fashion | Eclectic Society

humans of new york by brandon stanton

“There are so many bodies that I want to paint.”

Photographer Brandon Stanton has been taking portraits of New Yorkers for his personal project "Humans of New York" since the summer of 2010. Setting out to photograph 10,000 New Yorkers to initially create a census of sorts, the project has now taken a life of its own as he started collecting quotes and stories from his nearly 5,000 subjects. More that just becoming a great source of street style, these portraits give us a poignant glimpses into the lives of the eclectic, intriguing and amazing individuals that reside in New York City. Read more

eclectic giveaway: $100 giftcard to shopbop.com

To celebrate Spring Summer 2013, Eclectic Society has teamed up with Shopbop.com for your chance to win a $100 giftcard. Shopping online has changed the way we dress and express ourselves. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, my fashion was limited to what I could find in charity and vintage shops, trips to the department stores were very uninspiring, and I spent my days flipping through magazines with stocklists that would require a flight. Fast forward, and now we have Shopbop that ships worldwide for free and easy returns! Now in Paris, as I wait for some of my favourite designers to get stocked here, I just go online. I'm sure similar stories are repeated around the world. Read more

danze by mark pillai

In the search for my Spring wardrobe inspiration, I stumbled upon this editorial shot by photographer Mark Pillai and styled by Claudia Carretti entitled simply, "Danze". From the Italian magazine Amica's March 2010 edition, model Masha Kirsanova takes to the stage with elegance and poise. The flowing clothes seem to accentuate the body in its natural grace and femininity. Of course, a dancer I am not... but I'm quite sure that one need not be to appreciate the beauty of these images. Read more

trending: art deco in fashion à la the great gatsby

Whilst we saw art deco come and go on the ss2012 runways the trend is on recall for Spring/Summer 2013. With The Great Gatsby opening the Cannes Film Festival the king of high society American style himself, Ralph Lauren is returning to his role as designer. Ralph got his first big break as a menswear designer for the original adaptation in 1974, and is picking up exactly where he left off this time around. Ralph has teamed up with Australian costume designer Catherine Martin, the lady behind the luxe looks in Moulin Rouge and his wife, to create a fashion statement that is beyond roaring with 1920s charm and exaggerated elegance. An era marked by feminism, jazz music and new American money, the film is sure to deliver deliciously indulgent ensembles. Read more

new iconic bags

Bag is once again the hottest statement piece in fashion. I think that a handbag can be an investment, when properly taken care of and carefully chosen. Coveted limited editions and classics in good condition maintain high resell value. If you are up for a splurge, here is our guide for the iconic bags for this season. Read more

daily style: 1 pair of pants 5 looks

Aurélie Laurière photograhed by Léa Chamboncel, Jacquard Skinny Pants by 7 FAM

We took a pair of 7 For All Mankind jacquard gold skinny pants with applied metalli foil over the entire pant and created five different looks with Aurélie Laurière of Girls meet Paris. Not only does it have a bit of stretch for comfort, but they are very versatile from day to evening, making it a new winter to spring wardrobe staple for 2013. Read more

top 10 at hyères fashion and photography festival 2013

Collection by Xénia Laffely at Hyères Fashion and Photography Festival 2013; Photography by Ophélie Lecorcier and Aurélie Laurière © Girls Meet Paris

For our inagural visit, the last week of April, the 26th to 29th, we had the chance to drop our suitcases close to the mythic villa Noailles for the 28th International Festival of Fashion and Photography in Hyères. Showrooms, meetings, exhibitions, fashion shows, concerts and parties for an overloaded course, we managed to isolate our 10 favorite stops. Read more

stranger than paradise by tim walker with tilda swinton

Céline jacket, top, and pants; Cornelia James gloves

Photographer Tim Walker takes us on a surreal fashion adventure for spring/summer 2013 in Stranger Than Paradise for W magazine May 2013. After a successful starring role in David Bowie's The Stars (Are Out Tonight), Tilda Swinton shows us once again that she isn't limited to just film, as she teams up with Tim Walker as the ultimate fashion muse with a range of feminine and androgynous features. Art Director Jerry Stafford and stylist Jacob K. conceptualized the Surrealist art references to Salvador Dalí, Giorgio de Chirico, Remedios Varo, and Leonora Carrington. Read more

streetstyle: at tuileries

textile trend: do it like a dude for fall 2013

Left: Maison Martin Margiela Right: Stella McCarthy Paris Fashion Week aw13

Upon reviewing some of the key looks for Fall 2013, designers are calling on us ladies to dress femininely but, in the words of Jessie J, to “do it like a dude”. As the girls of Antonio Marras, Christopher Kane, Stella McCartney, Haider Ackerman and Prada walked down the aw13/14 runways the message was clear: do it like a dude or go home. After years of enough flimsy bohemian chiffons, sequins and metallics to make even Nicole Richie want to give up her bohemian thrown, the designers wanted to give us something textured to hold on to. Read more