Closetista Ltd.

Style Gone Social… coming soon!

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:01:00 -0400

Style Gone Social… coming soon!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:45:25 -0500

How many of you are wearing something red today?

The next Style Gone Social...

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:56:26 -0500

We’re lining things up for our next Style Gone Social and if you are an emerging designer interested in competing, drop us a line at designers [at] closetista.com!

Style Gone Social: Holidays Leaderboard Update

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:04:00 -0500

With only a few hours left of voting, we’re starting to see a clear front runner emerge. Although there has been some back and forth, Jes Switaj has pulled ahead of Baily Belle’s Vanessa Hotchkiss. Foamy Wader’s Alexa Allamano remains in third place.

Not all that many votes separate the contestants, so if you’re favorite isn’t in the lead, you can still help them out. You can vote by Facebook liking (10 votes), Tweeting/Retweeting (2 votes), or purchasing (1,000 votes for each unit sold).

Remember, voting ends tonight at 8pm EST. The winner of Style Gone Social: Holidays will be be revealed in a special video airing on Closetista on Monday, December 19, at 1pm EST.

Purchase Baily Belle

Purchase Jes Switaj

Purchase Foamy Wader

Style Gone Social: Holidays Leaderboard Day Two

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:11:00 -0500

Voting for the Final Challenge of Style Gone Social: Holidays has been open for over twenty-four hours now, and we still don’t have a clear leader yet!

Jes Switaj is just starting to break away from Vanessa Hotchkiss of Baily Belle, but it’s still too close to call. Alexa Allamano of Foamy Wader is still bringing up the rear although she is quickly gaining on Switaj and Hotchkiss.

Voting doesn’t close until tomorrow, Thursday December 15th at 8pm EST. You can vote by Facebook liking (10 votes), Tweeting/Retweeting (2 votes), or purchasing (1,000 votes for each unit sold). All products are now available, but quantities are very limited, and we have a hunch they’ll be sold out before you know it.

Purchase Baily Belle

Purchase Jes Switaj

Purchase Foamy Wader

Style Gone Social: Holidays Final Challenge Leaderboard

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:38:15 -0500

Voting for the Final Challenge of Style Gone Social: Holidays only began a few hours ago, and we don’t have a clear leader yet.

Baily Belle’s Vanessa Hotchkiss and Jes Switaj are neck and neck for the top spot while Foamy Wader’s Alexa Allamano remains a bit behind.

Voting doesn’t close until Thursday December 15th at 8pm EST so it’s still very much anyone’s game. You can vote by Facebook liking (10 votes), Tweeting/Retweeting (2 votes), or purchasing (1,000 votes for each unit sold). All products are available in limited quantities and they are going fast, so if you really love one of of the designers’ submissions or simply want to help them out, don’t hesitate.

Purchase Baily Belle

Purchase Jes Switaj

Purchase Foamy Wader

Spotlight on Style Gone Social: Holidays Finalists

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:14:00 -0500

We introduced our three Style Gone Social: Holidays finalists Friday, but below you’ll find a bit more about each of them and their work thus far.

Don’t forget, voting for the Final Challenge begins tomorrow at 1pm EST and ends on Thursday December 15th at 8pm EST. The winner will be announced on Closestista.com on Monday December 19th.

Because this is the last challenge of the competition, there will be no immunity. Designers still must reach 200 votes to have their products unlocked and available for purchase. You can vote by Facebook liking (10 votes), tweets/retweets (2 votes), and buying a designer’s submission (1,000 votes for each unit sold).

Designer Jes Switaj actually has a background in garment design, although you might not realize that thanks to her skillfulness with accessories. The Brooklyn-based designer has had a fruitful career thus far, auditioning for Project Runway and having her signature ties, t-shirts, and of course her pretty bags carried in over twenty-five boutiques. Her work has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens and New York Magazine among many others.

Jes Switaj’s submission for Challenge One.

Jes Switaj’s submission for Challenge Two.

Foamy Wader’s Alexa Allamano has the ideal last name for a devoted crafter; Allamano literally means “by hand”. Since 2007, she has been creating beautiful wire wrapped jewelry with an emphasis on delicacy and dazzling gemstones. Don’t be fooled by all the elegance, the Seattle-based designer has a sense of humor too. One of Allamano’s signature pieces, the knit beard, is a quirky take on the ski mask, literally giving the wearer a long beard for a day.

Foamy Wader’s submission for Challenge One.

Foamy Wader’s submission for Challenge Two.

Baily Belle’s Vanessa Hotchkiss is nothing short of prolific. Few designers work in as many mediums as Hotchkiss who easily transitions from wood to metal to fabric and back again. A few years after receiving her degree in business at the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire, Hotchkiss decided to branch out on her own and started crafting pieces as disparate as scarves and raw crystal pendant necklaces. Her work has been featured in Discover Magazine among others.

Baily Belle’s submission for Challenge One.

Baily Belle’s submission for Challenge Two.

vogue: On Newsstands Nationwide December 20th Finally the...

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:55:02 -0500

vogue:

On Newsstands Nationwide December 20th

Finally the incomparable Meryl Streep has a Vogue cover! What do you think? Kind of wish she wasn’t sitting in surf ruining her pretty dress.

Our SGS: Holidays Finalists

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:22:31 -0500

It was down to the wire, but three finalists have emerged. Our Style Gone Social: Holidays finalists are Jes Switaj, Baily Belle’s Vanessa Hotchkiss, and Foamy Wader’s Alexa Allamano. Congratulations to our hard working designers and all of their supporters!

For the Final Challenge, we’ve asked our remaining designers to create the ideal stocking stuffer for $35 or less. We’ve been so impressed with their work thus far, we can’t wait to see what they come up with next.

Voting for the Final Challenge will open next Tuesday, December 13, at 1pm EST and close Thursday, December 15, at 3pm EST. You can vote with Facebook “likes” (10 votes), Tweets/Retweets (2 votes), and Purchases (1,000).

Best of luck to our finalists, and thanks to all of the talented competitors!

Who's In the Lead? SGS Challenge Two

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:30:41 -0500

Voting for Challenge Two of Style Gone Social: Holidays is closing in thirty minutes, but there’s still plenty of time to help push your favorite into the finals! Our current leader board:

1.) Jes Switaj (leading the pack and winner of immunity for this challenge!)

2.) Baily Belle

3.) Foamy Wader

4.) Inedible Jewelry

5.) Emma Pintado

Only three designers will make it to the Final Challenge. The only clear finalist is Jes; everyone else is running neck and neck so voting really does count right now. All products have sold out, but you can still vote by “liking” the designer via Facebook (10 votes) and tweeting/retweeting (2 votes).

Style Gone Social: Holidays Challenge Two

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:30:37 -0500

Voting for Style Gone Social: Holidays Challenge Two opens tomorrow at 1pm EST. If you can’t tell by this fabulously festive picture, we asked our designers to create the only holiday accessory a fashionable gal needs. From office shindigs to fancy New Year’s Eve fetes, the holiday season is chock-full of social gatherings. Choosing appropriate outfits for all of these varying occasions can be tricky, but our clever designers prove that one great accessory is truly all you need to jazz up kitschy Christmas sweaters and cocktail dresses alike.

Our remaining designers are Jes Switaj, Vanessa Hotchkiss of Baily Belle, Alexa Allamano of Foamy Wader, Emma Pintado, and Jessica and Susan Partain of Inedible Jewelry. In case you missed the First Challenge, you can catch up with our snazzy wrap-up video and our Facebook album featuring all of the designers’ submissions.

You can vote for your favorite designer by Facebook “liking” (10 points), tweeting/retweeting (2 points), or purchasing the product (1,000 points). Designers must reach 200 points before their product is unlocked. Whoever unlocks and sells their product first is automatically moving on to the third and final round to battle it out for the grand prize.

Head to Closetista tomorrow at 1pm EST to see what our designers created and of course vote!

vogue: Actress Saoirse Ronan Photographed by Steven Meisel for...

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:50:39 -0500

vogue:

Actress Saoirse Ronan Photographed by Steven Meisel for the December Issue of Vogue

This whole editorial is completely completely perfect in every way. Saoirse looking like a young Maggie Rizer in totally magical Pre-Raphaelite setting? Yes, please!

girlsinsuits: suit done right by ralph lauren

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:48:37 -0500

girlsinsuits:

suit done right by ralph lauren

evachen212: a whisper of a dress: Jonathan Saunders

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:46:33 -0500

evachen212:

a whisper of a dress: Jonathan Saunders

stylelikeu: Cameron Silver in an Alexander McQueen jacket,...

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:45:37 -0500

stylelikeu:

Cameron Silver in an Alexander McQueen jacket, waistcoat, and shirt printed with a distorted version of Botticelli’s Birth of Venus.

A Look At Bhon's Mood Board

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:55:53 -0500

Here at Closetista, we’re major nerds when it comes to mood boards. Whenever we get a chance, we love taking a look at a designer’s inspirations for the season and seeing how they’ve transformed ephemeral ideas like “water” or “first love” into actual garments and accessories.

Bhon is no different, and designers Patty and Christine Yoon were kind enough to share their Fall 2011 mood board with us. Here’s what Christine had to say about it:

“Fall 2011 is really a graphic interpretation of these images of tropical driftwood, exposed tree roots, and forests in historically volcanic areas in Arizona. The photos on the mood board are from Patty’s trips to Hawaii and the American Southwest. All of the tie dye was based on this amazing fabric that Patty found when scouring shops in the garment district. The tie dye is a reflection of the natural color gradation found in driftwood and water-stained roots.”

Watch Bhon’s Interview

Shop Bhon’s Fall 2011 Collection

A Moment with Hunter NY

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:18:09 -0500

In the time of big, over-the-top statement jewelry, there’s something quiet nice about a small, delicate piece. The tiny pins and slim chain necklaces created by Jennifer Monzon and David Ansvananda for Hunter NY are a true breath of fresh air thanks not only to their compact size but also their timeless look. We chatted with Monzon and Ansvananda about their inspirations, what it’s like working as a team, and just where the name Hunter came from.

How did you get into jewelry design?

One holiday, we decided to make our gifts for our friends & family. We made necklaces for all the women and had a lot of fun collaborating together, literally assembling each piece right in our living room. We got a great response so we started selling at markets around Brooklyn & NYC and have been working on Hunter ever since.

Do you think working as a team makes your work stronger, and if so, why? Do you find there are any difficulties working as a team?

Working as a team definitely makes our work stronger. A detail can be missed by one but caught by another. It’s also great because we feed off of each other’s ideas and come up with even more exciting pieces than we initially imagined. It can be challenging at times because we find that we’re always working. We’re a couple as well as partners in Hunter so we’re constantly shouting out ideas or talking about our “to do’s” even while cooking, etc.

Where do you find your biggest inspirations?

Our inspirations really come from everywhere. We live in Brooklyn and are surrounded by inspiring artists all the time. Just our neighborhood alone pulses with new shops, restaurants, and bars that are owned by like-minded people. Our friends and our day jobs (we’re stylists by day) play a huge role in our work as well.

Many of your pendants and motifs are quite small, where did that idea come from?

We love the idea of delicate pieces that are classic and timeless. Any or all of them can be worn together or separately, but still have a subtleness about them.

Where did the name Hunter come from?

We chose to name our line Hunter for many reasons. Hunter is our brainchild together. It’s our love of the color, a good find/hunt and it’s a unisex name which was a perfect representation of both of us.

Do you have a favorite piece?

One of our favorite pieces would have to be the Lola Granny glasses, named after my grandmother. It was a labor of love and it went through a long design process before we felt like it was ready. We wanted to create a piece with moveable parts and add blue sapphire lenses to give it the same details as real glasses.

SHOP Hunter NY

WATCH Hunter NY

A Moment with Yvonne Potter of Britannia Antiques

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:05:47 -0400

The Closetista team clearly loves jewelry, so it was a real treat to have Yvonne Potter of Britannia Antiques share her incredible vintage finds with us. Potter has been in the business since she was a child thanks to her mother’s work as an antiques dealer on the legendary Portobello Road in London. Unsurprisingly, she’s amassed a considerable amount of knowledge over the years, and we were lucky enough to sit down with her to talk not only about the joys of finding truly special pieces, but also how to be a savvy vintage shopper.

You’re sharing so many wonderful pieces with Closetista, do you have a favorite in the collection?

The signed rhinestone and enamel vintage ram bracelet is a fabulous piece (top, right). I’m an Aries so its significant in that respect, but overall, I love wearing jewels that make people do a double take and this one certainly does.

Clearly, there’s a lot of good and exciting vintage jewelry out there, how do you know when you’ve found something truly special? Are there any features in particular you look for?

Gosh, there are so many vintage jewels and it can all seem so overwhelming especially at high-end vintage shows where all you see is acres and acres of shimmering rhinestones and eye-popping design labels. As a European, I’ve noticed how Americans love to collect signed pieces. That’s not necessarily the case with the Europeans. We love unique pieces, they really don’t have to be signed. For us, it has to be unique, it has to be memorable, like stunning diamond-cut Art Deco Bohemian blood-red glass beads. The heart has to say “this is the one” and wow, doesn’t my neck looks smashing with it on!

What do you think is the most challenging aspect of your work, and what would you say is the most rewarding aspect?

Insane hours driving across states and bizarre-speaking countries looking for anything that sparkles. Sometimes it feels like I’m going round in circles, and those early mornings getting up before dawn are killers. Oh, but the thrill of the hunt is sooo exciting!

What is the most exciting piece you’ve ever come across and why?

Last year, by chance, I bought a $2.50 (plus tax) ring in an estate sale in Ridgefield, CT. It seemed to feature a large clear rhinestone set in a silver casing. Turned out to be a vintage 1.5 carat diamond set in platinum. Kerching! Diamonds are a girls best friend.

What advice would you give shoppers interested in vintage jewelry? Anything to look out for or be mindful of?

As you begin your search and something catches your eye at an estate sale for example, don’t hesitate to take a good look at the item. Bring along a professional jewelers magnifying glass (these can be bought online at jewelry display websites) and look at the marks of the item. Does it have a hallmark? Are any rhinestones missing? Has the gold plate come off in certain places? If it needs more work than I have time for, then it goes back in the pile. It is sometimes hit or miss, its just part of the game.

Load up on information from out-of print books with pretty pictures of jewels from all ages. I tend to use all my senses before I hand over my hard-earned cash, so the pieces better be in perfect condition or I just don’t make that investment. Go out there and find those goodies!

Needless to say, all of Potter’s pieces are of the highest quality. Don’t forget to check out her video and of course shop all of her amazing one of a kind pieces.

A Moment with Aviva Kleiner of Heart Felt

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:57:55 -0400

If you couldn’t tell already, the Closetista team really loves hair accessories. If it’s sparkly, feathery, and generally fabulous we are immediately entranced. Chicago-based designer Aviva Kleiner was with us in the studio recently, and we had the chance to chat with the talented designer about headbands, fascinators, and everything in between.

Where do you get your ideas for pieces? Do you start with the materials and go from there?

I get my ideas everywhere. Sometimes it comes from an outfit I put together and other times it comes from the materials themselves. Inspiration is all around and I always keep an open heart and eye out for it.

What was the first piece you ever made? Do you still make it?

I’ve been crafting since before I can remember so it’s tough to really determine the very first piece, but with Heart Felt the first piece that I made was a felt flower. At that time it was just one little felt flower on an elastic headband. Since then, it’s grown to be a felt flower bouquet and I make it on both metal and elastic headbands.

What do you find most challenging about your work? What is most rewarding?

Owning your own business is full of challenges and rewards. Thankfully I think the benefits outweigh any negatives. As I continue to grow my own line I find it pretty challenging to keep track of everything online but I am working on ways to simplify that. As for the most rewarding aspect, I love having a day to myself to just create. It feels extremely rewarding to be able to see my ideas come to life.

You mostly make hair accessories (and a few earrings!), is there anything you’d like to start making that’s a bit different?

Yes, I have lots of ideas for expanding my product line but one thing at a time. I hope to expand to shoe clips, baby accessories, and more hats in 2012!

Finally, which is your favorite piece that is featured on Closetista?

I think that of all the pieces featured on Closetista my favorite is the black Chantilly lace fascinator. I love using vintage elements to really make my pieces unique and I especially love Chantilly lace. I think its so intricate and there is nothing more feminine! Plus the “convertible” headband and clips combination is a design that I have developed on my own and I believe it allows for a new level of versatility.

You can shop Kleiner’s Black Chantilly Lace Hattie here, and of course don’t forget to check out her video and shop the rest of her collection!

Friday News Roundup

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:51:46 -0400

This week felt plenty long (ok, it was mostly just that terrible rainy Wednesday that ruined our hair), but now that it’s Friday, we can’t believe how quickly it went by! Here’s a roundup of things that we loved, and some things you might have missed:

We’re now featuring pieces from Mixology NYC! PR whiz Alison Hessert’s line is terribly glam, and we have three exclusives from the collection, including one ridiculously sparkly double-finger ring named for Bianca Jagger and the two necklaces you see above. You can shop all of Mixology NYC’s pieces right here.

Halloween is almost here, and while we don’t have a costume (yet!), we are very excited to see pics from Gareth Pugh’s upcoming collection for MAC. Not only do we want everything, including the lilac Lipglass, but it’s great to see a talented young designer doing a big partnership like this.

We just got our Vogue yesterday, and we already have a hunch it’s going into the “do-not-throw-away” pile along with our favorite September 2001 Linda Evangelista September issue.

Up this weekend: pumpkin carving! Now if only we could capture Karl Lagerfeld’s pouty visage…