Style Defined - Street Style and Nightlife NYC

This blog has moved to Styledefinednyc.com

2011-08-07T17:29:00.000-04:00

Hey there-
I'm now posting on StyleDefinedNYC.com Please visit me there as it's not a blogger site but on wordpress. It also includes more photos, interviews and more!

XOXO
Katya

Heartthrob

2011-08-04T11:01:00.001-04:00

Loose and thin cotton tanks with shorts is the uniform of waifish and willowy boys in the city this summer.

The tank top, by Pleasure Principle, features a screenprint of a heart made from razor blades...interpret this how you choose...

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when i am afraid i trust in you

2011-08-02T17:14:00.002-04:00

Tara Foxx is a modern day gypsy girl with fucking brilliant lashes.

Provocatively demure

I don't know the story behind the tattoo but it's lovely...

Niko loves Chanel

2011-08-01T12:06:00.002-04:00

This is one of my best friends, Niko. I thought I'd break down his style today. The not-so-secret secret is: it's all about the accessories.

Chanel bracelets on both wrists as well as crazy skull bracelet on top.

Chanel bag with logo made of chains. Also check out the spiked boots from Trash & Vaudeville

Because you wanted to see this detail...

Ring with a secret compartment!!!

What some people might do with this...not anything we would advocate of course! (also check out the super fly Dior shades!)

Coney Island Baby

2011-07-31T17:15:00.000-04:00

When my Fire Island plans got derailed this weekend I decided to go to Coney Island instead. I really love this place in all it's funkadelic glory.

Shorts by Diesel, the charm bracelets are my mom's from high school.

Shoes are Elsee Anita's –favored by nightlife queens everywhere. Bag is Tano

Top is Fraiche

Rainbow Bright

2011-07-28T20:43:00.000-04:00

A bit of color with mod appeal.

Seen on the street: Model from Ghana - Menaye Donkor

2011-07-27T21:49:00.000-04:00

Ghanian born model, Menaye Donkor, was in NYC last week for Africa Fashion Week NY. AFWNY gives African designers a chance to showcase their designs and inspirations to a NY audience. She stopped traffic wearing a jacket by Akuchi Designs, Met Jeans and Sergi Rossi platform sandals.

Deryck + Stephanie at the after-party for The Tents - about #NYFW

2011-07-26T20:33:00.001-04:00

Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend the premiere screening of The Tents –a documentary about New York Fashion Week and specifically how the tents came to be in Bryant Park. It was a thoroughly entertaining insider look at fashion week and it was fun to see so many familiar faces on the screen from designers and models to stylish mainstays in the audience like Patrick McDonald.

Afterwards there was a party at The Norwood where I congratulated my friend Deryck Todd (above) who was involved in the film and gave me all the dirt on the designers and fashion stars he interviewed. (Okay, he said everyone was great–I couldn't get him to spill a single scandalous story!) Here he's with Stephanie who works and models for Betsey Johnson and is wearing all Betsey with her Louboutins.

TRAILER for THE TENTS

The Tents Trailer by Marcus K Jones

Overall shorts: Yea or Nay?

2011-07-25T20:52:00.000-04:00

Overall shorts? Something I would normally say to avoid past the age of 12. So this is a lesson in style and styling –it's all about how you put it together. I think this works surprisingly well here. What do you think? Is this a look you'd rock?

Henrik Vibskov - What I'm Wearing Now

2011-07-24T20:56:00.002-04:00

I had this brilliant idea to take this photo next to plants on the roof/garden of my building. What I didn't anticipate was how much the background would compete with the pants –hence the desaturation.

The pants are by Henrik Vibskov –who I'm currently in love with–and I picked them up at Eva NYC recently. I would never think of myself as someone who'd wear a print that included green polka dots but I love how loose and drapey they are and they're a nice alternative in the super hot weather we've been having. I've paired them with borrowed-from-a-friend Tory Burch white slides (which to me are sort of an ironic juxtaposition) and a basic black tank top.

Loose and colorful in the summertime

2011-07-22T21:31:00.000-04:00

Leave it to Lester of FashionIndie.com to work a look that is both colorful and comfortable in 90 degrees+ weather! A long striped tee looks more like a tunic with the sleeves cut off –giving it a cleaner line. You could live in this all day and still be ready to party the night away...and I love the pose. Wait: was that in 10 Poses to Get You Into Vogue? ...maybe you should add an eleventh!

Kendell keeps cool in a heatwave

2011-07-22T12:02:00.000-04:00

I didn't post yesterday because I was having my own personal nightmare attending an event sans air-conditioning in the city –so by the time I got home all I could do was shower and collapse in a heap in front of the DVR. The positive of yesterday was catching a few people who managed to look impervious to the heat. I saw Kendell in TopShop and then again on the street where I asked to take her photo. I love the insouciance of her attire, and how she's not letting the heat beat her into style blah-dom. KEEP COOL EVERYONE ;)

Linda Rodin rocks denim

2011-07-20T15:58:00.001-04:00

Even though I take photos of "street style" I often take photos before, after or during parties or events I'm attending because I like to show how people look "in my world" -meaning where I actually go as opposed to hanging out in the Meat ~~Market~~ Packing District or elsewhere looking for people. So it's not often that I'll chase someone down on the street! But when I saw Linda Rodin walk by on my way to the Ace Hotel I had to stop her. She is positively chic and I might add, utterly charming. –Isn't it funny how the truly chic are also more often than not really nice and those who are merely trendy tend to be the ones with bad attitudes? But I digress!

What I love in this look is her absolute fearlessness in wearing denim. From her jeans to her dress to her oversized Prada bag. While the bag is not denim it does remind me of a pair of Diesel jeans I used to have that I labeled my Britney jeans –in reference to Ms. Spears...the print looks much better on a bag!

Linda Rodin was a model in the '70s which explains how effortlessly she popped onto the car to pose. (and please note her perfected Street Style Pose on the left that I'll put any girl in who feels awkward in front of the camera!) She's now created her own line of elixirs for the skin, lips and hair RODIN olio lusso which you can learn more about on her website –or in this month's Vogue!

Check out the Specials Page ;)

2011-07-19T17:51:00.003-04:00

Please join me at Lord & Taylor this Thursday to meet the winning designers from FIT's collaboration with Keds!

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Boycott @Forever21 for stealing from independent designers, Feral Childe

2011-07-19T11:57:00.001-04:00

Hi there- I know this post is a bit different but I recently received an email from Alice and Moriah, the designers of the Brooklyn label Feral Childe that they are in a lawsuit with Forever 21. Feral Childe's original artwork has been used by Forever 21 without their knowledge or consent and frankly this infuriates and sickens me. As a reader of this blog I can only assume that you value creativity in fashion and support smaller designers. I know everyone– myself included –has enjoyed the "fast fashion" trend, where less expensive stylish clothes copy the runway in minutes. But like eating fast food, fast fashion has it's own pricetag which I've discovered more and more lately. In addition to some companies with questionable labor practices and products that are of such poor quality that you'll get rid of them in a season and add them to a landfill at a faster rate than quality products, there is blatantly stealing work. I'm not talking about being inspired by or even creating a similar version but straight out theft – as is the case with Feral Childe and Forever 21.

Their letter said it better than I can so to quote from it:

Feral Childe has always strived to bring you the very best in innovative, ethically-produced clothing that is made to last. When we first started out we could only dream about the day when we'd be able to design our own fabrics. With the support of our community--friends, family, collaborators, showroom, suppliers, contractors, and our loyal customers--we have grown the business to be able to offer our very original, very personal hand-drawn textile designs to you each season.

For the past fifteen years, we have dedicated ourselves to this artistic partnership. Feral Childe's designs are the product of these years invested in our deep friendship and artistic training. We create textile designs reflecting a singular aesthetic voice. It can take months for us to develop Feral Childe's prints. The creative process begins with the two of us sitting side by side drawing and painting together and continues as we comment, critique and edit until we perfect the print design.

Forever 21 has unfairly profited from Feral Childe's years of artistic development. Without any consideration or respect for the origin of the artwork, Forever 21's mass reproduction of our textile design without our permission is extremely unethical, and in direct violation of the law. It's frustrating that this enormous company, with over a billion dollars a year in revenues, would dare to poach the artistic creations of a small company such as ours.

Our Teepees design is protected by law, registered with the US Copyright Office. When we sent Forever 21 our cease and desist letter regarding this copyright infringement, Forever 21 denied liability and even stated that perhaps Feral Childe copied the design from another source. Once we received that outrageous response, our attorneys filed a lawsuit, currently pending in Federal Court in Los Angeles.

When I first started Style Defined NYC I had just moved to Brooklyn and was interested in learning more about the local talent. Alice and Moriah were two of the first designers I met. I was utterly impressed with their talent and thought process. We made this video together which I'm posting below so you can see for yourself how they do it.

@KristinPrim live and in color!

2011-07-18T20:46:00.000-04:00

Okay, we all love our all-black ensembles but sometimes...I mean sometimes a little color is okay. Right, Kristin? Hey at least your Chanel bag is black –and yes clearly Marcus got the all black memo - but we're proud of your foray into color! Good job –and you look cute! Mighty cute!!!

J Brand highwaisted jeans & Diana Orving top - What I'm Wearing Now

2011-07-17T17:11:00.000-04:00

I have not always been a fan of high waisted jeans. In fact, I'd say I've been the exact opposite: they always made me think of the dreaded "mom jeans" and seemed terribly ass flattening. (and trust me I have a flat enough ass as it is!) But ever since Marc Jacobs showed his colorful satin high waisted pants styled a la Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver, I've been intrigued. So a few weeks ago I let me friend Beth, who owns a boutique, bring me a pair to check out: the "Bette" jean from J Brand. My first thought was that they were too much an exact replicate of something from the '70s with their patch pockets in front, than a modern reinterpretation. But I tried them on and realized they're really soft and comfortable and it was really nice to have a different silhouette –so I decided to keep them and I'm sure they're going to be a major summer into fall staple!

I paired them with a cropped top by Diana Orving that I picked up at Opening Ceremony awhile back. I love the asymmetry in the hem of the top and how it's more revealing in back then in front. And worn with the higher jean there's no fear of the dreaded muffin top! Also wearing my favorite straw summer hat to protect myself from the sun, gold earrings that I've permanently borrowed from my mom and super comfortable "Lively" shoes by Nicole –on sale now at Piperlime!

Jamie Rosenthal seen @TribecaGrandNYC

2011-07-16T18:22:00.000-04:00

I stopped by the Tribeca Grand on Thursday evening to see Camilla Staerk's new short film 'Vanitas' which gorgeously showcased the STAERK Spring/Summer 2012 colection in collaboration with avant garde filmmaker Barnaby Roper, composer Sune Rose Wagner of The Raveonettes & artists of The Royal Danish Ballet. You can check it out here.

Naturally the premiere brought out many people in the industry. Jamie Rosenthal is a brilliant stylist who does work for both print and video...so don't hold it against her that she's model gorgeous!

Alejandro Calvani & Zana Bayne at the Soho Grand

2011-07-15T17:06:00.000-04:00

Earlier this month my friend Colleen Nika along with british designer Hannah Marshall had an intimate affair in The Yard at the Soho Grand. It didn't take the velvet rope to tell you who was part of this party –all you had to do was look for the all black ensembles with a little added flair. Zana is wearing one of her own custom made harnesses –currently being seen on Lady Gaga's dancers as well– and I adore Alejandro's round rimless specs.
These two are a rather dashing duo.

Clowns About Town: Take 2

2011-07-14T15:57:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday I showed a few photos from the first part of a shoot with the Clowns About Town for Standarth, JP. Here's a few from part two. This was for a modeling shoot featuring the Trion bag. Love these girls and their styling! These clowns will give you sweet dreams instead of nightmares!

Kickin' it casual in Williamsburg

2011-07-13T18:44:00.000-04:00

I saw these two outside of Pips, a new ping-pong/bar/hangout joint that my friend Mikey co-founded. It's in Williamsburg and if you are in the 'hood definitely check it out –it's all "pay what you will". Anyways! I just thought they were kind of adorable. And I love that she's wearing vintage Girbaud shorts. Lately I've become obsessed with Girbauds from the '80s when they had their label across the zipper...don't ask me why, I have no idea!

Curls on Top

2011-07-12T21:13:00.000-04:00

I met this girl last week at the party for the new Brooklyn Magazine (brought to you by the people of the L Magazine!) I can't remember her name which is making me slightly annoyed at the moment but I think she did some styling for the magazine. Anyways, in a little contrast to yesterday's post she's wearing jeans with a decidedly looser more relaxed fit –a nice option when you're not "feeling" your skinnies! The hair is nearly shaved on the sides and she's put her natural curls in a little pony tail on top which is super cute and playful.

Cool blonde on a hot day

2011-07-11T17:57:00.000-04:00

Tres simple, tres chic!

Giambattista Valli top-as-dress: What I'm Wearing Now

2011-07-10T15:29:00.000-04:00

Technically a tunic, I wore this recently as a dress...a short one! The volume in the sleeves and belted waist create a dramatic silhouette in an otherwise fairly simple piece. I didn't want to add any necklace and kept the accessorizing minimal –the orange Kelly bag was added for a pop of color!

Pattern on Pattern & Sheer black

2011-07-08T20:54:00.000-04:00

I generally love when people dare to wear two prints that don't "go together" in traditional terms. His striped shirt is very on trend right now – the pants are something else altogether...but somehow he makes it work. Maybe because of the shoes? Or the mustache?... On her: The high collar on the sheer shirt balances the short shorts and bikini top so she looks sexy and not slutty. Also you can't see the shine on the bikini top unless there's a light on it (like the flash of the camera) which also keeps it from being too much.