Brown Paper Bag

Formerly livredemode.com. Much like the bagged lunches of your youth, fashion blog Brown Paper Bag has an assortment of delights for everyone, featuring fashion stories for women and men.

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Writers Wanted

Brown Paper Bag is in the middle of some pretty big changes, including adding in a music section, as we gear up to the June 2013 relaunch of the website. With these changes, we are seeking some bloggers who are interested in writing about Fashion and Music. Please click here for details, or email [email protected]. 

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General Idea Fall/Winter 2013 Collection Review

Inspired by Steve McCurry’s “(The Path to Buddha) A Tibetan Pilgrimage”, creative director of this groundbreaking menswear brand, Bumsuk Choi, presents us with a nomadic collection based on the personal journeys of Tibetan people. Much like a people who are anything by stationary, moving from place to place, this collection seamlessly transitions through ideas, moving smoothly from one concept to the next. These concepts, which are both sleek and innovative, give us General Idea at its best. 

Consistently giving the best options in outerwear, Bumsuk Choi clearly has a grasp on what has made General Idea successful, and keeps it going. Let us make no mistake, however, this brand offers more than stellar jackets, with the tops and trousers being among the best seen during New York Fashion Week. Interesting textile and pattern choices assist in both keeping the collection moving forward, and lend to the evolution of the General Idea brand. Keeping on trend with the season, colors are dark and layers are abundant. Through this Fall/Winter collection, Bumsuk Choi reiterates the success of General Idea, and gives us that taste of urban ruggedness that is so needed in an otherwise somewhat sterile menswear industry. 

By Justin Spade

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Candela Fall/Winter 2013 Collection Review

An infusion of an upbringing in Uruguayan ranching and life in New York City, Candela designer Gabriela Perezutti presents us with something completely beautiful and effortless. Completely ready-to-wear, there is something special and personal in the designs Perezutti creates. We see her story unfold before our eyes; pieces which spark images of life on a ranch, pieces which spark images of her time as a European model, and pieces which clearly reflect on her current life in New York. Skirts with ruffles and lace, cashmere cable knits, fringe, and even leather are the ever present theme throughout, and lend to this infusion of two worlds. 

By Justin Spade

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BCBG Max Azria Fall/Winter 2013 Collection Review

The Fall/Winter 2013 BCBG Max Azria collection took New York Fashion Week by surprise by combining old and new concepts, and steering away from the overdone color blocking tradition. Max and Lubov Azria used the works of artist Phil Frost for inspiration, and contrasted the contemporary imagery with olden architecture from Istanbul and Southern Europe. 

This collection focused on vivid prints in hues of blue and burgundy, offset by soft neutrals, which were structured for a relaxed silhouette. Knee-high leather boots and ankle cuffed stilettos accompany oversized sweaters and jackets layered over soft and swift dresses and sporty pants. In sync with this seasons use of leathers, dark colors, and sheer tulle, the final piece to strut its way down the runway at Lincoln Center was a ready-to-wear black tulle gown over a black tulle tank with leather sequins and a black leather pant. 

BCBG stuck with the tradition of Fall/Winter being focused on dark colors, namely black. Mixing the old and the new yielded BCBG Max Azria taking their exaggerated color blocking technique and use of bondage and revamping an already classically beautiful line with fresh colors, eclectic prints, and textured materials. 

By Alex Kroytor

Photos By Style.com

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Duckie Brown Fall/Winter 2013 Collection Review

Steven Cox and Daniel Silver gave menswear a fresh spin for their Duckie Brown Fall/Winter “Duckyl” collection, with layered jackets, long trousers underneath shorter trousers, and a focus on strong colors of blue, ox blood, and caramel contrasted with soft, yet masculine, hues of fuchsia, sky blue, and turquoise. This daring collection, with flashes of urban and European roots, featured heavy utility influenced jackets paired with wool trousers, as well as sleek designs, making each runway piece a must have for everyday wear. 

By Alex Kroytor

Photos By Style.com

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2013 Grammy Awards Best Dressed

(left) Kelly Rowland in Georges Chakra

(right) Justin Timberlake in Tom Ford

By Justin Spade

Photos By Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

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Mara Hoffman Fall/Winter 2013 Collection Review

A band of misfits, a traveling circus of "Gypsies, Tramps, & Thieves", depicted through the boldest prints, cuts, and detailing only Mara Hoffman could deliver. Hoffman uniquely demonstrates the array of characters we may find during this encounter through her prints; The Caravan print is a marriage of elephant and peacock, the the Phoenix print mixes zebra stripes with dots, and Leopard print can be found throughout, including in a surprising beaded format. A Suzani print, a traditional textile from Central Asian countries, comes in options including black with turquoise, pink, orange and yellow, or poppy with yellow, green, and white. Hoffman's attention to detail is seen in the impeccable cuts throughout, with flawless tailoring, and avant-garde cut outs on a number of the pieces.

This seasoned designer, who perhaps is more known for her flawless swimwear, solidifies her place in the world of ready to wear fashion with this collection. Hoffman says, "I wanted to embrace what we do best with this collection and give our girls what they love most - color, prints and wearable yet unique silhouettes." Successfully delivering on her wishes, Hoffman should also add impeccable attention to detail to her list, because an artistic eye and ability to display her vision exists here like with no other designer. 

By Justin Spade

Photos By Style.com

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Nicholas K Fall/Winter 2013 Collection Review

Exploration of a new world; a world of ice, of darkness, and of light. A discovering of beauty in a barren wasteland. Drawing from this exploration of the Arctic by Peter Freuchen at the turn of the twentieth century, Nicholas and Christopher Kunz, sibling design duo behind Nicholas K, create their most conceptual collection to date. Images of the snowy, glacial landscapes through pure whites and greys. Flashes of the ocean depths through deep blues and sea greens. Portrayal of frozen nights in sleek jet blacks. It is through fabrics, cuts, and colors that we find the adventure of the exploration of a new world. 

Reminding us that a reinvention is not always necessary to remain relevant, Nicholas K delivered the staple concept we have come to love; urbanization. Attention to detail to get this idea across, elements like asymmetrical lines, shifted drapery, and backpack straps on sweaters and jackets run the gamut. Fabrics ranging from knitted raccoon hair, rich and textural wool, flowing knits, and subdued plaids portray the shapes of this other world.

In Nicholas K's own way, this was a rebirth of the brand. Perhaps we have all, along with the designers, become comfortable with the typical style the brand offers, but this notion of the typical and perhaps somewhat expected completely works. Nicholas K continuously manages to be one of the few brands which manages to improve with each and every season. 

By Justin Spade

Photos By Style.com

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New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013 Lineup 

Every February and September we get the enormous privilege of attending New York Fashion Week, and being amongst the first in the world to see not only these designers collections, but what trends are going to be huge in the coming season. We have an even bigger privilege of being able to share these collections and trends with you, our readers who really do make this opportunity possible. 

Beginning Thursday, February 7th, the Fall/Winter 2013 collections, which are shown famously at Lincoln Center, and various other locations around New York City, the Brown Paper Bag team is poised to attend some 20+ shows, with more invites still coming in. We’ve thrown in a few of the invites we’ve received this season, and provided a complete list of which shows we are attending below. As a team, we cannot wait to bring you the latest collections, trends, and behind the scenes looks at these shows. For live updates during the week long extravaganza, we invite you to follow us on twitter and like us on facebook.

Here are the shows we are set to cover: 

Nicholas K, BCBG, Duckie Brown, Candela, Sukeina, General Idea, Nautica, Ruffian, Rebecca Taylor, Mara Hoffman, Herve Leger, Christian Siriano, Katya Leonovich, Alexandre Herchcovitch, Robert Geller, Elegantees, Alejandro Ingelmo, Emerson, Mathieu Mirano, Alice + Olivia, Perry Ellis by Duckie Brown, Leather Japan, Clover Canyon, and Zang Toi. 

It all begins today!

By Justin Spade

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Elliot Evan Fall/Winter 2013 Preview

Menswear designer Elliot Evan has offered us preview to his Fall/Winter 2013 collection, which he is calling Never Forever. Evan says, "Never Forever is deeply influenced by the form of the male figure." Evan's abstract interpretation on man yields an exploration of masculinity, with some of the softer lines perhaps evoking images of femininity, blending together a sort of intimate human experience which Evan graciously shares with us. Elliott Evan is making his New York Fashion Week debut on Thursday, February 7th. 

By Justin Spade

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Trending: Alejandro Ingelmo Neon Tron’s for Men and Women

Alejandro Ingelmo takes his classic Tron sneaker and revamps an already eye-catching design by adding neon colors for the spring/summer 2013 collection. Mixing vivid neon colors with the sleek structure results in Ingelmo setting yet another new standard in both men’s and women’s footwear. The Tron sneakers are currently available online for $495.

By Alex Kroytor 

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Rumor Has It…

The rumors that Sigourney Weaver wore her Lanvin gown backwards to the SAG Awards last weekend are FALSE. It turns out it was just a poor fashion choice after all. Need more evidence? See it up close here.

By Justin Spade

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Mara Hoffman Spring/Summer 2013 Campaign, Aloha, Launches

Beautifully capturing the spirit of Aloha, the inspiration behind designer Mara Hoffman’s Spring/Summer campaign, director Neil Krug and stylist Richard Ruiz joined forces to bring to life the essence of the Hawaiian philosophy. Hoffman says, “I attached to the spirit of the word and the simplicity and the complexity of it all in one.” Shot in Malibu, California, featuring both video and photos, the campaign is everything Hoffman sees in the Aloha spirit; managing to be simplistically beautiful, and yet complexly edgy. 

By Justin Spade

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Trending: Alejandro Ingelmo, “Made in Maine”, Spring 2013

Footwear designer Alejandro Ingelmo infuses the traditional style of penny loafers and boat shoes with his New York City aesthetic in his “Made in Maine” collection for spring/summer 2013. The collection, which is hand crafted in Maine, brings a contemporary edge to a classic, with thick outer soles and a variety of colors, ranging from fluorescent to muted. These styles are among the top trends for men this coming spring/summer season, and they are currently available online. The styles featured here are the Camden, the Admiral, and the Knox. 

By Justin Spade

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Cocktail Mini on a Budget

Draining the bank account in the name of fashion has not been a necessity since H&M first launched it’s first retail store in New York City in 2000. For the past 13 years the mega-brand has worked at redefining the way the American consumer shops, challenging both men and women to opt out of spending hundreds of dollars on pieces that H&M replicate at a more affordable price. 

That being said, it should come as no surprise that H&M has perfected the cocktail mini at an astoundingly low price. These two options, which are perfect for a night on the town or an event, are both available at H&M for only $9.95. Both dresses are made of jersey, with a cap sleeve and a V-neckline at the back. Unfortunately, H&M has not yet launched their online store, so you’ll have to find a location near you. 

By Justin Spade

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Bags for Men by J. Crew

Rather than reaching for your Walmart bought backpack, go for something with a little more style. Bags from J. Crew may cost a little extra - although they do have bags for a variety of price ranges - you will find both the style and quality to be far superior. Backpacks and messengers in canvas and leather, sophistication exists in both the vintage and modern styles available. 

By Justin Spade

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SAG Awards 2013 Best Dressed

(left) Amanda Seyfried in Zac Posen

(right) Justin Timberlake in Tom Ford

By Justin Spade