The Inside Source

34

Fashion for Haiti: One Million Hearts

Last night, eBay, the world’s largest marketplace and leading platform for charitable giving, got together with Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Foundation and the CFDA (Council for American Fashion Designers) for “Fashion For Haiti: One Million Hearts.” Designers Mara Hoffman, Pamela Love, and Charlotte Ronson sipped cocktails in the West Village candle-lit loft store while Donna Karan welcomed guests with a heartfelt toast. Alas, the collective partnership to raise social consciousness and funds for the Haitian Artisan Project has begun! To read details of the auction with 150 CFDA designers, visit Fashion For Haiti: One Million Hearts. Don’t forget, the auction starts April 22!

(Photo: Papier-mâché hearts designed by Haitian Artist Magali Dresse, a Haitian Entrepreneur in the Artisan Sector. Text by Jauretsi)

9

You Can’t Fake Fashion Launches with a Bang

Is there anything more fun than collaborating with 90 Top Designers to make a cool bag? Throwing the party to celebrate that collaboration! On Monday night, both Steven Kolb, Chief Executive Officer of the Council Designers of America (CFDA) and Devin Wenig, President of eBay Marketplaces, gathered around a “who’s who” in Fashion to toast to ”original design”. The campaign You Can’t Fake Fashion (launched the same day) aims at stopping counterfeit dead in its tracks. After dinner, it was my turn to take the floor by manning the turntables and… [MORE] getting the party bouncing with a bevy of hip guests bopping their heads up and down including Mara Hoffman, Pamela Love, Cushnie et Ochs, Rebecca Minkoff, Ruffian, and Steven Alan — the list goes on and on. The bags (all on display) began to get ogled by party goers ready to take their bids. If you want to jump in the game, take a look at the entire YCFF collection here, and begin your bidding. The original tote is also available for $50. You have 5 more days to select the bag you love. Read more on eBay.

(Photo: 1.Carly Cushnie, Pamela Love, Mara Hoffman, CFDA’s Kelly McCauley . 2. eBay President Devin Wenig, CFDA CEO Steven Kolb 3. Nike’s Heron Preston and The Inside Source’s Jauretsi 4. Brian Wolk and Claude Morais of Ruffian 5. Rebecca Taylor, Steven Alan, Devin Wenig, and Rebecca Minkoff. Text by Jauretsi. All Photos by Billy Farrell / BFAnyc.com)

19

Insta-Peep-o-Gram: Mara Hoffman’s New Cool Shoes

By Jauretsi

Today’s peek into the land of digital postcards comes from Designer Mara Hoffman who shares a gift from her Jewelry maker friend, Pamela Love. Mara’s “sweet new boots” (as she refers to them) is a collaboration between Pamela and Nine West. We’re feelin’ the cowboy spike toes, along with Mara’s trippy navajo chic rug. To view the whole collection, visit Nine West /Pamela Love.

(Photo: Mara Hoffman Instagram)

44

The Real Cinco de Mayo is Coming Up This Weekend

By Jauretsi

Get your Mexican fashion in order, and your Frida flower headpieces prepped… this weekend is considered Mexican Independence Day. For lots of non-Mexicans in the United States, the day gets overlooked due to the fact that Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) gets all the attention. The truth is, every September 15th, Mexicans commemorate the war of Independence, which was actually initiated in the small town of Dolores in Guanajuato Mexico on September 16, 1810. The day is referred to as Grito de Dolores.

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The Inside Source spoke to Marina Garcia-Vasquez, Founder of MexNtheCity, the hip website on cool creatives of Mexican decent. Are you celebrating this weekend as much as you do Cinco de Mayo? “We are celebrating the Grito on the 15th then dancing until the 16th” says Marina. “My birthday is on Mexican Independence day so both days fill me with pride!” Cool. Another reason to sip Tequila.

(Mexican Independence Day by jauretsi featuring bustier tops: Mara Hoffman bustier top / Navy shoes / Flower hair accessory / Floral hair accessory / Sugar/Candy Skull DAY OF THE DEAD mug/cup in white. Rockabilly, Goth,… / Fantastic Mexican Indian Weaving/Sarape Pillows at 1stdibs / 12 Decorative Talavera 4x4” Mexican Clay Tile C181 / Self Portrait with Monkeys by Frida Kahlo | 1artclub.com - Hand… / Self Portrait with Braid by Frida Kahlo | 1artclub.com - Hand painted… / Day of the Dead Shoes - Sugar Skull Mary Janes - Size 8 / Black Day of the Dead Box / French Connection Day Of The Dead Sweats Ls Rgln / spring floral rose headpiece - summer head crown, wedding, bridal,…)

15

The Nasty Gals in New York

Here’s Nasty Gal’s founder Sophia Amoruso (right) and NG’s stylist, Stacey Nishimoto (left), at Lincoln Center to attend Mara Hoffman’s runway show. In 2006, Sophia started an eBay store selling highly curated vintage gems which had hip chicks clamoring for more. Finally she opened her own site and nurtured it to new heights. Five years later, the online shop has expanded beyond vintage, with new clothes, shoes, and accessories. Inc. magazine rated Nasty Gal the fastest growing retailer in the country in 2012. Read the feature in Forbes, calling her a “fashion phenom”. We just love a stylish entrepreneur!

P.S. Check out Nasty Ga’ls First Collection, fresh out the gates this Fashion Week.

(Photo & Text: Jauretsi)

56

Booth Rat: Mara Hoffman, Fashion Week (Spring 2013)

“I realized everyone isn’t necessarily looking to wear Alex Wang”, says Mara Hoffman to Style.com, “so I decided to stay true to myself and bring my energy, pure and clean.” We loved all of it, including the island leaf on every ladies hair. Here are the tunes Mara played alongside her explosively colorful collection…

• “Far Nearer” - Jamie XX

• “Manhattan” - Cat Power

• “Without You” - Rainbow Arabia

• “Waves of Mutilation” - Pixies

• “Jump in the Line” - Harry Belafonte

(Photo: Courtesy of Style.com)

20

Takin’ It Back to the Tribe

By Jauretsi

It’s not enough to just gravitate to a specific trend. For those gravitating to original tribal influences, do yourself a favor and research exactly where your aesthetic wanders to. Native American influences? African warrior jewelry? eBay has a selection of books and audio narratives (seen above) to school you on your passion. For those looking to create jewelry first-hand, eBay has unique array of Central Asian Ethnic Tribal beads (seen above) if you need building blocks to weave your own masterpiece. Here’s a few additional pieces from the tribal genre to inspire your new search.

(TRIBAL, NEW & VINTAGE by jauretsi featuring tribal jewelry. Mara Hoffman bustier top / Harem pants / House of Harlow 1960 tribal jewelry / Concise encyclopedia of the American Indian.most all names & tribes… / Cherokee Indian Tribes Historic Books CD 33 Titles | eBay / VINTAGE BIG CORAL GLASS MULTI STRAND BEAD TRIBAL NECKLACE WITH GOLD… / 2 *HIGHEST* Quality SILVER Gold Wash Turkoman Central Asian Ethnic… / NEW KUCHI TRIBAL INDIAN PEARL CZ NATH NOSE RING BELLYDANCE GOLD TONE…)

22

Meow

By Jauretsi

The word on the street for Resort 2013 is Leopard. We know, we know, it’s nothing new, but for some tugging reason, women can’t resist wearing animal prints. ”There’s a classic sexiness to it” says Mara Hoffman to WWD, “but it doesn’t mean trashy, and can be translated in so many different ways. It can go from punk rock to Upper East Side conservative.” I’m hoping the trend stays for a while too. Here’s a few sweet vintage leopard finds on eBay— Jauretsi

(Photo: Mara Hoffman Dress (left). Rebecca Minkoff Dress (right). Photo by Thomas Iannaccone for WWD)

5

Tough Girls at Mara Hoffman’s Show

Mara Hoffman blew our socks off with her new collection. The pieces were presented in the glorious Raleigh Hotel during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2013 in Miami Beach. Her usual tribal patterns and other worldly trademarks were delivered this time with a rebel punch. Mara shares a bit of her inspiration with us.

Jauretsi: Hope you enjoyed Swim Week in Miami recently. You have presented previous years, how did this year feel different than the others?

Mara Hoffman: I feel for us, personally, it was fun because we have our game on down there and we’ve built up a confidence with showing there.

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Q: For this new collection, what would you say is the main narrative of inspiration you hand in mind when creating it?

Desert Outlaw Gypsies.

Q: In terms of beach essentials, what are the top 5 things in your beach bag when you hit the beach?

Sunscreen, water, a huge sarong/scarf, something good to read, snacks

Q: If there was music assigned to play as a soundtrack to your new collection, what would it be?

We were feeling MIA’s “Bad Girls” for this one.

(Mara Swimsuits are available here. Photo: Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2013)

0

The Super String Theory

By Jauretsi

In our quest to find that perfect one-piece this Summer, we came across two Mara Hoffmans swimsuits that caught our eye due to stunning string art. The first is her black Beaded Rays One Piece ($275.00) with a slight Native American feel featuring colorful beads within cut-out details at the bodice and sides. The other is 70’s inspired Olive Macramé One Piec e ($253.00) with a sweet T-front and sides. We spotted the black piece on eBay for a bid starting at $239. To check out Mara’s other one-pieces this season, visit MaraHoffman.com.