ART TO WEAR: Rebeca Raney x Madewell.

I came across this Rebeca Raney x Madewell tote in store a few days ago and fell in love. Raney is an MFA graduate from the School of Visual Arts and lives and works in Brooklyn.

 In case anyone reading this was wondering what to get me for Christmas, I'd be overjoyed to receive this hand-painted tote, $225.

View the full Rebeca Raney x Madewell collection here.

BILL JENSEN

Bill Jensen (1945-) is a Williamsburg, Brooklyn-based painter, represented by Cheim & Read in New York.

Originally from Minneapolis, Jensen started his artistic career by airbrushing sweatshirts with monster motifs in high school.

He is now well-known for his abstract canvases, characterized by layer after layer of oil on linen.

"It's more alchemy than craft.  I think that one of my responsibilities is to uncover the energies that material possesses." --Bill Jensen

I'm wearing an H&M dress, Falke tights, K* shoes, and a suede Lauren Merkin clutch.

[Photos by @kay_elle_pea;

Jensen images from cheimread.com and tumblr.com.]

PLEATS PLEASE

I had the pleasure of attending the launch of the new Taschen book, PLEATS PLEASE, outlining the 20-year history of Issey Miyake's clothing line that drastically changed the guidelines for what a garment should provide to its wearer.

"PLEATS PLEASE are clothes designed to suit the needs and style of every woman.  They are valued not only for heir beauty but also for their practicality.  The clothes continue to be as popular today partly due to the fact that they project an air of authority suitable to any occasion, whether special, everyday or for travel; regardless, they require almost no maintenance."

As the ultimate art-to-wear garments, Issey Miyake's PLEATS PLEASE collections are not only a feat of technology (a process which is described in detail in the book), but is also deeply tied to contemporary art.  In addition to exhibitions such as Big Bang: Creation and Destruction in 20th Century Art, PLEATS PLEASE has completed a number of Guest Artist Series, resulting in garments  adorned with the work of Yasumasa Morimura (pictured above), Nobuyoshi Araki, and Tim Hawkinson.

I'm wearing PLEATS PLEASE scarf/blouse, Ellen Tracy silk skirt, vintage leather bag, and Calvin Klein leather booties.