There are many pre-parties for Fashion Week, and last night we had the honor of attending one of them. Personally invited by the honoree, Matt Levine of Steelo, the party was buzzing with industry folk, local celebs, models, and a slew of very well dressed fashionites and trendsetters. The brand encompasses en entire lifestyle which was evident throughout the crowded lounge, most of whom were wearing pieces from Steelo’s (which means ’style’) latest collection. Matt, wearing, of course, one his own creations greeted all guests and happily posed for press photos.

He started the collection back in 2004 with the idea of fusing together nightlife, entertainment, and fashion. ‘’My first collection was comprised of just t-shirts and customized blazers. I wanted to start off slow where the mistake and setbacks would be minimal. The first piece I created was a shirt entitled ‘I Love Paparazzi’ which was featured on the NBC Today Show—worn by Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. It was actually a men’s sweater, but women loved the oversized look of it. I was sold out of it immediately.”

With this kind of celebrity endorsing your threads, Steelo was sure to to a huge hit throughout the industry.

“In creating Steelo I wanted to create a sophisticated collection with style, fresh with elegance, the Lower East Side fused with Wall Street, the confidence of New York, the influence of Los Angeles, and the creativity of Japan.”

A true visionary, Matt believes that “if you sell to the right store, the right people will buy it.” Whatever his strategy, the boy is doing something right and we definitely respect his passion for the industry. His collection is available locally and online at Caravan.

Written by Rebecca Alexander

I just got an email from the guys at To Die For Clothing and I’ve got to say I kind of like there stuff. There designs are inspired by graffiti, tattoos, and other art, and the results are pretty cool. I generally don’t like design companies where they use there names in a lot of the designs, but somehow it works for To Die For, because it seems to be more focused on the wearer as opposed to the design company. Anyway, if your tired of seeing Ed Hardy shirts everywhere you look check these guys out.

If there’s one thing that usually renders me particularly vexed, its pretentious fashion. Fashion should be fun, because at the end of the day, what’s in this week, will be out the next. Ah fashion, a fickle friend indeed. Besides, when you’re young (as am I), you might as well enjoy your neon, and lamé while you can still pull it off. And if there’s one label that knows how to have a good time, that label would certainly be Pa:nuu.

The Danish label, brainchild of Catharine Nielsen and Jacob Hoilund, doesn’t use “analysis, market research, color scales, trend boards, or the likes thereof.” Where they do pull from however are the 80s, acid-pop, and bold prints that would give Jem a run for her money.

For nearly two years the fashion blogosphere has been delightfully entertained by the stylish musings a bubbly character from the UK. Susanna Lau (Susie Bubble as she’s called by her readers) is one fashionista who knows a good look and isn’t afraid to share it. Known for snapping photos of herself in over the top get ups from some of fashions most prolific designers, Susie has developed a cult like following all looking to her for her daily word on style.

I caught up with little miss Bubble to ask her about her style, her inspirations, and which city has the hottest looks.

LG: How long does it take you to get dressed in the morning?SL: It depends on where I’m going but somewhere between 10 and 20 minutes. I don’t tend to try on different outfits as I have a fairly fixed idea of what I’m going for in my head as soon as I’ve woken up.

LG: What do you consider a fashion faux pas?

SL: I don’t really believe in the that phrase. Or at least I think it’s used in a very silly way. There is no such thing as a faux pas if you wear everything with conviction. So I guess the faux pas is wearing something without conviction?

LG: Do you feel a person should dress age accordingly?

SL: I don’t really believe in age-appropriate dressing as it really depends on the person. I’ve seen 50 year olds rock studded shoes mixed with Aztec printed dresses perfectly well. I don’t really guess people’s age that well either so if they’re wearing a non-age appropriate outfit, I probably wouldn’t know!

LG: What is one thing every girl/guy should have in their wardrobe?

SL: Something that makes them feel invincible when they walk out of the door. For me, it’s my pink Miu Miu Pop platform shoes. It might be something entirely different for someone else.

LG: Who do you consider fashion icons?

SL: Would it be entirely wrong if I said I don’t have one? ‘Fashion Icon’ is a heavy title that I don’t use lightly so for me, I haven’t really found that person.

LG: Who/what do you look to for inspiration?

SL: The weather, my collection of historical biographies, countless stacks of magazines, Etsy, Ebay, countless number of blogs, fabric stores, films, the streets of London

LG: Who is your favorite designer?

SL: I love so many designers work, it’s very hard to name one favorite but I guess the work that I’m constantly intrigued by is Olivier Theyskens.

LG: Favorite fashion capital/ For what reason?

SL: London because I know it the best and because I like seeing new and exciting talent emerge from the place which I know so well. Though Paris comes a very close second.

LG: Which has better fashion Hong Kong or London? How do they differ?

SL: London has a much more diverse array of fashion both in street style and what is available in shopping. Thought he style aesthetic of style in Hong Kong is perceived as being more outrageous than it is in London, it’s quite limited and very one-dimensional for me. For womenswear, it sometimes errs on the overly cute side of things for me.

For more from Susie Bubble visit StyleBubble.Typepad.com

Wanna Share Your Fashions Online?  Visit Trendible.com.

This dude reeks of cool.  Here’s his bio where he shares his love of Trendible Brand Fred Sperry and hi 3/4 Algonquin descendantcy.

“I’m 1/2 French,5/8 Irish, 1/3 Iroquois,3/4 Algonquin and still trying to master fractions, living and learning! I’m in 2: Chinese bowl hair, London England, Fashion, Black & White Photography, Old 4X5 Cameras, Salvation, Fred Perry, Cheese and cheezy lines, Seafood: ma petite terror crevette! Vinyls, Collecting moments and weird objects, bloody wankers, architectural tragedies, Wall paper, WAD Magazine, drinking POP, fucking SNACKing and staying off the CRACKLE!, stockings, fucking around, Pirate pornos… RRRRRRRRRRR!! People who read my fucking around non-sense!”

Check him out: Click Here

My attitude towards jewelry has changed drastically since the days of my youth; when I was little (alright, I was never little– let’s say younger) jewelry was fun, never fussy. Trying strands of my mother’s pearls, and diamonds seemed a tad bit more playful than it does now. Although in those days, I knew nothing of Harry Winston or Mikimoto– I, just as most any other girl, took much delight in the the way a diamond glimmered when the light hit it.

But recently, the whimsy I once knew has been rekindled, thanks to a recent influx of a few jewelers who’ve taken on a lighter approach to precious metals and stones. One such line is Italian label Toy Me. With just about as many pop culture references as a Jeremy Scott show, they mix high-end and low-end to create pieces which are fun, yet chic. But their name is not just a result of their playful element; in past collections, many of the pieces were actual toys, plated in gold and other precious medals. Their Fall 2008 collection is inspired by none other than the Fonz, himself. And to be quite honest, I’ll pick a silver charm reproduction of a leather jacket (complete with a comb protruding from the pocket) over a boring, “Return to Tiffany” bracelet anyday.

Our friends at Brand Pimps give us a little peak at some of the designers they have lined up for this week’s Capsule. Hope your ready cause Trendible will be there giving designers the royal treatment on Trendible.com.

Clean silhouettes, in a palette of basics and colorful pops characterizes Yoko Devereaux’s Fall/Winter 2008 collection titled ‘Holding Up the Heiress,’ inspired by the darker side of America’s fascination with high society and celebrity. Yoko Devereaux continues to reinterpret traditional men’s tailoring through the use of fleece and jersey and is expanding the collection with new fabrications like tweed and a full wovens program as well as outerwear and trousers for fall. All graphics in this collection incorporate direct imagery from the works of artist Charles Lutz. The Yoko Devereaux Fall / Winter 2008 collection will debut at the (capsule) show Jan 22 & 23. And, the brand will be staging its first runway show in several seasons d at Pier 92 on January 21 at 6pm.

Hey Indies. Here’s a new fairly original little shoe designer out of Italy that is making some major waves in the US for it’s collection of affordable ($200 is affordable right?) collection of metalic shoesies. Apapezza’s collection of shoes have a look that includes futuristic silver, leather bullet wedge booties. Ultra shiny metallic zip shoe with a lean tapered toe and silver shade to clear heels. You can find the shoes at OAK which are on sale for 40% off. Happy shoepping. (shoe shopping, new word so write it down and spread it like butter.)

Hi, I’m Lisa, the new kid on the block.

Fashion is not my passion. I believe fashion is something that should just happen.

I’ll never try to look good. I hate when people say “fashion is my passion.” To me, it sounds like nails on a chalk board.

I grew up on Long Island (and kind of still live there) and hate nearly everything about it, most of all the lack of imagination. The majority of young people (15-28) residing on Long Island are either a walking logo for American Eagle or Hollister, or are scene, punk or emo.

Social categories are lame but the people who adhere to them are more so.

My personal style depends on whatever mood I am in but primarily on quality and budget.

I have no problem spending the cash on a product that can endure prolonged expenditure.

So things have been moving swimmingly lately as Trendible and Fashion Indie move closer to a partnership/merger which will make us less like surface BFF’s Carrie and Samantha and more actual BFF’s like Winnie and Furstenburger. The end result is looking promising with one solo office to run both companies out of and a combined staff of nearly a dozen fully dedicated types to get both companies moving at high speed. In the end I’ll be Presidente/CEO of two of the most forward thinking companies in independent fashion. Not bad for a 24 year old hispanicle from the Bronx.

I’ve been doing a ton of retrospective type thinking lately as I see the progress that Fashion Indie has made in three (so extremely short it’s scary) years. Back then me and Busie (my rarely credited partner who is the shiznit) were hustling to get things going and now things have just been coming easy. Back then we had to call people on the regular, now they call us. It’s been a good transition and with our fourth season of fashion week upon us, we’re realizing how much fun we had with our original fashion crew, which brings me to my first point. This fashion week we’ll be teaming up with Cassie Krugler of New York Couture to dish out a fashion event unlike any other. Live performances, multiple dj’s, burlesque troops, and the craziest fashion show to hit the street since the Heatherette boys were in power (oh wait they still are?).

Just a little history for y’all, Cassie was one of the first designers we ever worked with. She was responsible for showing us the ropes and teaching us a little Fashion Show 101 back in the day. Now she’s touring Warped Tour and Bamboozle, with a massive following of Couture devotees. Guess we know how to pick them.

Aside from that Designers for Humanity is building up speed. We’re talking with Chefs for Humanity and are possibly working on some joint events in the future which will connect our designers to their celebrity chefs. Things are still on the hush but you’ll get more details soon.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot the best part. MTV has contacted Fashion Indie cause they want to shoot us for an upcoming episode of True Life. (I know totally holey shiitake mushrooms). They’re doing this whole thing on “I’m Going to Fashion Week” and we are on their list. Get to know this face indies, cause once I blow up you’ll only see me in your dreams. Don’t worry, I’ll always remember the little people.

Until Next Time Indies…