Posts with tag New Orleans

We love all of the amazing independent designers out there. In order to find out more about just what makes all of these creative types tick, we present to you an ongoing segment called Indie Designer Interviews.

Today's interview is with the talented New Orleans-based fashion designer Elsa Brodmann. Elsa designs modern, feminine ready to wear and bridal collections, as well as jewelry.

Angelina is a sucker for tattoos. Apparently, she's got at least 13 known tatts -- not including the couple that she's had removed -- like the "Billy Bob" tattoo on her left shoulder. If any of you have been stumped by the weird mess of letters and numbers occupying the real estate that used to belong to Thornton, they're not hieroglyphics. They're actually a little nerdier/cooler than that.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, they're the map coordinates of where each of her four children were born -- you know latitude, longitude, minutes, all that junk. Apparently, geotagging geeks the world over are all excited about Jolie inking 2 more coordinates on her shoulder so they can look them up on Google Earth.

We love all of the amazing independent designers out there. In order to find out more about just what makes all of these creative types tick, we present to you an ongoing segment called Indie Designer Interviews.

Today's interview is with Candice Gwinn, owner and designer of Trashy Diva, a vintage-inspired line of dresses and separates. What started as a vintage-only clothing store in 1996 has grown into three New Orleans boutique locations, a thriving wholesale business, and a successful e-commerce website. Today the Trashy Diva collection is carried in boutiques around the world, it has been featured in the pages of Elle and Lucky magazines, and has been worn by numerous celebrities.

As a New Orleans local, we're loving what reusable shopping bag company What's ur Bag is doing. Not only have they created a new line of environmentally friendly reusable grocery bags in a range of fun colors and prints, but they're also doing all they can to help bring back the recovering New Orleans economy. The bags are manufactured by a company that was totally destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and rebuilt, and all of the labels, packaging and material come from vendors based in NOLA as well. Their website was designed by a single mom from New Orleans and five percent of all profits go to Hope House, a New Orleans charity that feeds, trains, houses and clothes the homeless.

There are tons of eco-friendly reusable bag options on the market right now, but many are made in China. You can feel good in more ways than one by shopping with a reusable bag from What's ur Bag.

In honor of Earth Day, we present the top five celebrities who use their fame to help make the earth a better place to live.

Our number one: Leonardo DiCaprio

The Vanity Fair green issue cover model and hybrid driver created the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 1998. He makes every effort to generate awareness of environmental issues, partnering with organizations that include Natural Resources Defense Council, Global Green USA, and the International Fund For Animal Welfare.

Check out the gallery to learn more about Leo's great efforts and see who else made our list of Eco Celebs.

Star 50 Bags, an innovative line of collectible handbags inspired by the 50 states, are unique, fashionable and now you have the chance to win one of your own! We are giving away a Star 50 Louisiana Market Sac, valued at $115. This bag is the perfect size for toting around your summer essentials, taking to the beach, or packing for an overnight stay.

You won't just look good carrying this gorgeous bag -- you'll feel good, too, because Star 50 is donating 5% of all sales from this bag to Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation to support the victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment below before 5:00PM Eastern, Monday, April 28, 2008, telling us about where you would take your Louisiana Market Sac. We'll randomly choose one winner amongst the eligible entries and announce the winner on Tuesday, April 29, 2008.

We'll be starting our Star 50 Purse Party then, so be sure to check back. Even if you aren't the winner of a free handbag, you can still get 50% off! Some other important details:

• To enter, leave a confirmed comment below telling us about where you would take your Louisiana Market Sac.
• The comment must be left and confirmed before Monday, April 28 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
• You may only enter once.
• One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
• One winner will receive the Star 50 Louisiana Market Sac, valued at $115.
• Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.

Click here for complete Official Rules.

I have always thought great things about the city of New Orleans. What's not to love about the birthplace of jazz? I also loved "Interview With a Vampire." Granted, I've never been there, but that's because it looks too hot and sticky, and not in a good way. Plus, my wife won't let me go to Mardi Gras.

That said, the weather apparently makes for a thriving t-shirt market and the guys at Dirty Coast are printing a pretty strong impression upon it. Their shirts convey a sense of history, humor, and politics that will be instantly recognizable to the locals and a great conversation starter for those of us that aren't (some research may be required). They make every shirt to order on American Apparel and use only lead-free ink, which is nice, but I still wouldn't eat them.

Well, maybe the donut one.

The April issue of W magazine features a 60 page photo essay on New Orleans shot by Bruce Weber.

Since the tragedy that was Hurricane Katrina, all of the news coming out of the Big Easy has been unfortunate and sad, to say the least -- totally eclipsing the colorful personalities and traditions that once occupied the city.

On wanting to shine a light back on the more positive aspects of New Orleans, W magazine's creative director Dennis Freedman told WWD: "Obviously, Katrina is and always will be a part of the history and future of New Orleans. The point of the story is to show people who haven't been spotlighted in the media in the past."

Since this is such an epic spread, the fashion magazine made ten videos to compliment the Bruce Weber-lensed "Come one down to Nawlins" story.

My favorite video is the one entitled "Petite Fleur" featuring supermodel Karen Elson gracefully lounging on antique furniture while she gets her photo taken.

If only life could be this calm and relaxing.

"If you want to be a cowboy, you go to Texas," says Steven Kolb, executive director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), and if you want to be a fashion designer, you have to be in New York. "That's just the way it is."

But despite this well-known tradition, other US cities are vying for attention from the fashion industry. Fashion Weeks are popping up in places like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami, and some younger, newer designers are choosing to stay out of New York. Forbes highlights five designers in these cities as well as in New Orleans and Seattle:

• Suzanne Perron - bridal wear designer out of New Orleans with Vera Wang and Carolina Herrera pedigree
• Orlando Espinoza - women's separates and dresses in Chicago
• Colleen Quen - dressed Tyra Banks and Paris Hilton out of San Francisco
• Nicolas Felizola - Venezuelan designer in Miami
• Suzanne Jaberg - her line Suzabelle is out of Seattle