555 Thai Designer: Hey Pilgrim! Clothing

555 Clothing and Design
RA RA


555 takes its DIY attitude from the people that do it best--Thai people!


So 555 would like to give a BIG UP and a WOOT WOOT to a couple of Thailand's best indie designers.




To start it all off is Hey Pilgrim! Clothing, a screenprinted t-shirt design initiative of sisters Am and Aui.  


They follow a fair-trade ethos with no nonsense t-shirt design.
                                                                    .

Trippy geometric black and white

Wolfie don't play that

Bunny love.

In Canada, Hey Pilgrim! is distributed by Some Product Apparel.  Most of their sales are in Europe though, primarily Spain,France,UK,Canada,Singapore, and Ireland.  

Their shop in Bangkok's Chatuchuck Weekend Market is always hoppin', stop by if you're in town!  

Be their FB friend, how 'bout it.  http://www.facebook.com/heypijitra

555 Horses: Take 'em or Leave 'em

555 Clothing and Design 

LOLA

As an equestrian, I’m always into seeing horse-culture inspired clothes and accessories.

Although you pay more for it, and you wear it serving no purpose to its actual use,  you still look good in my books.

Oh yeah!  Zorro what up?  Who says you can’t pair a chest plate with a crop and call it fashion?

Or this li'l gem!  

Field boots, with lunge whip belt and a one piece jodper riding pant suit, in the colour tan, of course.  

Love how the runway is made to look like paddock footing for the lovely ladies to trot down.

I would like to see these little fashionistas do this with their newly bought fashion riding apparel.  

Heels down!

How does the saying go... save a horse ride a cowboy? what does that even mean?

Nothing beats the hot and trendy cowboy!  Add a fringe and some sparkle and you got it down to a science.

Although it serves no function in the real riding world, it sure is nice to look at!

555: RAMONES TEE STORY BEHIND THE PIECE

555 Clothing and Design                                                               JYD

Punk:   

a. something or someone worthless or unimportant.

b. a young ruffian; hoodlum.

c. a style or movement characterized by the adoption of aggressively unconventional and often bizarre or shocking clothing, hairstyles, makeup, etc., and the defiance of social norms of behavior, usually associated with punk rock musicians and fans.

pertaining to, characteristic of, or adopting punk styles: punk youths; punk hairstyles in various colors.

I couldn’t help but share this fav item of mine, the story behind the item Ramones tee!!! Punk rock princess never die!! No matter where on our globe.  

On this day, I was living in a lovely mountain top home in Kenya.  Working and living with even more awesome people at the kccslums, helping the forgotten. 

With my mind far from fashion that rocks hot, I was on my way to do up some washing when John (slum kid represent!!!) was coming in from doing the same, wearing this ripped-up punked-out Ramones tee--arms cut up and all.  I gave him a super big smile, stop dead in my tracks, and he's looking at me like, what?

Of course he has never heard of the Ramones...you gotta understanding how poetically beautiful this moment is.

 John's story is more than incredible: taken in about a year ago by my good friend Marcus ( frontrunner of the KCCSlum project he rocks) John is 14 years old,  from the Kenyian slums, homeless since he was 4 years old.  This kid John is more punk rock rebel in his own right than he’ll ever know!

We traded 2 of my boys pre-packaged kind of t-shirts for his punked up tee.  Of course John seemed a little more than confused with the exchange! Each of us was quite happy with the deal though.

If clothes could talk and tell their story I wish this Ramones tee could .  

YOU ROCK JOHN !!!!!! a true punk rocker freedom fighter. 

 “Go into the streets, into the slums, into the fashionable quarters. Go into the day courts and the night courts. Become acquainted with sorrow, with many kinds of sorrow. Learn of the wonderful heroism of the poor, of the incredible generosity of the very poor—a generosity of which the rich and the well-to-do have, for the most part, not the faintest conception. Go into the modest homes, into the out-of-the-way corners, into the open country. Go where you can find something fresh to bring back to the stage.”   Minne Maddern Fiske (1865-1932)

 “At its best New Wave/punk represents a fundamental and age-old Utopian dream: that if you give people the license to be as outrageous as they want in absolutely any fashion they can dream up, they'll be creative about it, and do something good besides. “  Lester Banges 

 If you have a heart that cares and shares,  check it out! 

kccslumproject.com

http://kccsmyliepics.blogspot.com/

punk rock princess 
JYD

555 Wants to Get Into Spring!

555 Clothing and Design
LOLA

Spring!

What a great time of year for us snow bunnies to finally dress with out layers.  

New trends for 2011 are definitely 70s inspired looks.  High wasted pants, floral prints and hour glass shapes welcome back the woman figure.  No more confusion! Is that a boy or girl?

Cute!   This pic to the left reminds me of the Cindy Crowford Pepsi add from the 90s.  With the tore up feel of the jean shorts and the cute but sexy top paired with an open toe current sandal makes me want to go to the beach! 

Love this white over-sized tunic. 

I can picture it with a hot pink or mint green tight tank top or bra cover to give it an extra “oh yeah I look hot today”. 

Throw on your sailor pants, add a cute open kitten toe heel and your ready to go!

Yup! the jumper is back.  Expect to see it in short combos and pant combos.  

Just think how easy it will be to get dressed in the morning!! Can’t wait.

I would add a bright purple belt to accentuate the waste, and a tighter cardigan... just saying! 

Hair Trends! 

Finally getting back to classic 1930s vibes.  My Favorite! Despite their hard times, those ladies truly had amazing hair and fashion.  Look for the more natural feel.  Big soft curls, messy buns, straight with a wind blown look and more!

 I can’t wait to bust out some big Chunes this spring / summer!!! 

555's Oscar Best and Worst

555 Clothing and Design

LOLA

Let's not kid, we all love to watch the Oscars and talk about what the women are wearing.

We love to see whats new, and imagine wearing it, walking down the red carpet.  Or totally bash it....

So my pick for Best Dressed has to go to Cate Blanchett

How charming!  Not only is the colour great, but the vintage feel you get with the apron type outline feel makes this dress beautiful.

A babe in anything she wears.

Worst has to go to Jennifer Lawrence, what the hell was she thinking? 

Hot pink 80’s art deco shoulders, with a black velvet bow and too much length puts you at the top of my list dear Jenny!  Don’t get me wrong the colour is great on her, but would have been a better choice to eliminate those straps and extra material would make it a winner.

(p.s what the hell was that lady in the back thinking?  Looks like she is wearing leather sandals and stole her shitty dress from her kid's 8th grade grad).

Okay, Ive lost total hope!  “Cigarettes here! get your cigarettes here!”.Chokers went out with doing heroin to be cool in the mid 90s lady, did you not get the memo?

555: Who Made Your Clothes?

 

555 Clothing and Design

RA RA

Globalized economy.  WTO. Free Trade Agreements.  This is our world system.

Maybe 50 years ago, your clothes would have been manufactured in your country, but now, more often than not, all aspects of your daily babe-piece have come from all reaches of our tiny globe.

Ok, this is a reality.  But lost in the web of transnational corps and world trade bodies are the real people.

Who made your clothes?  

You probably have absolutely no idea.  And sad but true, the country with the poorest human rights protection wins the manufacturing contract.  Don't think conditions akin to slave labour are a thing of the past!

So 555, wtf are you gonna do about it?

Introducing (drum roll pls!)...... Pi Tan!!  Real Seamstress Extraordinare!

Quiet, with an at-times biting sense of humour, Pi Tan supports her family with her small seamstress business.  

She's now an expert on fit for foreigners (we have ass n' titties!) but still likes to point at my crotch and ask me if I'm sure it's not going to fall out of my really short shorts (!)

So who made your clothes?

PI TAN!!!  

555 is big on real people and small exclusive runs for you!

555 High-Waisted Jeans: JYD big ups to RARA's Camel Toe

555 Clothing and Design
JYD


Big ups Ra Ra!!


Wear those girls high even though some may criticize.


I cannot count the number of comments I have received over the high-waisted jeans I wear.  Girls, I say, bodies are hot.  Why not show them off?  What are these big mouthed haters of the high waisted jeans afraid of?

There is nothing more hot and fashionable than breaking it up and there is nothing more rock'n roll than not givin' a shit.

Yeah babies bringing it back!!  70s high-waisted pants are one of the many reasons I love the 70s (and early 80s).  'Cus women looked like women in the media and fashion, and curves was what was hot.

Let us not forget girls Joan jet says it best.   Plus she knows how to rock the high-waisted jeans.





xo
JYD

555 Inspiration: Peggy Bundy

555 Clothing and Design
RA RA


Peg Bundy's a hot bitch.  


And I gotta admit she's influenced 555's spring line.

Tiger prints, off the shoulder tops, cinched waists....really really not mad at it.

I wanted to do gold spandex in homage of Peg, but, maybe next time. 

555 Fabric Mission: Pass or Fail?

555 Clothing and Design
RA RA


I'm tough.


Living in a foreign (non-english speaking,'developing') country ain't a piece of cake.


So when tasked with sourcing fabric for 555's Spring launch, I was up for a challenge.


The night before though, I had broken up with my ultra-shitty Thai boyfriend for the 50th time--screaming over balconies, cryin' in the street, whole bit.  


I woke up, hungover. Draggin a heavy heart.  Dreading the small crowded alley-ways of Bangkok's Sam Peng fabric market--a seething mass in 40 degree weather.  


Today was the only day I was going to be in Bangkok, so it was pass or fail, win or die trying.

oh god! which buttons????

I got to the market by 10 am. Where to start?  My bangs have already plastered to my forehead with sweat and every time someone brushes against me, I wanna punch faces. 


Get your shit together, Ra Ra, I kept coaxing myself...but how was I to pick 555 Babe Gear when I felt like a hopeless fuck head?


I found some crappy stool to sit down on, squished against some random fabric and an old lady selling dried bananas.  Almost at the point of defeat......


And then. A miracle. 


My Sharona. Starts Playing. Across the market.  





Wooooooo!!!!!!!!!  Dun na na na na na... Jump up...Dun na na na na na...do a little dance... Dun na na na na na.....Feel myself coming alive...Dun na na na na na....My Sharona!!!


555 Babe Gear here I come! Get the fuck outta my way (please).    

8 hours later, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Proceeded to drink some beers with the lady vendors.   


Thank you THE KNACK!!


555 Spring 2011 is gonna be smokin hot.  

555 GRRL: Concetta Kirschner

555 Clothing and Design

LOLA

For 555's GRRL series, Lola's pick of HAWT insane bitches has to go to Concetta Kirschner, the bad ass behind  Princess Superstar. 

She started in 1994 and hasn't looked back.

Princess Superstar mixes hip hop and electro beats setting her bar high as a white female rapper.   She also finds the time to fly around the world to dj hott jams that will make any girl hott in the pants.

When it comes to fashion she is classic with a side of 'I don't give a fuck'.  Knowing she is a total babe, she rocks everything like her own. She is on 'the do's' 100% of the time.

Only a talented hot blonde can rock this with out looking like a total waste bag.

What a babe! mixing a classic 1930's face vale with a lace tank. 

Hipstered out! (while the term lasts), or a 13 year old emo kids wet dream.



Fun fact not only is she a talented trend setting babe she is also a vegan! 

JUICY!!!!

555 Toronto Vintage Shop: Public Butter

The Public Butter - 1290 Queen St. West, Toronto ON

555 Clothing and Design 
SHI SHI


After a meeting with the video director guy at 555 Richmond St. Toronto, HK headed over to The Cadillac Lounge for a meeting with the manager dude.  We had some time to kill between meetings so Robature III suggested we check out The Public Butter, an awesome vintage shop right beside the Cadillac on Queen St. west.

The shop was open late and there was a great big sale sign in the front window.  What more could you ask for?!


Let's see what we've got here.... Silk screened rock T's and the obligatory printed baby rocker gear placed neatly on the table near the front.  The store was studded with retro furniture including the sweet green leather sofa in the front window.

This tasseled yellow shirt and sequin encrusted blouses were priced at just under $20

Scarf Display

No self respecting vintage shop would be complete without some sweet scarves and belts.  These accessories can take a dull and drab outfit to the next level.

Belts: skinny, stretchy and studded

Skinny, stretchy and studded, all the belts were priced at $20.  There were some real charmers in this collection let me tell you.   

Buffalo Check in green, red, blue and black

All winter clothes, including fur and sheepskin coats were half off.  This lovely collection of wool buffalo check were on offer for 10 bucks a piece.  Some vintage L.L. Bean anyone?

The shop's prices were reasonable and the selection was well organized and diverse for both guys and gals.  The sale prices were definitely an incentive to pick up some cozy winter gear despite the promise of springs near arrival.  

This rocker will definitely be taking another churn at the Public Butter in the near future.

JYD

Bonus Track:  JYD takes this casual Sunday look and makes it go the distance: a buffalo check shirt paired with a carefully chosen pirate scarf.