this is how we roll

so much cooler than any car could possibly be

Menswear, i found it.

I was talking to a friend the other day about designing menswear for a bit when he replied that because menswear is more oriented towards the staple pants shirt jacket combo it would be more likely to limit my potential than expand it. My though is that having more confined formats would encourage you to be creative point and case menswear fall 2009 Gareth Pugh, Ann Demeulemeester and Henrik Vibskov. PS Henrik Vibskov should design for tim and eric just saying.

Great job.

http://www.212dressingroom.com/blog_author.php?id=CARL%20CATO-BARNETT

VIVA MEXICO

Mexican fashion sensation Marvin y Quetzal bring about the beauty of the supernatural in their fall 2009 line. To be quite honest I wasn’t aware of the thriving fashion industry right beneath Americas metaphorical nose. Marvin y Quetzal are just one example of the numerous indigenous design houses revolutionizing the way the world views Mexican fashion through conceptual construction and a commercially friendly market. After wondering what else I’ve missed in Mexico I started looking around at other design houses such as Carlos Temores and Dalia Perlasca where I quickly realized color coordination rules over fun flowy chic designs, very much reminiscent of 1970’s Spanish fashion. Living in Florida, in hot, humid, sticky, muggy, Florida I can appreciate the elegance of a well made weather appropriate garment, grasias Mexico!

CSM kiddies

As a rising senior I am starting my official college application process, terrifying. My top choice of course is the wonderful, beautiful, shining beacon of young designers, the one and only central st. martins. And as I have been on their website every day trying to find the best way of getting in I can’t help but be in awe of the current student body. One of my favorites was a menswear collection by Matthew Grant. At first glance I was in love with his choice of a muted color pallet, subtle use of line and simple elegant shapes. Upon reading an interview with him at ponystep.com I learned his collection has both a story and a meaning (melt my heart). The collection, according to Matthew, is based off of the idea of childhood and how a child would perceive an adults clothing. “I asked children to draw garments from memory. After analyzing their pictures and observing their ‘mistakes’, this lead to the concept of fusing over, where the details of the garments such as collars, buttons, darts and seams lay beneath the surface of the cloth rather than on top.” I looked at the collection again after reading the article and ever piece became just that much more amazing. In my personal opinion (and if you know me I’ve told you before) it should take 10 minutes to realize a person is well dressed. Matthew is just that person. for the full article

http://www.ponystep.com/article/THEMENANDWOMANOFCSMBAFASHION2009_333.aspx

pratt people

One of the things I L-O-V-E about Brooklyn are the people you meet. One of the most interesting people I met on my most recent trip was artist/performer/makeup artist/nude-model Malcolm Stuart. I met Malcolm one afternoon as he was riding his bike across Pratt campus. I felt compelled to stop and tell him how much I loved his t-shirt (a whimsical yet electrically charged air brush wonder). After chatting with him for about ten minutes I had 1) discovered he made body friendly art and that 2) I needed one. One week later I found myself the proud owner of a Malcolm Stuart original. His style can only be described as crystal castles on adderall. For more on Malcolm http://malcolmstuart.com/

hello. this is me.

My name is Rachel de la Torre (of the tower). I design and sew clothing although I’m currently in school studying to become a designer. I believe the only absolute truth and consistency in life is change, I try to design accordingly. My objective as a designer is to create art that will allow for change. My design aesthetic in turn pushes against the laws of nature and aspires to create a constant subliminal elegance and style. I say subliminal because it should take 10 minutes to notice a person is well dressed. The style in my designs is in no way hip or trendy; my ultimate goal is to create a quiet beauty that will live forever.

That was basically my abbreviated artist statement if you were wondering why it sounded so formal.

Last summer I went to Chicago art institute and just yesterday I got back from the Pratt summer program where I learned about the design process and industry to see if I really want to stick with it. I’ve decided I love fashion more than my daily heroine and that is why I started this blog. I need to keep all my ideas and notes in some place, where better than the public eye.