INTERVIEWS | THE BLAY REPORT

CHIC CHAT: REECE HUDSON

EXCLUSIVES, FASHION, Fashion Week, INTERVIEWS, T.B.R VIDEOS, TBR TV, ZANDILE | By Zandile Blay | September 9th, 2010

In her third season, the NYC accessories designer finally comes into her own.

New York – Here’s how a new designer gains buzz: an original idea, brilliant execution and good looks (if you are blessed.) The trio turn a talent into a total triumph. Exhibit: Reece Solomon. (Pictured above with her brilliant business partner: Max Stein.) She’s chic enough to be a muse for her own line, but instead opts for the streets of New York as the inspiration behind a line that’s – literally – an instant classic. Her signature totes in rich browns and tans are so mature and classic that they belie the fact that these accessories are designed by a fashionista in her early 20s. But let’s let her do the talking. Check out the video from her SS2011 preview after the jump. Continue reading…

Comment

CHIC CHAT: LLOYD BOSTON & THE BLAY REPORT

EXCLUSIVES, FASHION, Fashion Week, INTERVIEWS, T.B.R VIDEOS, Uncategorized | By Zandile Blay | September 8th, 2010

The Style Expert and Television host chats with TBR during the launch of his latest book.

New York - Loyd Boston has always been – at least in my head – a friend and a mentor. Since my first job at Seventeen Magazine (when I used to crash shows with my lovely companion, Julee) Boston would always stop and smile and offer some amazing words of wisdom. Now an entire nation of women can benefit from his advice with his latest book: “The Style Checklist.” What’s it about? Boston answers that question himself in the video above, where we took a few minutes to chit chat in between his turn squiring besties Veronica Webb, Soledad O’Brien and his mother along. J’Die. Continue reading…

Comment

DIESEL ONLY THE BRAVE FRAGRANCE GIVEAWAY

EXCLUSIVES, INTERVIEWS | By Terrence Phearse | August 12th, 2010

Blaynistos, I know we are barely showing you guys love at The Blay Report. But do not fret! The first guy to comment with a link that HE has tweeted of this post telling us how much he lusts this fragrance will be our lucky winner! Comment number two will get an aftershave!

Giveaway: Just in time for Fall, enter to win Diesel’s Only The Brave fragrance inspired by visionary artists, icons and rebels. Only The Brave is for men who take a stand and control their own destiny, seizing opportunities and making a difference. The scent represents the qualities of the brave, symbolized by a fist that tells several stories: facing forward, the fist evokes power and energy; upright, it stands for self-affirmation; raised, it signifies victory, success and engagement.

Eau de Toilette 2.5oz, $67.50

3 Comments

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: TRANG CHAU OF LE SANG DES BETES

EXCLUSIVES, FASHION, INTERVIEWS | By Kristina Bustos | June 1st, 2010

Los Angeles-based designer Trang Chau brings her love for films, sculpture, architecture and costume design together for Les Sang Des Betes.

California – Some people are just born with that envious talent to create; Trang Chau is one of those people. The designer, who was born in Vietnam and moved to Southern California when she was two-years-old, began creating garments based on three dimensional pieces when she was studying Fine Arts at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture in 2002, but it wasn’t until 2007 when she started with Le Sang Des Betes.

Le Sang Des Betes, which has been featured in Nylon and the fashion bible that is Women’s Wear Daily (and you know you’ve made it when WWD knows you), is more than a design label for Trang. According to her site, “It is the evolved product of Trang’s multi-disciplined background in sculpture, film, architecture, and costume design.” She has had only four collections out since her debut in 2008 with her first line titled “Aborigine,” but each collection has stayed true to her inspirations that include gothic and modern architecture and the films of German filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder and A History of Violence director David Cronenberg. Trang offers something for Blaynistas who want to remain mysterious yet elegant with their looks, and believe us when we say her Fall 2010 collection titled “Holding Patterns” has that style down. Just check out the full collection for yourself at her official website, lesangdesbetes.com, but before you do that read on for our interview with Trang Chau of Le Sang Des Betes.

Continue reading…

3 Comments

SERVING IT UP WITH ‘SHAKEN AND STIRRED’ AUTHOR CRYSTAL DAVIS BLACK

EXCLUSIVES, INTERVIEWS, LIFESTYLE | By Kristina Bustos | May 26th, 2010

Crystal Black Davis released Shaken and Stirred on her own. A big decision that is paying off for the marketer-turned-author as she launches her “Girl Night” book tour nationwide to promote her novel, starting in the Midwest this Sunday, May 5 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

World Wide Web – Blaynistas, you know how the old saying goes: “If you want a thing done well, do it yourself.” And Crystal Black Davis did just that with her first fiction novel, Shaken and Stirred. After completing her novel, Crystal approached major publishing houses, met with people in the publishing industry, and even had people interested in Shaken and Stirred. Unfortunately changes were suggested for her book that Davis felt were not right for her novel, and so what did the gourmet food marketer-turned-author do next? “I said you know what I’m a marketer by trade,” Crystal said, who has her own marketing company called Savvy. “Who better to market this than me so I said, ‘You know what I’m not even gonna go that route. I’m gonna start my own publishing house.’” And Crystal wasn’t playing around as she launched Hudson Row Publishing last year and released Shaken and Stirred.

Although her friends advised her not to go forward with her plans to establish her own publishing house, sticking with her guts is all paying off for Crystal. She recently accepted the Independent Publishers Book Award, which we’re sure will add more buzz to Shaken and Stirred when Crystal kicks off her book tour on Sunday, May 30, from 5 – 8pm in Indianapolis, Indiana. Shaken and Stirred follows the life of thirty-something Christian Cullen, juggling her career, love life, family, and girlfriends, as told through her diary pages, and we sat down with Crystal for an exclusive interview to chat about what’s shaking and stirring in her first novel.

Continue reading…

6 Comments

BLAY REPORT EXCLUSIVE: QUICK CHAT WITH ESTELLE

EXCLUSIVES, INTERVIEWS | By Terrence Phearse | May 14th, 2010

Ran into Estelle at the Matthew Williamson Belvedere event in the Meatpacking District last night and Estelle tells The Blay Report that she has found her American Boy. And apparently “he is sooo nice”!

Terrence: So Estelle is there anything new that we can expect coming up soon?

Estelle: “My new album coming out in September, and my mixtape called “I Almost Made a Mixtape” and my new song is out today called “Dear London.” It’s freakin mad so I’m enjoying myself”

Continue reading…

12 Comments

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: PAGE MYCOSKIE OF AVIATOR NATION

EXCLUSIVES, FASHION, INTERVIEWS | By Kristina Bustos | May 12th, 2010

California love! Page Mycoskie gives her own spin to vintage tees inspired by the sunny state and her many years collecting retro t-shirts.

California - We know what you’re thinking: “Vintage t-shirts? Like we haven’t heard that one before.” But Blaynistas believe us when we say Page Mycoskie’s t-shirts from her line, Aviator Nation, aren’t like your mama’s tees. Page is serious about making her retro t-shirts feel as real as they can that she even managed to find sewing machines in the 60’s and 70’s. Adding more authenticity to her design is the applique techniques she does to every t-shirts, such as hand-stitching each piece with a single needle stitchwork. Now that’s love, kids.

With her vintage sporty line that includes tees, hoodies, bottoms and tanks, Aviator Nation has become a favorite among Hollywood celebrities. But get this: Page, herself, is a celebrity in her own right. The designer was once a contestant in CBS’s Emmy-winning show, The Amazing Race, where her brother and she placed third. After winning their money price the sibling set out for their own labels — Page with Aviator Nation and her brother, Blake, with his footwear brand called TOMS, which you might have heard here and there. Read on for our interview with the one and only Page Mycoskie of Aviator Nation.

Continue reading…

4 Comments

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: JENNIFER PARK OF FUNKTIONAL

EXCLUSIVES, FASHION, INTERVIEWS | By Kristina Bustos | April 28th, 2010

Designer Jennifer Park offers chic “Funktional” creation for her first Spring 2010 collection.

California – Although fairly new in the fashion community, Funktional has been gaining quite the buzz after “Rude Boy” singer Rihanna wore a piece from the label in November 2009 at a London party (coincidentally enough Funktional was launched that month). That piece, Blaynistas, is the black bandage dress with structured caging at the shoulders, which is aptly named “Caged Dress.” Sounds familiar? As it should because once Rihanna was snapped wearing the futuristic LBD, the web was buzzing about it because not only was the dress hot it was affordable too.

Launched by Korean-born designer Jennifer Park, Funktional aims to please all fashion conscious individuals who love “modern styling, understands refined details, and luxurious, high-quality fabrics at reasonable prices.” This comes to no surprise as Park says that she always loved designing pieces that were versatile and can be work in different ways. She adds that the Los Angeles-based label is here to serve a purpose, and you know that purpose is to make us look oh-so-chic without spending too much coin. Are we right or are we right? Read on for our exclusive interview with Park.

Continue reading…

2 Comments

MARKET MOMENT: DESIGNER WINNIE GUNDECK

BEAUTY, INTERVIEWS | By Terrence Phearse | April 27th, 2010

I’m always so happy when I find a designer whose pieces you can buy, and your able to keeping adding to your collection for seasons and seasons to come! Case in point: Designer Winnie Gundeck’s Winifred Grace Collection! Are you in love yet?

Necklace of multi sized Swarovski crystals & pendants, $495

Editor’s Note: From her Chicago-based loft studio, Winnie creates jewelry inspired by visually rich textures and patterns found in everything from nature to indigenous art, tapestries and adornments. Materials include oxidized sterling silver and 14k gold-filled chains and rhinestones.

Winnie is a visionary! The Fall 2010 Collection really makes you feel luxurious, tough, and glamorous. Talk about a statement piece Blaynistas? Picture this, 3 necklaces stacked made under the illusion of 1. When she designs, she plays with a host of different lengths will keeping the same feel throughout the collection. Giving you reason to play around, and add to what you already have.

Continue reading…

3 Comments

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: JULIE WILLGEROTH OF KNITWIT

EXCLUSIVES, FASHION, INTERVIEWS | By Kristina Bustos | April 12th, 2010

West Coast label Knitwit brings comfort, style, and luxe together with its eco-friendly collection.

California – When Knitwit says, “wear what you eat,” it means it. The Newport Beach-based eco-friendly label features pieces that blend 85% soybean with 15% cashmere. Knitwit also uses “tofu” cashmere — an eco-friendly fabric that uses a renewable natural resource of unused protein of soybean oil, tofu, or soymilk product as a raw material — for several pieces in the extremely soft line.

But fashionistas wanting fun pieces don’t have to worry about looking prim and proper when it comes to wearing cashmere. Knitwit makes sure to infuse “a little sass” in the design — from zipped hoodies in bright, animal prints to camouflage crew sweaters and reversible wraps. You want comfort and style in your everyday wear? Knitwit has it for you. No wonder stars like Oscar winner Penelope Cruz, television personality Maria Menounos, Grammy winner Christina Aguilera, and Gilmore Girls star Alexis Bledel are fans of the label. Read on for our exclusive interview with Knitwit’s designer Julie Willgeroth, who briefly worked at Geffen records before launching the cashmere line in Spring 2006.

Continue reading…

Comment