Make way for London-based label Ayuk and Adaora.

Founded by Tanja Ayuk and Christine Allinson in 2009, the pair sought to create a line that exhibited their passion and dedication in creating affordable, handmade, luxury clothing that combines great craftsmanship with unique design.

In their latest fall/winter collection, structured jackets and statement dresses dominate - featuring the perfect balance of sharp tailoring and feminine flair.

I spoke with Christine about A&A. Here is what she had to say:

How did you two get started in the fashion industry?
We found that we loved fashion and being creative from a very early age. We trained in various design disciplines and found fashion to be the best way to express our creativity.

What made you leap into starting your own label together?
We share the same passion and determination to produce affordable designer clothing for women. To make clothes women could treasure for a lifetime.

The very first thing you designed/made?
Our first collection was inspired by nature and we worked with feathers and leathers. We do not follow trends so it is wonderful to have complete creative freedom.

Do you have a specific girl you are designing for? What's she like?
Our girls are strong minded and independent, they don’t follow trends and wear what they want and what they feel comfortable in. That is why in each of our collections we include one off piece so our customers have the opportunity to buy something completely unique to them, like the beautiful Warrior waistcoat.

What inspired you in your latest collection?
Our inspiration came from geometric shapes and structural forms. We produced strong designs that were so unique that they can be worn season after season and look incredible.

Favorite piece you have in store?
It is very hard to choose a favourite piece from our AW10 collection! Palette in Islington is stocking specially selected and one off pieces from September - a favourite there has to be The Goliath Dress in rust, a real showstopper.

How would you describe your personal style?
Our styles change every season but what remains constant is the fact that what we choose to wear has to be exquisitely made. All the pieces from our collections are cut so beautifully, that although the design may be complex, the garment is comfortable to wear. We’ll be wearing the velvet Stalagmite Jacket to death this season!

Any plans to expand on your line?
Ayuk & Adaora is currently being stocked in boutiques in London and New York. We have some exciting new projects coming up. We are looking at plans to expand but we want to do this without jeopardising the quality of our clothes.

Thanks Christine! 

xo

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Shaun DeGraff is a Vegas native who made singing, songwriting, beatboxing and musicmaking his lifework. After receiving his first piano at age 13, Shaun immediately fell in love with the freedom of thought and expression that song writing afforded him, ultimately gravitating to the keyboard as his main creative outlet.

Since committing full force to pursuing his talent, the artist has turned quite a few heads - earning a few award nods and even seeing his music featured in film.

Shaun's recently released album Grey Area is appropriately titled as the songs explore the ups and downs in life, walking a tight rope between positive and negative energy.

His music absolutely caught me off guard with its eclectic sound and one-of-a-kind force. Shaun may incorporate the flavors of a few big name artists - The Killers, G Love, and Ben Folds, as he references - but he definitely has a sound and dramatic flair that is uniquely his own.

Inventive, refreshing and absolutely electric. His songs will get stuck in your head time and time again.

I got to speak with Shaun over the last few weeks about his musicmaking. Here is what he had to say:

Give us a little background - how did you get started in music?
Ever since I was a kid I've always been a ham. My family never pushed me in the musical / theatre direction, it was just what I was naturally good at. I love the synergy of live performance. It's a rush putting your ass on the line and asking people "Am I good enough?" I think I chose it as a profession because I wouldn't be much good at anything else. As far as instruments, I play the keyboard so I can be any instrument I want to be organic or electric. Chances are I will fool 99% of the people out there that the instruments were played by a real drummer, guitarist, bass, strings etc. Grey Area was completely produced by me in the digital realm even though it sounds so organic.

How would you describe your sound?
LONG: Powerful Piano-pop with organic flavors of modern rock, jazz, and acoustic hip-hop. SHORT: Acoustic soul that rocks!

Very first song you wrote?
It was a song called "Shawna" and yes, of course I wrote it for a girl named Shawna. It sounded a lot like Woody Harrelson's song "Kelly" from a Cheers episode. It didn't work unfortunately. I didn't get laid. Hahahaha..

You have a very unique energy, who/what inspires you in your music?
This rollercoaster ride they call life inspires me the most. I haven't been diagnosed but I'm sure I have at least a mild case of bi-polar. If not, I'm just one moody bastard! That's why my songs range from soft and sweet to hard and aggressive. That has always been my problem as far as marketing is concerned. But that's f*cking life. As far as artists go, I'm all over the board. Bjork, Stevie Wonder, Ben Folds, Bill Withers, Imogen Heap, Owl City.

August 2010 Vocalist Of The Month for singeruniverse.com 
-Modern Rock Album Of The Year for "Music For Life" 2008 - JPF Music Awards 
-Modern Rock Album Of The Year for "In My Room" 2007 - JPF Awards 
-Modern Rock Song Of The Year for "All We Need" 2005 - JPF Awards 
-"You Had Me At Goodbye" on closing motion picture credits "The List" 2009 
-"Ain't That A B****" licensed to Google 2008 commercial 

Favorite song on Grey Area?
"Had Me At Goodbye." Love the melody, catchy lyric in the hook, and the way I produced it did the song justice. I didn't write the song. My amazing talented friend Phillip Stendek wrote it.

Name some artists on your iPod right now.
Lot's of progressive trance DJ sets. I get sooo much shit done when I listen to it. Angels and Airwaves, BT, Cocteau Twins, DJ Shadow, Fever Ray, Foo Fighters, Imagine Dragons (great band from Vegas), Justice, Phoenix, Vampire Weekend to name a few.

You seem to be doing well lately with album drop earlier this year, the recent vocalist of the month win and #1 Vegas ranking on ReverbNation. What's next for you?
First, Around The Way blog, then, THE WORLD!!! Muuuwwwaaahahahahahah!!! (Evil laugh). My goal for the next month is to put a college/festival tour together. My goal for the next three to six months is to get enough college radio play to open for a headlining tour.

Upcoming shows?
TBA. Go to http://www.thatpianoguy.com/ and sign up for the mailing list!

Thanks Shaun for the great interview! We expect to see much more of you...

Get your Shaun DeGraff fix:

Listen to his album Grey Area

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Beautiful photographs, feminine features and the ramblings of a Jane Austen addict are just some of the charming features of the very young Cellardoor Magazine - an online publication out of the UK.

Just three issues in, Cellardoor has quickly defined itself. A dreamy but interesting magazine, each issue showcases fashion, music, film, art and the like - a perfect read for the modern girl who is in tune with the world.

I spoke with Amy and Jade about their budding creation. Here is what they had to say:

Tell us about Cellardoor. How and when did it all begin?
We’d just graduated straight into the height of recession and were struggling to get work and do something we both enjoyed. We’d created Cellardoor as part of our uni course and really grew to love it and had often discussed maybe putting it online. It first began as a way to stop us from being bored whilst searching endlessly for jobs, but we got some amazing feedback so decided to take it a little more seriously - and now it’s just snowballed.

I love the name - what's the story behind it?
Thanks! It took so much deliberation to find a name. That was the hardest part, we knew exactly how we wanted it to look, so the name had to reflect that. It's been said that of all the word combinations in the English language, cellar door is the most beautiful. We thought it was pretty perfect - we think (and granted, we may be slightly biased) that Cellardoor is pretty beautiful! It’s a unique and interesting name.

Tell us a little about the current issue. What can readers expect in Summer of Love?
Each issue has a running seasonal theme, so we try to fit most of the features and editorials around the current season. So, this issue is jam-packed with beautiful photo shoots, great features and interviews from Leddra Chapman and the Wildfox Girls. It's the perfect thing to read on a hot, sunny day.

Who is the Cellardoor reader? Tell us about her. What is she like?
We've had the magazine described as “feminine with a bit of an edge,” which we thought really summed us up. I think our typical reader is young, intelligent and stylish, with an interest in the things around her. She knows her own mind and appreciates beautiful things in life.

What are some of your favorite pieces from the magazine?
Amy: My favourite pieces are normally from the homes sections - I love taking a sneak peek inside other people’s houses and seeing the beautiful things they can do in a tiny space. I do get slightly envious though!

Jade: I’ve always loved Stacey Mark’s work so I was pretty excited when we featured her in the Spring Fling issue - I’ve even got one of her photos on my bedroom wall. I guess it’s the equivalent to meeting your first boyband crush!

by Stacey Mark

Where you do draw your inspiration from?
There are so many great blogs out there, and we read so many that it would be hard to list them. While we love reading them and appreciate how fab they are and the talent that's around, it's everyday life that really inspires us, and as the magazine is quarterly to coincide with the seasons, we tend to draw inspiration from them. Our contributors also often come up with great ideas, too. There’s a lot of hidden talent out there.

What's in store for the next issue?
We're really excited about the next issue, as we've decided on the theme of 'Emerging Talent'. It's a chance to introduce our readers to some really talented and creative people. I think we've set ourselves a huge challenge - we want to fit so much in! But that's all we're saying for now.

And since this is the summer issue... favorite thing about the season?
Jade: My favourite thing would have to be lying on a beach with a good book... or the latest copy of Cellardoor!

Amy: I love the feeling of freedom that summer brings, and the way everyone's just so much more cheerful. And I have a dress problem so I love being able to make full use of my wardrobe!

Thanks Amy and Jade for the great interview!

Summer of Love.

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Keep an eye out for the next issue, coming soon.

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I'm always on the hunt for new, standout online shops - so when the owner of Wight.co.nz, Brodie, introduced herself I was absolutely ecstatic. What a gem she has!

Wight, a New Zealand-based web store, is designed for fashion lovers across the globe who are all about bold self-expression. The shop features a select number of cutting-edge designers - handpicked by the owner herself - making catwalk-ready style an effortless venture. This cohesive collection of just five lines can be easily mixed and matched, too, resulting in an ultra-unique wardrobe.

I chatted with Brodie more about her store. Here is what she had to say....

 

What's the story behind Wight? How did you get started? A little background please!

Of course!

I have adored fashion for as long as I can remember and have always desired to be a part of the fashion industry. After completing a Bachelor of Commerce I started my career in fashion, managing the Wellington Kate Sylvester store - here I was introduced to buying. I remember my first trip to the Kate Sylvester work room in Auckland to buy the next collection and coming home and saying “I love my job!” Buying quickly became one of my favourite parts of the industry. More buying opportunities came when I moved onto manage a high fashion multi brand store and it was from here that I decided I wanted to combine my buying and business skills and plunge into the ever expanding online fashion world. And Wight was born!

I wanted to provide clothing and accessories for women who would adore fashion as I do, I wanted to make it easy and fun for them by enabling the ability to shop from home, the office, their phone! And I wanted to provide fashion for women who find it difficult to access the brands they love as I know this can be very frustrating.

It has been a dream for a long time to have my own business, absolutely love what I do every day and be totally absorbed in the fashion industry – now that this dream is happening it’s quite surreal and I feel very lucky.

How would you describe the Wight girl?

 She likes to express herself though what she wears, she likes to push the boundaries and LOVES to be different. She wears colour and pretty dresses. She’s elegant, edgy and maybe a tad eccentric. She’s a head turner!

You have a very bold and unique group of brands available on your site. Tell us a little about them. What do you like about these brands? Why these designers?
I wanted to sell brands that were very fashion. I wanted the pieces to be bold but still very wearable and I wanted my customer’s excitement levels to sky rocket when they browsed the pages. I think that the brands Wight has available take care of this!

Maurie and Eve is quite beautiful and ladylike, The Cassette Society had an edge and is fearless, Cybele is a great representation of New Zealand fashion, her style is beautiful yet has a significant point of difference, POP! Eyes has a WOW factor, and House of Harlow – well that speaks for itself – this brand is super hot.

I think they complement each other and you can really mix and match them and have some fun with it.

Who else would you love to add to your shop?
There’s a long list! But three from the top would be… 

• Stolen Girlfriends Club – love their collections!
• Twentysevennames – adorable!
• And the lovely Therese Rawsthorne. 

Your favorite piece(s) you currently have in store?
Ooooh there’s so many! But Top Five would have to be ONE - Maurie and Eve The Fame Dress. TWO - Cassette Society Lace Key To Me Dress. THREE - House of Harlow Riveted Bangle. FOUR - Maurie and Eve Rumours Thick Stripe Dress. FIVE - Maurie and Eve Off The Wall Quilt Skirt.

Oh and can’t forget Cybele’s Solemn Long Wrap, I can’t wait to snuggle into this when it gets colder!

Who is the ultimate style icon, in your opinion?
I couldn’t pick just one. So… 

• Agyness Deyn – she’s fantastic the way she manages to mix pretty with grunge, I’m a little obsessed with her style.
• SJP as Carrie Bradshaw – I think she’s a true representation of fearless style.
• Whitney Port – an adorable wardrobe.
• And pretty Alexa Chung, I love keeping up to date with her outfits.

I’m very inspired by these ladies.

What's the future hold for Wight?

To keep growing by increasing the brand makeup and awareness of the boutique. Also really hitting the international market – I really want to provide other countries with New Zealand and Australian Fashion because it’s fantastic and I don’t want them to miss out! I’m very excited to see where Wight and I go!

Thanks Brodie for taking the time to chat!

xo

So, what do you think? I just love her style! Great taste, yes?

More Wight:

Shop Wight.

Check the Style Guide.

Get the Newsletter.

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{all images courtesy of wight}

A little treat for you this early morning!

I've had this little interview with Diana - who, must I mention, is one of my favorite bloggers - waiting in blog post limbo for the exact right time to showcase for you here. I'm having a wonderful morning and how better to spread the happiness than to share a little photography from Diana herself. I see no other way :)

Diana (many of you know her from her blog Our City Lights) is a hugely talented lady. Day in and day out she inspires me to do more. To stay creative. And if you are just getting acquainted with her now, I promise she will have the same effect on you.

We had a little chat a couple weeks back - here is what she had to say!

Tell us about City Light Photography - a little background if you will :)

The little shop began when many flickr contacts would ask for prints of my photos. I didn't mind handing out a few pics here and then, but it got a little expensive for me, so I decided to open up shop.

When did you start taking photos?

I started using a camera so long ago, maybe ten years ago, but I never used digital until about five years ago. I can handle a 35mm camera so much easier than digital. It still scares me a little.

What kind of equipment do you use?

Right now I have a Canon DSLR, but I love my film and instant cameras. I love my Polaroid 600, and my Minolta SR-T303. For digital I have a 50mm, Fisheye, 100 mm, and a 250 mm lens. My absolute favorite right now is the Fisheye.

What is your favorite photograph of yours - one you just couldn't part ways with?

It would be my Lingerie Print. I was testing out a new Polaroid camera with old film, and it just happened to come out so magical to me.

 Your favorite photography by someone else?

This one is tough, but I'm going to have to go with I'm only sleeping's photostream.

Your inspirations?
Elle Moss is inspiration because she amazes me what she can create digitally. Flickr amazes me in general for meeting so many great artists.

If you go back in time, where would you want to go and what pictures would you take?

Martin Luther King, Jr., August 28, 1963, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Or watching the Beatles play a concert. I would love to capture those images.

Last picture you took?

I just went on vacation so I took a bunch, but this is the last one uploaded.*

*note: as of the end of March :)

Can you talk about some of the projects you are currently working on?

Oh, wow. What am I not working on? ;)

Oh Sew Dreamy began as love for embroidery for me and love for drawing for Naomi. We haven't sold anything yet, but the feedback has been positive. I'm doing Blog It Forward this month. 6,768 Miles Apart began with Ana B., and we have extended our photos from just morning to day.

 

You are one creative lady! Any other outlets besides photography and embroidery?

I used to be a hairstylist. Sometimes I miss it, getting creative with retro hair and makeup. Also, I just recently got a Bamboo tablet to experiment with digital drawing- I dropped out of fashion school for this reason- I can't draw!

And finally, please dish on the February blogger meetup. Tell us all about it!

It was like the Internet exploded, so crazy! The girls were fun and I have more respect for them after discussing some blog talk with them.

Thanks Diana! You rock :)

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Dear Internet, please meet Penelope's Vintage, a new and very cool vintage and secondhand clothing shop started by the lovely Chanelle, who is based in LA.  

This offbeat enterprise emerged out of a simple love of thrift shopping and treasure hunting. Chanelle found herself to have a special talent for seeking out unique garments and piecing them into extraordinary outfits - and so began the start of her business.  

I'm very much sweatin' her style. Both she and her shop are easily becoming a favorite of mine.

Chanelle and I have been chatting about Penelope's Vintage for the last couple weeks. Here is what she had to say!

What's the story behind your business? How did you get started? A little background please. 
I LOVE shopping at Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc. When I’m browsing, these amazing pieces just come out at me and immediately an outfit pops in my head. Every time I’d bring my friends I would have a whole cart full of clothes and they’d have nothing. They would always say, “I just don’t have an eye for it” or “I don’t have the patience.” After a while I was like I should use my “talent,” if you will, and do the work FOR the people. I’ll pick out the clothes, put them in an outfit, and then they can buy the items from me. I had been planning to jump on the eBay bandwagon and put up these clothes I found for a year or so, but setting it up overwhelmed me. I remember one night all my friends were over and we were watching a movie and I’m like, “You know what? I’m going to set up my eBay store” (probably not the best time, but it worked). And the rest is history. 

I love that you have standout pieces in your shop that are not just quality, they are unique. Where do you source your pieces and what are some of your qualifications when choosing items to stock? 
I try and go to different places all the time, A, so that I don’t get the same stuff all the time and, B, if I keep hitting up the same store there won’t be anything left that appeals to me (probably because I buy it all). I have to give the store time to get in more stock. The biggest qualification is: Do I like it? If I don’t like it I can’t put it with an outfit and then it has no appeal. I also think of the season, what’s big, what I think is going to be big, etc. I’ve recently reached out to everyone on our Twitter and Facebook page to see what THEY would like to see in the store, so I also like to take in everyone’s suggestions, as well. 

There are a number of emerging vintage shops these days - what sets your store apart from the rest?
I think what sets mine apart, or I would like to think, is that I offer a broad range of styles in my store. You want boho? I got it. You want 80s glam? Got it. You want a simple high wasted short for summer? Got it. Of course these aren’t always all in the store at once, but they do circulate. I love and appreciate so many different types of fashion, eras, and styles so I think my inventory really showcases that. 

What is your favorite piece that you have in stock? 

Right now my favorite item is the 90s skort overalls. I can't really explain my love for those but I can tell you when I saw them I grabbed them and hugged them for a minute and knew I had to share them with the world. I'm also super into the Kenny Rogers denim shirt. Who knew Kenny Rogers had clothing??? 

What would be your ultimate vintage find?
Wow. That’s like asking a chef what’s your favorite food to cook. I think my ultimate vintage find would be Chloe or Dior circa 1960s/1970s, or anything designer from those eras for that matter. I mean I get excited when I find Guess jeans from the 90s. That was their prime man. 

If you could live in any decade simply for its clothing, which would you pick? 
Honestly I appreciate every decade for its fashion, but to LIVE in, it’s a tie (and its cliche)- 60s and 70s. 

60s: The 60s still had the conservativeness of the 50s but also was breaking out of its shell and becoming rebellious and I love that transition. It was starting to push boundaries and become creative. Art was influencing fashion more and designers were taking risks. I’m almost positive it was André Courrèges that first came out with a space suit line and I remember thinking when I studied this how amazing it was that he took something like space and made it into fashion at that point in time. It was unheard of. 

70s: Why? High wasted jeans, prints, plaids, colors, sequins, platforms, bishop sleeves, jumpers, rompers, and spandex (just to name a few). My best friend found this channel that plays the original Soul Train and I TiVo it everyday. I watch it for hours and get inspired, upset because I want it all, and happy because these outfits existed all at once. It’s really emotional for me. 

In your opinion, who is the ultimate fashion icon? 
This is hard for me to answer because people pay stylists to dress them then they get the credit so it's hard to pinpoint who actually has the creativity and who pays for the creativity. I know I wish I could own Nicole Richie’s closet, and Rachel Zoe. Edie Sedgwick is a huge inspiration as is Karen O (she was wearing outfits like Lady Gaga WAY before there was a Lady Gaga). I love the Olsen twins’ style as well - they’re not afraid to try anything and I love that about them. I’m also obsessed with Jeremy Scott. And Karl Lagerfeld… what Marc Jacobs is doing with Louis Vuitton is impeccable. I can probably go on so I’m just going to stop while I’m ahead.

Any suggestions for those looking to add vintage pieces to their wardrobes? 
I started with vintage tees which I also suggest they do as well. They go with anything… jeans, leggings, shorts, skirts, you name it. Once you feel comfortable with those infiltrated in your wardrobe you can work your way up until you get into a full sequins jumpsuit from the 70s disco era! 

Thanks Chanelle!!

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Photography by Kayven.

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New York City Photographer Jeff Fried started getting into photography at age 20. But it was one color printing class years later that stirred his momentum, pushing him to transform his love of taking pictures into a full-fledged profession.

When focused in on his art, Jeff spends much of his time documenting friends and family in the spaces around him. But his shots of seemingly typical imagery are anything but mundane. Jeff manages to take everyday occurrences, like sitting in a dimly lit room, outside the realm of banality - conveying the emotion hidden in ordinary, real life moments.

As a spectator, it's easy to get lost in trying to decipher the thoughts of his subjects.

In Jeff's commercial work, he shows sensitivity to the needs of his clients, but the sort of raw, poetic qualities seen in his personal photos are still very much apparent.

I spoke to Jeff recently about his work. Here is what he had to say:

What made you decide to pursue photography professionally?
I’ve always felt extremely fortunate to have found something that I am good at and love to do. I started taking pictures when I was twenty and printing color film when I was twenty-two. I was shooting and printing pretty much non-stop so pursuing photography as a profession just seemed logical. After studying Art Photography at Syracuse University I moved to NYC, sold my car, bought a nice digital SLR, and started making efforts to put my name out as a New York City-based commercial photographer.

Tell us a little about some of your recent projects.
I've been gradually expanding upon a series of environmental portraits of young men over the past four years. I call the series "Disillusion." I started the project just before I entered my last year at Syracuse. I was seeing a lot of my male friends enter into a sort of personal funk (and in the midst of one myself). Each of us had our own reasons. Whether it was girls, family, jobs, school or whatever, for all us it was manifesting itself in a very noticeable way. We would talk on the phone or in person and the conversations would always revolve around these pretty depressed concepts. We’d often talk about how it’s a fairly common stereotype that young males, really guys in general, aren’t in touch with their emotions. That wasn’t the case with my friends and myself so I set out to embrace these feelings and try to capture them on film. I wanted to portray young men in a way they aren’t usually portrayed. I'm not sure if I'm done with that project. I say that because sometimes I still see and feel the funk. 

I've recently started another project called "The Heart." My parent's decided to move out of the house my family had lived in since '93. Even though they wanted to move and had talked about doing so for a while, the actual process was sad. I have not lived at home since 2003, yet moving brought me to realize how attached I was to that house. While I helped my parents move I kept thinking of the saying "home is where the heart is" and what moving homes means for that idea. Honestly, the more I think about that saying within the context of moving, the less I understand it.

We all have someone or something that inspires our life and work. What inspires you in your work?
Personally, the world around me. I tend to shoot what's in front of me, where I live, the people I know. Professionally, I work to understand what the client is trying to portray, then I let my imagination run. 

Favorite picture you've taken?

Without a doubt my Grandma standing outside on her balcony one spring afternoon. It was just before her 92nd birthday. I came home from school with a 4x5 and a bunch of film. I had been planning to photograph her out on the balcony for a while. The weather was beautiful on this particular day so I went up to her room to try to convince her to let me take her picture. My Grandma's lived with my family since I was 15 or 16. When I got to her room she was wearing her bright magenta button down shirt, holding a cordless phone in one hand and some crumbled tissue in the other. She said she was waiting for a call. She told me I could only take her picture if I let her wear her sunglasses. She has these incredibly suiting sunglasses that she found on a rack at CVS. So I couldn't argue with that. I went out on her balcony and set up the frame then asked her to join me. 4x5 film is pretty expensive so I only fired two frames, one of which is my all-time favorite. Both of her hands are up and she's mid-sentence. People always tell me they expect her to sound something like George Costanza's mom. It's kind of funny how many people will then proceed to put their hands in the air and put on their Jewish Grandmother accent and say "Don't fuhget to cawl ya grand-motha!" 

Favorite photo taken by someone else?
That’s not a fair question. I love too many. Some of the first that come to mind are DiCorcia’s Hollywood photos: Ike Cole, Eddie Anderson. I also really like Jeff Wall, Stephen Shore, Paul Graham, Joel Sternfeld. The list goes on. 

Favorite client you've done work for thus far?
Mbarqgo. Hands down. They flew me out to LA to shoot. That was a first time a client had ever done that.

What type of cameras do you use?
It really depends on the shoot. I bought my first camera when I was 20. It was an old Canon AE-1. I think it was made in '78 or '79. I first learned to print film with that camera. I still carry that camera with me to this day. Years later I moved to NYC and decided to sell my car and invest in a Canon 5D. I guess I was branded. When I was a student and had an equipment room full of gear I would always gravitate to the 4x5. I loved how clunky and process oriented it was. Somehow I convinced my professors to loan the gear over the summer before.

Name the first photographer that comes to your mind.
Philip Lorca-DiCorcia. Gotta love DiCorcia. 

If you could be invisible with your camera, where would you go, what would you shoot?
If I could be invisible with a camera well then I’d also like to request that I can travel through time. I’d go document my family during my childhood. If time travel isn’t available then I’d probably go to the White House.

Dream photo gig?
Midnight snack with Obama in the White House Kitchen.

What I love about your photographs is how real and contemplative they are. Is that something you aim for? What do you look to capture in your photos?
Well thank you kindly. When I’m shooting for myself I often like to stage the scene. I typically have an agenda in mind.

Thanks Jeff for taking the time to talk! 

Keep up with JFP

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Check out his recent series Getting Stranger.
I love the concept.

 

 With the recent surge of online vintage shops, it can be difficult for one to stand tall among the many. But Southern California's Ramona West Vintage is easily a top player. This carefully edited collection of vintage clothing and accessories is handpicked for style, quality and authenticity - all the while keeping in tune with both current and emerging trends.

I spoke with the curator of Ramona West Vintage. Here is what she had to say about her gorgeous little enterprise. 

What's the story behind your business? How did you get started?

Well, I'm a fashion designer by trade. When I graduated from design school, I worked for a few years (for a couple of different companies) before quitting it all one day. I just wanted the freedom to do my own thing every day. I was searching for a really simple, beautiful life, which is exactly what I have now. I'm thankful beyond belief every single day (never give up on your dreams!)

Anyways, I started making dresses and bags from vintage fabric that I sold to some local high end contemporary boutiques. While constantly sourcing vintage fabric, I began to come across amazing vintage dresses along the way. I always thought "that would be amazing if it was 10" shorter - or if the sleeves were removed - or ..." and I started picking up these pieces along the way, making the necessary adjustments to satisfy my eye and put them up on etsy. To my surprise, they began to sell. So I added more. And this continued until I was fortunate enough to be able to open my own Web site. My customers are amazing.

You have some really unique, standout pieces that are in great shape. Where do you source your pieces and what are some of your qualifications when choosing items to stock?

Thank you! Everything in my store is handpicked. My sources are top secret. If you have the patience though, vintage can be found at thrift stores and flea markets. You kind of have to go every day though.

When choosing items to stock, I look for cut, quality, wearability, and timeliness/current trends. I have my own aesthetic, but I keep up on current runway and street trends and adapt accordingly. I like to offer my customers a unique one-of-a-kind alternative for the best current trends (as well as classic silhouettes) at a really great price. That's my goal.

There are a number of emerging vintage shops these days - what sets your store apart from the rest?

Maybe the fact that I didn't really intend to start a vintage shop. Since I have a background in fashion design, I approach it like a clothing line. I try to present a cohesive collection.

What is your favorite piece that you have in stock?

My favorite piece in stock right now is this army green silk short sleeve jacket/mini dress.
(above)

What's would be your ultimate vintage find?

Some kind of Parisian couture, for sure. But I get really excited about the perfect little dresses and coats that I find all the time.

If you could live in any decade simply for its clothing, which would you pick?

The late 60s/early 70s. Or the 20s.

In your opinion, who is the ultimate fashion icon?

As embarrassed as I am for saying this, I love to see what Mary-Kate Olsen is wearing. I just love the way she puts things together. She mixes vintage and modern flawlessly. I don't know about the term "icon" though. Because fashion is always changing, it's hard to look back and say that someone had it all at any point in time.

Any suggestions for those looking to add vintage pieces to their wardrobes?

A vibrant 60s mini dress adds just enough interest peeking out from under a chunky cardigan or military blazer.

A vintage coat makes a great statement piece layered over your daily basics.

A beat up t-shirt balances out a pretty vintage high waist printed skirt.

Vintage is the perfect way to make your wardrobe unique and special. Just balance it out with current staples.

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Want more?

Shop Ramona West Vintage .

Shop more on Etsy.

See the Blog.

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