Dripbook | All Studios

New book functions.

Bo Blanton — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:25:59 -0000

So there is a new menu to the lower-right of the screen while viewing books on Dripbook:

New / Modified Functions:

Slide Show: Displays the current book as a slide show. Sit back and relax.

Comments: Dripbook now allows commenting on private books as well as public books. Send a private book to others for review, and each recipient of the private book can give feedback. We even include the image names so that the recipient can comment on specific images. Great for sending images to editors, clients, and collaborators for review. Don't worry - private books and comments on private books are not displayed to the public.

Share: Viewers who are not logged-in can bookmark books to Del.icio.us, Digg, Furl, Yahoo, Google, StumbleUpon, Reddit, Facebook, Twitter, and Ma.gnolia. Viewers can also get the URL of each book. Viewers who are logged in to Dripbook can do both of these as well as email a book to others. All of this is to help spread and cross-promote books on Dripbook.

Send a Message: Dripbook now allows viewers without accounts to send you anonymous messages. We are doing this so that those without accounts on Dripbook (like potential clients) can contact you. In order to prevent spamming, we limit messages to 200 characters and we do not allow HTML in these anonymous messages. If you do not wish to receive these anonymous messages, you can head to your account Settings and change your preferences.

We hope you all like these new features. There are more on the way. Have fun.

URBAN AFFAIRS: Streetart and Urban Art Exhibition in Berlin.

Circleculture Gallery — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:22:28 -0000

The art festival URBAN AFFAIRS is pleased to announce a large-scale exhibition featuring current positions of Contemporary Urban Art and Street Art from July 5th to August 3rd in Berlin- the global epicenter of this international art movement. Forty-five artists from ten countries, all major players in the Urban Art genre, have been invited for a three-day residency at the Galerie Friedrichshoehe, a new cultural center in Berlin-Friedrichshain. Located in a post-industrial building, this 900 sq. meter exhibition space is the ideal location for the largest and most comprehensive Urban Art exhibition in Germany to date.

Dripbook is getting real. Come along for the ride.

Bo Blanton — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:25:21 -0000

Okay. We try not to do this too much, but we're going to ask you to read all of this. We'll keep it short. We don't like reading, either.

The big news is that in about four weeks, we will be "launching" the non-Beta, version 1, real-deal of Dripbook.

What does this mean?
For the past year, we have had the "Beta" tag under our name in the logo. That means that we are in a testing phase. We are seeing what works, and what doesn't.

What works is this: giving our worldwide network of professional visual artists the easiest, most stylish way to display, promote and distribute their portfolios online. What also works is enabling our artists to export their work out of Dripbook for promotion beyond our Web site. Another thing that works is indexing all of the thousands of books of all of the artists on Dripbook to allow clients and collaborators alike to find your work.

Since all that works well, we're going to focus on continuing and improving all of those basic functions of Dripbook.

OK, and…?
Dripbook has drastically increased and improved our features and services since we started in June of last year, especially the very popular Dripbook Sites feature. So, in appreciation of your help and support during our first year of operation, we want to thank you properly, where it counts most (your wallet).

Dripbook is freezing the rates for all our Beta members (this means you) for LIFE. That means that whatever service level you are at now, you can keep, at the price you are currently paying. When our new rates come into effect on July 1st, you won’t have to pay any more.

So now that we have your attention, please check below for important information for current Dripbook members to be sure you don’t miss any opportunities or deadlines for changes to your account.

Ch-ch-changes...
We’ve got new service packages coming, and with that, new pricing (for future members only), effective July 1st, 2008. The biggest change will be that Dripbook will stop offering free accounts to future members. We believe that we would rather provide more services to professional artists who find value in our offerings. We want to attract and provide services for those artists.

Dripbook service packages and fees for new members, as of July 1, 2008:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CURRENT DRIPBOOK MEMBERS:
Free Standard Account Members:
What if you currently have a free Standard account? Don’t worry. We're not going to take away your account. As a Standard account member, you have two choices:

1) If you have been considering upgrading to a Premium account, NOW IS THE TIME TO UPGRADE. You have the opportunity, before July 1st, 2008, to upgrade to a Premium account at the current lower prices. We will freeze the prices you pay and you will have a Premium account at the current lower prices (a 50% savings over the future prices) for life.

2) If you are not interested in a Premium account, no worries. You can keep your current free Standard account for life.

You can upgrade to a Premium account (at the current rates) here:
http://dripbook.com/upgrade

Premium Account Members:
Do you currently have a Premium account? As a Premium member, you will continue as a Premium member (with a few added features) at the same price you're paying now, which will be a 50% savings over future prices.

Here are a few important things to keep in mind.

1) If you want to change your payment schedule (yearly, quarterly or monthly) you must do so BEFORE July 1st, 2008. After July 1st, 2008, you will be locked in at your current payment plan and rate. If you change your payment schedule before July 1st, 2008, you will be billed immediately for the new payment period. However, we will add on any unused time from your current payment period. Don't worry, we have no interest in being unfair.

Change your payment plan (yearly, quarterly or monthly) here: http://dripbook.com/upgrade

2) Please MAKE SURE TO KEEP YOUR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION UP-TO-DATE. If, after July 1st, 2008, you default on payments for whatever reason, you won't be able to resume your current account at the current prices. So, for your own benefit, please make sure your credit card information is up-to-date.

Maintain your credit card information here: http://dripbook.com/orders/updatebilling

Once again, the price freeze for life is our way of saying thank you for helping Dripbook grow to become a great service for professional artists. We are working hard at all of the new changes coming and we look forward to continuing to help you easily display, distribute and promote your work.

So that's it for now. Yeah, that was a lot. I know. Any questions? Comment below. Or send us an email.

There are a lot of great things coming. Keep an eye out...

Thanks again,

-Alex and Bo at Dripbook

Making the good better. Improving Dripbook Sites.

Alex Wright — Tue, 20 May 2008 02:58:24 -0000

We've made improvements to the Dripbook Sites feature based on a lot of good feedback.

1) You can now upload a custom logo in place of your name.

2) You can now put a link to an external site directly into the navigation menu.

3) You can now turn off the drop shadow.

4) You can now upload a custom background.

5) You can now track your traffic using Google Analytics.

Check it out. There have been a ton of great Web sites made using the Dripbook Sites feature. You can get answers to your questions about Dripbook Sites here. The Dripbook Sites feature is located in the Export section.

A NIGHT AT SPLASHLIGHT- Thank you!

Resource Magazine — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:11:52 -0000

A NIGHT AT SPLASHLIGHT

Resource Magazine wants to thank all our contributors and the 1,000+ guests from all areas of the industry for what was an amazing evening at SPLASHLIGHT STUDIOS. Featured at this event was the sounds of DJ MOOSH, a captivating sculpture by the industry's own SET IN ICE, and contributors gifts which were provided by POWERHOUSE BOOKS and ALIEN SKIN SOFTWARE, contributors.

Our guests included executives, business owners, accalimed editors, distinguished artists and of course all of those who compose the industry ranging from the top of their field to upcoming talents. They are trendsetters and early adopters, always on the look out for the next big thing. They shape pop culture as they create, design, style and photograph advertising campaigns and magazine editorials.

Thank you for joining us. Until next time!

Images will be posted on the resource blog shortly www.resourcemagonline.com/blog

Jojo and Malou does pretty for Autumn/ Winter.

Theresa — Sat, 10 May 2008 10:34:07 -0000

Looks like some of us might be looking very pretty, printed and bright for the autumn/ winter 08/09 season, thanks to the likes of designers such as Jojo & Malou.

Some of you might remember the brand as they did a collabaration with Topshop a while ago,in which they provided a capsule collection. The swedish designers, Jojo Ericson and Malou Palmqvist both did an Art Foundation degree at the institute of Art and Design in Kent, England where the met, sooner the pair went off to a different university and college to study a Fashion degree in women's wear, Malou worked with the likes of Markus Lupfer and Katie Hillier and Jojo worked for Peter Jensen. In 2005 the pair then formed their label.

The Autumn/ Winter collection 08/09 collection tittled "Lipstick" includes; ruffles, frills and folds as details as well as bold prints and bright colours. My favourite piece from the collection are the orange wool coat with black and gold buttons as well as the printed jump suit which should brighten up and bring a bit of fun into one of those miserable Autumn/Winter mornings.

Dripbook wins Horizon Interactive Awards.

Alex Wright — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:24:29 -0000

So some of you old-school people may remember Dripbook submitting an entry to the Horizon Interactive Awards. Well, we won.

Dripbook received Horizon's Gold award (their top prize) in the Self Promotion / Company Identity category.

Dripbook is up there with Nike Skateboarding and the "Official" Rolex Website. And Dripbook beat out some heavy hitting web sites made by some very well funded ad agencies.

So congratulations all around.

While you're looking around, check out the portfolio we made for Horizon. Some great imagery courtesy of the Office of War Information Collection and other public domain sources.

Export your books. Free for all.

Alex Wright — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:30:08 -0000

This feature has been around for a while, but everyone might not know about it.

Dripbook allows all artists, Standard and Premium accounts alike, to export their books as "widgets" - small mini-players of your books. These widgets are Flash based so they're slick and nice looking. You can plug them into your blog, your pages on social networking sites like MySpace, and many other places.

Here's one feature of our widgets that is particularly cool - they always update themselves to the most current state of your books. If you export a widget and then add new images to a book, or change the order of images, your widget will automatically update to show your new changes.

So wherever you put them, Dripbook widgets will always show the most current and up-to-date version of your books.

Pretty rad.

Head to the Export tab (where Dripbook Sites is located) and select "Go to Widgets" in the upper left rectangle.

And while you're there, check out Dripbook Sites, Components, and Feeds - other tools for exporting your work from Dripbook.

Check see examples of Dripbook widgets exported on Dripbook's MySpace, Iqons, and here.

See below for some example widgets. There are three styles to choose from.

Fresh on the Shelves of the Resource Website!

Resource Magazine — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:15 -0000

Resource Magazine is announcing 2 new contests on their website, get your work published, be discovered and let the world see what you're really made of!

www.resourcemagonline.com GO TO PHOTO CONTESTS.

Resource Magazine's Interns are partying their way home.

Resource Magazine — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:40:21 -0000

Resource Magazine is now accepting new interns. On May 9th Resource Magazine is holding a big industry event for their Spring 2008 issue. Marking another successful issue, another occupied shelf, and a sad farewell to our trusty interns. However, this also gives all of you a chance to experience, the Resource Experience.

If you have any interest in the photo industry or publishing industry, give us a try. We promise, we'll work you to the bone! And you'll experience things that school only pretends to know about.

For more information go to:

www.resourcemagonline.com

or www.resourcemagonline.com/resourceinternship.html

or email us at jobs@resourcemagonline.com

or call to set up an interview 718-222-1393

As for the party, we're expecting about 1000 people, it takes place at Splashlight Studios and...well its invite only. However, if you think you are destined to go, send your dripbook site to rsvp@resourcemagonline.com and if you're lucky, we might be sending you an invitation back!

-Resource Magazine

Midweek Street Style - Florals and sheer goodness.

Theresa — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:25:00 -0000

The Midweek street style began last week with the theme : Tailored/ formal/ Boy meets girl looks/ outfits which you can read here, it also explains what The Dripbook Fashion studio - Midweek street style is all about.

The theme for this week's Midweek street styles however are "Floral and Sheer goodness," that is outfits that include anything with florals or sheer pieces. The favourites for this week have varied from Balenciaga inspired outfits to uber girly, feminine, pretty and sweet looks. Here are this weeks favourite looks (from left to right).

Firstly : The lady form "The street walker" which is a street style blog based in Tel Aviv in Isreal. What drew me to this outfit was the skirt, I wasn't quite sure what was printed on it but after zooming in I realised it was picture of a farm with cattles, tress and flowers. Dreamecho, this is one of the many bloggers which I'll happily love to raid her wardrobe, with her uber cool poses, I just love the outfit. The outfit from Stockholm Street style looks very playfull and quirky, and the pink jacket...want want want!!! Fashion Toast works the luella inspired look so well.

Fee from l'atelier d'une fee outfit is very effortless and chic, Stephanie from Fashion Robot's Balenciaga inspired outfit is a great imitation. The lady from Just glitter lust's outfit is just so girly but not in a weird way, I never thought pink and silver could go well together.

Brooke from "The fashion void" went all sheer for her outfit with sheer slip over a shirt dress and sheer tights over red tight completed with a leopard print jacket, love it!! Camille from the Childhood flames's outfit is also another lovely example of chic and effortless look.

The other favourite looks for this week' "floral and sheer goodness theme" includes outfits from: Stylescout, Fad Tony and Reykjavi Looks.

Next week the theme will be "Going Pale and Faded for Denim" with the recent revival of pale or faded and even tarted denim thanks to designers such as Alexander Wang, Christopher Kane and even Chanel spring summer 08, this theme seems appropriate.

PS : If you have any suggestions about other themes for the "Midweek Street style" dont hesitate to let me know either by leaving a comment here or on my dripbook page or even by emailing me at - talk2theresa@hotmail.co.uk.

If you've also come across any street style looks you like or that you think will fit into any future themes just send me a message.

I look forward to seeing your denim inspired outfits /looks.

Want want want!!!

Theresa — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:00:00 -0000

The down side about most spring outfits for me is that I cant do much layering therefore I tend to prefer outfits that are simple but with enormous amount of details from pleats to ruffles, unusual materials from sheer to metallics and of course the bright colours (a spring staple). A brand's Spring collection that seems to fit into my description of outfit I "want want want", even desperately need for spring is that of Greyhound original.

Greyhound original is one of three sub-brands by Greyhound, others include "Hound and Friends" and "Playhound." They are a bangkok based brand which is known for its "simple but never boring outfits."

My favourite from the collection includes the pink dress, the leather sleeveless jacket as well as the nude coloured dress with puff sleeves.

Sadly I havent been able to find any online shop or maybe if they export to the UK, therefore it looks like the pink dress and leather sleeveless jacket would have to remain in my rather never ending "want want want!!!" list, for much longer.

However if anyone knows if Greyhound ships to the UK or where I can find the online store please do let meknow.

Take Me Out To The Desert.

Coco — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:14:20 -0000

A pack of celebrities rolled out for this years Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival held in the California desert. Coachella is the only festival to rival Glastonbury Festival in the celebrity turn-out and fashion stakes, and this year a variety of stars turned up.

Kelly Osbourne has been working the black and white graphic prints, creating a punkish statement. I love her LAMB dress and red lips, very Gwen! Sienna Miller has gone back to her boho roots, wearing vintage Vivienne Westwood pirate boots and scruffy dresses. She has even been getting friendly with actor Sean Penn - making a fe Hollywood connections while enjoying herself.

Paris Hilton even popped up; although that isn't too shocking as she tends to follow any cameras. Her BBF, Nicole Richie, has also been spotted about in denim hotpants and her trademark shades dancing about. Fashion and music are clearly a match made in heaven. images from popsugar.com

Dripbook featured in Picture Magazine.

Alex Wright — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:55:12 -0000

Picture Magazine, now in it's sixth year, continues to deliver. Picture Magazine features Dripbook in it's recent May / June 08 issue. We couldn't have written a better review ourselves. This is sure to deliver a lot more attention and traffic to Dripbook.

"Dripbook, the new international online portfolio hosting and community website for artists, is exceeding all expectations..."

Not bad indeed...

Dripbook featured in Resource Magazine.

Alex Wright — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 02:33:14 -0000

In their biggest and baddest issue yet, Resource Magazine has a full page review of Dripbook in a five page feature comparing Dripbook to LiveBooks and Clickbooq - both Web portfolio creation sites. While Dripbook is in a different league than both - only Dripbook has created a cross-referenced, browsable catalog of it's artists' portfolios - it is nice to see Dripbook compared against some much heavier hittiers - LiveBooks has been around for ages.

Some notable quotes...

"That's right: Dripbook caters to more than just ... the photo industry. There are thirty-eight genres..."

"If you're flying into L.A. for a last minute shoot and are in dire need of a makup artist, you can find what you're looking for through Dripbook."

"A ... tool recently emerged from the Dripbook laboratory that allows users to export a personal web site from Dripbook to their own registered URL, effectively allowing you to create your own site without all the technical know-how you ain't got. An example can be found online at http://justinmuschong.com ."

Oh yeah. Dripbook costs a FRACTION of what either other site costs, and has features well above both.

Unfortunately, the Dripbook Sites project was just being created and unwrapped at the time this article went to press, so the author didn't get to test-drive our latest and most bad-ass feature. But it is nice to be reviewed next to other established, heavy hitting Web sites that do some, but not all, of what Dripbook does.

The East End Alternative Fashion week.

Theresa — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:00:00 -0000

This week in the East End of London (Spitalfields Traders Market)the "Alternative Fashion Week" has been taking place from the 21st till the 25th of April. This event is always an oppourtunity for new as well as up and coming designers and fashion students from colleges and university to showcase their work and collections to both the public (which is free), press and the fashion industry itself.

A designer that caught my attention was Maryanne Mbira, who showed on Monday, her use of pleats and fringes details adds a sense of creativity to her collection. The items from her collection are more like a piece of art but in a very subtle manner, particularly the yellow, blue and grey top (my favourite piece from the collection). Its combination with the brown leather trouser also works really well, I feel it adds an edgy tone. Have a look at some of her other works here.

She is definitely one to look out for in the near future...

Other designers I also liked include; Victoria Hartley, Valentina Abdi, Kelly Ashworth, and of course Hasan Hejazi, whose work completely blew me away.

If you'll like to see some more designers and pieces that were shown at the event visit FUK, which features interviews, videos and images from the event.

Dripbook Fashion Studio - Midweek Street Style.

Theresa — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:00:00 -0000

Street style is something I have been willing to concentrate on for the Fashion studio for a while now, therefore I have decided to add a post dedicated to street style and bloggers personal styles every midweek (Wednesday's or Thursday's - I cant seem to decide).

Each midweek, I'll be posting a couple of my favourite looks from a variety of street style sites as well as blogs and each week there will be a different theme.

This week, the theme is "Tailored/ Formal/ Boy meets Girl".

This week's looks have just reminded me of how much I need a new blazer, I'm thinking maybe royal blue, similar to the lady's look from Hoy Fashion and also a bow tie like that of the girl from Facehunter and maybe in dark red like the other gentle man (you have to admit he does look like one)from Hoy fashion. With a little vintage/ thrift shopping I should be able to get my hands on those pieces.

Also the colour of trench coat worn by the lady from Copenhagen Street style along with the combination of the opaque white tights which just looks ever so lovely and effortless.style sighting and sunglasses from The Vagabond looks seems playfull but in a subtle way. And finally one of my favourite of all the choosen looks for this week is the look from FAK street style - lady in the yellow skirt, belt and shoes. I just absolutely love this look, very chic, fun and well put together.

The reccurring theme of neon light blue - the Jazz shoe from

Next week the theme will be "The Floral and Sheer goodness" looks, its seems appropriate as we are getting closer (and for others already)into the Spring/Summer season.

Other Future themes may also include "Going Pale and Faded for Denim" and " Art and Prints"

If you have any suggestions about other themes for the "Midweek Street style" dont hesitate to let me know either by leaving a comment here or on my dripbook page or even by emailing me at - talk2theresa@hotmail.co.uk.

If you've also come across any street style looks you like or that you think will fit into any future themes just send me message.

Enhanced Search Engine Optimization - another feature for Premium accounts.

Alex Wright — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:52:47 -0000

We've added a simple but very effective feature for Premium accounts.

You can now enter Description and Keyword information that will be added to the HTML headers on your Dripbook portfolio pages as well as a Web site you export with Dripbook Sites.

This will help search engines like Google better find and better catalog your pages. More people will find your work, and that's what you're here for. You don't need to know anything about technology to use this feature. We've made it simple.

Head to the Settings tab in your Controls, and look for the Keywords + Description sub-tab. Enter your customized Description and Keywords and you're all set.

Your customized Description and Keywords will be automatically added to your Dripbook Splash Page and your portfolio book display pages on Dripbook.

Please note that you MUST re-export the index.html file of your Dripbook Site to include your customized Description and Keywords.

For some helpful information on using the Description and Keywords for Search Engine Optimization, look here, here, and here.

Dripbook Stickers - campaign from the street.

Alex Wright — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:51:21 -0000

Finding these stickers all over. Here's a few snapshots.

UPDATE - we're all out of stickers now. We didn't think you'd like them so much. We've mailed them to everyone who asked so far, even Lithuania and Australia. And we'll print some more and send you taller stacks.

Anyone know of a good place to print PAPER stickers - ones which stick on better / longer? Let us know if you know.

Juxtapoz has some nice words about Dripbook.

Alex Wright — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:36:49 -0000

Juxtapoz Magazine, longtime source of great inspiration, features and promotion of innovative and progressive arts, had some nice things to say about Dripbook while featuring the work on Dripbook of Greek artist Aphrodite Loannou.

Read the post on Juxtapoz here.

Dripbook Sites - our most bad ass feature.

Alex Wright — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:45:46 -0000

Check out Dripbook Sites. This is our newest, biggest, and most bad-ass feature.

Dripbook Sites allows you to export your public books on Dripbook as a fully customized, professionally designed personal Web site. Dripbook Sites is an add-on feature to the regular features of Dripbook. You can host your Dripbook Site anywhere you want. You customize it, we power it.

The idea behind Dripbook Sites is simple - your public artwork on Dripbook powers a personal Web site. Your Splash page(s), your public books, your book names, the order of your books and genres, all the images, the order of your images - it all shows up just the same, but in a customized personal Web site.

Tired of reading? Wanna see what we're talking about?

Sergio Kurhajec, Photography - using the Thumbnails Scroller template.

Alex Wright, Photography - using the Thumbnails Grid template.

Helene Loussier, Painting - using the Thumbnails Scroller template.

Alain Derderian, Graphic Design and Photography, using the Slider template.

Xim Izquierdo, Graphic Design and Photography, using the Slider template.

Hannah Marshall, Makeup - using the Slider template.

Jacob Snavely, Photography - using the Slider template.

Combustive Motor Corporation, Multimedia - using the Thumbnail Scroller template.

Charlotte Taylor, Hair Styling - using the Thumbnail Scroller template.

Cynthia Rose, Make Up - using the Slider template.

Adam Von Mack, Photography - using the Thumbnail Scroller template.

Charles Olsen, Painting and Photography, using the Thumbnails Grid template.

You can change the customization settings for your Dripbook Site as often as you like. And every time you update your work on Dripbook, your Dripbook Site will change to reflect those updates. So, to update your Dripbook Site, just update Dripbook like you already do now.

And - maybe the best part - for a limited time, we are waiving the set-up fee associated with Dripbook Sites. So, all you need now is a Premium account on Dripbook, and there is (for a limited time) no set-up fee. So, get working...

Have questions about Dripbook Sites? Head to the FAQs - we have answers.

And while you're checking out Dripbook Sites, check out the other ways you can export your work out of Dripbook. People are loving the widgets to put on their blogs, MySpace, and more. And there are components and feeds, too.

Reed + Rader : the square block and the circle hole.

Alex Wright — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 03:06:13 -0000

Reed + Rader has been with Dripbook since it seems the beginning. Their work is incredible and progressive. The following is an interview with the duo / collective of photographers (and more...) called Reed + Rader. Stick around through to the end - this kind of work and this kind of discussion doesn't come up often or enough.

Q: You're a collective? A duo? How long have you worked together?

A: We met while going to school at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh about five years ago. Technically, the work was separate in the beginning but even then we were still there to help with each other’s projects. After we finished the two year program we decided to make the jump to NYC and transfer into the School of Visual Arts. A few months after moving we started thinking about formally joining forces and a short time later we made it official and the Reed+Rader collective was born.

Q: Your work in "Portfolio II" is incredibly interesting. You take the idea of innovation into a very rarely explored arena. Your work really reminds me of Gilbert + George and older Soviet Constructivism and MTV generation collage art, but it is all it's own. Can you describe your process and influences and where it all comes together?

A: Working with collage allows us to explore ideas of technological consolidation and multitasking. Collage has always been about pulling from various processes and transforming them into a hybrid juxtaposition. This has been going on for a long time but for the first time ever technology is beginning to be able to mime reality in increasingly captivating and immersive ways. What role is art going to play when everyone is able to customize and create at a whim any sub-reality that they can dream up?

Technology, the internet, stuffed animals, and gaming are our biggest inspirations. Gaming, both video and role playing, is the closest thing there is right now to a simulated reality. Within the framework of a game you are free to exist however you wish so long as you follow the rules. Human imagination has always allowed us to dream of impossible things but technology is going to take those ideas and make them real. Eventually there will be fully immersive virtual reality but right now we have video games and avatars. We have a rather large and continually growing collection of stuffed animals that we call “The Family” each with their own individual personalities. They are almost real life avatars from a cartoon dream world. It would be great if technology would help out so that we wouldn’t have to lower our own voices and wiggle our arms behind their heads to make them talk and move though. Sigh, maybe someday. The internet is amazing because of sheer amount of information it makes available and the access that it affords us all. Reed+Rader would not exist without the internet. Not only wouldn’t we have met but without the internet as a tool it is doubtful we’d have even made it that far. Blogs, forums, instant messaging, and online gaming have revolutionized the social experience. The internet isn’t the television, it doesn’t stunt social skills, it’s a participatory medium that allows one access to venues that they would otherwise never be able to experience. Our flesh and blood limits us. Why drag your body into one specific conversation, in one specific place, at one specific time when with the internet you can multitask between as many things you want with whomever you want, wherever you want, and whenever you want. The internet is only the beginning.

The process itself is both digital and analog. It’s silly because we are both technology obsessed but we only shoot film and use scissors and glue sticks for a great deal of the collage work. This may be the time of computer graphics but there is something special about physically making something. The piece may be scanned and put into storage but somehow it seems to retain the dignity of having been physically processed even after becoming a digital file. This struggle between digital and analog is just another battle in the greater war with reality. Our work is a bit of both because there is no all encompassing replacement for the real world yet. It’s not a rebellion. When it does happen we want our work to have stand as documentation of the transition period.

Q: This work isn't only photography. Sometimes, it isn't even mostly photography. Where do you draw the line between photography and design - between the elements and the construction?

A: We don’t really think there is a line to be drawn. Design is probably the most important part – especially going forward into a future where technology is going to continue to consolidate the individual arts. Of course we are photographers by trade and photography plays a large role in the work but it’s mostly just another form of content creation to us. As romantic as it may be, we are not married to our cameras. What’s important to us is getting an end result using any combination of photography, illustration, graphic design, etc., to get what we want. With that said, design trumps all.

Our generation grew up right on the edge of some really amazing technological changes. We know the music video, computers, and video games but we also know what it’s like to have to go outside and roll around in the grass for entertainment too. Obviously, you are going to have older and younger people savvy to things on both sides, but our generation landed right in the middle as slaves to attention deficit. Technology is changing the world by consolidating everything into pseudo-hybrid spinoffs and totally new ideas of what they once were. This is what excites us.

We are becoming less interested in producing work that is straight up. Maybe it’s just the self professed computer nerds in us, but it doesn’t seem representative of the radically mixed digital environment that we live with. People have always thought about reality, but with modern technology we are beginning to be able to twist it in increasingly realistic ways. In the near future, technology may be able to replace reality completely. In the meantime, we are going to have great fun playing somewhere in between.

Q: Do you do this work commercially? Your work in "Portfolio I" seems more commercially oriented, even though you push the boundaries here a lot also. How do you view the struggle between art and commerce?

A: Whether we’re doing the work commercially or not the narrative tends to remain the same. There are a lot more hands and opinions on the line commercially and unfortunately that work tends to be much safer. This isn’t always true, as sometimes there are people that are really into our work and pretty much leave everything up to us. Usually we get some form of “oh, we love your work this is so fantastic ---- but it’s out there and we are going to have to take it back a notch to fit it within our parameters”. Lots of times it’s like trying to fit the square block into the circle hole.

There is little difference between art and art made for commerce, as both can be equally conceptual and innovative, but at the end of the day in order for commerce to happen the work has to be appropriately saleable. That’s the catch and art is commerce and commerce is art. It’s an absolute nightmare being constrained by the deadlines and social moors of the marketplace but if you want to play in the commercial venue there is little room for choice. We’ve been lucky enough to have a lot of our work transition quite seamlessly to the editorial but more and more we’re running into a creative black hole. This has led us to explore new venues such as galleries and start thinking about creating an online/print zine directed completely by us.

Q: You shoot Polaroid 55 - how do you feel about it being discontinued? It looks like you shoot a lot of film. Have you found ways to incorporate digital photography into your stylistic output?

A: Heartbroken. Apparently it’s time to get a larger fridge and stock up. Hopefully another company will pick up the slack but sadly our niche doesn’t fit into the digital business model. Polaroid’s demise is just another casualty in the continuing death of all film. It’s funny though because Polaroids are the most digital like of all film in the sense that they provide instant gratification. Let us know when Kodak and Fuji stop making 4x5 and 120 film, then we’ll be in real trouble.

Right now we only shoot with film but besides that we already have a completely digital workflow. Everything becomes 0’s and 1’s when it is scanned into the computer. We print digitally and although a lot of the work is hand cut, drawn, and pasted we do a lot of that digitally too. We aren’t Luddites at all, but the magic that happens to a roll of film when light hits it is something that is hard to give up. There is no doubt that digital photography is surpassing and is going to go beyond the technical merits of film, but the magic that comes with getting your film back while never quite knowing for sure what you are going to get is something that digital may never be able to reproduce.

Q: What projects are you working on now?

A: We’re in a transitional period right now. Most of the work has been and still is mostly editorial based but we are looking to move into other venues. Going forward into the future we can definitely see our work in a gallery context and we’ve been working to make that happen. Editorial compromise has led us to begin putting together an online/print zine composed completely by us. It will be interesting to see what happens with recent announcements but we have an ongoing Polaroid project with one of our dearest stuffed animals named Mister Wubba and all his friends. Look him up on Google and Myspace. Recently we finished a formal portrait series of the characters “Big Daddy” and “Little Sister” from the video game Bioshock. The series is part of a larger body of work and is set a few years after the events in the game with the characters having been taken out of all contexts for their formal portraits. The big project that we are working on now is inspired by an older single work of ours that we are now fleshing out into an entire new body of work. The concept is an absurd “Where’s Waldo” multiplicity collage concept set on the verge of the technological singularity prophesized by futurists Vernor Vinge and Ray Kurzweil. Every day brings new surprises so we never know what’s going to be happening. What an unnerving surprise for two kids who would otherwise be perfectly content instant messaging all day.

Love Dripbook? Share the love.

Alex Wright — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:25:51 -0000

Dripbook has grown six times over since we opened in October of last year. Dripbook now represents thousands of portfolios by artists from 55 countries in 25 genres. And Dripbook has managed to grow like this while keeping the quality of work high on account of our invitation-only status.

Let's keep it going. There's a lot more to cover.

So please help us grow larger while maintaining the high level of quality by sending invites to the best artists you know - illustrators, stylists, street artists, designers, hair and makeup artists, painters, photographers, and more. And there has been a lot of interest on Dripbook from art directors, ad agencies, magazines, and galleries. So keep them on your lists also.

Thanks.

The Red Carpet

Coco — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:36:36 -0000

The hot colour for the Oscars this year was undoubtedly red. Somehow the stars decide they would like to blend in with the carpet, so off they went. While both Miley and Katherine went for bright hues Anne Hathaway went for a deeper red, which stood out more from the crowd and looked a lot more Hollywood.

Black of course made an appearance which was slightly disappointing considering how many great colours designers are working in at the moment. It would have been nice for some people to try something a little more daring. Ellen Page could have done a lot better, and the dress just didn’t seem to work for her. Hilary Swank answered my calls and wore Versace, and looked fabulous, although there are much more exciting colours in their collection this year she could have picked from.

There were also three babies in attendance this year. Pregnancy is no longer a time for women to slob about as Cate, Nicole and Jessica Alba showed. Nicole looked chic in her floor length black Balenciaga (she can get away with black as it is a slimming colour and she has something to slim) whereas Cate and Jessica went for berry shades.

And then there were the most glamorous, the ladies in pale red carpet dresses. While Cameron looked as casual as you possibly can in Dior, Best Actress Marion Cotillard and Renee worked the sparkle with great style. Overall the red carpet was played a little safely this year but still had some amazing gowns. (images justjared)

New York Fashion Week. AW 08 09. Jason Brunsdon

Patricia Yagüe — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 01:40:48 -0000

Aussie fashion designer Jason Brunsdon showed his collections for the first time in New York fashion week during the collections of fall 2007. That is exactly one year ago.

The coming of this designer to town was a total excitment and there were rumors that even Naomi Watts was coming to the show. If she did, I didn't see it.

The truth is that I got really dissapointed, all the fuss for nothing but I thought, well, he might have something when even The Daily Front Row featured a whole speacil page on him.

This season I had the chance to discover what he has to offer, again. I was invited to see the show... but then I got sick and never had the chance.

Alex Wright attended the show and backstage and sent me the pictures and all I can say is, I still don't understand all the fuss... nice clothing, cute things, and that's all about it.

Probably the problem is me who expects more of NYFW than I will ever see (I'm a dreamer!).

After all NY fashion market is all about money more than anything else, and all we will be able to see, and expect, during New York Fashion Week are just things that can be sold in our malls...

New York Fashion Week AW 08 09.- Camilla Staerk.

Patricia Yagüe — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 06:11:38 -0000

The AW 08-09 fashion show of Danish designer Camilla Staerk was the perfect instance of how a "i-don't-know-what-to-do" invitation can turn into a really gratifying experience.

The presentation took place at one of my favourite spots for fashion shows, The Scandinavia House in Manhattan (the reason why i fancy this place is quite haphazard ; let's say everything "Scandinavian" is just cool per se ) and it was presented by Gen Art that broadcast the work of only one designer, Camilla, for the first time in their history.

The collection impressed me, I must admit. From the beginning to the end. I took notice of the styling for the first time in my life, which is funny when one is a stylist: all the pieces were put together in a very interesting way and there were some details, like the big hat at the end and some fabric combinations, that kept my attention excited. Actually as soon as I could I asked for Camilla's PR in New York to borrow clothing for my next photo shoot...

Although she once said "I am becoming too known for dark and melancholy, and I don't want to be" Camilla is back to her beloved black which I think is a good move: I find her more powerful designing black pieces than colorful. Or that was my impression after seeing her SS 07 collection .

In another note, I'd like to mention the fact that w hen I tried to find further information about the designer I stumbled upon another website also under the name Camilla Saerk and which look and font and navigation was exactly like the real one... the only difference was the designer, in this case an Epsom School of Art graduate (a place which webste i couldn't find) named Roger Craig Searle.

It got all really confusing to me and thanks that I saw the designer with my eyes I knew she is a woman, otherwise I would definitely think that Camilla was Roger... I can't really talk about this because I don't know anything about it but i just guess they started a collaboration together, it didn't work out and Camilla decided to start her own new line.
It must be upsetting not to have full ownership of your own name, it makes me think of the great Jil Sander when she "lost" her name to Prada.

all images courtesy of dkcnews

Catherine Fulmer F/W 2008.

rachel raczka — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 18:15:44 -0000

With an intoxicating mash-up of Goldfrapp and the Doors as the background for a promotional montage of her former fall collections , there is the challenge for an equally satiable hype for Catherine Fulmer 's FW 08' collection. Luckily, she heard our plea and has dished out a worthy plethora of looks that add a healthy dose of sex appeal to winter classics. Cable knit leggings, tailored tartans, and plenty of feminine detailing on masculine pieces will lure the sex kitten into the office via Fulmer.

Burgundy and mute gold dominate the colour palette and is complimented with a compilation of shades of nude and navy. Bundle up with knitted arm and leg warmers but leave just enough bare to pump up the intrigue. The show was staged in the penthouse at the ever-so-hip Hotel Rivington and mirroring its location, Catherine Fulmer's FW Collection is unavoidably sexy allure of downtown cool.

photos by Alex Wright

New York Fashion Week. AW 08 09.- Malan Breton.

Alex Wright — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:15:29 -0000

Malan Breton' s AW 08-09 fashion show was due to start at 9am. I woke up at 8.50am... you might be thinking I didn't make it, and so I thought too... but I did make it and I was even fortunate enough to have a front row seat!.

I don't know why but fashion week's shows are ALWAYS late; remember the controversy with the show of Marc Jacobs last season?... 2 hours late!.

Going back to the point of this post, Malan Breton, I don't understand all the hip with this designer because the clothing he designs is just that, clothing. The guy doesn't experiment, doesn't offer anything new... blouses, skirts and dresses inspired in the 60's, can we be more original?. The show was nice, that's all.

I appreciate the fact that he's a self-taught designer but for the same reason maybe he could be a little more experimental? He's also big in the media, the show was paked with press and the gifts offered for the front rowers were quite impressive: an umbrella, the latest Michael Bublé record, key chains etc It would be nice if he would use all that power to offer something really new and shake us all.

Images by Alex Wright

New York Fashion Week. AW 08 09.- Patrik Rzespki.

Alex Wright — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:11:19 -0000

The first (and best show) I attended this season was Patrik Rzepski' s in Chelsea.

I'm a big fan of Patrik; in a city like NY where the average designer is as safer as it takes, Patrik push the boundaries and his creations are interesting and "good looking".

The location chosen was some art space/art gallery, very big, very white, in Chelsea New York. The crowd was noisy and very "modern"; almost everyone was wearing black.

I run into some friends what surprised me because a) i din't know they were invited, and b) it's always nice not to be alone in a show, having someone with who commenting the going ons of the evening.

Being this my first show of the season (I worked the days before in a photo shooot and so was impossible for me to attend any other catwalk) I was eyes wide open.

The show started 45 minutes late but the waiting was worth it.

Black color abounded, as it's common in Patrik's work, and was mixed with plaid lumber jack in some beautiful pieces.

If there is something I went nuts for were his very loosy tights: they look trashy and elegant all at the same time, difficult task and ravishing result!.

" Back to nature boys, vasser girls too

Watch what you say, or think, or do

Continental style strasse girls might

But youi know exactly if it's wrong or right "

- Roxy Music

(from the show program)

photos by Alex Wrigh

Patrik Rzepski

Make peace with the client…(not the client to pieces).

Constantinos Papaconstantinou — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:04:55 -0000

How many times have you faced the demanding, impatient, not well paying, not-really-knowing what-he-wants client?

I Bet enough times to recognize him from a mile away. But what doesn’t work with these clients? Is it he? Is it you?
I bet most of us, usually answer it’s the clients fault. “He doesn’t let us create quality design. The time is not enough. He comes and changes my idea to something unrecognizable. He thinks he knows everything…and my work is worthless to his eyes.”
Well in graphic design there are always 2 sides. You and them. But is there really something that makes you enemy? I guess not. You both want to create something beautiful. A piece of design that his bussiness will gain from it and you, as a designer, will be proud of.

Client Design vs Yours (I really hope yours is even better than these...:P)

Well, usually the main problem is that your pride, or your preconceived ideas of what your clients visual communication should be, don’t let you think what he really wants. Despite the fact that we tend too consider ourselves something between artist and God and thus unmistakable, there are sometimes that the client( you know, the one who pays the bills) has something very clear in his head about what he wants.

So what? You are the designer. You know everything. Well, what I am suggesting is to reconsider what your job is. Is it to create “art”? Is it to have the client happy? Or is it the combination of both? I understand that most of the time you have very good reason to react like that, but think for a moment what your clients feels.
He pays (hopefully for you) a good amount of money and he wants to get something he likes. And besides that, since when did you become a specialist in any market? Each market (e.g. food market or clothes market) has different rules and different visualization. You might have the super artistic-beautiful and eye-catching design for the fast-food restaurant in your area but does it work? Are you sure you know better a market then your client who’s been established in that with his knowledge and hard work?

So, make peace with the client!

Just give him the chance to teach you. After sometime you will be in position to offer better solutions to your clients since you will have explored a vast variety of markets. But working and not listening to what the clients wants is totally wrong. You miss the chance to be taught from a great range of professionals about the specific markets and become a great designer after a while! Take care!

Unruly Heir F/W 2008.

rachel raczka — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 03:56:46 -0000

7 o'clock Saturday night at the East Village Yacht Club , Unruly Heir invited a fashionable crowd to view their F/W 08' collection

First of all - I've heard the EVYC had a bad reputation, more or less, lame reviews/bad crowd/ps. why is it in East Village? Maybe it was my low expectations but I kind of liked it, it reminded me of my friends' basements that I would hang out in during high school - I'm from Connecticut, relax.

A smorgasbord of male models were perched on a round lounge in the center of the room, wearing a mix of preppy classics and NY street style. (At least that's what they keep telling me.)

The collection was called "Sidewalk Swindlers and Socialite Scoundrels" and tells the story of the boys who wear Italian silk pocket squares in their top pockets and a bottle of Jack in their bottom. - Or as they described it, "begs for charity in a black tie while slyly placing an extra shrimp in their tux pocket."

(Spend some time standing outside of Dalton and you'll see what I'm getting at.)

Gorgeous slim cut dress pants contrasted with worn and faded graphic t-shirts, (trading from seersucker the season before) herringbone hoodies with track jacket piping, plaid trousers altered into lounge pants (with tie-front closure!) and loosely fitted knee-shorts paired with popped collar polos, and in the middle of it all, a black velvet, satin-trim two-piece suit.

Basically, if your old prep school sweats and pressed custom-made suits merged into one when thrown into the bottom of your closet (before the maid steamed and re-hung them, of course.)

Snarky as ever, the pocket linings are printed with tongue-in-cheek graphics of a hooker's phone number, a rolled-up dollar bill, and a bottle of whiskey - also, the boys lounged while wearing a variety of novelty black velvet slippers, each embroidered with their own 'pinkies-up' design - well, except the pair of the pot leaf and the peace sign.

If this doesn't exemplify an "unruly heir," I don't know what will.

Duh. Hasn't anyone seen Gossip Girl?

photos by Julia Chesky

New York Fashion Week.- If being stylish is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

Alex Wright — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:35:51 -0000

Go ahead, call me a rapscallion; appropriately named after Samantha Pleet’s fiercely stylish Autumn/Winter collection. The quirky, Brooklyn designer, debuted her latest line to a packed Soho gallery decked out in model mugshots and a lineup’s backdrop providing the perfect setting for pieces such as Pleet’s Bandit Jacket, Hellion Dress, and Mischief Romper.

This break through (or should we say “break out”) ready-to-wear collection of Pleet’s featured masculine designs with feminine touches; high waist lines, nipped vests, and short hemlines are all reminders of the sinful female figure. The men’s collection was equally arresting with urban-hip pieces including wide collar dress shirts and slim suits.
No complaints from the fashion police on this one; unless it’s a crime to steal the spotlight from the tents.

Written by Ashley Chanter.

Dripbook on the Horizon Awards.

Alex Wright — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:24:51 -0000

Once again time to spit-shine Dripbook, this time for the judges from the Horizon Interactive Awards . Their portfolios came from the Library of Congress , the Farm Security Administration, and the Office of War Information Collection . That may be the first (and only) time we ever thank the government's war department.

And thanks again to the Internet Archive for providing the illustration material.

Anyway, beyond getting lost in the images, it's nice to welcome the Horizon awards judges to Dripbook.

Thuy F/W 2008.

rachel raczka — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 06:47:19 -0000

Thuy is smart. No joke. Thuy Diep is a graduate of Brown University and a former Pricewaterhouse consultant. Lucky for us, she decided to pursue her love for fashion and go back to school at Parsons. She continued on to work under some fashion gods like Peter Som, Zac Posen and Carolina Herrera - just to name a few - before starting her own ready-to-wear line under her own namesake.

Although there was quite a wait at Exit Art on Saturday morning, plentiful mimosas and Lake Champlain truffles kept the crowd at bay. After being herded into what we assumed was the hallway, the music started the models parted the crowd, posing in front of a white wall; much to the delight of some, completely dispelling the hierarchy of Fashion Week seating.

"I'm going to become her best customer," whispered an onlooker.

The Thuy F/W 2008 collection is a mixture of softly structured pieces with super feminine flair in luxe neutrals sparked with deep tropical colours that should keep you warm and stylish next fall.

I loved...

Cashmere wrap maxi coats and wide paneled double breasted wool boleros

Satin and matte silk knee-length cocktail dresses with cut-out bateau necklines and loosely fitted skirts covered in frame-shamed shingles

The shimmering muted gold oragami one-shoulder cocktail dress with pockets

Fiercely bright coloured leather gloves paired with quirky opaque tights and stockings

Geometric chiffon panels on mini dresses

Notched satin hemlines on sheer vertical stripe blouse

Siggeir Hafsteinsson rocks Goldie's new Sine Tempor.

Alex Wright — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 21:08:39 -0000

Siggeir Hafsteinsson, keeping it hot up in Reykjavik, Iceland, sent through his latest project, the album art for the upcoming Goldie album called Sine Tempor. Here's a look at the new work and a small chat with Siggeir about the work:

Q: Your work really reminds me of the architecture of Santiago Calatrava. It's rare that you see a graphic designer so fully embrace forms of biology, just as with Calatrava's architecture. What are your feelings about the influence of biology on your work?

A: First of all, thank you for that compliment. I haven't really thought of it that way, for me it's more like wings. But the Sine Tempor project is kind of organic.

Q: This work is highly symmetrical, which embraces the physical sides of biological structuring more than the conceptual, emotional, or spiritual. Can you describe the role of symmetry on this work. How is it important to the final product?

A: I've been working on this project long before Goldie wanted it for his album. So it's just been evolving and has gone thru many stages of experiment. But the symmetry is what holds it together.

Q: What is the new Goldie album like? It seems like there are a lot of rumors around about it's name, who is guest appearing, etc.

A: I've been listening to drum & bass since the early days and always been a huge fan of Goldie's music as well as in his art so it's a real honor for me to be able to do his cover and other work we're doing together. I cant really talk about the music and who he's working with. But if people remember "Timeless" which was masterpiece then all I can say is that this one is too.

Q: Describe how you became involved with making the album art for his new album?

A: My best friend Agzilla has been friend with Goldie for years and he was doing a drum & bass gig in Iceland which Goldie was playing at. So I did this poster for it and Goldie liked it and asked me to do the art for his new album..

Q: How did you come to make the work that you did based on the specifics of this album? What made you make what you made?

A: Like I said I've been working on this project for a long time so when Goldie came along It made me more ambitious about taking my original art to the next level design vise. I made art for the cover and also 13 individual art pieces, 1 for each track for online selling.

Q: And, what's Iceland like these days? What are other projects you've got on those geothermic back burners?

A: In the last hundred years it has 3 times been as cold as its is now. There is a new Metalheadz web opening soon and we're doing a lot of crazy merchandize for the label. And I'm planning a exhibition on the Sine Tempor art. Each piece is printed on aluminum 1x1m and then varnished with high gloss. so I've got some exciting things going on..

Q: Do you want to say a bit about your creative process, how you produce your work?

A: It all depends on what kind of project Im working on. If Im doing corporate work I usually have an idea in my head before I start sketching in the computer but for the art kinda work there is no special process, I usually just sit in front of illustrator and experiment until I come up with something Im satisfied with.

See the whole Sine Tempor book here , and see all of Siggeir's work here .

Rubin Singer F/W 2008.

rachel raczka — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 07:31:10 -0000

A woman who lets her heart roam free in a city like Manhattan might need to wear a helmet, or at least rock a fierce power bob. Rubin Singer' s F/W 2008 Collection was inspired by the 1927 silent German film, " Metropolis ;" the tale of an entire city that was fueled by one woman's ability to love. The harsh city atmosphere, smog and steel pipes, littered the pattern of grey and black silk dresses and high-neck blouses. Full-length furs and luxe cropped charcoal cashmere boleros covered fitted corset dresses. A few celebrity shout outs were present, with a Britney-esque (a la "Toxic") flight attendant style mini dress and a bare-chested, black tulle tutu ensemble that would make even Carrie Bradshaw look badass. Leather insets in black satin sparks the collection in shades of deep orange and purple and mini and maxi dresses covered pipes and cobble pattern brightened with a copper sheen. Sharp cut extended collars and tappered shoulders shadows the ultra-modern architechure in the film. To close the show, "The Heart Machine" (which is the "power station" in the film) is represented with an ultra-volumous black formal tea-length gown, clutched at one shoulder with a shimmering crystal brooch. Singer clearly feels the power and pulse of the women that walk the streets in this city, but isn't afraid to be sure to let her sparkle.

New York Fashion Week Fall 2008 - Duckie Brown.

Alex Wright — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 22:18:58 -0000

Rachel Raczka braved the torrential rain and Alex braved the photographer's melee to bring you some early menswear coverage from the Mercedes Benz Fall 2008 Fashion Week extravaganza at Bryant Park...

Friday, February 1st, 1:00pm, Bryant Park Salon.

Weather appropriate, Duckie Brown's show opened with a tailored menswear covered by a black parka. The slim cut suits continued on to don unconvetentional coverings, black nylon backpacks and fuzzy voluminous sweaters (that scream "borrow me"). Quirky alterations to fundamental favorites that Duckie Brown is known for included flat front cargo pockets on tailored dress pants, long panel purple suits, and matte sateen boat neck shells under blazers. A shimmery fishnet oversize sweater might be more unisex than hoped for, but the man walking down the runway in a pointelle sweater knew how to wear it well. However, full length black crinkled trench out shined the multiple pakras on the catwalk, and may be something that you won't want to save for a rainy day.

And The Oscar Goes Too... Donatella!

Coco — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 10:21:02 -0000

When thinking of Couture the first designers that come to mind are most likely Chanel, Valentino, Lacroix and Dior.

Versace isn't a label that would spring to mind, thought of more for it's in-your-face sexiness not the impressive surface decoration. While the big guns went ahead at Couture week with grand shows and a list of celebrities on the front row too long to type, Versace quietly showed off it's Atelier Versace collection on just one model.

Modest the showing may have been, but the collection is bright and powerful, I can feel the stylists fighting over it already. With the Oscars, Baftas and Grammy awards all coming up in the next few weeks it is a race to see who grabs the gowns the fastest. My money is on Penelope Cruz who wore Atelier Versace last year to the Oscars when nominated for best actress. The orange dress (below) would look particularly stunning on her. I'm also hoping that at some point this year Diane Kruger gets a chance to wear the white dress (below).

Basically this collection was made for the red carpet. Gianni would be proud! (images style.com)