Hooked

Okay, I know that after this next post it may seem I am ready to rename this blog "Kirsten Dunst fan page". I was even trying to resist posting this post because I felt I have gone into a bit of an obsessive spiral with finding old articles and photo shoots of her. I think she has officially become my favorite style icon of the moment. Its amazing how I used to not really care for Kirsten Dunst at all and now I just adore her.

I was hunting through a stack of old magazines and stumbled upon this old W from September 2005 with Dunst on the cover. Couldn't help but share the photo shoot  (below) and this amazing quote from director Michel Gondry about Dunst:

"When I first met her, I didn't know how much I liked her, but her beauty grows slowly on you, and you get hooked."

I share Gondry's feelings exactly...she really does grow on you.

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While cleaning out my old room I stumbled upon my magazine collection that I have been maintaining for several years (as such it has become rather extensive). I finally decided now is the time to recycle all my old issues of magazines, but I couldn't help and revisit some issues as I was going through them. As such I stumbled upon two Kirsten Dunst magazines that had some photo shoots I really loved. She is quickly becoming my favorite style icon...now if only she would start making movies again now that I have become obsessed with all her older films and her personal style.

Yes, I know its yet ANOTHER Kirsten Dunst post. When I get into something though I tend to obsess so this is my trend of the moment.

Vogue- July 2004

W-April 2007

Crazy/Beautiful

Recently saw the movie Crazy/Beautiful due to a suggestion from a friend that we watch it sometime and I had recently been going through old magazines I had collected and stumbled upon an old Kirtsen Dunst photo shoot and it got me obsessing over her style again. I know I have mentioned Kirsten Dunst before as one of my style icons, so forgive me for repeating myself.

In the movie Crazy/Beautiful she plays a high school senior girl who is the "bad" girl with the rich parents who is deeply misunderstood. She meets and falls in love with a Mexican boy who lives out side of Pasadena, California and commutes 2 hours to go to a privileged school there. Kirsten Dunst's character there meets the boy (played by Jay Hernandez) and they start a romance that is troubled by Dunst's character's desire to cause chaos against Hernandez's character's desire to better his life and improve his economic situation.

It sounds like a crappy romantic teen flick I know. To be honest I would have been perfectly satisfied with it even if it was, but it was much better than I expected. Dunst's character stumbling around drunk in a cut up t-shirt and her underwear in the drive way screaming at her father in one scene pretty much sealed the deal for me on loving this movie.

The wardrobe alone is enough to make me adore it really. Dunst's character's hair is too long to be short and too short to be long and is generally a mess. Most times it doesn't look washed at all, which I just loved for some reason. My favorite wardrobe piece though was the endless supply of cut up T-shirts that bared the showed her mid drift and or were cut on the sides and tied together. Dunst's character apparently did not own a bra either it appeared. The grungy and dirty style was fantastic. Here are a few pictures of the crazy and  beautiful:

The Bee's Knees

During a trunk show we held at the boutique I work at recently, I had the pleasure of meeting the jewelry designer Jene Despain. Her work has been carried at the boutique I work at for some time now, but I had never met her in person and I have to say that it is rare to meet someone that is so friendly and compassionate towards her work. Jene DeSpain came to Seattle for her trunk show to debut her new jewelry line for the Fall called the Black Honey Collection. This collection is rather different than her past collections that focused more on art deco and 1920’s inspired designers. Upon seeing the Black Honey Collection, I feel in love with it instantly. It’s all very wearable and has very simple, but stylish designs. DeSpain works with 14k gold and does a unique gold fill process that ensures no peeling or discoloration for any of her pieces. Her other metal of choice is gun metal, which looks like an oxidized silver, so thus it is almost black. How can you not be interested in something that is made of a material called gun metal? While the collection is not available yet online it has come to several small boutiques as she does her trunk show tour. Below are a few examples of her work:

Regretfully I could not find a picture of the piece I bought (all pictures above are from an interview the designer did in Portland that is featured on her website). I purchased one of DeSpains wrap bracelets, which was a leather strip wrapped that around your wrist twice and was studded had little gold studs. She had several different style wrap bracelets and all featured this amazing gold clasp that had a hexagon honeycomb shape and then was hooked by a gold stud that resembles a bullet. Attention to detail such as the clasp on her pieces is really what intrigued me most about her designs. Another piece I loved that is not pictured are the honeycomb rings. One of her rings is made up of three connected honeycomb shapes that fit over your pinky, ring, and middle finger as one ring.

As for the artist herself, Jene DeSpain works and lives in Brooklyn, NY and was a very interesting person to talk to and truly very excited about her work. She was more than eager to talk to me and customers about the process of how she made her pieces and how important it is to her to use unique materials that will not become flawed over time. Hearing her describe her process and designs was amazing and I overall greatly enjoyed meeting her as she is not only a talented jewelry designer but a very outgoing and welcoming person. Another enjoyable side note side note about DeSpain is that she learned jewelry design at the Fashion Institute of Technology (the college I currently attend. 

Check out her designs and more information about the designer at her website (Black Honey is currently not featured to be purchase but will be coming soon): 
http://www.jenedespain.com 

Another Ugly Lover

Elle.com recently had a feature article on an inspiring and up and coming jewelry designer by the name of Gemma Redux. Redux’s line and inspiration for her creations comes from the concept of making "ugly things" in fashion forward pieces of functional art. She uses a variety of recycled and found objects in order construct her unique pieces of jewelry. Already Redux’s pieces are receiving attention from many designers that are looking to have custom pieces made for their runway shows this coming Fall. As a fan of pretty ugly things, I support Redux in her truly visionary work. See the link below to check out the article and interview with the designer on Elle.com to learn more:

Gemma Redux's Rachel Dooley On Making Less Than Pretty Things Gorgeous

With the 70’s bohemian style making a come back on the runways this past spring for Fall looks, Redux’s work is sure to be a hit for fashion fans. Lately, I have been drawn to big chunky jewelry and I adore the bead work and unruly style elements of the jewelry. Redux's pieces are very adventurous and I love the concept behind the work. Ugly is pretty. 

White Shirt and a Tank Top

When it comes to personal style, I have always been a fan of basics. If given the option I would probably wear a white tank top, denim cut off shorts, and a black blazer every day if I could. Maybe I would change out the white tank for a striped boxy cut shirt, but essentially I like pretty basic looks that focus more on simple style elements that over the top trendy fashion pieces. I prefer rumpled to perfection because personal style comes from not trying too hard to make a look your own. Anyone who masters the "I just woke up in this" look has a great sense of personal style in my book. Many may criticize a love of basics as boring but black, white, and denim are a killer combination to me and I will always be a fan of the wardrobe staples.

Spring 2010 T Line Ad Campaign

For those of you that agree with my love of basics, you probably also adore designer Alexander Wang. Even if you do tend to lean towards more styled looks, no fashion fan would disagree that Alexander Wang is an amazing designer who brought street chic to a new level. Wang who built his reputation on young, hip, urban looks and dominates the "sex-ed up street wear" look. Last year he launched a more affordable line called T. which featured slouchy street looks. I immediately adored it from the ads to the concept (yes, if I could afford it I might just buy a $95 white tank top. To me it would be worth it.) Given I am just a poor college student at the moment I am merely an admirer of Alexander Wang's designs and am very excited to hear the new T. line this season will also feature blazers and “sex-ed” up low slung pants. These additions to the T line add sophistication, but keep the fun rock star edge to Wang’s more classic pieces. Wang’s T line shows us the designer knows how to keep us on the edge of style and wanting more.

T Line Fall 2010

Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue

Happy July 4th everyone! I am going off on a "mini vacation" for the weekend, but I wanted to give a little shout out to the holiday with my favorite color scheme. Red, white and blue look amazing together and I take full advantage of this holiday to wear the color combo. Unrelated to my patriotic pride because other than that colors, the 4th of July is not all that exciting to me. Enjoy the fireworks, barbecues, or whatever else you might be doing.

Enjoy a little tribute to red, white and blue from my clothing wish list:

Obsessed. Must buy this little anchor cardigan.

If you know me, you are thinking I already own this basically. Can't help it, I like stripes.

White lace up sandal. Love, not sure I am ready to keep this clean though.

Denim cut off vest. Considering it a new wardrobe staple that I don't have yet.