WHATdesigners is hosting the 2009 INDEPENDENT DESIGN BLOG OFF with $500 of prizes from Smashing Darling. We will be selecting our favorite blog posts and announcing the winners in the first week of January.

The Prizes:
One First place prize of a $250 Smashing Darling gift certificate
One Second place prize of a $100 Smashing Darling gift certificate
Three runner up prizes of $50 Smashing Darling gift certificates

The Rules:
1. Write a blog about independent design or an independent designer
2. Include a link to the 2009 INDEPENDENT DESIGN BLOG OFF in your post
3. Leave a comment on the Whatdesigners Blog original post about the Blog Off – here, with a link to your post.

Deadline:
December 30th, 2009

Click here to view the embedded video.

To read the rest of the rules and leave your comment pop on over to PINaR’s blog. Good Luck!

CLASSIC FEDORA

HOMBRE ANIMAL PRINTED “BEAVER FELT”(actually rabit felt) WITH VELVET TRIM- HAND BLOCKED BY YOURS TRULY
Retails in NYC for $625 Special price for Smashing Darling only!
Made to fit YOUR head…

About the designers:

From a foundation built in textiles, theatrical millinery, and fashion, Anne DePasquale’s innovative, retro-glam designs are reminiscent of the past, but interpreted for the fashion forward woman of today.

All Anne Depasquale Couture hats are hand made to order by Anne.  Measure your head and she will create a hat for you which will fit like a dream.  Go to www.annedepasquale.com/sizes for help measuring you head properly.

Anne learned millinery the old fashioned way – working with her hands.   Anne translated her knowledge of fine millinery and accessories to fit the masses. In 2004-2005 Anne designed the JLO line and custom made hats exclusively for the launch of the SWEETFACE Fall 2005 runway show,7th on SIXth and its simultaneous MTV special.

Anne DePasquale designs can be found in upscale NYC and CT boutiques including THE HAT SHOP, 120 Thompson St. (Btn Prince and Spring), her website www.ANNEDEPASQUALE.com,and ETSY.com

Anne graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in textiles. She began her career in NYC fashion working for designers BetseyJohnson, Anna Sui, and Donna Karan. With a desire to reconnect with artisan craft, Anne began working under renowned milliners Arnold S. Levine and RodneyGordon, creating millinery for Broadway, Operas, Soap Operas and Disneyproductions. Three of which won Tony Awards for Best Costume Design: TheLion King, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and 42nd Street.

Acclaimed by the media, AnneDePasquale has been included in “The Best  of Accessories Magazine” which noted the “Impeccable blocked hats of Anne De Pasquale as a highlight of The Market NYC”. Anne’s designs have been featured in various media outlets such as: Good Day New York, TheNew York Times, WWD, Time Out New York, Hamptons, Glamour, Bucks, Accessories, and The Knot.

Now independent, Anne DePasquale travels the world for inspiration; creating unique, limited edition hats and accessories and prides herself in her impeccable quality and cutting-edgestyles.

Visit my other store on SD: VIXANS by Anne DePasquale

My Other Boutiques

VIXANS by Anne DePasquale

Who or what inspires you?

Gustav Klimpt, Marino, my friends, other creative designers here on SD, thoughtful people

What is your favorite music?

Live music, Aretha, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, Stones, Scissor Sisters, Bonnie Rait, Dylan…the list goes on

What is your favorite food?

ANYTHING THAT MARINO ROSATO COOKS especially homemade Gnocchi! Executive chef Amazing authentic Roman kitchen also love my family’s PIZZA @ FIRST &LAST TAVERN (HTFD CT)

An interlude, that is what the week leading up to the new year, and in this case a new decade, feels like to us. Pick some music to get you through, to bid goodbye to 2009 and welcome 2010. Take some time to look back at the year and see what worked, what didn’t, and make a plan for 2010. If you haven’t taken your brand into the realm of social media, we are here to tell you it’s time. Okay, well, we have always said that!  We read this great post just before our holiday began, and just wanted to make sure you didn’t miss out. Learn about how social media changed fashion in 2009 over at Fashionably Marketing.

It has been exciting to watch more and more people supporting independent fashion, both online and off, since Smashing Darling was born back in 2007. In 2010, be a social butterfly, tell your story as a designer, talk about your process, share it with the world through your blog (you have one right?) and in social media communities. Connect those online and offline communities and let’s all see what the next decade brings!

If you missed it previously in the blog, I kicked off December in Miami during Art Basel chatting people up about Smashing Darling at the SCOPE Art Show. Thanks to my Darling assistant Liz, I had a few moments to stroll and be inspired by the amazing art on display. I was giddy to find artwork made from materials designers see around them on a daily basis. Below are some of my favorite images that reminded me of the Darling world.  Maybe they will inspire you to make mini-sculptures in your own studios….and if you do, as always, take a picture and send it our way – we want to see!

We want to say a big community congratulations to darling designer Kimberly Hendrix for making it into the top ten of GenArt’s ‘Plastics Makes it Possible‘ Contest. Check out her looks and write her a review.

Photo: Aza from Sugar & Spice

Chicago’s first ever, Fashion and Shopping Extravaganza, looks like it was a great event. Wish we could have been there in person. We are always there in spirit, especially when the highlight is emerging fashion designers. Chicago is becoming a mecca for this genre of fashion design. We love it!! Click here to read the full post.

Happy Holidays all! I wanted to remind everyone orders placed at this point will not arrive on time for Christmas, unless you choose overnight delivery. I wanted to make sure everyone is aware of this so there aren’t any missing gifts under your tree this year!

You are invited to participate in:

The Power of Self Full details: HERE

This competition is about your story, your images and the power they hold. From Salvador Dalí to Cindy Sherman the self has been the subject of most all the art world’s greats. The self-portrait transcends medium, style and period, existing in the vast space between the personal and prophetic. We all have a self-portrait.  Show us yours!

The panel of judges including actor Steve Buscemi, director/producer Chris Weitz, Guggenheim Curator Helen Hsu and Flavorpill Founder Sascha Lewis will select one portfolio of self-portraits for The Grand Prize:

The public will also cast their vote and the highest rated portfolio will receive The People’s Choice Award:

This is your moment to be discovered, send them your best work: HERE

The Art Directors Club Denver’s

6th Annual Paper Fashion Show

Thursday, March 18, 2010, 6:00pm

Mile High Station

The Art Directors Club Denver’s 6th Annual Paper Fashion Show will be an unforgettable evening of wearable art in motion. Designers create fashions from paper donated by our paper sponsors. These fashions are showcased at our grand runway show, and voted on by a panel of judges. The Paper Fashion Show will attract about 500 guests, consisting of local designers, fine artists, creative directors, and fashion enthusiasts. Profits and auctioned fashion designs from the Paper Fashion Show benefit Downtown Aurora Visual Arts (DAVA), a local community organization that provides after-school arts programs for at-risk youth. The event includes fabulously catered appetizers and a fully stocked cash bar.

Purchase Tickets

Video from 2008 ADCD Paper Fashion Show
Click here to view the embedded video.

This just in from the e-list newsletter … and we love it!

Do you have a little fashionista in your life that just can’t get enough of fashion and dreams of the day when he/she will be designing too? Here is a fun little sketch pad to give this holiday season. A gift for all the fashion designing dreamers out there that they will never forget. In the future when asked what the best gift they ever got was, they will reply the year they received their first Fashionflat Sketchpad.

I know for me, I would have opened this one and no other gift would have mattered. I would be sitting in a quiet hallway with pj’s and new ski boots on with this sketchpad happy as a little clam for hours as the chaos continued in the other room.

You can subscribe to the e-list here.

SAMOY LENKO + TRUNK would like to invite all Friends and Family to a
Holiday Party on December 17th! Stop by for hot chocolate, spiced wine and
special Friends and Family discounts!

Thursday, December 17th
6-10PM

68 Jay Street (Front & Water), Brooklyn, NY 11201
www.trunkbrooklyn.com | 718 522 6488 | info@trunkbrooklyn.com
F train to York Street, A/C train to High Street.

Please RSVP at info@trunkbrooklyn.com

Cheers,

Trish

Thank you for your patience,

Trish

Re:new is an organization in Wheaton, IL helping refugee women in the area settle. They teach sewing and knitting classes to help women learn new skills. The organization also accepts donated textiles and clothing. In fact they rely on donated goods because all of their projects are made from recycled materials. They have lots of great information on their site too. Did you know in 2007 11.9 million tons of knew textiles were generated. In that same year 2.8 billion pounds of textiles were wasted. Nice to know there are places to donate such materials so we can break our wasteful habits while at the same time create opportunity. Waste creates more waste … Resourcefulness creates more resourcefulness. It’s the law of attraction. Any way check them out and look for other organizations like them. Please send them our way. We will add them to our blog roll and would love to post about them.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Shop local this Holiday season. Mark your calendars for the 10th Rock & Shop Market on Saturday December 19th from 1-5pm at the All Saints Chapel in Downtown Raleigh, NC. Located in a beautiful old church at 110 S East Street, 2 blocks behind Moore Square at the intersection of Hargett and East Streets. They’ve expanded to over 65 emerging designers selling their wares, with music by Schooner, Starmount & DJ Melissa York, plus food and beer provided by Only Burger & Aviator Brewery! Admission is $3. First 50 attendees receive a free shopping tote. For directions and a list of all the designers visit www.rockandshopmarket.com.

CJ Lace Jumpsuit

Black Lace Shorts Jumpsuit with nude lining. Mock turtle neckline. Shaped fit, and comfy shorts. Back invisible zipper closure.

Sizes: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 colors: Black/nude  (belt not included) Shop the full collection here.

About Sacred Heart:

Sacred Heart is a timeless  collection of dresses and jumpers that uses imaginative, color-saturated chiffons and relies on embellishments such as candy colored ribbon trims, delicate lace and pleated ruffles.

The art of Sacred Heart defies all boundaries, is layered with flirty femininity, is a symbol of divine desire and celebrates jovial confidence.

We believe like, the late Coco Chanel; “a girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.”

Who or what inspires you?

I am inspired by any and EVERYthing NYC. Uptown girls, downtown girls, vintage Central Park you name it. I am also inspired by 50s glamour, there’s something to be said about women back in those days that got dressed to the nines everyday for no special occasion.

We become more and more obsessed with Smashing Darling everyday. We have serious case of {heart <3 lust} for this website. LadyLux’s West Coast Editor, Macala Wright spent the week look through every brand on Smashing Darling to bring her design hits for 2010.

2010 Smashing Designers To Watch

1. {Ao3} Designs - Brown & Oatmeal Handbag – I love the balance and symmetry of this handbag. The pattern reminds me of 1940s Hollywood Glam; being in LA, a little West coast glam is a must!

2. Cynthia Jones Jewelry – The Simply Siren Statement Necklace – This is a beautiful piece! I’m obsessed with “simple” statements and this one take the cake. This necklace goes from elegant and sophisticated to urban bohemian in less than 60 seconds.

3. Mimo – The Mimo Satchel – has been in a few or our sets. I can’t help it, I love it. I own it. It fits my 15″ Mac or my Mac Air perfectly. It’s a must have bag.

4. KRELwear – Cream Bishop Dress – This dress represents fashion forward, edgy Southern California style to a “T”. It’s amazing and could be worn at three different ways. In LA, versatility is a must.

5. Red Doll by TM – The Ingrid Jacket – is gorgeous. It’s not your average piece; at the right event, it’s definitely gonna turn a few heads and get a girl noticed. Perfect for the aspiring actress or models.

6.  Status – The Kimono Top - is effortless. It says “I don’t have to try, I just have taste.” The top can be worn your skinny jeans and ballet flats or over a pair of leggings. In the summer, it’s a dress to be worn with Sam Edelman or Frye gladiator sandals. It receives bonus points for coming in three colors.

7.  Manic Trout – Marie Louise Zsa Zsa Cocktail Ring - is amazing. It’s bold, it’s big, yet the design and wiring maintain an earthly, organic feel. We love this. We’d pair this with our Status Kimono top.

8. Vaness Quijano Jewelry - The White Brass bracelet - is extremely modern. It’s Rhianna meets your inner Valley dominatrix. With four inch stilettos, watch out! You’ll own the room with this piece. Riding whip entirely optional.

9. Sue Rock – These fabric belts – remind me of my favorite Chanel clutch handle with their design. They’re very unique and I love that the scarves are recycled, making this an eco-friendly accessory line.

About LadyLux:
Once upon a time, there was girl named LUX. She believed in humanity, doing good for the sake of good, and all things beautiful in our world. As she grew older and began to take stock of the world around her, her mission in life became clear: be a Change Agent. The tasks associated with being an “Agent” is to use her mind and voice to help fix what is broken in the world and empower the people in it to do the same. Thus was born The Lady LUX Network.

At LadyLUX, our motto is “Good for the Sake of Good.” We believe in doing good and being good, while looking good. We believe in fashion, life, love, philanthropy, eco-luxury and laughter. We empower women to follow their passions, live authentically, and to honestly know and love themselves. Choosing health and your best self, being good to others and good to the environment is simply living the LUX life. In each outfit we put together, we always include organic and “green” items that were created with the idea of sustainability.

See last week’s LadyLux Editor’s Picks here.