Mignonette Featured in IndieEntrepreneur

Mignonette, which is French for "cute girl," is a fitting name for a company dedicated to making clothing designed to make women feel girly, cute, and modern. [more...]


Get your Mignonette!

DIY Thing Interviews Angela Johnson

Angela Johnson has quickly become a cult favorite among Unsung customers. You know and love her vintage inspired looks (that's her multi-tier Victorian skirt on the left) and her thrift store fairytale style (from t-shirt ball gowns to garter skirts with tulle). But did you know Angela's black Bubble Dress will be on the next season of America's Next Top Model? Read this insightful interview where she shares, among other things, what it takes to be a successful indie fashion designer:

Part I

Part II

Phyl Couture Named Fashion Award Finalist

Phyl Couture is a finalist in the Contemporary Category for the Dallas Fashion Awards. Congratulations Phyl!

Leaders of the Pack

DALLAS -- Since nominations for the 32nd annual Dallas Fashion Awards are based on sales, the 24 finalists are already store favorites. Retailers, though, soon will have the final word as they cast their votes in the eight different categories. (Voting takes place during the upcoming market, Aug. 19-22, or online at dallasmarketcenter.com.) Winners will be named Oct. 21 at a gala in The Grand Pavilion at the Dallas Trade Mart, part of the Dallas Market Center complex that also includes FashionCenterDallas. That same night, Dallas luxury retailer Neiman Marcus will be honored with the Fashion Excellence Award, while New York-based designer Phillip Lim will receive the Rising Star Award for his edgy and popular 3.1 Phillip Lim collection.

Nominees in the eight categories are:

Modern Wear: Maggy London, Tribal, Tyler Boe
Jewelry: Brighton, Liz Palacios, Seasonal Whispers
Contemporary: Yoana Baraschi, Johnny Was, Phyl Couture
Bridge/Designer: Lafayette 148, Eileen Fisher, Louben
Casual Contemporary: XCVI, Paige Premium Denim, Seven For All Mankind
After 5: Nicole Miller, Badgley Mischka, Marisa Baratelli
Accessories: Lockheart, Francesco Biasia, Charm and Luck
Children's Wear: Charlie Rocket, Kissy Kissy, Le Top

(WWD, Thursday, June 28, 2007)

Unsung Designers Always a Step Ahead of Trends

I love this darling pink Daryl K dress ($440), just out for summer.


















Only, I already own this gorgeous semi-sheer dress by Kareen Smith ($325) (THAT I BOUGHT IN MARCH! so I'm getting 2 seasons out of it!) Kareen Smith is still taking orders on this dress, but not for long. Order yours before she moves on. Both dresses are 100% silk.



Shop Kareen Smith's Spring/Summer collection right here.

Washington's Own Style: Unsung Designers

Our interview (and an impromptu fashion shoot) in DCist.

Washington's Own Style: Unsung Designers
By fashion contributor Rachel Cothran. See more of her writing and street photography at her web site Project Beltway.

Tucked in an alleyway off 18th Street in Adams Morgan, an off-beat shop hides behind ugly metal double doors, but the clothes you'll find inside are often diamonds in the rough of D.C. fashion. At Unsung Designers, polos and pearls are tossed aside for one-of-a-kind dresses in original prints and killer heels you won't ever see at Nine West. [more...]

gr.dano, Verrières and Sako in San Francisco Chronicle

Check out this great article featuring five hot bay area designers, including Unsung faves gr. dano and Verrières and Sako.

DESIGNED FOR SUCCESS
Five local fashion teams who want to stay by the bay

Cotton Cummerbund Top by gr.dano



















Silk Organza Coat Dress (left) over Crisscross Silk Organza Overlay Dress (right) by Verrières and Sako

Unsung Designers Always a Step Ahead of Trends

Silk and lace: elegant, sensuous, ladylike, sado-masochistic. No matter how you like to wear them, these contrasting textures are a match made in fashion heaven. Below, Dolce and Gabbana F/W07 on the left, Ouvrez la Porte F/W06 on the right.

Bows evoke a romantic past.
















Lace at the breast is sweet and sexy.

Introducing Ouvrez La Porte

We're truly delighted to announce the arrival of a fabulous new label to Unsung: Ouvrez La Porte. We're huge fans of the collection's beautiful clean lines, retro-inspired designs and luxurious fabrics like silk charmeuse and lace. The talented Karen La Porte makes each piece in her Brooklyn studio. And lucky us, the studio is also a darling shop! Drop by and say hello, and let yourself get lost in the boutique's wonderful treasure trove of independent designer labels mixed with vintage pieces.

Ouvrez La Porte
105 Bond Street
Brooklyn, NY

Or
shop Ouvrez La Porte at Unsung now.

Indie Fashion Week: New York Couture

There were so many mouthwateringly beautiful things to command our A-D-D attention at New York fashion week, but nothing got our adrenaline pumping more than the off-tent indie fashion shows we attended at various venues around the city. One of the most fun and fabulous was New York Couture at the Grand in midtown. Loads of color and tulle are NY Couture staples. Add a heaping spoon of drag queens and a sprinkle of pompoms and ripped fishnets, and you've got yourself a show worthy of Betsey Johnson or Patricia Fields.

I really loved this dress.



















Short skirts and animal prints.



















Frilly underpants as outerwear. The jacket has trompe l'oeil lace. Fabulous.



















Attitude.















Piece de Resistance.



















Backstage bows. Designer Cassie Kogler is 2nd from left.

Unsung Designers Always a Step Ahead of Trends: Part 5

On the left, an adorable dress from Zac Posen's Fall/Winter 2007 collection. On the right, an adorable dress from Verrieres & Sako's Fall/Winter 2006 collection. I wonder which one is more affordable? (Unbiased Note to Readers: the quality and tailoring of Verrieres & Sako is high end. They have won Gen Art's Fresh Faces Award as Posen did years ago so you'll want to get your hands on some of their early pieces before you get priced out.)

Studio: A Look Inside the Cutting Room

Whenever I talk to my customers about a particular designer--their philosophy, their inspiration, their drive, their dog/cat/turtle--I feel an instantaneous click. Suddenly, the designer is a real person who shares their (and my) interests, loves, fears and goals. I love sharing glimpses into a designer's life, especially as I get to you know you as customers, because it is just that personal aspect that I'm fascinated with, and those relationships I feel so lucky to have. Lately I've started taking photos of some of the studio spaces of the designers Unsung works with, so you can get an idea of what they do every day. I hope you enjoy this new feature (and feel free to let me know if you'd like me to focus on any specific areas).

It all happens here. Many designers have old-fashioned sewing machines that weigh a ton!
















Every designer has a place to keep clippings of things that inspire them.
















Spring looks taking form.