Last week or so you may have noticed that I featured the blog of the very beautiful 100% organic cotton children’s wear line called Periwinklebloom in the ‘blogs in the spotlight'(see sidebar). This week I’m delighted to share with you Periwinklebloom’s Autumn ’09 collection which has just launched. The concept behind this collection is about layering, and ‘kind’ design, with an introduction of ‘waste-not wares’ –  making use of organic cotton and vintage scraps. The collection was shot in an antiques warehouse by photographer Greg Rannells, and I adore everything about it – not only the new designs but the styling, the location, the props and of course, the gorgeous models. Tyler, who is the creator of Periwinklebloom recently told me that she kept my book in mind as her muse for the shoot. Wowsers, what a compliment.  I love how inspiration is a revolving, ever-evolving door…

So here is a sneak peek of Periwinklebloom’s Autumn ’09 collection but be sure to check out the full range right here. Each garment is 100% organic cotton, homegrown and hand-sewn in the United States.

Beautiful, non? Oh, I love it. Thank you,  Periwinklebloom.

photographs copyright Peter Stigter

Do you remember a little while ago I mentioned I was working on something fun for an upcoming event and I needed lots of kids clothes? Here is the post for a quick recap if you need it.

The event was the last catwalk show of the Amsterdam Fashion Week. It was a special show called “A Tribute To Orange Babies” created by the incredibly talented team of agents, photographers, stylists, make-up artists and models at the styling agency I am represented by – House of Orange – in celebration of its charity department called Orange Babies which has been successfully raising funds and awareness for children in Africa for the past 10 years. The show was held last Sunday at 9pm.

And boy, was it a hit!

The tent was packed. It appeared everyone who was ‘anyone’ of the Amsterdam fashion scene was there. I even had someone remark to me that this was the place to be right now. Wow!

So what was a non-fashiony gal like me to wear to such an event? It was the first time I had even been to a fashion show. I wore my skinny black organic cotton jeans, tall(ish)black heels, a simple shoe-string strapped white singlet tucked in. And. Well, that’s it! I decided to go without accessories – that was to be my fashion statement for the night. While some of you may shriek that I went accessory-less, I promise you I did do my hair, and I wore makeup – two extraordinarily special things for me to do for any event.

The night was a great success and I walked out inspired ever more by what one can do with recycled things. You all know how passionate I am about this topic.

Anyway, each styling team for each runway creation was stunning. Some of my faves were:

The deconstruction of tailoring, by Nick Foss and Rene Vandebeld: of which 10 or so rather dazzling specimens of the opposite sex walked out in gorgeous reconstructed/deconstructed men’s suits. Beautiful.

Silhouettes, construction bound and found by Caroline Fuchs, Maarten Spruyt, and Kevin Power: 8 human-like creatures dressed in recycled baskets as hats and shoes, old lamp shades as skirts, macrame plant hangers as headpieces, recycled plastic bodices, pampas grass, old pillows… an amazing collection of recycled wares made into art fashion. It was dreamy.

photographs copyright Peter Stigter

Little Time, Little Money: a non-stop runway of models in perfectly styled second hand clothes. Totally inspiring.

Yvette and I rather loved that front number – aren’t the colours beautiful together? also the hair. and makeup – it was all gorgeous. Photograph Peter Stigter

At the end of the show there were credits on the screen, and I was chuffed to see my name up there in lights! So what did I do exactly? Well, it has nothing to do with the catwalk, but everything to do with making something fun for Orange Babies. I’ll show you in the next post…

Some of you may already know that as a stylist, I am represented by an agency. What does this mean exactly? well, it means that my agency holds my styling portfolio and if you want to book me for an upcoming project, you can contact them and they will organise everything.

Anyway, not only does my agency – which is called House of Orange – represent me, they represent hair and makeup artists, fashion stylists, models and photographers. They also have their own charity which is called Orange Babies and throughout the year they hold different fashion events here in Holland to raise money to help HIV infected women and their babies in Africa.

I will be helping out with one of the upcoming events next month and as part of the project we would like to send clothes to the children in Africa. We need HEAPS of children’s clothes and I was hoping some of you might have some to offer? We need clothes for children between 0-12 years, and we need them by the first of July which is only 1 week away! So, if you live in Europe and have some clothes you can offer, please send them to House of Orange at this address…

I hope to show + tell you more about the project once we get started on it next month, it is going to be alot of fun! For now, we need childrens clothes so please, send send send!

If you don’t have children’s clothes you can also send a donation or offer to be a sponsor for the event – for more information, please contact joanne.

xx

I’m a big fan of hand-me-downs, vintage, recycled, and op shop fashion finds. So I was thrilled to read on katie crackernut’s blog that she was inviting fellow bloggers to write about their favourite op shop/second hand finds, or give treasure hunting tips to their readers, as part of her own op shop challenge…

illustration courtesy of katie crackernuts.

You see, ms katie crackernuts is on a mission – a little while ago she joined The News Limited 1degree op shop challenge which means she wore thrifted and recycled fashion to work for two weeks. It was part of a workplace initiative to inspire people to cut their carbon footprint and kate became a finalist and is now in the top ten! Being the ambitious gal that she is, ms crackernuts is keen to win this competition, and I want her to win too. So, I’m joining in the fun by showing you one of my all-time favourite second hand finds which I came across while living in Paris…

I call it my peacock dress, and it cost me a whole 10 euro. It is 100% cotton, sans a designer label, and is the most gorgeous blue I’ve ever seen. I wear it with a simple fat belt and flip flops in summer. Just looking at it brightens my day.

I, like Kate, am rather obsessed with finding fabulous op shop garments and wherever I am in the world, I go into vintage boutiques I come across, or open markets in search of something special. I also love reworking a garment, rethinking how it can be worn and getting more life out of it. Its fun, inspiring, challenging, and good for the environment and for us.

So if you’d like to join in the fun and help kate with her op shop challenge, I invite you my dear fellow bloggers, to write a post this week about one of your favourite second hand finds, reveal some of your secret second hand sources in your local area, or offer a treasure hunting tip or two. Be sure to link back to katie crackernuts 1degree op shop challenge in your post.

Thank you for the inspiration kate!

xx

I’m a sucker for real fashion – you know, the type that you can wear any day, everyday, and look über stylish and sophisticated without being OTT (over-the-top. also referred to in camera angle lingo, in case you need to know that). I like clothes that feel good on my skin, and move when I move, and that don’t feel restrictive. And you all know how much I LOVE natural fibres, and ‘conscious’ clothing. So I bet you are not surprised that I am totally in love with Jackson, Johnston & Roe’s Spring collection. Take a look…

I have my first Jackson, Johnston & Roe pieces in my wardrobe right now, just in time for Spring! They include the april travel coat you see above (gorgeous!! and I can’t WAIT to travel in april with it!), the v-neck shirt which is so soft and incredibly comfortable, and the study jacket (top photo) in grey and white.

For this season, the designers behind the label created their own print as you see above. They were inspired by the early 20th century surrealist practice and created an “exquisite corpse print” where they each drew a section. I love this idea! I’ve held this fabric in my hands and it is indeed, exquisite.

Jackson, Johnston & Roe use sustainable and organic fabric, wood and recycled paper buttons,as well as hand dyed peace silk which is a process that does not kill the worm.

left: perrine v-neck shirt and right: jules shirt with museum date skirt

Their inspiration for the collection is such a beautiful story – one of their muses and dear friends recently shared the history of her mother’s boarding school. She attended La Legion d’ Honneur L’ecole au chateau D’ecouen from October 1952 to July 1955. The April travel coat is fashioned after a coat in her “trousseau”. The designers were inspired this season by the idea of a modern day trousseau; the clothes you take with you… to school. On an adventure. Or to start a new life.

So who are the designers behind this fabulous collection? They are Sara Moffat, Teo Griscom and Riley Salyards, who assumed their grandfathers’ names (being Jackson, Johnston & Roe) for their womenswear line. The childhood friends draw from each of their distinctive artistic disciplines to create these small collections which are made in New York City. The collection is sold at selected stores across America, but you can also contact the sales department direct to find out more.

above and below is a sneak peek of their fall ’09 collection…

Oh I would love to get into the minds of these designers – how much fun would it be to find out how they come up with their designs, and what inspires them?

Well guess what? I am thrilled to reveal that our mystery guest in the new (blog)house is none other than one of Jackson, Johnston & Roe’s very own designers, Riley Salyards! Yes, I’ve kept her a bit of a secret from you all (although I’ve casually mentioned her here, here and here you may recall). Riley is a dear friend of mine here in Amsterdam. She is one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever met, and I was so thrilled when she said ‘yes’ to being my first guest here in the new guest quarters. Spending time with Riley is one of my favourite things to do here in Amsterdam. She has such a unique vision – she makes incredible things, she sings! and every time I leave her company I am filled with inspiration. Thank you dear Riley, for agreeing to share some of your life and own inspirations here in my (blog)house over the next month. Please enjoy your stay.

Oh, and shall we meet up this afternoon for some champagne in the kitchen with yvette? I hear she’s got a delicious bouillabaisse cooking for us!

(check out Riley’s first post here, there will be another one coming this afternoon).

All images courtesy of Jackson, Johnston & Roe. Photographed by Bill Phelps.