Flamboyant, energetic style or action; dash; verve inspired by Eubie.
  • - Delifina Delettrez
  • - Featured on WWD.com!
    Brooklyn Flea Street Style
  • - Out of the Box Magazine - Italia
    Styled by Charlese Antoinette.

Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!

Thank you for subscribing and reading!  Make next year your best year!

Leia Mais

I'm obessed with...Delfina Delettrez

While shopping with a client for an Xmas gift for his daughter at Opening Ceremony we both fell in love with accessory designer Delfina Delettrez.  Her designs are fun, quirky, and innovative. And extremely well crafted. My favorite pieces by her are these sick earcuffs:




We ended up buying the pearl one for his daughter because we loved it so much :).  Check out the rest of Delfina's collection here: http://delfinadelettrez.com/ and check out Opening Ceremony and try the pieces on! I guarantee you'll have a good time, I did.

Until then,
Chay$

Leia Mais

C$tg X @djtomoko n Ucca-Laugh



Recently friends @djtomoko n Ucca-Laugh of Tokyo visited NYC and shot their video for their new single "Do the Right Thing." Their original location was outdoors and since it was raining they shot in my studio!  We had so much fun playing in (my) clothes as you can see.  I hope this makes you smile and laugh as much as we did! Enjoy!


Until then,
Chay$

Leia Mais

Idle Warship Press!


Res is wearing a vintage dress from Beacon's Closet and jewelry by Lilian Crowe



Res is wearing a vintage jumpsuit by C$tg Vintage and sunglasses and ring by TNEMNRODA
Idle Warship on RedbullUSA.com

I styled RES of Idle Warship in both of these photos!  Click on the links to read the articles and look at the larger images. Enjoy!

P.S. If you want me to style you for an upcoming shoot or event email me at: chay@chaythegreat.com

Until then,
Chay$

Leia Mais

Now At the Corcoran Gallery in DC

Me and my childhood best friend checking out HWT work

Cheese! At the opening for 30 Americans

Hey everyone in MD and DC!  If you get a chance head to the Corcoran Gallery in DC.  There's an awesome exhibit going on until Feburary 12, 2012 called 30 Americans.  I worked with artist Hank Willis Thomas and did costuming for some of the images featured in the exhibit (the one above + a few more).  The work of a lot of really great artists is featured in the show (to name a few: Jean-Michel Basquiat, Nick Cave, David Hammons, Kara Walker and Gary Simmons).  Go check it out!

Until then,
Chay$

Leia Mais

Featured on WWD!

I have been selling vintage and original designs at the BK Flea in Williamsburg for about a month now.  Sadly it has come to an end because of limited indoor space for the winter.  Check out this photo WWD posted of me at the flea!

Bow & earring by: C$tg 
Earring is for sale at: lovectgdesigns.com

Check the full slide show here: They Are Wearing: Brooklyn Flea

Until then,
Chay$

Leia Mais

6 months off...Sort of

I took an unplanned six months off from blogging I simply got too wrapped up in my personal life and work to blog.  I'm back and ready to share again...to start here's six awesome things that happened in the last six months...

1. I went to LA for the first time and styled a series of web commercials for SYFY



2. I spent my summer as assistant costume designer on a movie called Robot & Frank- scheduled to release next year.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1990314/fullcredits

3. I styled mannequins on a Target commercial with a famous guest designer...you'll see :)



4. I worked on a kids show called Team Umizoomi on Nick Jr. and they put me (and my headwrap) in the show.  Episode will be showing next summer!



5. I saw Prince perform for the first time at the Forum in Inglewood y'all (Thanks for the photo RJ!)


6. I went to Phoenix, Arizona and saw the desert for the first time!


Share with me your six awesome things!

Until then,
Chay$

Leia Mais

C$tg Designs in Out of the Box Magazine (Italia)




Click on images to enlarge

Thanks to Photoreclame (photo), Odd & Even NYC (jewels & sunnies), and Hazuki (hair/ makeup) for making this possible!

Love,
Chay$

Leia Mais

The work of Eiko Ishioka: Another reason why I love Japan


Its no secret that I love Japan and have many friends in Tokyo that I consider family.  The tragedy in Japan has me thinking about two things mainly. One is how I can help (more on that later), the other is why I love Japan and why the preservation of Japan is important to the world.  I was having a conversation with my really good friend in Tokyo via gchat and we were talking about the damage the natural disaster has done to Japan and we both started feeling so sad.  Then she changes the subject and starts talking to me about how she saw a documentary about Eiko Ishioka. "Do you know who she is?" "Yes I replied I've seen her book at Borders. Her work is so inspiring!"  I then start googling images of her work and getting really excited about my new theory:

The preservation of Japan is important to the world because of artists like Eiko Ishioka. 


Eiko is a 72 year old oscar winning costume designer, who has worked with artists such as Bjork and Grace Jones. She's an accomplished director, production designer and costume designer who works in advertising, Broadway and film. She graduated from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. (via Wikipedia)

Some of her best known works are:

Bram Stoker's "Dracula" 1992
(which she won the Oscar for Best Costumes).
She directed the music video for Björk's Cocoon in 2002.


Costume Designer for the movie "The Cell" 2000.

Costumes for Grace Jone's "Hurricane" Tour 2009

And most recently costume designer for
"Spiderman: Turn-Off the Dark" 2010

This is just a small representation of Eiko Ishioka's work.  For more images you can see her book in most book stores called "Eiko on Stage"

 Or buy on Amazon.com
(it's SO worth the money):


Eiko's work and creativity was cultivated in Japan.  Her artistic expression and consistent use of horror themes I believe are as a result of living through the second World War and the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  (Merely my personal assumption and observation). It is important that the world do all we can to help the next generation of Japanese creatives to come out of Japan.  Their artistic expression is sure to be shaped by their own experiences and it is necessary for the world to see their art!

Until then, inspired and ready to give!

Chay$

Leia Mais

Fashion Week Wrap-Up

Fashion week ended last Thurs (at least for me in NYC). I worked backstage at 15 shows including, Simon Spurr, Jill Stuart, and BETSEY JOHNSON!  I saw Kanye West at Rodarte...but I missed the show :/.  I went to several independent designer shows, Style 360, NY Fashion Connect and Lois Eastlund. I ran into old friends and made some new ones.  I got high off of oxygen and drank more Izze then I could stand (grapefruit flavor only yum).  I got free makeup courtesy of Maybelline and Make up Forever.  Oh and I got free sunglasses courtesy of Polaroid! 

Here are a few pics of my fashion week:

Finale for Jypsea Goods at
 NY Fashion Connect Show



 Top 3 Photos at Lois Eastlund (runway & backstage)

 Jade Rodan of ANTM 
& Rhonda of OUCH Magazine


 Funny Australian Girls

 High off Oxygen thanks to Trident

 Hellin Kay & Taryn Manning
Until then,

Chay$

Leia Mais

Learning New Things

During winter session I took a patternmaking course everyday at FIT. It took up most of my time and I did not have a chance to blog. I'm back and wanted to share with you my final project.

For this I sketched an original design, did a draft of a pattern, traced the pattern from the draft and then cut and assembled the dress:


Well 1/2 of a dress (as per FIT requirements). Lol.



The theme was Coney Island and the dress was based on the lines and color of this building:

I learned a lot about patternmaking and myself through the course of this month. I learned how hard I can work and how many great ideas I have! Now I'm glad to have more technical knowledge to support them :)

Until then,

Chay$

Leia Mais

Cast of Characters: John Galliano Mens FW 11

Nikola Jovanovic | John Galliano Menswear F/W 11



I came across this video while catching up on the FW shows. (More on why I've been away later). I love the characters John Galliano creates within this cohesive collection. I also dig how high energy the music and the models are. Fashion shows should always be this fun to watch.

Until then,

Chay$

Leia Mais

Commitment

I've been thinking a lot about what it takes for us to be great artists, designers, writers, teachers, lovers and friends. I found this great quote and I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me:


Until one is committed
by William H. Murray (from his book "The Scottish Himalayan Expedition"):

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets: 

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."

Be Bold,
Chay$
--

Leia Mais

X-Mas in the Bahamas




 I'm wearing...vintage glasses, 
cut off denim shorts, 
H&M sparkly tee,
Forever 21 bangle,
my favorite striped vintage blazer 
and DVF jelly sandals
 
Sorry I've been MIA I was on vacation! Don't get too jealous, it was coooooooold in the Bahamas. Me and two my bff's rented mopeds and rode around the island, I highly recommend it. It was windy and I was a little nervous about driving by myself but I rode like a block and turned around. Twice. Maybe I'll buy one to zip around NYC on.

Until then,

Chay$

Leia Mais

Happy New Year! (2 days late)


I snapped this pic of this couple sneaky-like on New Year's Eve. The guy has on a balloon bowtie and his lady has on a balloon bow. I vote them as the most festive couple ever!

Here's to a New Year full of creative and innovative ideas like theirs!

Until then,

Chay$

Leia Mais

Exchange Pop-Up Shop


Exchange Pop-Up Shop
Tues Dec 14th- Tues Dec 22nd
12pm-7pm
3rd ave btwn 21st & 22nd

Featuring...Party dresses, vintage, jewelry, lingerie and accessories!

Free cocktail w/ flyer!

Until then,

Chay$

Leia Mais

Inspired by: David Downtown

A comic book artist friend of mine put me on to a few of his favorite fashion illustrators.  I'm working on new designs and looking at David Downtown's work is helping to inspire me to draw. Thought I'd share some with you :)







Ooh and check out my comic book artist friend's work here: http://d-pi.deviantart.com/gallery/

Until then,
 
Chay$

Leia Mais