Wearable Art Blog

Summer Headwear from Camille Roman at Tour de Force

Camille Roman creates 'innovative and sculptural' headwear out of rich, colorful fabrics under the label of TOUR DE FORCE. Roman beat over 500 entries to win the 2009 'Who Wants To Be A Millin-aire' competition, organized by the website Queens-Hat.com. Roman's selection was announced on June 18 at the Royal Ascot Race Track in the U.K., where it was Lady's Day 2009. Her black crochet lace hat won for originality as well as the skill that went into making it. Roman is pictured in the winning hat, left; her 'Blue Grapes' hat is below. She launched TOUR DE FORCE in 2008, shortly after graduating from Central St. Martins College of Art & Design in London (which has produced many famous fashion designers). Roman's hats are feminine, fun, and quite theatrical. I don't know where I'd wear them, but if nothing else, they're wearable art. How do you like them? Go to TOUR DE FORCE to see more. I discovered TOUR DE FORCE on the Fashion 156 Blog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wearable Art of Caleb Calabro

A Wearable Art Blog reader told me about Caleb Calabro, a Sydney, Australia designer who makes 'wearable art' fashions that look like costumes from an Elizabethan play. I went to Caleb's site looking for some information about him, but couldn't find any. So, I decided to write to him to learn more. Pictured here is Caleb in one of his incredible creations. Curious? Read my interview with Caleb Calabro.

Handwoven and felted scarves by Kyoko

Handweaver Kyoko Osato says, "I try to combine the practical with the aesthetic to create wearable art." Osato uses two techniques to create lovely lambs wool scarves, shawls, and neckties: weaving by hand on a floor loom or felting by hand. Osato, based in Melbourne, Australia is originally from Japan. Her inspirations are Japanese culture and simplicity. The pretty 'Coral' scarf (left) looks like it's alive. The 'Thin' scarf below shows the delicate nature of Osato's weaving. I love the airy, almost sculptural quality of her pieces. Osato's work will be on display at the 'enCOUNTER show' at Craft Victoria in Melbourne from June 15 through July 5, 2009.         

Jean Yu Clothing

Korean-born Jean Yu works out of her Soho, New York shop, where, since 2001, she has offered a 'made-to-measure' service for dresses, bridal gowns and lingerie that are 'contemporary, edgy and cool'. Yu believes there should be no distinction between the lining and the outer fabric. Her dresses and undergarments, made out of silk chiffons, are often somewhat transparent and come in soft colors like peach, black or white. Each piece is conceived as an object of design in and of itself. Pictured here is one of Yu's elegant gowns and an undergarment, which is characteristically transparent and artsy. I like the elegant simplicity. What do you think? See more at Jean Yu.

Lynn Mizono Fashions

Fashion designer Lynn Mizono, who lives in a home that she designed for herself on Whidbey Island (north of Seattle, Washington), creates women's clothing with a geometrical flair. Her clothes are about shape rather than color. Mizono says, "I do not feel a sense of completion about a particular design until it is actually inhabited by a real body, for only then can the clothes come alive." The lovely, iridescent Manuscript Blouse (left) with the fanciful collar is made out of Italian fabric. Angel Shirt (below) is made with an asymmetrical cut to allow for full, free movement. I like these simple but elegant designs. You can see more of Mizono's designs at the Artful Home.