LYRA MAG.

ANTWERP’s FASHION SCHOOL GRADUATES & FLEMISH BASED DESIGNERS MARC-PHILLIPE COUDEYRE, LENNY LELEU ANKE LOH, ANNE HEYLEN, IDRIZ JOSSA, PETER CEURSTERS, STEPHAN SCHNEIDER FLANDERS HOUSE, THE NEW YORK TIMES BUILDING, NYC Words/Images Judith Ecochard The Flanders Fashion Institute a division of the Flanders District of Creativity (yes, they have those things in Europe…where they ‘get’ how important art is to life)… STEPHAN SCHNEIDER And the stunning Flanders House hosted a packed, packed presentation of several talented designers during New York’s recent fashion week.   PETER CEURSTERS We wish we had more time…as the collective collections were all of very high quality…and we just got to half of what was presented. To start… We chatted with MARC-PHILLIPE COUDEYRE , who reached back to the King Arthur legend for his “magical and mystical” separates-all made in Belgian ateliers. Middle Ages were definitely updated a few centuries, hence,  with luxe leather metallic jackets, s

  SCANDINAVIAN BRANDS WITH WARM DNA + FASHIONABLE DESIGNS OUTDOOR RETAILER, SLC UTAH   Words/Images Judith Ecochard   Winter 2010/2011 felt a lot warmer after spending some time in the Scandinavian Village area of the massive Outdoor Retailer show. And it wasn’t just the fab java or yummy happy hour liquids that packed in the buyers (and other exhibitors too). It was the top-notch STYLE savvy, technically proficient brands at this nordic enclave... that are making major inroads, sales wise, into the States. A larger crowd than the year prior turned out, for sure. From Iceland, 66° North , is a major historic (since 1926) brand that's is a massive label in certain parts of the world.  We gravitated towards the trendy apparel from a group deemed “ Icelandic Living .”  A bunch of looks, we thought, were some of the most stylish (and seriously toasty warm) pieces of outerwear and we saw all week. Made in their own factories (mostly) the quality is 100% primo…as “…creating clothe

GENIUS!!!!

TOUGH LUV, BUFFALO BY DAVID BITTON,  FREE GOLD WATCH Garment District, NYC Words/Images Judith Ecochard A pop-up showroom, featuring mostly California based designers…had clothes with rocker edge casual wear--- that reminds us of why that part of the U S A leads the trends when it comes to denim-based attire. TOUGH LUV Clothing, owned and designed by Elaine Lai has gothic dark sensibilities mashed up with “calmed down pieces” for a vintage feel, washed in comfort…as in separates made from super soft cotton, French terry, etc. We liked the Euro chic styling, the arty use of hardware (zippers) for the functional/decorative…and fun, flirty (i.e. ruffles edges on a grrrrlll motor jacket) details on the fitted silhouettes. Buffalo by David Bitton has denim pants every which way imaginable. Outerwear pieces for Fall 2010 includes this pleather puffy---with great tapered lines for some flair that doesn’t make the wearer puffed, Jeggings…in terrif animal prin