Resort 2009: Alexander McQueen

I'm not sure if this collection could be more amazing. Sharp as a tack. Bold colors. Extraterrestrial geometry. Mirror symmetry. Perfection of the cut. My jaw was on the floor looking at these pieces. I have been in the Alexander McQueen store, and the experience is transformative. There are ideas wrapped in ideas in his work! It's all so very modern... anyway, i hope you enjoy it as much as i do! Please, visit the whole collection here: 

2024: Autumn/Winter 2009

At long last. These photos are from my fall collection, 2024, and shot by the wunderphotog Ben Pigao (gotta love him). He really captured the mood of the collection in these images- there is something solitary and distant about them, which i love. Anyway, I am already to work on my Spring Collection, and hope to have some new work out soon. Pieces from the 2024 Collection will be available through custom order. Enjoy the images!!!

ps- my website, www.janeanemarie.com, will not have this collection up for awhile... i need to have my website re-done since iWeb discontinued their damn service!!!

Preview! Fall 2009

This is the first edit back from the shoot we did YESTERDAY of my fall 09 Collection: 2024. Seriously, yesterday! Ben Pigao is on fire. He shot the collection, and put my beautiful friends Kacy and Heather close to trains, heavy machinery, and plenty of other dangerous/dusty things. But it was great! And it didn't rain. 

Tiffani Patchett created the incredible make-up looks, and Madi styled hair. 

Model: Kacy

Yeah, Howard Petrella Shot that..

 A little dream of mine just came true! 

I have admired the work of Seattle photographer Howard Petrella FO'EVAH, and finally this weekend an opportunity presented itself! Stylist Elianna Barel asked to borrow some of my pieces for an editorial she would be collaborating on with Mr. Petrella. So she came to the studio and picked out some things... I wish i had more time to make something especially for the shoot, but i've just been a tinge overwhelmed these past few weeks. Anyway, I hope there will be another chance to work with them again!

from the West to the East and back again

Awhile ago, my friend Jillian asked me if she could borrow some pieces from me for a project she was working on. Now, Jillian is an amazing, dynamic, creative, and wildly energetic woman and I will always be happy to be a part of whatever ideas are brewing in her brain. So i let her take some things... and her project became China Bound, in which she flew to China with the work of several Portland Designers and met with several important figures from the Henan region in China, where much of global garment production happens. It was an idea exchange between Portland and China- they work mostly in mass production, with almost no independent designers, and Portland is brimming with independent design talent. Anyway, it seems like this may transform the future of both Portland and Chinese fashion industries! 

The pictures were taken by Leah Nash, who travelled with Jillian and documented the trip. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Fashion Farm

These are the first few images to come back from LUCAS COOK, and amazing photographer who is fresh fresh FRESH. 

The dress is an italian cotton shirting, with a subtle chevron weave. It has a bustier foundation with boning, and A-line flared skirt, and an inset piece at center from with chevron knife pleats. Very simple, yes?

Morayma, the fearless model, deserves some kind of award, or trophy, or SOMETHING! I mean, look at those cows! she is completely surrounded! I can't even imagine what the ground around her must be like... But, she comes off beautifully, and naturally. There is something epic, yet quiet, with these images...

More to come!

oh, this made me LAUGH

I know this has nothing to do with fashion, or design, or anything else... but when this skit came on SNL last week... i really, really, really laughed my ass off! it takes a second to get started, but when Kristen Wiig appears, oh my god it made me cry! so WEIRD!

The third issue of Antler Magazine is out. And I'm in it! I was contacted a while back by Andi, who edits the mag. It's a carbon-neutral, online mag with TONS of cool stuff, great design, and artwork. She has great taste! Anyway, you should check it out!

www.antlermag.com

Jene DeSpain JEWELRY !!!!

The past two days have been wonderful. This is mainly due to the fact that on both days, I received earrings by Brooklyn jewelry artist Jene DeSpain. She hand makes all of her pieces and uses fine materials such as gold and stones. The details of her work are so intricate and lovely! The Canary earrings, at top, are so much fun because they are so feminine and flirty, and the red/gold style at the center and center bottom are STATEMENT pieces. So modern, with an art-deco inspired design. I urge everyone who reads this to check out her site and look at her collections. Jene was so cool to do a trade with me for the Canary earrings, and my friend Alyson Clair got me the bottom style as a thank-you for some help with her spring production (she's got a great line of vintage inspired fashion, called Clair). 

ahhhh... i love jewelry! 

Viva Seattle!!!

Today, tomorrow and the next day I'm in Seattle. And it's BEAUTIFUL! i've never been to the city and have it be so pleasant- the sun is shining, the people are out, and it's pretty warm. I didn't really spend that much time outside today, but tomorrow, that will change. I'm going to leave the hotel early (ish) and walk around the city, get some coffee and breakfast, go to the market and the piers... all that. I'm looking forward to a little mini-vacation (all I ever wanted!). 

The pics above are of a new dress and jacket that i made. The dress is a 3-ply creped silk, in navy that sometimes looks purple, with a braided/looped/roped detail at the neck. the original sleeves were longer, but i had to cut those off... and the jacket is a wool sateen, a sample of my upcoming fall collection. 

Yay! new bits!

guess what fluttered into my mailbox this afternoon? A cd! with pictured on it! These photos are from a shoot I did months ago with Trevor from Spirion Photography, and model Hiromi Laron (who has the most AMAZING hair i have EVER seen... it's been quite a while and i still feel the pangs of hair jealousy...) anyway, they came out verrrrrrry nicely, i believe. 

Has it really been a MONTH?!

Okay, i am a bad, bad, bad little blogger! I have let a month slip between my fingers with nary a snippet or picture here... but, this month has been, well, interesting. The good news is that spring may be here after all, finally, and even got my first tan lines of the year. At the moment I am putting together my fall collection, called 2028. 

It's the year 2028: all of the coasts have fallen into the sea, the ice caps have melted, the equator is on fire. There are established bases on the moon (as projected by NASA), and people have to leave the earth and try life someplace new. So now the landscape is barren, pock-marked, and we are constantly reminded of home as the earth rises and sets on the cold horizon. 

I want to have structured pieces, with lots of curved seaming juxtaposed with sharp angles. There will be as many double knits and chunky knits as I can find, as a reminder of comfort. Anyway... I'm really excited about the collection- i think it will be lovely... 

(now i just have to make it! in a month!!!)

lovely lavenda

here is a shot of lavenda, who is a delightful combination of lovely and talented. She is a photographer/model in portland, who shot my senior collection. here she is wearing my pleated bustier and linen skirt lined with silk organza.  

Big time with JUKI

The day has arrived! I bought an industrial sewing machine! Motor, single needle lock stitch, KNEE LEVER (oh yeah!), I even have a teflon foot with which to sew knits smoothly and evenly.... my life is just somehow brighter for the last few days.... It's a Juki (made in Tokyo), and I got an insane, out of this world deal on it, too. About a third of the price as I should have paid, but the circumstances were in my favor, and i think the starts were aligned, too. The machine is kind of dirty, but i cleaned it up and now it lives the good life in my studio. I'm a very happy designer!

Works I bought on Etsy.

I finally had enough in my account to make my first etsy buys. i have been curating a group of lovely favorite items, from furniture to art to jewelry to clothes. these are on the top of my list, and i'm happy to say that they are on the way to me now. the top is a painting by italian artist Vincenzo Rizzo, and I encourage you to view more of his work here. The portraits are beautiful, frantic, and dark. Very moody and beautiful. The ring on the bottom is by a Turkish designer by the name of Star of the East, and the work is greatly inspired by elements of the sea, which i love and am forever am attracted to. 

I am planning to post soon about more of my Etsy favorites. there is some really incredibly original art and design to be found there, outside of the cutesy-crafty stuff.