The Wiseling Blog

"You are only as pretty as you pretend to be"

— Bridgette Bardot

"People will stare. Make it worth their while."

— Harry Winston

Sound of Music: Losing You by Solange

A Creator’s Portrait with Strathcona Founder Ryley O’Bryne

There is something wonderful about coming across a brand that takes you completely by surprise. Strathcona is such a brand. Based out of Vancouver, Strathcona specializes in ultra cool, fine stockings that feature photo collage style prints. With various prints from photo real citrus and flowers to watercolor-esque geometric shapes and star-strewn galaxies, these quirky stockings mirror designer and founder Ryley O’Bryne’s decidedly unique artistic point of view. Now boasting rave reviews and styling by several influential publishers including Vogue Italia, Bullett Magazine, Nylon Magazine, and Refinery 29, it is only a matter of time before Strathcona makes its way into wardrobes everywhere. Here, to kick start your newest obsession in hoisery (and firmly cement ours), Ms. O’Bryne answers our questions. 

 

When did you first become interested in fashion?

If you ask my mother, there was never a time that I wasn’t interested in fashion. Even when I was a little kid, I wouldn’t let my mom dress me – I always had to do it myself.

What made you want to create printed stockings?

I become a little obsessed with the idea of printed socks a few years ago. I found that I was always looking for special and interesting socks, but I had such a hard time finding them anywhere. Whether it was on the internet or when I traveled – they didn’t seem to be around anywhere. I finally realized that if I was going to get what I wanted I was going to have to make them myself. And that’s when the R+D started.

Where do you find inspiration for your products?

Whenever I can’t find exactly what I want I think about whether I could make it myself. In terms of the prints themselves, everything inspires me. I will be inspired by obvious stuff like a trip to the museum. Or a beautiful lunch. A carpet. Youtube. One of the prints was a little painting I did while visiting a friend in Mexico – the colors and patterns of the tile work there inspired me.

What other creative projects are you involved in?

Film is my other passion. We are working on a music video for a friend’s band this month. But I work on a pretty wide array of projects. Before Strathcona, I worked as a creative art director so that got me involved in quite an assortment of projects. I still take on that type of work on occasion but I am having less and less time for it. Really, I just really love working and creating.

How would you describe your personal style?

I would say fun and diverse. I don’t like having to be one thing or another. I want to wear wild colors and a bejeweled baseball hat one day and pajamas or all beige the next. I like being able to experiment with fashion. That’s what makes it interesting and enjoyable. That being said, we were talking about style the other day and decided the term “Casino Grandma” was pretty great…I definitely lean that way from time to time.

What is your favorite article of clothing?

A pair of extremely baggy sequin pants I got at a Halloween sale 4 or 5 years ago. If you have seen me “out” in the last 4 years, I have most likely been wearing those pants. They are quite literally my “party pants.”

Which recent purchase are you most excited about?

I recently bought a very utilitarian army-green duffle bag from MEC (Canada’s version of REI). It has made my nomadic life a lot easier in recent times.

What is your favorite place in the world?

My parent’s home in Roberts Creek and Paris. Two of the most wonderful places I have lived.

Shop Strathcona. 

Ready to start rocking a bolder pair of hoisery? Share your love in the comments. 

The Sound of Music

Navy by Kilo Kish

A Creator’s Portrait with Alexa Wilding

A few months ago, we came across New York based musician Alexa Wilding and found ourselves entranced. Her music, which features breathy vocals that rise and fall around perfectly plucked guitar notes, somehow takes the chill out of our late winter commute and lends some magic to the swirling snow in the air. Add to that Alexa’s evocative songwriting, which conjures up the fantasy and imagination of childhood, and suddenly the listener is presented with the perfect soundtrack to turn a subway ride into an adventure. Given all of these qualities, it is no wonder that she has been compared to the likes of Florence Welch and Stevie Nicks. This week, Alexa took time out of her busy schedule preparing for the rerelease of her album Coral Dust (to be accompanied by a performance at Rockwood Music Hall this evening) to tell us about her inspiration, influences, and favorite NYC shopping destinations.  

When did you first know that you wanted to make music?

Really early on. As I child I danced in ballets like “The Nutcracker,” and when you’re that little, it’s really easy to blur reality and fantasy. You get lost in the lights and the snow and the music. I felt like Lucy in “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” when she climbs into Narnia! I missed that escape when I stopped dancing. So at twelve I got really serious about listening to music. I would listen for hours on big headphones to Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell, whatever music my mother had lying around and I found it had the same effect - I could go some place else! I felt like I had stumbled upon the biggest secret. One day my mother’s boyfriend left an old guitar at our apartment, and I found my permanent key to that other place. I started writing immediately and never looked back. For me making music is pretty magical. You can time travel, revisit old friends and lovers, live out a dream or a nightmare. But much like the ballet, you can go home at the end of the night, safe and sound. 

Where do you find inspiration for your songwriting?

I usually write a song when I’m not sure how I feel about something. It’s my way of safely sitting with an experience, a person, a memory. I’m not as brave in real life, so for me music is a place to explore feelings, no matter how difficult, dark or exciting. There is a joy in coming to terms with a feeling, so while my music can border on dark, I hope the joy of revelation comes through as well. Those are the best songs, I think, the ones where you can totally identify with the singer’s experience, even though it is their own. I’m inspired by New York, having grown up here it is my greatest love after my husband! And while I am a city girl, I am also a plant and flower person, and I find much inspiration from spending time with my plants. Taking care of a small seedling and watching it grow, sometimes struggle, then bloom is akin to writing a song. It makes me very happy.

Who has had the greatest influence over your music?

I tend to revisit the music that hooked me in the first place, the music I heard at home and growing up downtown. Patti Smith, Nico, Lou Reed, Television, Kate Bush, and of course Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro, Stevie Nicks. This gang never gets old and I check in with them again and again, they remind me to always remain that 12 year old with her head phones! But in terms of a direct influence, Nico and Leonard Cohen. Nico’s solo records with John Cale changed my life when I first heard them. They are sparse and mystical and medieval and from the future at the same time. It’s like going to Narnia! The same with Cohen. It’s their own universe. I strive for that with my own work. The biggest gift would be for a listener to say, this sounds like she’s singing on the moon, I don’t know where I am but I’d like to stay here for a while.

What was your most memorable moment on tour?

Au Revoir Simone took me out on my first tour a few years ago. I was green, I had no idea how tour worked. I followed them around like I was the fourth Simone, the little sister! The first couple of shows were rocky for me - what was I thinking, going out there by myself with just a guitar and my voice? When we got to San Francisco I was determined to fix the situation. I don’t know if it was the beautiful old music hall or the fact that we all did our hair together back stage like in my ballet days, but that night I went out there and one by one people moved closer to the stage until I had the whole hall. I couldn’t believe it. I learned patience that night. I was so grateful that they gave me a chance and in return I gave them everything I had.

What was your favorite on-stage outfit?

Same tour, I wore the same dress every night! It was a black lace Rachel Antonoff dress and I wore it to shreds. Good thing she let me keep it! I was so scared those first few nights that this dress was my secret weapon. I keep all my stage dresses in a special cluster in my closet. They bring back special memories for me. Clothes are truly magical. They can transform you into who you want to be! Fake it til you make it?

What kind of clothes have you most excited for spring?

Up until last year I was always a winter girl. My style seemed to go out the window when the weather got warm, it was really frustrating! I’m pretty boring when it comes to my style in that once I find something that works, that’s my uniform. So last year I felt like I got it down and I lived in leotards, full skirts and wife legged pants, belts and espadrilles. I’m excited to revisit this again! It’s my take on Diana Vreeland meets Stevie Nicks.

What is your favorite place to shop?

Hands down my favorite shop in New York is Albertine in the West Village. I grew up in that neighborhood so it feels like home to me, and Kyung’s shop feels like my bedroom. It’s so feminine! She has the most perfect mix of new lines (A Detacher, Mina Stone) and vintage. I always leave perfectly satisfied. My last big purchases there were a Mina Stone moon dress and a vintage floral floor length tea dress from the 20s. Close runners up would be Legacy on Thompson Street (same thing, mix of new and old) and of course, Geminola.

If you could have a super power, what would it be?

To be invisible. I’d love to be a good fairy and make things right for people. I’m too superstitious to do anything terribly naughty!

Buy tickets to the Coral Dust rerelease show.

www.AlexaWilding.com

Alexa’s Facebook

Images via Paola Suhonen and Sonja Georgevich.

Is there a designer, artist, or musician that you would like to see featured? Tell us in the comments. 

A Creator’s Portrait with Christina Elleni

Imagine being able to carry a reminder of your favorite place with you where ever you go. Now imagine getting to wear a piece of jewelry that is utterly unique, chic, and statement worthy. Christina Elleni’s accomplished work combines the best of both. Using both traditional and cutting-edge construction techniques, Christina offers up a stunning selection of bangles, pendants, and rings featuring some of the most recognizable architectural feats in the world. Pay homage to NYC by wearing her Chrysler Building ring/pendant on your travels or show your love for the west coast by wearing the Golden Gate Bridge via Christina’s knuckle duster ring. Currently located in San Francisco, where she continues to tempt us with piece after impressive piece, Christina shares her creative process, unique approach to fashion, and sources of inspiration. 

When did your interest in creating jewelry start? 

It started when I was about 19. I had gone to fashion school for a year as soon as I finished high school. I worked really hard and loved learning new construction skills but I found the culture was a bit rough. I had just come from an all-girls high school and it seemed too similar to really excite creativity. I took a year off, worked, saved and traveled for 6 months to about 5 countries. When I came home I had to decide if I was going to go back to fashion school or go to art school instead. I chose art school. By second semester in your first year you have to pick a major for the rest of your degree. At the time there were 2 classes I loved - Sculpture and Jewelry. It was really tough picking but I had always loved making things that people could wear and really cherish so jewelry won out.

…that was really long winded. Sorry!

Where do you find inspiration?

From objects and places I love and people I admire. I went through a kind of organic tea phase at Uni (college)…everything I made was organic looking and was modeled on either a teapot or a teacup or had tea leaves in it. I was slightly obsessed. I also had a fantastic group of friends in my workshop who would inspire me with their work. Then in my final year I got really excited about challenging myself to be as precise and as anti-organic as I could. 

My Dad is an architect and my Mum used to be one too. Both of them work so meticulously. Even their handwriting looks like it’s been typed. I really envied that I suppose. 

I had also just come back from travelling overseas again and wanted to make pieces that reminded me of all the wonderful places I’d seen. I started to consider buildings and how different architecture can really make a huge impact on the city it’s a part of…and how magical it can be I suppose. And that’s what continually inspires me.

What kind of materials do you most prefer to work with?

Silver. Definitely silver. I like perspex and wood too but silver is just more fun and permanent. Oh and I have just started working with gold which is really fun too.

Of all of the designs you’ve ever made, which is your favorite?

Hmm that’s tough. Probably my gold Taj Mahal ring necklace. I know it’s not the fanciest or most complex or the biggest piece, but it’s one I really enjoy wearing.

What is your go-to day to day outfit?

(My cool, when-I-leave-the-house answer) Right now my favorite outfit is an Angela Lansbury t-shirt that my sister lent me (JB Fletcher’s my girl, I love Murder She Wrote) and my blue AG jeans with white polka dots OR my floral Citizens of Humanity jeans, a pair of little dangly silver and pearl earrings I just made and flip flops.

(My real life, uncool answer) I am working from home right now, so my pajamas!

What were you wearing as an art student?

Ha ha, oh dear. Ummm well, always enclosed shoes and an apron…and probably leggings, a tank top and a hoodie. I used to ride my bike to Uni so definitely practical, very worn-in clothing and a backpack…not fashionable at all. My friends would be amazed when I wore anything that resembled an actual outfit.

Which recent purchase are you most excited about?

I just bought a new Foredom Flexible Shaft for polishing, carving, drilling etc. I get to pick it up tomorrow and I’m so pumped! 

What is your favorite place in the world?

The beach! I’m from Sydney and grew up on the beach so that’s my happy place…specifically, probably Tamarama or Bronte on a beautiful summer’s day.

Visit Christina’s site.

Shop Christina Elleni jewelry.

Is there an artist, designer, or performer that you would like to see featured? Tell us about them in the comments.  

#NowPlaying It was a good Day by Ice Cube

(Source: Spotify)

"The finest clothing made is a person’s skin, but, of course, society demands something more than this."

— Mark Twain

"The prettiest dresses are worn to be taken off."

— Jean Cocteau