Monthly Archives: June 2012

Elle Trois Designs! So Bow-u-ti-ful!

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Imagine leaving everyone and everything you love behind and packing yourself to move to a different city where you don’t know anyone just to pursue your dreams. Well that’s just was Francesca and Barbara of Elle Trois did. Francesca abandoned her moms dream for her to become a nurse and left Florida; Barbara followed to support her. The goal? To make it big in fashion!  I had the pleasure of catching up with Elle Trois to discuss the infamous bow ties that I fell in love with and the new upcoming line!

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How did Elle Trois come to be? What does Elle Trois mean? When I started designing clothes. It was actually called L3. But the name was actually taken. My background is French, so I went with Elle Trois, which basically stands for live, love, learn. So when I was designing, Live was like the comfortable wear, Love was like skirts because I love skirts ( I don’t wear pants when I go out) and Learn was business wear for women. So then I said I needed a way for it to come out. I love and wear bows. In fact, everything I wear is with bows. Then someone gave me an idea and said you know what, you should just start making bow ties and that’s how you could start your name in fashion. I did some research and found out that Ralph Lauren started making bow ties for men and women when he started. And now look at him. He’s a brand and he has a whole empire. So that’s why I started with bows.

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What kind of fabric/materials do you use? Whatever the clients want. I can do from camouflage, paisley, sequins, silk, wool to even tweed. Whatever the customer is looking for, I go out and find it.

How much do you sell your bows for? Usually they start at 20 dollars. If you want chains or studs or anything like that then it will be a little more. Free shipping. I am also making a reversible bow as well. One side floral one side tweed. So you could wear one side for the Fall one side for Spring.

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I know we spoke about previously that you were going to branch out. What other things are you working on? Besides the t-shirts and pins, I want start my own clothing line and get my clothes manufactured. I want to see women wearing my clothes. I also want to incorporate a lining inside of the clothes that somewhat holds you together. A lot of the time when I go shopping, I get very self-conscious, especially shopping for one piece dresses. It’s like if you don’t work out or take care of your body you will feel self-conscious in your clothing, So I want to incorporate a lining inside the clothes so you will feel confident in what you wear.

That’s a great idea! So when do you think you are going to start the shirts? Already in progress.

Where are your favorite places to shop? I don’t have a specific place I shop. I like Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, a lot of vintage shops, thrift stores and garage sales. Wherever.

All in Jersey? No SoHo as well, I mix and match. I don’t only shop in Saks and Neiman Marcus. I don’t shop in one place. Style is how you put it all together. Especially mixing and matching brands.

What is your long-term goal for Elle Trois? I want to be like Kimora Lee. I want an empire. I want bedding, kids clothes… I want it all.

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What do you think has been so far your biggest challenges.? Umm. It’s creativity. It’s getting the right person to wear my bows. Its getting out my name out there. Getting the right person to notice.  It’s hard. It’s a lot of work and dedication. You cant have a 9 to 5 to doing this. You can’t.

Do you do anything else besides designing?  No. I dedicate it all to Elle Trois.

Barbara: I pay the bills. Someone has to pay the bills.. I have a job.. (Laughing)
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What inspires you? My mother. She used to sew. She used to sew all our dresses and bow ties. When she got older she just stopped. So I just want to continue what she started and continue that tradition. My mom doesn’t believe that it is going be big. She just says good job boo. You can do it. I want to prove to her that you don’t only have to do nursing to make it. You can become big in fashion.  I am gonna be big in fashion and I want to show her that. She inspires me everyday.

What is your advice to others looking to make it big in fashion? Don’t give up. Life is so short. You have to give it your fullest even though there is competition. Give it your all. Stay focused and stay motivated on your goal. When I get down and out and think I can’t do this,  I think about my mom and I say I have to do it… I left Florida and moved up here to pursue my dreams.

If anyone wanted to purchase your items now how would they go about it? I am working on a site for etsy.com and big cartel as well. You can email me at chesca.pepe@yahoo.com or on Instagram @elletrois

Is there anyone who you would like to thank? Haters. Also, Leonard Wise the designer of Tiara Austini. He makes swimsuits. He showed me how to sew. Thank You!

The world is yours Elle Trois!

The bows are fun and bow-u-ti-ful! Make a statement in Elle Trois! I know you want to!

Ella Trois X The Fashion Clones

Photo (from left to right)-Barbara: top: Thrift Shop; jeans: Levi’s; bow tie: Elle Trois; necklaces: Forever 21 & Express. Me- top: H&M; skirt: Zara; shoes: Steve Madden; belt: Necessary Clothing, SoHo NYC; brooch: Ehvonnae; frames: The Gift Man; earrings: Street Vendor, Brooklyn, NY. Francesca- top: Thrift Store; skirt: H&M; bow tie: Elle Trois; shoes: Aldosterone; watch: Marc Jacobs; necklace and earrings: Afaze

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Ciao!! xoxoxox

NOW HEAR THIS!

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The band-Kids These Days caught my attention! I havent been this excited about a band since the 90′s.  I was up at an ungodly hour watching Conan and the music just started. That was it. I froze. Who are these kids?! The horns, the guitar, the keyboardist, the drummer and the rapper. A group of 7. Making REAL music. Sounding unique, uninhibited, untainted. Owning the stage. Progressive music. Maybe the audience didn’t know who they were, hell, I didn’t even know who they were.. But now I do. KIDS THESE DAYS. NOW I DO! I am listening.

Check out “Spottie” performed on Conan. Give it a chance.. It is much more than rap. Listen to the horns, the guitarist especially when he is on vocals.. The singer-keyboardist as she sings… Her voice almost angelic… The rapper.. so thought-provoking… the fluidity of his rhymes..  Just listen and enjoy…

If you liked Spottie, check out the new video for their rendition of Flashing Lights below.. JUST RELEASED TODAY!

I am listening!!

DIY Earring Holder

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I have amassed so many earrings big and small that I have busted out all of my trinket drawers. My long and funky earrings were getting mangled and destroyed because of my untidy ways.

Yesterday on my free time I decided to clean up my act and get my drawers into shape. I now have a drawer for nail polishes, make-up, cuffs, hair accessories, necklaces and small earrings,but ran out of space for my long ones.

I used to use this IKEA utensil holder for my brushes and combs but I found a new home for them as well. I located a string in my home sturdy enough to hold up the cannister and tied two knots in each side and hung it up in my shoe closet! It’s functional and doesn’t take up any space. This cannister will probably run you only like 4 bucks.

Quick solution to a big problem!

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James Shanks Photography

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Recently, I saw a time-lapse video taken of Brooklyn (from dusk to dawn), from a window in lower Manhattan. It was spectacular. I wish to have a view of the city from my pad one day! The video included views of the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, also capturing the hustle/bustle of NYC.

Brooklyn Bridge Timelapse Test from James Shanks on Vimeo.

James Shanks isn’t your typical ordinary freelance photographer. His images are primarily for builders and designers. Some of his biggest clients are Pentagram Design, Wolf Gordon, ThinkSo, 212 and Hudson Companies, just to name a few. Recently, one of his photographs just graced one of the biggest covers in interior design for Interior Design magazine- Market Tabloid edition that only comes out once a year. The Huffington Post just published a few of his photos from Neocon online and with all of these recent huge accomplishments, he can now add time-lapse enthusiast to his resume. During the space shuttle’s transport to the Intrepid, he sat at the Weehawken Waterfront Park to do a time-lapse of the event [see below].

Space Shuttle Enterprise Arrives at the Intrepid Museum – 6/6/2012 New York City (Timelapse) from James Shanks on Vimeo.

I also got a chance to sit down with him to talk about the time-lapse events among other things:

TFC: Why did you decide to shoot time-lapse videos?

JS: I thought it was a really cool thing to do.

TFC: How long does one of these time-lapse videos take to shoot?

JS: It was about 5 hours of shooting.

TFC: 5 hours of shooting?!

JS: 5 hours of shooting.

TFC: Jesus! How fast is it going?

JS: 30 pictures per second, 1 pct every 10 seconds.

TFC: Your pictures were posted by the Huffington Post recently. How does it feel?

JS: It felt good.

TFC: What were the pictures that were actually published?

JS: It was a sculpture installation at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago for Neocon.

Wolf Gordon Neocon Sculpture Escalator Canopy

TFC: And what is Neocon for those of us who don’t know?

JS: It’s an interior design and furniture trade show. One of the biggest interior design trade show in the US.

TFC: In a time where everyone wants to be, claiming to be and/or aspiring to be a photographer, what sets you apart from the rest?

JS: Well, it my specialized equipment, my ability to work on images and make them look the way one is intended to look.

TFC: Would you do any other kind of photography?

JS: Food Photography. I don’t photograph people.

TFC: What advice would you give to other photographers who want to become freelance photographers?

JS: Don’t go to school for photography. Go get an Associates Degree in business administration and then become a photo assistant for one year, and I guarantee you will learn more in one year than you do in 4 years of college.

LOL. Sometimes you just gotta keep it real. You can check out the rest of his work at www.jamesshanks.com. Follow/contact him on twitter @jamesshanksnyc.

I’m a Real Lady. Check My Pin!

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It’s very rare that I come accross a store that has something a cut above the rest, but I think I might have found that store! Ehvonnae is such a KAAUUTTEE store with great items. As soon as I walked in I fell in love with how open and well organized everything was. Brittanie (the owner) was on site and was very helpful and allowed me to try on some of the accessories. I fell IN LOVE with this large neck piece that was ONE OF A KIND. I like to see stores that have one of a kind pieces. Exclusivity.. POW! Oh and I also loved the By Taj Girl Brooch (see below), which is normally $55.00 but is on sale now for $15!  I have gotten sooo many compliments on it. The store carries watches, phone accessories, sunglasses, bracelets, bags, shoes, headphones, and much much more. Her packaging is so cute. My brooch came in a tribal bag, that went in a box that went in a damask printed bag. So many cute touches. How could Chris and I not return? So come in and check them out as well.

Photo: frames: Something In Mind; brooch: By Taj found at Ehvonnae; blazer,gold cuff & necklace:H&M
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The Store

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There are more leather bags not featured here. 100% leather with beautiful detailing inside and affordable.
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More By Taj Brooch’s!
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One of many exclusive chunky neck pieces I am losing my mind over!
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Gummy bear earrings and rings! Strickly for the quirky!
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IPhone casings. Bananas!
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Chris picked up this cool bracelet.
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And for you men… She has a small shoe selection for you. These Keds are on sale and she only has one size left, size 9!
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Check out her online store at http://www.ehvonnae.com.

Ciao! Xoxoxo

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Stacked Neck Pieces. Such a Do

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When I decided to throw this on for the Dream Cloth opening, I really needed something to bring around my neck area that would be large. Unfortunately, none of my usual stomping grounds had what I wanted which was a Boom Kack POW piece. So I opted to combine necklaces that I owned and newly purchased. The rope “choker” is actually a belt from H&M. Yes you heard right. A belt. The second piece is a three piece chain also from H&M. And the third piece (that I am actually wearing backwards–to hide the multicolor dots) is from a street vendor in Broadway in SoHo.

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Photo: vest: LF Stores; jeans: Forever 21; booties: Bakers– Beacons Closet: belt: Aldo Stores

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Photo: cuff: H&M; watch: c/o Jason– Diesel; spiked ring: Something in Mind, Dumbo-NYC; bag: Zara

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Dream Cloth Pop Up Shop Opens in DUMBO

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DREAM CLOTH opened its NYC pop up shop yesterday in Dumbo, NYC. We were invited to view the space and merchandise before the store opened to the public and of course do some shopping… (I can’t resist).

DREAM CLOTH is a high-end street wear line based in NYC and was established in 2008. The line is more geared to menswear, however, there are a few pieces for women. One stand out piece for women I loved was the Fu*k CC (aka Chanel) snapback (featured below). What I find most appealing about the line is how clean-cut and simple the designs are. There is no overkill in logos or graphics. The designs have good balance between street and chic, which is why undoubtedly they have a strong following of buyers from all walks of life and I will definitely will be making repeat purchases as new merchandise comes in for my husband.

The Store

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This is the Ladies ONLY FU*K CC Snapback I mentioned above.
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I love the Luxury Camo Duffel bag. I would definitely use this as a weekend bag.

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Women’s Tank. I love this image. Should be a best seller.

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The Purchases

I scooped up two tee’s that I loved for Jason: the “Still Trappin” and  the “Noir Cocaine” tees. My husband loved hem. Here are the shirts featured below.

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Dream Cloth’s pop up shop is open from Monday – Saturday all Summer long and is located at 59 Pearl Street, Brooklyn, NYC. Make sure you make a stop and check out the shop and pick up some items. Also, ladies if you are into snapbacks, the Fu*k CC logo cap is a must have in your collection. Please visit their website at www.dreamclothnyc.com.

Happy Hunting!!!

~Mel

H&M Oversized Clutches

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Popped in to see if I could find a top to go with my new shorts I purchased, instead of committing to the top at TOP SHOP I saw for about 60 bucks. Didn’t find a top but sure did find some bags. I saw these cute and AFFORDABLE clutches. The silver was $25 and the pink one was almost $20. So if you are looking for those oversized clutches, make a stop into H&M. I also some neon colored satchels (that are on trend for the Summer season) but they were so mangled in on the racks that I couldn’t get one out to take a pic.

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Happy Hunting !