna say what comes to mind
5:12pmBradley
(ha! yes!!!)
lime
5:12pmMallyce
disease
5:12pmBradley
coral
5:12pmMallyce
reef
5:12pmBradley
gems
5:12pmMallyce
and the hologramssssss
ha
5:12pmBradley
veins
5:12pmMallyce
trees
5:12pmBradley
ok cool. thats it!!
5:12pmMallyce
Ha
http://www.laekencollection.com/
-bradley smith
Fever Ray
Every now and then you come across a musician that makes you sit and listen in awe; a musician which gives you no choice but to enter their world. Karin Dreijer Andersson is a most persuasive tour guide into the darkly dreamy world of Fever Ray.
Karin and her brother, Olof Dreijer, constitute the magnificent duo The Knife. In addition to having their album, Silent Shout, named best album of 2006 by Pitchfork, they also were nominated for and won all 6 Swedish Grammys in 2007. They were gaining great international attention much deserved recognition. But then it was time for a break. Karin had a child but couldn’t stop writing. In early 2009, we experienced the result of her post-natal daydreaming and writing: Fever Ray, both the title of the project and the album.
While recognizably the work of the same artist, is dramatically different from The Knife. It’s still constructed on electronic foundations and embellished with traditional instrumentation (guitar here, congas there), but Fever Ray is starker, moodier, and in places quite somber. While it may sound like various artists on the album, it is all Karin plus the help of various voice modulators.
“Sometimes, when you’re as old as I am now, you think you’re going to quit, and people around you think you’re going to quit. But then you have days when you realise how good music can be, there’s so much left to explore and so much left to do. That’s why I sometimes feel I’ll never quit.”
Here are three of our absolute favorite Fever Ray videos. Enjoy!
Seven from Fever Ray on Vimeo.
When I Grow Up from Fever Ray on Vimeo.
If I Had A Heart from Fever Ray on Vimeo.
-bradley smith
Adore-La!
These are not suggestions, they are commands. Love it! Adore-la!
The East-Village Crepe Cart
The east village has a bevy of culinary delights. Whenever I get to that time where I am using coins to pay for a meal, over to St. Marks I head for a falafel or slice of pizza. Now there is another spot to satiate my cravings. This lil guy has no address…because its a food cart. But this is no ordinary food cart. I am referring to the crepe cart on 8th st between 3rd and 4th Ave. In my evening wanderings, I stumbled across this cart and almost dismissed it as another meat-on-a-stick situation. Much to my pleasant surprise, I was met with sweet and savory crepe offerings! The man was a bit creeped out by my joy but nevertheless he proceeded to make me a delicious just-what-I-needed crepe. I’m not saying this is the best crepe in the world or anything like that. But I am happy that the cart men are expanding their culinary reach.
Café Gitane
Although I tend to always sit at the far concrete table by the bathroom, I keep returning to 242 Mott St. Tucked away in the charming Manhattan neighbourhood of Nolita is the French-Moroccan café which has become one of my favourites. In addition to their famous coffee and quick-selling pastries, they have a full menu including amazing small plates and appetizers. Gorgonzola, walnuts, and honey and the Moroccan couscous with raisins, hummus, and toasted pine nuts are always a favourite. But remember, cash only kids!
Green Velvet
“Shake. And pop. Shake shake and Pop.” Its kinda like Simon Says. When Green Velvet tells you to Shake and Pop, it is pretty impossible to disobey. And though my body exacts some serious revenge after dancing for hours to this candy coated techno funk, it is well worth the aches.
Rosebud Salve
The vintage-esque tin casing glanced my way and I knew it wanted to be all over my lips. (I am quite accustomed to interpreting that look, for I receive it often.) And so I caved. I honestly had no idea to whom it belonged, for I found it on the floor, but I never turn down an opportunity to balm ma bouche. And once I smoothed on the slightly rose-hued concoction, I knew. I was converted. My lips were neither sticky nor waxy and they glowed like a beachy summer morning, just waiting for the next glance to be passed my way.
-bradley smith
International Cinema
Cinema has always been a perfect way to evoke emotion in the most beautiful manner. These films delve into the essence humanity and create art in the process.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Julian Schnabel
This 2008 Oscar-nominated film gorgeously paints the true, heart-rending story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, late editor of French Elle. Well-known and loved by the French fashion-elite, Bauby suffered a sudden and shocking stroke during the peak of his career which resulted in a rare neurological disorder called locked-in syndrome leaving him fully paralyzed. Nominated for four Oscars which included cinematography and editing, “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” takes a mesmerizing hold on viewers as we journey through the vast and beautiful imagination of a visionary man who didn’t cease to dream even with when immersed under the leaden weight of an unmovable body. Captivating to the very end, this is a film that should not go unseen.
In this hauntingly human masterpiece, Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman melds fragments of horror with deep metaphorical themes questioning the moral and social intentions of the human psyche. “Persona” stars Liv Ullmann, Bergman’s long-time muse, and Bibi Andersson. We follow the two characters to a seaside retreat, where they escape reality and wind up examining the curious distresses of each others’ minds. Shot in a minimalist style of black and white, each screen is thoughtfully framed and visually appealing. The film teeters between moments of slow, silent expressions and dizzying scenes of evocative and disturbing dramatics. Undoubtedly a classic piece of art and film.
A Zed and Two Noughts by Peter Greenaway
Controversial British director Peter Greenaway spins a lovely film-as-puzzle with this strange and intriguing film. It opens with a crash, literally, which kills the wives of the two main characters, identical twins Oliver and Oswald. The story then proceeds to examine their grief and developing fascination with death, decay, and a woman also involved in the crash. Their scientific study of decomposition progresses all the way up the food-chain leading them to the top rung on the ladder of life: humans.
-chelsey bingham and bradley smith
Kid.Viskous
In a time where financial desperation calls upon our creative powers, the strong survive and make that survival look good. Just because some of us are lacking in the financial areas of life, we more than make up for it when it comes to creating and living. One such night where the revelry of living took precedence, a lovely bit of jewelry caught my eye. The piece embodied LA; it was shiny, plastic, and looked expensive. Layers of polished black chains adorned with Lucite Justice
crosses draped across her neck in an effortless yet oh-so-chic fashion.
As the conversation progressed, I learned this was Tiffany Lee, founder of KidViskous jewelry. Her current collection is playful, unique, and inspired by the nu-rave DJ explosion using bright neons, geometric shapes, and much larger Lucite pieces. Full of cultural references, such as pendant necklaces of the Daft Punk helmets, Ray Bans, and the aforementioned Justice cross, this current collection create an immediate aesthetic impact that reflects the lopped bass lines and synthesized sounds shaking LA dance floors for the past few years.
AVANT: Do you feel your designs represent LA culture? Why or why not?
Tiffany Lee: It’s inevitable that my work is influenced by LA culture, being that I’ve lived here for about 12 years now. KidViskous certainly became a representation of the electronic dance music resurgence and the outrageous neon street-style that accompanied it. But I think my third collection can be just as at home in LA as it can be at home in Paris, London and other epicenters of this international dance movement.
AVANT: Why do you love LA? (wait, you do, yeah?)
TL: I grew up in Ohio, so LA is the complete opposite of that in all aspects, which I absolutely love. We’re spoiled by the weather, good food, a multifaceted culture, beautiful people, and all the extremes of fashion, music, lifestyles, everything you could ever imagine or ever want. The city is more spread out, the parties are bigger, the opulence is more exaggerated, the pretension is off the charts, people are made of plastic and sold to the highest bidder. It sounds
horrible, but I love just how ridiculous it can get, you’re never bored.
AVANT: A lot of cities compete for the cool factor. What do you think LA has to offer to the competition?
TL: 1. Weather. You can dress as slutty as you want all year ’round without dying of pneumonia. It’s amazing how much the weather makes LA what it is. It gives us more room to dress outrageously because we’d never have to worry about our homemade Balenciaga sequin robot leggings, or our cardboard and foam Lady Gaga crystal shoulder pieces
getting ruined in the rain or snow.
2. Hollywood. America never had royalty like other countries, so movie stars and rock stars are the American aristocracy in my opinion. They’re everywhere here and constantly throwing parties, or playing free shows, or getting into trouble at the club you go to every week. I honestly think that if ever there was a terror attack on America, LA would be untouched because of them.
AVANT: Alright, we are going to do a quick word association game. Cool?
TL: Cool.
AVANT: Cowboy.
TL: F*cker
AVANT: Fuchsia.
TL: Spandex
AVANT: Honey.
TL: Lee (Honey Lee, Miss Korea 2007?, 2008? Exteeeensive plastic surgery)
AVANT: Flash.
TL: Back
AVANT: Death.
TL: Vegas
AVANT: Asia.
TL: Stewardess
AVANT: Madonna.
TL: Complex
AVANT: Passion.
TL: Fruit
AVANT: Yum, I love passion fruit.
***
KidViskous available at:
Los Angeles:
Rojas (Melrose, Hollywood) www.rojasonline.com
Em & Co.(3rd St, Hollywood) www.emandco.com
New High (M)art (Chinatown) www.newhighmart.com
X-Large/X-girl (Los Feliz Village); www.xlarge.com
Outside LA:
Diablo Rosso (Panama) www.diablorosso.com
Bring It Now (Moscow) bringitnow.livejournal.com
Online:
www.supermarkethq.com
www.shopflick.com
www.starsandinfinitedarkness.com
www.unsungdesigners.com
Coming Soon:
www.Artung.com (France)
www.Agitatto.com (Switzerland)
-bradley smith
SfRD
I would go to these Riot Grrrl fests and make pillows to trade with girls for their mix tapes. That’s where I kind of learned to sew and put things together and create on my own and make things happen on my own
With Ashley, Mary-Kate, Kate Moss, Nicole Ritchie and Erin Wasson as just a few of her fashionable supporters, Corinne Grassini has drawn from her Riot Grrrl past, added some jersey and silk, and created a label which by wearing it, conjures a feeling of being inducted into an exclusive organization; the newest member of the Society for Rational Dress
I met up with Corinne in Los Angeles. The call of palm trees and crashing waves drew me away from the concrete embrace of New York. I was pleasantly surprised with my fashionable discoveries while in this foreign land. At the opening of her appointment only store in downtown LA, knowledgeable fashion aficionados browsed through her latest collection, champagne in hand. Jerseys mixed with chains, washed silks, and leather detailing all spoke strongly of the designer’s personal influence on each piece.
I was lucky enough to sit down with Corinne for a bit to chat her label, Society for Rational Dress, and about punk music, growing up in the country, and our mutual love: Yogurtland.
Corinne Grassini: In the late 1800s, there was a group of women called the Rational Dress Society and they banded together to free themselves from all the corsets and crinoline of the time so they could become more functional in society. They were sort of tied down by what they wore, so they started wearing bicycling costumes and bloomers and started to become more functional. It was a group of women who had an opinion, who had something to say.
AVANT: And this, of course, is the focus and inspiration of your label?
CG: Well from the inception of the company, we have always used real women as models and it sort of goes back to that independent spirit of just using what you have and growing things from a little seed and talking things step by step. So we’ve always involved friends and family in the company.
AVANT: And that relates also to video projects in which you are involved.
CG: Yes, we had this idea to do profiles on these women we are interested in and do a video on the women we would like to dress and want involved in the company. It gives a background to what kind of woman would wear the clothes.
AVANT: And what is your focus with the video: their style, their personality, their cultural preferences?
CG: We focus on what makes them special as a woman, as a human being. We have them tell their story and what they think defines their life as they know it right now.
AVANT: What is your cultural background? What kind of music did you listen to growing up and does that have any influence on your collections?
CG: Definitely. Music was a huge thing for me growing up. I didn’t really get into it until I was probably like 14. This friend of mine was straight-edge and so I would go to a lot of shows with him. When I went away to college, I met all these people in the music scene and started to get into Riot Grrrl music. I was really never into the mainstream stuff. I always liked the smaller bands and going to the smaller shows. It really promoted this sort of independent spirit in me. I would go to these Riot Grrrl fests and make pillows to trade with girls for their mix tapes. That’s where I kind of learned to sew and put things together and create on my own and make things happen on my own.
AVANT: That sounds so inspiring! Where did you grow up?
CG: Bell canyon. Here in the Southern California area. We grew up back in the woods sort of. We had horses and goats and zip lines. It was really magical. It was like how a kid should be brought up I think.
AVANT: My upbringing was quite similar!
CG: It creates a balance within you mentally. You know you can go to the city and be one way but you also have this calm world out there where you can be a little more relaxed.
AVANT: So SfRD has been around for 5 years. What were you doing before that?
CG: I went to school for sociology and then was living in Santa Barbara for a year just messing around, making clothes. Then I started my own pattern making business and began making patterns for various designers in LA.
AVANT: How are you involved in the design process? Are you the sole designer?
CG: It has changed a little bit recently as the company has grown. I have an assistant that helps me through ideas and throws things around with me. Every Friday night we have a creative meeting. We sit down with a bottle of wine and discuss where the collection is going and what we are thinking and what ideas are good and what ideas of mine are stupid. I used to design really isolated. I wouldn’t want anyone to see my designs until they came out. But now I am more comfortable with my designs so I can throw my ideas off of people and see how they react.
AVANT: Why do you think you are more comfortable with your designing now?
CG: I think that I know my style and what I like more now.
AVANT: So this is the first store you have opened. Where else are you sold?
CG: This store is appointment only but we are carried in about 60 boutiques internationally. We also did an exclusive collection for Barney’s.
AVANT: That’s exciting! A lot of the attention you receive is, in my opinion, because of ingenious fabric combinations.
CG: I love pairing fabrics, especially silks and leathers. It is always fabrics that sit well with a leather or metal detail.
A lot of the shapes I do translate well into jersey but we put a little twist by adding a little chain or leather detail, something that’s not obvious but it dresses it up a little bit. Every season that is a fun design challenge; to reinterpret the basic t-shirt.
AVANT: So this space of yours is called the reserve. Why?
CG: We call it the reserve because every season we end up with extra fabric and trim and we have this surplus. We go through our inventory and bring back pieces we have done in the past and then rework them for the store. We revamp them by changing the detail or by washing, cutting, bleaching, or dying the garment. I like to bring it back to the DIY style.
AVANT: And so is each piece one of a kind?
CG: Yes. Each piece is worked out individually.
AVANT: Always back to the idea of individuality.
-bradley smith