Take it to the Streets

It’s New York Fashion Week time!  Starting on Sept 6thand going until Sept 14th, there is a barrage of photos hitting the interwebs of not only celebrities and models but also the show outside happening on the streets.  Street style has not always been synonymous with Fashion Week, however it has become more and more intertwined with the shows every season. The women sitting in the front row of the shows are now just as photographed as the girls walking the cat walk for the top designers. 

How did this happen? Well, with more and more designers in the 80s and 90s turning to street wear as inspiration for their collections, and the popularity of reality shows making celebrities of otherwise non-famous people, the industry and the public have been switching their focus to also cover whom is actually attending the shows and what they are currently wearing. Whether or not these street walking fashionistas are following the trends or actually helping to create them is probably up for debate (and depends on the person) they are definitely part of the fashion industry’s ownership and influence over what we will be seeing in the department stores, local boutiques and eventually your local Target.

I myself have always looked to street style as well as the top designers as far as inspiration for incorporating new looks into my wardrobe. I have a certain disdain for mainstream popular trends and like to try to find the edgy, off-the-beaten-path type of pieces and silhouettes. I guess I’m a non-conformist in that regard, and feel fashion has been going in that general direction of individual beauty and style. There is still the pendulum swing of recurring trends that come around every 10 years or so, such as polka dots, animal prints, or certain past decades iconic looks, but the overall trajectory looks like individuality is winning out over the popular and generic fashion of decades past.

Here are some of my favorite small brands that speak to me, and my overall fashion aesthetic:

Clothing: Marigold Shadows with a dark and avant garde approach, I love their feminine dresses and architectural tops.

Jewelry: The Great Frog their beautiful sterling silver and gold jewelry makes a statement and you can find anything from a small dainty ring to giant oversized pieces that I love.

Handbags: Hammitt Handbags I cannot stop my obsession with their genuine leather bags that are always made with the utmost quality and their understated rock-n-roll style is what attracts me the most.

Shoes: Old Gringo their boots are pieces of art! If you are looking for a great pair of cowboy boots to embrace the western trend that has been all over the Fall runways then look no further.

I would love to hear what are some of the smaller brands that you are obsessed with that are making exciting and inspiring fashion.