The Clothes Maiden: Edition 10

The Clothes Maiden A journal for the creative and fashionable minds

Edition 10.

Jan/ Feb 2013

A journal for the fashionable and creative minds

Love Letter

H

ello world! Welcome to this lovely new year. I sincerely hope you’re enjoying it so far, whatever it is you may be doing.

I’m incredibly excited to present to you our 1st Issue of 2013! We’ve put together a little something that’s sure to inspire you guys, from Elia Fernández’s eye-catching illustrations to Bibi Lei’s beautiful accessory label, STARs + Tart.

This issue is about new beginnings, we all know it’s hard going back to work or starting something new after the Christmas holidays. I read something not so long ago that hasn’t left my mind and it goes like this: “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”

I had this in my thoughts whilst The Clothes Maiden magazine was in the process of being created.

Remember to stay in touch: @clothesmaiden Email: info@theclothesmaiden.com

The Clothes Maiden Contents

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Vanessa Mooney

GiantLion

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We Were Warriors

Sergio Spanu

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77

6

48

Vanessa Mooney

Alex Blythin

Pretty Things We Like

Sun & Glory

Materials + Process

Elia Fernรกndez

GIANTLion

We Were Warriors

Madison Harding

STARs + TART

Made By Lennebelle

Sergio Spanu

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14

60

20

66

24

73

40

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Editor: Stephanie Anderson Contributors: Chloe Lauter Jade Stokes

Illustrators: Louise Burrows Yoanna Polski

Vanessa Mooney

B

orn in 1980 and the great-granddaughter of Harry Warner (one of the original Warner Bros), Vanessa Mooney has a unique look and attitude which is completely shown through her accessory line.

Since a young girl, she has been in love with how free art is and how many different forms of art there are in the world. It wasn’t until 2009 when she founded her line and let her creativity; ideas and inspiration lead the way.

Designing in her downtown Los Angeles studio, Vanessa is completely self-taught.

She combines unexpected materials and a technique that gives each design a fresh look and makes it feel as if it is utterly brand new.

Her personal style choices have been known to be eclectic, and has a rock ‘n’ roll, boho edge to her look. Having travelled a lot, she has an extensive love for different ethnicities and cultures.

Her line has brought with her a celebrity following and the ever-growing list includes Jennifer Lopez, Hayden Panettiere, Katie Holmes, Vanessa Hudgens and Lily Allen among others and it’s easy to see why. With gorgeous, intricate designs and beautiful colours, everything in the collections always looks as if it has been carefully planned and designed with love.

Her collection can be found among 500 speciality stores and boutiques across the U.S and the rest of the world

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including ShopBop, Madison and American Rag Cie. Her designs have also found her places among some of the worlds top fashion magazines including Marie Claire, Glamour and Harper’s Bazaar. To add to this list, Vanessa’s past collections have included collaborations with such names as Free People, Urban Outfitters and Madewell.

Vanessa Mooney’s designs have been handmade, with intricate work and always remain unique and imaginative and this is what gives her brand the stand out quality it deserves. www.vanessamooney.com

By Jade Stokes

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Pretty Things

We Like

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This little guy was Inspired by the azure blue sky and sea, the smooth and classy contours and the timeless polka -dot patterns of this purse are staple s of classic design. Michelle Chan makes beautiful coin purses, they’re swe et and super affordable! www.misala.cc

Sure, there are hundreds of lip balm on the shelves these days but none are as special as Black Widow.

Black Widow is an independent beauty company crafting limited batch lip balms that ignite the imagination. Using natural ingredients to protect, soothe and amplify lip colour. www.blackwidowbalm.com

Black Widow £3.69

Each piece by Moreal Seel is handmade to order, this Crescent necklace is one of our favourite designs. Stay tuned for more beautiful objects, lovingly hand crafted in the future www.mooreaseal.etsy.com

Moorea Seal

£19.15 Hype/ Nosis

£8.98 Beanies are still all over the internet, in shops on the high street and independent fashion labels are booming with fresh, unique designs. We found a corner of the internet that specialises in the best hats we’ve ever seen with sweet price tags. www.hypenosis.com

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Misala

£15.89

d think it’d at this ring you’ ng ki o lo y b st Ju atter has not really. Of M ut b rth ea e th welcost e selection of je m o es w a ly us o a ridicul to this stackm dainty studs lery ranging fro below. ing zig zag ring .com www.of-matter

Nunfish

£3

Of Matter

Looking for an antique claw ring this year?

Look no further! Nunfish Accessories offers more than we bargained for...

Necklaces, bracelets, you name it! This online boutique offers a selective and detailed inventory of exciting and fashion forward jewellery and accessories. We spotted a few bargains starting from as little as £2. www.nunfish.com

£13.90

Sweetly Wrapped

£15

Rust & Regret

£18.43 No! This isn’t a packet of Monster Munch, this is actually a nifty little wallet. Sweetly Wrapped is an online haven for all things cool and eco-friendly.

All of their products are handmade with love in the North East of England. www.sweetlywrapped.co.uk

I want you to know we have had so much fun with Rust & Regret products until our heart was content. This affordable jewellery label is based in Australia but ship to the UK. It doesn’t cost a fortune either to get your hands on a piece. Also, watch out for their limited edition R&R X Derek Nobbs Ahoy Signet ring. It’s a corker! www.rustandregret.com

Covitaca

£8.11 The colour of this little pom pom hat is what caught our attention! The price is also a bonus and sure to keep your head warm for the rest of the cold months. www.misbehaveboutique.com

Misbehave Boutitique

Hello pretty little knot ring, we love you!

This is one online boutique you must check out, so remember the name, Covitaca Handmade, you will find yourself ending up bankrupt.

This Spanish label provides all the latest designs for a fraction of the usual price. www.covitacahandmade.com

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Materials + Process M

aterials + Process are beautiful leather goods and accessories designed and handcrafted in San Francisco. Created by industrial designer and San Francisco native Christine Marcelino. This very unique label looks to weave a story into its handmade goods through, appropriately enough, the materials and process that go into them. Christine found herself fascinated by leather artisanship, and her passion is what fuels Materials + Process’ rugged simplicity and individual stories.

One of our favourite Materials + Process pieces is the leather Sacagawea Carryall. It’s a multi-strap tan carryall backpack that’s sweet enough to take on a coffee date but also earthy enough to bring on a hike in the woods.

Christine was inspired to create it while biking from a meeting to her design studio and realising that all Materials + Process had started out as was her ideas and what she had in her bag. She wanted to design a bag that would support anyone who was trying to make it the way she had, through hard work and passion. Because the bag is dyed with plant based dyes and is uncoated, it absorbs the carrier’s history and journeys.

We love Materials + Process because the pieces aren’t just examples of dynamic design or impeccable craftsmanship, but each piece tells a story that begins when the leather is cut and dyed and continues with the carrier through adventures of all kinds. www.materialsandprocess.com

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By Chloe Lauter

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Label `crush

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iantLION was born in 2011 after artist & designer Caroline Whittington graduated from art school. Her main focuses are jewellery and ceramics and she has put all her knowledge and creative passion into this wonderful label that is all handmade with love in Virginia, US. There is not a particular category that giantLION fits under, which is an advantage, we can’t call it vintage, or fairtrade and it is certainly not the same designs you see on the high street.

None of the jewellery giantLION produces is over the top or tacky, each piece is minimal with an earthy modern feel. The recent line is inspired by vintage but with a dash of contemporary street style and grunge, this sounds unusual, however the creations look like something from a fairytale. This is probably due to the clever use of natural raw stone and mixed metals, which really merge well together.

Taking the highest quality of materials then selecting a delicate colour palette has allowed giantLION to succeed in intertwining tribal and glamour to create magical designs. What’s

more, each piece of jewellery is completely handmade with a lot of love, and thorough detailing, thus accommodating for a wide audience, whether young or old.

Even though this dreamy jewellery label is based all the way in Virginia, we are pleased to know that they ship internationally, so whatever we see on the website is accessible in the UK. There is a VIP feel when going through the purchasing process as your request is made to order which means each piece is unique and individual rather than a clone of another, what more could you want from a jewellery brand?

Oh, the prices? Well they are a bargain too so browse the site, you will not be disappointed, whether you are looking for a necklace, a pair of earrings, a ring or a bracelet there is much to choose from and what is even more thrilling to know about this jewellery is that they are designed to last.

www.shopgiantlion.com

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ho hasn’t imagined the perfect shoe for a special outfit, only to discover that it doesn’t exist at your price point? We definitely have, and so did Hilary Rosenmann and Barri Budin, the creators and designers behind downtown-cool shoe line Madison Harding.

Named after the Hilary and Barri’s home streets (Madison Avenue and Harding Drive), the line captures the designers’ New York urban edge, with just a pinch of retro sweetness.

Madison Harding shoes don’t scream for attention, they stand out effortlessly, just like Hilary and Barri’s slightly 1960s and 70s vintage personal styles. While Madison Harding certainly isn’t trendy, the shoes aren’t utilitarian either, instead incorporating just enough spunky modern elements to look perfectly of-the-moment for any season. Whether they’re showcasing Polynesian prints, styling their own edgy-cool lookbooks or planning a collaboration with Court Jeans, there’s never a moment’s rest for the Madison Harding team. Luckily, they’ve got the perfect shoes for it.

.mad

www

m/

ng.co

ardi isonh

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By Chloe Lauter

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utch label, Made By Lennebelle focuses on delicate silver and gold plated jewellery, the intriguing fact about this collection is Lenneke, the creator, carefully selects materials from all around the globe to use in her designs.

On first appearance it would seem that Made

By Lennebelle has been around for years but magically it is pretty young, at two years Lenneke has managed to gain a lot of coverage from her designs.

Made By Lennebelle was born when Lenneke decided to share her love for jewellery.

The creations are colourful, delicate and feminine and aim to please strong, independent women with an eye for colour and a daring personality.

Inspiration is taken from travels in Asia and South America, this has allowed the line to create a distinctive style, using materials such as feathers and tassels to compliment the silver perfectly. What’s more this jewellery is delivered in an antique glass tube to give it that vintage, alternate feel.

Don’t miss out on this wonderful jewellery line; Made By Lennebelle can be purchased from her online website.

www.lennebelle.com

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We love fashion blogger Alex Blythin www.alexalamode.tumblr.com/ @alexalamode

When

did

you

start

your

blog,

They

Say

BonjouR?

I started my blog in 2010, in my second year of University. I was studying Media and Cultural studies at the time and wanted to start an online outlet for my writing and love for fashion.

We

love

your

personal

style,

who

inspires

you?

Thank-you! Celebrity wise, I think Alexa Chung and Caroline Flack have great wardrobes and I love their personal flair. I get most of my fashion inspiration from other fashion bloggers, and people that I see in the street, to me that is real fashion.

Take

us

through

a

typical

day

of

yours...

I am a social media assistant so my days are very varied and chaotic! I live in Liverpool but work in Manchester, so I spend a lot of my time on the train - reading magazines, tweeting and blogging!

What's

your

favourite

thing

about

blogging??

My favourite thing is how many different opportunities I have had through my blog. I have had my blog featured in More! Magazine and Company Magazine. Blogging gave me a platform to showcase my work, my personal style and I have learnt so much and met many amazing and influential people, just through having my own blog. I have also collaborated with some great brands, and been invited to fashion events I would never normally have got a chance to attend. My blog has opened a lot of doors for me.

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Where

do

you

see

yourself

in

the

future??

In the future I would like to further establish my career in fashion, and to still be blogging!

What

do

you

do

when

you’re

not

blogging??

When I’m not blogging I love watching French films, drinking tea, walking my dog and spending time with my friends, family and boyfriend.

Where’s

your

favourite

place

to

shop??

I shop all over the place! I think my favourite is when I find an extra special Vintage piece, it’s so much better than going into a high street store!

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Alex

is

wearing:

Coat - H&M, Jumper - boohoo.com, Shirt - Topshop, Shorts - Rokit Vintage Boots - boohoo.com, Fur stole - boohoo. com, Bag - ASOS, Necklace - H&M

Do

you

find

inspiration

for

your

wardrobe

from

any

not

so

typical

places??

My Nan! She always looked immaculate, whether she was tidying the house or going to a party.

What

do

you

wish

you

could

go

back and tell your blogging journey?

yourself

at

the

beginning

of

Not to feel pressured to post. If you’re not a full time blogger, it can be hard to find a work/life/blog balance! I would never blog about an outfit that I haven’t worn, or throw anything on just to take photographs. I believe in quality over quantity when it comes to blog posts.

Do

you

have

any

advice

for

new

and

upcoming

bloggers?

Be original. There are SO many fashion bloggers out there now; to stay relevant you have to be true to your style.

Everyone can follow the latest trends, but only you have your style so stick to it!

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Sun & Glory

D

uring many trips to the desert and New Mexico in 2010, the label Sun and Glory was born. It was started by Annie Rocchio and has been inspired by 70s macramĂŠ, mystic nature and Native America.

Annie had started off by simply creating just one necklace and began pairing it with items from her own wardrobe.

Once people had seen her creation, friends and workers started to request these items for themselves.

Over a few years, Annie developed the line and the online store was launched in the autumn of 2012.

Complete with unique pieces, only a few of each designs are ever made.

Annie started by working as a stylist in Los Angeles for film and advertising.

Through her years working as a stylist, inspiration came from everywhere and produced art and various side projects but never began to imagine she would start a jewellery line. Outside of her work, she began to blog, make jewellery and create art and eventually gave up her life in the city to embark on an adventure living in a cabin in Colorado.

Being surrounded by mountains, native American influence and nature, she hoped to channel her creativity further.

The line as it is today has been made using only the finest deerskin leather that has been purchased mainly from Native American Trading Posts. Many of her designs take on a Native American theme, as this is where her inspiration came

www.sunandglory.com

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from when very young.

A small line of necklaces was launched in 2011 after a trip to Marrakech inspired Annie to look at colours, textures and the shops and began to make necklaces from the one of a kind Berber beads and deerskin leather.

The most recent release has seen a macramĂŠ chain. This has been inspired my chain mail and mysticism and has used the same technique with leather.

2013 will see the line expand by using more earthy materials such as metal, cotton and wool.

By Jade Stokes

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An interview with

Elia FernAndez

E

lia Fernรกndez is a Netherlands based artist that started her drawing career when she was just two years old.

In 2009 Elia studied fashion design but found out that it was not her true calling in life, she just wanted to spend her days drawing. Since then she has constantly evolved, and hopes to continue improving until the day she dies.

We had the lucky opportunity to interview this outstanding artist.

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Please, tell us a bit about yourself.

What inspires you to draw?

I was born and brought up in Madrid, a city that I love.

There I studied a year of styling in a fashion school, but I soon discovered that I really like to illustrate and entered in the official school of illustration in Madrid.

However, I soon moved to Holland in search of new opportunities!

And here I am!

The inspiration is so hard to exI like the freedom, I mean, plain. I think my real inspiration sometimes you are adjusted to comes from the images around editors and texts, but usually me and how my brain interprets you have freedom in your work, it in its own way. I like to take you can create and investigate. reality, a face, a body and surround it with elements that are You can make your ideas not visible but in reality we all become possible, it’s in the hand see in our mind, like dreams or of the illustrator, totally perceptions. Music also helps dependent on yourself, your me a lot, she brings ideas, shows excitement and your projects. me pictures, makes me feel things and then I try to illustrate. Depeche Mode, Muse, Led Zeppelin have inspired many of my illustrations.

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What does a typical day look like for you?

What do you do when you’re not using your creative talent?

Do you have a favourite piece of artwork?

Probably what I like after illustration is astronomy, I wish I could travel into space in my free time.

I am content to read and learn from books about the universe.

My work is constantly changing.

I especially like ‘My Astronaut’, this piece has a lot of meaning for me and was a breakthrough in my work.

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What do you like the most about illustrating?

Maybe what I like most of the illustration is the infinite possibilities. You can create whatever you want!

There are no rules or boundaries, no gravity!

And what are the most difficult things about being a illustrator?

Do you have any exciting projects in the pipeline?

Right now I’m thinking about You have to have your head in immersing myself into a new ‘creatively’ and at the same time project, however the idea is just you have to have a cold head to being born. I want to create a focus on reality. Be aware that project through a mixture of you must work hard, get up evephotography (real element) ry day and work hard at home. and illustration (unreal eleYou should know that there are ment) and explore the millions many more people struggling of types of thoughts and desires just like you. Stay in your place from people and their fears. and have willpower and lots of encouragement and desire!

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W

e Were Warriors is a mixture of vintage and handmade clothes based in Brisbane, Australia. This label began in Sydney selling pretty and playful vintage dresses locally and online, and since mid-2012 have begun producing original designs under the label.

Photographer Kalindy, the label’s designer, quit her job to design full-time for We Were Warriors and hasn’t looked back since. Each collection is handmade in the label’s Brisbane studio in limited runs, with inspirations ranging from classic literature to cult film.

We Were Warriors’ most recent collection, “You’re a Stone Fox”, is inspired by an irrepressibly, whimsically adventurous girl – one who isn’t content with the everyday, who wants to run away, go on adventures and travel with foxes, a girl who is ready for her life to begin right now. For the lookbook, Kalindy mixed vintage items with original pieces from the collection, some of which were made with vintage fabric and buttons and based off of 1960s patterns, striking a balance between sweet and wild.

We Were Warriors is now working hard on their next collection, and will be debuting jewellery, accessories and bags to accompany their quirky clothes. We certainly can’t wait.

By Chloe Lauter

www.wewerewarriors.com.au

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Capture the night sky with

Stars+Tart

S

tars & Tart uses colourful and bright imagery, all with the aim of capturing the beauty of the sky. Producing some of the finest quality scarves, Stars & Tart want people to be able to cherish the beauty that is before them.

Likening a night sky to an art gallery, and describing the beauty of the moment similar to gazing up to the stars whilst savouring a piece of tart.

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The brand was created in 2012 by Bibi Lei. She wanted to bring the beauty of the scarf to everybody and believes that the shape of a scarf is like a painting and that these paintings can be wrapped around you. The stars, animals, embracing and love inspire her and this imagery is completed reflected within her designs.

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Aries and Musca This scarf embodies the starsign of Aries by personifying a character. Combined with the strong visual imagery, this stunning graphic is set on a backdrop of a night sky.

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Pegasus and Equuleus

This stunning print scarf looks exactly like gazing up into the sky on a deep, dark evening. With two flying horses, their wings seem to ‘glow’ and set on a deep coloured background, this makes the print seem all the more special.

www.starsandtart.com

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By Jade Stokes

Photographer profile

...Sergio Spanu... >>>

1 Tell us a bit about yourself: My name is Sergio Spanu and I’m an Italian freelance fashion/portrait photographer and digital retoucher. I also work as a photo editor at an agency in Italy.

>>>

2 Where did you grow up?

I was born in 1978 in Italy, and I now live in Turin.

>>>

3 What are your interests?

My interests focus particularly on fashion and portrait photography.

>>>

4 Do you have a link to your website?

Yes, here is the link: www.sergiospanu.com 4

>>>

tell us more about this series of photographs:

The story of this set “Eternity” began when I decided to release a project merging photos to movement. The set is part of a long series: one of the goals of this big project is to carry out a personal research by studying the deep relationship between light, colours and movement. Through these elements I’m building my own style.

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