Smashing Darling Blog

How about a little love

trish — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:19:06 +0000

fiftyseven-thirtythree has been nominated for “Best of the Bay“. Join us in showing them a little community love. Take a moment to leave a comment about how much you love fiftyseven-thirtythree. Yes, ok so a bit of a commitment, you will have to register … but wouldn’t you want the community to do it for you too?

Click Here to spread your love of their amazing line of streetwear. Actual voting begins March 29th. We will post a reminder, but in the meantime help out by singing their praises.

Wan Chai Men’s Distressed T White

Japanese Schoolgirl Men’s Zip Hoodie

Havaianas + Threadless = One Fun Design Contest

trish — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:12:13 +0000

We couldn’t say it any better …

Flip flops and t-shirts go together like tiny umbrellas and piña coladas. The combination conjures up sweet thoughts of bright sunny days on the beach spent with your toes in the sand with your laptop hidden far, far, away. Now’s your chance to convey that laid-back awesomeness to the world with the ultimate combo-canvas: the best rubber flip-flops in the world plus an awesome Threadless tee!

Your challenge is to create a design for both flip flops and a tee.

This is the first worldwide open call for Havaianas flip flop designs, ever! It’s also the first Loves challenge that jumps beyond the t-shirt canvas! And you, friend, could be the first Threadless designer to create flip flops! #1s all around!

If your designs are chosen, you’ll get a bunch of cashola and fame: your stuff will be worn by a bajillion people (approximately). So check out the flip flop submission guide we’ve created, and if you haven’t already, check out the tee submission guide too. That way, your design will get its ultimate moment in the sun. Good luck, dudes and dudettes!

The only thing we will say is … this looks like a fun one.

KREL REBEL YELL Fall 2010 Collection at Eden Roc

trish — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:58:23 +0000

Expanding upon themes of the transformative and performative, KREL’s 2010 Fall Collection is comprised of a limited number of unique, hand-knit pieces, all of which are inspired by KREL’s 2009 visit to Iceland Fashion Week.

KREL’s Fall 2010 palette explores the muted tones of Iceland’s natural, volcanic landscape, juxtaposed with moments of brightness, like the pools of nearly-neon geothermal water that dot the treeless fields of lava rock. Inspired by this incredible Icelandic journey, KREL’s Fall 2010 Collection celebrates the multi-faceted, resilient and bold, through shape, color, perspective all of which amorphous and ripe with potential.

An innovative knitwear line, KRELwear is renowned for its one-of-a-kind, hand-knit “deconstructed” dresses and separates made with tubular knitting techniques, all executed in a wide array of yarn and texture combinations. In the spirit of innovation, each season, KRELwear reinvents itself, developing its line by combining minimal cuts with unique textiles, creative construction, and a mixture of fibers, including recycled, repurposed and organic yarns wherever possible. Known for versatility, KRELwear epitomizes the transition from day to night, with sexy, playful, sophisticated silhouettes.

KREL REBEL YELL FALL 2010 COLLECTION

THURSDAY MARCH 25, 2010

10:00 PM

ROCK FASHION WEEK

EDEN ROC

4525 COLLINS AVE

MIAMI BEACH

rsvp@krelwear.com

Contact: Daria Brit Shapiro

daria@krelwear.com

Cupcakes, Tea and an Afternoon Fashion Show

trish — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:53:35 +0000

Afternoon Tea & Audey Fall 2010 Fashion Show

Fall 2010 Collection Debut
Date: Sunday, March 21, 2010
Time: 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Location: 900 N Michigan Avenue, 5th Floor Chicago, Il

You’re invited…

To join Audey with Metropolis Coffee & Tea and Molly’s Cupcakes while viewing the Audey Fall 2010 Collection & Bridal Collection debut.

Doors open at noon, show starts at 1pm.

900 N Michigan Avenue, 5th Floor

Reservations are required and space is limited so please R.S.V.P. to rsvp@audey.com to reserve your spot!

A portion of voluntary donations are going towards bringing a Mad Science after school workshop to LEARN 3 Charter School in conjunction with Marillac Community Centerand Project Hope Jr. Help make a difference in someone’s life while also making science fun to future generations! For more information about Marillac and their services click here.

For more information or to the view the invite click here.

Welcome to #37: Spring for Independent Designers

Mo — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:00:26 +0000

What’s Going On… Just days until Spring is officially here! Time to break out a little more color, lighter fabrics, and likely – a raincoat. Bring some life to a closet that is possibly boring you with some loveliness from the designers on Smashing Darling. Already coveting a special item but protecting your wallet? Become a fan on Facebook and you will automatically be entered to win a $50 e-gift card to shop our products, not once but EVERY month. Tell your friends! Read more here…

Kristin Hassan, Illinois, $98

What’s New…Location, location, location

Smashing Darling is made up of over 750 indie designers from all over the USA (and now a few in the UK and CA). In each designer’s boutique you can now see where they are based. For all the details, click here…

We are also giving the Darling Blog a whole new look, go take a peek. Please let us know what you think….but keep in mind, we aren’t done yet!

Layerssquared, $148, Oregon

You Deserve A Reward…You are going to love this. We had a thought: shouldn’t you all be rewarded for supporting indie fashion and hanging out with us here in Darling-land? Well, of course! Coming very, very soon Darling shoppers will gain credit for shopping the site – AND it will be retroactive. The reward credit will be based on the average of what you spend, so the more you buy, the more you get. More details coming soon!

Coco Bourgeoisie, $90, Louisiana

Smashing Kudos and tidbits…

Check out the latest N.E.E.T mag for indie inspiration, tell us your fave and win…It was most excellent to see PapuszaCouture in the New York Times last month…We smashed onto the fashion radar over at 944 mag - how darling!…Style Observer finds some Darling indie to inspire her, and so does Kickin’ Kate… We wish we could be in Chicago this week for some indie goodness…or sunny La Jolla next month at the first Fashion Film Festival. If you can go, fill us in!

Kate Boggiano, $350, Illinois

Happy Spring!

cheers ~ the Darlings

Today’s Featured Item: Twine Pendant Earrings

trish — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:00:28 +0000

Twine Pendent Earrings in Steel Medium

Two recycled steel intaglio pendants, inspired by a simple ball of twine, are hung from sterling silver ear wires. Fibrous and organic, twine represents the ties in life that bind us together with ease and a sense of belonging; these strings that we choose to connect to each other. These pendants stand out beautifully combined with a heavy cable knit cardigan, or hanging above a simple V-neck tee. Pendant is 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Ear wires measure 3/4 inches in length. Designed by independent jewelry designer, Joy O for Kyler Eco Designer Jewelry. Shop the full jewelry collection here.

Anna Hovet Fashion Show, Chicago

trish — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:41:13 +0000

Anna Hovet Fall 2010 Fashion Show

Ok style darlings in Chicago, this one is for you. Chicago is such a hot bed of independent and emerging fashion designers these days. Chicago is definitely putting it’s full weight behind this niche of the fashion industry with such great organizations like, Chicago Fashion Foundation and Chicago Fashion Incubator. Friday, March 26, 2010 make sure you get your ticket to see Anna Hovet present her Fall 2010 collection. We have been watching Anna ever since she joined Smashing Darling and we think she is doing an incredible job. We wish we could be there in person. It is sure to be a show not to be misses.

Details below:

Date: Friday, March 26, 2010
Time: 8:00pm – 11:00pm
Location: 900 N. Michigan Ave 5th Floor
City/Town: Chicago, IL

Join us March 26 at the prestigious 900 Shops on the Magnificent Mile to celebrate the one year anniversary of Anna Hovet Designs and view a fashion show of the young Chicago designer’s latest collection.

Inspired by 1910’s fashion, Anna Hovet’s highly anticipated Fall 2010 Collection is a sophisticated twist on her signature high-collar wool jackets, color-blocked hoodies, and reversible dresses.

Reception 8:00 – 9:00pm The CFI Pop-Up shop will be open so you can shop the Chicago Fashion Incubators collections.
Fashion Show starts promptly at 9:00 pm
Post Show Party 10:00pm – 2:00am at JBAR

Tickets $10 – only available online here.

Today’s Featured Item: Gearface Hoodie

trish — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:59:36 +0000

Gearface Hoodie

Organic Short Sleeve V- Neck Hoodie

Shop the full Elleira Couture Collection here.

Sharing a Bit of Style Observer’s Favorites

trish — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:44:20 +0000

Make sure to take a peek at today’s post over at Style Observer. Jean V. Pratt shares some of her darling inspirations and style tips featuring independent designers.

“My favorite thing about indie fashion is the fresh approach to design. The pieces are not mainstream, and look authentic.” Jean V. Pratt. Style Observer.

Make sure to RSS her blog to receive style tips daily. What could be better with your morning cup-o-joe than knowing what and how to wear the latest.

Designer Location

trish — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:28:10 +0000

One of the biggest comments we get from customers is, “how do I know where the designer is?” Good question. It is true, we do like to know where our products are coming from. We heard your queries, we are putting the city, state, and country of each designer in their boutique. This lets us all know where we are in the world. This will also allow us to work on search by area. When we complete the search by area function, consumers will be able to type in a location and see the designers near by.

We are also experimenting with international sellers. We currently have a few designers from England and Canada. Seeing the location and shopping by location will be increasingly important. It helps the customer know where their product is coming from.

The location of the designer will appear right next to the ‘Sale’ tab. Be looking for it soon!