Wearable Art Blog

CJ Yao: "Wood Be" Collection

CJ Yao does work that's provocative, attractive, innovative, and complex. Her graduate collection, Wood Be, is appealing because of its use of thick strings, fringes, and of course, beautiful wood.

Yao's aim is to use traditional techniques and materials to make fashion that's very contemporary. In Yao's words: "I tried to refine the traditional techniques of using wood and crafts to fit into the contemporary look. Each piece represents my personal impression of an ideal woman. These women “wood be” the arrogant and limpid poets...."

These women look protected, as is they're wearing body armor. The outfit below reminds me of a burka. Which raises the question of what does Yao consider an 'ideal' woman? One who is well defended? Even the lovely sleveless above is quite layered and loose fitting.

Regardless, these pieces are innovative. Especially the way Yao makes the wood a focal point of the outfit and her use of unusual thick-threaded textiles.

Did you notice the wooden shoes and crocheted shoes below?

 

CJ Yao's inventive work was recently shown as part of the 2012 BA undergraduate fashion and textile student work at Central Saint Martins in London. If you're intrigued, you can read more about Yao's work on the Central Saint Martins Student Blog or Not Just a Label.

 

Mesh Jewelry by Pauletta Brooks

Here's some fascinating resin mesh jewelry - asymmetrical but sculptural, informal but with a touch of elegance - created by Pauletta Brooks of New York.

Brooks, who worked for many years in the fashion industry in various creative positions, eventually decided to become a jewelry designer with a unique approach and style. She explains: "I fell upon this material, thermoplastic mesh, while rooting around in a sculpture supply house....The mesh becomes malleable when heated and then retains its shape when cooled. By embedding stones, pulling it, sculpting it, leafing and painting it, I was able to come up with a line of jewelry...."

The pretty earrings below are made of amethyst mineral geodes with turquoise drops and sculpted in gold resin mesh with antique chain and faux seed pearl.

 

Brooks also uses faux greenery in some of her pieces. Like the Miniature Amethyst Garden Magical Earrings (below) featuring tiny crystal points of amethyst and fluorite, faux pearls and moss. If nothing else, your viewing audience will be intrigued by the greenery.

 

How about this Gold Mesh Cuff with Iridescent-colored Stones? Brooks describes this as an organic form with five faux iridescent stones sprinkled with faux pearl cabochons. Even though this piece looks heavy, it's actually very lightweight.

 

These earrings are inspired by a Dutch motif. Brooks uses vintage appliques to decorate these earrings of sculpted resin mesh, black cab stone, faux pearls and vintage hematite drops beads.

 

This sculptural pendant below is filled with a pale green fluorite octahedron, Mystic titanium quartz, pyrite, smokey quartz, kyanite, and two tiny garnets.

These pieces are funky. I like them because they're a mishmash. Semiprecious gemstones mixed with faux perals and resin mesh. Bold and a little delicate at the same time. What do you think?

You can see more at Pauletta Brooks Wearable Art.

 

 

Marcia Lacher Millinery

Since the weather is warming up, here are some straw hats that will keep you stylish and cool. They're by Marcia Lacher of New York, who designs and makes women's hats by hand using hat blocks from the 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, and 1950's.

 
One of Lacher's most inventive fascinator hats (above) is inspired by the ocean. It's made from straw that she dyed herself and draped with fish netting. The beads and spirals on top represent the detritus found at the bottom of the ocean and sea plants.

The wonderful colors of these hats radiate warmth, like the pretty Panama Straw Hat (above). Lacher made the fabric flowers using iridescent silk. If you look closely, you can see a small bunch of flowers peeking out from underneath the hat.

Here's a great hat for creating some mystery. The big rimmed Panama Straw Hat (above) is made of hand woven blue and yellow fibers with a band and two flowers made from blue leather.

 

The lively Tangerine Tango fedora hat is hand dyed a rich orange and trimmed with bands of grosgrain ribbon. This has got to be the quintessential summer color!

 

How cute can you get? This classic cloche hat is trimmed with a wide black grosgrain ribbon and big handmade organza flower.

As you can see, Lacher offers a great variety of styles and colors. She also makes felt hats, too, for the cold weather. Lacher learned her craft at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology, where she completed the Millinery Techniques Program and has been a milliner in New York since 1998.

Are you inspired to get a summer hat? I hope so. You can see more at Marcia Lacher Millinery.