Show your bones

Dunno about you, but I’m always on the lookout for interesting and unique accessories to accentuate my wardrobe. Thus, I am super-psyched that Karmaloop has taken on jewelry brand  Jules Smith for fall! Gina Nigrelli, the mastermind behind the brand, gains her inspiration from bold and iconic styles from the 70′s and 80′s, updating the pieces with a modern edge. “My jewelry is whimsical, fun and effortless, inspired by powerful women, who exuded their confidence and self-assuredness through bold fashion and accessory statements,” says Nigrelli.  One of the most notable pieces in the fall collection is the Skeleton Ring, a gold plated piece of hand-candy that takes some cues from higher-end brands like Made Her Think, but sits at a much more comfortable price point.

Interview with Insight’s Laura May

Welcome to the world of Insight:  hot Australian surfer boys, free-spirited beach babes, and fashion that is both edgy and wearable.  Sound like fun?  Yeah we thought so.  The label’s Womenswear Head Designer, Laura May, may seem like your average care free hippie chick on the outside, but this career-driven designer is only 25 and already has her “dream job”.    Our friends at Insight sent us this interview conducted by TheRivaled.com (an ill blog; if you aren’t already up on it, check it out!)  so we could gain some “insight” (haha get it?  No?) into what inspires Laura May.  Enjoy!

(Click here to get The Grapefull Tank in White pictured above!)

Laura, thanks for taking the time to speak with us! Hows everything?

Hey, life’s great. I’m in London. We’ve just finished our Spring/Summer Range releases in the US & Europe. The collections were received really well, but it’s been a crazy few weeks of long flights, little sleep, presentations and partying! So it’s nice to have some time now just to hang out and get inspired.

For those not familiar with Laura May/Insight, can you tell us a bit about yourself and
your design background?

I joined the Insight family just under a year ago and am now the Womenswear Head Designer. But it’s very much a team effort over here. I work with a bunch of insanely talented artists and fashion peeps that make it all possible! Prior to Insight, I spent 6 years working for a bunch of Sydney labels in various roles across design, production, sales, styling & trend consulting. I’ve always been interested in the whole process, and having such varied experience opened many doors for me.

I landed my first assistant role at 18, only a few months short of finishing my first year of fashion study. I have learned most of what I know from the incredible people I’ve worked with. I’ve also spent a lot of time travelling and taking time out for courses and internships in Paris, New York & London. These experiences have really shaped me as a designer. I’m now 25 and have my dream job, so I’m stoked.

How did you link up with Insight?

(Click here for The Pink Floyd One Piece in Soft Pink)

I was consulting for Ksubi when George asked me to do some work for his other label, Insight. A week later I was in Bangkok & Tokyo on a sourcing trip, and a few months later I was offered the role of designer.

What would you say differentiates Insight from similar labels on the market?

Our art. Our vibe. Our history. At Insight’s core is surf, skate, art & fashion. Mash it all together and you have a lifestyle. If you work here you more than likely live – eat – breathe what the brands
about. And that comes across in our product, our marketing, our parties. Everything we do. It’s an approach to life. People get it. It’s real. That’s what it feels like to me anyway.

Is the brand a personal reflection of your style?

Definitely. As I said, you need to live it to work here. That’s what keeps you going season after season. When your creating stuff you’re genuinely passionate about people will believe in it too. As for my style, you’ll notice a new direction come through for Spring ’11. It’s the first collection I worked on, and I feel it’s a good representation of who the Insight girl is. At the end of the day I’m designing clothes I want to wear.. my friends want to wear… and what I think like-minded girls want to wear. Also, I’m trying to design pieces that stand out from all the boring, repetitive stuff on the market.

What can we expect from the Summer season and looking forward to Fall/Winter?

Spring is a mash up of military derangement and early 90’s grunge, taken down the road less traveled. The Summer component introduces a 70’s beach bohemia with a rebellious undertone. In other words, loads of cool band inspired art, beautiful floral, paisley, animal & watercolour prints, trashed pre-loved basics & experimental knitwear teamed back with printed, distressed & dyed denim. The looks are layered, and we’ve paid attention to all the finer details of fabrication, wash, dye & subtle finishing’s. Each piece feels worn, loved and like it has story to tell.

As for Fall / Winter, it’s taken on a vibe of it’s own. But you’ll have to stay tuned because it’s too early to give anything away!

Insight is quite an eclectic label, what kind of surprises can be expect moving into
2011?

There’s not too much I can say without ruining the surprise. But I can reveal there’s a pretty sick campaign you can look forward to. It involves Warhol-esque factory parties, bathtubs, hot chicks, team riders, exotic locations and projections!

Insight is involved in other projects away from fashion, including art shows and music events. Can you tell us the importance of bridging the gap between those initiatives and the apparel side of things?

Fashion – music – art – they all feed off each other. You can’t have one without the other. It’s what drives this label. Insight really is just a bunch of super creative, like-minded people who live & breathe the arts. So having these external collaborations and projects is only natural. It’s also only natural our fashion lines are then influenced by these initiatives, and vice versa.

What is your favorite part of designing?

I love the early days of conceptualizing a collection. From the moment we leave on our inspiration trips, to the weeks of traveling, sourcing, sketching, dreaming and brain-jamming with the team that follows! There are no boundaries at this stage. You can completely indulge in all things creative. This is what I love most.

What is your favorite travel destination?

New York. I want to live there one day.

Any particular designers/brands that you look up to?

I went to the Maison Martin Margiela ‘20’ Exhibition in London this week. It was a really in-depth look at the concepts and themes behind the house’s last 20 years work. For an incredible few hours I was completely immersed in the MMM world. This radically conceptual label reminded me of why I’m in fashion, and what I want to achieve. I left inspired.

Any last words?

Nice chatting, you’re mag looks rad!

Maui Wowie

Splishy splashy, grab your flip flops and your boards… Maui and Sons have arrived, and this So-Cal brand is definitely a pioneer in swim and surf apparel – they’ve been doing their thing since 1980! Take part in the Maui legacy with their playful shark logo boardshorts, bikinis, and open back one piece. Fun fact: the founders originally set out to earn their fame on chocolate chip cookies, hence the cookie inspired logo!

Holy Hellz via MISS

Karmaloop and MISS <3 our girl Lanie from Hellz Bellz! Since the inception of Hellz-Bellz in 2005, founder and creative director Lanie Alabanza-Barcena has been heralded as a game changer in the womens wear industry. With an appreciation for the subcultures of our past and present, Hellz-Bellz provides contemporary clothing that represents a rebellious youth, a creative class, a community of forward thinking females that know not the bounds of social norms. Each cut-and-sew piece and every collaborative project is designed down to the very last detail, keeping in mind the need to feed the appetites of the fashion savvy who crave an alternative to the conforming fashion of today. The girls at MISS shot Lanie over a brief survey, where they got her opinion on everything from fake nails to her favorite season of Houswives.  Check it:

For all you die-hard Hellz fans, rejoice because the Hellz Boutique is opening tomorrow on Plndr! Check out some seriously major styles at some seriously awesome prices.  Feeling uninspired about how to pair the pieces? Check these ideas from MISS:

Pair the Warhol Basic Denim pants from Hellz (for purchase on Plndr) with the King II Hobo by Deux Lux.

Or try styling the Candy Striper Pocket Tank by Hellz Bellz with the Jumbo Bow pin by *The Extras.

Every Kind of Kini’s

Sick of hearing about the cornucopia of swimsuit options this season? Neither are we…well, maybe for a minute, but then we saw Seventeen’s June showcase of colors, styles, cuts, prints, beads, ruffles, wait, did I mention colors!? A suit to satisfy every taste! In stock we have the Wild Cat Monokini by Hello Kitty Swim, the Almost Paradise One Piece by Insight, and soon to come: the mix-and-matchable combo of the Britt Bandeau Top, the Izzy Bikini Bottom (pictured above), and the Stradlin Bikini Top (also pictured above), all by Tavik Swimwear.

Ciara in Cubannie Links

Ciara pulls together her relaxed look with the Guerra Chain by Cubannie Links, a piece that lets everyone know you mean business when it comes to accessories. Bold and chunky, the necklace features a bullet pendant and a gold rope chain — made with love in Brooklyn by Annie B. herself! We’re digging the way Ciara layered it with another chain, how would you style this piece?

Karmaloop and Quiksilver present: The Spring Swim Giveaway!

Hey all you beach bunnies! Bikini weather is fast approaching! Get the chance to win free beach gear when you share your favorite Quiksilver item on your twitter page! One lucky grand-prize winner and 2 runners up will win prize packs from our friends at Quicksilver!  Want some free beach steez?  Here’s how to enter:

Step 1—Follow @Karmaloop on Twitter

Step 2—Browse Karmaloop.com’s Quiksilver brand page for your favorite items.

Step 3—Share your favorite piece on Twitter! You can do this simply by tweeting @Karmaloop and the name of your favorite product. Don’t forget the @Karmaloop though, or your entry won’t be counted.

One grand prize winner and two runners up will be chosen at random to receive the following:

Grand Prize: The Bashford Swimsuit in Orange, The Desert Springs Swimsuit in Desert Stripes, and the West Shores Tank Dress.

Runner up #1: Bashford Swimsuit in Orange

Runner up #2: The Desert Springs Swimsuit in Desert Stripes

The contest will run from Tues., May 11 to Thurs., May 13. Make sure you tweet to enter before then! We will be announcing the three winners via Twitter (twitter.com/KARMALOOP) by 6pm EST on Thursday, May 13^th, so stay tuned! Good luck!

2 Of Our Favorite Things

What is the world coming to?

For all you poor bitches masquerading as not-so-poor bitches (I dont’ judge–I’m one too) I Introduce to you… The Baggy Winecoat! A purse designed specifically to hold an entire bag of wine, this lovely piece was carefully crafted to hide the fact that you are drinking boxed vino! How classy! How stylish! How painfully ironic!

Look But Don’t Touch

A new exhibit recently opened at the MoMA intended as a re-enactment of “Imponderabilia,” a well-known piece originally performed by Maria Abramovic and a partner in the 1970s. The exhibit features a man and a woman, both naked, standing in the gallery entrance with a narrow space in between for viewers to pass through. And what do ya know, Mr. Man actor gets groped by an elderly man who touches his “lower back” and says “you feel good, man.” YIKES!

And this wasn’t the first time Mr. Man experienced inappropriate behavior while posing in the nude. In addition to being groped, he has reported being stalked on facebook and other social networks. I don’t even know what to say here! Either don’t pose nude, expect the expected, or make sure the museum has you “protected”! Jeez!

*NY TIMES