From the monthly archives:

August 2010

trish

Angela Johnson T-Shirt Ball Gown at The Emmy’s

by trish on August 31, 2010

Angela Johnson Emmy's

Independent fashion is showing up everywhere. Independent fashion designer Angela Johnson had one of her ball gowns, designed from t-shirts, worn at the Emmy’s. Congratulations! Angela!

About the designer:

Angela Johnson is a clothing designer, fashion design instructor, Arizona fashion industry leader, fashion business consultant and fashion show coordinator with over 13 years in the fashion industry. She was honored as Fashion Group International of Arizona’s Rising Star in 2004, Artist of the Year by the Scottsdale Cultural Council’s Chairman’s Committee, Chicest Local Designer by 944 Magazine in 2007 was a finalist in the Scottsdale Fashion Week’s Designer of the Year contest. She has been featured as one of Arizona’s 20 Influential Women by Arizona Foothills Magazine.Angela is an award-winning, indie designer who handcrafts cutting edge, avante garde apparel under her name. Her line is divided into three distinct categories… 1) ANNUAL LINE: her directional line of women’s original, unique and limited edition items that change annually rather than follow the traditional seasonal fashion calendar. 2) REDESIGNED LINE: her core items consisting of Tees and button downs recycled into ball gowns and party dresses. And 3) CUSTOM DESIGNS: designs commissioned by private clients.  Angela’s clothing is sold online, in boutiques nationwide, and at her fashion and trunk shows.

Shop her dresses online at Smashing Darling.

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trish

Rachel Park Handmade Silk Tie Sale

by trish on August 30, 2010

Shop Rachel Parks tie sale, ONLY on Smashing Darling!  To celebrate New York Fashion Week, ALL TIES ARE NOW 40% OFF!! For him or her, they’re the perfect Fall accessory!

Use PROMOTIONS code “FWSS11″ upon checkout.

40% off is nothing to sneeze at … they are beautiful handmade, silk ties.

Rachel Park Tie Sale

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trish

Tarot Card Dresses by Kaytee Papusza

by trish on August 30, 2010

We love to share all the goodness that comes by the way of our Smashing Darling designers. It is proof positive to us that independent fashion designers are not a fad; the industry, as well as the designers in it, are getting stronger every day. Independent fashion is here to stay.


All photos by Ali Scarpulla



Read all about this photo shoot Kaytee Papusza, Papusza Couture, did with photographer Ali Scarpulla in her blog: Papusza in Birdland.

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Mo

Editor’s Picks: Christine Mastrangelo, Un-stitched

by Mo on August 27, 2010

Okay, we admit it…it’s easy to make new friends when someone writes such nice things about what we are doing. That’s how we virtually met Christine Mastrangelo who contributed her Editor’s Picks this week. Below she shows us how she would transition into fall, shopping the independent designers on Smashing Darling. In her own words: Un-stitched is curated by a girl named Christine, who’s looking to explore fashion through the eyes of emerging designers, the social networks that connect us and the clothes she chooses to wear. That makes us so happy we practically came Un-stitched. Happy Friday darlings, go soak up another summer weekend, and pray for summer temps and sunny days to last way into fall.

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I take the last days of summer to wear some of my favorite color combinations – gold and green, white and shades of pink, while also dressing for the cooler weather.  Clicking my way through Smashing Darling, I was able to find beautiful pieces for the fall transition without having to let go of the summery colors I love.

Unstitched

KRELwear Bubble Top Sweater Dress:
A long sleeved dress this cozy and sexy is literal perfection for this time of year.  The gold tint of the cotton and cut of the skirt will highlight the tan before it begins to fade.

I love a scarf because of its innate versatility – I would fold this one up and wear it as a headband to help keep my hair tidy from that September wind.
White and Gold Faux Alligator Bag: by Fashion Showcase: This amazing bag would lend elegance to any outfit.  Period.
Floral Scarf Top, also by Fashion Showcase: Lovely colors of summer are hard to let go – I’d pair this top with a long sleeved shirt and jeans.
Every girl needs a sparkly ring – especially for the middle or index fingers.  This uncut diamond ring is gorgeous – and makes waving summer goodbye much less painful.

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Mo

Designer Toolbox: Be Smashing Darling, Collaborate and Innovate

by Mo on August 26, 2010

What’s Going On
Is copyright protection the best thing for the fashion industry and/or fashion designers? Fashion as open source may be the more innovative way for the fashion industry to go. This video, originally posted on TED, is really worth the watch. Johanna Blakely shares with us how fashion is actually more creative and a more thriving industry without copyright protection.

A few other indie reads from this week:
We’d love to know what you think, leave a comment in the Darling blog or email us to share your thoughts or experience.

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Be The Editor
How about styling some of your favorite pieces with those of other Darling designers on Smashing Darling? Fun! Come play with us and be the editor for a week by doing a round of Editor’s Picks in the Darling Blog. Have a favorite blog you read that is covering designers such as your fabulous self? Send them our way darlings, we love to make new friends…
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Building Word of Mouth
You know your favorite customers who love to tell people all about you? What story do they tell about you and your clothing? Do you think you can get them to send us a story our way, about you? C’mon darlings, poke and prod them; we want to hear those stories! You know how to reach us: trishandjulie@smashingdarling.com

We are constantly amazed by the power of word-of-mouth. Be sure to add a link to your Darling boutique on your website and in your newsletters; let your customers know we have a Frequent Shopper Program…and of course be sure to let us know about any press you are getting so we can share the good word. Thanks Darlings!


Bits and Pieces
NYC and the blogosphere is all abuzz with Fashion Week right around the corner, not to mention Fashion’s Night Out. Don’t forget to let us know if you have indie events going on so we can spread the word, no matter where you are.

Also, in case you missed it that one summer day you happened to play hooky…we added vacation mode into your boutique. Just log into your Darling account and you’ll see a new tab where you can set your dates!

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Always * Darling * Forever

For more convo follow us on Twitter.

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trish

Krel 2 Go Fashion’s Night Out

by trish on August 25, 2010

Fashion'd night out Krel 2 Go

KRELwear Presents:

Krel 2 Go

Fashion’s Night Out

Sept. 10 NYC 3 – 10:00 P.M.

at

Kaight
83 Orchard St.
NY, NYC

Fashion’s Night Out isn’t just for big brands. Independent fashion designers are taking advantage of the opportunity to show their style to new customers enjoying the evening’s festivities. Join darling designer Karelle Levy, KRELwear, on Fashion’s Night Out on location at Kaight. She will be doing her quickie couture, Krel 2 Go. I have had the great pleasure of watching Karelle design and create clothing right on the customers waiting in line for her one-of-a-kind, created just for you pieces. Karelle uses her signature knits to make these coveted creations. If you ask us Kaight, NYC, is definitely one of the places you want to hit on Fashion’s Night Out.

Need more convincing? Check out Karelle’s KRELwear Fall 2010 collection on Elle.com

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trish

Lorraine Sanders Founder of SF Indie Fashion

by trish on August 25, 2010

We have to thank the girls at Made Jewelry, Abigail and Debbie, for starting their video series, Made in SF. Below is episode #3 we wanted to share with you. It is a short moment in time with founder, Lorraine Sanders, of SF Indie Fashion blog. She is a huge fan and supporter of local fashion which comes through loud and clear in her blog. The independent fashion industry has so much going on in SF, they are lucky to have someone like Lorraine shouting it out. Enjoy meeting her through the video, we did.

You can also read more about Abigail and Debbie in a post by M.I.S.S. in the Women Making History Series.

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trish

The Haberdash: Menswear Fashion & Style Events

by trish on August 25, 2010

The Bold Italic has put together a week of events, The Haberdash, featuring menswear in SF. They have paired up with some of the best menswear establishments to shed a little light on the great menswear in the city. I have to admit it is kind of refreshing to read about a week dedicated to fashioning men. I think this is just the beginning. Mark my words, it is only a matter of time before every city is highlighting menswear events. We will be seeing more menswear designers popping up as the locally made fashion / independent fashion industry grows. I have so many men come into my store and just about beg me to do menswear. There are lots of men out their desperately trying to find something a bit more unique than what we have been seeing. So lucky you if you are a man and in SF this week. Tonight, Wed. 8/25/10 is The Haberdash Fashion Show. Tickets, $15, are available for purchase.

The Haberdash menswear

Do you know how we heard about this event? SF Indie Fashion newsletter. You have to sign up for it to stay on top of what is happening in independent local SF fashion.

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trish

Open Source Fashion: Johanna Blakely on TED

by trish on August 24, 2010

Fashion as open source may be the more innovative way for the fashion industry to go. This video originally posted on TED, if you have not seen it, is really worth the watch. Johanna Blakely shares with us how fashion is actually more creative and a more thriving industry without copyright protection. About three quarters of the way through she displays a graph of creative industries with copyright protection and creative industries without it. Very interesting. Is copyright protection the best thing for the fashion industry and or fashion designers?

This landmark conference on creativity and ownership in the fashion industry was presented by the Lear Center’s Creativity,Commerce & Culture project, and sponsored by The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM. The Ready to Share project explores the fashion industry’s enthusiastic embrace of sampling, appropriation and borrowed inspiration, core components of every creative process. The event featured provocative trend forecasts, sleek fashion shows and an eclectic mix of experts from the fashion, music, TV and film industries.

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Mo

Meet a Darling: Go Robot, Gallery Grand Opening

by Mo on August 23, 2010

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Metropolis Ring, $130

Excellent news for a Monday morning! Darling-land is happy to see that Stuart Breidenstein, a.k.a Go Robot, is about to open a new store/gallery out in Bend, OR. Stuart was one of the first independent designers to open a boutique on Smashing Darling. Head back in time and read our interview with him. Whether he is making rings out of re-purposed golf clubs, filling up belt buckles with candy Nerds, or just his usual beautifully sculpted metal or epoxy rings…we love to see what he is up to. Congrats Stuart; we so wish we could be there to celebrate with you!

Saturday, August 28th, 6pm
Breidenstein Design announces the grand opening of Stuart’s of Bend, our new retail store and gallery! Come celebrate with us and enjoy music, beer, food, art, more music, and martinis!

Live music from The Dela Project on the patio,
Award-winning Brewmaster from Bend Brewing Co, Tonya Cornett will be on hand with a selection on the season’s beers,
…Art by Sarah Mikolowski and Galen Ruud in the loft,
Martinis upstairs by Clandestine Nation
plus food, Dj Free drawings, and fun!

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Musselburgh Ring, $55

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Nerd Belt Quattro, $190

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Barbarella Ring, $130

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