Sunday, November 28, 2010

Connections

Connection: The action of linking one thing to another.

“ “ Devil Wears Prada quote

'This... stuff'? Oh. Okay. I see. You think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select... I don't know... that lumpy blue sweater, for instance because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise. It's not lapis. It's actually cerulean. And you're also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent... wasn't it who showed cerulean military jackets? I think we need a jacket here. And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers. And then it, uh, filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff.

This quote was huge for me, we don't realize how much of our current lives are affected by design, and that these designs all have an origin and come from somewhere. (Miranda's condescending nature was pretty good as well) I’m fascinated with connections, to see who influenced who, to see where inspiration comes from, and to where it can lead. I feel like this is what this blog is, to express the connections that I see in my world. Between fashion, art, sculpture, architecture, photography. Design is something that floats in between everything, as the possibility to grow and foster into something else.

Design is not autonomous, it’s just that simple. For me it’s like a chain reaction of layering inspiration upon inspiration. The end result is a freak child of everything come together. It's true people outside of the design profession don't realize that being creative is combining yourself with everything else you've experienced and thought about.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

What's in a Name?

That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."

So if you ever try to google Desk Crit you get this... http://www.deskcrit.com/ I mean this blog doesn't even register as a blip in the grand scheme of things. I didn't make Desk Crit to be recognized in any sort of way, but more as a release of the million things that I witness and want to express myself with. But if this blog is to grow in any sort of way and have a long term goal it needs its own identity BEYOND. It's a frustration, Desk Crit has been something that I have invested 6 months in, I mean not that long, but a child that I do not wish to see die especially for something like a Name. But it means everything, it really does. I mean I am still me, and I would write in all my bad grammar glorious ways, spewing forth design thoughts and feelings regardless of the site. Is it time to retire Desk Crit for something new? For a new name? The other side of the coin is it would be a chance to start fresh to invest more time in, to create a new image, As we all know, I post at most once a week, more like once a month and recently even that has fallen off the trail, this could be my chance to rise like a phoenix into something new. What do you think my silent audience? I end this post with my current favorite image just so it's not ALL text :p I'll make a decision soon.... (image from Fashion Gone Rogue, of Abbey Lee Kershaw best model EVER!)

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Saturday, September 18, 2010

quick post

so i'm posting this video because it's extremely close to what I am doing in school. There is this very technical side that you don't understand from sitting in the audience, but combined together it gives you a new take on developing fabric. I'm currently attending OCAD and constantly the teachers want you to be inventive to come up with new and exciting ideas to experiment, and that's what Proenza Schoeler had done. Very interesting

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

You are Beautiful...


The article is controversial, but the intentions are not. I love this picture, because regardless of the horrendous act that was done to her Aisha is beautiful. The photographer Jodi Bieber did an amazing job. The girl just wants her nose back. Bieber has an entire series called Real Beauty about reconceptualising real beauty and I think this photo embodies those ideals. What's your opinion?

link to times article
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2007269,00.html

link to jodi's site
http://www.jodibieber.com/

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Detail

When you study design you fall in love with detail. Details are the little things that take a design from ok and regular, to wow and standout. When details are given special attention you definitely notice. I like this chair for its clean lines and use of color bringing the detail to the front.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Etro

I discovered a new designer today, Etro. What inspired me the most was their handbags. I've never been the biggest handbag fan, but you could not help but be amazed at the quality. The detail is so refined and jumps right out at you. The colour palette is very mature, and the pattern causes uncontrolled drooling. Enjoy this is an image heavy post. I took these pictures from the Etro catalogue... http://www.etro.it/





Wednesday, July 28, 2010

TO AE


There is one good thing about working at the Eaton Center, it’s in the center of everything, people and shopping. Which means it attracts events, protests, free music shows, free samples, crazies, and even more people. Every weekend is something different, and something exciting and a new experience. Today i happened to stumble upon the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition. Every year Toronto hosts this event, at Nathan Philips Square. There are many different types of art, the main categories are:

Ceramics
Digital Media
Drawing
Fibre
Glass
Jewelry
Metal
Mixed Media
Painting
Photography
Printmaking
Sculpture
Watercolour

Now I did a quick round. There are no pictures from the actual event, BUT I did grab their business cards of all the good ones, Slowly I will filter these out through separate posts so that it is not one big jumble of everything.

Now you’ll notice I put in very few painters, because honestly a lot of it was very Canadian Folk. objects, and people (not really my thang). I was in the search of something more. And glass as more and more time goes on, you become less impressed by people doing glass, almost as if they are all channeling and exploring the same thing. You know what I’m talking about, the vases with the colours and the bulbous shapes, sometimes it’ll do a cool swooping thing but even that begins to wear on you. Jewelry was a bit dismal as well, especially after being to the clothing show, where the jewelry is phenomenal AND at a good price, and good quality materials. This was more, some cute pieces and many overpriced items. This year I was mainly drawn to, a lot of photographers, even ceramics surprised me a little, and THE FABRICS. Very interesting a technique called after burn, where a structure is created and weaved into the fabric, and then the area around it is burned creating very intense shapes. Very cool.



I remember last year being extremely infatuated and wanting to see it all, but this year I’m a little more jaded and a little more impatient, but still worth checking out, maybe not this year, but maybe definitely next!

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

quickie


HOT HOT HOT AWESOME COOL
(dsquared shoes, pictures via Sea of Shoes)

Sunday, June 27, 2010

2010 Toronto Clothing Show

OK so I know this is 2 months late, but it took a while for the appreciation of the event to sink in. Well not really, I’ve just been busy.

Every season Toronto puts on the Toronto Clothing Show, where young and upcoming designers, and vendors, come and sell their goods. The variety is huge, the price range fits even me who has no budget. Restraint was definitely very difficult.

The show is split into Vintage, Jewelry, Boutique, and an area for Art and Catwalk. And Samples.

So I thought I took lots of pictures, but I guess not, lucky for you. But people I think you should look out for.

People’s Republic Clothing
So this Asian girl sold me a sweater that was a quarter of a sweater? Very cool. And how can you not love an asian in dreads.


Love Poetry Corsets
Every girl secretly wants a corset. I wanted specifically one of these ones, but couldn’t afford the 600$ price tag :(


The next best thing I found was these earrings from Corinne Anestopoulos, Biko she also had a very awesome necklace made out of reclaimed metal kaleidoscope now how cool is that! Very chic and nostalgic. Extremely high quality craftmanship and amazing prices.


At the runway there were 3 shows that I liked.

Ayla, she had a very sharp black and white palette with interesting eye popping details like a white zipper, but sometimes the fit was a bit questionable,,,


This wasn’t part of my favorites, but this was pre stumble of a model, i love when perfect beings take a small public fall :p,,,


I call this the naked dress by Joy Couture, and my face literally went like this :-o not classy, and the materials didn’t look that nice, I’m all about the back, but does anyone else think this is a bit too much?


This was my favorite piece by Simone Walker, Perfect Fit Fashion, I call it Tweedle Dum Dee gone naughty. A romper plus Hoodie, with a little sex appeal.


The Fairies Pyjamas, I call it the hippie collection. If you know me remotely, you know of the inner hippie in me, and this inner hippie was rejoicing to see this collection. It was done by hippie models who would have fun skipping down the runway, hula hooping, yoga posing. What I love about this is, was for the beautiful choice in colors, interesting layering, and the textures.


Side note, pictures taken by me :D :D :D can you tell , they're out of focus, blurry, and not enough light. That's ok it's called Enthia appeal.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Color Swatch Launch

Ok so I thought the month of May was going to be a good one for posting, where you guys would be overwhelmed with the shit I was producing, and the stuff that you were reading and couldn’t get enough. But low and behold I suddenly wake up June 2 and realize I have not written anything in forever. So before anymore time passes by I apologize and on to the good stuff.

image via Sico Paints

This one will be short, a teaser if you will. Welcome to a mini series I would like to call, Color Palette. Slices of colors from existing images, to give a new view on colors/design, and as a source of inspiration. I’m curious, what do you think?


image via Fashion Gone Rogue


Thursday, May 6, 2010

To Do List

Ok,

So like all good procrastinators, I procrastinate. In an attempt to defy these natural tendencies I use certain methods, To Do Lists are always good place to start. These are To Do blogs, or ideas that I am attempting.

1) Discovering Toronto - a series on those places that only the insider of Toronto knows and is interested in. Any suggestions?
2) Restaurant Designs - After recently designing a restaurant I can't help it, but go into a restaurant and critique them on their image, combined with food, and overall quality
3) OCAD end of the year show - I recently attended the end of the year show, want to know what I think? It's not always pretty
4) City within a Park - Or maybe it's the other way around,,, In a concrete jungle, those green things we call trees are very precious and offer a lot to a city
5) Illustrations - Garance Dore and Birdy Me Kelly Smith, create outstanding fashion images, now what can I do especially when I am inspired
6) He Said/She Said - Now I know what you are thinking, boyfriend girlfriend blogs, how more lame could you get, but when it comes to design it's SUBJECTIVE you can't deny it. After going to the same event what are the differing opinions, there may be a battle in store.
7) Packaging - We look at boxes, bags, and candles?!
8) Spoonful - A new restaurant that I designed will be opening soon in Calgary, What were my inspirations intentions? More importantly what do you think.

I mean that's a big list, but I'm excited, and let's see where this leads.
Comment, Suggest, Discourage, Boo, Hiss, I want to know what you think or want!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

get FAT

F.A.T. Fashion Art Toronto

Is anyone else excited as I am? I know it’s very after the fact, but to the rest of the world which most of you are from, it’s new and it’s very exciting. So after all the fashion week madness Toronto launches Alternative Fashion Week, As a lover of art and a lover of fashion and someone who promotes pushing the boundaries nothing could be more catered to my tastes and interests. The deterring factor is a whopping 30$ to get in, this made it difficult to recruit people to come with me, but my goal this year was to go, and I was super excited! Nothing like sending a pout at your boyfriend to get some company.


The poster was edgy, and every night had a theme I managed to attend the night of RAGE (grrrrrr) It was a lot less anger and a lot more goth which I guess is angry? Anyone goth or angry enough to comment or explain

I arrived wide eyed and innocent and nervous. definitely not fashion diva confidant. I’m glad I didn’t arrive with a camera in hand, because what would have been the point. It is true being there is completely different than seeing it on your little computer screen. My ability to see the details, to hear the music, breath the air, crammed into seats sitting next to bitches, and connoisseurs alike. I felt out of place, and wished I wore something more outlandish and less clubby, It was all in my mind, I had to move on.

We sat there for a half hour waiting for the performance to begin, looking around, the runway was in the middle, there were large no HUMONGOUS balloons floating around, the music was loud and throbbing, and people were anxious. The first rows had little papers taped to all of them stating Media, Toronto Blog, Fashion Television, Toronto Star, Media, Industry professionals. Next rows were a free for all. The most exciting thing was seeing Glen Baxter sitting there, smug and suave, too bad I didn’t have the courage to ask him for an autograph, sigh....

The Mission: If anyone follows the Sartorialist him and Garance managed to collect some Chloe ‘cause all the Front Rowers left behind their free books post runway show. So our mission was to recruit one of the papers that the Front Rowers obviously had no interest in, and we did! Or my boyfriend did. While I was in the bathroom the workers were going around collecting them to be thrown out, and he struck like a lightning bolt. I was so happy MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Standout moments, as much as it would be good to give you a detailed account of everything, I think you would be bored out of your minds I mean for all I know you’ve already stopped reading.

To be a man - christabel Nothing made my mouth drop the way this piece did. Grotesque and erotic, and slightly awkward It was this transformation of this man who came out dressed as a man and tour himself apart to become a women i mean these before and after shots only begins to manifest the mutation

Romandin - Christina Saibaiduc Her runway began with a clip of the backstage area the designer was dressing the model, in this large piece of fabric, and then with some tugging and pushing, ta daaa! this magnificent dress, and when the model came out there were two assistants waiting to re-produce the phenomenon in front of our eyes.

Sans Souci - Her ability to fit the body was amazing, and the working of the fabric I found stunning. Her work flowed over the body, subtly hugging their curves. There were connotations of peasant mixed with an international flare. My favorite collection by far.

Ryerson - So when this collection came on, I was confused, there was this one moment of brilliance, a weird sweater jacket, yarn thing that came out, it had an interesting form an interesting use of materials, and a lot of attitude, and then the rest of the girls i thought it was ok... ok being the polite word. And then at the end it all made sense. The models walked out each next to their corresponding designer.

This may get me into trouble, but I used this photos from Stan Olkha, he definitely had the best FAT photos

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Designing Enthia

I know it's been a while... But this one took a little more effort, and a little more thought. Don't worry there's more to come, and a lot brewing inside this little brain of mines.

The more groups and websites you join everything, everyone wants you to create a profile.

profile: a graphical or other representation of information relating to particular characteristics of something, recorded in quantified form.

facebook does this, twitter, stylecaster, lookbook.nu, even shopping websites ask where are you from? what is your age? Grouping you and putting you in some form of a demographic or another. When you create these things, you either accurately/inaccurately portray yourself. It’s like designing yourself over and over again, What do you want people to know about you, for the millions of people who access the internet? It’s like a derived form of the movie Mad Science. A chance to design yourself.

I have been carefully crafting my online persona so when you google me, this is what you will find. Someone who:

Likes to volunteer
likes to have fun and go out with her friends
Loves her cat
Loves her boyfriend even more
Loves design
Loves architecture

As time goes on I will refine the last two further as someone with good taste and a critical design eye. But let’s carry this theme even further. Let’s create Enthia with some Sugar, spice, and everything nice (and maybe a little chemical X ;)



I want to be
Edgy
Exciting
Adventurous
Confidant

To an extent the clothes you wear portray these characteristics.
When I don't brush my hair you either think I'm lazy or I'm care free (Probably the first of the two)
Everyday we design ourselves to communicate to others who we are.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

faux pas x 2

So there are two things I love, adore, infatuated, obsessed, can’t get enough of. They’ll be my fashion faux pas’s.

First jumpsuits. apparently the term is derived from skydivers, they wore these one piece suits and now they're a fashion clothing term. But for me they are fabulous and fierce. I bought one a few years ago, and too ashamed to wear in public, they have become my summer staple. Just look you wake up and pull it up, and TA DAA you have a shirt and a short on. Now the only people I’ve seen wearing them in public, was some ghetto chiquita with a big boobs and even bigger booty. But once I saw this Zara version I fell back in love and hopefully will have the guts to bring it out in the future.

(photo courtesy of Zara)

Next is Neon. I’m talking flashing lights, 80’s want to burn out your eyes brightness. It’s sharp, and it has a hint of nostalgia for this 90’s baby, I had a New Kids on the Block, neon yellow headband, totally awesome at the time. I enjoyed the resurgence the last few years in the street style, and I’ve even managed to pick up a tank for myself, paired with black anything, you’re ready to go out.


luv love luvs

Monday, March 15, 2010

I can't stop!!!

One word: SEX-AAAAAYYYY
I don't even know what the project is about, but I do know one is by Zaha Hadid and UN Studio. Watch this video!

http://construction.com/video/?fr_story=4e51435c6ed23956e8227293264a1064feac34ac&rf=bm
still learning to embed :p

Next is lookbook.nu I've never been on a website that goes on forever. The more you scroll the more you get to see. It's never ending! It's a website that basically people load up pictures of themselves. You can tag what you are wearing so other people can own the same thing. The more interesting ones for me are the photograph-ically creative.





And if you love it, then you get to HYPE it, Letting the other people know they did a good job.

Enjoy!

Photos courtesy of lookbook.nu

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Inspirare

Welcome! Blogs are anything and everything that YOU want them to be, how exciting! When you read this blog this is what you will expect.

Design
Fashion
Critiques
Inspiration
The end result of Inspiration
(and guaranteed bad grammar, for that I apologize I'm just not very good at it. )

I want to explore design, analyze it, break it apart, find out what makes it so fascinating and what drives me.

So for the very first one what should I talk about? It's my big coming out on the internet.
INSPIRATION. Throughout our lives there's so much information, images, excitement, all bombarding our senses and minds. How do we process it? What do we do with it?

The top 5 things that inspire me
Anna Wintour

Alexander McQueen
Tavi
Ribbons

Potential (Whatever that means)

There's so much to say, and so much to show you but that's enough for today. I hoped you enjoyed your stay.