ShopFlick

Why be obsessed with Ric Rac Clothing? The two self-proclaimed “fashion pirates” & “thrift store junkies” behind the line, Christina Wheeler and Jarred Garza, will excitedly tell you, well, “just because!” but I have better reasons. A ric rac is a zigzag ribbon used in trimming, a detail occasionally found in the line’s collection of flirty dresses, but a ric rac also captures, in sound and definition, the sense of fun and spontaneity that runs through both the pieces and the designers’ videos. With warm prints, hop scotch colors, feminine silhouettes, and impeccable tailoring, these are vintage-inspired dresses that have been updated & modernized, sometimes literally. The stylistic difference between Ric Rac Clothing and true vintage is that Wheeler and Garza have isolated those pretty embellishments and playful cuts that make vintage so eye-worthy and built their designs around them. The result is that nothing is amiss. Your effort to find the perfect dress for any stand-out occasion (because you wouldn’t want to hide behind one of these) will start & end here.

Shopflick: Visit this store | Get your own Store!

I had the chance to interview the creative genius behind Hip Hop Chocolates Marcus Gray and I have to say the pleasure was all mine – what lady can resist chocolate? Not me! The clever turntable and ghettoblaster boombox sweet treats will bring a smile to your face and enlighten your mood kinda like the love of your favorite hip hop beat that fills your soul bringing your feet to the dance floor.

Hip Hop Chocolate was featured on KTLA during Obama’s Inauguration – to show his gratitude to our 44th president of the United States he has created an exclusive Obama chocolate perfect for your consumption.

With no further delay the interview…

SF: What does your brand stand for?

MG: This Brand stands for the evolution of the Hip Hop Culture. Its meant to be an offering to Hip Hop’s connoisseurs who appreciate the sanctity of Hip Hop. This is Hip Hop’s Sacred Food.

SF: What is your inspiration?

MG: My initial inspiration was the Catholic Communion. But later evolved through a mediation on what culture is.

SF: Who are your customers?

MG: My customers are everyone and anyone interested in experiencing a more sensual side of Hip Hop. Hip Hop and Chocolate lovers of all ages and attitudes.

SF: What in your collection is new?

MG: In order to preserve the spirit of this historic election we have created a miniature bust of President elect Barack Obama! Also many other collaborations are in the works. A compilation mix CD of local underground producers due early 2009 and Hip Hop Gift Baskets which will include our newest additions to the Hip Hop chocolate product line… chocolate scented soaps and candles shaped like turntables!

SF: What items are people responding to most?

MG: People seem to respond the most to the Ghettoblaster and Turntable, but the Chocobama, though it hasn’t reached many eyes, has created an incredible response. Also the idea of the Hip Hop Gift Baskets is creating a bit of buzz.

SF: Are any celebs buying your pieces.

MG: Well, buying would be a strech. LOL. But I’ve presented dozens of celebrities with chocolate sculptures. Everyone from Erykah Badu to Tom Green… many of the photos can be seen on the numerous networking sites… Facebook and Myspace. Saul Williams and Esthero have been great supporters of the concept from the beginning. An esthero/pink pirate chocolate does exist although we haven’t put it into mass production.

SF: Have you custom designed any pieces for celebs or music artists?

MG: We’ve custom designed many pieces for many artists. Thomas the Messenger is responsible for most of the sculpting done at this point and has done an amazing job capturing logos such as the WuTang, Elke the Stallion, Stones Throw, Esthero, Fusicology, Hit & Run, DJ Dusk (R.I.P.) but my favorite was the life size screaming microphone we made and presented to Saul Williams.

SF: How did you get started in the industry?

MG: I’d like to think I got started the first time I heard Hip Hop! I’ve always wanted to contribute but didn’t have the desire to rap. The chocolate industry is something I continue to learn about daily. But I hope to also leave my mark in that industry as well.

SF: What is your favorite Hip Hop Chocolate item?

MG: My favorite has to be the life size Nike Blazer I made for Sneaker Pimps, an art show in Denver. It took me 2 weeks to get it right. And after I finished showing it I found out that there is only one other person in the world who has made a life size Nike and their budget was a lot more than mine to say the least!

SF: What celebrities or what brands would you like to collaborate with?

MG: There is a long list of artists I’d love to collaperate with. Mear 1, Manone, Etna, most of the LA graffitti scene, the sculptor VER… she’s amazing!, ZOSO, Shepard Fairey, ThinkSpace, Fro Hawk 2 Feathers, Kutmah, Han Cholo, Andre 3000, Janelle Monae… I adore her! The list could go on and on. Artists, celebrities, promoters, brands… I want to offer Hip Hop Chocolate to the culture. Collaborating is the only way we can all advance together. It’s also a brilliant way to insppire each other to achieve innocations. And of course Mele Designs! Our collaboration is way overdue!

SF: Is there anything else you would like to share with the Shopflick community?

MG: Well I’d like to say that first I’d love the opportunity to collaborate with you all! Second, Hip Hop Chocolates’ mission is to give the culture the opportunity to put Hip Hop inside their body. This art, as delicious as it is, has a purpose and a function. I believe that it’s possible for those participating in Hip Hop to reach a new level of appreciation for the culture by partaking in this rite. In other words when you support Hip Hop Chocolates you are supporting the evolution of the culture as a whole! Hip Hop is maturing. It’s time we validate that change with a symbol of our growth.

Not a lot of extra spending cash? Put it where it matters: Shopflick presents the top 10 must-haves right now! Mix & match with what you already own – these simple purchases will give an instant update to your wardrobe & leave you feeling ultra stylish!

Drum Roll, please:

10. Over-sized Cardigan: Give your grandpa’s back and purchase your own – this comfy knit looks great with all your wardrobe staples.

9. Versatile Leggings: The legging is hanging on for dear life – so don’t hate – just figure out the best style & way to wear these spandex treasures. Once added correctly to your wardrobe mix – you’ll wonder how you had functioned.

8. Floor-length Dress: A trend-worthy style that offers a new perspective when matched with flat boots and a boyfriend blazer. Bonus- this piece gives you a head start on summer ‘09.

7. Faux Fur Jacket: The faultless way to channel your inner Rachel Zoe – keep your outfit simple and let this timeless piece work its magic. This is a goody you’ll pull out of your closet year after year.

6. “Layer-able” Jewelry: Simple rings, necklaces & bracelets perfect for layering and stacking. Mix materials, sizes & colors to achieve an individual look all to your own.

5. Signature Scarf: Just what the doctor ordered- a functional winter accessory that gives you an accessible way to add personality to the coldest of outfits.

4. Plaid Shirt-Dress: Working hard or hardly working – the plaid shirt-dress gives one unquestionable impression – you’re serious about style. The classic print and practical cut works well for all!

3. Go-to Booties: Paired with tights, leggings or your favorite pair of skinnys’ – this style of boot can take any outfit from day to night.

2. Essential Wrap: Ideal for traveling, dining out or at the office – like a fashionable blanket- the essential wrap is the perfect go-to for warmth & style.

1. Everyday Leather Bag: Invest in one bag you’d – gasp- “die for” and go for it. Pick from the classic backpack, functional messenger or go-to hobo & say hello to the bag your will carry everyday.

Shop this look >>

What could be more versatile and feminine than scarves? They are the stuff of memorable anniversary presents and invaluable mother-daughter heirlooms; and who hasn’t heard of the (very imitable) French twist, that singular trick to freshen up an outfit (and personal appeal) through the addition of a little colorful detail around the neck. Shopflick favorite Candice Held takes scarf adoration to a whole new level, crafting a bevy of beautiful and unique scarf dresses that keep her runway shows punctuated by near-constant noisy adulation. She designs not only the dresses, seamless conglomerates of different scarves combined with unexpected twists and ties and wraparounds, but also the scarves themselves, creating prints that range from the pretty to the whimsical. A-list celebrities Halle Berry, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, and others have all been reliable devotees of Candice Held stylized casual elegance, but anybody who enjoys studies in sweet, bohemian beauty will relish her one-of-a-kind stock of the accessory-inspired: mini dresses, halter dresses, bandeau dresses, floral ponchos, silk pocket squares, and vintage scarves, the last free with the purchase of any item from her store. Double the scarf, double that “je ne sais quoi.”

Shopflick: Visit this store | Get your own Store!

KidViskous designer Tiffany Lee has her finger on the pulse of cult imagery, and the rare genius to translate it into broadly wearable pieces. Case in point: PAPER Magazine Publisher and Editor Kim Hastreiter ordered a custom red “spex” (top left) to match her signature red shades. It’s no wonder, because with jewelry that is both futuristic and retro, KidViskous demystifies pop-culture symbols with youthful and stylish irreverence. This is jewelry with a humorous flair, but the line, Collection 03, is just too memorable to not be taken seriously: geometric outlines of diamonds in gold or silver; mirrored cranes; vintage-inspired locks that feature bears and deer in cork; also guns, eagles, and beer cap pendants; not to mention the collection’s trademark necklaces with neon and lucite cutouts of “blinders,” a particular style of nu-rave eye wear that is here worn ironically like your grandfather’s chained spectacles. The only prerequisite is a love of fun fashion. Many items, like the Silver F-15 Fighter Jet Necklace, are now on sale, but others, like the Neon Pink Bubblegum Suicide Pistol Necklace, merge flash and satire too impressively to pass up.

Shopflick: Visit this store | Get your own Store!

A few of us at the ‘flick recently went though a fun yet scrutinizing process to determine the Top 9 Emerging Designers to watch for 2009. As a marketplace featuring a vast range of talent- we looked at style, innovation and momentum, as well as overall individual feel to the work.  Keep a pulse on these fresh faces & check out Shopflick Editorial Director Davida Hall countdown the Top 9 for ‘09:

Shopflick: Visit this store | Get your own Store!

Top 9 for ‘09 Press Releases >>

Read More & Shop these Designers >>

The Battalion Eco Couture embodies green construction, mainstream appeal, and couture design, the stand-out trio of elements that defines up-and-coming (or already-here) status for any clothing manufacturer that wants to make a lasting dent in the market. We’re talking the natural (and necessary) evolution of clothes, and Battalion is on the front-lines. The brand’s aesthetic is trend-setting elegance, with eco-conscious quality guaranteed by the sole use of organic bamboo and organic fabrics and a production process that defines sustainability. Take the Jacklyn Legging Pants: skinnies with triangulated and rounded seams for an unexpected, flattering cut (though the peel-on-and-off tightness can’t be discounted in that regard). Or the Ali Cape, a 70s stylized caped coat that drapes like a stand-in for effortless grace. Through the end of January, revelers in green style with an edge (like celebrity aficionados of the brand Maggie Gyllenhal and Ashley Olson) will rejoice: the Battalion is offering 15% off all of their clothes.

Shopflick: Visit this store | Get your own Store!

There isn’t a more accurate moniker for design collective FORM. Comprised of an architect, a stylist, a business executive, and founder and designer Jerry Tram, the guiding principle of the team is that clothes should be “free of excess embellishment and unnecessary gimmicks.” The more arty of the usually hyper-enthusiastic press roundups use architectural descriptives like “modular constructivism” and reference futurism. The clothes are simple, but innovative. FORM works with a minimalist color palette that alternates from black to white (with forays into aubergine or cream) from season to season; and true to, yes, form, the collective’s line of tops all feature modern structural elements that give the basics a couture expression. Available online exclusively on Shopflick, FORM is doubling the luxury by slipping in an additional piece worth $125 with every purchase. You won’t know what it is until you receive it, but most likely you’ll be as captivated as the press.

Shopflick: Visit this store | Get your own Store!

No one wants to wear boned corsets or oversized mutton sleeves, but many (myself included) are attracted to the pretty embellishments of Victorian dress. Ornate ruffled blouses with embroidered or lace trim, feathered hair accessories, waist-accentuating dresses and skirts, queenly brooches, and the occasional bow or tie. The fashion of the early 20th century saw the first tailored suits, the start of ladies professional wear, but it was dominated by the most feminine of feminine details. Luckily for those of us with a liking for pretty vintage-inspired fashion, it still is, especially as available throughout Shopflick. After making a thorough search, I found a handful of perfect finds: blouses by Naven that are curve-hugging and elegantly made with flirty neck ties; granny boots with updated heels and hardware; KidViskous frame necklaces featuring a cork portrait of deers, bears, and mustangs; a beautiful Grey Antics bolero-like jacket with a floral motif; and, instead of an wide brim hat with lavish toppings, colorful feathered headbands. Best yet, there’s much more to be found for the determined and uniquely stylish.

The post-punk fashion of today is easily recognizable but tough to single out from the spectrum of similar rock-influenced styles of the past. There’s the undeniable foundation in punk with black everything, hand cutouts, metallic embellishments, and subversive shout-outs. But that’s hardly it: also present is a dose of 80s new wave style with brash colors, spandex, and otherwise oversized fits; a little mod appeal in solid hues and the ever-recurring mini; and a bit of disco with unapologetic glitz. The result is counter-intuitive: a surprising mix of clean lines, black with contrast brights, and that one rebellious detail, be it lace tights, sassy booties, barely there hemlines, or ironic jewelry. British post-punk revival fashion may be a long-winded coinage (and yes, a tad pretentious to spell out), but it is the style of now, edgy and streamlined. Check out these Shopflick culled picks for some, you guessed it, rockin’ inspiration.

Sweatshirts have long been resigned to exercising, lazy Sundays, and cold nights in, but the epitome of comfort style can also be fresh, upscale, and tongue-in-cheek feminine. The evidence? Buddy by Valen Valen, a line of fitted sweatshirts with big, ol’ teddy bears, mishmash contrast stitching, and wild, retro prints. I’ve been dreaming about getting a signature Violet Valen sweatshirt as soon as I saw the cutesy teddy face popping out of a camouflaged pocket. How often is complete adorableness at home in brazen design? The answer: in every one of the twenty-two variations of awesome sweatshirts available in the Violet Valen store, all crafted from vintage teddy bears and recycled fabrics. Plus, offered free with every purchase is a white tee featuring a print of Teddy hanging out (and looking a little glum, I admit) in (what else?) a pocket. Watch the video to see how Violet works her stuffed-animal-to-reimagined-sweatshirt magic.

Shopflick: Visit this store | Get your own Store!