Backstage at Gutter Magazine Fashion Show

Posting will undoubtly be a little slow and lots more picture heavy as I am starting on this wacky coding endeavor for theunsewn.com, my new blog. You thought this was a special place for ideas well then hold on to your seats! Here are a few behind the scenes of the Fashion Show I was invited to in my home town. They feature Salome Vintage, a vintage shop that I am truly in love with.

Life is beautiful, let's share a little. 

Joy D.

Tommorow night in Baltimore!

Life is beautiful, let's share a little. 

Joy D.

Fashion for a Cause: A Night of Victory

My lovely and always present friend Abdu celebrated his one year anniversary on Friday. I felt privileged to attend as it was also a fundraiser for TransUnited which are great at throwing benefits and helping transgendered individuals. Everyone was decked out in their finest attire. It was like NYFW with sequins, are they back right now? I totally missed that trend but I love that it is making its rounds again around Baltimore. This event made me truly realize the potential for creative people in this town. The after party was lots of fun too, but I was really glad that a lot of money was raised for a good cause that is often neglected. 

Life is beautiful, let's share a little. 

Joy D.

Fashion Forward: La Prositute Persan

To celebrate Trans United's work, which deals with exposure and giving solutions to issues facing minority groups including transgendered individuals, they held a fashion show. It was a fun night filled with great vintage pieces and yummy cocktails. I was invited to the event by Abdu Ali . This is a name you should be familiar with as I featured him in my Bloggers Alert! feature back in January. I was inspired by the well dressed ladies and gentlemen that were present as well as the cause we were all supporting. Thank you to Sandy Rolls and Betty Fashionopolus for putting on a great show! (Click photo to enlarge)

All photos by Joy D. except for the last three by Abdu Ali.

Life is beautiful, let's share a little. 

Joy D.

Baltimore Favorites: Cult Baltimore

As I reflect on where my life is going at the moment I realize there is a constant urge to do more. That is because I am constantly pushed by the creatives in my town. Along with my friends this town manages to ground me somehow so why not show off the town that has birthed Billie Holiday, Beach House, and Frank Zappa. This is a spotlight on some of the fun things about Baltimore ,a place I have grown to love. A little while ago I interviewed JP, the owner of Cult: a store with an amazing selection of garments.

Why did you open Cult?I like denim, vintage sneakers and leather jacket. There is no real place to really buy them. I thought if we [Baltimore] had a shop that we curated ourselves, with no flares or butterfly collars, that focused on sharp and angular vintage it would be a fun place to go.

Did you have any inspiration for opening the shop? No people really, more so music. Around the late 70s early 80s. There was a strong aesthetic and DIY scene going on. And I have always been drawn to it.

What are some of your favorite pieces in the shop? There is a Helmut Lang dress from the runway. It is quintessential Helmut Lang from around 1998/1999. When we first opened we had a lot of Ksubi, my favorite was the best dressed vest. Also there was a Ralph Lauren sweater called a “Picture's knit”. It had a lot of Ralph Lauren iconography pieced together, highly collectable. And those are just the ones that pop through my head immediately.

How did you decide the location for Cult?Well when we first got the building it was kind of shabby but we lucked out. I live in Mt. Vernon and it is a part of Baltimore that I most appreciate.

 Who designs for Cult? Myself, Arthur, Eliot, and a bunch of others that form a design collective. Eliot has a line called Gan Banthat has a similar aesthetic. Holden takes very good pictures and has a good eye. He is able to work with me sporadically and organically.

Where do you like to shop? I don't know where my clothes come from. Because I sell so much high quality items that I usually fall by the waist side. I just throw on whatever and go to work. I don't really shop much but I collect sneakers. A lot of things I stumble upon. Maybe not good denim, because they are so hard to find. Mostly, I find old things and chop it up to fit.

How much of you is in the shop? Well, you get inspired by different things at all times of the day. Even when I am sleeping I think about the shop.

To purchase or inquire about anything CULT....
salutcult.bigcartel.com
http://deathcultbaltimore.wordpress.com/

Life is beautiful, let's share a little. 

Joy D

What I have been up to.

Here are a few outtakes from the shoot I did with JP, of Cult Baltimore, for a feature on WhatWeekly.com. It is a local website that covers all sorts of events in my hometown of Baltimore. Thank you to Justin for inviting me onto the WW staff! I have gotten to quite a slow start with the moving but they have been very patient and understanding. 

I interview the owner, JP. He pulled some of his favorites. 

This is a Helmut Lang late 90s runway dress!  

If you saw me at the IFB conference I was wearing a CULT screen printed shirts.

This is my favorite of the new collection. "The Terrible Children" 

JP has a way of finding the most stellar pieces. This studded button vest is from Scum Clothing.

To purchase or inquire about anything CULT....
salutcult.bigcartel.com
http://deathcultbaltimore.wordpress.com/

Life is beautiful, let's share a little. Joy D.