If I were broken heart...

I would go inside myself, identify the feeling and totally get it out of my system in the most productive / beautiful way I could... and of course, I would wear it afterwards...

Yup... that's what happened. To make the long story short: Cristaux Noirs was born thanks to what life had for me, I'm so happy it happened, otherwise I wouldn't have learned that you CAN change what you think is bad in to something biiiiiiiutiful!... 

I learned that a designer MUST and SHOULD lose any fear in order to create, even if that means to set your feelings out there... in front of eeeeveryone. Life is beautiful and so is creating, finding inspiration is a challenge for every designer so when you actually find it... USE IT!.

Since the inspiration was heart broken, the fabrics were created by me. I hand painted each fabric, simulating tears and dripping..

This is the rest of the catwalk, I'm still working on the photoshoot... 

Besos!

If I were a boy vol. 2 & vol. 3

Yes... I know, it's been for ever since last time I posted... many things have happened and by many I mean 4 collections :) jejejeje cool ain't it?

While working as a Creative Director for WILSON, I've launched 2 more collections, keeping in mind the modern, cool, hot guy I would looooove to see everywhere in El Salvador... If you want to see more check out here and here.

F/W '11

S/S '12

If I were inspired...

Once I shared that I live in El Salvador.. where? Yup, right there, in the middle of Central America. I also mentioned how we lack fashion industry, fashion scene or cool/unique local brands. I've come down to the conclusion that most Salvadorans, myself included, we always dream about foreign brands, looks and inspirations... silly us! duuuuh!.. while spending time thinking how to nail an european look, we miss the beautiful inspiration we can find on the streets of sivar... I've been trying to do that, find inspiration on local things, products, textures or whatever... Lucky meeeeee, some amazing color popped while I was thinking of it! (the secret? I called it with my mind?.. weird..)  Anyways, it was impossible to miss this old men, not only becauuse he was standing right next to me on the red light, but because I absolutely looooooved the color palette he has on. I'm pretty sure he didn't even think about this while getting dress.. but I love the old/dirty light grey with the sea breeze button shirt aaaaaaand THAT white hat! The simplicity of the colors and how they look so nice together makes me wanna dreeeeam... and what about that draped feeling on the front of the pants? lovvvve it!.. So yes, THIS inspired me, tomorrow I'll post my figurino with the look I got from it...Besos.

If I were a boy part II

 

Finally some time to get lose and ....write... yeah I don't have energies to get off my sweet sofa, these whole stitching-my-dreams philosophy has been hectic but incredibly a.ma.zing.... Like I was saying, I'm the head designer for WILSON and this is the first collection I designed for them. I wanted to do a basic, easy-to-wear and El Salvador-weather friendly collection so I thought Oxford Pinpoint Fabrics in very light colors would be perfect for this and some prints that would add up a modern look to the collection, since it can be worn for work or leisure and still look nice. For the campaign I wanted the new WILSON man to be very modern, clean, crisp and free, with a little flare and twist from the traditional ..cough..boring... cough.. salvadoran men. That's why I decided to use Torre Futura as a location for some of the looks and a sugar cane field for others. I was lucky to have my very good friend and favorite photographer Lucho  as part of my team.

When done, I realized that this is more than a project for me, this is my life and je l'adoreeeeeee! I love thinking about fabrics, cuts, details, sewing, even pattern-making which can be a pain sometimes... I love scouting locations, styling and beeing stressed as hell... at the end its worth every single moment... I love the pics, I love the shirts, I love the looooook!!!!!! .. Salvadoran Fashion Scene... here.. I... goooooooo!
 

If I were a boy...

Its been ages since last time I posted something here... but I've decided to share my new life project. I've called it like that because I have the feeling that since February 1st I live, breath, eat, dream, talk and laugh about WILSON, a Salvadoran menswear label I'm working for.

So, If I were a boy, I would definitely start following this brand to discover how its transforming from a boring old man brand to a very cool/elegant young man lifestyle.

As a fashion designer I'm in love with this project and I've decided to share what I can, when I can. So first things first. The story begins around 1967 in El Salvador, when the company decides to launch a shirt line named WILSON, during times where products Salvadorans consumed were locally created and produced. The brand grew very fast, it was THE shirt to wear. But the world took a different path and so did the fashion business, they started to change and evolve.

Now 40 years later, things have changed. The brand got lost in translation and never made it to current times... and this is where I come into the story... We're taking the label and brand to the next level...

One of the first things I was in charge was the brand identity which was a total mess! It wasn't cohesive, it didn't had any feeling and it was old fashioned not to mention it looked like another brand which made it even worst.. so this is the before...


and THIS is the after....

If I were simple....

I would wear these Versace Platforms with this Stella McCartney dress... no chunky necklaces, no bold colors, no big earrings.. no nothing.... just this... can't get more simple and clean than this.. aaaaaaaamazing!

If I could go to shoe heaven...

I would die and raise form the dead wearing these Giuseppe Zanotti babies...

If I were a fashion designer...

... wait... I am a fashion designer actually! :) and I just launched this mini collection available in my country and made upon request... These are some of the pics. All I have to say is that I'm in LOOOOOOVE with the result!!!!!!

Check out the complete collection on the Facebook Fan Page and of course DO NOT forget to become a fan: facebook.com/pret.a.cocktail

If I wear scaves....

Living in the middle of nowhere may have its disadvantages and one of them is that we have the same weather all year long.. well almost it may change from hot and dry to hot and rainy, cool ain't it?.. NOT! I know you may think I'm crazy but I ADORE having 4 seasons, transitions and cold... for me is endless mix and matching of layers plus nice options of accessories...
Anyways, I recently found some really...REALLY cool carrés that I would loooooove to buy and wear! French designer Philippe Roucou has released a line of 100% silk scarves based around Polaroid found art. For those unfamiliar with the term, that means the Polaroid photos were simply found at random - perhaps on the street, in a garage sale, etc - and in almost all cases the artist is unknown.... and even though this can be worn in cold/hot/chill/whatever weather I just needed to get out of my system the fact that I miss winter!

If I were Inspired....

I would make these Gabriel Dawe installations the main inspiration on my mood board. Not only for some sort of textile design/experiment and interesting silhouette that can be developed due to thread manipulation but moreover for the color transition and blend.. it makes me think of spring/summer washed out patterns, hazy prints, plays on transparency, watercolor effects, barely there prints... Yup.. I can picture it already...

If I were Alexander Wang...

I would definitely be crazy as hell and thanks to that would be able to create amazing things! such as these spring 2011 bags! ... aren't they just to die for????? This is how "basics" should look like in every girl's closet.. 'nough said.

If I were Inspired....

This song makes me think of a vintage postcard sent from Tuscany during the late 60's early 70's... maxi silk dresses... platform shoes... over-sized sunglasses... over-sized hats... a very laid back summer vacation ...

If I wear wedges...

As you may know wedges are a must this season and I reckon it will stay that way for the next season as well... I just love how bold and funky they are, and for my luck I recently discovered Jeffrey Campbell, a L.A.-based shoe label that has the coolest wedges (and shoes in general for that matter) with affordable prices... I love the color, I love the texture the straps create.. I just love the idea of how beautiful they would look on my feet..

And this is how i would wear them...

If I were obsessed...

It would be with the amazing FINSK wedges! ... can I die now and go to shoe heaven just to have these babies?

If I wear Wildfox...

I'm pretty sure it would make me feel like THE coolest girl ever!. This LA-based label is all about edgy/sassy/vintage-inspired clothes that makes me want to buy the complete collection. I love the basics with a cool twist that are easy to mix and match just to spice up any girl's closet... Here are some of the pics from fall 2010 and spring 2011...