TITANS + COMPANY

Miu Miu x Big Apple

ET Nguyen — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:55:28 +0000

For this Valentine’s Day, Miu Miu has a capsule collection of 46 bags, unique and hand made with crocodile, ostrich, teju and python that are mixed with lurex jacquard, patch brocade, linen and, of course, glitter. Get in line because they will go fast.

Fashion Week Lodging

ET Nguyen — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:04:41 +0000

With the fashion crowd descending on New York for New York Fashion Week, finding a place to stay can be a big challenge. For the big editors and buyers, no doubt they are at The London. I love this hotel, for the beautiful location, great staff and of course rooms done in shades of robin’s egg blue. And the living room just makes you want to prop your feet up and read WWD.

But for the fashion blogger and those just starting out, let me give you a big secret. Go with AirBnB. The service is fantastic. You get to rent from a local. I’ve used this service before, with things ranging from a great apartment in Jersey to something utterly wonderful in the Village. I love that they hold your rental amount in escrow until you arrive and can check out the place.

Looking Forward to Spring

ET Nguyen — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:54:32 +0000

Despite the fact that it is only January. I am tired of the cold and barren branches on trees. I say let spring come. Time for flowers, blossoms and clothing so light that they will flutter in the wind. I’m a bit sick of my heavy leather jacket and down vest. For this spring, I am looking forward to seeing what WAYNE, The Row, and Band of Outsiders will offer.

INTERVIEW: Jeremy Liang

ET Nguyen — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:31:50 +0000

A few words with the impeccably talented women’s wear designer, Jeremy Liang.

I read that you love to make furniture and you practice photography and painting, as well as performance art. How has your affinity for different genres of art influence your approach to design?

I was always a maker, and that’s manifested itself in many ways throughout my life. Almost since starting my line I’ve been focusing exclusively on making my clothes, but I always find time to do collaborative projects with other artists, whether prints for the season, costumes for performance, or most recently curating. My goal is to grow my business in such a way so as to allow myself the time and resources to explore other creative avenues. Rick Owens does this really well, with his furniture projects.

Going through your previous collection, I see that your designs are for the girls that love fashion but is independent of trends. What about you? What is your personal style?

I’ve had many phases of personal style, from a cross between Dickensian Urchin with Dancehall stylings, to wearing anything but black, and then to exclusively antique workwear. However, I was never bothered much by fashion trends personally, and can count on one hand the number of times I’ve worn a logo of any kind on something other than a sneaker. Things have definitely become more muted as I’ve grown up, and now that I spend most of my time in my studio I don’t bother much with “looks”. Today I’m wearing massive jean shorts that I’ve had for years and a simple grey pima cotton T-shirt. Very plain.

I’ve worked with your clothing in the past and noticed a tremendous application of geometry in the designs. When you work on designing a dress, is it a creative process or is it more of an analytical process, like trying to solve a mathematical equation?

My work usually originates in the pattern-making stage, versus on a piece of paper, or via live draping, and my working method, as well as material in-hand, has a huge impact on the final product. I cut all my own patterns, which is barely manageable a this stage, but is something I’m holding on to, because for me the process is as important as the outcome, and supersedes narrative and images as inspiration. Pattern-making is an exercise in geometry, but I would say the problems are solved mathematically, as opposed to being mathematical in origin.

TIPS: CREED, YSL, SUKI

ET Nguyen — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 04:23:22 +0000

To keep things simple in the morning, keep your morning routine easy and relaxed. I only wear two scents. I start the day with two sprays of L’Homme by Yves Saint Laurent (2) on my collar and then my left sleeve. At night, it’s always Creed Vetiver (1). It smells green and reminds me of summer nights or early mornings walking home through a field.

Skin care is a ritual and an important one. Suki (3) is one of the best all natural names on the skin care market. The ingredients are simple but profound. I wash my face using Cetaphil and then a balancing toner , followed by a moisturizer, morning and night.

PROENZA SCHOULER: PS1 Leather Tote

ET Nguyen — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:04:44 +0000

PROENZA SCHOULER’s large crinkled leather shopping tote in black. The jagged trim with tone on tone stitching gives it that beautiful rough tough to take it from the classroom right into a shopping trip downtown.Sure, at $725.00 USD it is a bit pricey but I am a firm believer in buying quality design that will go seamlessly season to season.

LOVE: Alexander McQueen Boots

ET Nguyen — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:22:46 +0000

Lately, I’ve been craving new shoes. Have you heard of that song, “New Shoes” by Paolo Nutini? Well, when I saw these beauties from McQ by Alexander McQueen, a brogue boot made in distressed, textured leather with perforated trim detail; I got them.

Young and a bit brash but sleek enough to go from class room to an interview dinner and a night out. The almost grayish leather breaks away from tradition. I love the non traditional tone of the leather.

The McQ can be a hit or miss but here, it is dead on. Perfect for any occasion. The same could be said of Tanqueray gin.

PERFECT: Alexander Wang Leather Dopp Bag

ET Nguyen — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:16:33 +0000

For your guy who has been perfect all year around, let’s start a new tradition and give him something wonderful to begin the new semester. Alexander Wang makes a beautiful Dopp bag in textured leather with screw stud detail and silver hardware to add a little edge.

Happy Holidays!

ET Nguyen — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 07:17:09 +0000

Have a safe and wonderful holiday!

Here’s to hoping that Santa will be dropping one of these in your stocking.

The Alexa Factor

ET Nguyen — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:40:44 +0000

I ran into Alexa Chung at Rachel Antonoff and couldn’t help but to think:

1. Who wears shorts in the winter? Especially cut off denim. Which leads to the question of who wears cut off denim?

2. Is that sweater itchy?

3. How do you get your hair so shiny?

Then of course I stopped into Madewell the other day and got my answer. I got to admit. It’s an entire new world for me because some winter, I layer on as much as possible under my Galliano jacket and pray for rising tempts.