NYLON - March 2008 - (Page 100) family practice Jesse Finkelstein, a Brown University graduate, took an unusual path to clothing design. Before founding the label two seasons ago, Finkelstein worked as a military technology researcher, and a chance encounter with style editor Robert Cordero resulted in the creation of the architecturally inspired clothing line JF and Sons. Named after a store that Finkelstein’s great-grandfather had opened in the Lower East Side, JF and Sons designs are minimal, with easy, simple fits, and light layering. Finkelstein draws upon geometric and block prints that are done at a design studio in India to give each piece a structured look. He also constructs thin, hand-painted jersey dresses with adjustable lengths, in a bold color palette of red, yellow, white, black, and grey. ELIZABETH YANG For more information, see jfandson.com. space invader: karen walker pop-up shop Having shown her collections in New York for the past five seasons, New Zealand fashion designer Karen Walker is now opening her first store in the city in conjunction with the conceptual shop, Den. The store, which recreates itself every two to three months, has previously been home to designers Rag & Bone, Cheap Monday, and Robert Geller, but Walker is the first womenswear designer the space has hosted. “The guys from Den started talking to us about the possibility of collaborating with them last year, and we loved what they’d been doing and jumped at the chance,” Walker says. Owners Eddy Chai and Paul Birardi will work with Walker’s interior designer, Katie Lockhart, to create the look of the boutique, ensuring the aesthetic is in keeping with Walker’s ingenious designs and distinct style. Scheduled to coincide with New York Fashion Week, Den will sell Walker’s jewelry and eyewear, and will be the only store to offer the full range of her spring/ summer collection. AC For more information, see dennewyork.com. STONE AGE Russell Jones doesn’t do dainty. While earning his degree at RISD in illustration, he also spent many hours honing his soldering skills in the metals department and learning the techniques of silversmithing. After graduation, he worked as an illustrator for GQ, The New York Times, and Esquire; and in 2006, he established his jewelry line. Inspired by the Art Deco work of Raymond Templier, Jones’s latest collection features Signet rings cut from 6lb blocks of black agate and crystal quartz. “I’ve been thinking about doing a bold ring for a long time,” he says. “I wanted a postmodern take on the concept of a signet ring by flipping the traditional roles of metal and stone.” And, surprisingly, they won’t weigh you down. ANDREA CUSICK For more information, see russelljonesjewelry.com. jf and sons: photographed by flora hanitijo. stylist: charles manning. hair and makeup: rebecca plymate at see management using make up for ever. model: jessica sjoo at next. cardigan and skirt by jf and sons, stylist’s own shoes. still life: chika kobari. karen walker: courtesy of karen walker. http://www.jfandson.com http://www.dennewyork.com http://www.russelljonesjewelry.com
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