Patrik Rzepski: Straps & Horsehair

Patrik Rzepski is a New York-based fashion designer. His aesthetic derives from punk rock, violence and teenage angst. He's best known for his odd inspirations, such as Myra Hindley, the child-murderess, and JonBenét Ramsey. Some in the industry are calling him a younger Alexander McQueen, but I think his talent has a P.O.V. of his own. Always on the moodier side of romance, Patrik's aesthetic is sexy, sophisticated, mixed with a little bit of darkness. I won't spiel you, so let's just get into a quick interview I did with Patrik instead:

SY: With past collections inspired by the mystery behind JonBenét Ramsey, notorious English Murderess Myra Hindley, and infamous '70s gang of German terrorists Baader Meinhof, is it safe to say that you are a subversive hardass obsessed with murder?

PR: Inspiration comes from everywhere. I think people are more drawn to those reference points. In the end, the inspiration becomes quite romanticized, nothing is literal.


SY: It seems like the most genius artists in this world are also dropouts. No matter how relevant the school is, it just can't give you that innate talent that will ultimately be needed to "make it." Was there a moment that made it crystal clear for you to leave school?

PR: At the end of my first semester during finals, the director of the fashion department saw my final and asked what class I was teaching. I think you can never have "too much" education, however school was not for me and luckily fashion is an arena in which experience counts for just as much if not more.


SY: I'm a native Angeleno, so I always try to throw in an LA question when appropriate, here goes: Rick Owen's said something like "LA should stick to sitcoms and leave fashion to NY," How do you feel about that perspective? How do you feel about LA and fashion?... I mean, on the one hand we have natives like Paris Hilton (boo) and on the other we have the fashion genius of MK Olsen (yay.)

PR: I will agree with anything Rick Owens has to say, but I also think that LA can't help but be celebrity centric and unfortunately that dilutes and distracts from what's actually going on, but I have no idea what if anything, is going on in LA.


SY: I love collabos in fashion, especially when the avant garde and mainstream come together. Jil Sander's doing a line for Uniqlo, Rogue Gallery is doing a line for LL Bean, Raf Simons did one for Eastpack, etcetera, etcetera... If you could do a line for the masses, who would you collaborate for?

PR: I would definitely be up for doing a collaboration, I've been crushing on Nike.


SY: Is it true that you once buried a dress in your parents backyard before digging it up and sending it out on the runway? Explain?

PR: True, for S/S 2004 I dug a trench in the yard and buried a pink linen party dress and left it for 2 weeks to give it a bit of femininity and gore.


SY: FAVORITE CITIES...

SY: For life?
PR: Barcelona/Madrid

SY: For love?
PR: Brighton Beach

SY: For fashion?
PR: Milwaukee

SY: For your work... biggest market/buyers?
PR: Asia

SY: For food?
PR: Paris

SY: For sex?
PR: Current Location

SY: For inspiration?
PR: New York


SY: I can't live without...?

PR: Coffee/Peter/Ipod


SY: If I could only buy/afford one thing from your collection, what should I buy? Is there a definitively P Rzepski piece?

PR: Anything with straps/horsehair


SY: What's upcoming for you? What would you like to communicate to us for your line in 2010?

PR: You're so chic, you're so sheer, teenage rebel of the week


SY: Where will you be for New Year's Eve?

PR: I will be doing the Polar Bear Swim @ Coney Island again on New Year's day, so nothing wild

Patrik Rzepski: Straps & Horsehair

Patrik Rzepski is a New York-based fashion designer. His aesthetic derives from punk rock, violence and teenage angst. He's best known for his odd inspirations, such as Myra Hindley, the child-murderess, and JonBenét Ramsey. Some in the industry are calling him a younger Alexander McQueen, but I think his talent has a P.O.V. of his own. Always on the moodier side of romance, Patrik's aesthetic is sexy, sophisticated, mixed with a little bit of darkness. I won't spiel you, so let's just get into a quick interview I did with Patrik instead:

SY: With past collections inspired by the mystery behind JonBenét Ramsey, notorious English Murderess Myra Hindley, and infamous '70s gang of German terrorists Baader Meinhof, is it safe to say that you are a subversive hardass obsessed with murder?

PR: Inspiration comes from everywhere. I think people are more drawn to those reference points. In the end, the inspiration becomes quite romanticized, nothing is literal.


SY: It seems like the most genius artists in this world are also dropouts. No matter how relevant the school is, it just can't give you that innate talent that will ultimately be needed to "make it." Was there a moment that made it crystal clear for you to leave school?

PR: At the end of my first semester during finals, the director of the fashion department saw my final and asked what class I was teaching. I think you can never have "too much" education, however school was not for me and luckily fashion is an arena in which experience counts for just as much if not more.


SY: I'm a native Angeleno, so I always try to throw in an LA question when appropriate, here goes: Rick Owen's said something like "LA should stick to sitcoms and leave fashion to NY," How do you feel about that perspective? How do you feel about LA and fashion?... I mean, on the one hand we have natives like Paris Hilton (boo) and on the other we have the fashion genius of MK Olsen (yay.)

PR: I will agree with anything Rick Owens has to say, but I also think that LA can't help but be celebrity centric and unfortunately that dilutes and distracts from what's actually going on, but I have no idea what if anything, is going on in LA.


SY: I love collabos in fashion, especially when the avant garde and mainstream come together. Jil Sander's doing a line for Uniqlo, Rogue Gallery is doing a line for LL Bean, Raf Simons did one for Eastpack, etcetera, etcetera... If you could do a line for the masses, who would you collaborate for?

PR: I would definitely be up for doing a collaboration, I've been crushing on Nike.


SY: Is it true that you once buried a dress in your parents backyard before digging it up and sending it out on the runway? Explain?

PR: True, for S/S 2004 I dug a trench in the yard and buried a pink linen party dress and left it for 2 weeks to give it a bit of femininity and gore.


SY: FAVORITE CITIES...

SY: For life?
PR: Barcelona/Madrid

SY: For love?
PR: Brighton Beach

SY: For fashion?
PR: Milwaukee

SY: For your work... biggest market/buyers?
PR: Asia

SY: For food?
PR: Paris

SY: For sex?
PR: Current Location

SY: For inspiration?
PR: New York


SY: I can't live without...?

PR: Coffee/Peter/Ipod


SY: If I could only buy/afford one thing from your collection, what should I buy? Is there a definitively P Rzepski piece?

PR: Anything with straps/horsehair


SY: What's upcoming for you? What would you like to communicate to us for your line in 2010?

PR: You're so chic, you're so sheer, teenage rebel of the week


SY: Where will you be for New Year's Eve?

PR: I will be doing the Polar Bear Swim @ Coney Island again on New Year's day, so nothing wild

Top Trends in Home Decor for 2010

Oh lord, things have been really busy in SEANLAND in the past few weeks... Got sick, extra hectic in the office, holiday parties, and Thanksgiving somewhere in between. My apologies for the hiatus in posting.

Last week, I co-produced a special segment with Associated Press (AP) worldwide. The segment covers the "Top 5 Trends in Home Decor for 2010," and as you can imagine the R&D for this was really fun to do. We filmed most of the shoot at Lee Stanton Antiques on La Cienega, because so much of what's relevant right now is happening there. I won't give it all away, but if I had to say, the standout for 2010 decor is projected to be a dark, moody, almost severe aesthetic... some are calling this style "New Victorian" or "The Moody Hipster," but I like to think of it as Gotham city meets haute couture.

I'm all about Lee's style and color palette of greys, blacks, and dirty whites... take a look at his showroom to get an idea of what I'm talking about.

-S

Top Trends in Home Decor for 2010

Oh lord, things have been really busy in SEANLAND in the past few weeks... Got sick, extra hectic in the office, holiday parties, and Thanksgiving somewhere in between. My apologies for the hiatus in posting.

Last week, I co-produced a special segment with Associated Press (AP) worldwide. The segment covers the "Top 5 Trends in Home Decor for 2010," and as you can imagine the R&D for this was really fun to do. We filmed most of the shoot at Lee Stanton Antiques on La Cienega, because so much of what's relevant right now is happening there. I won't give it all away, but if I had to say, the standout for 2010 decor is projected to be a dark, moody, almost severe aesthetic... some are calling this style "New Victorian" or "The Moody Hipster," but I like to think of it as Gotham city meets haute couture.

I'm all about Lee's style and color palette of greys, blacks, and dirty whites... take a look at his showroom to get an idea of what I'm talking about.

-S

Don't Mistake My House for a Hair Salon!

SCORE! I found this awesome Patrick Nagel poster at the Salvation Army Family Store for 10 bucks!

I assume that some of you may be thinking that I've lost my mind with this one, but let me explain my love and respect for Nagel's work:

Not only did Nagel's images embody the chic and sleek style of the 80's, but I think his work had a greater hand in creating what the 80's were becoming at the very time. What I'm trying to say is that Nagel was less an observer of the time and more so an influence to the time... Would the 80's be the same without his images? Would have Armani evolved YSL's "Le Smoking Tuxedo" to create the famous power-suit for women? ... Would have Donna Karan introduced her 'Essentials Line' for the 80's working woman if not for Nagel's images?

Nagel's vision of the iconic 80's woman was so influential that even today his images are popularly used. How many times have you seen a mom-n'-pop hair salon or nail shop use a window decal with a Nagel-esq picture? If you haven't noticed, I dare you to take a look... you'll be surprised at how many beauty shops use his images even today.

The man even influenced computer software applications like that of Adobe Photoshop. The simplifying tools on photoshop are like an undeclared homage to the working style of Nagel. You see, all of Nagel's illustrations were based in photography. "Nagel would start with a photograph and work down, always simplifying and removing elements which he felt were unnecessary. The resulting image would look flat, but emphasized those elements which he felt were most important.

IMO, one of the last influential artists of the 20th century, Patrick Nagel.

Don't Mistake My House for a Hair Salon!

SCORE! I found this awesome Patrick Nagel poster at the Salvation Army Family Store for 10 bucks!

I assume that some of you may be thinking that I've lost my mind with this one, but let me explain my love and respect for Nagel's work:

Not only did Nagel's images embody the chic and sleek style of the 80's, but I think his work had a greater hand in creating what the 80's were becoming at the very time. What I'm trying to say is that Nagel was less an observer of the time and more so an influence to the time... Would the 80's be the same without his images? Would have Armani evolved YSL's "Le Smoking Tuxedo" to create the famous power-suit for women? ... Would have Donna Karan introduced her 'Essentials Line' for the 80's working woman if not for Nagel's images?

Nagel's vision of the iconic 80's woman was so influential that even today his images are popularly used. How many times have you seen a mom-n'-pop hair salon or nail shop use a window decal with a Nagel-esq picture? If you haven't noticed, I dare you to take a look... you'll be surprised at how many beauty shops use his images even today.

The man even influenced computer software applications like that of Adobe Photoshop. The simplifying tools on photoshop are like an undeclared homage to the working style of Nagel. You see, all of Nagel's illustrations were based in photography. "Nagel would start with a photograph and work down, always simplifying and removing elements which he felt were unnecessary. The resulting image would look flat, but emphasized those elements which he felt were most important.

IMO, one of the last influential artists of the 20th century, Patrick Nagel.

Kara Mann: The Darker Side of Design in 2010

Ok, why haven't I blogged Kara Mann yet?! I mean, our company represents her, and I'm all about her work with a passion!

Championing the look of "The New Victorians," AKA "Steampunkians" Kara Mann's work is dark, atmospheric, smoky, layered and above all RELEVANT. I don't think a 2010 design forecast for home decor can be complete without a Kara Mann mention.

A self-described "biker chick at fashion week," Kara merges her background in fashion, art and design to create gutsy interiors that perfectly mix both modern and traditional elements. Think Vivienne Westwood meets Mark Romanek

Since opening her namesake firm, Kara Mann Design (KMD) in 2005, Kara has been recognized by InStyle as an ‘of-the-moment’ designer, and Vogue has recently appointed her as a member of ‘The Vogue 100,’ a group of influential decision makers and opinion leaders known for their distinctive taste in fashion and culture.

-S