PS – don’t forget to sign-up for the clothing menu boutique newsletter to be the first to know when new designers are added to the shop or when sales start!

chances are, you haven’t really put much thought into this, right?  but there’s a lot of that goes into your clothes, especially when they are handmade or made by independent designers like lauren nevada. lauren was kind enough to share with the clothing menu where this dress she designed came from:

which at one point looked like this:

lauren’s original inspiration for this piece began with the collar – she started working on it over a year ago incorporating it into a dress, and then into a type of jumper that twisted into shorts. as she continued to work with it she felt that it needed to be a dress so the shorts bottom morphed into a skirt.

the hand-painted panels on the front are done by a brooklyn textile artist who lauren met by chance. while the artist was showing lauren pieces of her work they spoke about being inspired by stars and galaxies in the sky. so the artist worked with those ideas and came up with samples that lauren incorporated in the dress.

pretty cool, huh?

here are some pieces from my favorite vintage shops that i think are perfect for the office:

blouses with collar tie from bleubird vintage

colorful and patterned blazers from ramona west

floral dresses and pencil skirts from Girl On A Vine

heart necklaces from Diament Jewelry

fringe: this trend has been around for a few seasons, but it will be even more popular this fall as an added accessory to different pieces in your wardrobe.  for example, nicole richie’s scarf is trimmed with fringe and vanessa hudgens has a fringe bag.  fringe will also be added to coats, pants, and jewelry.

prints: fall usually gets a little boring wearing solid colors, like black.  this fall, spice up your wardrobe with interesting prints, like the pant suit by akris and the  proenza schouler dress.

fur: this fall, full fur coats aren’t going to be so much the style (unless it’s a mix of fur color/print like the chloe coat).  instead, fur will be seen a lot as a trim on coats or sweaters, like the marc jacobs sweater.

are you looking forward to any of these fall trends?  any other trends you are looking forward to this fall?

here are some ideas for what you can wear to any summer weddings you’re going to in the next couple months depending on the location:

outdoor garden

MandyH8800

deux fm

church

Nixxi

toast

beach

larimeloom

Gina Michele

do you have any weddings this summer?  what are you wearing?

How did you get started creating your clothing line?

In 2001 we started silkscreening t-shirts. We were using American Apparel t-shirts.  Many people didn’t know who they were back then and thought they were our own shirts. When they started saturating the graphic tee market at the prompting of our boutiques we took the leap and made our own tee. We then made a dress and just started slowly adding products. We don’t have fashion degree backgrounds. We are the slow and steady types.

What three words would you use to describe your upcoming collection?

fall 2010 – seventies, future, ski lodge

What do you think makes your designs different?

We try to make classic items with little twists, an unexpected pocket or a pleat here. We also try to use organic products where ever possible and make our goods in small batches in San Francisco. We keep a close eye and hand on our items.

What do you see in the future for your collection?

We just opened a boutique in San Francisco and are really loving this aspect of the business. Our next big hurdle is to get our shop curator (curatorsf.com) online. We have lots of gifty things and accessories that are specially made for our shop. We’d love to open that up to our web customers. Think Tom Selleck portraits, handmade salted carmels, knit dogs, the most amazing jewels!! There are some mini-projects in the works but sometimes its hard enough to design, produce and run the store the two of us.

Why should people buy clothes from an independent designer over a mass-market store?

It’s a personal choice.  I know first hand it can get expensive to always shop with independents. I’m not here to condemn people for going to H&M or the like. I think the best closets have a mix of high and low.  For me in particular I’m super busy, and I don’t like things that wear out right away. I lean on my clothes and I don’t have time in the morning to fuss with what I’m going to wear.  I do favor investments pieces – the $60 t-shirt I may wear for 3 years, or the $200 fleece coat that will see me through several seasons.  Of course I think independents add a flavor and design choice that someone in a boardroom may not approve, so it’s likely you will get more fresh ideas out of smaller companies. It’s important to us that through the sampling and production of our collection we are adding jobs to the local economy and supporting other small businesses.

seneca rising – $108

daal – $195

elroy apparel – $88

dreamandawake – 70 euros

dainty june

parkvogel – $280

mociun – $425

larimeloom – $58

a fortes design – $172

allison wonderland - $184

when i came home after the shower, i was sorting through my closet and pulled out the dress i bought a few months ago that i’m going to wear to her wedding.  have you ever bought something that you just love?  you get excited about wearing it and piecing together what shoes and jewelry you’re going to wear with it?  that’s how i feel about this dress.  i just think it is so pretty.  the dress is made by esley, purchased off indie online store, scarfu.  (the dress is sold out now, but maybe they’ll restock if you ask).  i just love the mix of royal blue and turquoise and cream.  and the scalloped bottom in a satiny/silk material.  i can’t wait to wear it!

here’s the dress:

and it makes the think of this:

and this:

and this:

and this:

images from weheartit.com

Uniform Project Picture Book from The Uniform Project on Vimeo.