Idiosyncratic Style

This week’s IFB links selection edited by Fashion Pulse Daily

• For Those About to Shop - Breeyn McCarney finds beauty in despair
• Maple Sucre - Women x Women Ex: Inspiring Women to get Behind the Lens
• Fashion Pulse Daily - A new way to think via ‘The Thoughtful Dresser’
• Retro Chick - Video Tutorial: Vintage style victory roll fringe bangs
• Idiosyncratic Style - Recycled Style Project: A DIY paperclip necklace
• Tweet - Simon Ekrelius: Chalk, Mirrors and Confessions
• The Coveted - March Springs, April Showers…. Floral Umbrella for Spring
• 39th and Broadway - The person who determines how your clothes fit
• Fasshonaburu - Wedding palettes can be inspiring color combinations
• M.I.S.S. - The Rag Trade: Wear it Now or Wear it Later
• Chic Steals - What happens to clothing once it’s donated to a charity?
• Dedicated Follower of Fashion - The spring collection from Stylesmith
• Denim Debutante - 3 things you probably didn’t know about your jeans
• Evoluer - I came across a mint vintage Chanel at the local thrift stores
• House in Tillford - An interview with 2 big blogs: how to grow your own blog
• Independent Fashion Bloggers - Microsoft’s KIN : The Social Media Phone
• Oranges and Apples - Two different ways to wear your vintage
• Some Kind of Style - Meet Mr. Sartorialist while he’s in town…
• Style Eyes - Couture: What is really the point of it?
• TheWellAppointedCatwalk - Suneri on Newbury Street
• TheWorkingWardrobe - 25 blazers for 25 different styles and body types
• TrueQueen - Trend Watching - Can Sweat Pants be Sexy?
• Widespread - A new SF store who gathers inspiration from the world

Idiosyncratic Style favorite, Fashion Designer Breeyn McCarney for her signature label, Breeyn McCarney and it’s budget-friendly sister line Another Word For Pink.

Breeyn wearing her own designs | Photographed by Christopher Lewis

Working on?
My F/W 2010 collection and my first independent fashion show (Thursday March 18, 2010). As soon as that’s finished I start the Another Word For Pink (AWFP) S/S collection, plus commissions for personal pieces including bridal gowns.

Favorite piece from your F/W10 collection?
So hard to say, I’ve put so much time, energy and thought into all of them. I am excited to wear the grey plaid jacket. I make a selection of sample sizes for stylists on editorial shoots and charity fashion shows, but I try to make the sample jackets to fit myself, too. They take so long to make that I’m unlikely to re-make one just for myself. So I wait until the season is over and then it’s mine.

Breeyn McCarney F/W 2010 Collection | Photographed by Mike Lewis

Your Creative Block Remedy?
Wow, here is a reveal. I talk to my ‘imaginary friend’. Ha ha ha…

Your Fashion Icon?
Vince Noir (The Mighty Boosh)

Your Idiosyncratic Style?
Vagabond. I think I might be a bit sloppy, but glam sloppy. Almost everything I wear is vintage or thrifted. I think Marla Singer (Fight Club) had great style (but cleaner).

Breeyn wearing a thrifted coat | Photographed by Christopher Lewis

Your ‘Old Faithful’?
A t-shirt my dad gave my mum 34 yrs ago wiith “Big Steve loves me” on the front and “So watch out” on the back. It’s black with awesome orange fuzzy letters. It’s the most perfect fitting t-shirt. It’s pretty threadbare, but I keep wearing it.

The Best Book?
Catch-22

Your Most Influential Artist?
Alexander McQueen. I was so destroyed the day he died. I’ve already got the concept for my F/W11 show and there will be a nod to McQueen in it. He’s shaped my whole approach to fashion – the detail, the craftsmanship, the tailoring…

Breeyn wearing a Natasha Ferro cape | Photographed by Christopher Lewis

Your Favorite City?
London, England.

In a time machine you’d go back to?
I really like modern amenities like hot water and clean plumbing, but even from a strictly ‘fashion’ stand-point, I reckon we’re the in best one now. Lots of things in the past looked nice, but it wouldn’t be so great to faint going up some stairs because your corset is too tight. Now we have so many options.

Your Guilty Pleasures?
Lady Gaga and watching the same movies over and over.

Your Favorite childhood game?
Dress up.

Breeyn wearing a necklace from her collection | Photographed by Christopher Lewis

Your ‘Superhero’ name and power would be?
Undefined Girl. Unfortunately, I can’t reveal my powers in an interview.

The cause you would give your all to?
The planet. It’s dying, and it makes me sad.

Your Style Advice?
No sweat pants. No Uggs. No jammies in public. Other than that, dress in what you’re most comfortable in.

What’s next?
Big things? I never know, I just work as hard as I can and see where it goes. I’d like to try for Project Runway Canada if they do another season.

Breeyn wearing items from Value Village | Photographed by Christopher Lewis

You can follow Breeyn on Twitter for updates, info and fun ‘tweets’.

This holiday season give your wardrobe a high-impact boost with Another Word For Pink, the budget-friendly sister label of Breeyn McCarney’s signature line.

Sequin Dress ($75) & Bowtie ($30) AWFP, Clutch ($30) BKS

Another Word For Pink makes pieces to order based on 3 easy-to-take measurements, so you can get custom couture at affordable prices. They ship to fashion friends across the globe, but Toronto style-makers can arrange pick up and save on the cost of shipping . Turn around time is currently about 2 weeks, but they are always willing to try to accommodate rush orders for special events.

Floral Skirt ($30) Bodysuit ($25) & Sequin Hoody ($80) AWFP

Breeyn McCarney & Another Word For Pink are committed to ethical and environmental practices and dedicated to a goal of becoming 100% sustainable with zero impact so you can feel good about your choices to look good. 

Velvet Dress (65$) AWFP, Clutch ($30) BKS

Shop The Shoot
Clothing - AWFP: Another Word For Pink
Handbags - BKS: Bettykiss Style Inc. 
Select Accessories - Eeek.

Photo Credits
Photographer - Petia Karrin
Fashion Stylist - Abigail Murphy
Make-up & Hair - Rachel Smith

1. PRETTY PETALS

Christian Louboutins at Neiman Marcus

These Christian Louboutin petal sandals will definitely inject the necessary spring into your step and your wardrobe. They are quite beautiful shoes, however with a $995.00 price tag they are more than slightly un-obtainable for most of us. So I was ecstatic to discover a chic DIY project on … love maegan. The only thing more covetable than pricey designer shoes are one-of-a-kind shoes that no one else will be wearing. I encourage you to infuse your own personal touch into the design and really make them your own. I can’t wait to make a custom pair for myself.

2. TOUGH FLORAL

Stylist: Kristen O'Reilly | Photographer: G. Tjepkema |Make-up: T. Byers

We are used to seeing florals all dolled up looking innocent, girlie and sweet, but I really like them with injections of bad ass and rock’n'roll. Taking a hint from  Tough is a lady at Cynthia Steffe, re-think your pretty patterns and match them up with a little leather and hardware. Perhaps a studded belt with your floral frock ala Carrie Bradshaw. These are not your grandmas florals, so don’t wear them the same way she does.  

3. FULL BLOOM

Breeyn McCarney 2009 Collection

At Toronto’s Alternative Fashion week earlier this year, I had the pleasure of checking out Breeyn McCarney’s collection and instantly developed a crush on this frilly, flirty dress. Forget floral patterns, this dress is a flower in full bloom! The wearer of this dress is sure to make a statement wherever she goes.

4. FLOWER POWER 

Diane Von Furstenberg S09

Boho styles may come and go, but anything that taps in to the free-spirit of the 60’s has a little piece of my heart. So obviously, I fell in love with the floral headpieces worn on the Diane Von Furstenberg  S09 runway. They are whimsically worthy of any neo-hippie fashionista. I found a really cute how-to video on Fashion Club.com Daily that walks you through a wearable DIY version of the headband.

5. PERENNIAL FAVORITE

Betsey Johnson Runway Montage

No one does flowers quite like Betsey Johnson can. Betsey’s flowers are the kind of perennials you look forward to showing up each season, whether it be vibrant floral prints, fabric rosettes or actual flowers styled on the models, she doesn’t dissapoint her flower loving fans.

Although buying a Betsey Johnson piece is a sure fire way to tap into the floral trend, it won’t be easy purchase for everyone’s budget. Just because you are cutting back your shopping list these days, doesn’t mean you have to skip on the floral frocks of our favorite cartwheeler. Be sure to click around for some great online deals. Yesterday, I found some amazing Betsey Johnson items on Etsy, like this floral stretch velvet mini for $39, this maven worthy floral romper for only $29.99, this eclectic floral hat from her 80’s punk line for $30 and this adorable retro style floral dress for $60. So even in a recession you can still get a little BJ, if you know where to look.