Rebecca Luke Style

Shopping in your hood is so cool. Nothing is better than running by the little store a block away from home to pick up a little something to lift your spirits….when I am in NYC, my neighborhood is Greenpoint, Brooklyn.  I have been visiting this neighborhood for almost four years and it has really become to feel like a second home.

When I am here, I have my usually stops, they are listed on the shopping page. One of my favorite shops is ALTER. The men’s and women’s stores are across Franklin Avenue from each other. I love Roy and Tommy. They are truly gifted, smart and so cute.
Last fall, Roy got me into some of my favorite pieces that I have worn a ton…they were items from Pre-Loved out of Toronto.  I had heard about them through the sustainable design circuit, but leave it to ALTER to recognize excellent design and to Roy to get me to try it on.
Pre-Loved, a Canadian based design company, creates garments from reclaimed items such as button down shirts, trench coats, vintage curtains, sweaters and wool trouser which are cut and sewn into fabulous one of a kind pieces.  I love the brand because of the obvious good design.
Tonight ALTER hosted an in-store launch event for Pre-Loved’s Spring 09 collection. I got a chance to chat with founder Julia Grieve, who is an incredible woman with loads of energy and a true vision. The story behind Pre-Loved is amazing and inspirational.  It was great to hear about the intentional design direction to make sure each garment has multiple ways to wear it.  Julia mentioned that people just started doing it, so now, Pre-Loved does it for every single one of their pieces. My favorite piece for spring from Pre-Loved at ALTER is the Zuri tee.  Loose and fun, this piece is right on style target. Thanks Roy and Tommy….fun night.

Just a note, I have my other favorite places I have to stop in every time I am in Greenpoint ~ Dalaga| Always fun for boys and girls, Haden Harnett | Must have accessories, WORD | Cute and hip bookstore, Junk | Cool vintage and antique chatchkes and furniture.
I am sure you have fab finds in your hood. Check them out, keep them around and be cool. RL

Busy day today. It started off in the tents at the Brian Reyes Fall 09 show. There were definite pieces I thought were fab in the collection…I would have liked it if the models could have walked in their shoes, but with the six inch heels ~ a good inch taller than than last season, there has been a definite issue across the board at all the shows.  My stand out picks included the dress above described on the line up as the “optic stripe front pleat blouse” over the same treatment of dress. It seemed lovely and fresh. The metallic grey mixed with copper and taupe colors present in many of the garments were lovely.

I especially loved this white dress with gold sequins…what you don’t see, is the back of the piece that is tres chaud (hot)…(photo above | WWD Brian Reyes Fall 09)

A few of the Brian Reyes jackets are right on target and will be easily worn by women at all sizes…I like that. Accessory note ~ big chunky necklaces. Celebrity sitings…I don’t usually care, but I know a few of you like to hear about it, sitting right in front of me, across the runway, at this show was Ivanka Trump and Rachel Bilson. (photo above | loose swing jacket Brian Reyes Fall 09)

My afternoon show was a definite highlight. The Ports 1961 show…I happened to sit next to the Meredith & Scott of The Fashion List ~ an online comprehensive service that helps you keep track of and manage your fashion events. They are awesome…I was already sold on the service to help me out, but now that I have met them…I’m in. The Ports show was lovely and felt like home to me. The inspiration of designer Tia Cibani was India’s Mughal Dynasty ~ specifically the beauty of Nur Jahan. Now that part of the world and specifically that part of India is where my family comes from and with my mother’s master in Clothing & Textiles, her designs were always influenced by the Mughal Dynasty…that was passed on to me and it has always been fun to mix the cultures. This collection was gorgeous…that is all I can say. You can view the whole collection to get a good sense. It will be hard for me to pick a favorite piece, but it may be the Moonstone boucle’ coat…my heart also stopped when I caught a glimpse of the details in the long leather gloves that had a peek of color inside the arm and fingers.(photo above | WWD Brian Reyes Fall 09)

The long hair in a loose braid was beautiful and fresh. (Sigh)…the show was gorgeous. Oh, and I must mention the band, Red Baraat Festival, that played that was reminiscent to the bands that play in the streets of India on most festive occasions. It was awesome to have that live. (photo above | hair at the Ports1961 show)

Coincidentally, if you are based in SEA, Polite Society will be carrying both these lines for Spring…hopefully they will have some of these yummy fall pieces.

In between shows, I was running to showrooms to look at leg-wear and accessories that les Egoistes will soon have available for sale…stand by for more on that.

Final food note…I’ve been forgetting: Met the gals tonight for a drink at the Bowery Hotel Lounge then next door to Gemma for dinner…ate too much. Last night, found a fab gem near Gramercy/Union Square called Bar Jamon…introduced to me by Forbes marketing manager and fellow foodie, Jourdan. Previous night, dinner with the fab gals at Max Mara at Bistro Chat Noir ~ amazing. RL

This post is a bit late and I know, slightly off topic from my time in NYC, but discussions on sustainability, fashion and design are always present in my life.  Last month, I participated on a panel at Seattle Art Museum. I am still hearing feed back on it and thought I should share it with you all.

The panel, Art, Design, and Sustainability: A Dialogue took place on Thursday, January 22 at the Olympic Sculpture Park presented by The Cascade Land Conservancy and the Seattle Art Museum. Moderated by Lucia Athens, with panelists Tom Kundig, Rebecca Luke, and Roy McMakin— The web sites of both sponsors will allow you to learn more about The Cascade Agenda–the vision and action plan of The Cascade Land Conservancy and the Seattle Art Museum’s art and environment programs, including Love Your Environment and Climate Day for Kids.

Several articles covered the panel and continued the conversation:

Grist | Starving artists: Art and environment panel discusses price of public art
World Changing | Pursuing Sustainability in a Style-Driven World
Daily Journal of Commerce | Design Perspectives: Art in infrastructure is not a pipe dream and Architecture, art, fashion – sustainable?

There is so much going on in our world and in both SEA and NYC combining sustainability and design…we can make a difference and save the world in style. RL

When people hear Max Mara they think different things…oh, that is BCBG, or Max Azaria…..no, gals…this is nothing like those brands. For those of you who know me, you know this is a favorite brand of mine. If you are old school, you know that your closet is not complete without a Max Mara coat. What you don’t know, is that this is no line for old ladies ~ what does that mean anymore anyway~ this line is for hip, stylish and sustainable women.

Yesterday I got a chance to peek at the entire Spring 09 collection as well as the Fall 09 early deliveries that will start hitting stores in July. Beyond the Max Mara brand, there is Sport Max, Marina Rinaldi, and the young hollywood, but super cute Max & Co.

For spring I am going to encourage the silk pieces from their runway collection, as well as, several key pieces from Sport Max including the most perfect white short sleeve blouse that has a beautiful fit. Max Mara also has some jumpsuits that are fabulous. I am crazy for their cuff bracelet made of fabric and heaped with coins and sequins as well as most of their shoes and bags this season.

For fall, they have knit pieces that are amazing and jackets and coats that have a beautiful cocoon sleeve. I will give you more fall detail soon.

What’s this about the sustainability angle with Max Mara? I heard the story a little over a year ago from the MM folks that their product is not only designed and made in Italy, it is exclusively made in one town and several generations have now worked for the company.  They have not and will not manufacture their pieces all over the world like several other well known Italian companies. Beyond that, the company is now looking into partnering on a few eco and sustainable projects here in the States. Stand by for more info on that.  Needless to say, I think they rock. RL (photo | Max Mara Runway by Lily Donaldson)

Oh my, I love this line. To me, it represents all that means to be a lady ~ especially this collection. The hem lines are longer, the shoulders more square and I must get everyone I can into the the double breasted elongated collar jacket.  Alexandre Terexov is genius with fabrics and how women, young and old, would want to wear them. My favorite textiles innovation to date, he showed an art deco cityscape in the the day on fabric and moved to a night-scape for eve. Fabulous. The drape was delicious. The designer also showed a treated chiffon fabric that he fashioned into to skirts and dresses with bustles.  The colored leathers were gorgeous and the pop colors of a saffron mustard and teal balanced well with the taupe and black. I am in love with Terexov’s treatment and draping with sequins.  There is one item that I am going to try to get all my clients to have and it is a white cashmere dolman cardigan that would pair well with any dress, pant, jean or skirt. A must have in my opinion. I won’t be able to wait till fall to seek and and find these looks. RL (photo | Art Deco night cityscape print silk goddess dress)

Last week was quite a week for the parties in SEA…I have to say, in this economy with all the news of stores and businesses closing, it was fabulous and refreshing to attend events in Seattle that give us a sense that things are happening. Marios hosted a girl’s night for which and my fab gal pal, Lydia, and I were fashionably late too…only to find that most of the guests had come and gone and the sales associates were mostly ready to go home. I did manage to find my boyfriend jean (current denim look we all have to have) of the season, aptly named the “ex-boyfriend” jean by Stitches (sorry, the site doesn’t show the style I am talking about). Gals, if you are looking for your boyfriend jean and I hope you are, Mario’s may be a great place to start. They have enough styles and brands that you may find your perfect fit. I can’t wait to rock mine in the spring with some crazy open toe heels, cuffs rolled up, a tank and a loose cardigan…

After the Mario’s event, we switched gears and attended a film screening for two projects of LT Production Group…of which we missed as we had started the evening being fashionably late, we missed most everything for the rest of the night.  I did hair, make-up, as well as costume design for the LT Produced film short, CC 2010. I heard it looks great, but will have to check it out later. I did post a blog about it last year.   (photo | CC2010)

The next night was the opening party for the new Vidal Sasson Salon in Seattle that brought all the SEA fashionistas out. With Polite Society, Marios, Butch Blum and Baby & Co showcasing style from their stores, you knew that you would see some of the more fab in SEA. We were truly impressed with the staff at Vidal…they were the super nice and genuine…so much so, that I would come back for a service. Their creative team is top of the line and from what we could tell from the marketing materials, fashion forward. It has been a long time since I have attended a party or event in SEA or NYC where I have been treated so well.  The key is that they were like that to everyone…we loved them…The catering was impressive and the Frans chocolates on the way out the door were an extra special treat…apparently, they are Obama’s favorite.   (photo left to right | Andrea Bushdorf, Rebecca Luke, Madina Vadache)

We left feeling the love from Sassoon and walked in the cold crisp night to the next event which was a fundraiser for Art with Heart. The event centered around the famed shoe designer, Beth Levine (who made Nancy Sinatra’s famous boots made for walking), and showcased a collection of shoes that spanned several decades. This collection will soon be featured at the Dutch Leather and Shoe Museum. I loved the shoes and the stories, I was a bit underwhelmed at the way the shoes were exhibited…however, it was a charitable event for a great program. The book,Beth Levine Shoes, will soon be released. For you garmentos and shoe officiandos, this would be good one to add to the collection.

The week rounded out with a lovely dinner at La Spiga, after we decided not to wait an hour and a half to eat at Sitka & Spruce and the reunion show of the Tiny Hat Orchestra ~ a band that I have much history with as I grew up here and cut my pr/marketing/image teeth in Seattle. Stay tuned, heading to NYC. RL  (photo | The Tiny Hat Orchestra)

It’s a new day and that is so for menswear, baby. The runways for SP 09 didn’t have rock and roll tees with jacket look …the looks are optimistic and the boys, like us gals, are feeling better when they get a bit more dressed up. We have an elegant prez in the office and it is time to bring the elegance back to daily dressing. Did already say, no t–shirts with logos?… we are done with that for now…lovely linen and cotton tees layered with a pajama pant and topped with a shorter linen blazer and a softer shoulder will look lovely on a hot day in the city. [photo above - Bottega Veneta SP 09, Marcio Madeira] 

Play with color. Etro has always been a favorite of mine when it comes to color and the color combinations…Orange mixed with lavender, purple, browns and grey will be a favorite combo of mine for both women and men this season. Put a smile on your face and wear some color and pattern this season. Boys, you can accomplish this with a killer pattern shirt in a luxury fabric over a pair of jeans… [photo above - Etro SP 09, Marcio Madeira]

I was recently cocktailing with some dapper attorneys…they asked me, as everyone tends to do, so what’s the new trend? I quickly answered, “bow ties and suit jackets/blazers that are short”…as usual, the response was…”really?”. I am telling you boys and telling you now, figure out how to tie a bow tie [ GQ's tips on how to do it on You Tube], get a fabulous fitting white shirt and a great pair of jeans and you will feel fab. [photo above - Band of Outsiders SP 09]

Shorter hemlines on jackets and blazers are following the women’s hemlines.  I, being a closet Gossip Girls lover ~ closeted GG lover being not quite the age demographic but truly addicted as a fashionista ~ think GG costume designer, Eric Daman, has influenced men’s style (not to mention gals) immensely.  Fab. [Photos above ~ Ed Westwick from Gossip Girl, images from Buddy TV Photo Gallery]

Jackets should graze just above the hip. If you can pull it off in a mod/Beatlesque manner, then keep it slim. For spring/summer, balance it out with a baggier pair pants. [photos above - Gucci SP09, Marcio Madeira/Bottega Veneta SP 09, Marcio Madeira]

Nothing is more gorgeous on men and women than a combo of neutrals. Spring always encourages this fresh look and I love it. [photo above - Giorgio Armani SP 09, Marcio Madeira]

So, really, boys, time to relive the glory days of dressing. Think old Hollywood or how your grandfather dressed in the late 50’s…RL