Florence Welch

I recently read a post that tagged Florence + the Machine, as “inject directly into my blood.” Amen. If you haven’t had the chance to listen to her critically acclaimed debut, Lungs, I suggest immediately scrolling to the end of this post and downloading the track, ‘You’ve Got The Love,’ sure it’s a remix, but Florence Welch’s voice has an alluring distinction that transcends the addictive electronic pop beats. Simply scroll down and push play to listen to her voice command the attention of a room. Elements of jazz, folk, and soul lace the 23 year old’s voice evoking a powerful blend of nostalgia and acute individuality. Not only is her sound appealing, but her personal style and divine orange hair set her apart in an industry full of pop-shockers.

Eternal Romanticism

As a young girl growing up in London, Florence was into the late ’90’s alternative  music stylings of bands like Hole, Nirvana, and Green Day. Singers she admired included Nina Simone, Kate Bush, PJ Harvey, and Bjork. All of the eclectic influences formed together to develop an indie darling whose style is coveted by fashionistas swept up in wanderlust. Florence’s style mixes romantic, floaty fabrics with heavier textures like leather and sequins. Her quirky accessories are witty yet adorable. Perhaps my favorite element of her style is her ability to look absolutely stunning in her photos. It’s as though she has an old soul peering through her eyes and you become locked in her gaze.

On another note, it would be amazing if someone could inject the vibrant color of her hair onto mine. Might not go so well with my olive complexion, but I love it nonetheless! Some more inspiring redheads that I adore.

Reds Who Rule: Molly Ringwald, Grace Coddington, Lucille Ball, Karen Elson, and Shirley Manson

Below are two brilliant performances. The first is Florence covering Nina Simone’s classic tune, ‘My Baby Just Cares for Me,’ I love the retro, big band feel of this performance. The burnt red hair with the long sleeve gold dress enhances her long stature, gorgeous. The second is performance with Dizzee Rascal at the 2010 BRIT Awards, she fittingly won Best British Album after topping the charts for several weeks in the UK. With youth on her side it will be exciting to see how her style and sound develops.

Florence + the Machine are currently on tour. If your interested in going, make sure to get your tickets now, when I last checked shows in NYC and Boston in April have already sold out. Purchase ‘Lungs‘

Download:
You’ve Got the Love (XX remix)

LINKS
http://www.myspace.com/florenceandthemachinemusic
http://florenceandthemachine.net/

Image Layouts: SB

Icelandic electro-pop singer, Bjork

Björk is the epitome of “fashion meets music.” The beauty is, Björk doesn’t try so hard to captivate her audience. She has a distinct voice that depending on the atmosphere could send chills down your neck. Luckily for the entire world, her meek demeanor is overshadowed by her expressive lyrics and appearance. Whether she’s walking a red carpet in a dazzling get up, or with her daughter, Isadora down the street, Björk has an unmistakable look.

Tribal, draped, colorful, sparkling, innovative, grotesque, the adjectives could go on and on, but with a career in music spanning three decades she is undoubtedly an icon whose artistic contributions to the industry can be credited here at M.I.S.S with a few captivating photos and videos. Björk started her music career at age eleven. Eleven. In America, that’s SIXTH GRADE. Half of you were probably coloring your hair with highlighters in sixth grade. What?

Unmistakeable style; Swan dress by Marjan Pejoski

To her credit musically, she is best known for her six solo albums, two film soundtracks, and some acting work. Her husband, are they together or not? is Matthew Barney, an American mulitmedia artist.

Björk’s “outsider” style has struck a chord with the indie/avant garde fashion set whom regard her with much esteem.To many she has taken the form of a muse. Fashion designer extraordinaire, Alexander McQueen directed her music video for “Alarm Call,” and the two have carried on a working relationship that I only could only dream to be a fly on the wall to listen in on!

It was rumoured to be a sequel to “Bachelorette”, because of the lyrics that make a little allusion to the events occurred in past Isobel adventures (”Human Behaviour”, “Isobel” and “Bachelorette”). The video also has some signs that make people think about this fact. “Alarm Call” shows Isobel back to the nature after having disillusions in the big city, so this video is the fourth and last of Isobel’s adventures.

Icy Atmosphere

Adventure seems to be synonymous with Björk. Her sound, vocal delivery, and the visual imagery she provides with her music really take you to another place, which is what music, art, and fashion should always do.

This performance of “Undo” at the Royal Opera House in London is so hauntingly well done that it lingers in my mind well after the video has ended. Beautiful delivery matched with sensational instruments and background singers.

Mechanics done stunning. All the pieces fit together.

Women Making History: Nubby Twiglet

One day, not so long ago, Yves Saint Laurent invited Max Miedinger over for tea to discuss a super-secret project he had been dreaming of for a very long time. Both were excited to work together because Fashion and Graphic Design are very similar worlds.

The two created the most amazing mood boards and quickly applied their visions to the super-secret project in a super-secret studio somewhere in the Pacific Northwest.

The world waited and anticipated the reveal of a collaboration by these two great visionaries.

After many days, they finally emerged from the super-secret studio to introduce a doll unlike any other created before.

They named her Nubby. She was lovely, had a fantastic wardrobe and an eye for design!

Upon her reveal, she magically came to life and with dreams and visions of her own, she hit the ground running, turning back only to wave fondly at YSL & Miedinger, who waved back at their dear Nubby proudly knowing she would soon create many great things on her own.

…at least that’s how M.I.S.S. would tell it!

We’ll let Miss Nubby Twiglet tells us her story:

My name is Nubby and I’m a graphic designer and blogger based in Portland, Oregon. During my high school years, I developed a love for graphic design and advertising but put my passion on hold to instead earn a B.S. in Business Administration. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. After taking some time off to travel, I began studying graphic design in 2006. Upon graduating in 2008, I was immediately hired by award-winning ad agency Nemo Design as a Graphic Designer / PR & Marketing Developer. Currently, I am a freelance designer for my business Nubbytwiglet.com, which I founded in 2005. My blog Nubbytwiglet.com averages over 80,000 visitors per month and is packed with an aesthetics-laced blend of fashion and style that is seamlessly mixed with marketing and self-improvement articles.

Nubby likes her nails like she likes her fonts—black and bold!

Nubby took a break from setting type to hand-write the M.I.S.S. Survey.

Nubby was kind enough to take a break from her busy schedule to answer some questions from M.I.S.S. to give our lovely readers some insight on what makes her a women making history!

M.I.S.S.: What woman, besides your mom or grandmother, do you find inspirational?

The women that I find inspirational are self-made, strong-willed and set out to make a difference. And, they aren’t afraid to be themselves, even when media pressure to conform mounts against them. Women that immediately come to mind are Hillary Clinton, Oprah, Bjork and Angelina Jolie.

M.I.S.S.: How did you get your start?

I’ve always been an artist, but wasn’t sure how to make a living at it until much later, when I discovered graphic design. I didn’t know any other designers, so I had to discover it for myself. In 2005, I started getting offered freelance design work and though I had a defined style, I felt like I was lacking in the technical abilities. So, I enrolled in a two-year design program, landed an internship and started a blog. Over the years, I’ve been lucky to be approached by an amazing array of clients, both big and small. I look at each new job as an opportunity to try something new.

Mickey & Minnie's love child and a sample of some CD packaging she created.

M.I.S.S.: What’s your favorite piece logo/design and/or artwork that you’ve created?

Some of my most favorite work is still in production! I worked on a line of headphones and also some snowboard goggle designs earlier in the year that won’t be out for awhile, along with a collaboration with Forever 21 that I’m beyond excited about. My favorite work that I’ve done in the past was CD packaging including a hand-collaged 12 page booklet for Virgin Records partially because it was very organic and bright, unlike a lot of my other work.

M.I.S.S.: Who do you want to work with?

There are so many people out there that I admire! Fabien Baron of Baron & Baron in New York is at the top of my list because his work is simple, effective and fashionable. And, André Balazs has major style when it comes to a vision for combining business with art and design. Agencies that I would love to work with in the future include Turner Duckworth, Portland’s own Wieden + Kennedy and Ziba Design, Chandelier Creative (their offices are the best looking, hands-down) and Wolff Olins.

A t-shirt design by Nubby Twiglet.

M.I.S.S.: What part of graphic design/creating logos is the most challenging and do you dislike the most?

Most of the time the client doesn’t pick the option that is your personal favorite and you have to be okay with that. After all, they’re the ones that are paying you for a service. Design can be so subjective. Sometimes you’ll think that you’ve done your personal best and a client will hate it and others, you’ll be unsure of your work but they’ll love it. As long as you’re proud of your output at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters because it’s impossible to make everyone happy.

M.I.S.S.: Any advice for ladies who are just starting out in a career path similar to yours?

Design is not the easiest profession to be in, but it can be hugely rewarding. It’s nice to find great role models in teachers, art directors and peers early on that will give you honest feedback and encouragement. If you take criticism too personally, it can break you down. Instead, use it as encouragement to do even better on a project. And finally, never be embarrassed to ask for help! Design is hard work but if you’rew truly passionate about it, it won’t really feel like work at all.

Believe it or not, this is what Nubby looks like on any average day! Some people make fashion look so easy!

Thanks Nubby!

You can find and follow Miss Nubby Twiglet on the following sites: Flickr, Twitter and LOOKBOOK…and of course, NubbyTwiglet.com!

Cody Ross, designer and founder of Priestess NYC/Shanghai

Priestess NYC/Shanghai is a women’s contemporary line based in New York City and designed by the fabulous Cody Ross. One look at the pieces and you know these clothes are for girls who are out on the town going to parties and dancing the night away – and now that I’ve met Cody and seen his bubbly personality first hand, it’s no surprise that his clothes convey a glamorous, yet happy-go-lucky vibe. Priestess NYC/Shanghai is in its 5th season and the line has been a success from the start with celebrity trend-setters like M.I.A., Katy Perry, Kerry Hilson, Juliette Lewis and Björk all fans of the line.

Priestess NYC/Shanghai

Cody’s interest in fashion began as a kid – his mom was into fashion and he gathered lots of inspiration from her wardrobe.  He was always sketching and designing on the side.  Later on he had a career in finance, but while he was in graduate school in London he took night classes at Central St. Martins and learned fashion design and pattern construction.  Once he had the tools to wield his passion, Cody founded Priestess NYC/Shanghai.

Read the full story to learn more about Priestess NYC/Shanghai and to see more photos.

Read the full story

Jules Kim, better known as Bijules NYC, just dropped a spooky viral video to promote her fabulous baubles. The video features some pretty rad music from Lucky Dragons and is reminiscent of Bjork’s video for “Human Behavior.” It’s hard to catch all the beauty in one viewing of the flick, so make sure you watch it a few times to check the finger gems, the ingenious hand puppets (A crab! A bunny!), the stellar way the models have their “nails did,” and check for Bijules’ own arms featured in the video. Hint: to find her specifically, look for some forearm tattoos which look like deadly weapons! Check out the video below:

Nearly a year in the making, the Bjork’s video for Wanderlust, directed by Encyclopedia Pictura, is finally here.

Watch it now via Quicktime. Also, check out The making off  and Interview with the directors!