bow down to Viktor and Rolf.

Viktor and Rolf's Spring 2010 Runway surrealist gowns had me drooling in awe and admiration. These two are masters of fusing art and fashion. They remind me of delicious cakes that have been slashed all to hell. These photos are from Dazed and Confused's editoral titled "The Amsterdam Chainsaw Massacre" shot by Josh Olins.

the artistry of Andrew Yang

I really only like creepy looking dolls, and these fit the bill. They are wearing designers fashions, which makes them even cooler. Andrew Yang can even do custom orders, if you have $600 to shell out. My favorite is the Rick Owens, mostly because it looks so Rick Owens. ;)

Yes, I'm insane.

Five tips for myself on how I intend to tackle designing and constructing a 30 look line in two months.

So actually I'm lying, I have the collection about 30% done. But still. 70% in a little over two months is still no joke.

1. Drink more water, eat healthier. Okay so I already eat pretty healthy. I've been a vegetarian for 17 years now (and as I type that I'm kind of in awe of that insane number). However, improvements can be made. When under stress I tend to substitute caffeine and sugar for water and food. More protein (tofu and quorn, no processed faux meat products full of salt.) and raw veggies and nuts.

2. Join a gym. I have been looking for months for a treadmill on craigslist, but affordable quality seems impossible to find, I'm assuming because it's the beginning of the New Year and everyone is going nuts with the lose weight! resolutions. SO, lucky for me, a new gym is opening almost across the street from my house. My fIance even told me he'd join with me. Working out always gives me incredible energy, so this will help for stamina and long nights.

3. Play songs that I have always associated with "the runway" while I'm working. Hearing music that I can picture models stomping down the runway to, always makes me want to make clothes.

4. Make a giant inspiration board Seeing what has been accomplished by my fashion peers always motivates me.

5. Put coffee pot and plenty of french roast, inside studio. and ignore #1. Who am I kidding? there is no way I can finish an entire collection with "less caffeine". ha!

DONATION UPDATE

I'm a little under halfway there still, but at this point there is no going back. I'm going to withdraw all the money I've saved for my October wedding. (don't worry, my fiance's idea actually.) and pray I'll still have a wedding in October. THAT'S how much this means to me. (Although, not going to lie, getting married means more to me.... but I know we'll still get married no matter what. City Hall?)

my style guide for men.

white collar shirt, black skinny tie. HATE jacket awesome, but optional.

this is all you need to look hot.

designers i admire part 3

(click to enlarge)

MINI MARKET. OMG LUV. <----- click to view lookbooks.

3 sister designers from Sweden; Sofie, Pernilla and Jennifer Elvestedt. The trio was selected by Swedish Elle and H&M to be the best new designer label of the year 2006. The design philosophy is based on using opposites for perfect balance. It’s proper contra sensual, comfortable combined with extravagant. The three sisters all vary widely in taste and style and it’s the inspiration in finding a unifying path in design that inspires the group. (via paper-doll.com).

The photo above is from their S/S2010 collection, and my god, what is this? little red riding hood in couture wearing a bird beak having lunch with mickey mouse at the MET? Cruella and Charlie walking down the street, smoking long cigarettes and smelling like antique books. It's absolutely fantastic is what it is.

$2500 for an event in Detroit, why?!

At first asking people for donations didn't even occur to me. It was a few friends of mine who said, hey, set up a donations site, we'd contribute! after I had sadly mentioned that I was invited to show at Fashion in Detroit, but was unable to afford the designer's fee of $2500. I had to think about it for a minute. What would people think of me, begging for money? A few more people then spoke up and encouraged me some more. Apparently when you're an artist, working towards a dream, people really respect that. If I could even get near the fee on my own, believe me, I wouldn't have started the fund. But i'm not going to beat around the bush. I work 20 hours a week, and make $10 an hour at the only job I currently have. My student loans are about $500 a month. You do the math. I really AM a starving artist. Well, not literally since I have an amazing fiance who also believes I'll be rich and famous one day, so he feeds me once in a while.

That being said, why? Why wouldn't I want to spend $2500 on fabric to make more clothes to sell? Or pay off a few months worth of those heavy student loans? I went to the show in October, Fashion in Detroit's first show, as a finalist in the local designer competition. I was one of three, and the winner was invited to show at the next event, which is this one up coming in March. I did not win, but at that moment I realized I needed to do whatever it takes to get into the next show, fee waived or not.

To do something new involving fashion, in a city like Detroit...and to make it succeed, you really have to do it well. There have been many attempts in the past and if you never heard of any other fashion shows in Detroit, well, its because those attempts never went very well. Fashion in Detroit was organized, clean, and impressive. The tents, lighting and sound were on par with NYC Fashion week (though obviously on a much smaller scale). Everyone went smoothly. The models and the clothes were beautiful. The photographer area was packed with flashing lights, and the press were everywhere. It's not free to pull something like this off, and FID is running on sponsors and designer's fees. They also pay for A list models, make-up and hair.

I spent 2 years in New York, and helped out on many shows at New York Fashion Week, including Diesel and Cynthia Rowley. I've seen it done by the big guns, and the Fashion in Detroit show in October did not make me miss it. It didn't make me think, wow, I need to go back to New York to ever make this work. Instead, it gave me hope for the city of Detroit and the growing fashion scene here. It made me want to be a part of it in any way I possibly could. I wanted to find a way to be remembered as one of the young designers starting out just as it was growing.

I just got back here in May from New York. In fashion you have a shot (if you're lucky), and then it's gone. This is my shot to show people what's in my mind and what I can do. There might not be another time. To me, that's well worth $2500.

(The current update is that i'm 35% of the way to the goal, with 2 weeks left.)

And to support the other side of the fence and allow the people who can't attend fashion in detroit, i'm still throwing a renegade fashion show Saturday the 20th at Oslo. This is going to be "my show". My friends are modeling, we're making the set ourselves, our friends are DJing. It's going to be amazing, and free to all. Did you ever have a dream? The one that got away? I refuse to let mine get away.

Kelly Lynne (designs) fashion fundraiser

I was asked to show my Fall 2010 line in the Fashion In Detroit shows this March. This has been a goal of mine since they first started this event back in August. It's been a dream really. This is a full scale fashion show, put on some very remarkable people, to try and make fashion a bigger reality in Detroit. This is an opportunity that would be so beneficial to my career as a designer. The downside is that the designer's fee is $2500, and I need to have this amount by the end this month (January). Some friends of mine have made a suggestion that I set up a donation site. So low and behold, here it is! Any amount would be highly appreciated. I feel very strange asking for money, but this is so important to me, that I'm willing to try anything. My appreciation goes beyond words.

In addition, any garment you see on my website is a one-of-a-kind, and currently for sale. Please contact me for details.

The shows are March 19th and 20th, and tickets are $50. Whether I am able to participate or not, I will still be having my own show on Saturday, March 20th at 9 p.m. at Oslo, Detroit. Admission is free and you will be able to view the entire collection.

she's in parties

i would post photos of the new stuff I've been working on for the past 3 months, but I want you to come to my show in March and see them for the first time.

new year musings.

2009 was a pretty fantastic year for me. I full filled my dream of getting a degree in fashion design, from one of the greatest fashion schools in the country, and it was no walk in the park that's for sure. But wow was it ever the most amazing experience of my life. Shortly after I graduated my boyfriend proposed to me in Central Park. We moved back to Michigan in last May, and in mid-November bought our first house. I got my pug around the same time. (I have had a crazy obsession with black pugs for like 10 years.) So I have to say, it has been one of the greatest and most memorable years of my life thus far, that's for sure.

What else do I love and remember about 2009?
Here are some that come to mind, in no order.

1. Lady Gaga. She's got catchy songs, but it was really her fashion & style that won my heart. I got chills the first time I saw Bad Romance. Plus I love that she's this hot blonde pop star who has a totally creepy and slightly twisted side.



2. Leather everything. My parents rode harleys and took us to crazy biker parties when my sisters and I were growing up. I have always been a fan of black leather and the tough look. So it was a real joy to me when leather made the gigantic explosion into fashion. Not that leather has ever been *out* of fashion - it's certainl a timeless look and an ageless 'textile', but in '09 I really think it's more prominant than ever. Everyone wants leather everything, and I'm certainly a supporter.

Kiki de Montparnasse leather leggings, available at shopbop.com



Joie Willa Leather Party Skirt, http://www.joie.com/



Alice + Olivia, Leather insert shift dress. Available at Neiman Marcus stores.



3. Theatre Bizarre. Self titled, "The most horrific Halloween Masquerade" - this was an event that was so fantastic and made such an impact on me. It inspired me in my studio, in my art, and well, made me feel like a kid again. It's been along time since I stayed out till 5 a.m. and didn't want to go home. This is the greatest and most fascinating halloween party, ever. And I feel I can say "ever" with absolute confidence. Where else in the world besides Detroit can you take over an entire block of houses and turn them into an entire different world. Think coney island, more twisted, set in an older time (20's? 40's?). Here is a great block of photos from metromix.

4. Michelle Obama Our generation's Jackie O. I love just love her. I love her poise, her elegance, her youthfulness and her eye for style. (photo cred: blogs.smarter.com)



5. Mad Men The smoking, the drinking, the style. New York City in the 1960's. As a true vintage fashion FANATIC, this show was my dream come true. Betty Draper and Joan Harris are the two characters whose looks I always drool over. I really feel that the show has made an impact on men's fashion as well. The 'gentleman' look is making a big comeback. At least among my friends, I'm seeing more and more suits out at the bars. I'm a big supporter of that.



6. Our outfits on NYE My friends and I celebrated in style and had a prom themed New Years party. I was really really happy with my fiance's willingness to go along with my desire to channel the 80's.




Here's to a new year. My goals are to make 4 bridesmaids gowns, and my wedding dress; and hopefully have my first runway show in March. I want to get around to painting our kitchen and bedroom, and put up a giant wall mural in the basement. I want to get back in shape, sleep more, and teach my dog to love walking on her leash. Start painting again. Get my fiance to finish our wedding guest list. Send out save the dates. Create something from unconventional materials. Open my online store. I've got a busy year ahead of me, but if 2009 has taught me anything it's that the busier you are, the more you accomplish, and the more memorable and fun that year will be.