5x5 Clothing: Sleeves & Leaves

5x5 Clothing

'Tis the week of launches for 5x5: we are so excited to announce the launch of our F/W collection, happening in Toronto at Not My Dog on Tuesday, October 25th, with a saucy lineup of DJs and what's sure to be a stompin' appearance by Toronto band Little Foot Long Foot. 

Oh and there's more. We're also launching the new incarnation of 5x5clothing.com!

And because we love you, we want to peep you a little sneaky look at what's coming.

Candy Crop Top and Hepburn Culottes.  

The Berlin jumper. To conquer the world in. 

Two sweethearts in the Sugar Dress.

We want to thank our amazing photographer, the Marquis de Haze, for such a wicked job on the shoot, and the daaaaahling JYD, for her amazing feats with our hair.


Look out for our new site and please join us for one heck of a dance party tomorrow night!


Love,


5x5

5x5 Clothing: No Exploitation, All Party

RARA
5x5 Clothing


5x5 Clothing does not steal babies, pillage and/or pilfer, or exploit garment workers. 


We employ seamstresses working out of their own homes for fair wages.


Not to down on anyone's party or be a neg-vibe naysayer, but the modern garment industry, especially in Asia, is a hellish choice for mostly poor women trying to survive and support their families. 


Here is a picture of skulls from the killing fields in Cambodia, a genocide instituted by the maniacal Pol Pot in the 1970s.  Afterwards, Cambodia went through decades of strife and reform, eventually stabilizing and becoming one of the centres of the modern garment manufacturing industry.  


Even though the International Labour Organization has said that its routine checks of Cambodian garment factories ensure the rights of these workers, recent mass sickness at H&M factories in the country have left many skeptical.  

Road in Cambodia leading to the garment factories

Here in Thailand, hundreds of thousands of people from Burma flood into Thailand looking for work opportunities that simply don't exist in their country that has been fucked up by successive generations of military junta, including economic mismanagement and a war waged against the ethnic minority peoples.  
Where do they end up? In the garment factories on the border, working 11 hour days for 2$, locked up, with their ID confiscated by factory owners, modern-day slavery.  


Big name fashion labels, such as Tommy Hilfiger, have been caught using these factories under false company names, only to shut down operations and open up at other nearby plants.


My friend has been involved in investigating these factories; factories are locked up from public view, looking more like jails than factories, security guards keeping people out, and often, also keeping workers in.  


Grooooooooan, right? Ok Ok, you've heard it before, so have I.


So let's talk about something nice: 


5x5 Clothing is big on limited runs that enable us to use home-based seamstresses and give them fair wages that are exponentially more than they'd earn in a factory, and even more than they'd earn as a typical home-based seamstress.  All clothes are cut and sewed by hand, using end of the roll and vintage fabrics.  


Now that is something good!  Party in your 5x5!


p.s for more info on the modern garment industry read this 

5x5 Clothing: Shoes, Shoes & more Shoes!!

5x5 Clothing

Lola


Shoes, a girl's best friend or worst enemy?


Fall is here, and so it goes NEW SHOES!! ('cause you just have to!!)  I, like most females, LOVE SHOES!! The higher the heel, the better for me, even though I'm 5'10 and most times feel like an amazon woman rockin my 4" heels.  Who cares I say, that doesn't stop me and my continued conquest for the perfect pair!

MEOW!!

This fall is all about mixed prints, textures and platforms!!

It's time to put away those old dirty and tired flip flops and start giving your calves a good old work out again!  

OH NO!!  Looks like the duckie/penny shoe had sex and made a baby!

Always a good idea to buy a great shape and colour to wear more than one season! 

So what ya waiting for?  Get out there comb the city and find a great deal and adopt a new pair!  I always try to stay away from the 

"ultra trend", like fur shaggy boots ... 'cause let's not kid, they are never in style.  Just saying!!

um, Harry and the Henderson... Anyone?!?!!

5x5 Clothing: Anita Pallenberg "Sexy Fucking Bitch"

5x5 Clothing 
RA RA


If Keith Richards calls you a "sexy fucking bitch," I pretty much think that means you get to rule the world, at least for a couple decades.


And it appears that is just what sexy bitch Anita Pallenberg did..and depending who you talk to...still does.


So I hope I don't have to introduce who Keith Richards is but honestly, I had to "remind" someone who that was recently--I almost screamed 'the guitarist of the Rolling Stones, you fiend'.  


Ms Pallenberg was the girlfriend of said Keith Richards, and eventually gave birth to two of his children, but only after she was the long-time girlfriend of the other Stones guitarist, Brian Jones.  She later had some sexy relations with Mick Jagger as well. Holy!


So I've been reading Keith Richard's autobiography Life, and while most of it is about music and touring, there are glimpses of all his fab ladies over the years, including Anita--her style and position as Queen of Kool back in the early 60s and on.  

Richard's notes that Anita had a "huge influence on the style of the times" and that he usually just wore her clothes, anything that was "lying around".  Full lace berry-juice coloured blouse, with grape mini skirt and low slung belt, and matching rock boyfriend.....shit.  

Not just a rock girlfriend, she had roles in a bunch of movies at the time and knew all the avant-garde directors and performers throughout Europe and especially in Rome, where she was born.  Her roles included The Great Tyrant, in Barbarella [pictured above].  

 T-shirt jumper! Camel-toe!  

And according to Marianne Faithfull:  "She gave this incredible smile, which was quite frightening too, all those teeth. Like a wolf, like a cat that got the cream. . . She was gorgeous because she was so beautifully dressed, always in the perfect costume".


Glorious sixties hip chick, we salute you! 

5x5: Beading and Beadwork

5x5 Clothing

Shi Shi


I guess somethings never go out of style! Beads have been used to adorn and beautify for centuries, traced  as far back as 5 000 years ago. 

Beads and pendants from neolithic era.

I love how beading looks and feels. It takes something simple and can transform it into something extraordinary.  

http://bluebutterflyart.blogspot.com/

These are some fab beaded vintage purses; cute and stylish since the 1800s.

Flapper dress

The flapper style of the 1920s featured straighter silhouettes embellished with fantastic beadwork.  If you dig this style you might want to go see the Woody Allen movie “Midnight In Paris.”  It’s worth it for the costuming alone. 

Marion Cotillard from "Midnight in Paris"

I've made some beaded pieces myself. Here is a piece of felt that I beaded with a variety of natural stone, shell and glass beads and attached it to a belt with a wolf pin. Ya! 

Beaded felt piece

 This deer hide and felt purse was a birthday present, bought at the Six Nations in Brantford, Ontario.  

Deer hide and felt purse with beading

If you’re in Toronto and love native north amarican bead work check out the Bata Shoe Museum exhibit on Native foot wear.

Cherokee Mocassin c. 1840

There are also some wild beaded and embroidered pieces at the Textile Museum of Canada.  You might get inspired yourself!  Get out those seed beads or look through gramma's drawers for that little beaded purse, why not! 

5x5 Clothing: Olson's, Yup Into It!!

5x5clothing

Lola

Yes this 5x5 girl is into the Olson's!!

See Ya Michelle Tanner, Hello fashion trend setters and successful business owners!!!  You either love them or hate them.  I think they are great!, who cares if MK (Mary-Kate) was in rehab for an eating disorder, or was into drugs.  What pre-teen doesn't struggle with identity and experiment with some kinda drugs and alcohol?!?

You're in big trouble Mr!!

At least she got help...most Hollywood kid stars keep fucking up over and over again.  Either it's drinking or drugs, driving when drunk or on drugs or both, shoplifting, cheating, saying sorry getting help just to fuck up again wake up 30 years later washed up and boring!  

Big time Babes!!  Shown here at Fashion week in Paris, these girls know how to dress,  they look like twins, but yet show they have two very different ideas for fashion and image.(and aren't afraid to show it)
At the prime age of only 24 I think these girls have proven they are here to stay.

 Getting some ideas for  
"The Row"
perhaps?  Double the brains, double the power, double the dynamic dual!!
Keep on being power bitches with complete beauty and style!! Bravo

5x5 Grrl: Alexei Perry from Handsome Furs

5x5Clothing
RA RA


Alexei Perry.  Super hot broad that tours around the world with her super hot husband in their really cool band Handsome Furs.


The Montreal-based power duo not only tour the world, but hit up obscure locations, bringing their mix of sweaty electronic post-punk dance music to wide-eyed fans in places like Rangoon, Burma, and (you guessed it!) my northern Thai city of Chiang Mai.


I met Alexei a couple of years ago when I interviewed them after their very first show in Thailand. I could not possibly mistake which chick Alexei was: she was rockin' tapered black pants that had circle hole cuts all down the front of them; a blue, shiny short apron-esque shirt, with exposed back; foot-long silver dangley earrings, and ridiculous neon heels.  

booty shorts and guns, what have i been tellin' ya girls??!!

Alexei's style-cravings were right at home in Bangkok; she tends toward a sophisticated yet dirty motif, punk inspired sharp edges, layers, with just the right amount of skin showing.  She often rocks long, dangling necklaces and fringes, which look oh-so-cool when she makes out with her keyboard.  

An excerpt from her tour blog on shopping in Bangkok:

There is no limit to the bargains and range of designs you can find here. After two hours, it's hard to determine whether you really like the mesh green jumpsuit or the gold suit jacket or the Aladdin-style stilettos or the batik dress shirts or the knockoff Gucci best.

I attempt at buying it all, but Pot [her guide] adamantly refuses one shop owner, on my behalf, because she doesn't think the price is low enough. Despite the fact that it's a pretty incredible sequined number with a lace tie and strange ducks sewn on to it and it only costs 2$ Canadian, I try to see Pot's side of things and relent.  I do, after all, have armfuls of things that will make some friends jealous and others deeply disturbed/amused by these new fashion leaps I'll be taking.

Haha.  Wicked.  


Check out my two videos from their show in Bangkok from 2009.  


The show:  

And the interview (check out my wicked bust line while you're at it)...sound gets better after the chatty Thais settle down :) 

Really cool Alexei, keep going strong and dirty!  

5x5: Chihuahua's Love Getting Dressed Up

5x5 Clothing

Lee Lee

If you would have asked me a little over a year ago, I would have told you I was a cat person.

Ask me now, and I will profess my love of dogs.

Well, Chihuahuas mostly.

I have a little guy that has stolen my heart. He's small, cute and acts just like a cat. He's so loyal and dependant, and melts my heart whenever I look at him.

How does this tie into fashion you might ask? Well, you may not know that there is a whole world out there of puppy fashion! A huge niche market that borders on crazy (think people who walk their pets in baby strollers). Some clothes are for practicality (little dogs + winter months = makes sense) and others are pure vanity and fun.

I sort of find myself some where in the middle. After all, there is nothing cuter than my little Cheewee in a mini hoodie or a bad ass leather jacket.

BFFs that wear leather together, stay together!

Cheewee had such a great time this summer trying new things (surfing for example) that he will be sad to learn that winter will be here before he knows it.

But he need not be scared, as this year he is going to be rockin some fabulous new little booties. These will help him strut his stuff through our salt lined sidewalks. He hates them, but in the end he will thank me. I'll be sure to post pics when the time comes...



And for those long winter nights? Pajamas of course! Okay, maybe that's getting a little carried away but its just so damn adorable.

Okay, so maybe he actually hates dressing up... maybe its me that loves it all... maybe...

I'd like to think that he secretly loves it.. he did after all help me pick out this years Halloween costume...

A 5x5er's Dilemma: Don't Flop, Crop Top!

5x5 Clothing

Margot

Belly buttons. Remember those? Haven't really seen 'em since fluorescent bike short and colour-blocked crop top combos circa 1996.

So let me get a little Seinfeld here for a moment (imagine the nasal voice)... What's the deal with crop tops?

It's awesome to track the way they have changed silhouettes over the last few seasons, and I adore them in theory, but every time I get ready to go out the door with a bit o' that stom showing I second guess myself.

Is it too much skin, even for summer? Wearing a crop top to the beach-- NO PROBLEM! But out to a bar? Still too risque? To work? Ain't gon' happen! (I work at a recycled clothing boutique and the dress code is totally relaxed, but even then...). Wear a tank top underneath? Lame! Even if it's the thinnest fabric I still feel like it adds bulk. 

5x5 Girls, I need your help! Seriously! Is it finally okay to lift the bare midriff ban pounded into our subconsciences since elementary school?

Oh yeah, rockin' our high-waisted Lolita shorts definitely helps.

P.S. If you are into this new fave necklace of mine, it's by The Wild Moon, f.y.i. Asia Clarke's mystically magical jewelry is available at Pretty Freedom, along with 5x5's exclusive line!

5x5 Clothing: Paging Dr. Spencer Reid!

5x5 Clothing 
Lola

K, guilty!  I have a total crush on Dr. Spencer Reid!  Umm who is that you might ask? He is the super cute nerdy doctor from Criminal Minds (a TV show, following cases from the behavioral unit within the FBI)

In real life Dr. Reid is Matthew Gray Gubler, former Fashion Model!!

What I love about him, in general, is how he doesn't seem to try when it comes to dressing himself.  Simple, classic cuts that look great and make him look amazing!  He pays attention to what is hot and makes it his own.  

He is for sure my top "Hunk" pick 

Fun fact:  He played an intern in "Life Aquatic"

5x5: New Hotkid Rip It Into Pieces Video!

5x5 Clothing
RA RA


So if you haven't yet seen Hotkid's Rip It Into Pieces video, oh boy are you missing out!


Not only do you get to see Shiloh ascend to the skies in a Bowie Labyrinth inspired handmade faux-leather, one-armed jacket, but you also get to see glass boxes of squished wrestler-painted Toronto indie rockers.  To that I say, YES!


Since Shiloh is a 5x5 Girl, we knew she'd have the fashion visuals of the video down, so I asked her to give us some of the details on inspiration for the video.


RA RA: How did you come up with your warrior-esque goddess costume?


Shi: I had a vision of myself suspended in air wearing some elaborate flowing gown, some ridiculous unreal costume, that would just be really visually stimulating.  I told the director, Alon Isocianu, my plans to make such an outfit and he was into it.  A week before the shoot Alon asked how the dress was going and if he could see a picture of it.  I told him it was going well, "almost done," when in fact I had not yet started said costume.  So I got some material from Value Village, and Lens Mills (wicked end of the line fabric store in Cambridge, ON) some tassel material and tools from downtown T.O. and started construction.  I wanted something long, big and dramatic but not too overwhelming so i made a bustle half skirt thing that could be worn over a shorter skirt.  I wanted a more structured top, referencing Lady Gaga;    
         

Or even Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

After watching Labyrinth before going to bed one night, I was struck with the inspiration to make a Labyrinth-Bowie style jacket.  

I had used this cheap stretchy fake leather material once before for a Halloween costume so I grabbed some and started hacking it up.

I embellished it with rhinestones I had off an older dress and friend's collection of metal trinkets she had since high-school.  In a manic high i actually beaded an intricate pattern on the front tassel loin cloth piece, which you obviously cannot see in the video, but they are there believe me. The one arm tassel was probably inspired by the Macho Man - may he rest in piece.     

RA RA: how about your jeans and shirt ensemble?

The jeans I got at the Value Village in Cambridge on a 50% off day.  The very sheer undershirt material tank I've had for quite some time, not sure where I got it.  The boots are Aldo and I've had them forever as well.  The necklace was sent to me my by foster child Marsella from Indonesia; It's got an awesome energy to it, I think it helps me stay grounded when I have it on.  

I wanted to try and elongate my legs so high heeled boots and high waisted pants was the trick. I also wanted to contrast the crazy outfit with something really simple but still sexy.      

RA RA: And the hair and makeup?

My good friend, hairstylist Jenny Smylie did the hair for the shoot.  She brought the long feathers and the blond extensions for the up-do with my costume.  We had to keep in mind that Alon was going to be working with the green screen so we had to keep the hair rather clean - no big frizzies because it would be impossible to substitute the green screen in post production.  I loved the big hair! We also had two wonderful make up chicks workin with us that day - they drew on 80's wrestlers and traditional war paint for the extras. It was the first time I ever had airbrushed makeup on--pretty neat really!                                 

Check it out fer yourselves, ladies! Girlfriend knows how to rip it up!

                      

5x5: I Just Can't Get Enough of Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B. Bags

5x5 Clothing
Lee Lee



Anyone that knows me and knows me well, is aware of my love affair with all things L.A.M.B.

L.A.M.B. (Love, Angel, Music, Baby) is the creative outlet of Gwen Stefani. It all began as a purse collaboration with Lesportsac in 2003 and lasted only a few short years. Together, they created super cute purses, wallets, coin purses and duffel bags in a ton of shapes, styles and prints. After the collaboration ended, Gwen went on to build the L.A.M.B. brand into a clothing, footwear, and accessory line.

My first L.A.M.B. bag was given as a gift. A 2nd generation Large Backstage Bag in red. She was beautiful and so unexpected.

My love affair continued on when I discovered my favourite shape, the Hella Hobo. I have since made it my mission to own almost every single print.



All of my hobos on display. I'm only missing a few hard to find prints.
Because these are now practically extinct I'm not sure I'll ever have them all.



Two of my faves are first generation bags and feature the beautiful guitar strap and are super rare.
Of course my second gen leopard hobo is right at the top of the list.
Like you already know, I'm a sucker for all things leopard.                                                           





And as if having a bizzillion bags wasn't enough, I can't forget about all the accessories. Not so practical, the heart shaped wristlets are super cute and just big enough to hold a few bills and ID.

I love my hot pink metallic wallet I purchased on Boxing Day but the pink paint is starting to wear. Sadly not the best quality.

My most recent L.A.M.B. was a gift from my dear bf Lola.

Mostly leather, this bag is a step up from my other painted canvas totes (I have three others), and features a monogrammed silk lining.  Ooh la la

And my love affair with LAMB doesn't end here... It branches out into Gwens more youthful line Harajuku Lovers (dare I mention my canvas tote and matching shoes?) but please don't get me started... that's a whole other blog...