Bryan Batt signing books at Doris Leslie Blau (Image by Charity De Meer)

By Marcy Clark

Thank you so much to those of you who joined us for “An Evening at The Interior Design Building with Bryan Batt,” with the charming, witty and dashing author, designer, actor and star of Mad Men, Bryan Batt. The evening was presented by the dealers at New York’s venerable Interior Design Building at 306 East 61st Street, an amazing resource for museum-quality, highly collectible antiques, art and original home furnishings and accessories. We were thrilled to be joined by New York’s top Interior Designers, Architects, Editors, Publishing Executives and so many other special guests. Guests secured their very own copy of Bryan Batt’s poignant and humor-saturated memoir “She Ain’t Heavy, She’s My Mother” and got to get their book signed. Design aficionados took the opportunity to shop and explore the 7 floors of the Interior Design Building, open for “Evening Hours” in partnership with our media partner for the event: 1st Dibs. Participating Showrooms included: Lucca & Co, Lee Calicchio, Sentimento, Liz O’Brien, John Rosselli, Doris Leslie Blau,  Atlantic Gallery, C.J. Peters, Suzanne Golden Antiques, Amy Perlin Antiques and Niall Smith.

Batt with Ron Wagner and Timothy Van Dam of Wagner Van Dam Design and Decor (Charity De Meer)

Bryan Batt meeting Lee Calicchio of Lee Calicchio Ltd.

Joan and Jayne Michaels of 2 Michaels Design Being Interviewed by French Film Crew StoryBox Press

Catherine Aaron, Bryan Batt, Lance Thompson at Lucca & Co.

Lisa Blecker, Barbara Kirshbaum at Sentimento Antiques

Brandon Vargas and Muffie Cunningham of Amy Perlin Antiques

Suzanne Golden of Suzanne Golden Antiques and Rubens Penna of Atlantic Gallery Ltd.

Nader Bolour of Doris Leslie Blau and designer Scott Guthrie

Brian Kish with LisaBeth Bastone of Doris Leslie Blau

Trudi Romero, Rhonda Cole of The New York Times, Gail Ahye of Vincente Wolf Home

Gail Karr of New York Social Diary, Bryan Batt

Lee Calicchio, Babette Cohen

Maureen Howard, Bryan Batt, Darrin Varden of Drake Design Associates

Jayne Michaels, Marcy Clark, Joan Michaels

Maria Rignack, Javier Maymi

Kelly Porter, Holly Orsburn

Elise Morrissey, Helen Hookway, Elizabeth Brush Saypol, Lisa Blecker

Jerome Whitehurst Jr., Teran Evans

Judith Powers, Peggy Schofield

Carolyn Sollis, Jonathan Preece, Audrey Margarite of Bunny Williams

Uberti Bona, Christina Vescovo, Eduardo Grigione

Ron Wagner, Timothy Van Dam

Frances Fontaine

Bryan Batt being interviewed by French Documentary Crew Storybox Press

Images here by Charity De Meer and Amber Des Vos / Patrick McMullen. For Full event images visit PatrickMcMullen.com.
All copyrights observed.

All pictures of the EngieStyle 2011 Collection “Rouge et Noir”.

The event will feature a book signing for Bryan Batt’s new book “She Ain’t Heavy, She’s My Mother” and will be an Open Showroom event – a chance to see what is new from the designers, dealers and furnishings experts at 306 E 61st.
Come to meet Bryan and secure a signed-copy of his book, stay to re-design your living room!

Will we get to see you soon?

RSVP to Marcy@yellowskyagency.com

For press and media inquiries into Bryan Batt contact Cynthia Parsons McDaniel 917.412.0555.

I cannot even tell if it is summer in New York City yet. It officially is not, but when it gets warm, everyone takes that as a sign of summer. But, the weather these past two weeks have been an eclectic mixture. We have had stormy rain-filled days, humid, hot sticky days, and even extra breezy days. Global warming is becoming a true scare as indicated by the un-patterned weather we have been experiencing. With such uncertainty, how does one know how to dress in the morning when leaving home for work? I have the solution. Furi Light jackets.

The Spring/Summer 2010 collection of Furi Light features an array of light-weight, chic, and comfortable jackets for any well crafted woman. When the weather calls for rain, grab your Furi Light trench. Its light-weight nylon material enables the jacket to range from 11oz to 16oz in weight and allows for noise-less freedom. These jackets are stain resistant and water-repellant. This makes them perfect to fold up in your bag if the sun suddenly comes out and it gets hot!

Furi Design has been around for over 20 years; this makes them qualified to get the job done right. The S/S ’10 collection features the classically designed trench, a-line jacket with detachable hood, cropped jacket, and knee-length anorak with detachable hood. The colors include a soft lavender, steel blue, gun metal grey, light grey, lavender blend, natural, and blue blend. Light weight…great colors…virtually noise-less, what more could you ask for?  Oh yeah, the jackets are Teflon coated too. If this description does not prove these jackets to be extraordinary, who knows what will.

This collection has been getting such a great consumer response that it is going to be available all year-round. Ladies, if you cannot go and pick up your jacket today, no fear, you can get one in time for the Fall season. Price Range: $225-$325. Check out www.furidesign.com for more.

The new SLIM by Cynthia Rowley collection of bodywear is the perfect combination of shapewear and lingerie. Not only is it colorful, it’s also sexy. (Keep reading)…

For women, shapewear is an embarrassing subject, because undergarments are so drab that we don’t want to be spotted wearing them. Yet these are adorable, the perfect undergarment that can almost be worn as an over garment!

We all know that NYC is the place to be for fashion. This is confirmed everyday when you enter or hear about a new store with all of the “essential pieces” a woman needs to rock this city. The place that will satisfy your shopping craves is Eryn Brinié. I walked in the store recently and thought Wow. This is a really cool store. The architectural design speaks to me. It adds to the individuality of the clothing and allows a warm welcoming feel to overtake you as you explore clothing on racks.

“Eryn Brinié exemplifies European chic combined with New York’s youthful spirit and modern sensibility.” The line is built around accessible wardrobe essentials including, but not limited to blazers, blouses, pants, sweaters, tanks, and dresses. There are lots of loose fitting pieces that will be perfect for the impending summer heat. Hitting 90 degrees in April seems like a sign. Let’s prepare for the summer by checking out the Eryn Brinié’s website. Every day they offer a daily steal on select in season pieces with up to 50% off for 24 hours. Sunday’s skirt looks like a buy…

If you will be in Soho this Thursday (April 15th), make a trip to the flagship store (501 Broadway) and celebrate the launch of Eryn Brinié/Art of Style. After receiving thousands of student and alumni entries from top schools like the Fashion Institute of Technology, Parsons The New School for Design and the Pratt Institute, the program recognizes photographer Marco Walker as the inaugural recipient, with a cocktail reception for members of the media, tastemakers and clientele. It appears that Tara Mulhare, US Brand Director for Eryn Brinié agrees with me when I said ‘NYC is the place to be for fashion,’ when she mentions that “New York City is not only an internationally recognized super-hub for fashion, but it is an epicenter for the art world as well. Eryn Brinié looks to meld these worlds and promote creativity in every facet.”

A platform developed for up-and-coming creative pioneers, the Eryn Brinié/Art of Style focus centers on a dedication to design encouragement. The brand welcomes Walker to showcase and sell his pieces in Eryn Brinié’s flagship boutique following his Art of Style debut, with 100 percent of sales proceeds going to Walker to further drive his collection and career. Additionally, a Walker-Eryn Brinié collaboration of screened t-shirts and tanks will be available in the upcoming weeks.

By Rene Melchor

It is a rainy day in New York City and I am on my way to the studio of Matt Singer. For those who don’t know who Matt Singer is, he was the former designer of the Jack Spade label. Mr. Singer began working with the founder of Jack Spade,  Andy Spade (husband of designer, Kate Spade and brother to David spade the actor) in 1999, after they met working at an ad agency. Together they developed the idea to create a brand and the label for Jack Spade was born. Mr. Singer’s responsibilities were to create the infamous canvas bags and a line of clothing as well as kids toys. When Andy Spade sold the company Matt made the decision to go on his own and create his own label. The collection is available at Project N0.8 boutique in the ACE Hotel in New York City and stores in San Francisco, Tokyo and at www.mattsinger.net.

WM:   What gave you the inspiration to start your own line of cloth and accessories??
MS:   I wanted to live my own American dream.  It is something that we all want, whether it is a restaurant or a nail salon. Having my own business allows me to be creative. Some of the objects that I create become an art object to me.

WM:   What is the philosophy of your design??
MS:   It is a classical American idea, my brand is very friendly and casual, not pretentious or inspirational to a yacht club or polo club. I enjoy working with a good shirt maker, I want to provide the best Oxford shirt, the best button-down shirt and the best canvas bag. That is when my real personality comes out in my design.

WM:   Describe the materials that you like to work with??
MS:   I like to work with canvas because it is a material that ages well. The cotton Oxford shirts I like are made in the U.S.A by local shirt makers who have a generational tradition for making shirts and take pride in using high quality materials for production. That is why my shirts are more expensive than other products manufactured in places like Asia.

WM:   Tell me about the logos in your cloth and bags??
MS:   There is the solar system designed like a game and there is Mr. Ratty Pants inspired by the many rats on my street and a chapter in a book by writer David Sedaris in which he describes rats in the streets of NYC. But if you look close at Mr. Ratty Pants he is holding a cell phone and eating a piece of cheese. He is a total NYC multitasked rat. Then there are the three dogs, inspired by the Soviet experiments to send animals into space.  In the belts you see a gorilla getting weighed and he is angry for being seen. The logos again are my personality coming out in my brand. I like story telling through the product.

WM:   What is the idea of vintage watches??
MS:   I love watches and my dad gave me my first vintage watch when I was in college. That inspired me to collect vintage watches.

WM:   What is the inspiration for the bags??
MS:    I like military bags and a great utility bag by the military is good inspiration. Also L.L.Bean has been creating products that are of high durability and quality like their classic boat and tote canvas bag.

WM:     Tell me about Project Selima??
MS:    I had approached Selima (the eye wear designer) when I was working for Jack Spade to invite her to do a project with me but it never happened. When I went on my own I contacted her again and we both got involved with a project for an artist magazine called The Thing. We got involved with author Jonathan Lethem in an issue entitled the “Chaldron Optical System” and was related to his novel Chronic City. The project consisted of a pair of clear glasses with text on both of the arms in a case. I really enjoyed working with Selima, she is a lovely person.

WM:   How are you different from Jack Spade??
MS:   Everything is different for Jack Spade from when I started. The company was sold and now they have a seasonal collection. I think that I don’t want to make bags that change in style every season. My designs are trace dent and unisex any one can wear them: boys and girls. My world is not the fashion world; I don’t aspire to show in Bryant Park and have fashion shows under a tent.

Shauntele Richardson is one of the winners of our “Are You Runway Ready?” contest and was featured in our Fall/Winter 2010 Fashion Show at Tela Design Studio. Her line Shauntelé is deliciously feminine, luxuriously well-made, perfectly tailored and quite modern.

From her first design internship at Nikka to her experience tailoring for the likes of Jessica Simpson and Judy Reyes, Shauntele has developed a style ushering in a new phase of appreciation for the female form. The lines are flattering yet concealing as she strives to highlight a woman’s very best assets. Jorge Ramon, former fashion editor of Teen People, has called her collection “newsworthy,” while women in the know, such as Ivanka Trump, are taking note of this new fashion gem.

Enjoy our Q&A with Shauntele below and contact her to order from her Spring or Fall Collections!
Q: Where did you learn to design and how has your aesthetic evolved over time?
A: That’s the first question?! Of course I think I’m expected to name FIT or Parsons as an alma mater but the truth is that I’ve only taken one illustration class and one sewing course. The rest is self taught through internships, past work experience as well as guidance from family and friends. I pick up any little fragment of knowledge, continue collecting it and depositing in into a mental reservoir I carry with me everyday. As I persist my aesthetic becomes more true to the woman I see myself becoming: a wife,  a mother, an entrepreneur, a voice in the community. All of those roles are so common amongst all women, it comes across in my silhouettes that i am designing for them and I am confident in the direction I am headed.

Q: You are mostly a one woman show, how do you handle it all?
A: I have a lot of people rooting for me to make it and so willing to give of their own talents without pause. Honestly and gratitude, coupled with an almost unwavering loyalty, has equipped me with an unimaginable, invisible “line of credit” amongst my colleagues of the garment district. In my earlier days, assistants doubled as models and day jobs became a cover for my designer alter ego. I would stay absurdly late at the office to print everything from lookbooks to garment tags. I think the more I have to do the quicker my mind works to make it happen, in theory anyway. Besides, I have to handle it, I’ve got something to prove.

Q: When did you realize you could make your passion your career? Is designing in your blood?
A: When I saw someone making an awful mess of their own fashion label, I thought to myself I see what they are doing wrong and it takes less time to do it right. I began seeking out people in the fashion industry who were sincere, helpful and humble. I knew that fashion could be more than superficial, it could be extremely intellectual and empowering. In the end all I want is for a garment to enhance a person’s mood, their appearance and their confidence. The women in my family used to make all their own clothes and still recount wonderful stories of them stepping into a dance as a trio of sisters with the best outfits in the place. The mental image of the creativity, class and fun they must’ve had is something that always keeps me inspired.

Q: What energizes you? Where do you go to find new inspiration when designing a
new collection?
A: It almost never begins with a visual inspiration. First I seek out the music. In my head the the melodies begin to suggest bodies and colors. I later come across an artist like Tamara de Lempicka or Henri Rosseau who appear to embody the visual aesthetic of a song or genre I’ve recently discovered. In my teenage years I wanted to be a singer and would always put together outfits to help the audience understand me as an artist. Even till this day I want my appearance to give people a clear understanding of who I am. A picture is worth a thousand words, so why should we be afraid for people to judge us by our appearance?

Q: You are sponsored by the Garment Industry Development Corp with a space in Showroom New York, because you make your clothes in New York’s garment industry. Why do you feel it is important that the Garment Industry remain in Manhattan?
A: Showroom New York has played a huge role in my collection over the past year. The designers that make up the collective are dedicated to seeing one another succeed and we make it happen by sharing our resources, criticism and encouragement. It would be impossible for us to do so if the Garment District became spread out over the 5 boroughs because zoning laws are forcing manufacturers out. I’ve had to do a lot with very little formal training, the pattern-makers and seamstresses who have supported me since my eager intern days are invaluable to me. They see my vision as well as expand it. Innovation is what happens when ideas are thrust into the air making the atmosphere fertile for a surprise, a movement. Right now fashion is stale, but at Showroom New York there is so much to taste. People are looking for something new and we are what’s new.

Q: Lastly, and please don’t be shy, what can the Women’s Mafia make happen for you?
A: As if I wasn’t already fawning over Women’s Mafia and how great your approach is to supporting new talent. First, you can get me a tape of your awesome appearance on NBC. Second I think Women’s Mafia can help forge a solid connection to women who’ve been seeking out the aesthetic that Shauntele represents which is elegant with just the right bit of sexy to get a room buzzing.

By Marcy Clark

NBC New York did a great piece on our Fashion Show & Fashion Week Kick-Off Party at Tela Design Studio. Roseanne Colletti was a perfect host and made stylist Engie Hassan, designer Ardistia and I feel right at home, guiding us through the talking points and helping to make sure we got to mention as many contributors as possible. The segment also featured looks by Shauntele and Johnathan Kayne, the other “Are You Runway Ready?” Women’s Mafia contest winners, as well as shoes by Shoegasm.

Thanks to NBC New York and Roseanne Colletti for helping us in our mission of supporting Independent Designers!

At 30 Rock:

By Jessica Li via FashionIndie

While it’s obvious that some of us have more time on our hands than others, Veik, a 29-year old doll maker from Beijing should be awarded for his achievements. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve never quite gotten over Barbie, but Gaga Barbie is at a whole new level of coolness. Veik DIY-ed his Barbies and dressed them in some of Gaga’s most iconic ensembles – he even made a mini version of Mcqueen’s armadillos! We’re just wondering when these are going to be massed produced, because we plan on buying all of them.

Link Love: Refinery 29