Interview with Frances of Hobo Queen

You may remember an interview I did with two adorable artists/jewelry designers on the streets of Lancaster, Pennsylvania last year for Fig Magazine. Since then I have stayed in touch with one of the designers and thought it would be fun to catch up with her about Hobo Queen, inspirations, goals, and where to buy her work. Let's all take a moment to hear a little more from one half of Hobo Queen: Frances.


Snapshot Fashion: What inspires you when you are designing jewelry?
Frances of Hobo Queen: Peeling paint, graffitied dumpsters, grandma stuff, Chinatown, fake diamonds and gold, Mexican folk art, pastel chalk pastels, hole in the wall buy and sell shops, old school nail salons, neon signs, dirty car garages, and bodegas.


SF: Use three adjectives to describe the designs of Hobo Queen.
HQ: Gritty, complex, and adorable.


SF: Tell us about the first piece of jewelry you ever created.
HQ: The first piece of jewelry I created was about seven years ago, before the birth of Hobo Queen, and it was a pair of earrings that looked like little robots. They were very simple..I was working at the front desk of a historic library in Wilkes Barre, and one day I snooped in the drawers of the very vintage employee bathroom. I found two little silver colored fluorescent light fuses, and took them home and gutted them to make earrings. I just loved the look of them so much I had to wear them on my person! That is why I make found object and mixed media jewelry. Sometimes the aesthetics of a little tiny thing are so amazing it has to be displayed...I look at myself and people who wear my jewelry as walking, talking art galleries. There are mishaps sometimes...Hillary (my HQ partner) and I were working on some jewelry one night and we ended up in the emergency room...We were trying to drill a hole through a ceramic bird's head- I said, "Here, let me do it, you hold it," and brrrrt! I drilled a tiny hole RIGHT through her forefinger...luckily it was okay, no permanent damage, but we learned that you can't drill a hole through any old thing with a household drill...Haha.


SF: You use found objects in your jewelry designs. What was the best item you have ever found to incorporate into your jewelry?
HQ: Ahh...there are so many...I try to take photos of my work but sometimes they find homes before I can get to it. The most unique thing I ever made was a piece out of was an antique sepia photograph that I found in a dumpster of a woman from Germany. There was a note on the back to her husband in her handwriting..I cut it out and turned it into a pendant, coated it with clear enamel. A high school girl bought it downtown on Prince Street a couple of years ago. I hope she still loves it!


SF: Where do you hope Hobo Queen is professionally in 5 years?
HQ: Well, my vision is to have Hobo Queen known in the underground art scene as a "lifestyle brand." I have begun to mark my street art pieces with Hobo Queen or HQ, as well as my gallery pieces. It's a lot of work to keep up with the networking and marketing side of art, and I am working on balancing that and my creative surges.. I admire the Philadelphia artist Sean Martorana- he balances his business and art really well, and does everything!

Be sure to stop by Hobo Queen's Facebook page for the latest updates! There you can also contact Frances if you would like custom pieces made. Hobo Queen uses PayPal for online payment.

Please note that if you are in central Pennsylvania, stop on by Rhyme and Reason in Lancaster. They are a new vintage shop downtown that is selling Hobo Queen's jewelry.

Interview with The Blue Stitch

A few days ago I was lucky enough to meet up with Heather Forrey, designer of handbags and totes for The Blue Stitch. We chatted over coffee and tea and talked about her designs...she even showed me some of her sketches. One of the nicest girls I met in a while. She even made a Snapshot Fashion tote specifically for myself and my readers. Let's take a moment and get to know Heather---

Snapshot Fashion: How do you come up with your designs?
Heather: I get inspired by looking at clothing. The way the neck of a sweater lays, or the folds on a dress. I love looking on Pinterest.

Snapshot Fashion: When did you start making bags?
Heather: I've been making bags for about four to five years now. When I started designing bags I used patterns...but not anymore.

Snapshot Fashion: Describe your bags in three words.
Heather: Functional, fun, and exciting. As a busy mom, functionality is key with everything.

Snapshot Fashion: Where do you see yourself professionally in 5 years?

Heather: Making others happy will satisfy me. I've been thinking about making a stylish, yet functional diaper bag line.

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If you are interested in the Snapshot Fashion tote bag ($40) send Heather an email. If you like the style of the bag, yet the color or print isn't for you...she can make the Snapshot Fashion tote with the color and print of your liking! Please note that even though a specific design is used, because they are all handmade they may differ slightly.

Interview with Sugared Beauty

Organic beauty products are all the rage right now...but what sets Sugared Beauty apart from the rest? First off, I love that the owner Sarah handmakes all the products, and secondly, she makes them smell like your favorite desserts! YUM!!! And know what is very cool? I found out that Sarah lives like 20 minutes from me! We were going to get together to do this interview, but sadly our busy schedules didn't allow this to happen. I do hope to meet up with you soon Sarah! :-)

Snapshot Fashion: How did Sugared Beauty come to life?
Sugared Beauty: Sugared Beauty’s inception came during a major career crisis. In 2008, my husband and I had these nifty performing jobs in the Pacific Northwest. But just a few months after we started the jobs, the company tanked. We were sent home with a plane ticket in one hand and a pink slip in the other. The decision to start Sugared Beauty came from two things: my love for organic beauty products and the fact that after losing my job, I could no longer afford them. I began experimenting with some organic ingredients in my kitchen and soon I had a sugar scrub recipe that rivaled any other I’d tried. I started sharing it with friends and family, and before long we decided to take a leap of faith and start a business surrounding that product. Voila! Sugared Beauty breathed into life.

Snapshot Fashion: What inspires the products you create?
Sugared Beauty: The inspiration for my products comes from the kitchen. One day early on, I was elbow-deep in organic sugar and I realized that I was creating food for my skin. That lead to the idea of desserts, and from there I started imagining all these sweet treats that you could use all over your body! What’s funny, is that I don’t have a sweet tooth at all! Still, one of my favorite sugar scrubs is Chocolate Cake! It’s calorie free, which makes it even better!

Snapshot Fashion: What makes Sugared Beauty different from all the other beauty products out there?
Sugared Beauty: The Sugared Beauty difference is that my products have a fun dessert theme, are reasonably priced, and are made fresh to order. Organic ingredients have a shorter shelf life than synthetic ones, and I refuse to load my products with preservatives to increase their shelf life. I can side-step that by simply making them fresh when they’re ordered. I love knowing that each customer gets their product made especially for them!

Snapshot Fashion: What is your favorite Sugared Beauty product to use?
Sugared Beauty: Hands down, my favorite product to use is Happy Face foaming scrub cleanser. I love multi-taskers, and this product exfoliates, cleanses and moisturizes all at once. Plus, the coconut oil soap I use in it has an awesome suds factor! I love to use it as a mask, and it literally erases my smile lines. My latest thing is to use Happy Face, and then smooth some of my Cocoa Butter Lotion bar around my eyes. I’m noticing a major improvement with those pesky crows feet!

Snapshot Fashion: What is the best beauty advice anyone has ever given you?
Sugared Beauty: The best beauty advice came from my mom when I was 17. She told me how important it was to take care of my skin from the inside as well as the outside. Beauty products make a huge difference, but good nutrition, staying hydrated and not smoking all play a part in keeping my skin in great shape. That’s why I love organic coconut oil. I use it in almost every Sugared Beauty product, but I also cook with it all the time. It’s starting to get a lot of attention as a nutritious food that can actually improve your skin from the inside out!


Be sure to visit Sugared Beauty today!!! Also be sure to check out Sugared Beaty's blog, Facebook, Etsy, and Twitter (@SugaredBeauty) pages.

Interview with Kirsty Doyle

I recently got the chance to do a little interview with Kirsty Doyle. I am totally in love with her collection, so when she agreed to do an interview with Snapshot Fashion it put a smile on my face. Please make sure you take a second and stop on by Kirsty Doyle today!

Snapshot Fashion: What inspires your designs?
Kirsty Doyle: I am inspired by the design work I do on the stand, I use fabrics on the mannequin to create different shapes and folds. This method of design work is quite organic and I can reference different trends, this season pleats feature heavily in the collection.

SF: Tell us about the first item you have ever designed.
KD: I began making scrunchies on the sewing machine with my mum, I don't know if you could include that. The first thing I designed was a mini collection for a university project which was all in an antique cream palette, it was more like creative pattern cutting than mannequin work. The styled photographs at the end featured my little sister as a posing as a puppet on a string!

SF: Describe your collection in three words.
KD: The collection is called The Contemporary Goddess.

SF: If you could give anyone a Kirsty Doyle wardrobe makeover, who would it be?
KD: Britney Spears!

SF: What is the biggest challenge about being a designer?
KD: Keeping up with the seasons, being a retailer and a designer is like having two sides of the brain! Currently I am designing and booking appointments for a/w11 but I am in a/w10 sale in store and online but just about to launch the s/s11 in store.

SF: Which designers do you look up to?
KD: I recently got the Alexander McQueen book and his work just takes your breath away. The shows and the spectacular theatrical nature of his work is unrivalled.

SF: Where do you hope to see yourself professionally in 5 years?
KD: I would like to have at least 5 stockists, nationally and internationally and have another store.

Interview with Tucked. The Blog.

Good morning everyone! I hope you all are having a fantastic Friday, and are anticipating a wonderful weekend (I know I am!).

Every so often I find amazing blogs that I just have to share with my readers. A type of fashion blog that I don't normally talk about are men's fashion blogs. Honestly, I haven't ran into too many that I have liked in the past...BUT my tune has totally change after I came across tucked. the blog. Justin of tucked writes about mainly men's RTW collections and topics. He also does Q&A series with boutiques, companies, stylists, bloggers, etc - and those topics do include women's fashion as well. Justin has such a flawless sense of style, and is always blogging about fabulous events.

Snapshot Fashion recently did an interview with Justin---

~Describe your sense of style in three words.
Experimental, Ever-changing, Genuine

~What are the must have trends for men this fall?
There are a lot of them this year, but I'll speak to what is most exciting! Chunky knits are great for the cooler weather and can make you look handsome. They create a larger silhouette so make sure you pair them with slim pants/jeans. I absolutely love tweed for the classic and authentic look. It just looks effortlessly cool, timeless, and well-made. The three-piece suit is coming back with a vengeance. Make sure your suit has sharp lines, fine tailoring, and a modern design. I have said for a long time that silk ties are boring. Every season we go through the cycle of cotton, wool, and silk as the climate changes. Plaid ties are the new trend but I think men should seek out all ties that aren't silk. I just picked up a corduroy tie from Brooklyn Industries! Lastly, fitted sweats is a new trend this year. I'm not sure how it will shake out but I can't wait to see all the sartorialist images that are bound to come forth in the next couple of months.

~If you could give anyone a fashion makeover who would it be and why?
Just to be clear, we are differentiating between fashion and style right? If it is strictly on the basis of fashion, I have no clue. I would love to give myself a fashion makeover once a year if it came with a free wardrobe or gift card for a shopping spree! I am hesitant to talk about makeovers because of the strong connection fashion and style have to one's personality. If you bend my arm, Leelee Sobieski just from a Google on bad celebrity fashion. She is a beautiful young woman, but a lot of the pictures I see are not flattering to her contours. There are plunging neckline dresses that are gorgeous but not right for her. Sometimes her color palette has no direction. I think she has a lot of potential with the right stylist by her side (wink wink).

~Who is your favorite designer?
I will start by saying this is impossible. I am a huge fan of Rag & Bone designers Marcus Wainwright and David Neville. If I could afford it, I would purchase their entire collections as they roll them out. Add to that list Scott Sternberg of Band of Outsiders, Billy Reid, and the three great creatives behind Idol Radec and I'm in heaven! The list can go on though. For women, I am really feeling Jason Wu and the SS2011 collection he just showed at New York Fashion Week.

~Have you always been interested in fashion?
I think my love for fashion was a gradual development. I fell in love with photography first. The ability to express yourself through aesthetics and frozen emotions. When I moved to New York, it became more obvious that people were expressing themselves in more avenues than just the arts. I have never lived in such a fashionably liberal place, and I think that opened my mind to the possibility of expressing my own emotion through clothing. New York being a fashion capital, I got hooked into shopping, street style by way of people watching, and all the amazing events that take place year round. Now fashion is what I eat, sleep, and breathe.

~Who are your fashion icons?
I think my everyday fashion icons are the people I see on the streets never afraid to take on longer-than-normal looks from strangers, or defying gender definitions to express their style. If I had to brainstorm some more identifiable icons, I would say there are a few. Tom Ford and his creations are elegant, just the spitting image of what it takes to be a gentleman of class and good manor. Although he isn't a real person, I think the character James Bond fits that same mold - elegant, dashing, but functional enough to kick butt in any situation. Frank Sinatra and James Dean are classics. I also can't get that pictures of JFK on his yacht sporting white lace ups, khakis and a crew neck heather grey sweater out of my head - a true representation of Americana style.

~For all the guys out there, if you could advice them on one outfit that they have to have in their wardrobe, what would it be?
This is such a controversial question! When I was on Wall Street, I would have said you need a suit hands down. Now I have a sort of unique perspective. I think you need an outfit that can get you through multiple settings if need be. I think every man should have dark slim straight denim jeans with regular rise. I would pair that with a dark navy gingham or checkered pattern slim fit button down shirt with a spread collor. Add to that some medium to dark brown leather oxfords (no cap toe) and a blue blazer exquisitely tailored with the authentic functional gold buttons! Lastly, you'll need a solid tie, either silk or knit. I think this outfit gives you flexibility. Put it all together and you can still have the business meeting in the late afternoon or a lunch meeting over sushi at a posh restaurant. Remove the tie and you have the perfect outfit for happy hour, gallery opening, or just errands when the air has little chill to it. Push up the sleeves on the blazer or take it off and roll up the sleeves on the shirt, and you can whip up crazy formulas in excel at the office or catch up on a good book at a local cafe. Optionality is the name of the game.


*Definitely, check out tucked. the blog. today (and have your boyfriends, husbands, and guy friends check it out too!!!).*

Fashion Blogger of the Week

Snapshot Fashion will now be featuring a fashion blogger every week (check us every Sunday) in this spotlight where we they will answer SF's interview questions. Hopefully you'll be introduced to some new fashion blogs this way...or maybe you'll see your favorite bloggers on here!   :-)

Starting us off this week is Dylana from Nana in Wonderland. I have adored her website and style for months now and I'm super excited that we get to feature her first.

Why did you start blogging?
I started blogging because I have always been in love with fashion since I was a little girl and my mom made clothes for me for school. I have always been a writer and I wanted a way to combine both fashion and writing together. Blogging just seemed like the natural thing to do to make my own mark in the fashion world. It has been such an awesome experience so far!

How would you describe your personal style?
I would describe my style as quirky minimalism. I love classic and simple pieces that are timeless and practical, but I always make sure to throw something in that makes my outfit feel unique and one-of-a-kind. I may pair a chic pair of black trousers with a blouse in a funky print, a vintage belt, and a great pair of socks peeking out at the bottom. I love neutrals and sleek silhouettes offset by small bursts of bright color here and there to make a look more modern and fresh. I am very inspired by brands like Chloé, Celine, Stella McCartney, Dries van Noten, Pringle of Scotland, and Burberry Prosum because of their simple and clean pieces that have impeccable tailoring and shape.

If you could raid anyone's closet, who would it be and why?
Gosh, this is a hard question! But I would love to raid the closet of Chloë Sevigny. She has such a chic and quirky look that is very much her own. She always puts together the most amazing looks made up of classic pieces in unexpected colors and patterns. She inspires me so much. If I could get my hands on everything in her closet, I would be the happiest girl in the world!

Who would you love to give a wardrobe makeover?
If I had to choose, I would probably give a makeover to Kirsten Stewart. I think she is such a great actress with a beautiful face, but her red carpet looks don't seem like they are her own, and she always wears the same thing out and about: jeans, sneakers, t-shirt, and a hoodie. I would love to see her in a chic pair of high-waisted trousers, a rocker tee, and a leather blazer. She would look so cool!

If you could give one fashion tip to anyone, what would it be?
My fashion would be to dress how you feel. Think about what inspires you, your hobbies, stories you love, places you have been to, etc., and in turn think about you can channel your inspiration into your clothes. Dress to represent yourself, and always dress for yourself and nobody else.


and now time for some fun QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS---

gold or silver?
gold

heels or flats?
both

vintage or DIY?
vintage

front row or backstage?
Backstage. That's where all the fun is!

lipstick or lipgloss?
lipstick
 
 
So make sure you check out Dylana on Nana in Wonderland!

Interview with Mary Beirne of gla.MAR.ous

I've met designer Mary Beirne a few times in the past while at different events. She designs for her label, gla.MAR.ous, which is so fabulous. I knew that her designs would be a favorite of my readers...so doing an interview with her seemed like the perfect idea!

Snapshot Fashion: Your zipper headbands are incredibly original...you even patented them. Explain to the readers that might not be familiar with your work, what sets your headbands apart from all the other ones out there?
Mary Beirne: I love headbands, not the headache that goes along with it. Two hours into wearing one my head would hurt and I would have to take it off. My headbands are different from others out there. For one, they are made from a zipper and two, they all are designed with adjustable straps so you can tighten or loosen them all you want! With the gla.MAR.ous headbands there will no more headaches in your life.

SF: What inspires your designs?
MB: I am inspired by everything and everyone around me. My dreams, art, nature, people and so much more. It's funny sometimes I get inspired by the oddest things. For example, the zipper headbands were inspired by a bin full of zippers and a headache! 

SF: You may be known for making amazing headbands, but you also make adorable party dresses. Do you see this line of dresses expanding?
MB: Yes, definitely. I have so many different designs that I can’t wait for everyone to see. I have so many different ideas that I would love to get out there. I definitely think people will be in for a surprise!

SF: Which designers do you look up to, and why?
MB: I like different pieces from many different designers. If there is one designer I would pick it would be Betsey Johnson. I look up to Betsey Johnson because she knows what a girl wants. She always has new creative dresses or tops that every girl needs to get her hands on. She has fun with her collection and is not afraid to take a chance. I love that about her. 

SF: Tell us about the first item you ever designed.
MB: It was a white sleeveless mermaid silhouette with a long beautiful train. It shapes the upper body to the knee, and then flares out to the hem. I am big fan of this silhouette which I find very elegant.

SF: Out of all of the items in the gla.MAR.ous shop, which item are you most proud of?
MB: I would have to say all of the headbands. The whole concept. You cannot find it anywhere else this is why it is patented. It is a one of a kind creation. I love that I designed something that is so versatile and will not give that headache! I designed this headband so that there is a way to wear it for everyone out there, whether it be worn in a traditional way, hippie style, zipped or unzipped.

SF: Where do you see yourself professionally in 5 years?
MB: I see myself as a well established designer with a full line of dresses, tops, shoes, and more. I would love to have my designs carried in stores worldwide, maybe I’ll even open a boutique. The possibilities are endless!

Please be sure to check out Mary's line, gla.MAR.ous. 

Interview with Amanda Rife

Many of you may remember that during NYFW last month I attended Sheila Frank's presentation and after party. While at the after party I met designer and artist Amanda Rife. I was very impressed when she told me that she actually made the scarves used in Sheila's show. I also thought it was really fun to know that she too is from central Pennsylvania. Such a sweet girl (we chatted all night), I told her I had to do an interview with her!  :-)

Here I am with Amanda at Sheila's after party.

Snapshot Fashion: Recently your scarves made their NYFW debut in Sheila Frank's show. How did you meet Sheila? How did the idea of using your scarves in her show come about?
Amanda Rife: I actually met Sheila while shopping for a bikini last summer. She was working in the store where I was looking for one and helped give me a final opinion on the bikini I was trying on and ended up buying. So for a while, she was just an acquaintance. I had absolutely no idea the magnitude of her talent in clothing design until she asked me for help on another project. From there we began talking and divulging our creative outlets and she mentioned to me that she needed to find someone who makes scarves. I told her that I had made them before so I made her a prototype to see if it was what she was looking for, and the rest unfolded from there.

SF: About how long does it take you to make one of you scarves?
AR: It usually only takes me a few days to make a scarf. I work on them when I want to relax but still do something creative. I’ve been making them for so long that it’s almost second nature, so I really enjoy the calming effect it has on me.

SF: When did you learn how to make scarves? Did someone teach you?
AR: I was always fascinated with knitting. I used to come home from elementary school, when my Sicilian great grandmother lived with us, and she’d always be watching her soaps, knitting, with a picture of Patrick Swayze next to her rocking chair. Ha! That image has always stuck with me and I was always intrigued as to how she made such beautiful afghans. When I went away to college, I decided to finally try and teach myself but couldn’t fully grasp it. So I asked my grandma, since my great grandmother had long since passed, and after watching her once, I picked it right up. That was 5 years ago and I’ve been knitting ever since.

See the rest of Snapshot Fashion's interview with Amanda (including more images and pricing) after the jump.

Interview with Sheila Frank

I caught up with designer Sheila Frank recently to hear all about her new spring 2010 collection and her recent fashion show. You might remember Sheila from a past interview we did with her.

Snapshot Fashion: You recently debuted your spring 2010 collection in a show in NYC alongside Kenley Collins, Marissa Erskine, and Elizabeth Rynish. Tell us about this experience.
Sheila Frank: It was nice to come together for a cause. Elizabeth Rynish started this organization called Seam Collective. They are all about female emerging designers. It was nice to have that girl power. Haha. But the main cause was for Gilda's Club, proceeds went to their organization. Also each designer donated a garment for the silent auction. All in all great experience to be around positive energy.

Snapshot Fashion: When you started to design your spring 2010 collection what vision did you have in mind?
Sheila Frank: I was looking at my mother's porcelain doll collection. I then started to think of the Elizabethan Era and my mind started to wander around the idea of Elizabethan nightgowns. I wanted to design ready to wear, so I thought of how I could interpret nightgowns into ready to wear.

Snapshot Fashion: You used a lot of navy and gray in your designs this time around...any reasoning for your color choices?

Sheila Frank: Yes! When I began designing, I was sitting at my desk and looked out the window. The sky was a blue gray, like it was about to storm. I just felt the color palette. It just felt right.
Snapshot Fashion: Describe your spring 2010 collection in three words.
Sheila Frank: Feminine, edgy, easy.


Be sure to look after the jump to read the rest of our interview with designer Sheila Frank.

Interview with Mahtab Azimi

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to interview a fabulous young designer: Mahtab Azimi. Mahtab started her line in 2008...but has been designing since she was very young. When I came across her website I was blown away by how beautiful her designs are. Here is a portion of our interview with her---

Snapshot Fashion: What sparked your interest in fashion design?
Mahtab Azimi: My love for fashion has been with me as long as I can remember. Beyond color and style the construction, the fabrics, the flow of a piece during movement and the magic in transforming yourself with clothing. A great dress or outfit can truly transform someone not only in look but in the aura exuded from the person wearing it. I feel my best when I wear dresses. To me a dress is the epitome of effortless chic so they’re a huge part of my wardrobe. My curves make it hard to find a dress that not only fits properly but is affordable. Feeling sexy in a dress should not require an overly provocative cut. For years I searched for such dresses and realized that there was a genuine need for an affordable line that was designed for women of all shapes and sizes. This is what sparked me to turn my childhood dream into reality. My goal with Mahtab Azimi is to create a line that is designed and tailored to flatter all women…so the size 12 dress is just as flattering as the size 2.

SF: If you could collaborate with any designer (living or dead) who would it be and why?
MA: Diane Von Furstenberg…she’s one of my biggest inspirations. She’s a genius at creating clothes that flatter women of all shapes and sizes and are easy to wear. That’s my goal and one of the reasons I started my own line…I would love to follow in her footsteps and create clothes that make women feel great and look beautiful without conforming to unrealistic ideals.

SF: Describe your collection in three words.
MA: Charming, effortless, chic

SF: What are your thoughts on celebrities that have their own clothing lines?
MA: I think it’s great. Fashion designers start from all walks of life. Most celebrities worked really hard to get where they are and if they feel they can contribute to the world of fashion…that’s wonderful. The variety and contrast in the fashion industry is what makes it so great…we all inspire each other whether it’s because you love the dress the designer did or you hate it…either way you’re inspired!

To read the interview in full please visit our Snapshot Fashion Facebook page. If you aren't a fan yet...ADD US! :)

Snapshot Fashion is the Delectable Blog of the Week

Snapshot Fashion is pleased to be featured as the Delectable Blog of the Week on Delectable Swank. If you have never checked out this site before you really should. It's all about fashion, beauty products, has a number of interviews with fellow bloggers, and so much more!

Thanks so much for featuring Snapshot Fashion!!!

Interview with Keiko Lynn

Keiko Lynn is quite a fashionista. I got pulled into her blog recently and got so hooked into seeing what bold colors and handmade pieces she was going to wear daily that I had to shoot her an email to see if she'd be up for an interview...and to my delight she said yes.

Here is a portion of our interview with Keiko---

Snapshot Fashion: What pushed you to create your fashion line, Postlapsaria?
Keiko Lynn: As a theatre major in college, I had no time for a regular job. I had a scholarship but didn't want to take out any loans for extra living expenses. Since I already spent a lot of my downtime altering thrift store finds for myself, it just made sense to start offering them for
sale. From there, it turned into a full time job and I began making original creations, in addition to the reconstructions.

SF: Who are your fashion icons?

KL: I often find that my style icons don't represent my personal taste. I just appreciate artistic ingenuity. I adore Iris Apfel and Anna Piaggi for their eclectic flair. However, I do have icons I look to for my own inspiration. Currently, I'm in love with Chuck, the fictional character of Pushing Daisies (may it rest in peace). I think her character's style somewhat reflects my own, so I might be a little biased. I'm also in awe of my great grandma (Moe) - she had impeccable style at my age (and beyond), and made all of her own clothing. She's the one who taught me how to sew!

SF: If you could give anyone a wardrobe makeover who would it be and why?

KL: My big sister. She is beautiful and magnetic, but she is utterly lazy about getting dressed and often looks like she is wearing pajamas. I tease her about it a lot, but I understand that not everyone is into fashion, and that's okay.

SF: We love seeing that you enjoy wearing bright and bold colors! Is there any color you won't wear?
KL: Absolutely not! I will wear any color you throw at me.

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To check out our entire interview with Keiko please stop by our MySpace page or our Facebook group.

Also, be sure to check out her line, Postlapsaria...as well as her fashion blog.

Interview with Julia Bristow

We recently have put together an interview with jewelry designer Julia Bristow. Her work is amazing...beautiful bead work, fun fruit jewelry, and rockin' guitar straps. We definitely see a bright future ahead of this talented designer! Even though she is rather new to this line of work, she comes off as a seasoned professional.

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Snapshot Fashion: What inspires you when you are designing jewelry?
Julia Bristow: I am very much inspired by the beads themselves and when I find some beautiful gemstones or flower beads, I find that I immediately think of something in nature that they remind me of and I usually then go on to create a piece of jewelry that looks similar to the nature scene I have in mind.

SF: What is your favorite type of jewelry to make?
JB: I have quite a variety and haven't actually discovered my favorite yet. I sometimes like weaving things with seed beads, which seems to be sort of a type of meditation to me. Since I love beads so much, I really enjoy making beaded charm bracelets as that allows me to use a large amount of beads to create an item filled with the combination of beads I like at the moment. Fruit jewelry is always fun. I really enjoy making healing gemstone jewelry I love working with gemstone beads – I love making something that has a purpose and that will hopefully help someone through a difficult time.

SF: Use three adjectives to describe your designs.
JB: Colorful, natureful, abundant!

SF: I love your fruit jewelry. How did you come up with that idea?
JB: I used to collect vintage jewelry and came across some old vintage fruit "Carmen Miranda" jewelry for sale on Ebay. I bought a few of them and once I learned to make jewelry, I had the desire to create a piece that was more realistic looking. I wanted it to have grapes that looked real and juicy. When I first started making these, I thought I was just making them for myself for my own collection, but they became quite popular and they are actually one of the most popular sellers on my site.

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You'll be pleased to know that Julia will be participating in a craft show/shopping event called "Unique Los Angeles". This will be taking place December 13th & 14th.
To read the entire interview we did with Julia please check out Snapshot Fashion's MySpace blog. Also make sure you stop by Julia Bristow Jewelry's website, blog, and MySpace page.

Interview with Jenny Yuen

We were fortunate enough to interview handbag designer Jenny Yuen. She's an amazing talent, and making quite a name for herself at such a young age. She has landed herself a number of coveted positions at famed industry studios including Jill Stuart, Twinkle by Wenlan, and Michael Kors. Her handbags have recently made it on to the pages of a number of magazines including: Seventeen, Nylon, Lucky, and Teen Vogue.
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Snapshot Fashion: What inspires your designs?
Jenny Yuen: I think anything and everything! But I really like watching old movies for inspiration or looking at old photos from fashion history books or art books.
I really like how old things have this classic and timeless quality to them, so these are somethings I really like to incorporate into my designs.

SF: How many handbags do you personally own?
JY: I think I own around 8-10 which is I guess a good amount but not a considerable amount considering I'm a handbag designer haha! I have usually have about 3 in rotation and I find that the less bags I own the better at designing them I become. I start imagining the perfect bag that I need so then in essence I have to design out of necessity.... if that makes any sense?

SF: What is the most challenging thing about being a designer?
JY: For me the most difficult thing is to keep focus and to shut out all the noise out there in the world about trends and what other people are doing, what's cool, what's not cool. what you should do, what you shouldn't do etc. etc. It's hard, but I try to stay focused and stay true to what I beleive is beautiful or interesting and what I want to express through my designs.

SF: What color handbag do you think every woman should have?
JY: Pink! I have a serious problem with the color pink sometimes. Pink heels, pink nails, pink phone, pink bag. It must have something to do with growing up in the 80's and all little girls toys were packed in hot pink packaging haha! But I think everyone has to have a pink bag. It's very girl, it's kitschy and most importantly, it's just fun!

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To read the rest of our interview with Jenny check out our blog on MySpace. Also, be sure to visit Jenny's website and MySpace page as well.

Interview with Rocket

We're so happy to have had the chance to catch up with our favorite female band, Rocket. If you are lucky enough to catch them perform live, we suggest you jump on this opportunity...we've seen them ourselves and they rock! Not only are they phenomenal performers, but they have an amazing sense of style. Time to talk fashion with these rockstar fashionistas...
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Snapshot Fashion: If you had to describe Rocket's overall style, what would you say it is?
Rocket: Our overall style is very colorful and fun, especially on stage. We don’t take ourselves too seriously and we always want our style to reflect that.

SF: What about your individual styles...
Lauren: Whatever's clever. I really just dress how I want and try not to follow the rules. I'm addicted to buying children's vintage jackets...
Lauren C: I seriously have a uniform of skinny jeans, old t-shirts and either sneakers or flat boots. I can't stop.
Roxie: Mish-Mosh Hodgepodge
Kristin: Black
Kelly: I'm a mix match kinda person. I'm a rocker with a twist of hipster and a dash of country.

SF: If your band were to have a uniform...what would it look like?
Rocket: We used to kind of have uniforms! When we first started we’d all dress up as sailors or debutantes or whatever to play a show. It was really fun to do that because every show had a different theme. Then, for a while, we got really into red and black. Right now we’re going through a super colorful phase: pink, red, green, purple, zebra stripes, silver…anything goes!

SF: If you could raid any celebrity's closet who would it be?
Lauren: Mary Kate Olsen and Gwen Stefani's.
Lauren C: the Olsen twins! They look cool and I think we are the same height.
Roxie: Russell Brand. Not his clothes closet, just his hair products.
Kristen: Johnny Cash
Kelly: Lara Croft (tomb raider)

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To read Snapshot Fashion's entire interview with Rocket please check out our blog on MySpace...and also make sure you check out Rocket's MySpace too!!!

Interview with Sheila Frank

We're very excited to announce that we're starting to do interviews here on Snapshot Fashion! Our first interview here is of the wonderful designer Sheila Frank.

Sheila Frank is a young designer that is making quite a name for herself. She is about to have her third fashion show in NYC, and has been quite an advocate of keeping her label free of all animal products, (including leather, wool and fur). From retro swimwear, to feminine dresses...her collection has a little something for everyone.
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Snapshot Fashion: Using only three adjectives, describe your clothing/swimwear collections.
Sheila Frank: feminine, whimsical, prudish

Snapshot Fashion: What inspires you?

Sheila Frank: Pretty much everything. For the Summer swim collection, I was inspired by vintage postcards and coney island. For the upcoming spring 09 collection I was inspired by the painting Lady Agnew of Lochnaw by John Singer Sargent. A friend of mine did a replica painting in college and I've always loved that piece.

Snapshot Fashion: What designers do you look up to?

Sheila Frank: Claire McCarddel, Vivinne, Betsey, Jennifer Nicholson. I also admire designers my age like Samantha Pleet, Erin Fetherston, Mooka Kinney, Mandate of Heaven. These ladies all have a strong vision, that is very inspiring.

Snapshot Fashion: On September 11th you will be showing your

Spring 2009 ready-to-wear collection in NYC. What should we be expecting to see in this show?
Sheila Frank: Ooooh... I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the direction of the collection. It's not retro by anymeans...I feel it fresh and whimsy...

You'll see dresses and seperates. The fabrics are rich but muted and subtle. The vibe I'd like to portray would be almost a fairytale. I'm still includeing swimwear, since that is my passion. But it will be mixed with seperates, and woven details. You must come to this show! It's going to fantastic :)

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To read our entire interview with Sheila Frank please stop on over to Snapshot Fashion's MySpace Blog. Also, be sure to check out Sheila's website and MySpace page!!!