fashion friends: SIR new york

SIR New York is the brain child of designer Auston Bjorkman. SIR's rendition of urban minimalism has quickly garnered press interest since it's 2011 inception, positioning the brand as a new favorite among enthusiasts of progressive street wear. We asked Auston a few questions about design and his relationship with color. Read our interview below, and check out SIR New York for Men and Women.

Sarah: This season is very sporty and we love all the mesh textures. What attracts you to that kind fabric?

Auston: In general I am attracted to the hand of a fabric, if I touch it and it feels good then I fall in love with it. I've been obsessed with mesh ever since I was a kid. Growing up I was a bit of an underground jock, so I guess that is where my love of all things athletic comes from. My fascination with technical fabrics has lead me to find unusual ways to incorporate them into wearable pieces. Texture is really important for Sir New York and I have found that by layering technical textiles over natural ones you can create new prints, patterns, optical illusions, and textures while creating wearable futuristic garments.

S: Your clothing is pretty minimalist, but in a really detailed way. What is it about monochromatic or black and white looks that you find exciting?

A: I think that when you are experimenting with creating new textures, and prints in the way that I am it is important to keep the color palate clean. If you have too much going on all at once it can become muddled. I love color and I will play more with that in the future, but for now I want that crisp, sharp subtlety.

S: How did you first get into designing? What's all this about your work with latex?

A: My first “fashion” job was in latex. I worked for Mr. S Leather in San Francisco, making latex clothing and fetish gear. I loved it! We called our floor club latex and would blast music really loud and drive the leather department upstairs crazy. It was so much fun. I eventually moved upstairs and started making leather. Hell raiser type bondage suits with D-rings all over them for suspension and my specialty was deprivation hoods. You know, those scary looking mask hoods with zipper mouths and such. I learned so much about construction and sewing there which lead me to start taking pattern making classes in order to learn how to design things that I wanted to wear. I knew that I wanted to design a menswear fashion line and found out that the Fashion Institute of Technology had one of the only Menswear Design programs in the country so I moved here to do that.

S: What is most inspiring to you right now?

A: I am really interested in and inspired by the idea of making sportswear sexy, not overtly sexual like my work at Mr. S of course. The concept behind Sir New York is athleticism with a hint of provocation. I love to combine a macho sport with something refined and elegant. It's sort of my personal commentary on masculinity.

S: Who is your fashion hero?

A: I wouldn’t say I have one in particular but right now I am loving Bernard Wilhelm. I love that raw in yourface, I don't give a fuck, I will do what I want attitude of his work.

S: Is there a "look" that you absolutely hate?

A: I think if you love your look and you own it 100%, then good for you. I might not choose it but if you can wear it with style then go for it. There are a lot of looks that don't work for me personally but I would never hate on anybody who is doing they're own unique thing.

S: Do you design for any specific crowd/ clientele? Do you have someone in mind when you are working?

A: I have this hope that Sir can cross boundaries. We all have many different sides to our style and personalities. Most of us are not content only expressing one dimension of ourselves. I love to cross reference and juxtapose styles and inspirations to come up with a whole new hybrid. Sir New York is in part street wear, in part high-end fashion, part sportswear, part club wear etc... I want dudes, sissies, trannies, jocks and everyone in between to find something relatable.

FASHION FRIENDS: BOND HARDWARE

Dana Hurwitz and Vincent Barile were two fashion lovers with a penchant for the hard stuff. After they met and bonded over their love for deviance and high fashion they came together and founded Bond Hardware. BH is a line full of transformable and statement making jewelry that works in unique tandem with clothing. Read our interview with Dana and Vincent below, and SHOP MENS and WOMENS just in! 

SARAH: Hey Guys! Your stuff is really amazing and so versatile! Its unisex and can really suit a wide range of people. Another thing we love about your pieces is that they're totally bad ass but really polished, how do you straddle that line so effortlessly?

We try to balance the edgy-ness of our pieces with minimalism. This helps them maintain a refined quality that helps appeal to a broader market.

What kind of clothing do you see your hardware being worn with? What are your favorite designers? looks? or inspirations?

VINCENT: Ideally, our collection is to be worn with a collared shirt, but the great thing about it is that you are able to wear it however you prefer. Currently, my favorite fashion designers are Acne and Raun LaRose. Also, Gaspard Yurkievich has been an huge inspiration of mine.
DANA:  Some of the pieces look great as necklaces too. When I don’t feel like being buttoned up I’ll grab a Hitch ring, or the chain lock, the double clip and even the male window lock. My favorite designers currently are Haider Ackerman – Tilda Swinton looked amazing in his look at the Golden Globes, and always Iris Apfel is a flawless style icon of mine.

Is there anything that you can't stand as far as trends? Any pet peeves?

VINCENT: Well this is easy! Northface. Leggings. Uggs. Especially, Northface + Leggings + Uggs = Not cute.
DANA: I’ll just add that leggings aren’t a substitute for pants. No matter how amazing your legs are or if you just came from yoga.

Do you guys have any major fashion crushes? Who would be the dream person to wear BH?

VINCENT: Definitely, Jacob Coupe.
DANA: Lady Fag, or Obama, Mrs. or Mr..

Your tumblr is so great. Do you take a lot of fashion inspiration from the internet? Do you find it useful that way?

Yes, social networking is a huge part of our work. Tumblr is a great platform for collecting and curating our daily inspirations. It allows us to be inspired by people and places that we normally wouldn’t be able to be affected by and constantly share that with our creative network.

Did you guys meet in fashion school? Were you instant style soul-mates? How did you go about beginning to design together?

We met through mutual friends. We had an intimate moment in a taxi cab… and then started playing dress up together. Dana goes to Pratt for fashion Design and Vince goes to The Art Institute for graphic Design.

Where did the name Bond Hardware come from?

Our name is inspired by bondage wear, so we started playing with the words bond and bound. The name in that context also alludes to a bond between two people.

Okay time for a POP QUIZ! 
Coke or Pepsi? Torn, Interview or i-D Mag? i-D Mag, Mary Kate or Ashley? Mary Kate, Nicki Minaj or Lady Gaga? Neither- but props to their creative teams., Ying-yang or Peace sign? Ying yang, Skulls or Flowers? Floral Skulls sound ideal, John Waters or David Lynch? Lynch.

HEATHER HUEY Couture Milliner

Designer Heather Huey has taken an old craft and revolutionized it. Under the umbrella of milliner Heather creates body braids, wearable sculptures, conceptual head pieces, and a truly new perspective on accessories. Her work has been so successful in an editorial setting because of its natural drama and ease, but it also functions amazingly in day to day life. The versatility and range of HH's pieces have gained her notice with features in publications like Numero, Vogue, Interview Magazine, Garage, and Purple Fashion. She has worked with many fashion heavy hittters such as Steven Meisel, Masha Orlov, Terry Richardson, Irena Lazarneanu, and Patti Wilson. 

+Check out HEATHER HUEY pieces in the IDLM SHOP. 

+READ our exclusive interview with the designer in the GALLERY.

Hailey Clauson (above left) wears The Outrider, Men's styles available HERE. 

Dark Angels featuring SIR New York

A new collaborative film featuring pieces by SIR New York has appeared as an exclusive for The Fashionisto. The industrial setting and melancholic narrative perfectly showcase the SIR aesthetic. Check in our shop for current items from SIR NEW YORK, and stay tuned for more to come.

View the film here
A film by RAMON J. GONI AND ANDREW YANG
Executive Producer JACK CONNOLLY
Music and Sound Design by MIKAEL KARLSSON
Cinematography and Editing RAMON J. GONI
Cast PARKER HURLEY, MISA PATINSZKY, RJ KING
Second Camera Unit MATTHEW BARELA
Still Photography BRYAN FOX
Colorist MATTHEW BARELA
Wardrobe SIR NEW YORK
Stylist MICHEL SERRUYA
Make-up Artist CANDICE FORNESS

FASHION FRIENDS: DREW and JORDAN of CORPSE CORPS

A combination of creativity and quality, Corpse Corps boards are truly functional art. These coffin shaped decks, hand made from maple, are a means of collaboration and artistic experimentation. We asked the Corpse Corps guys a bit more about their boards, and their dark side. 

Sarah: How did you guys go about starting this thing? All your production is by hand?

Drew: Jordan and I initially decided that we wanted to create our own

boards by getting ten uncut skateboard plies and shaping them in my

Greenwich Village basement apartment. We accidentally chopped up my

desk with a borrowed jigsaw in the process. Since then we have figured

it out a bit better.

Jordan: We personally hand-cut all our 10” wide decks in the Brooklyn

Navy Yards, spray paint them on the street, screen print them

ourselves, then apply a polyurethane coat to preserve the graphic and

reference old-school slick decks. We have a slightly narrower deck

that we get manufactured, too.

Sarah: The Corpse Corps images and blog are really oriented toward the

occult (pentagrams/skulls/spirituality), whats the connection between

the dark arts and skating?

Jordan & Drew : We grew up as pranksters, listening to Misfits and Iron Maiden,

painting walls, drawing, skateboarding, making ramps, having an

imagination, and rocking on the darker side of things. I don’t know

if there’s a direct correlation between the two it’s just what we’re

into.

Sarah: Your blog is pretty damn entertaining and says a lot about you guys.

Don't you think?

Jordan & Drew: Thanks. We try to pack it with original content on and off the board.

Sarah: So skating is unisex, but its generally a "man's world". Why is that?

Jordan & Drew: Its fine. Girls can definitely shred - its their choice, just as it

is anybody's.

Sarah: Your boards have a unique coffin shape. What kind of skating does

that make for?

Jordan & Drew: The most fun kind.

Sarah: What are your fashion-boners for girls?

Jordan & Drew: Sheer baggy top, good ass pants, and a good attitude.

Sarah: If you weren't a skater/designer/photographer what would you be?

Jordan: An explorer.

Drew: President. Or a fluffer.

Check out Corpse Corps decks and apparel in the SHOP

FASHION FRIENDS: CHRIS HABANA

Designer Chris Habana brings gothic iconography to the forefront of jewelry trends. His edgy collection features signature cross, spike, and triangle charms that are eye-catching and head-turning. With a childhood reveling in fantasy and sci-fi and a young adult life dabbling in 90’s gay counter-culture, the designer was able to let the two worlds clash to create his bold line. Features in publications from V Magazine, Vogue Italia and Nylon to The New York Times have gained Habana recognition as a daring designer with more great things to come.

CHRIS: Hey Chris! A lot of your jewelry references different symbols (crosses, eyes, thorns, bones etc.) What is the power behind that symbolism? What do these symbols mean to you?

CHRIS: I grew up in a catholic house so crosses have been ingrained in my psyche since childhood. Crosses have so many different meanings to different people. Generally though the connotation is something somber and serious. I like to look at them as a design form and challenge their normal variations by twisting them around, linking them end-on-end or dangling them upside down. The same is true for other symbols such as bones, eyes and thorns. They are all dark in nature but beautiful in form. I like to take them out of context and make it something you wouldn’t think of.

SARAH: All your jewelry is unisex, it looks awesome on both women and men because it achieves a balance of toughness and sexiness, how do you manage to navigate that territory? Managing to include both genders?

CHRIS: People often ask “who do you like to see wearing the line” and the answer is usually some riff on, “Boys, girls and everyone in between.” I’ve always been really into androgyny. I don’t bother to specify pieces for different sexes. I design the collection and encourage everyone to wear it.

SARAH: A lot of your pieces evoke a certain sexuality (i.e. the lovelace ring, thorns), can you speak about the sexual persona of your jewelry? Their boldness?

CHRIS: I love to push the envelope when it comes to sexual taboos in the same way I like to fuck with religious imagery. I always want to create something unexpected and subversive no matter what the subject. Sex in particular though is something we all do and as much as it’s out there on tv there’s still so much that happens behind closed doors that people are afraid of. I dedicated FW11 to merging fetish with fashion for the creation of the “WierdNKinky” collection. I wanted to just put everything in your face and I was surprised by the unexpected response. People seemed ready for it. It was really cool.

SARAH: Do you have any major cinematic or artistic influences that seem to reoccur with your designs?

CHRIS: I draw most of my inspiration from street style but themes from Doom Generation and Paris is Burning always have a presence in the collections.

SARAH: Who is your greatest inspiration?

CHRIS: JESUS, Duh.

SARAH: Your line is so contemporary, so involved with our current culture, what are your guiltiest culture indulgences?

CHRIS: Well I already said Jesus, but I also like Tyra and Weed.

SARAH: What are your style no-nos? What celebrity would you love to make over?

CHRIS: I think anything goes. I’m not into making people over. I am all about people expressing themselves however they are comfortable.

Shop CHRISHABANA in the store!

MIISTA Hilda GIVEAWAY with StyleCaster

We're teaming up with StyleCaster to bring someone an exciting chance to snag these super hot Miista Hildas! All you have to do is go to our page on StyleCaster,  friend us and enter your name in the comments. Simple! Hilda is the ultimate good girl vs. bad girl shoe, with its innocent strap and fetishy platform. Good luck! 

It's The End Of The World As We Know It And I Feel Fine

Pass an EYE over CHRIS HABANA pieces in the SHOP!

Fashion Friends: TJ Cowgill of Actual Pain

TJ Cowgill is the "man in black" behind the line Actual Pain. He personally designs each piece referencing the occult, fine art, and the heaviest of metal. TJ writes for Seattle's the Stranger, has his own band Book of Black Earth, and maintains a pretty solid blog of his own. TJ makes the kind of clothes guys want to wear, and their girlfriends want to steal. Also, he likes girls in platform shoes - really, he said so! Check out his amazing stuff in the store and our comical exchange below:

Sarah: So TJ, describe your personal style in 5 words.

TJ: Not so young Roy Orbison.

Sarah: What is your favorite thing you've ever designed?

TJ: I always have new favorites, but I think our Pyramid Logo is one of the best things I've ever designed. It's really half luck, I beat a lot of people to the punch on that one. And now we see where triangles and pyramids have gone... But I still believe in the importance of the hidden meaning of the trinity as an esoteric concept. People really want to understand that these days.

Sarah: If you could have Anton Lavey, Aleister Crowley, Elvira, Genesis Breyer p-orridge, Kelly Bundy, and Lil B at dinner party; what would you cook? who would you sit between?and who stays after dinner was over (wink wink)?

TJ: Geez, ha ha! I don't know. Probably pizza. Everybody likes pizza right? And I wouldn't cook it I would order it for delivery. I'd sit between B and Kelly because I would want to watch everyone else very closely. I know that Crowley would want to stay over because Kelly Bundy and Elvira would be there, and since he'd have a big bag of dope I'd probably let him. Then Anton would want to stay because Crowley was staying, and that would make Gen P want to stay and ask Anton questions about the Process or something, and Lil B would probably be on my computer recording a video of himself... So I guess everyone would stay over. I would try and get 1980s Zeena's telephone number from her dad.

Sarah: If you were trapped in a room for the rest of your life watching one director's films on loop, who would it be?

TJ: Easy. Werner Herzog.

Sarah: Are there any musicians or artists who have influenced you so greatly over the years, that now you can see/feel a connection to them in your designs?

TJ: I rip off Raymond Pettibon a lot when I draw. Also if it weren't for the Blues, Rock n' Roll, and consequently Heavy Metal I would never have drawn anything beyond comic book characters.

Sarah: Do you have any style "pet peeves"?

TJ: Not really. I really don't care what other people wear. I do like this trend of women in platform heels, like Jeffery Campbells. It makes girls like 10 times hotter.

Sarah: Lastly, and super important of course, any advice for girls who want to wear fitted caps and not look so..."bro"?

TJ: There's only a few girls that can pull this one off. Having really long hair helps. Also dress the rest of your body really girly and you should be fine. I hope that helps.

Actual Pain, TJ's graphic tee and accessories line, is available HERE

designer spotlight: bedford street laundry

Jessica Yuen is the face behind Bedford Street Laundry, one of our newest store additions. The native New Yorker studied design at Parsons and is now putting her skills to the test by producing eye-catching pieces with fresh colorways and unshakable quality. We got in touch to gauge the pulse of this new creative tour de force.


Where do you get the name of the line from?

Bedford Street Laundry is named after the laundromat my parents operated since I was a kid. They sold the business in the summer of 2009 around the same time I started developing the brand. I was having so much trouble coming up with a name and it hit me that it’d be great to kind of honor all the hard work it took to put me through design school. Ironically, my mother actually thinks it’s weird and not “fashion-y” enough but hopefully she’ll come around to it.



What influences or experiences do you attribute your signature design aesthetic to?

It’s definitely still evolving but in essence - the clean cuts, the unexpected mix of textures and the sprinkle of flashy, bad ass - is unquestionably informed by life in New York. Everyone strives for that effortless cool that’s unique and crowd-pleasing and practical all at once.



Your collection seems to emphasize quality production and materials to a greater extent than most other young lines. Why did you go this route and what is your ideal market?

I’m convinced that the longevity of a brand is directly proportional to the lifespan of the clothes it produces. At the inception of Bedford Street Laundry, the economy was in the crapper. I knew I had to offer products that had a longer life than one or two seasons. Most people would agree that it’s supremely upsetting to drop a chunk of money on something that looks great initially but ends up falling apart or pilling after a few wears. Plus, I reasoned that if I got through four years at Parsons and went through the trouble of starting a brand in a market that’s already overrun with budding designers, it should be something worthwhile. Otherwise, I might as well have gotten an Associate’s degree and went on to design poly-blend print dresses for Strawberry.

My ideal customer doesn’t have a specific age or look. It’s really about the attitude. She’s definitely sexy and doesn’t take shit from anyone.



Where do you see the line going in the next few seasons, as far as expansion? Is there anything else you'd like to try out?

I’m really excited about Spring 2012. I’m experimenting with accessories and swimwear and maybe even some backpacks. I’m throwing the idea of presenting during NYFW around but we’ll see how much I can handle. Definitely hoping to expand into stores across the country and overseas as well as launching an e-shop.

I’d love to learn more about machine-knitting when I get a chance so I can develop more complex knits. Also, a lot of my guy friends have bugged me to do menswear, which would be awesome.



We're looking for things to do with the approach of a nicer season. Give us your prediction of what's going to be major for Summer 2011.

I can’t wait for scouring flea markets, rooftop barbecues, Martin Solveig’s new album, sweaty dance parties, impromptu beach days and that elusive, half-toxic New York summer breeze. Maybe I’ll even get some work done…



shop the bedford st laundry spring/summer 2011 collection here




jessica yuen, designer

designer spotlight: take off your clothes

Take Off Your Clothes is among the newest lines to land at IDLM. The very conceptual brand repurposes and reinterprets basic garments into complex styles with exaggerated silhouettes that are perfect as statement pieces. We caught up with Craig and Ben, who are based out of Brooklyn, to learn more about the story behind their work.

Can you describe where the inspiration for your designs comes from?
We are mostly inspired by surrealism, so we try to translate that into our clothing by re-orienting the ordinary.

Both of you came from liberal arts backgrounds. How has it affected your work and what was it like to transition into a more technical educational experience?
Since Ben studied anthropology in college, he enjoyed the cultural research that came along with that. This continues today, as he continues to research for each collection we produce. Moving beyond the abstract/theoretical world of academia to more tangible work has been a positive transition. At this point in our careers, our work is very manual, and we love that.

What have you learned since striking out on your own?
We are artists at heart. With that comes much responsibility and reigning in of that artistic side. When running a business, we've come to learn there is great importance in prioritizing and knowing your customer.

What plans do you have for the future of your line?
Everything! We would love to expand the brand philosophy to cover more markets and have products at all price points. We would love to have various lines, including menswear and knitwear.

Do you have any personal favorites among your styles, or any interesting stories behind them?
The double t-shirt dress is very important to us because this started the collection and established Take Off Your Clothes as a fashion brand. It embodies both philosophy and product. Also, we love the ghost jacket because it is big and warm and comfortable to wear!

Given the opportunity to dress anyone, who would you choose?
While dressing a celebrity can be fun, this definitely isn't our main goal. We are mainly interested in dressing the most amount of "real" people we can. Our clothes require a certain amount of interaction with the wearer's personal style. How will someone inject TOYC into their own wardrobe? How will a girl choose to wear the double t-shirt dress: Hood up? Down? Around the shoulders? This is what is most interesting to us.







more from the Take Off Your Clothes collection available here