Stacy Eden Designer of "Clutch Jewelry"

Stacy Eden, designer of Clutch Jewelry and I met for the first time at the Phoenix Fashion Week seminars where we exchanged information and talked briefly.  A week later, we were sitting in Wildflower Bread Company enjoying lunch and talking about her jewelry collection. Before Eden became a jewelry designer, she was first in school studying to become a lawyer. She knew deep in her heart that it was not what she was meant to do. She then switched majors to English. “I was thinking, okay, this could work, I’ve always wanted to travel and I can also teach” Eden said about switching to English. But when Eden really started to think about it more, she really did not want to study and major in English either. She decided she really needs to find her passion and what she really loves to do, so she decided to read a couple of books on finding your passion. All the books she read told her to choose what she loved when she was little. “That was simple, I love art a lot! So I signed up for one art class a semester.”

                Eden knew from the very first art class she went into that she fell in love with craft, and knew it was important that she stick with it in some form or another. Soon after starting art classes, she learned there was a class about how to make jewelry. That immediately got her attention and she signed up. It took her a while to get in, since it is very advanced and hard to get accepted into, but her last semester of school she was accepted. As soon as she started the class, she knew this was the kind of art she would be creating forever. She fell in love with everything about it, from heating the sheet metal and banging on it with hammers to form the design she was desired. Once that semester was up, Eden still had two credits to earn to graduate the class. She did not want to sign up for more semesters, so she went to Costa Rica to earn the last two credits. The culture and the people really inspired her in not only her jewelry line but also her personal life. Eden really started noticing things surrounding her and it really changed the way she looked at things in everyday life.

                Eden has such incredible talent, patience and dedication for her designs she creates. Each piece takes at least 100 hours to create the original design. Once she has the original done, she can mold replicas in wax and create limited amounts of the same design in a lot less time. Eden right now designs rings, bracelets and necklaces. The bracelets and necklaces are charms with leather bands. Once she is more of an established designer, she will start creating a lot more designs, such as cuffs. She has created her metal jewelry to age well and to last for a lifetime and to be passed down to generations.

                Eden just a few weeks ago was in Austin, Texas for the Southern Lights Music Festival with Lupe Fiasco, Bun B, Trae the Truth, Paul Wall, RJD2, Roosh, Milkman, Hosted by Adam Rapp from SportsRapp Live along with Ali and Phife Dawg from the tribe Quest, she was very excited to be heading out there and see her jewelry worn. Stacy Eden is one to really keep your eye out for in the future.

Pictures coming soon!
Find her at:
http://www.clutchjewelry.com/
stacyreden@gmail.com

MabellaChic Photo's

MabellaChic Spring 2012 Collection.

www.mabellachic.com 

Bilby & Moss Photo's

Bilby&Moss store. Located in Scottsdale Fashion Square mall.

www.bilbyandmoss.com

MabellaChic

I was very excited to meet with Mabel Cortez, designer of MabellaChic. I first met Cortez in the Style Villa at Phoenix Fashion Week where I saw her designs for the first time and I completely fell in love with her clothes. I met with Cortez the week after Phoenix Fashion Week, after everything was calming down, at Starbucks in Tempe Market Place. Cortez only currently works out of her home, but one of her goals is to see her clothes in boutiques and she is hoping after a lot of boutiques saw her designs on the runway she will be able to show and sell her clothes in their stores. Cortez is originally from Long Beach, California and she moved to Arizona three and a half years ago. She went to school at ‘Fashion Institute of Merchandising’ in Los Angeles at the young age of 19. She went to a school that gave her the opportunities to study fashion design but also a school that gave her the business side to become a better designer and to know the business side to help run her label.   

                Cortez started designing five years ago, starting in California and then moved to Arizona because she felt there was a need for fashion in the state and she really wanted to bring her vision here in Arizona. Her Spring 2012 collection will defiantly spark interest in a lot of people in Arizona, but also people all across the country. Her Spring collection is a breath of fresh air with all the bright and playful designs. Playing with torques, greens and yellows to her clothes putting the neon colors on dresses to shorts and shirts. One of my favorite designs is actually a black and white dress that has such an intricate flower detail on the shoulders that you immediately want to have it on. Cortez’s inspiration behind her collection is for the full time working woman as well as a full time student or mother. The concept is to be able to take her clothes from day to night, just adding a few pieces to spice the outfit up to night, such as switching from flats to heels or throwing on a blazer for the night out. I was able to feel her fabrics she used, which is jersey and cotton and those fabrics keep the designs very light and breathable.

                Cortez had a whole team to help her prepare for Phoenix Fashion Week and her lookbook. Meet her team; Family and friends. Cortez’s mother helped her sew all her samples while her brother, James Perez a photographer for Hermosa Vida Photography helped with her lookbook along with Stella Crowl. Her friends have been very supportive and have helped if she needs anymore hands to help out. Her husband is her biggest fan but also her biggest critic. “He’s very honest and just tells me how it is. He doesn’t want to lie to me if it looks bad. I wouldn’t want him too” said Cortez about her husband. Phoenix Fashion Week was only the beginning for Cortez and there are many new and exciting events heading her way and I cannot wait to watch her grow as designer.

Pictures up soon!

Find her at:
http://www.facebook.com/MABELLACHIC
http://twitter.com/#!/MabellaChic
http://www.mabellachic.com/

Bilby and Moss Design Label

The first thought that comes to mind about Bilby & Moss is; comfort, but that does not mean their designs lack style. Bilby & Moss’s founder Marc Flimon has really created a chic style while adding in the complete comfort into the clothes. All the clothes are made in Los Angeles, California and the fabric is made with water- based inks, eco-friendly material. They are all cotton based with materials like micro modal. A few of the main goals in their designs is to be very comfortable, chic and affordable and the all American men and woman look.

                 Before Bilby & Moss opened their first store in America, they first had a location in Vancouver, Canada. Flimon decided his designs belonged more in America and he opened his first store in Scottsdale, Arizona in Scottsdale Fashion Square mall. Arizona is the only location in America right now, but the goal is to expand all across the country. Another reason to fall in love with their clothes is not only because they are used out of organic materials, but also because classic pieces that can be mixed in with your favorite outfits, man or woman. Their clothes can be worn so many ways as well. Their T-dress is their biggest seller to woman. There are many ways you can wear the dress by belting it at your waist, slide a sleeve off of your shoulder and there are many more ways to create your own look.

                Bilby & Moss is the only location in Arizona that carries Raven Denim. Raven Denim is very high quality denim that is stylish yet comfort. Bilby & Moss also carry local Arizona jewelry designers as well as a couple of California jewelry designers. Bilby & Moss first got involved with Phoenix Fashion Week in Fashions Night out in Phoenix, Arizona on September 8^th, 2011, where Bilby & Moss hosted a fashion meet up party in their store. For the meet up, Bilby & Moss had just recently moved locations in Scottsdale Fashion Square on September 3^rd to give their shoppers more room to move around, as well as having more looks in their store. The fashion meet up was their first time working with Phoenix Fashion Week, but defiantly not their last one. After the meet up, their next step was to have their designs go down the runway at Phoenix Fashion Week 2011 showcased to Arizona. Twenty-four looks went down the runway and were a huge hit with the Arizona fashion market. I cannot wait to see Bilby & Moss expand all across the country and to see them grow. This is a designer that you really want to own for complete style and comfort.

See more information and to buy at: http://www.bilbyandmoss.com/

Pictures coming soon!

Outlier Style

At Phoenix Fashion Week 2011, I was walking around the style villa before the runway shows and I came across Daniela Escobar and Yaiza Brown's booth. I immediately ventured towards the booth set up because of any woman's reason. Jewelry. Their extremely fun and bright jewelry immediately stood out to me and fun and bright in jewelry is my two favorite elements in jewelry to have!

When I started talking to the two girls, I instantly fell in love with them and their jewelry. Plus, they are stylist's! I had Escobar and Brown send over a bio about how they got started and a little bit of information on their jewelry!

"Outlier Style was founded in April 2009 by Daniela Escobar and Yaiza Brown, 2 friends that met and realized they were meant to expand and grow together, as a business and as people.

      Outlier Style was born with the idea in mind of upgrading people's wardrobe with fun, affordable and chic jewelry, hosting private parties for friends and friends of friends! Eventually, they decided to expand to hair salons, yoga studios, gyms, etc., making it accessible to the public.
The aesthetic is always unique, stylish, chic and funky, keeping the passion for fashion at a super affordable price, with a wide selection of accessories and clothing."

Daniela Escobar: "I knew that I wanted to be involved in the fashion business when I realized that I could go to any shop, whether it was a high end or thrift store and find the potential in any piece, regardless of the price".

Yaiza Brown: "To me, fashion has always been my escape, my form of expression, my inspiration. I've never found it necessary to spend thousands of dollars to look like a million bucks; all you need is imagination and an eye for details".

Escobar and Brown also are stylist's and offer personal shopping services.
They wanted to be available to help women and men express their style with unique looks based on their body shapes and personality.
They love getting dress everyday and that's why they started the styling business, they wanted to help people get that feeling of feeling great and once they started, they couldn't go back to their past, of who they used to be.
Escobar and Brown's motto is " BE TRENDY NOT SPENDY", They specialize in making people look great for a lot less"

Check them out at:
http://www.outlierstyle.com/
Contact them at:
outlierstyle@gmail.com

Phoenix Fashion Week 2011 "Blaque Label" Collection

Blaque Label stole the show at Phoenix Fashion Week 2011 on Saturday evening. These pictures are just a few of my favorites that went down the runway. Sequins everywhere, in all different colors and in gowns and mini dresses. The gold blazer was one of my favorites and I gave out a little yelp of excitment when it came onto the runway. I will be buying almost this whole collection and I cannot wait to wear it!
To find out more information out about Blaque Label, check out their website at www.blaquelabel.com  

Phoenix Fashion Week 2011 "Joy Li" Collection

Joy Li wowed the crowd at Phoenix Fashion Week 2011 this season with her structured designs and with a twist of edge mixed in with her collection. I loved the mixing of the colors, it worked perfectly with her designs and collection!

I am visiting her studio this Saturday to be shown Li's collection and I couldn't be more excited! I'll have pictures up next week of the collection up close and I'll be purchasing some of the new designs! 

Check out her website for more details on her collection at www.joyli.net 

Phoenix Fashion Week 2011 "Stop Staring" Collection

On the runway at Phoenix Fashion Week 2011, Stop Staring! sent down the most amazing dresses.

Here are just a few shots of my absolute favorites.

The first picture is my favorite from the whole collection, it is stunning! I would buy it in a heart beat! Speaking of which, I'm visiting their store now!

Stop Staring! has that 50's feeling and making woman feel confident in their clothes. The dresses are made to fit you perfectly and hug you in all the right places.

Check them out at www.stopstaringclothing.com   

"Dejamone Dezynz" Designer Will Chandler

Will Chandler is the creator and designer of Dejamone Dezynz. Chandler is currently based out of Minnesota but I just recently met him at Phoenix Fashion Week 2011 where he was an emerging designer. While we talked, he mentioned that it is hard to find support in Minnesota, not only from retailers but also from family and friends. Originally from Chicago, Chandler was being stopped by complete strangers on the street 12 years ago, asking him where he had bought his clothes from. Chandler was wearing his own designs and was only creating for himself, when it hit him that he could start designing more clothes and sell to the public.
           Chandler then moved to Minnesota, where he really started creating his own label and Dejamone Dezynz was born. His label is inspired by his daughter, who is now 10 years old. Chandler has been designing for 12 years now and he only produces his clothing in the U.S. Chandler is very unique with his designs, which drew me to his booth set up at Phoenix Fashion Week that Friday evening. He uses geometrical shapes and absolutely no patterns. His designs are incredible the way they are made from being designed with the shapes he uses and his own stitching. I asked Will what his main goals in his designs were and he said he wants everything to be original. He doesn't want to be like every other designer. Well, I can be the first one to tell you, that they are very different, but all in a great way! He said he has to stay true to himself and design what he feels and that's creating street style to runway. Chandler also has a background in graphic design, which has helped him a lot with his designing and his design skills.
             Dejamone Dezynz are defiantly on their way to the top and I have huge faith in his designs! I hope to see Will Chandler back at Phoenix Fashion Week again really soon!

Check him out at:
http://www.dejamone.com/
Twitter- @Dejamone
Also on http://www.phoenixfashionweek.com/ for the video of his runway collection, coming soon on the site!