GARBAGE DRESS

ASHER LEVINE FW12

2012-02-13T09:51:00.000-08:00

My friend Asher Levine's work always has the feeling of a post-apocalyptic half human half creature hybrid. For his fall/winter 2012 collection, the theme continued in what I would consider the most realistic way - army uniform remnants, functional materials (wool, leather, fur) and the presence of something slightly alien. It is certainly his most wearable collection to date without sacrificing the unexpected details and craftsmanship that he is known for.

Additionally, I collaborated with Asher to make three military inspired harnesses for his collection.

The model to the right wears a Zana Bayne x Asher Levine harness

The model in the center wears a Zana Bayne x Asher Levine harness (straps hanging down)

The model to the right wears a Zana Bayne x Asher Levine harness under the jacket

SALLY LA POINTE FW12

2012-02-12T23:28:00.000-08:00

See the rest of the photos + show review on SANGBLEU.COM

PRE & POST PRABAL

2012-02-12T16:12:00.000-08:00

Hey look! Images are now 800 pixels wide. Isn't that fabulous and exciting? Here's what I decided to Prabal Gurung after only sleeping for 4 hours the night before. I bought the lace dress back when I lived in San Francisco - its one of those magical vintage items that seemingly was tailor made for my body at only $12. The yellow leather is a preview of one of the three new colors for Spring/Summer 2012 (coming soon, I promise!).

Fur jacket - Helmut Lang / Dress - Vintage / "Gemini" Harness / Boots - Minimarket / Bag - Chloe Sevigny x Opening Ceremony

Photo from dingydisco.com

Backstage is sooooooo cool. Hey look, that's Tim Blanks! I hope they catch a soundbyte of us loudly quoting Zoolander pre-show...

ALEXANDRE PLOKHOV FW12

2012-02-12T13:22:00.000-08:00

See the rest of the photos + show review on SANGBLEU.COM

This model has such a striking look

PRABAL GURUNG FW12 BACKSTAGE

2012-02-11T13:08:00.000-08:00

All black patent leather & white leather belts & harnesses by Zana Bayne for Prabal Gurung

Fenton/Fallon for Prabal Gurung

Philip Treacy for Prabal Gurung

GETTING WIERD WITH THE STERLING SISTERS

2012-02-09T06:53:00.000-08:00

(Sweater - Ann Demeulemeester / Belt - Zana Bayne FW12 / Coat - Zara / Boots - Miista / Bag- Margiela)

Despite my 8am-1am pre-fashion week leather labor days, I left the warm solace of the studio to check out my friend/muse Scout's band "The Sterling Sisters" play. I'm always interested in artists who meld unlikely elements together (visually, aurally...) and when you try to imagine the marriage of a western influenced sound with operatic vocals it shouldn't work but what I heard last night was divine. Perhaps its my love for the blues-infused band The Gun Club that allowed me audio access to The Sterling Sisters, or that I love following new music & haven't had the opportunity to do so since San Francisco. Regardless, I will be keeping my ear on them.

Neighborhood pride

Will is one of my studio helpers, and also a master of layering skills.

The Sterling Sisters

SANG BLEU FASHION WEEK PARTY

2012-02-08T12:09:00.000-08:00

Ok now that I have your attention, here's whats up: Mi familia at Sang Bleu Magazine are hosting a fashion week party on Friday which you should probably attend. Details below! RSVP: silvia@silviaprada.com

LAST NIGHT'S LEATHER

2012-02-03T07:49:00.000-08:00

Because I adore my dear friend Dominque SO so much, I ended up in Hell's Kitchen for a new party that she was guest hosting. I may have been far away from my apartment in Williamsburg, but once the children of the night started to roll in it felt just like home.

Domonique, the one & only.

Who doesn't love twins!? Travis & Trevor are amazing.

The lucky twosome get to share their ZB leather, Trevor showed up in the Cathedral Harness in red

Cristobal giving face in his basic harness

Quite possibly one of my favorite ways to wear the Pentagram Harness.

A ridiculous pose, but you can kind of see my awesome latex skirt here! You can't get a tighter pencil skirt than latex, ladies and gentlemen. The harness I'm wearing is part of my upcoming FW12 collection, to be debuted in a month.

EXCUSES

2012-02-01T09:18:00.000-08:00

I somehow lost my camera battery charger & didn't have time to replace it until yesterday. This is what I wore on Monday.

AF VANDEVORST SS12

2012-01-26T10:10:00.000-08:00

As I am lying in bed sick & hungover, I reflect upon the SS12 shows in Paris that I went to in September/October - it feels like barely yesterday I was there, yet now we are just weeks away from New York fashion week and the whole cycle begins again! But in all of this reflection, I realized a massive fuck up. With all of the chaos of Paris fashion week, I forgot to publish the photos I took from AF Vandevorst's SS12 collection. I'm a bit embarrassed and a bit ashamed, but I have so much respect and admiration for the label that I would rather the photos be seen late than never at all! To view the full set of photos, see my post for Sang Bleu Magazine.

Michael Schwartz of Nouveau PR's lifelong dedication to AF Vandevorst

LEATHERMEN OF FW2012

2012-01-22T16:31:00.000-08:00

Last year, I compiled a group of my favorite leather looks from the FW2011 women's RTW collections but right now its all about the boys. There were so many leather-driven collections that I broke them down into 8 different cliques for your viewing pleasure:

The New Young Professionals: Hermes / Jil Sander / Yves Saint Laurent

The Comfort Kings: Rick Owens / Maison Martin Margiela / Jil Sander

The Casual Leather Lifestylers: Yves Saint Laurent / Bottega Veneta / Miharayasuhiro

The Subtly-Sleeved Enthusiasts: Givenchy / Jean Paul Gaultier / Juun.J

The Outerwear Bosses: Emporio Armani / Hermes / Rick Owens

The Tops: Juun.J / Jil Sander / Hermes

The Bottoms: Calvin Klein / Costume National / Pringle of Scotland

The Fetishists: Versace / Thom Browne / Viktor & Rolf

FREEZING COLD SUNDAY BRUNCH

2012-01-15T13:13:00.000-08:00

Sunglasses - Prada / Coat - Preen / Leather Pants - Gestuz / Boots - Ann Demeulemeester / Bag - Chloe Sevigny x Opening Ceremony / Gloves - JC de Castelbajac

I might be enjoying straight-ish hair a bit more than I should, and I've learned all sorts of new things about it such as what it is like for your hair to blow in the wind (curly hair tends to move as one unit), and that my head gets...like...cold! But even the threat of 18 degree weather (-7 Celsius) couldn't keep Char and I from the stereotypically Williamsburg tradition of Sunday brunching aka hipster watering hole grazing & my only moments of being outdoors, as the countdown to New York Fashion Week has begun...

Fitted Cap - Marc Jacobs / Shirt - Dries Van Noten / Coat - Jil Sander / Jeans - Unconditional / Shoes - Y-3

SUPERHEROS' NIGHT OUT

2012-01-14T20:13:00.000-08:00

Just another casual night with the gang. I'm wearing Sophia Kokosalaki, Mary is wearing Gareth Pugh, and Norisol is newly blonde & wearing a rubber dress.

HEALED

2012-01-11T11:48:00.000-08:00

Tattoo - MXM / Shirt - Acne / Vinyl Pants - Allure (inspired by Cami of DI$COUNT, although I'm seeking out the PVC version by Les Chiffoniers. These are a strange fit)

LEATHER MONDAY

2012-01-09T09:43:00.000-08:00

PERSONALITY CRISIS

2012-01-08T11:19:00.000-08:00

There's no better way to spend a Saturday night than dressing up just for the hell of it and scaring weekend partygoers. While Norisol wore a physical mask, I donned a different disguise in the form of radical hair alteration. I've always had a weak spot for rockabilly hairstyles (and hello, Rachael from Blade Runner), but never imagined it would work for me...leave it to a lady wearing head to toe latex to beat my hair into submission.

A light 2am snack

On me: Leather jacket - Rick Owens / Mesh top - American Apparel / Bustier bra - Theyskens Theory / Skirt - Givenchy / Belt - Zana Bayne FW12 / Bag - Chloe Sevigny X Opening Ceremony / Shoes - Jil Sander

On Norisol: Latex top & leggings - The Baroness / Leather mask - Fleet Ilya / Harness - Zana Bayne "Oxford" / Belt - Alaia / Shadow Fox Cape & Pony clutch - Norisol Ferrari / Bootstraps - Zana Bayne "Pendant" / Shoes - Christian Louboutin

QUEEN OF PAIN

2012-01-07T07:41:00.000-08:00

My friend Norisol, being an epic babe in a surprisingly industrial-looking corner of Soho on our way to get dinner & drinks. On our way over, some 16 year old outside of a gossip girl style Bar Mitzvah party decided to show off his prepubescent masculinity by yelling out "Lady Gaga is here" as we passed by. Admittedly, I've received catcalls of "Gaga Gaga" in the last couple of years too. Its really quite sad that kids these days can't draw upon any other references of avant garde style...but that's a long rant for another day.

Outfit details: Blouse - Lanvin / Harness - Zana Bayne "Gemini" / Jacket - Norisol Ferrari / Skirt - Haider Ackermann / Boots - Christian Louboutin

O.C. AND ME PT. 2

2012-01-05T13:59:00.000-08:00

(Coat - Zara / Sweater - Ann Demeulemeester / Belt - Valentina Harness / Bag - Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony / Boots - Dolce Vita)

I promised next day, yet it took me two...typical me. Today I was able to chase down the sun around 30 minutes before its setting, en route to the post office with my intern Michael who was kind enough to help me with a few photos.

This post is about a bag. Important note: I am not a bag person. I am a dress person, boot person, jacket person...but bags for me are an item of function, a vessel that should work alongside and not distract from an ensemble. I hate switching belongings from one purse to another, and lately I've grown increasingly disinchanted with lugging around a heavy bag to accommodate everything I own. Its Goldilock's syndrome: My 4-year old Margiela doctor's bag is a bit too big, and the "Mummy" bag that I made use daily is a bit too small. And then miraculously and unintentionally I stumbled upon a bag that was just right.

I blame twitter, Tavi, and her interview with Chloe Sevigny on Rookie Mag. Midway through reading, my eyes fell on the word "S&M" (no surprise there) accompanied by a picture of a soft leather doctor's bag with handcuffs for handles. Twas love in an instant, equal parts minimalist and kitch humor, plus it fits my camera - points!

In an unexpected twist of fate, I had another Chloe Sevigny encounter - this time purely virtual, by way of Opening Ceremony's "At Home With Chloe" video series where she shows off her Pentagram Harness at the end of the clip. This harness will be available at Opening Ceremony NY & LA later this month.

O.C. AND ME PT. 1

2012-01-03T16:50:00.000-08:00

As my business continues to grow, I've begun to embrace the wonderful and challenging world of select wholesale to stores worldwide. The first shop in New York that I sold to was the iconic Patricia Field, and in the fall my collection was picked up by the inimitable Lane Crawford in Hong Kong. Most recently, I have had the pleasure of getting to know Opening Ceremony as my newest stockist. Its nearly impossible to live in New York (or LA, or Tokyo, or wherever) and not hear about Opening Ceremony - OC for short. Admittedly I had not spent so much time in the shop prior to my business involvement. Of course I knew and respected the store, but for some reason I hadn't thought of it as somewhere I might find clothes for my particular aesthetic. This of course was a silly and unreasonable assumption, one that I am happy to no longer hold as within the last month I've purchased two pieces from Opening Ceremony collaboration lines.

On days when I intended on making quick drop-offs to the shop, I ended up getting lost in Mugler, Christopher Kane, J.W. Anderson, and two big racks of Rodarte for Opening Ceremony. Somewhat out of character, I was initially drawn to a mustard & yellow sheer/wool/lace combo top which miraculously also came in black. Its the most exquisite blouse that I own - tailored seams in the front & back, wool collar & sleeves with a lace shoulders reminiscent of a bullfighter's jacket. I should mention that its currently 60% off here.

-Pt. 2 of my OC infatuation will come tomorrow, hopefully with better lighting as it gets dark at around 4:30pm in NY these days.

-Check out the photos & interview from when Opening Ceremony's Sean Risley came over to my studio HERE

-Surreal thing that I forgot to blog about in 2011: being the youngest mentioned on Forbes list of "30 under 30" in Art & Design.

Top - Rodarte x Opening Ceremony / Bustier Bra - Theyskens Theory SS11 / Skirt - Givenchy / Shoes - DIY studded Vagabond

GET READY FOR 2012

2011-12-31T17:58:00.000-08:00

Its been a crazy one, lets keep it going.
Thank you for your patience & incredible support.

xoxo
zana

READING WITH ZANA 18 - RIOT OF PERFUME

2011-12-20T17:50:00.000-08:00

You might be sick of me talking about it - but it is here, in full tangible tactile form. They say the future of print is through the iPad, but the scent of an unopened magazine and the feeling of a pages fanned under your thumb will never be replaced. Riot Of Perfume visually exists somewhere between a low tech zine and a carefully designed publication, occupying an attractive middleground. A quote from V Magazine's review seems to sum it up perfectly: "Flipping though the pages, it’s difficult to distinguish what exactly is “fashion” or “art” or “criticism”, and that’s precisely the point."

The magazine is being sold in NYC at McNally Jackson and End Of Century.
It is also available to be purchased online through my webshop HERE

TWO HANDS BETTER THAN ONE

2011-12-19T20:08:00.000-08:00

What began as a quiet and uneventful Sunday turned into a spur of the moment tattoo appointment with my friend & modern renaissance man MXM (of Sang Bleu notoriety). Admittedly, I wanted to take advantage of his last few days working at East River Tattoo before he flew back to London. I got my first piece by him 10 months ago - a ring of keys with a little hand & moon at the top. The hand was actually improvised on the spot, but has quickly turned into my favorite part. And in the time since I got it, the hand now makes total sense - I have always been a very tactile person, and as a designer I use my own hands for every aspect of creation from start to finish. There's also an element of nostalgia, as my mom loves imagery of hands, from large scale mosaics that she used to make to a wire sculpture in her livingroom (among others).

I brought this image to MXM for reference: a composite of an Ann Demeulemeester feather, my hand, and the base of a Victorian charm.

I wasn't particularly attached to the bottom embellishment, I just wanted something to anchor the wrist so it wasn't completely severed. Given that MXM is a master of geometric designs & linear star formations, I gave him free reign on that section.

The finished piece. I love the fact that it will be concealed 95% of the time, as it runs from my thigh up to my hip. Check out more of MXM's work HERE

RIOT OF PERFUME MAGAZINE LAUNCH

2011-12-12T11:39:00.000-08:00

After returning to New York from my European travels back in February, I met up with my friend Marco Lockmann who wanted to discuss an idea he had for starting a zine/magazine. No advertising, no trends, non-models, black & white. In theory, it all sounded great - but to build a magazine from ground up is an arduous task, and most of the time attempts towards new projects such as this never make it past the initial brainstorms. This is one exception.

Arriving at the launch of Riot Of Perfume couldn't have been a more inspiring moment. In 10 months, the concept developed into a fully realized publication - spearheaded by Lockmann and fashion editor/writer Eugenie Dalland - which I am proud to have contributed to. Features include an experimental pictoral by Roberty Nethery of the political journalist/musician Anika, interviews with designer Siki Im and NY artists Joe Bradley and Christ Martin, photography by Tina Tyrell, artwork by Dutch artist/model Saskia de Brauw, and several other images & articles surrounding aesthetics, music, and sexuality. I photographed & styled two portrait based editorials with my harnesses. Once the physical magazine arrives from the printer, I will post information on how to locate a copy.

Zach & Lady Fag

With my partner in crime, Char Alfonzo

Designer Norisol Ferrari

Who needs a Xmas present when you have the most best ladyfriend?

STUDIO VISIT: KERIN ROSE aka A-MORIR

2011-12-06T17:27:00.000-08:00

There's a really interesting dynamic within the fashion design community in New York. Not exactly a hierarchy, more like movements. There's the been-there-forever's (Donna Karan, Isaac Mizrahi), the CFDA sweethearts (Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang, Rag & Bone), Style.com new forces (Prabal Gurung, Suno, Mandy Coon), and there's this great group of us who are just becoming established, yet working in a very hand-crafted, meticulous & customized way - and loving it. Perhaps its a bit more prevalent in the world of accessories, but I've been lucky to meet several New York based designers who are making their own rules for how they run their businesses, resulting in the creation of their own cult niche.

Of course the obvious issue of making pieces à la minute (per individual order, no mass production) is the fact that you end up spending 90% of your day physically producing the pieces! This is one of the reasons why its taken so long for me to meet up with the lovely Kerin Rose, designer of the infamous eyewear label A-Morir. We first met outside of the CFDA afterparty for Lady Gaga, and instantly clicked. We then bumped into each other after Mugler in Paris and vowed that we would meet up back in New York. Then we both had crazy Octobers and crazy Novembers and I finally made it over today.

Although we work with different materials, I found that we shared almost parallel experiences with our businesses. How our love for making things turned into a fulltime job, the assumptions of factory-like production when in reality every individual crystal is applied by hand (as with rivets on harnesses), and especially how many online customers do not understand (or read) that since every item is custom created per order, it will take time to be delivered. That is what makes what we do special.

I could easily blabber on forever about my thoughts on handcraft & the fashion industry, but this post is about featuring Kerin's awesome work. You can find her pieces worn by all of the big biz ladies like Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Nicki Minaj and in the pages of Elle France, Vogue Hommes, and GQ (check her interview on Vogue.it). And if that doesn't sound busy enough, she's also one of the designers featured in Gaga's Holiday Workshop at Barney's. Plus she has sick style and amazing hair.

CHAR ALFONZO X JEREMY WARDLAW X BROOKLYN

2011-12-06T12:35:00.000-08:00

Sometime over the summer, my humble apartment was transformed into a makeshift wardrobe closet with the attempt to use my rooftop for set of a photoshoot. On that day, I learned that someone had put a big lock on the rooftop door, leaving the shoot slightly nomadic. Luckily an even greater space was acquired, but in the time beforehand I sat surrounded by some of the most beautiful, unobtainable FW11 menswear by Givenchy, Rick Owens, Mugler, Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten etc etc (with a guest appearance of my Pendant Harness). The result was the images in this post, photographed by Char Alfonzo, styled by Paul-Simon Djite and modeled by Jeremy Wardlaw (Re:quest).

See the full set of images HERE

More images HERE

EARLY RESOLUTIONS

2011-12-04T14:05:00.000-08:00

Jacket - Zara / Shirtdress - Silent by Damir Doma / Belt - Ann Demeulemeester / Bag - Martin Margiela / Boots - Minimarket

I feel like I am making December resolutions in preparation for New Years. I am often impatient and can't be bothered to wait another month! I will blog regularly, I will resurrect my social life, I will go running more often, I will eat out less, etc etc. My 2.5 years in New York have been such a gradual increase in work intensity that I now get to the point where I become very overwhelmed but somehow deal with it all. There are a lot of changes that will have to happen in 2012 to improve my business, which is equally daunting, terrifying, and exciting... On a lighter note, I spent a lovely afternoon with my gorgeous friend Dana and decided it was time to become reacquainted with my neglected camera.

Dana is a shoe goddess. This particular pair is by Cheap Monday, and I must admit that I am pretty tempted to get a pair for myself, but I feel like that would be going against girl code! Plus its not like I need another pair of shoes... ...

The Ann Demeulemeester belt is a sort of hand-me-down gift from my mom. When I was visiting San Francisco, she mentinoed that although she loves it, its a bit too busy for her and asked if I would like to take it off of her hands. Clearly, I couldn't refuse. You can't see it here, but it wraps around twice and has all sorts of differently sized buckles and straps. Thanks mom!

Unlike straight hair, when the wind has its way my hair moves as an entire unit. Fun!

SAN FRANCISCO MOMENTS

2011-11-28T20:10:00.000-08:00

1 - Miniature marionette with chains at Velvet Da Vinci
2 & 3 - Earth installations by Andy Goldsworty in the Presidio
4-7 - Friendly faces, familiar places (too much vodka)
8 - The updated version of the greatest pizza sign ever
9 & 10 - The new dogpatch location of M.A.C. aka Modern Appealing Clothing
11 - Magic woman Kirsten who plays in an awesome band called LILAC
12 - Baby ocelot
13 - Brooklyn sunrise as the redeye flight touched down

Trying to revive my relationship with my camera...thank you for your patience.

BOOTS & NAILS

2011-11-17T13:06:00.000-08:00

(Rabbit jacket - Helmut Lang / Tank - Rick Owens / Leather pants - Gestuz / Boots - Miista)

This week's theme has been: cold wet & miserable. Well not really, that's a grand exaggeration. Regardless, this post is about lovely girly superfluous things that make me smile even when I'm not having my "greatest week ever"!

Nails: As I mentioned a few posts back, I've fallen victim to an aggressive addiction to calgel manicures. This month's nailstravaganza consists of a slime-green glitter gradation over black which happens to match the CRAMPS album art for "Bad Music for Bad People" a little too perfectly. (Manicure done at Nail & Spa Sakura)

Boots: The psychic minds at Miista Shoes somehow knew that I could use a little pick-me-up in the form of a 4.5" towering heel, and were so kind to offer me a pair to stomp around in! I could tell from the photos tat the "Andee" boots had the perfect proportion of platform-to-heel ratio, providing height, stability, and comfort. There's something about wearing a really fucking tall pair of mean looking boots that will always make my day better!

MANDY COON GLITTERBUG

2011-11-04T08:34:00.000-07:00

Just as I've always loved the Le Tigre song "All That Glitters" (actually titled The Empty but whatever), I have equally fallen victim to the magpie syndrome for as long as I can remember. I love a sequin, a touch of sparkle, and certainly reflective surfaces... and somehow this relates back to Mandy Coon. Not only was her Fall 2011 collection to die for, it also featured sparkly bug brooches in collaboration with Made Her Think jewelry. And while the smaller pins were charming & adorable, for me personally the only choice was to go with the biggest of them all. Perhaps I was subconsciously inspired by Diane Pernet, who keeps a collection of critters adorning her headscarf and fingers.

*Sidenote - I am actually extremely entomophobic & arachnophobic when it comes to the real thing

Coat - Zara / Dress - OAK / Brooch - Made Her Think for Mandy Coon / Shoes - Raphael Young

Runway bug

Continuing with the theme of eye-catching items, I was completely hypnotized by these Raphael Young wedges that I found at Tokio 7 over the weekend. That is all.

FRIDAY NIGHT HALLOWEEN

2011-10-29T09:08:00.000-07:00

My dear Alejandro (to the right) hosted a pre-Halloween soiree for all of us lil' creeps. Among the atendees were Marilyn Manson, black swan, Tom of Finland...all of the normal players. I did my best to channel Siouxsie Sioux (a nice excuse to straighten my hair) although I must admit that I could have used a bit more hairspray!

Outfit details: Fishnet top - $3 stockings from Walgreens / Leather vest - vintange / Trousers - Jodi Arnold / Studded cuffs - DIY / Suspenders - 6-point suspenders / Boots - Alexander Wang

HARNESSED GENTLEMEN

2011-10-28T06:46:00.000-07:00

Creative Man Magazine

SOON Magazine

Mavericks Magzine

THE POST OFFICE WAS KIND TO ME TODAY

2011-10-27T12:10:00.000-07:00

The comfiest, snuggliest, warmest Helmut Lang rabbit fur jacket from The OutNet

Elbow-length leather fingerless gloves from fantastic label Don't Shoot The Messengers

A new printer! I am a businesswoman, and I can't get away with old broken office equipment. Since its a bit of a cold & rainy day, I got to wear my shiny Dr. Martens "Dee" boots...which in my universe, are a perfectly practical rainboot.

READING WITH ZANA 17 - VISIONAIRE

2011-10-26T13:48:00.000-07:00

Reading With Zana 17 - VISIONAIRE 60 by Riccardo Tisci

UNDRESS

2011-10-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

Alternative fall layering schemes: Wool cape - unknown / Suede & stretch fingerless gloves - Norisol Ferrari / Harness - "Gemini" / Shirt - Acne

LADYFAG PRESENTS: POP SOUK PARADISE

2011-10-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday marked the first of what I hope will become a bi-annual tradition in New York - Pop Souk "where downtown folk sell, not sell out." The brainchild of New York icon LadyFag, Pop Souk is kind of like an elevated swap meet pumped up on glitter steroids & drunk from champagne. The idea is simple and brilliant - create an arena for creative industry types to sell whatever they feel like, from their own product samples, discarded wardrobe pieces, even manicures. The vendors themselves were quite the curated bunch, ranging from designers to DJ's, stylists, etc. Not only was the atmosphere inspirational, but so was the crowd that showed up, dressed their best for a fully daytime affair. Its events like this that truly promote comradery and collaboration within New York, showing that new ideas are not only necessary, but can be incredibly successful as well.

Above: Ladyfag in all of her turban'd glory wearing my Gemini Harness in red, with one of my favorite humans - Cameron Cooper

My witchy sister and queen of gowns, Domonique Echeverria

Photographer Jason Roders & all around talented lady Ms Fitz

Incredible designer & lover of strange textiles Asher Levine in the blacklight cave that he created

King of jewelry Chris Habana took a break from his booth & came to visit Asher's cave with me, and we were delighted to realize that his neon green hair lit up instantly! I ended up buying a shark's jaw (photos later) from Chris...

My fellow bondage warrior (ok well she's less inherently S&M) Becca McCharen with signature pieces from her collection Chromat

Paul Cupo was about to sell his Bernhard Willhelm sunglasses, but changed his mind once he found the perfect matching jacket a few booths down

Bumped into Rachel Singer- stylist, nightlife persona, and all around ray of sunshine

I always love seeing Christina (Arms and Armory) and Tiffany (Triskaidekaphobia)

So much love for Michael Magnan

REVERSE FRANCESCA HARNESS

2011-10-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

Now that its (finally) starting to cool down in New York, I can return to my favorite game of layering clothing & leather. In the summer heat, I find it wildly uncomfortable to have anything touching my skin, especially leather. But now I'm happily finding opportunities to revisit some of my older harnesses & try to find new ways to wear them.

Today I grabbed the first sample of the Francesca Harness that I made for myself over a year ago, but flipped it upside down so that it functioned as an open belt, with the shoulder straps hanging over my hips like relaxed suspenders. With my most recent collection of accessories, I have made several detachable elements, as I aim for pieces that can be worn and interpreted in several different ways. But its also nice realization that sometimes all you have to do is turn something upside down to gain a fresh perspective.

Dress by Dary K - One of my perennial favorites, I've had it since before I started this blog

WITH EASE

2011-10-22T11:53:00.000-07:00

One of my uniforms of sorts: sheer top - Rick Owens, bustier bra - Theyskens Theory, skirt - Givenchy, boots - Ann Demeulemeester, bag - sample I made last year

MORNING ERRANDS

2011-10-21T06:51:00.000-07:00

The answer to the age old question, "but where will I wear this to?":
-Dull tasks, especially those involving long subway rides. I spend so much time indoors in the leather studio, that I try to make the most of my few moments of freedom, no matter how mundane.

Leather Jacket - Rick Owens / Knotted Dress - DRKSHDW / Leather Leggings - Gestuz / Boots - Ann Demeulemeester

Its taken me 23 years to finally fall victim to the happiness rendered by a great manicure. Just another vanity to add to the monthly expenses! Calgel ombre manicure from Sakura.

MY LOVELY BONES

2011-10-20T08:23:00.000-07:00

(Crystal Head 50ml bottles, candle by DL&co, resin skull from Mexico)

Skulls and bones have always been a visual fixation of mine, regardless of the season. Lucky for me, there are plenty of others who share the obsession, making skull-shaped objects endlessly abundant, especially during my favorite shopping time of the year - Halloween.

I've always had a kitch fascination with the skull-shaped bottles of Crystal Head vodka, but never quite ready to shell out $90 for booze, but what I didn't know was that they sell mini 50ml bottles for $9.99 which I happened to stumble upon on a search for margarita mixer. The glass containers were beautiful on their own, but I decided to fill them with tiny brass studs & black rhinestones to add a depth of dimension.

My real splurge in Paris was these JC de Castelbajac leather skeleton gloves. For me, they are equal parts nostalgic and elegant. Like an elevated version of my childhood favorite crappy glow in the dark gloves with bones. They are constructed from the softest calf leather, and fit like they were custom made to my hands.

And lastly to contrast the luxury of the above gloves, I will share my most recent purchase: A pair of skull glasses from Walgreens for a whopping $3.99 . I love them so much that I bought two pairs (I actually don't trust the "quality" so I got back up...). Thank goodness for the Halloween aisle.

THE LAST DAYS OF DECADENCE

2011-10-19T06:08:00.001-07:00

(black & white image by Char Alfonzo)

The only way for me to remember that I was actually in Paris a couple of weeks ago is through these pictures, taken from our last day there. We had finished with all of our fashion business, and switched to the beloved role of tourist, making two morbid/fabulous stops first at the Catacombes de Paris, and then Le Panthéon.

FASHION WEEK SLAUGHTER: MARY LEE / TWISTED LAMB

2011-10-08T05:22:00.000-07:00

Outside of Rick Owens, in custom made Twisted Lamb jacket by HOM

Something that I've always loved about fashion weeks in Paris, is seeing the exclusive group of obsessive individuals crazy enough to endure extreme weather, hours of waiting, and way too many euros of travel expenses just to be a part of this seasonal institution of style that we love so dearly. Whether for work or pleasure, the devotion is solid - one does not need to physically be at a show anymore to catch all of the details, yet its still happening - and perhaps more heightened than ever.

But back to the main point. Not only is it great to reunite with familiar faces from all points of the globe, but its especially nice to see fellow New Yorkers outside of our usual contexts. I for one barely even see my best friends anymore, let alone have the time to meet up with my close industry peers. So running into Mary Lee after the MUGLER show, then at the MUGLER party, and later at the Rick Owens show was quite the treat. Not only is Mary the mind behind the blog Twisted Lamb, but she is also the driving force behind the CCP x Nicola Formichetti collaboration (she works as CCP's digital fashion editor). And I shouldn't even have to mention this, but her style is severe.

Post-MUGLER show - latex skirt by Baroness

Before Rick Owens began, note her excellent taste in leathewear *wink wink*, the "Valentina Harness" layered over McQueen dress

MEMORIES FROM MUGLER SS12

2011-10-07T14:03:00.000-07:00

See the rest of the photos + show review on SANGBLEU.COM

MY BELOVED NEW YORK STATE OF MIND + GIVENCHY

2011-10-07T07:53:00.000-07:00

In the midst of jet-lagged delirium, but entirely elated to be back in my Brooklyn studio, equipped with all of lazy American necessities (delivery lunch, air conditioning, 24/7 public transit, and iced coffee) as well as my leather!! The notion of being in Paris already seems like ages ago, and for now I am content with staying right where I am. Wanderlust suppressed.

While I am not one of those crazed overseas shoppers, I did manage to indulge in a couple of luxury accessories. If you know anything about me or this blog, you should know that I am a bit of a slave to Riccardo Tisci's Givenchy, and there was no doubt in my mind that I would find something from one of the Paris boutiques to take home with me. I entered the store, stalked my prey, and came out victorious: A large silk scarf with the notorious black panther print from the FW11 collection (and thanks to tax-free shopping, $100 less then other online international sources). Its subtle enough to transcend seasons & will easily compliment my preexisting wardrobe.

With my purchase, I was given a fold-out lookbook with thumbnails of the entire collection. Upon closer inspection, I realized that flip side was a full campaign image from FW11. Who could resist a little bit of Naomi in the kitchen?

WHEN IN PARIS

2011-10-02T11:07:00.000-07:00

I have a little tradition of shopping in Paris...and when I say shopping, I refer to buying magazines and candles. I know, really decadent. This time I strayed a bit from the normal, replacing a perfume instead of candle, a little something from Givenchy (more on that later), and 3 magazines versus one! It can be such a pain in the ass to try to track down foreign press in New York, and by the time the magazines land the price has basically skyrocketed!

1. I didn't even realize that my work had been featured in FRENCH magazine, I was just at a show browsing and suddenly this COVER was staring at me in the face, with the model wearing my "Cruxus" harness. My first cover shot! Quite the surreal moment. The image is repeated in an inside editorial, along with another shot featuring the "Gemini" harness in white. Styled by Marcell Rocha.

2. I grabbed a copy of the new MIXT(E) magazine from a magazine kiosk on the street. The "Basic" harness in white is featured in an editorial styled by Antje Winter. There's another shot where the model is wearing a harness of mine in turquoise (long story) but the dress is blowing in the wind the point where you can only see a fraction of the shoulder strap. Hey, its the thought that counts!

3. In the midst of a busy metro station, I made a b-line straight into a small magazine shop when I saw that they had the newest issue of Numéro. Waiting for me inside was a quite frantic & unexpected (a good thing) editorial styled by the fabulous Patti Wilson - made even sweeter by the appearence of my "Totem" harness over a masked Magdalena Frakowiak wearing Alexander McQueen!

RICK OWENS SS12

2011-10-02T04:45:00.000-07:00

See the rest of the photos + show review on SANGBLEU.COM

PFW DAY 4 - LOOKS!

2011-10-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

On me: Dress - Theyskens Theory (knotted) / Top - TopShop / Belt - Zana Bayne "Bridle Belt" / Shoes - Ann Demeulemeester

On Char: Sunglasses - Dior Homme / Everything else - Rick Owens & DRKSHDW

ZANA BAYNE LEATHER / VOGUE JAPAN

2011-09-30T17:00:00.000-07:00

Lara Stone photographed by Mario Sorrenti, styled by George Cortina in the October issue of Vogue Japan - dripping in Zana Bayne Leather harnesses!

DRIES VAN NOTEN SS12

2011-09-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

See the rest of the photos + show review on SANGBLEU.COM

NICOLAS ANDREAS TARALIS SS12

2011-09-30T07:02:00.000-07:00

See the rest of the photos + show review on SANGBLEU.COM

PFW DAY 3 - LOOKS!

2011-09-30T06:56:00.000-07:00

On me: Dress - Zero + Maria Cornejo / Harness - Zana Bayne "Hex Harness" / Shoes - Vagabond + DIY / Bag - Martin Margiela

On Char: Sunglasses - Retro Superfuture / Top - Damir Doma / Pants - Neil Barrett / Bag - Surface2Air / Shoes - John Varvatos / Hat - Black/black NY Yankees

DAMIR DOMA SS12

2011-09-29T03:18:00.000-07:00

See the rest of the photos + show review on SANGBLEU.COM

PFW DAY 2- LOOKS!

2011-09-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

On me: Blazer - Zara / Dress - OAK / Belt - Zana Bayne "Trophy Belt" / Bag - Margiela / Boots - Ann Demeulemeester

On Char: Sunglasses - Dior Homme / Top - Rick Owens / Pants - Neil Barrett / Cuffs - custom Zana Bayne / Bag - Surface2Air / Shoes - John Varvatos

THIMISTER SS12

2011-09-27T23:00:00.000-07:00

See the rest of the photos + show review on SANGBLEU.COM

I'M IN PARIS

2011-09-27T18:37:00.000-07:00

A few months back, I planned to escape to Paris for fashion week. And all of a sudden, the time has arrived and I am here! 10 days without cutting any leather or pulling all nighters. Trying to avoid stress and absorb the changing of seasons. It is still relatively warm here, but you can practically taste the forthcoming fall in the air. While I am here, I will be reporting on the shows for Sang Bleu Magazine's blog, and coincidentally my travel partner & creative collaborator Char Alfonzo will be photo blogging for Bullett Magazine.

Yes, this is actually the front door to the apartment where we are staying. Prada makes quite a nice neighbor...

Photos by Char Alfonzo

RAD BY RAD HOURAN SS12

2011-09-20T11:32:00.000-07:00

Every season, I have high standards and high hopes for what will come down the runway for the RAD by RAD HOURANI show. And this time, I was thrilled with what was presented! Within the signature geometric rigidity was a great degree of play - architectural folds, mysterious zippers that seemed to anchor structure, shades of muted indigo, square bags & clutches...but really the most beautiful elements of all were the backs of the garments. I had some difficulty capturing these details, as the show was quite intimate and as quickly as the model passed by, they were already around a corner. But the backs!! Deep lines, rectangles, large squares, trapezoids, layers, folds & boxes. All done with a perfectly restrained hand, adhering to and amplifying the strong aesthetic that Rad Hourani is so loved for.

CHRIS HABANA // MY ENEMY

2011-09-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

Its always a proud moment to see the visions of talented friends come to fruition in front of you. I've been meaning to post this all week, but as it tends to happen these days, a large project came up completely overwhelming my state of mind! But back to the presentation - my dear friend Chris Habana presented pieces from both his main line CHRISHABANA and diffusion line, "My Enemy" in the way that only Chris would - a combination of techno-raver-punk versus angelic-beachy-urban-grunge, with the jewelry being far from predictable yet entirely wearable.

SIKI IM SS12

2011-09-12T15:05:00.000-07:00

Admittedly, I have avoided most New York fashion week festivities this season (I'm saving myself for Paris) but of the many labels showing, I made sure to catch Siki Im. I feel like there is a lot of 'experimental' menswear right now that is either ultra-femme or overly-serious...and while I fully support the expansion of what is deemed acceptable for men to wear, I have just as much respect for labels that play with cuts & tailoring without crossing over to costume. And that is exactly why I like Siki Im so much. Mixed in with tailored collarless blazers and perfectly proportioned cuffed trousers (not too tight, not too loose) were half-aprons, wrapped vests, and coats with slits that enabled movement and flow down the runway. The palette was black, charcoal and khaki, with pops of color coming from denim: bright cobalt cornflower blue, worn-down faded, and deep indigo. And needless to say, none of us could stop talking about the shoes!

NICOLA'S POP UP

2011-09-12T06:03:00.000-07:00

I'm playing a bit of catch-up from fashion week (it hasn't ended yet!), so please bear with my rapid-fire posts! This is my 3rd September fashion week in New York, and it seems like with each year comes more designers, more presentations, more shows... so far one of the more exciting innovations of the season has been the arrival of Nicola Formichetti's pop up store, aptly titled "Nicola's" (50 Walker St). I might be slightly biased, but I think the pop-up kicks the ass of a lot of New York shops right now - from interior design to product selection, showcasing the absolutely unobtainable (Mugler collection) right next to the entirely obtainable (Asher Levine X Nicola Formichetti t-shirt collaboration). I should probably also mention that my Fall/Winter collection is being sold there, but if you're not in New York, you can check them out online as the new collection just went up last night!

PRABAL GURUNG SS12 BACKSTAGE

2011-09-10T12:07:00.000-07:00

All corset belts & harnesses by Zana Bayne for Prabal Gurung

PRABAL GURUNG x ZANA BAYNE

2011-09-08T08:40:00.000-07:00

There are certain aspects of New York living that I have never experienced elsewhere. To begin with, time flies by here at an astonishing (and sometimes disturbing) pace. Next is the tangible physical proximity to innovation and success. When working in fashion, specifically in fashion, the names that you read about are much closer than you would think.

For this upcoming season of S/S '12 in New York, I am very excited to reveal that I have been working on custom accessories for the designer Prabal Gurung which will be sent down the runway for his show this coming Saturday. I can't talk too much about the specifics of his collection (or the details of what I've made), but here are a couple of visual teasers of the collaboration. His collection is evocative of femininity, strength, confidence and lightness, so for the accessories we chose to incorporate twisted & knotted rope to break up the hard lines of the leather.

You will have to wait until Saturday to see the finished pieces & collection, but until then please enjoy the preview:

Photos by Kashish Das Shrestha

STRICTLY YOURS

2011-09-05T10:02:00.001-07:00

Features FW11 "Pendant Harness" worn over skirt and attached to collar by Leather Man

It seems that every week I've given myself an adequate excuse for not posting - oh, it was my birthday. Oh, I was working on a huge custom order. Now welcome to: Oh, we're approaching fashion week! But good news on that front - I plan on actually venturing out of the leather cave, and into the dimly lit social light! Even better, I'm shipping out to Paris at the end of the month to absorb fashion week there.

But until Thursday, I'll have my head down and hands tied up with leatherwork (don't get any funny ideas...), as I'm working on a few very exciting projects for this upcoming New York season. Speaking of which...September issues are here! I've been holding my breath and crossing my fingers to see if any of my work made it into the editorials, and I was almost knocked dead when I opened the pages of the current issue of Interview Magazine - 5 of the 19 images of the Mert & Marcus shot story "Strict" (styled by Karl Templar) featured harnesses of mine. The editorial is beautiful collection of soon-to-be iconic portraits which elegantly feature restraint-driven garments. Its such an honor to be included in this piece, and still slightly surreal.

**I've been trying not to overload this blog with press images, so instead I keep my website's news blog as well as my facebook page updated with the most current clippings

FW11 "Hex Harness" worn over waist

The "Basic Harness" in above & below images

FW11 "Cathedral Harness" peeking out under lapel

SUNDAY MORNING

2011-09-04T05:16:00.000-07:00

Not my ideal way to be woken up in the morning, but at least I wasn't up & working, or else it would have fallen on me! There's something very Donnie Darko about having your ceiling cave in on you...

THE BIRTHDAY POST

2011-08-31T13:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I celebrated my 23rd birthday, surrounded by my absolute favorite New York friends - which I consider the greatest gift of all! We drank champagne until the sun set on the rooftop bar of Le Bain @ The Standard. Perfection.

As a birthday indulgence, I got a fabulous calgel manicure at Sakura nail salon & spa. I went for something in between Lady Macbeth blood-dipped hands and ruby red slippers. As I work with my hands every day, I can barely keep a manicure for a minute, but supposedly these last for a month...so far so good.

I received an entirely too generous gift of the newest issue of Visionaire art directed by Riccardo Tisci. For me, Tisci is the most inspirational mind in the fashion world right now, and I am constantly looking back at his work for Givenchy and discovering new points of genius. I consider his curated copy of A Magazine to be something of an aesthetic bible, and had lusted over his edition of Visionaire since its release...but had never even imagined owning it. Truly an I-am-not-worthy type of moment - I promise a full post on this breathtaking book very soon.

These beautiful McQ leggings were also fabulous gift, and pretty much epitomize everything I love about legwear. Fluid yet geometric, symmetrical and patterned by negative space. They will soon become a dear staple of wardrobe, and I'm almost tempted to buy the matching top...

Worn with shirt by Acne, and boots by Ann Demeulemeester

HURRICANE PREP STILL LIFE

2011-08-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

1. XL bottle of cheap wine (does one ever need an excuse?)
2. Nutella
3. Necklace harnesses & plenty of other work to finish, which had been my original weekend plan even before us New Yorkers were grounded
4. Dr Martens patent "Dee Boots", just in case I need to go outdoors in the rain
5. iPad 2 - which I bought four days ago, but have been too busy to have even turned it on yet. I would love recommendations for fun/useful iPad apps, because as of right now I have no idea where to begin.

THINGS I'VE BEEN PLANNING ON BLOGGING ABOUT

2011-08-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

1. Givenchy SS09 skirt purchased from Yoox.com

2. Gestuz leather leggings with ribbed insets from Asos

3. The new issue of Interview Magazine, specifically the editorial "Strict" photographed by Mert & Marcus, styled by Karl Templar

4. PVC miniskirt, to become part of my wardrobe of 'basics', purchased at a sex shop

5. New & improved (and taller) platform sandals to replace the ones which I have worn down to the ground - from Dolce Vita

NIGHTCLUBBIN'

2011-08-20T08:59:00.000-07:00

(Tank - Rick Owens / Bustier Bra - Theyskens Theory / Skirt - Givenchy / Boots - Minimarket / Bag - Margiela)

On a whim, decided to venture into Manhattan for a business-free night (little did I know I'd be talking leather into the early morning) and ended up running into some of my favorite people in New York, thanks to my friend LadyFag's party underneath the Chelsea Hotel, "Clubber Down Disco". There's nothing quite like celebrating a crazy week with more tropical vodka shots than I can count on one hand...

LadyFag wears the "Gemini Harness" from my Fall collection, which will appear for sale online during the first week of September (her tank is Gareth Pugh).

No one makes me want long wavy locks quite like Tre Knight & William Graper

ZANA BAYNE X LADY GAGA X YOU AND I

2011-08-17T14:29:00.001-07:00

Yesterday at 1pm, I got an email from Patricia of Gagafashionland with the subject line of "first leaks - yours?" and the above image attached. It took a few seconds for me to register that the straps of leather adorning Lady Gaga were indeed the piece that I had custom made last month for the exact purpose of this video. I think my choice reaction words were "oh fuck". By 2:20pm the entire video had leaked onto Perezhilton, and sure enough there were my harness again...and again...all eight of her dancers wore the custom harnesses as well. It was a surreal moment, then a proud one, and then I got back to work on the orders and samples I needed to finish in the studio. Just another day at the office (still trying not to freak out!).

ZANA BAYNE FALL/WINTER 2011 LOOKBOOK & VIDEO

2011-08-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

With much excitement & pride, I present to you my lookbook & video for the Fall & Winter 2011 collection of accessories for Zana Bayne Leather.

Zana Bayne Leather FW/11 from Char Alfonzo on Vimeo.

PHOTOGRAPHY: CHAR ALFONZO
STYLING: RAUL GUERRERO
HAIR: WESLEY O'MEARA
MAKEUP: TIFFANY PATTON
MODELS: EDUARDO CALERO & ELIZA DOUGLAS @ RE:QUEST
STYLING ASSISTANCE: ADRIAN MANUEL
PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANCE: LUIS PIÑA

THAT MAGICK FEELING

2011-08-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning, I'm hungover after seeing Cold Cave play last night. No energy to leave bed, scrolling aimlessly through tumblr's, and all of a sudden I stop on an image and that feeling hits me...a familiar urge, one that comes without warning, hits me hard, the faint rumble of rattlesnakes and...I MUST DIY!!! There are some garments & collections that never leave my conscience, such as the incredible detail work featured in the Marios Schwab SS2011 collection which I immediately blogged about. For some reason, an image of a pair of studded brogues instantly brought me back to those star-stitched boots and I realized I had just the pair of base boots to apply the concept to.

The boots are by Vagabond, via Solestruck.com . A strong heel is is a necessity for me, both structurally and aesthetically. Not only do these boots form a bold silhouette, but they are extremely comfortable to stomp around in.

Voila! Double evil on my feet.

DOLCE VITA LIFESTYLE

2011-08-03T06:27:00.000-07:00

Last night was the opening celebration for Dolce Vita's new New York showroom. Situated in the historic Puck Building above what is going to be a huge REI store (which just seems SO WRONG for the location), the showroom acts as the perfect vantage point to gaze over Soho. The feeling inside was cool indulgence; champagne, chandeliers, a live swing band, and glass tables of shoes lining the perimeter of the space. If there is a shoe heaven, it might look something like this.

A couple of weeks ago, I fell in love with Dolce Vita's red suede "Jemma" boot on Solestruck.com , and subsequently had to have them in my life. They are surprisingly comfortable for a 5.5" heel (it must be that platform...) Once the weather cools down, I will be tempted to wear them with my red leather pants, channeling something between a visual cacophony and a stop sign. They are also perfect candidates for my collection's FW11 bootstraps!

THE DARK ARTS

2011-07-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

Are clutches the new black?

After several spicy pineapple tequila drinks, I made a quick stop at The Box which is taken over on Friday's by Kayvon Zand & his accompanying collective, guaranteeing lots of black, lots of face makeup, and a strong dose of gender-bending.

My look was something between a gothic cheerleader and hooker. Dress by Zara, FW11 Harness & bootstraps, Alexander Wang 6" platform boots.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (IN A HARNESS)?

2011-07-29T05:25:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my lovely friends with TV's, I was informed that Gaga's gang of dancers were all wearing leather harnesses for the performance during So You Think You Can Dance. And although all of these straps might start looking similar, let me tell you that the ladies were wearing pieces that are brand new! I've always been wary of making full body harnesses, simply because movement can be awkward and restrictive BUT the dancers have completely proven me wrong through lunging, crawling, and dancing like mad.

The full dark army.

Turns out, its nearly impossible to find black hardware so instead of admitting defeat, I grabbed a few cans of spray-paint. Lucky for me, I have fire escape access from my apartment and the days have been particularly warm & conducive to fast drying time.

HE'S A WHORE

2011-07-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

When I'm not running around in calf-length lace, I usually look something like this. You might be thinking, "IS THAT A GRAPHIC ON A TANK DRESS??" and the answer is...well, yes. But it's a GIVENCHY graphic tank dress, which to me makes all of the difference. While the title of this post is supposed to be a reference to the song covered by Big Black, it also touches on my amorous feelings towards the house that Riccardo Tisci has built. When it comes to label-whoredom, I have my guilty moments, but at the top of that guilt list would be the big G(ivenchy). Forgive me. (I found & purchased the tank dress from INA Consignment)

I find there's nothing better to compliment a simple dress than a 6" heeled platform ankle boot, no? The boots are Alexander Wang, the patent leather boostraps are Zana Bayne Leather FW11 (available for sale in a month)

On a non-gluttonous note, I was graced by the presence of two lovely gents from San Francisco last week, the first being my darling Jerome who I have known since I was a wild 16-year-old party kid, and who is now known for his impeccable taste and eye for menswear. He came to the studio looking for a pentagram harness, and I ended up making him a special one-of-a-kind piece out of navy leather (he also left with a couple of FW11 pieces but those will come later).

Along with Jerome, came photographer Anthony Deeying who came into the SF scene right around the same time that I moved to Berlin, so our paths have not crossed until now. He entered the leather studio on a mission for the Ribcage Harness, which I was happy to make for him. I believe in making leather dreamz come true!

SEASON OF THE WITCH

2011-07-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

Calf-length lace dress found yesterday at Beacon's Closet for $16.95. Seeing that the temperatures in New York have been in the upward 90's with no sign of relief, I only found it practical to purchase such a distinctly Fall-appropriate garment. It doesn't look like much when its hanging, but once on it transports me to the mindset of Miu Miu FW11 mixed with Prada FW08. I might need to tie all of my leather remnants into a whip to accompany it. I find the length quite striking, especially how the underslip ends right above the knees, leaving a portion of the lace transparent. For now I will keep it as is, but I can't guarantee that the hemline won't rise. The belt is part of my Fall/Winter 2011 accessories collection.

OBJECTS OF DESIRE

2011-07-25T04:23:00.000-07:00

1. Vintage porcelain glove molds, purchased at the Williamsburg flea market
2. Oversized rusted keys, also found at the flea market
3. Metal wrist cuff, made by Sullivan Walsh of Walsh Metal Works (more on this later)

WHITE SHEEP OF THE FAMILY

2011-07-20T15:25:00.000-07:00

I'm sure everyone here remembers when I posted my favorite SS11 moments back in October (ha ha) but for those who don't, you can click here for a refresher. The point that I'm trying to make, is that when you scroll to the bottom of that post you will see the Ann Demeulemeester white wedge boots on the runway, and now they are on my feet. Dreams do come true! A literal, "runway to reality" moment, thanks to a far-too-generous very-early birthday present from my mother (who got a pair of of SS11 Ann platform sandals for herself). There is something so offputting about a white boot; a mixture of 60's gogo nostalgia, cartoon boldness, and slight animalism...

Silk Wrap Dress - OAK / Triple Wrap Belt - Zana Bayne FW11 / White Boots - Ann Demeulemeester

LADY GAGA & DANCERS IN CUSTOM ZANA BAYNE LEATHER HARNESSES

2011-07-19T03:55:00.000-07:00

Today has been a really great one. I conquered sleep, finished a massive project, got some goodies in the mail, and oh...was alerted to a video of Lady Gaga & her dancers performing in harnesses that I custom made for them. Now Gaga's dancers have actually been wearing my pieces for a few performances so far, which has been such a fantastic treat (I rarely ever get to see my work in motion).

One of the most difficult things about working within the fashion industry, is accepting the notion that your work will not always be used, even if it is pulled for an exciting project, and even if it was custom-created for such. No ego, no disappointment, move on to the next shoot. I would rather have my work be seen & handled by a talented crew and not used, then not have it there at all! But THIS performance is exciting. I really fell in love with the harness that I made for Gaga to wear, and couldn't be happier to see it actually worn!

Although I usually plan out my pieces on paper, often times they end up changing once I get working on the dress form. I quickly realized it was next to impossible to make the bust section like the sketch, and ended up improvising a strap formation that I like even more. I took the mannequin photo before I made the garter pieces that buckle three times around the legs..

I know, my sketches are really works of art. And I realize I drew both as female forms, even though one is meant for men! These are the looks for the dancers, which you can see better throughout the video. I ended up making the male dancers' look into two separates of torso harness & hip/leg harness, but the girls' harness stayed pretty true to the original sketch.

You can see the dancers' harnesses a lil better here, from a performance in Sydney. The dancers also wore them in Taiwan and Singapore.

(Can we talk about the closed caption lyrics? Ear condoms!)

MAKES SENSE IN JULY

2011-07-15T08:20:00.000-07:00

Prada wedges / Off-white leather

STYLE/LIFE INSPIRATION: CHRIS HABANA

2011-07-12T12:21:00.000-07:00

Its friends like Chris Habana who make me feel so happy to be living in New York! He is one of the hardest working fellows I know, busy with his namesake jewelry line CHRISHABANA as well as his line for Urban Outfitters, "My Enemy" plus several other endeavors. Not only is he a wonderfully talented and motivated creator, but he is also one of the kindest souls I have encountered in the fashion community. He stopped by the leather studio the other day to gossip, talk shop, and play with leather. He ended up leaving with a sample of the "Low Brace Belt" in red from my upcoming FW11 collection to complete his "Tank Girl" inspired summer ensemble. I approve 100%.

SUMMER SHADE

2011-07-11T19:28:00.000-07:00

(Photo by Char Alfonzo)

This month so far (not even 2 weeks in) has been a cacophony of shorts, stockings, strangers, sweat, and stress! Plenty of other "S" words could be subsisted as well, but I won't go there. What am I doing with my days? Working from dawn til dusk. What am I wearing? Something of a variation from the formula you see above: Shorts + fishnets + big tank + boots + red lipstick. There's a nice post on Stop It Right Now about formulaic dressing too.

& if I haven't done a sufficient enough job of featuring my FW2011 collection, please see the beautiful atmospheric moment shot by Adam Sinding of Le 21ème Arrondissement (full collection coverage HERE):

Zana Bayne from Le 21ème Arrondissement on Vimeo.

ZANA BAYNE FW11 'LEATHER GANG' PRESENTATION

2011-07-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, June 30th I held a small private presentation for the Fall/Winter 2011 collection of my leather harnesses & accessories for Zana Bayne Leather at Le Bain at The Standard Hotel.

Stylist: Cameron Cooper
Hair: Owen Gould
Makeup: Alejandro Calvani
Photos: Char Alfonzo

Models: Angelique, Felix, Lucci, Becker, Ricky, Cole & Kris @ RED, and Juan @ APM

Clothing provided by American Apparel, Shoes provided by Dr. Martens

Additional presentation documentation:
Sang Bleu
Six Six Sick
High Snobette
Bruit Noir
Leopard Milkshake

BASICALLY

2011-06-27T07:32:00.000-07:00

The summer uniform, day in & day out. Y's by Yohji Yamamoto double-layer tank, (p)leather skirt, Zero + Maria Cornejo boots.

CONEY ISLAND BABIES

2011-06-26T06:02:00.000-07:00

Since planning a vacation for this month was next to impossible, I thought the next best thing would be to go to Coney Island. I prepared for the sudden bouts of displaced nostalgia! Its such a strange, other-worldly place. I'm still convinced that we were somewhere in California, and not Brooklyn.

HERE & THERE

2011-06-23T18:39:00.000-07:00

ALMOST GREYSCALE

2011-06-21T16:41:00.001-07:00

As the weather changes, as do my silhouettes. I've been leaning towards the dramatic, favoring the long "Lara" dress by Theyskens Theory. I originally purchased it out of necessity for the black tie Lady Gaga party two weeks ago, but knew that with the addition of a second layer I could easily make it casual. Today features the "Skull Cap" tank from my friends at Obesity + Speed, knotted at the hem to create my desired length.

These two images below have been haunting me. I hope they might haunt you too.

A SWEET ESCAPE

2011-06-21T04:22:00.000-07:00

As I have been a terribly bad hostess so far (I've been working from 7am-6pm daily), I made a special effort to abandon everything work related on Sunday in exchange for some good olde local tourism! I'm talking the classic 3-hour vacation-style boat tour around Manhattan. Why not learn more about the city I've lived in for almost two years? And to be honest, sitting over the water with no access to a computer (or leather) felt a whole lot like vacation to me.

Summer casual, lace & leather shorts.

Adrian found this t-shirt for .50 cents. Can you believe it?

Healthy breakfast at Pies'n'Thighs

Some statue in the middle of the water

Healthy lunch on the boat!

I just kept wanting to sing, "I'm on a boat, y'all!"

SUMMER HASN'T KILLED ME YET

2011-06-19T07:43:00.000-07:00

Still here. Hustling hard, enjoying friends, too lazy to bring a big bag around to accommodate my big camera. Too many exciting things around the corner, I beg you to please have patience. I often find myself thinking that every month is more crazed the the last, and June is no exception to this extreme. July will be frantic, August will be a race against time, and I don't even want to think about the pressure of September! But as much as I complain, I couldn't be happier with where I am, what I am doing, and who I am surrounded with.

The birthday girl gets red.

Look who's here from BERLIN!

WHEN YOU SHARE AN ELEVATOR WITH KAROLINA KURKOVA

2011-06-10T17:43:00.000-07:00

...Surprise! What am I doing there? I really couldn't tell you. Had one of the more surreal nights of my life on Monday, after being invited to a celebration for Lady Gaga's CFDA nomination. It's always really bizarre to be standing next to individuals whose faces I have only seen in photos, or names I have only read in print. Not to mention an impromptu performance by Patti LaBelle! Being that it was a black tie occasion, I didn't want to bring a bulky camera bag so the only photos I took were from my phone's shitty camera (and immediately broadcast through twitter). I drank too much. My dress is Theyskens Theory.

You can see the rest of the extravaganza through the video shot by V Magazine:

CONGRATULATIONS, LADY GAGA! from V Magazine on Vimeo.

GET BUSY

2011-06-04T17:06:00.000-07:00

Today we shot pt. 1 of my Fall/Winter 2011 Collection...

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

2011-05-26T12:46:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of the month, the awesome folks from BULLETT Magazine handed me a disposable camera and asked me to document a week out of my life. Apparently, my life consists of mostly leather, booze, and black eyeliner, but hey - I'll take it. Check out the full set of the photos HERE

(PS Thank you so much for the kind words on the last post.)

Even with age, some things never change...

GOLD + GAGA

2011-05-22T06:22:00.000-07:00

There's a first time for everything, and today marks the first time Lady Gaga has made an appearance on my blog - because for the first time her world has intersected with mine! To put it simply, I helped outfit her dancers for the performance of 'Judas' on Saturday Night Live. The challenge was 'gold leather' and durability for an intensive dance performance: it took five pots of leather paint, 576 gold studs, and some extra helping hands (for which I'm so so grateful), and every hour of missed sleep was made worth it once the dances came on stage...

You can watch the performance on hulu HERE (starts halfway through)

Stud detailing on all 9 pieces

LEATHER INTERLUDE

2011-05-21T06:31:00.000-07:00

This week has been quite a monster - tunnel vision on work, but I'm crossing my fingers for something great to post tonight... In the meantime, please enjoy this luscious leather-on-leather shoot styled by Alastair McKimm with model Mirte Maas. An added bonus being one of my harnesses worn in the top photo. You can see the rest of the shoot HERE

DOUBLE TROUBLE

2011-05-17T21:49:00.000-07:00

1. Disco reflections on my wall from a sequined skirt on my bed
2. Wesley & his Pentagram Harness

SOME THINGS I'VE BEEN WEARING BUT NOT PHOTOGRAPHING

2011-05-16T22:18:00.000-07:00

Pleasure Principle laser cut skull dress

Francesca Harness layered over Harputs dress

Theyskens Theory cross-back bustier under Rick Owens sheer shirt

Zara blazer, Pleasure Principle cowl top, Basic Harness, DIY skirt

JET GENERATION

2011-05-14T08:10:00.000-07:00

Holy shit. Guitar Wolf.

I could leave it at that, but its been too long since I last posted about them. And the last time I saw them play was in March of 2005, two weeks before their bass player (Bass Wolf R.I.P.) died from a heart attack on tour. At that point, I was just starting art school and assumed that the band would never recover from such a tragic loss. I should have known that they would keep on with the rock.

A weird thing happens living in New York - serendipitous situations, a random thought coinciding with a tangible reality, running into something that you were just thinking about. A few weeks ago, I mentioned Guitar Wolf to a friend of mine, and he responded with the news that they were playing in Brooklyn on Friday the 13th! And I had no idea! We went, they ruled, I've never seen someone so dedicated to a leather uniform and the sweat storm caused by it. I was left with one phrase echoing through my mind: ROCK'N'ROLLLLLLLLLLL

OH SO

2011-05-10T03:48:00.000-07:00

Reader comment: 'are you actually going to talk about fashion or just going to show pictures of you with people who care way too much about looking "cool" or "strange"?" '

OK. From now on, I'm just going to take pictures of people who doesn't stand out at parties and don't inspire me. I especially WON'T take pictures of my friends, or individuals who are relevant to my life! I'll also start a daily rotation of photos reposted from style.com & other street fashion blogs as well as reviews of fashion trends.

Or to quote RuPaul, "Don't be jealous of my boogie"

xo
zana

A VANDAM SUNDAY IS A HAPPY SUNDAY

2011-05-09T15:30:00.000-07:00

I love running into another leather lover on the dancefloor! Not even embarrassed that we showed up wearing the same Necklace Harness..

Necklace & belt & bootstraps - Zana Bayne / Bustier - Theyskens Theory / Mesh top - AA / Skirt - Please Dress Up! / Shoes - Jil Sander

WOMEN SEEM WICKED

2011-05-04T16:00:00.000-07:00

I wholeheartedly embrace the dawn of the dark-lip dark-eye daytime vamp.

SUMMER TUNNEL VISION

2011-05-04T06:40:00.000-07:00

Black heart sunglasses - $5 from street vendor / Top & shoes - TopShop / Doctor's bag with modified strap - Vintage / Lipstick - MAC "Lady Danger"

Can't wear this yet today, but maybe next week. Ensemble featuring a few new material pleasures quickly becoming second nature to my wardrobe.

PLEASURE PRINCIPLE FW 2011

2011-05-03T11:42:00.000-07:00

As long as I've had this blog, I've written about Pleasure Principle - and that's not stopping anytime soon. This morning I went over to pick up a dress (photos later) & take a look at the Fall/Winter collection. One of the things that I love the most about Pleasure Principle's clothing, is that its all quite easy to integrate into my constant wardrobe, yet undeniably holds its own identity. For next season, the label has introduced a few sweater-knit pieces - my favorite featuring an open knit, scoop neck, and longer fringed pieces adding just enough texture. Other things to look forward to are hand marbled fabrications, shoulder cut-outs, heavy rolled sleeves, and the usual badass t-shirts. Stay tuned.