Gaby Basora’s collaboration with Zoe Cassavetes has been making the rounds for a few weeks now, and everyone at Shopbop HQ is smitten with the short fashion film. In a silent movie featuring Liberty Ross, the Tucker clothing, with its unique prints and airy silhouettes, really steals the scene. Check it out, then shop Tucker by Gaby Basora.

--Amie

First, it should be said that this is not your standard hemp jewelry. In its latest collection, Citrine by the Stones bypassed the puka shells and transformed a handicraft favorite into something contemporary and refined. These necklaces, bracelets, and earrings are eclectic and smart riffs on the traditional fiber, dyed deep shades of red, green, and blue, and accented with the label’s signature hammered gold.

Wear the Stones’ take on spring’s sporting trend with a pretty DVF dress, or use them to dress up a more casual summer ensemble.

--Amie

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A fashion industry vet—she’s a stylist and has editing stints at Harper’s Bazaar, Lucky, and InStyle on her résumé—Ariela Suster merged her professional expertise and her family roots to develop Sequence jewelry, a bold collection with an inspiring story. We got the scoop behind Suster’s design vision and working with artisans in her home country of El Salvador.

SHOPBOP: Tell us a bit about why you decided to launch Sequence.
ARIELA SUSTER: I had been working in magazines and would edit and style collections from other designers. I always had a vision that one day I would use my experience to create a brand that would make a difference in people’s lives, especially for people in El Salvador, where I grew up and where my whole family currently lives.

SB: What is the meaning behind the name of your brand?
AS: The word “sequence,” for me, has a very spiritual meaning. I found that it kept coming up: whether it was referring to the sequence of events that led me to take this next step in my life and launch my own brand; to the precise sequence the threads need to be placed in each of the pieces to create the different combination of colors; or to the impact that I aspire this brand to have in positively influencing the sequence of young people’s lives in at-risk communities in El Salvador, changing their path into one filled with positive opportunities.

SB: How did you transition the traditional El Salvador style into something that would play in the American market?
AS: I work very closely with a group of young artisans that is now dedicated to creating Sequence designs. With their artisanal expertise, I wanted to retain a lot of the techniques and traditional shapes of El Salvador, like braids and knots that are used in furniture and in traditional hammocks. I was inspired by those shapes and translated them into pieces that could be worn and would make a statement.

SB: The pieces really do make a statement. What is the inspiration behind the color palette?
AS: The aesthetic and design of the collection showcases the juxtaposition of light and darkness. In the summer collection, we used some dark tones to represent the hardship and violence young people face in El Salvador, and contrasted them with bright neon colors that represent the hope, positive outlook, and happiness of being able to express their creativity and make a difference in their lives and in the lives of others.

Three pieces from the new HELMUT collection.

Helmut Lang, known for its deceptively simple designs, has redefined basics as we know them with the launch of HELMUT, a collection of cut-and-sew kinetic jersey and voltage rib pieces. The signature asymmetry plays a vital role in this stripped-down collection of HELMUT tees, tanks, skirts, and dresses, and like the main Helmut Lang collection, the pieces are innovative plays on proportion and line. Each is designed to stand alone or integrate into any wardrobe, and they’re infused with a quiet cool, making a strong statement in an understated way.

Shop HELMUT clothing.

--Amie

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Personal style is incredibly unique, so when a brand like Edith A. Miller is scooped up by all the individually-chic ladies in our studio, there’s reason to take notice. Designed by Jennifer Murray and Nancy Gibson, this collection draws inspiration from a 100-year-old heritage brand to create silhouettes that pay homage to independent American women.

“We are obsessing over Edith A. Miller right now!” says Shopbop stylist Loni. “The bold stripes and colors inject a look with so much. Red or navy stripes feel preppy and nautical, while the black and cream really lend a punky, retro vibe.”

To get in on the trend, pair a striped tee with distressed jeans, or try a soft jumpsuit with a floppy hat. However it’s worn or styled, this USA-made collection will earn an easy place in any wardrobe.

Shop Edith A. Miller.

--Libby S.

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It’s hard to look at Katie Ermilio’s spring 2012 collection and not want to get in touch with your feminine side. Each piece feels as though it stepped out of a more refined time, an aesthetic that is not surprising given tailoring is in Ermilio’s blood: she’s the granddaughter of Grace Kelly’s personal clothier.

Ermilio’s design signature is marked in sharp lines countered with soft drape. For spring, she matched fitted bodices and full skirts, creating a throwback feel that could have walked out of the 1950s, but Ermilio is every bit the modern designer. Peeks of skin and unexpected layers are of-the-moment, perfect for the graceful, contemporary woman.

Wear one of her frocks to the next wedding on your summer agenda. Or, brides-to-be, do your bridesmaids a favor and pick a Katie Ermilio dress for your best girls to wear on your big day.

Shop Katie Ermilio spring 2012.

--Amie

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Launched in Los Angeles in 2004, the Magda Berliner Vintage Collection is rooted in the designer’s fondness for Victorian-era finery. Each piece is hand-assembled using vintage lace, making the dresses and skirts truly one-of-a-kind. We spoke with Magda Berliner about this modern-meets-romantic collection.

SHOPBOP: Tell us about the Magda Berliner Vintage Collection.
MAGDA BERLINER: This segment of my main collection, Magda Berliner, began about eight years ago, and it’s become integral to my identity as a designer. When I launched Magda Berliner in 2001, I promoted using vintage fabrics, and the Vintage Collection is an extension of that ethos, while maintaining the romance and femininity of the brand.

SB: Each dress is hand assembled using vintage lace. What inspired you to take this direction?
MB: Like many, I have a soft spot for Victorian-era cottons, and I had accumulated some edgings—ribbons and bits of vintage lace and crochet. Bored and inspired one evening, I started piecing together the bits on my dress form, and voila! After years of doing this hand assembling, I have an eye for what the garment will become, and I welcome the challenge of building new designs each season.

SB: Can you tell us a little more about how you source the lace you use? Who sews the pieces?
MB: Visiting flea markets and shows for years, I have befriended many collectors and dealers who keep me in steady supply. I have the same seamstress for the ready-to-wear collection sew the vintage pieces as well.

SB: How does your location, Los Angeles, influence your design?
MB: The climate does influence my work. We are quite lucky to have fair weather most of the year, and the lace works well for that lifestyle. I must confess, a little bohemian vibe has rubbed off on me after all this time in the Canyon.

SB: Who is the woman you’re designing for?
MB: She is independent. She knows her own style and wears it well.

Shop Magda Berliner.

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Launched in Spain in 1919 and moved to Paris in 1937, Cristobal Balenciaga’s House of Balenciaga embodied the essence of Parisian elegance, counting some of Europe’s most influential women among its customers before the designer shuttered the label in 1968. Balenciaga was relaunched nearly twenty years later, in 1986, as a ready-to-wear collection, but it wasn’t until Nicolas Ghesquiere took the helm in 1997 that the brand was revitalized to the creative force it once was.

Balenciaga sunglasses retain the brand’s sophisticated and unique spirit, drawing inspiration from design and architecture, modern elements, and a passion for shape and construction. The frames are bold and elegant, an urbane statement in graceful lines.

Shop Balenciaga eyewear.

--Amie

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Drawing on a background in art and styling, Michael Angel launched his eponymous collection in 2007, and he quickly caught the industry’s attention with his innovative use of digital prints. Largely thanks to these prints, Michael Angel clothing is arrestingly atypical at first glance yet grounded in classic cuts, making the collection particularly wearable.

For the spring 2012 season, the designer drew inspiration from his Egyptian roots (his mother is from Cairo), using his digital signature to manipulate a portrait of Cleopatra and the floor plans of the Egyptian pyramids. Just as we'd expect from this designer, the silhouettes are easy and refined, allowing the prints to act as the focal point of the collection.

Shop Michael Angel spring 2012.

--Amie

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Looks from the Marc by Marc Jacobs spring 2012 runway.

For spring 2012, Marc Jacobs built yet another covetable collection for his Marc by Marc Jacobs label, putting his signature whimsical twist on clean-lined, classic silhouettes. The feel of the collection, from the visors to the noteworthy shoes, was pure sport: lightweight fabrics manipulated into relaxed silhouettes with plenty of bold colorblocking. In his play with color, bright orange stood out among navy, royal blue, and Kelly green, while the prints were kept simple in minimalist graphics and red, white, and blue stripes.

And, because it wouldn’t be a Marc by Marc collection without a touch of the retro, pretty peplums on tops, skirts, and dresses felt like a modern throwback to 1940.

Shop Marc by Marc Jacobs spring 2012.
Shop Marc by Marc Jacobs shoes.

--Amie

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Music and entertainment play a key role in inspiring Quebec-born Jerome C. Rousseau’s eponymous footwear label. The designer started drawing shoes as a teenager after watching a Deee-Lite video, and today, based in LA, the entertainment industry’s influence is palpable: Rousseau’s shoes have become mainstays of the red carpet, and his designs were used as oversized props in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

But this collection is not exclusively about celebrity appeal. Handcrafted in Italy using the finest techniques and leathers, it backs up its starry eyes with a luxurious, sensual aesthetic. “Shoes are real objects of seduction,” says the designer. “Women’s postures change when they wear a specific pair of shoes—their mood, their attitude, the way they present themselves.” Jerome C. Rousseau shoes help this transformation with meticulous construction to support their unique design.

--Amie

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From left: Full Skirt Maxi Dress, Silk Shirtdress, Print Silk Dress.

On his spring 2012 runway, Yigal Azrouël did what he does best: he made the trends of the moment feel utterly accessible. The designer struck a perfect balance between elegant and sexy, merging boxy angles and feminine silhouettes in a collection that is simultaneously contemporary and timeless. The hemlines stayed modest, with suggestive slits sprinkled in at just the right moments, and the color palette was a clean mix of bold primaries and easy neutrals.

Shop Yigal Azrouël spring 2012.

--Amie

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From left: button down & tulle skirt; Bora Bora dress; striped shorts & matching jacket.

Under new creative leadership—Chinese natives Ling Liu and Dawei Sun—French label Cacharel turned out a light, elegant collection in their signature cheerful style for spring 2012. Easy tailoring was matched with elegant origami folds, while the color palette felt exactly right: icy shades gave way to warm orange and deep blue, then faded back to watercolor neutrals. The abstract floral prints were standouts in this collection, particularly the tangerine and pale blue mix on the Bora Bora Dress, a welcome addition to any feminine wardrobe.

Shop Cacharel spring 2012.

--Amie

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With a background that includes surfing the waves off the sunny beaches of Maui and modeling swimwear for some of fashion’s top publications, it’s really no wonder Tori Praver took to designing bikinis, one-pieces, and cover-ups. The Tori Praver Swimwear collection is conceived with a woman’s body in mind: pieces are cut to be both sexy and supportive and work as well for surfing as they do for sunbathing. We took a moment to ask Tori about her spring/summer 2012 collection.

Shopbop: Tell us a little about the spring/summer 2012 collection. What was your inspiration?
Tori Praver: I was really inspired by summer itself: the bright colors, the way it makes you feel excited about warm weather and the beach, laying out by the pool, sun, water. I wanted to incorporate as many colors as possible and get as creative as I could. That’s how I got the idea to work with colorblocking.

SB: We love the colorblocking in this collection. How did you land on the color pairings that you chose?
TP: I took my favorite colors from the resort 2012 collection and added some of my most favorite brights. I wanted to marry colors you wouldn’t immediately expect to see together. I wanted it to feel rich but also fun, allowing you to be creative and mix and match. For instance, pair a colorblock top with a solid bottom.

SB: Could you tell us a little more about the color palette you worked with?
TP: I used several bright colors like orange, pink, and yellow, but also a few deep colors like olive green, dark red, and black to make color combinations that would stand out.

SB: We adore the vintage feel of the Betty and Marilyn styles. What is it about that aesthetic that appeals to you?
TP: I love the ’60s. The characters and people of this era really stand out in my mind as style icons, from Gidget to Brigitte Bardot to Marilyn Monroe. When designing, I refer to these women and try to bring back the sexiness and confidence they portrayed.

Shop Tori Praver spring 2012.
Check out some of Tori’s designs in our Swimwear Lookbook.

Above, swimwear designer Tori Praver.

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From left: Rainbow Impression Dress; Chevron Blazer and Pants; Ribbed Dress.

For spring 2012, Nathalie Rykiel and Creative Director April Crichton returned the Sonia Rykiel label to what it does so well: Left Bank gamine. At the runway show in Paris last October, models walked a sunny yellow line (both literally and figuratively) as the upbeat collection mingled the label’s signature knits with relaxed tailoring. The color palette had a neutral focus with occasional pops of yellow and black until the very end, when the show made a dramatic shift: two voluminous gowns in bold tangerine and fuchsia.

Shop Sonia Rykiel spring 2012.

--Amie

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“The Newbury Boot was our attempt at making the most perfect boot for the New York girl—easy to walk in, but high enough to feel feminine, and clean enough to be able to wear with everything.”

--Rag & Bone Shoe and Accessory Designer Lauren Bucquet

Check out the Who What Wear/Coveteur peek inside the Rag & Bone design offices.
Shop Rag & Bone shoes.

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From left: Johnseen Jumpsuit; Veltry Blazer and Boymuda Shorts; Sunny Top and Adella Skirt.

Diane von Furstenberg titled her spring 2012 collection “Beginnings,” and down the runway came blooming florals and the very essence of positivity. DVF used pops of tangerine and hits of pastel to set off bold, happy patterns, while her signature femininity—in the form of flowing fabrics and lace accents—was countered with menswear-influenced pieces, like clean-lined blazers and tailored shorts and trousers.

Shop DVF spring 2012.

--Amie

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Kalmanovich Designer Julia Kalmanovich.

Russian Designer Julia Kalmanovich is coming to America. The launch of her Kalmanovich clothing label on Shopbop marks her US debut, and this Moscow-based brand is sure to make a splash. Offering a unique perspective informed by global street style and the designer’s Russian heritage, Kalmanovich is a collection for the modern woman’s wardrobe. We spoke with Julia about her unique fashion background (she has a master’s in finance), her Russian roots, and the inspiration behind Kalmanovich.

SHOPBOP: Tell us a little about how you got your start in fashion design.
JULIA KALMANOVICH: You will never believe it, but I studied economics and got my master’s degree in finance. Fashion, however had always been a big part of my life, and at some point, it became more than just a passion. I enrolled at the Zaitsev Academy while I was at university, so parallel to studying all the different investment products on the global market, I was also learning how to construct fancy dresses, design coats, and work with leather. As I got deeper into the world of fashion design, I knew that I wanted to make this my profession.

I do have to say that my knowledge in finance has been so helpful, crucial even, in getting me this far. I do not regret having spent five years of my life studying it. My heart, however, lies in making clothes and dressing myself and more importantly, the people around me.

SB: How does your Russian heritage influence your collections?
JK: Many different aspects of the Russian heritage influence my work, and indeed we do have a very rich and vast history. I am a big fan of Russian classical literature, and as a child, I would always imagine the different characters I read about—what they looked like, their manners, their voices, facial expressions, and how they were dressed.

Spend a moment seaside with the Nightcap Clothing spring 2012 collection. The brand tapped 4th and Bleeker blogger Alexandra Spencer to star in their latest dreamy video.

Shop Nightcap Clothing.

Designer Hussein Chalayan.

Hussein Chalayan is arguably one of the industry’s most innovative talents. Known for taking an experiential and experimental approach to design, his runway shows never fail to excite and inspire. The designer’s latest endeavor is Chalayan: a capsule collection with an effortless air defined by clean lines, gentle fabrics, and a muted color palette.

SHOPBOP: Describe your current collection in three words or less.
HUSSEIN CHALAYAN: Modern, minimal, cool. 

SB: What inspires you most?
HC: My insatiable curiosity.

SB: What music is currently on repeat in your studio?
HC: Kate Bush’s newest album, 50 Words for Snow.

Shop Chalayan.

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