Smashing Darling Blog

Okay, we did see that NY Mag was featuring BFF’s, but the timing was truly random that Crosby and her BFF wanted to share their beautiful indie love with us! They were in downtown Los Angeles, CA together at a Silent Auction at Poketo to raise money for Faythe Levine’s indie craft documentary, Handmade Nation and then later at the Edison, a neato steampunk-ish Charlie Chaplin-ish bar where the stirrers are light bulbs. Enjoy the interview with these two most stylish BBF’s. I know I did. Get involved and leave them a comment.

Marie Rounsavell and Crosby Noricks

Name: Crosby Noricks and BFF Marie Rounsavell

Occupation(s): Crosby: Founder/PR Couture, Web Publicist/Red Door Interactive, Marie: AppleOne and www.marimello.com

City/State: San Diego and LA, CA

What one word describes you most?
Crosby: Cupcake?
Marie: Dang, I was going to say that. If I picked her word, I would say “mermaid.” If I pick a word for both of us, it would be “Unicorn.”

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Crosby: Everywhere
Marie: Everywhere…on a train.
Crosby: Ooh like that Madonna song

Tell us about what you are wearing:
Crosby: The top is actually more of a tunic, tucked in, that I picked up at the Buffalo Exchange in the Mission in SF. The skirt was a birthday present to myself a few years ago. I got it at the THREAD show in San Diego. It’s by MyRebe. The belt I pillaged from Marie’s closet at the last minute. I’m wearing it backwards. The earrings are by Najwa Moses and the green bracelet was a present from a friend who just returned from Italy. I’m also wearing patent leather, heeled mary-janes from Target.

Accessories: I’m wearing a chain necklace that Marie got me off Etsy, that I added charms to. One is a resin bottlecap of a rose with a tiny black crystal charm from my lovely friend Kristal Molina, a local San Diego Jewelry designer, and my “Dussnass” charm which means nothing unless you are a me and Marie. I’m also wearing a ring that Marie got me off Etsy (it is good to have friends who shop for you) that is like a little engagement BFF ring. I wear it sandwiched between three stackable rings from Amy Tavern, (I love her and have a ton of her pieces) that was one of my last Christmas presents from my mom – so I wear them all the time.

Marie: Crosby once said that she doesn’t have a post-college picture of me where I am not wearing that zebra tank. I have no idea who made it. No recollection of buying it. And I don’t have a whole lot of pictures from the last somethingity years of me without it. The pants are Yaya that I think my Grandma bought somewhere schmancy on one of our last shopping trips together. The shoes are Frye - I totally saw them on Tricia Royal’s feet on Wardrobe remix and had to have.

Accessories: Gold bra–american apparel. The gold bracelet is Wendy Nichol and a birthday present I brought for myself on starsandinfinitedarkness. The silver bracelet is from a store in Mexico called “The Most Complete Store.” Best. Store. Name. Ever. The earrings were a gift. *Sappy story alert* My man bought them for me in a gas station in Idaho. They hurt like hell to wear, but I have never received more compliments on any other pair of earrings. The necklaces (and in some pictures the bracelet) are a mish mash of awesome indie. It’s like my indie rosary. One charm is a designer who lives in Bali half the year designing, one designer is a lady who used to work for Chrome Hearts and decided to bust out on her own, and the most important is my “Dussnass,” which is like BFF if you are Marie and Crosby. My rings are all from various Etsy sellers. I wear at least 6 and have a story of every one of them. Obviously I have a sentimental jewelry problem.

How did you meet your BFF, and what do you love most about her?
Crosby: The short answer is that we met freshman year at Pitzer College, where we both had kind of crazy roommates. A road trip in a borrowed SUV, a couple of highlighting kits, and a few platform shoe sprees later, it was settled. What I love most about Marie. Well, she may kill me for saying this, but she has no idea how badass she is. Like she walks in and all these jaws drop and she is maybe in a tank top and jeans or in some fierce get up and everybody is like “who” but she has no idea its even happening. She just is. If I was writing a fashion story on her style it would be about how has really evolved and become more confident. She has mastered the, “I just tossed this on” look except that she really did. But ok if we are talking like love love I guess it is that she is fiercely loyal, like she will take your ex outside at 3 am and fight for you. hard.

Marie:
The first time I met Crosby she was sitting next to a Hottie McHotterson on the grass outside our dorm, in the sunshine wearing these crazy linen wrap pants. They were slit up to there. The sort of pants you wear and look fab, but secretly you know you’re both sexy (for McHotterson) and comfy (like you’re in your jammies). I covet those pants to this day. She said her mom made them. My heart went pitter pat. We chatted away in this totally unabashed way about wearing clothes our moms made. You know it’s love when you find some one who not only has a mom who makes clothes, but you know it’s for real when she talks about it like her mom is Zhandra Rhodes. And you both know who Zandra is.

Some weeks later, on the aforementioned road trip, I discovered her mom kind of was the Zandra Rhodes of Pleasanton, CA crazy day of the dead and mannequin home decor and pink bangs high school Spanish teaching. Take a second to picture that and try not to fall in love.

What I love about Crosby is that I could write a book about loving Crosby. The Fashion chapter would be about having an all access pass to her closet and how without that pass, I would still be throwing together the same men’s undershirts and gap jeans I was wearing when I met her. The second fashion chapter would be about how she weaned me off my baggy earth-tone wardrobe and taught me that good clothes, even the baggy earth-toned ones, open all doors. The Love chapter would be about life giving you lemons. I love Crosby because she is ideas. Great ideas. Life give you lemons, and I make lemonade, but Crosby make lemon pomegranate mimosas that keep you feeling like a mermaid for days afterward. She listens. She’s funny. She’s not just smart, she’s wise.

Tell us about something you love that you want others to know about?
Crosby: Besides the duh of PR Couture, I’m really woohoo lately about this book called Style Statement, putting feathers in my hair, and green smoothies.
Marie: I write marimello.com. Mairmello wants to be the Dean Moriarty of craft. I read a Tom Robbins book every couple of months. Mostly I read Still Life with Woodpecker. I’ll keep it short, but the character Woodpecker thinks there are two kinds of people, or rather people react to consequences in one of two ways: Yum and Yuck. I thought I was one, but it turns out I was the other. Later in the book, Woodpecker finds another reaction: Yikes. I am always interested in finding out whether people are yums, yucks, or yikes.

If you would like to be featured showing us how you wear your indie, please by all means email me trish(at)smashingdarling(dot)com

Amanda Boyd has been working in the fashion industry for over ten years on couture and commercial levels in the areas of production, merchandising, specifications packages and design. After four years of freelance apparel and textile design for private label sleepwear, she launched Sandmaiden, her own small line of sexy lounge wear and at lingerie.

Trish: How did you get into fashion?
Amanda: My mother is very into fashion, she always made our clothes for us when we were children, as soon as I was tall enough to reach the peddle I started making them for myself. Patterns came a couple of years later and fashion itself well I suppose that has been a life long interest.

Trish: Where did you study?
Amanda: I went to fashion design college immediately after high school at Blanche McDonald immediately after high school, later I worked in the industry and kept learning that way. I don’t know that I use very much of what was taught in school.

Trish: When did you start your own line of lingerie?
Amanda: I’ve been sewing lingerie for several years but just put my first “collection” together about a year ago, since then I’ve created about 10 collections for the Sandmaiden label.

Trish: Where do you turn for inspiration for your designs?
Amanda: I try to keep track of what European designers are doing but more than anything I just keep an eye on what I see on the street and if a color or a silhouette jumps out at me I think about reinterpreting it.

Trish: You have been in many aspects of the industry, what is your favorite part?
Amanda: I like cutting and sewing, there is something so satisfying about seeing your ideas come to life. I once heard that we never really create anything, only discover things…everytime I start a brand new piece it’s a joyful process of discovery. after 20, it’s just sewing.

Trish: Do you see the industry differently now that you have your own line?
Amanda: No, but more than ever I support indie and handmade anything, i’ve always been inclined to believe this is the only way to a healthy economy.

Trish: How do you see your company in the future?
Amanda: I see it just the way it is but perhaps with improved photographs, designs, fabrci. I want to stay small and independent.

Trish: What does your average day entail?
Amanda: I wake up, check my emails, respond. shower, breakfast, coffee with my husband, take my daughter to school etc. When I get home I switch gears and start cutting and sewing taking periodic breaks to answer emails, at the end of the day I slow down and pack up what I’ve made to go to the post, take a nice brisk walk to the post office before making dinner for my family. I’ve set things up this way so I have time for other people any myself which one never seems to have while working a job. I usually do the photographs and updating of the websites on the weekends but I enjoy that so it’s more fun than a chore.

Trish: Describe your personal style?
Amanda: Here in the northwest there are heavy grunge/hippy undertones in the fashion world, I always seem to be more dressed up than everyone else but not in a clean and tidy way. I’m always a little bit disheveled, I can’t stand looking really buttoned down. I’ve always got on a few pieces of chunky jewelry or a hat to look pulled together in spite of my pension for holey t shirts and jeans.

Trish: Who are your fashion icons (past or present)? Do you think they influenced your personal style?
Amanda: Hmmm…, I think Cyndi Lauper was my last fashion icon and she definitely influenced my style, since then I pull my cues from all directions not really having one iconic inspiration.

Trish: Do you have any current fashion obsessions?
Amanda: I’m really into handmade gladiator sandals right now, I just can’t seem to get enough of the really delicate ones.

Trish: Is there anyone in the Smashing Darling community you have a question or comment for?
Amanda: That Anne de Pasquale…millinery? I really admire that! I’ve always wanted to make hats and I’ve tried a few but hers are just breathtaking. What a brave niche to take and so talented!

All right, SmashingDarlings … we’re still seeing a ton of “photo coming soon” placeholders in the designer profile sections of your boutiques. You know what we’re talking about right, that nondescript little gray image that screams “Why would a cutting-edge indie fashionista have a generic placeholder in their boutique?”

Consider this an invitation, an admonishment, a call to action, or whatever will best get you in gear and in front of a camera. Let’s see those mug shots, people!! We know how lovely and über-cool you all are, so why not share it with the world?

As usual, there’s no cost at all to use this feature, and it’s a great way to put a personal touch into your boutiques and tell shoppers (and everyone else) more about you and your personal style. And updating your shots frequently will help keep things fresh and updated … you can upload photos of yourself, your studio, your inspirations, your newest creation, works in progress, anything at all! Have fun with it, and show people what’s going on in your world.

We wish you all the best and can’t wait to see the new shots coming in!

Keep your babies stylin’ and cool with these fabulous tees from the amazing designers on Smashing Darling.
The first person to go on the hunt inside of smashing darling and tell who the designers are of these items will win a student smash up item! Happy Hunting!

Ahhh, summer! Stop whining about the heat I say to myself, get out there and go explore! I grab a cozy dress to flit around town in, long and lovely shimmery earrings slide into pierced ears, softly-frosted, chunky rings stack up my not-so-tan fingers for a bit of color and fun. The sun is burning hot and sure to be even hotter while roaming through the craziness on the Coney Island boardwalk. Maybe grab the favorite straw hat? Smart idea. Okay: phone, check - cash-ola, check - keys, check…into the sweet, little vintage coin purse it all drops. Favorite flippies on my feet and into the wild I go!

Dress: Love, Anjia
Hat: Anne DePasquale
Earrings: Mushka Designs
Rings: Go Robot
Bag: Hello, Fabulous

Evolve Intimates has made it to the final round of voting on Ideablob! Show your support for this smashing indie designer label and go vote. If she wins she will receive $10,000 she can put towards expanding her manufacturing and production, which she is proud to say is done right in Chicago.

Some more good news for another smashing designer. Zsega is one of 25 designers that is now in the running for one of 3 finalist positions in My It Things designer contest! If she is chosen she will be given $1500 and 2 months to come up with 5 looks to be entered in the final fashion show.

Congrats go out to one of smashing designers! Laura Dawson is featured today in Daily Candy’s The Weekend Guide.

1. For those of you that haven’t already seen the new DIY City Mag take a look here. This issue is based around New Orleans and all the fabulous indies down there. Also look for an interview with smashing designer Aelisheva.

2. Pop over to My It Things to see the 25 indie designer semi finalists hoping to be chosen to move on to the final round. The judges will decide the 3 lucky winners by August 1st . They will have 2 months and $1500 to create 5 looks for the final runway show to see who will be the ultimate winner.

3. Dres is in Vogue this month. The August issue of Vogue is featuring his large rubber totes. That is awesome! Congratulations Dres!

4. The casting call went really well, making it very difficult for  Jack + Bill PR to choose the 3 lucky winners to recieve the agancies awesome services for free for the next couple of months. So stay tuned.

If you have an indie designer event you would like us to help you get the word out about email me trish(at)smashingdarling(dot)com I would be happy to post and give updates about. Also you can list them in the Events section on Smashing Darling.

Name: Martita
Location: Austin, TX
Occupation: Trademark Licensing Coordinator (University of Texas)

How do you describe your personal style? Comfy, casual….on the preppy side. I am all about the Indie world….especially here in Austin. I LOVE unique and one of a kind pieces of clothing….jewelry….etc.

Tell us something you love that you want everyone to know about? Clothing wise-uhhh (nothing is coming to mind except anything with a built in bra) accessories-jewelry by my friend, Cat Diederich called: Fitch & Ramos (website coming soon)….has unique necklaces, overall (this would only apply to Austin peeps): my hairdresser (Wes Turnbow at Island Salon & Spa-he’s a genius) I am currently sporting my sassy Wilson Phillips short do.

Who’s style do you most love? Audrey Hepburn….or Eva Longoria (hate to admit it) or new Katie Holmes (REALLY hate to admit it….she must have an amazing stylist!)

What’s your favorite piece of clothing? Sundresses with built in bras (support for “the girls” is key) (awesome for 100+ days in Texas especially if you HAVE to be outside) favorite type of shoe-anything Donald Pliner (love his sandals, really)

If you would like to share your indie style with the community contact me, trish(at)smashingdarling(dot)com