These days it’s so difficult to find an original looking handbag. Today, a fashion designer would design something unique and then mass produce it. The minute it becomes successful you’ll find different versions of the same bag by other designers and cheaper versions of the same bag at stores like Forever 21, H&M, and on Canal Street. Designer, Josh Jakus, somehow was able to create an original design that is almost impossible to duplicate. His UM bags are made of wool felt, a material rarely used on handbags. The shape of these bags are also interesting and rarely seen in the fashion world. Along with the unique aesthetic of his hand bags, they’re dense, pliable, strong, and most importantly affordable! You can check out Jakus’ UM bags and more of his designs HERE

It’s an abnormally warm friday afternoon in February when I meet fashion designer, Samantha Plee at Parlor Showroom in SoHo. It seemed that both of us were pretty unprepared for the sixty degree New York winter heat wave. I had impulsively bought a spring coat right before meeting her but still entered the showroom in a sweat and she was donning a winter appropriate long black skirt and black blouse with a magnificent floppy hat. When I meet her she stands smiling in front of her rack of clothing. The faux spring sunshine creates a spotlight on her section in the showroom that make her gem colored clothes stand out from all the others. She’s a very sweet looking petite girl and with pride she shows me her newest collection. It’s evident that her talent and love of fashion is immense.

OOPM: So how did you initially get into fashion design?
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One of the many things that New York is known for is it’s amazing shopping. Whether it’s bargain hunting in the Financial District, thrift shopping in Williamsburg, or the tourist’s favorite hot spot Soho, there is no doubt that you can and will find exactly what you’re looking for. But then there’s also those one of a kind finds; those rare pieces that you will only find in New York. One of those finds is Julie Robinson the Brooklyn based accessory designer. Originally from Detroit, Robinson moved to New York to attend Parsons The New School for Design and pursue a career in fashion. Her accessories are one of a kind, knotted accessories from vintage kimono fabric. Her line, Coumon (pronounced common) centers mainly around necklaces and headbands. All her fabrics are sourced from salvageable pieces of damaged kimonos that are no longer wearable.Due to the limitations of sourcing vintage fabric, each edition is often limited to two pieces. Each piece is hand sews and tied. The result is a unique piece of wearable art that puts a modern spin on the beauty of eastern textile techniques and traditional decorative knot tying. These are original pieces that you are sure to love. You can purchase them online HERE or at these locations:

Old Hollywood (99 Franklin Street in Greenpoint//Limelight Marketplace)
City Bird (460 W. Canfield in Detroit)
Shine (621 South Washington Ave. in Ferndale)

This holiday season, Obey gives us a laid back, collected, and contemporary collection. You’ll find the basic plaid shirt, different styled leather jackets, Navajo print and this year’s biggest trend- lean denim. I would personally wear everything in this collection, including the burned out sweat pants, which look chic and comfortable at the same time. The only criticism I have of the collection is that it included too many trends. The denim leggings and leather jackets have been prevalent in many collections this year, let’s try something new Obey! That said, it’s still a great looking and great feeling collection. Check it out HERE.

Walk into a room with talking faces projected onto silver walls, smiling girls in sparkling dresses circulating around a man donning a shaggy white wig, and silver balloons breezing above a crowd of people dancing to the sounds of the Velvet Underground. Chances are you’re imagining the infamous Manhattan studio where art, music, fashion, film and performance all came together and thrived under a roof provided by one of our countries most interesting artists, Andy Warhol. In the 1960′s Warhol’s “Factory” was well known for it’s ridiculous parties and it’s even more ridiculous attendants. It was home to artists, drug addicts, and “Warhol superstars”. Now take that same image, subtract the hard drugs, add fourty five years, and move the party to Bushwick’s Party Xpo and you’re now at Tara Ferri’s fabulous Factory inspired birthday celebration. READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP »»