smashing darling

Independent’s Day: Accessories from Smashing Darling

by grechen on September 29, 2008 | SUBSCRIBE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK |

Fall has arrived. For this Darling that means time to switch over the closet and take stock of accessories to keep me warm and organized when I walk out the door into chilly temperatures. A gal can never have too many hats, bags, and scarves (oh my!)…

Bags! At Smashing Darling we know that variety is the spice of life, and variety we give you! Whether you need a practical bag when you are heading out for the day, or sassy evening bag for a night out, you can click around and find a Smashing designer who has created the perfect match to your outfit. We picked a few faves above, here is more about them:

MiMo Handbags: Versatile leather hobo bag (top left), 5% of their profits are donated to organizations working to stop domestic violence.
ZJN4U: Lipstick, phone, keys, cash – throw it all in this sexy, red, Italian leather wallet and out you go!
Victorian San Francisco: Buying vintage is a great way to go green, and this flowery bag will keep you cheerful all winter. Be sure to check out how this boutique tells you the history behind each piece!

Hats and scarves are this Darlings weak point! Whether you live in a warm climate or the chilly Northeast you can never have too many. Scarves can be easily turned into belts, headbands, or a shawl. Hats can totally make an outfit – not too mention solve a bad hair day or keep those ears toasty warm!

Naik Fur: Designer Amy Hemmens crochets goodies to drool over – do not miss!
Love, Anjia: A mantra to crochet to: “Cheers to the fun-loving, show-stopping fabulous dame, who wears what she pleases, whenever, wherever, and with whomever she sees fit.”
Katie Burley Couture Millinery: Said in her very own words, “This hat is bad ass.”
Thistle Downs: Beautiful scarves made from 100% soft Merino wool from sheep raised by the designer!
Hello, Fabulous: Need a splash of color? A vintage Vera silk/chiffon scarf is sure to do the trick.

But seriously you really know why these accessories are so important…they can make or break any outfit and really show off your signature style.

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Independent’s Day: Jewelry Designers from Smashing, Darling

by grechen on September 17, 2008 | SUBSCRIBE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK |

Note from Grechen: this is the third post in our “Independent’s Day” feature showcasing Independent Designers around the web. Today, Smashing Darling brings you their favorite jewelry designers available in the shop. Enjoy!!

We have been thrilled to feature some Smashing Darling designers here on Grechen’s Closet this month – thanks Grechen! However, picking just one Darling jewelry designer to feature seemed impossible. Maybe it is the full moon this week, or maybe the Darlings just really like to accessorize! Well, we’re not so good at following the rules anyway! Check out some of our picks we put together for you over in Polyvore, one of our favorite places to play. Read below to link into each individual designers boutique on Smashing Darling…

Whether you are out the door in jeans and a simple white tee, off to work in biz casual -or (eeks!) a suit- a few bits and baubles here and there will truly help you make the grade. Sometimes you just need one eye catcher that will put a smile on your face, like this one of a kind necklace by Reverie NYC (center-right), sometime it is easy being green. Since that piece is vintage inspired, we think you will be in good shape to also throw on those lovely vintage earrings (top left) from Victorian San Francisco, not to mention they are only $10 – wow!

Well, you get the point so maybe we should be a bit more orderly the rest o’ the way through! Starting front and center: a lovely and sexy feather necklace by Mushka, rings made of resin and twigs (yes!) by Go Robot, the sweet heartwood ring by Emily Watson, and sometimes you just need a powerful bracelet – Connie Pfeiffer can take care of that.

Earrings! You can never have too many. Dangling geometry (bottom center) from Silver Frog Jewelry will grab attention while being nice and lightweight on your ears. Unique sterling and rose gold pear-like drops by Cynthia Jones, and to bring it all together sometimes all you need is a button, simply perfect button earrings by Edith and LuLu.

So there is your jewelry round up from the Darlings. Have fun with it – after all a little accessory can go a long way!

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Independent’s Day: Smashing, Darling

by grechen on September 3, 2008 | SUBSCRIBE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK |

Note from Grechen: this is the first in our series of features on Independent Designers coming every Wednesday here on Grechen’s Closet. This month, Smashing, Darling will be featuring some of their favorite designers; today, they’re introducing themselves. Enjoy! and Let us know what you think.

Trish Ginter and Julie Rorrer want you to be Smashing, Darling! They have been living, breathing, and eating independent fashion for the past year and half; in that short period of time 450 designers have opened their own boutiques to sell their fashions on www.smashingdarling.com. Inspired and empowered by the path already tread online by other industries: music (itunes), books (amazon), antiques (ebay), craft (etsy)…now it is time for fashion (smashing darling). Designers are not only in NYC anymore, they are all across the country. Smashing Darling is the virtual hub for indie/emerging designers no matter where a designer in the United States decides to call home.

After leaving the New York fashion industry in the early 90′s and settling in Chester CT, population 3500, Trish was a designer in need. She needed the internet to grow her business. She was in need of a larger audience, in need of connecting with other designers that decided to go it alone (without the permission of the branded fashion industry), in need of finding more consumers fed up with mainstream fashion. The consumers in her small town were tired of looking like everyone else, tired of their clothing not fitting, and felt good knowing they were actually in contact with the person that designed their clothing. There must be more people with the same needs and wants outside her town, right? Instead of creating her own website and just being one in a billion, inspiration struck – why not create a place where we could all be in one place, helping each other.

To some, indie fashion might not seem as glossy as the fashion industry, but make no mistake about it, the designers the Darlings have met since starting this project are serious and on the move. The internet has made that possible. That is where Smashing Darling comes in. Smashing Darling makes it really easy for shoppers, they can shop many designers all with one shopping cart in a clean shopping environment. The Darlings want to help consumers that really like to shop for indie fashion designer goods (just like Slow Food helps us find a heritage turkey instead of a corporate Butterball!), not only to find their favorite, but to find others that are cropping up around the country or even right in their own community. At the same time they are giving designers a platform (and marketing tools) to sell from, and get back to doing what they do best – design.

It is amazing to see an industry be reborn in this country, workrooms and resources for designers are starting to open back up again. Indie designers like to be involved with the entire design process from start to finish, many have companies that are too small to have their merchandise produced over seas. It will be exciting to see where they will all be in 5 years. Come shop and hang with the Darlings, and be a part of the indie fashion revolution.