Inspiration

I was wandering around the flea market and found some vintage stamp numbers. The original DEPT728 logo was made from a stamp, so this seemed like a logical way to work in a print. I'm going to keep stamping away, and hopefully an interesting textural print will emerge for a new collection.

In Process

Last weekend we went to the Indie Designer Market in Chicago. This second time around we really had a great response from customers coupled with a lot of sales. I am so proud of the fact that anonymous people will own my garments, and love them. Hopefully I will run across someone I don't know wearing my dress (all the pieces we sold were women's clothing). The favorites this weekend were the tie dress, the women's swimsuit, and the criss-cross halter top. Also, I cannot wait until the website launches at the end of August...27 days to go!

Being a Square

Men at the beach fall into 3 different categories: Guys who work out, guys who are naturally thin, and those who should be wearing a t-shirt. For some reason I have seen the swimsuit of choice for most men be distinctly against the type of body they have. For example, there have been quite a few times that a man who needs to get to a gym show up at the beach in a Speedo, and the guy with the 6-pack is lounging in a pair of long board shorts. While everyone should feel comfortable at the beach I don't think that a big man in a small Speedo is good for the other spectators who will be subjected to the view. On the other hand, though, the muscular guys really should look into more revealing swim wear. The board shorts are fine, but square cut swimsuits are far more exciting. Someone who works that hard on his body should really show more off. It used to be that small bathing suits on men meant that they only belonged to certain parts of society, but I think that it's about time for the square cut to make it into mainstream society. Women have already passed the point where backless and super short dresses are considered acceptable attire so men should be given a little slack as well. Besides, us girls will be much more tempted to go sightseeing at the beach.

Bigger. Better. Brighter.

When we first started the clothing line we were full of hope, and not so full of cash. Sean has an incredible background in business along with his degree in intellectual property law. He is able to be my business partner, as well as our company's lawyer. Because of this we were able to get started with very little money. My background in fashion design, and my strength in the technical areas (pattern drafting and sewing) kept us from having to hire sewers and pattern makers in our start up stages. At this point, almost 2 years since we started, we finally have come to a point that we can start giving other professionals some of the tasks. The first one: Our website. While it is good that I learned some HTML and CSS online, and attempted to put a website together that was functional, it was certainly not a fantastic site. Our clothes are great, and I want the website to showcase them. My good friend (and quite amazing) Nejat is taking over the website, and we are going to be able to launch, along with a full shopping cart, at the end of August. By next week I will have mock ups of the pages, and I can barely wait! If you would like to see what Nejat has done, his portfolio is available at www.cloudovertree.com.
xoxo,
Ruth

Niche

Just because something is available to buy does not mean that it is in style. Most of the time people justify buying inappropriate clothing with the fact that someone is selling it. Each person has a unique shape. Because not everyone looks the same, not everyone can wear all of the trendy looks. I, for one, cannot do the very billowy tops with shorts. Being curvy means that I can look like I am wearing a tent very quickly. Petite girls, however, will look lovely in that sort of look. It is trendy, but it is not a look for me. Conversely, the 1940's pinup style bathing suits look amazing on me, and the tiny girls will not get the same effect. So when you are shopping, be selective. Choosing the most flattering of the trendy looks for your shape is the best way to go. Just because it's on a rack doesn't mean it is meant for you. Happy summer shopping!

xoxo,

Ruth

Orange

Recently I was watching TLC's What Not to Wear, and Clinton was expounding on the virtues of the color orange for blondes with blue eyes. He, just like myself, had originally thought that a color as intense as orange would be overwhelming to anyone with fair coloring. Turns out that orange can be very attractive on blondes. Since blue and orange are opposites on the color wheel it definitely makes blue eyes pop. Also, blonde hair and fair skin can be warmed up by orange. While tangerine is probably a better way to start, many hues of orange exist. What a rather juicy thing to try out this summer.

xoxo,

Ruth

P.S. The orange shirt above is one of the new styles that Dept728 will launch especially for the Indie Designer Market in Chicago.

Bangles

Jewelry is such an overlooked part of a complete wardrobe. Considering that bringing attention to the face is the ultimate aim of any outfit (after highlighting the best parts of the body) jewelry is essential to finishing the look. Necklaces and earrings are now acceptable for both men and women, so I feel we should really take the time to discuss them. Personally, I find that a mix of expensive, heirloom pieces and cheap, very trendy accessories are the best way to keep your wardrobe up to date as well as complete. Spending tons of money on expensive bangles always seemed like a waste to me when the $5 bangles will do just fine for the few seasons they will be in. Beautiful silver necklaces, however, which will be worn for decades (and handed down to children) should definitely be worth the splurge. Interesting jewelry around the neck and ears brings the attention upwards and showcases the face. Also, interesting pieces can tell a story, set a tone, or even start up a conversation. Who knew something so small could be so multi-dimensional?

xoxo,

Ruth

Short Shorts

The summer is has officially begun. Shorts of all lengths are now totally wearable, and acceptable in many different situations. For professional looks, women can incorporate walking shorts (just above the knee) with sport coats and cardigans. For night the short-short can be worn as long as a few rules are observed: First, the woman wearing the shortest shorts must have great legs. Clothing should highlight your best feature so if your legs are not the most complimented part of your body it would be best to stick with a longer short. If your legs are beyond amazing then wear those short shorts with pride! The second thing to consider is the shoes to go with such short shorts. Last night, Kid Sister performed at The Underground club in Chicago in a great pair of short shorts paired with a peep toe stiletto shoe. Feminine high heels are the best bet when revealing your gams in order to give the correct tone and shape to the leg in a sexy, feminine way. The last thing to make sure of is hydration. Showing skin means making that skin gleaming and smooth. Firming lotions with a little bit of shimmer are the best. With glowing skin, great legs, and some hot high heels you are all set! Rock those shorts ladies!

The Birds...

The warmer weather tends to bring about more opportunities for men and women to engage in flirtatious behavior. Remember that the more there is to look at the longer the female eye will will stay in one place. Take a chance with your spring wardrobe and give us girls something to compliment. Even the most shy girl will take the opportunity to compliment an attractive, well dressed man. Make that work in your favor this season.

xoxo,

Ruth

Warm and Fuzzy

The one great (and simultaneously bad) thing about Chicago weather is that it never gets warm too quickly. It allows us to bring out our spring wardrobe's slowly while incorporating some of fall's staples as well. Lightweight jackets, sport coats with sweaters, and hoodies still have a place in our closet's rotation. Fun, light colored jackets are only appropriate when the spring is here. Otherwise, most of those colors in jackets are reserved for only post-retirement set who live in Florida most of the winter.

xoxo,

Ruth

P.S. Dept728 makes a fabulous buff and beige fleece that you can see at http://www.dept728.com/jk1x.html

New Ideas

Every artist experiences a block once in a while. When I find myself thinking in circles I go to other forms of artistic expression. Because fashion is both beautiful and functional I tend to gravitate towards others that have to incorporate purpose into their creations. While painting and sculpture can be great to look at I find that jewelry, food, and furniture are the most engaging objects for me. Great ideas can be extracted from other art forms. The way a chair is designed, or how a cake is seemingly gravity-defying can be so very inspirational to me. Modern architecture will use composition and details in the same manner than I will move seams or incorporate one bold graphic to make visual impact. Since, at the moment, I am working on the uniforms for The Underground Chicago's Treated Thursdays, there are times where I feel that I keep making the same piece over and over (which is true). Taking a break to watch the food network or HGTV gives me some rest from the pieces I am currently working on, and lets me think about what to design next.

xoxo,

Ruth

Cris-Cross

Plaid has been a staple in American sportswear for decades. Sometimes plaid can look very fresh, but when used in certain ways plaid can look dated. For the spring madras plaid walking shorts are very modern with a flat front and clean details. Even though plaid is a pattern pairing it with a simple print is totally acceptable. Colorful plaid bottoms paired with a simple screen printed shirt is a great way to pair prints. When wearing more than one print at once remember the rule of proportion. If one pattern is complicated keep the other simple. If one pattern is smaller make the other one larger. Two patterns that are like proportions and complexities will look too busy. For instance, a plaid pant can be paired with a shirt that has a few large screened flowers on it. The sizes are very different and the flowers are less busy than the plaid. Those same plaid pants with a medium polka dotted shirt, however, will become an outfit that you can easily add a big red foam nose and a multi-colored wig to. So be mindful of your proportions, but experiment away with plaid. The pairings can look very updated and fashionable for spring.

xoxo,

Ruth

Popping the Cherry

Since the very beginning we have had a following within Chicago. A few of my old contacts and friends became big fans of the clothing Dept 728 has to offer. Thankfully those few people have spread our name by word of mouth over the last year and a half that we have been in business. Since putting up the website we decided to actually incorporate the ability to purchase online. While lots of people have gone to http://www.dept728.com/ they had yet to actually buy something straight from the website. This week was the beginning of our online retail success when we started receiving orders through the website. I am so excited to show people across the country what Dept 728 is all about. I am obsessed with fit and proportion. The lines of the menswear are specifically engineered to work with the body and fit men in a very streamlined kind of way. I believe that we have something very unique to offer the fashion world, and I am so excited to have the opportunity to do so.

xoxo,

Ruth

Drawing the Line

Lines make all the difference. The lines of a garment will either accentuate or detract from the person wearing them. When a garment is striped, there are far more lines to consider. Horizontal stripes are in right now, and only a select few can actually wear them. Slender men without a lot of bulk or muscle can wear them without problems, petite women can also do the same. Chesty women, or very muscled men, however, have quite a lot of dimension to their bodies already, and horizontal stripes will only make their proportions look cartoonish. Even a tiny bit of excess weight will be shown in a striped garment, so anyone not at the gym everyday should be careful. Luckily, stripes can be used in other ways for the rest of us who were not born with exceptional metabolisms. Striped structured sport coats look good on almost anyone since the structure of the garment is very flattering to almost any body type. Nautical striped bags and hats are also a good way to work the trend. So keep your eye on the lines for this season, and remember to use them only to your advantage.

xoxo,

Ruth

The Answer is Clear

I love Lucite. Big geometric Lucite blocks in home decor are my favorite. The form is alone, colorless, and allows light to pass through it in an enticing way. Clear accessories are a way to take the same effect, and apply it to your wardrobe. Lucite bangles, jelly ballet flats, and glass earrings are all fantastic additions to your ensemble. First, they go with literally everything. Second, they add a totally unexpected twist to an otherwise plain look. Finally, they are fairly inexpensive and lots of fun. I found the most attractive clear accessories are at the mass retailers for relatively little money. H&M had a great clear bangle with silver dots on it, Forever21 had fantastic clear twist earrings, and Target had cute clear jelly flats with a bit of holographic glitter in them. The ballet flats are going to go everywhere from the beach to the mall, and the bangle and earrings can get a bit dressier. There is always a way to make room for something fun in your wardrobe...clearly.

xoxo,

Ruth

Movies

I was watching Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion. I love 90s fashion for all of the kitsch. The scene with the girls walking on the treadmill, Romy in a purple half top and mini in holographic fabric, and Michelle in her coordinated cherry print outfit, is classic. While I laugh at people on the street wearing outfits straight out of 1993 there is a certain nostalgia about seeing it in the movies. I love that since the turn of the century we have started to combine clothing in a more coordinated, but less matchy way. In fact, mixing designer clothing with vintage finds, or even a pair of $20 jeans is considered normal. Wearing one designer head to toe is no longer necessary, and each person is encouraged to interpret fashion in his or her own way. I love the new freedom we have to be ourselves, inside and out.

xoxo,

Ruth

Glimmer

Metallics are a big part of spring's look. A little bit of shine goes a long way. Incorporating metallic shoes or belt will add some extra pizazz to your outfits. As for metallic fabrics, less is more. A metallic pant should be paired with a matte top, or visa versa. The other thing to be aware of when wearing metallic fabrics is to make sure that everything underneath is smooth. Lace bras do not pair well under metallic tops, and panty lines or cellulite are much more apparent in metallic pants. Seamless bras and control top pantyhose are a girl's best friend when contemplating metallic clothing. Also, a great metallic bubble skirt or metallic drapey top will be more forgiving for those of us weighing over 110 pounds. Don't be afraid, metallic clothing and accessories are fun to play with. Go ahead and get your shine on!
xoxo,
Ruth

The Throwdown

I am so excited that the weather is changing. I am finally able to break out some of my peep toe shoes and sleeveless tops that have been waiting patiently in my closet all winter. My favorite thing to do is rediscover my own closet before shopping for new pieces. The method is really fun as long as you have made your bed, otherwise it is just a big mess. One at a time, take each of your favorite pieces of clothing and lay it on the bed. Then look at your closet and find something that has the same color and throw it on top. Sometimes the two pieces won't work together, but sometimes they are fabulous combinations that you wouldn't have put together otherwise. When one piece doesn't work replace it with another that will. Keep switching until you have had enough. I can be there for hours. It is essentially playing a "six degrees of separation" game with your wardrobe. The jeans that go with the pink top and brown jacket, the brown jacket that goes with the orange shirt and khaki trousers, the khaki trousers that look great with the red wrap top, etc. This exercise also helps you realize exactly what might be missing from your closet and also gives a better idea of how many uses it may have. Grab a friend, if necessary, to give an outsider's view of the situation. Sometimes it's hard to be objective with clothes you are used to wearing all the time in the same way. Another pair of eyes is always useful.

xoxo,

Ruth

Pull It Together

Subtle themes can take an ensemble to the next level. For instance, a gray jacket with a subtle purple pinstripe can be mixed with a pair of solid black flannel trousers and a deep purple sweater vest over a lavender dress shirt. The jacket has a pattern, the vest mimics the color of the pattern in the jacket, the dress shirt is another shade of the same tone of the vest, and the pants are solid but introduce a subtle texture. Outfits like this give the eye something to play with in every element. They do not look busy or overdone, but simply add a unifying theme. Had all the pieces (jacket, vest, shirt, trouser) been used in another ensemble, but without having the colors and textures add interest, the outfit would have been a major yawn. Even a simple track jacket, jeans, and t-shirt combination is more interesting when it is pulled together with a unifying theme. Suppose the jacket was a deep green with an orange stripe on the shoulders. The t-shirt could then be a camouflage print with a small orange graphic, and paired with a pair of dark denim jeans with an interesting wash. What would have been an outfit that looks thrown on now looks like a put together ensemble. It is no less comfortable, nor is it much harder to do. All it takes is an awareness of color and detail. With that sensibility there is nothing that will look boring no matter how simple it is.

xoxo,

Ruth

I Know What Boys Like

When I was in design school my construction-oriented design sense was considered somewhat subdued. Now, it is a reflection of my design sensibility that appeals to lots of men. Menswear is generally an area where a little bit of designing goes a long way. Overly complicated clothing is too much of a hassle for men, and overly designed pieces can be overwhelming. The simple updates to classic pieces work well to update a guy's closet. Well used details give a lot of style to a basic ensemble which is what Dept728 has come to be synonymous with. Who knew designing basics would be so much fun?

xoxo,

Ruth