DJ-Turned-Designer Mandy Coon Prepares Edgy Debut

admin — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 02:52:32 +0000

New York nightlifers may know Mandy Coon as one half of the DJ duo Two Mandy DJs. Those who meet the pixie-ish Coon during daytime hours, however, have probably figured out that she has a foothold in the fashion world as well; among other gigs, she’s played design helpmeet to Camilla Stærk. Now Coon is going solo—style-wise, at least. Coon is launching a new label for Spring ‘10 and unveiling the eponymous line at a presentation at New York fashion week. “I know you’re not supposed to say this, but honestly, I’m making the clothes I want to wear,” she explains. Fine by us, inasmuch as the clothes Coon is stitching up include geometric layered jersey jumpsuits and tops, a zipped fitted dress that converts into a jacket and skirt, and sculptural dresses ruffled in distressed leather. “It’s not a soft ruffle,” she notes. “I was looking at pictures of crystal when I started the collection, and I’m trying to achieve that same kind of jagged quality.” Her own wardrobe preferences aside, Coon has made the odd concession to the girl who’s not quite ready to wear an abbreviated, tiger-striped smock that floats off the body like meringue. “That’s a lot of volume for an animal print,” she says with a laugh. “Which I’m into, but maybe some other people would rather have an oversized tee in that print. Anyway,” Coon adds, “I’d wear that, too.”

—Maya Singer

Photo: Courtesy of Mandy Coon

Post from: Handmade Silver Jewelry Blog

DJ-Turned-Designer Mandy Coon Prepares Edgy Debut

Introducing Url Pickens: Denim That’s Haute Yet Humble

admin — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:37:29 +0000

An American in the Paris fashion world for nearly 25 years, Earl Pickens has stayed mostly under the radar, working with Jean-Charles de Castelbajac and Lee Cooper. But his relative anonymity is about to end. Tomorrow, the 46-year-old designer will present about 60 haute denim looks under his own label, Url Pickens (a name he registered decades before the Internet era, he notes), in association with the French luxury heavyweight Bocage Avenir Couture. “The idea is to take denim high end, but with humility,” says Pickens. “It’s about giving it a French edge with fine tailoring and weaves, hand finishings, and the kind of workmanship you just don’t see any more. Some pieces look like linen—but they’re still denim.” Goodbye, boyfriend jeans; hello, “husband trousers.” Pickens is also gearing up to put the creativity he honed in France to work in his native land. Raised on Chicago’s South Side, Pickens fell into fashion as a teenager by sitting in on drawing classes at the Art Institute. Now, he’s said to be preparing a homecoming of sorts by overseeing creative direction at the recently rescued Chicago-based clothier Hartmarx, whose most loyal fan occupies the Oval Office.

—Tina Isaac

Photo: Paul Morigi / WireImage

Post from: Handmade Silver Jewelry Blog

Introducing Url Pickens: Denim That’s Haute Yet Humble

Handmade Silver Jewelry Blog » Fashion World

DJ-Turned-Designer Mandy Coon Prepares Edgy Debut

Introducing Url Pickens: Denim That’s Haute Yet Humble