Irving Penn

More inspiration, almost too much to handle, from our trip to the Met earlier this month. I know I know. I’m in a museum, taking photographs of photographs. But these images conjured up so many memories for me, I wanted to take them with me, my particular memories of the photographs of Irving Penn.

As a girl, I started receiving subscriptions to Vogue at a very young age, and it was my bible. It came into my room and brought me to a fantasy land of fashion, of where I wanted to be. It was my visual sanctuary.

My mother made all of my clothes when I was growing up, and after each issue arrived, it was followed by a trip to the fabric mills, to collaborate on trying to recreate the illusion of what I saw. All my aunts were in on it in their own ways. So many of these Irving Penn images from the 50’s and 60’s remind me of my mother and aunts.

Here’s a sneak peak. Show closes July 30.

And we got to play a bit. They had Penn’s backdrop set up that he used in his studio, so as my “photographer” was with me, I got to particpate.

From the Beautiful to the Grotesque

Above, her own words, Rei Kawakubo. We had a chance to catch this show at The Met last week, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. So interesting to have a conversation from our very different perspectives……my background in fiber art in three dimension, my partner’s in fashion design Haute-Couture, with a very different main inspiration from Yves St Laurent; mine western looking east, his eastern looking to the west, in our young and formative years. Working together for all these years, the push and pull arrives at influences from both.    This show is a must see if you are in town.

“Dressed for Defiance”, NY Times

Back in the Studio

I can honestly say I feel well rested and getting back to being organized, my desk is cleared off, the orders are in order, and ready to design and make new things, after participating in two big shows last week.

Before leaving for The Smithsonian Craft Show last week, we completed an item that had been in the works in our heads for a few months, and I couldn’t be more excited after wearing it at the show. Only having time to make one, I took it on an off  as a sample (so easy to slip over the head, or zip down the back) for try ons. And everyone that tried it on wound up ordering it! Thank you for inspiring us! We will be making more of these over the summer. Such a blank palette, beautiful as it is, but the possibilities are endless! Made of beautiful French Lambskin, this Tunic is going to be my go to item, and the FEEL of it is amazing!

D.C. and Chicago!

We are Honored and Delighted to be exhibiting in these two fabulous shows!

Please visit our booth at

The Smithsonian Craft Show

The National Building Museum

Washington, D.C.

April 27th-30th

One of a Kind Spring Show

The Merchandise Mart

Booth 5035

Chicago, Il

April 28th-30th

Jo will be working our booth in Chicago

Stop by and meet her, and see our new work!

The Smithsonian Craft Show!

Coming Up in April, so honored to be exhibiting!

link to show info

Late Winter Shows!

Just in time for “LATE WINTER!”

info

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Creating and Expressing Personal Style

I opened Women’s Month at the Brooklyn Museum, to view two exhibitions of female expression. I went for Marilyn Minter, but I came away with Georgia O’Keefe.

Georgia O’Keefe

Never a huge fan of her paintings, I learned so much about the whole woman, her attention to the details of her life, how meticulous she was about her clothing, beautifully documented by the great photographers in her life.

Never knew, and blown away.

Many garments made with her own hands, many carefully chosen and cherished for construction, simplicity of design, and tactile feel of natural fiber.

 Had a lunch break to avoid whiplash between these two powerful shows!

Marilyn Minter