Photo courtesy of Jodi Arnold

Lakskmi Hair Studio will be hosting New York-Based designer Jodi Arnold’s pop-up shop titled ‘Shared Discovery’ tomorrow, March 5. The Spring 2010 collection will be on sale with 25% of sales going to Doctors Without Borders. Arnold’s designs are feminine with a modern twist. The dresses come in a variety of exclusive prints and textures. The designer is known for her artistic collaborations and her exceptional designs have never been available in Philly until now. In addition to a wothy cause, shoppers can enjoy a 20% discount on the unique pieces.  Friday’s event will also feature tapas by Bar Ferdinand and Finlandia Cocktails. Feel-good fashion and fundraising, what could be better?

What: ‘Shared Discovery’

Where: Lakshmi Hair Studio. 21 N. 2nd Street.

When: Friday March 5, 8-11 P.M.

The borough of Brooklyn has become a certain stereotype as of late. If there was a hipster capital of the world it would be the BK, with Williamsburg as its focal point and the brand Brooklyn Industries does nothing to dispel that idea. That being said their new store, only the third outside of New York, is a beautifully designed haven for anyone who needs comfort, style, and durability.

Their clothes are hip but not in a trendy way. That sort of style without being obnoxiously stylish is at the heart of this company. They started making messenger bags out of out billboards and quickly grew into men’s and women’s wear. “The product was more like an art project,” said CEO Lexy Funk. The company refers to its productions as “upcycling”. “Recycling is about taking something and changing it materiality,” said Funk. “What we do is we take something and make it into art while keeping its materiality the same.” This idea even goes as far as the walls in the store, they’re made of shipping crates from their New York warehouse.

Brooklyn Industries also has stores in Portland and Chicago so their move to Philadelphia makes absolute sense. We all know that our city has a thriving music and art scene and that is exactly what BKI hopes to access. “Philly has this really interesting art culture and we’re constantly interested in music and art,” said Funk.

Their collection in the store consists of easy to wear basics with an urban edge. Some highlights include a heavy gray jersey motorcycle jacket, like the sweatshirt equivalent to the biker jacket. Also, their spring dresses in varying prints and denim were especially strong. For men they have a surplus of graphic tees and jeans. But their accessories are what give Brooklyn Industries its signature. From the canvas messenger bags to the canvas-coated purses, they have a fantastic selection of everyday bags.

All in all we’re ecstatic Brooklyn Industries has made it down the Turnpike and on to Walnut Street. It’s the perfect stop for comfort and style without all the bells and whistles.

Brooklyn Industries is located at 1525 Walnut Street, check out www.brooklynindustries.com for more info. Photos by Tate Obayahi.

Skipping the chocolates and roses this year, the Fashion team at Elitist Magazine spent their Valentine’s Day at the Love.Fashion.Murder runway show held at the Top Hat in Old City.

Love.Fashion.Murder was established in 2009 by Rene Quick and Jason Hallman with the idea of creating themed shows to shine some light on uprising talent in Philadelphia. Combining music, fashion, media and performing art, this brilliant duo puts on unforgettable shows.

The Valentine’s Day themed runway show featured pieces from Topstitch Boutique, Smak Palour, Emily Geddes’ EmmaLuv Collection, Vagabond and Of Corset Fits in the first half of the show.

TopStitch's tribal corset and skirt

While the models were changing into their second looks we were entertained by break dancers who put on a show for us at the end of the runway.

The second half of the show was stolen by the creative pieces by Reneé Masoomian. Using unorthodox materials like latex and plastics, Masoomian showed unique lingerie including a floor length dress, black latex jackets accented with red ruffles and daring nearly backless latex tops faceted with silver buckles.

Renee Masoomian's designs

During the grand finale the girls in Masoomian and male models in dress pants, button up shirt and suspenders walked the runway hand-in-hand complete with their blood and gore makeup by Aaron Morin. At the end of the runway each couple put on a short show of how the girls murdered their lovers.

The model’s hair done by Jason Hallman and Rene Quick was edgy yet sophisticated using an array of pinks and pastel blues and a ton of teasing. The look was Marie Antoinette in the 40s meets Sweeney Todd. Aaron Morin’s makeup job was the ying to Hallman and Quick’s yang as he made the girls look soft and flawless, yet still fierce using dramatic red lips, pastel eye color and loads of blush and drastic green eye makeup on others. Morin’s blood and gore makeup on the break dancers and in the finale tied the show together nicely for a dramatic Valentine’s Day murder vibe.

The custom corsets, a particular high waisted semi-elastic beige pencil skirt and black halter finished with mesh back and chain elements by Topstitch were our favorites, as well as Masoomian’s floor length dress. Throughout the show however, there was poor lighting on the runway and the break dancer’s show caused a cluster of spectators making it hard to enjoy completely. Because of the phenomenal turnout seating was an issue during the show, but even in such a tight venue no piece was missed by any pair of eyes.

Photos by Sean Semidey

From left: Daniel Vosovic, L.A.M.B., Jen Kao, Vena Cava, Cushnie et Ochs.

Fashion Week here in New York for Fall ‘10 has only just began and the energy is palpable. People are still thrown off about Mr. McQueen’s untimely death but we must go on. The trends thus far seem to be a bit more of the same. Project Runway alum Daniel Vosovic showed an incredibly tailored and modern 15-piece collection. The Vena Cava girls kept to their basics with clean and feminine designs. I especially liked their use of furs. Gwen Stefani showed her L.A.M.B collection which featured all the rock and glitz we’ve come to expect. The one standout thus far was Jen Kao. Her collection was super tough with leather and structuring that would make Lady Gaga go goo goo.

As the week progresses we’ll be bringing up to date news all day long.

The 44-year-old designer Alexander McQueen was found at his luxury Mayfair, London apartment. Just days earlier his beloved mother Joyce died and a year ago his mentor and friend Isabella Blow killed herself.

It is a truly tragic story, as fashion week approaches the fashion industry is weeping. In fact his diffusion line McQ was scheduled to show today as a part of New York Fashion Week. McQueen is the designer who brought us those amazing costumes in Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance and season after season he pointed the way for modern chic apparel.

McQueen was born in the East End of London and was trained in tailoring at Savile Row. After graduating from the prestigious  Central Saint Martins school of design he opened his own label and quickly became the creative director for Givenchy in 1996.

“His brilliant imagination knew no bounds as he conjured up collection after collection of extraordinary designs. At one level, he was a master of the fantastic, creating astounding fashion shows that mixed design, technology and performance and on another he was a modern-day genius,” said Alexandra Shulman, Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue, to The Daily Mail.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1250249/Alexander-McQueen-commits-suicide.html#ixzz0fFNLabUb

From left: Givenchy, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Dries van Noten, Prada.

Eye-catching prints were one of the most astounding trends on the Spring/Summer 2010 runways. It seems designers are favoring loud unique graphics in dresses, leggings, and just about everything else. Alexander McQueen’s sci-fi dresses, like the ones featured in Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance video, are powerful and almost freakish. Then you’ve got Dries van Noten who took Indian and African prints and gave them a home in his lady-like cocktail dresses. It could be that designers need to make an impression on the costumer in order to survive the economic blows, either way we’re eating up.

Photo by Sean Semidey

Fur and lace, like pizza and beer, are always a winning pair.

Name: Alex Danoff

Age: 21

Occupation: Student

Shoes by Opening Ceremony. Available at Joan Shepp, Barneys Co-Op, and www.openingceremony.us

The peep-toe has been flirting the foot for centuries. Recently designers have been combining the tough and chic bootie with the peep-toe and it seems no brand has done it with such variety than the New York-based Opening Ceremony. Their edgy designs mixed with collaborators like Chloe Sevigny will make an excellent addition as the warmer days approach. From the diaphanous to the rugged, Opening Ceremony truly has a shoe to fit any girl.