Veronica Webb+Heather Klar. Vote!
So I just signed up with an online creative talent community called Talenthouse. Their artists range from musicians to fine artists to even fashion designers! And much like Gen-Art before them, they are eager to have contests and I am eager to enter my work in them. There is a current challenge looking for submissions that would win over the stylish heart of former supermodel Veronica Webb so she will grace the infamous red carpet donning the winning entry with the kind of flare only a supermodel could get away with! I am a bit fashionably swamped at the moment, and as the above pictured dress never really got it’s chance in the spotlight, I figured now is the time to strike! I think it will look really sharp on her and it is made from many many bits of citron yellow organic bamboo jersey I sewed together and polished off with a bold white plastic zipper right down the front! So if you would like to vote for little old me, please do so right here. And! You can also vote for others, but there are only three days for voting and only the top ten make it before Miss Webb’s eyes, and as she is the ultimate judge, I most certainly want to be in her Webb Sight! Thanks ahead and I am crossing every digit! xxhk
Styling Flying Points
May I present: Flying Points. And may I indeed!!! I was lucky enough to style their rockery-cute selves for their most recent press shoot, and here they are all smiles for the camera. Too much fun was had and naturally we all became the most kindred of spirits! I saw them perform for the first time (for me! They’ve been out & about with gigs galore before I came along!) and was mesmerized by their music, showmanship, and their inter-band-love that shines it’s brightest on their stage. You can see them too at Arlene’s Grocery both August 20 & 27 at 9pm. Be prepared for mesmerization. Be very prepared. xxhk
Buongiorno!
I went to Italy with a little camera and came back with a little movie! Whaddya think? xxhk
Film de Fall
Behind the scenes at the Fall 2010 shoot! Courtesy of my brother, Mr. Mike Klar. Hooray!! xxhk
HK Fall 2010 from Heather Klar on Vimeo.
Starring: Rachel Jordan Brown, Beau Alluli, Heather Klar, and introducing Brees (the unendingly adorable tiny prancing Pomeranian!)
HK Fall 2010 from Heather Klar on Vimeo.
Evergreen Everawesome!
I grew up in Reisterstown, Maryland, not exactly a cosmopolitan epicenter, but certainly a fine spot for my little family to thrive. Encountered with an early empty nest, my parents high-tailed it to the charm-drenched capital of Annapolis. Just about every time I come home, like a moth to flame, I find an excuse to wend my way over to 69 Maryland Avenue, home of Evergreen Antiques. Pictured above next to me are Mary Jo (the savvy owner) and Roger (he described my taste as tacky! Tsk tsk!) and missing in action is Betty Sue (perhaps the most bubbly person I’ve met!), another Evergreen Antiques gal, but I didn’t get the chance to photograph her. The trio know their stuff and are a very buoyant bunch to be about! They’ve served up some of my favorite wacky jewelry finds over the years, but they also consistently house a barrage of excellently curated goodies that any passerby would drool over. So go ahead, look at some of my all-time beloved accessories and then start planning your trip down to Annapolis. Let’s see what you find! xxhk
Meet My Press!
Why hello, SPORTSWEAR INTERNATIONAL!!!!! I know I deploy an awkward abundance of exclamation points when I write these things, but I am so very excited about this juicy little fashiony nugget! I was interviewed, wait, I have to go back further, there’s more back-story. When I was in Las Vegas, Sir Blomquist, Mr. US Sportswear International himself, happened to pop into the Qi booth I was peddling my wares and I attempted to charm him into looking at my garmentos! He was nice, rushed, and generous asking me to look him up in New York after the tradeshows. So I stalked him a little upon return, per his request (meeting him was hands down the highlight of that tradeshow!) and he was very sweet and diplomatically passed me along to a Miss Alexandra Gonzalez. A writer for the magazine, she interviewed me via email in January and I sent along a few images as well. Yesterday, on a whim in the rainy weather, I strolled through Barnes & Noble and saw a recent copy of Sportswear International snuggled at the very elite back of the magazine section. It’s a bi-monthly fashion trade magazine, this current edition being the March/April with a headline of “Kids in America”, no doubt focusing on the fledgling bunch of American designers, of which I could be considered of the lowermost fledgling denominator. Inner monologue: “Who knows? Maybe this was the one? Maybe they used me? Maybe I’m just being too optimistic? ” And behold! Behold behold! Yes! Hooray! Behold! Voila! My first press piece! May exclamation points drown this post! The grin that spread from ear to ear and back around my head was enormous! I think I even blushed! There I was, or should I say my stunning model Rachel, smack-dab in the middle of a page in Sportswear International! Wowie! And! As a joyous post-script: a shop in India found me as a result! Let the happily-ever-afterness commence!
Winter Watercolors
I attended Catholic school for too long to not appreciate a good confession: I am, at best, a mediocre illustrator. I hang my head with shame, but it’s true. I grew up, attending these parochial schools and was encouraged to delve into my artistic curiosities and though I excelled at many an applied art (sculpting, pottery, fibery-business, sandcastle architecture, coloring in the lines in coloring books), my plain drawing was always a simple satisfactory. Though I enjoy pastels and drawing for kicks, when I am on the fashion warpath of collection-creating, there is no real need to labor precious minutes on gorgeous illustrations. I mean, after all, it would redundantly only serve to communicate with myself. Much like singing a popular tune only to find it’s not a Billboard Top 40 when it exits my mouth, my mental designs only come out as truly beautiful via the cloth, not the pen. But! It is a new year, a new challenge and I should like to develop some illustrative talents to benefit my person in the future when I try to land a job or two. Clients surprisingly like lovely images more than my trusted “Trust me” promises. Yet I have known many a great fashion illustrator where the physical construction fails to match their arresting 2D visual offerings. What can I say?!? I am much more intrigued by all of the physicality that comes with design than making impossible fantasy drawings and being crowned the next Erte. However, improve I shall! I must! Yes!
To be sure, I DID NOT EXECUTE THE STUNNING ILLUSTRATIONS YOU SEE BEFORE YOU! I enlisted one of my very very verrrry talented illustrator pals, Mr. Emanuele Sferruzza Moszkowicz, to take a look at my humbly communicative sketches for my upcoming Fall/Winter collection and interpret a few of them into something fascinating. I think he did it. What do you think? xxhk
Le Freak C’est Chic
Well whaddya know! Through friends of friends of friends (yes, hard to believe that even I have that many!), I met a lovely gal named Emily, a fashionable expat working in London, who recommended I be one of the subjects of a British fashion program called “7 Days of Chic”. It was a neat process: they sent me a Flip HD camera, a little tripod, plenty of batteries, and a “how-to” dvd on shooting my segment. So I or very nice friends of mine would shoot me wearing whatever silly apparel concoction I threw on my body and I had to chat, wooden-like, with the camera about my quirky decisions. I also shot all of the still photographs for the segment too! Though I do make an earnest effort to wear mismatched attire regularly, I wouldn’t race to deem it “chic” by any regard or even noteworthy for that matter. Well! Guess what! True to form and with a deluge of deadlines engulfing me (i.e. no time for pampering or picking out the perfect outfit for mr. camera), I truly documented what I wore each day and didn’t once gussy up especially for my unknowing public. So much so that I think I found one single chic look amongst my 7 hopefuls. See if you can spot it! xxhk
p.s. So a buyer from the show watches the final edited footage and pairs current pieces with pieces their subject selects! It’s really fascinating and a bit odd, but also very cool! As you watch my video, each time I mention something I’m wearing (usually a vintage/old/one-of-a-kind piece), a comparable item that’s sold somewhere presently pops up next to the video on the right. Neat-o, eh?
My Lovely Assistant
Voila! May I present to you my lovely assistant, Miss Gina Conn. She has bubbled nothing but enthusiasm and curiosity since I welcomed her into my tailoring lair, watching my every stitchery move like a veritable hawk! She comes from the land of television production, having not sewn or knit a single stitch in her accomplished life, but ready and thrilled at all tasks I have thrown her way. From pom-pom mastery, to Tyvek-folding champion, to the introductory trials of knitting, to even a buoyant spirit I can look to and smile in my weakest 3am hours of impossible deadlines, I salute you Lady Gina! Your vim & vigor and spongey desires to know every aspect of creating a fashion company are unendingly appreciated! Let’s all hear it for a very real, true NY fashionista!
A Plastic is Forever!
I just entered this Gen Art contest called “Plastics Make It Possible” and I am feeling competitive for the first time since I played rugby in college! The prize is a whopping $10,000 to create my next collection and a show at NY Fashion Week!!!!!! Wowww! So wowww! So get on that link above and vote for me oh-so-pretty please! And vote for other people too I guess, but start with me!
As you can see, goodgirl Rachel Brown was all ears when I said I needed her to prance about in a variety of plastics! And her photog man-in-waiting Mr. Beau Alluli also was a blessing to help out. And of course Mr. Jarrett Seese executed the delightfully odd, kabuki-esque make-up and hair for the shoot with masterful ease! Check out the gallery below of our shoot in the Easterly East Village and let me know if you need some Tyvek–I have a lifetime supply! Happy voting! You can do it! xoxohk
Sexy Feast
There is a really fantastic artist I am quite fortunate to be friends with named Sarah Walko that gets her creative hands into absolutely everything! You name it, she has done it! Including a tres avant-garde film she has been working on for over a year with a charming smarty-pants named Victor Ruano with which she went to grad school. Lucky for me, they asked me to come by and do hair & make-up! Though a charming invite, I know my talents lie elsewhere, so I coaxed my very very super-duper talented hair and make-up master pal Jarrett to take my stead and I played stylist and headpiece-maker. And just to complete the recipe, I snagged my assistant Gina to help me out with fabric-based quandaries while the stunning intrepid photographer Alexis pictorially documented our efforts for the day. A true “A-Team”!!!!!!!!
The rough “plot” for this particular shoot is that these characters are about to dine on this man, who I sprayed down with olive oil and actually floured, ready to roast! The action that followed was not in them dining, but in preparing the feast, including a giant raw mackerel as well as other fresh seafood, small colorful candies and other creepy trimmings to complete the well-balanced meal. Yummmmm!
So behold the fruit of all of our efforts, masterfully captured by Lady Alexis Abreu! I hope your Thanksgiving is just as artfully quizzical! xxhk
Bacon&Egg
I have a good pal named Sara Tantillo that is a master knitter. Master I tell you! About a year ago, I was going to see her and she said she had a surprise for me. And only that week prior had I been thinking about making myself a bacon scarf, so when I unfurled the curly wool genius you see before you, I was over the moon with delight! Bacon! So perfectly executed with its fatty twisting shape! And so soft and yummy! The fried egg chapeau was made a bit later, but here now you all can enjoy my delectable duo thanks to Lady Sara Jane Tantillo!
Feathered Heather
In May a fantastic duo of artists up and got married and as a buddy of theirs, I was lucky enough to watch them get hitched! In addition to being close pals, the bride also happens to be adventurous in her aesthetic and commissioned a “big” headdress for her to party post-nuptials in bridely fashion! She loved the final piece so much she even donned the feathery delight for Halloween! So here are some of my favorite shots of my first attempt at millinery, expertly modeled by my sweet friend Heather Willems (check out her art too!). She really sells it, right? xxhk
New York, I Love You!
I have nothing to say but: Ta-daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!
So, who wants first dibs one these sharp threads? Come and get’em! hk@heatherklar.com
Heather Klar Spring 2010 from MikeK on Vimeo.
Heather Klar Spring 2010 Fashion Film Spectacular! starring: Hollie Seidel!
Director: Daniel Burress AD & Camera: Ben Cikanek Actress: Hollie Seidel Editor: Mike Klar Hair & MUA: Jarrett Seese Still Photographer: Mike Dresser PA & Wardrobe Mistress: Liz Pineda What a team! Thank you so very much! I am so lucky that I get to steal your time! And you all stole my heart! (Blech! An uncharacteristic mushy & cheesy note of adoration, but pretty true as an irrepressible giant grin slides across my face each time I watch this! So thank you! Oh so truly! Oh so awesome are you!!!!)Behind the Seams!!
Lucky for me, my pals tend to be very sweet, very hilarious, and verrrrrrrrrrrrrrry talented. And I rang them up and asked them if they’d want to make a short film of my line and they all eagerly hopped on board! We shot in the Financial District and then jumped over to Coney Island and managed to get TWELVE looks in an 11- hour day, which proves I ain’t lying about their ceaseless talent and hard work!! And their hilarity kept it fun, even in the veritable tornado that hung out with us in Coney Island. My glasses actually blew off my face in those frightful winds, but our muse Hollie, ever the consummate professional, managed to keep her skirts down and her spirits up throughout the long silly day!!
Take a look at the behind-the-scenes shots,care of Sir Mike Dresser. The video itself will be coming to a Heather Klar website near you very soon! Don’t worry, I will keep you in the fashion-know! Stay tuned, mes camarades . . . .
Cast & Crew: Dan Burress (Director), Ben Cikanek (AD/ Camera Operator), Hollie Seidel (Actress Extraordinaire), Jarrett Seese (Hair & MUA), Mike Dresser (Still Photographer/ Van Captain), Liz P (Wardrobe Madame), Mike Klar (Editor) and Heather Klar (Producer/Time-Villain/Quick-Changer)
Fabric Queen Reigns Supreme!
Any pal or acquaintance of mine is firmly aware of my fabric geekiness. Much like the famed George Castanza moment, I have been known to reach out and fondle strangers’ clothes to get a whole understanding of their fabric they are porting. Only sometimes do I realize the boldness of the gesture, but I think most recognize the act as unthreatening. Whew!
Pictured here is just one wall of fabric in my studio, and just for good measure I am building another right now. Not to worry, I already have oodles of cloth to fill, just need to build the shelves.
So my friend Colleen came over for a fitting as I am making her a custom sassy cocktail dress and she couldn’t help but giggle at my fabric temple in my sewing room, hence this cute photo! I have dulled many a conversation with my fabric obsession and to lift my spirits, completely serious, I head to ABC Carpet & Home’s Silk Trading Company (I would link their website, but you really have to “experience” them in person!) so I can paw bolt after bolt of sumptuous silken treasures. Let’s just say, the staff knows me. So after a long, sordid history of modest self-denial, I have to face up to the facts. It’s true. And always shall be.
Fabric, I love you.
Gallerist Klar!
I have a very sweet, very cute, very very talented, quite chatty friend named Emanuele Sferruzza Moszcowicz who is a really amazing artist. He is already back in Europe sling-shotting between exhibitions in Milan, Helsinki, Tokyo, Paris, etcetera, so I don’t get to see him too much, but I was damn lucky when I went to Sin City only a month ago, as he also happened to be in town showing his work! And he just shipped the WHOLE series to me in hopes I can have a sort of amorphous New York installation of sorts by way of placing the pieces in interesting spots about town! This series is a collection of his visual interpretations of dreams. They are all mounted on board and some are quite large, all however are arresting and I secretly want to keep them all! Take a stroll through my HKGallery (yay! another new job title!) I set up and if you have a cool, somewhat well-trafficked wall that needs some emotionally-charged, fascinatingly-detailed, wayward-mind-inspired art, let me know and you might just get lucky! xxhk
My Little Black Rain-Cloud!!
My brother happens to be an excellent graphic designer. He has mastered iconic branding that is both relate-able and sharp. When I twisted his arm into helping me with my logo, I bought some burritos and traipsed over to his Brooklyn abode and tossed ideas around. The theme for said brainstorm was: what am I, Heather Klar, saying with my clothes makes me different in fashion. We came up with this cloud, which I liked because it could be a thought cloud and a metaphor on my design aesthetic, which isn’t a singular theme like day or night, but maybe in between. Which segued nicely into how I really think of my clothes and style, a delightful mash-up of sexy and cute and nerdy and classy all together! My brother engineered the perfect cloud that represents all of those mantras while making it clean and fresh for a clothing label. I love it! And my fantastic hangtag people JakPrints got a kick out of it too! Look!
http://jakprints.blogspot.com/2009/08/black-clouds-arent-bad-thing.html
And if you see any of these little clouds floating around New York, send me a pic! xxhk
Luggage Too?!!!!!
While designing my Spring 2010 line, I noticed there was a veritable drought in snazzy garment bags in the luggage world. So I made one! It’s shiny, waterproof, oilcloth-durable, lined, and cute as can be! Just like the beautiful garments inside. And in honor of such unbridled adorability, I had an impromptu photo shoot with said garment bag. Here she is working it in every shot! The camera does love her, no? xxhk
VegasPaparazzi Loves Me!
When I was in Vegas for Project, I caught up with VegasPaparazzi for an interview.
They’re awesome!