We went to see Voltaire at Bar Sinister in LA last Saturday. It was the best show I’ve ever seen! I was smiling from ear to ear, singing along and laughing through the whole thing. I was shocked when he recognized Mark & I and called out our names from stage — the best feeling in the world. :) After the show, I was prepared to faithfully stand in line with the rest of the fans (really! I don’t mind!) but he sneaked us in backstage for a quick catch-up instead.

It’s been forever since we got to hang out properly. I always remember him fondly, but somehow I forgot the extent of the genuine, quick-witted and generous person that he is. Voltaire has a gift for making you feel special, no matter who you are. Fans, friends, enemies… Many artists know to be funny and incorporate comedy into their act, but everything Voltaire says on stage is 100% true. All the anecdotes are bits and pieces of his own life, and he will tell them to you at dinner the same way he does into a microphone.

Six years later, I am still bewildered why V took a liking to us, but I’m glad he did. We were just another struggling band in NYC when he — completely selflessly — agreed to host our back-then event, Maskara. We have since shared producers, co-wrote songs and performed on stage together. He came to our wedding (“Brooklyn?! You might as well have moved to Jersey!” *eyes roll*) and we went to his. He is the kind of a person you only meet once in a lifetime and remember forever.

If you haven’t seen him live, do yourself a favor and go! (He is on tour till November.) Even if you aren’t a goth, don’t own a single article of black clothing and don’t know anything about gothic culture (even better! then you’re in for a hilarious surprise!) I promise you that if you have even the littlest bit of sense of humor, you will enjoy the show. It’s just that universal.

Oh, and did I mention his new album is called Riding A Black Unicorn? Hahaha, YES! Unicorn Queen-approved. :)

Still confirming, but it looks like Lady Gaga maybe have worn Lime Crime while out and about in NYC. The color looks like No She Didn’t applied on top of Mint To Be. If it checks out, my dreams have finally come true!!! #dorkyfangirl

At 22, Sasha has retired from adult film industry — in favor of film & TV. She just appeared on Entourage as Vince’s girlfriend. Sasha is a polarizing figure and some may not respect her background, but I find this interview with her inspiring and — yes – empowering!

(the interview is work-safe)

Deerlings: What is your opinion of Sasha and her transition from porn star to mainstream actress?

Betsey Johnson Fall 2011 Collection finale

Written by Erica

For over 30 years Betsey Johnson has served as the reigning queen of fashion for the girl whose idea of a closet staple isn’t a little black dress, but instead girly, glittery taffeta party dresses and leopard print on just about everything! Over the decades, her brand of fun, flirty, feminine, and colorful clothing and accessories has allowed fashionistas to express their style beyond the confines of traditionally monochromatic couture and to experiment with fashion. And last week, Betsey made us fall in love with her all over again on Valentine’s Day when she debuted not one, but two very different Fall 2011 collections.

The first collection, the Black Tag Line, featured a decadent assortment of punky neo-Victorian inspired couture. Fierce animal and floral print layered over chunky tartan skirts, lush velvet corsets, and grungy plaid jackets, accessorized with flowery scarves and lace chokers, simply screamed 80’s London punk, while Betsey added her touch by saturating the frocks, fur capes, and lace leggings in acid yellow, gothic red, rich purples and fuchsias, and bold pops of neon blue.

The looks were rocked on the runway by models wearing short black yellow-dipped bobs with lace-print spray-painted on the back, sultry dark purple smoky eyes, and the perfect goth princess pout in deep berry red. Excitingly enough, the decadent berry red lips worn during the show are similar to Lime Crime’s upcoming Glamour 101 lipstick due out this spring, so if you’re swooning over the look, we’ve got your back!

Immediately after the presentation of the couture collection, Betsey debuted her second line, Pink Patch. Perhaps the most exciting part of the show, the whimsical Pink Patch line is touted as the affordable and size-friendly option for all Betsey fans. Indeed, the collection is said to cater to a broader range of body shapes and wallet sizes, as all items will be priced under $100! Hurray!

And in true spirit of the line, on the runway the collection was presented on quite a unique group of models who, well, weren’t quite models at all. The looks were instead worn by Betsey Johnson’s actual employees and everyday friends. Store managers, family friends, and even bloggers wearing choppy blonde Betsey wigs and smeared smoky eyes walked the runway in every shape, size, age, ethnicity, and gender – one was event pregnant! – all the while laughing, exuding attitude, and throwing flirty poses at the end of the catwalk in what just might have been the most fun fashion show of all times.

The collection itself consisted of a fanciful array of classic Betsey Johnson looks. Sweater dresses layered over leggings, crop tops, ruffled mini-dresses, T-shirts, and sparkly party gowns all doused in bright colors and bathed in sequins, neon floral prints, skulls, leopard print, and the iconic “Wink Face” lit up the catwalk and proved that the “Pink Patch” line will truly give stylish recessionistas the much-needed dose of Betsey Johnson that their closet has prescribed.
It’s not clear yet when or where the Pink Patch line will be available, but one thing is for sure: Betsey Johnson might have just given her fans the best Valentine ever!

Pink Patch line — all items under $100

Watch the collection here!

DEERLINGS: What is your favorite look? Are you excited for the Pink Patch line?

You asked, Danny answered!

What or who were your creative influences as a kid, and how can we see them in your work today? (Lena, comment #31)

Danny: I was very fortunate to grow up across a lot of amazing fashion periods. With my parents being at the front of English fashion during the 70’s and 80’s, it gave me a real chance to witness fashion through out the 70’s, be on the Kings Road in the late 70’s early 80’s when Punk was being born, through to the futuristic-themed 80’s.

I have always admired David Bowie, but as a young lad I was also greatly inspired by many others. Basically anyone who broke the conformity, and who I saw as having a diverse image about them, be that David Byrne/Talking Heads, or Kid Creole and the Coconuts.

My parents would also take me around the world on buying trips when I was young, and I use to love visiting places like Tokyo in the early 80’s and seeing all the amazing creative pieces of fashion that were coming out. I remember people like Kansai Yamamoto being a favorite of mine, and I talked my parents into buying me a few pieces, which were very extravagant for an 11/12 year old.

Having experienced all these different cultures and amazing creative influences from a young age, I don’t think I could have ever not done something that mirrored that, and I try to capture that in my collections.

What inspires the designer of fantastic footwear — and what’s the weirdest inspiration that ever made it into shoe form? Also — what did the shoe end up looking like? (Kat, #22)

Danny: Everything is inspiring. It’s all about how we look at things. For instance a story I heard is that ‘Alice in Wonderland’ was written in Brighton, and the author lived at the top of an underpass that lead him down to Brighton beach. And he saw that underpass as a magical passageway that inspired Alice’s fall into a different world. Where as I have walked past that passage way a hundred times and never seen more than a tunnel.

I was on a train once and I saw a stack of old pallets of wood that were leaning over, and you could tell at any time they were going to fall, and I wondered how they were staying up. But I started thinking about stacks of wood and making a heel out of them, and then seeing how wonky we could make them and still hold the weight of a person.

So I developed a heel to do just that. It is all just little pieces of wood that bend round and under the arch of the foot. Everyone told me it couldn’t be done, but we worked on it for months, and we found a way of making it work. From outside it looks as if it is just planks of wood, but inside there are strategically placed metal rods and a structure that actually allows it to happen.

How has your aesthetic fluctuated or stayed the same throughout the years? (SavvyMercury, #9)

Danny: The core of Irregular Choice I would hope has stayed the same; and that the Irregularity that the collection and brand was first about is still a big influence inside every collection.

The reason I called it ‘Irregular’ was so I never deviated from it, as there is no point in doing a regular shoe under a label which promotes Irregularity. Fashion has changed and developed, and we have changed with it. But what was Irregular in the collections of 2001, 2002, etc… isn’t Irregular any more. However, I am still always looking to make sure the collections are as Irregular as possible, and hopefully this has been the thread through all the collections.

Do you have any obssesive habits when it comes to your personal shoe collection? For instance I have probably 40 pairs of Chuck Taylors that I can’t MAKE myself wear because I am afraid I’ll ruin them! (Elya, # 82)

Danny: I’m not an obsessive person by nature, but I do have more shoes than I could ever wear, so I do have a shoe obsession. My obsession would be that if I see a pair of shoes that are even slightly different or funky, then I have to have them. I can pass on everything else, except shoes, even if they are 2 sizes too small. This is often the case, as I see a lot of great stuff in Japan, but never in my big footed size!

Why are there so few stores of Irregular Choice in the world and when will they be available to the many girls who want these designs? I want one in Spain! (Loreto, # 122)

Danny: Spain is on our list. I am presently working on opening in Paris and Florence some time next year – if I can find the correct site, etc… Then I’m looking at the next targets of Barcelona, Scandinavia, Berlin and West Coast US. So please be patient with us, we are getting there.

If you could see one person wearing your shoes, dead or alive, who would you choose? (Nikki, # 140)

Danny: David Bowie has always been a big hero of mine. And I was fortunate enough that he got a few pairs of shoes from me a while ago, which was amazing! But thinking about it over a greater time span, I think to have been commissioned to do something for David Bowie 30 odd years ago when he was at his most extravagant would have driven me insane!

Was there ever a moment in your career in which you faced what, at the time, might have felt like a spirit breaking, demoralizing rejection, one that made you temporarily question working towards your dreams? If so, where did you find the inspiration and strength to pull through, and believe in yourself? (Emily, # 157)

Danny: There has only been one time in 2001 when I felt that maybe it wasn’t all going to work. Which was really disheartening. Irregular Choice was only 1-2 years old, and I was really struggling to get it out there, and get people behind it. I knew that the consumers wanted it, but the buyers just weren’t willing to take a risk. The company was getting further and further in debt, and I just couldn’t see how I was going to turn it around.

Then you start questioning yourself, your direction and what you first believed in. But I was very fortunate, and I designed one specific style, which was amazing, and it turned everything around. And in 6 months the company went from being in the red to being in the black. People were taking notice, and really I haven’t looked back.

It is amazing how one thing can change the world for you, and you never know how far away that one thing (or person) is; the key is to keep believing in yourself and surround yourself with people that also believe in you, as you will needed them, as they will need you when things don’t go as planed.

If you had all the technology on the planet available to you, what features would you add to your shoes? (e.g. flashing lights and stuff) (Lana, # 164)

Danny: I’m still a day dreaming boy at heart, so would love to have rocket-powered shoes! Perfect after a night out and no taxi in sight!

Some of your men’s flats feature floral patterns and big loopy bows. What is your interpretation of masculinity? How do you imagine masculinity will be portrayed in the future – both in fashion and cultural attitudes? (Ellen, #30)

Danny: Men’s is always a very difficult market to break into, as there are so many preconceptions of what a man can or can’t wear. In 2003-2004 I put pink into the shoes, and embroided flowers, and I was told that men wouldn’t wear pink or flowers. But a few seasons on and those boundaries had come down. Hopefully the restrictions on what men feel they can or can’t wear is changing all the time. And I hope one day that men can again be as diverse in their wardrobe as they were in the 70’s and 80’s, or even back in the 1600 when men had more plumage than women.

At the heart of a lot of men is a peacock trying to break out.

Img via Flickr

Being half English myself, I grew up traveling in the UK often. I am always struck by how much fun Brits have with fashion and how much less seriously they seem to take it all compared to the rest of the world. Why do you think this is? (Samantha, #49)

Danny: I have to admit and say that I really don’t know. I agree with you that the British really do have fun with their clothing, music, and arts, and because they don’t take it so seriously it gives them wings to be more creative.

Nobody likes to fail, but for some reason the Brits seem to want to create and not worry so much about the failure if it doesn’t happen. Or maybe it’s that they don’t care so much what others think of their creativity? Either way I guess it releases the shackles more.

It must be something in our generic makeup, our upbringing and our view on the world, but it is something that I love about the UK, and I can never understand people that don’t believe in progression or individuality.

The Brits aren’t sheep; they like to be individual more than any other nation that I know. Obviously there are certain areas of progression that I don’t believe in, but anything creative such as music, fashion, and art I don’t believe should ever be restricted.

Danny – Let’s say you and Lime Crime team up for a collaboration. What would be your signature design? (Lana, #164)

Danny: I’m sure we would come up with something amazing. Lime Crime and Irregular Choice are kindred spirits in their ethos, and I’m sure that we could meld some dazzling ideas into a great fun product. As to what that product would be, we could only let you know after we had an idea storming tea party.

THANK YOU for all your marvelous questions, deerlings, and Danny for answering them! Here’s to more amazing footwear from Irregular Choice!