Streamlined, understated and always in style—that’s Elizabeth Jeffer’s aim when it comes to curating her online handbag shop, roztayger. Featuring a wide range of under-the-radar designers from across the globe, Jeffer’s site offers a distinctly minimalist point of view, with a focus on both function and fashion.

“Launched in October 2011, my mission was to curate a handbag and accessories collection from a host of international designers with a focus on quality, elegance and timeless design. Bags with modern, unexpected detailing that touch on trends but are not subjected to them. Most of the products on roztayger are useful year round, with a big emphasis on unisex products. No logos and minimal details are the unifying aspects of the roztayger assortment.” -Elizabeth Jeffer, founder and owner

For a limited time, take  5% off your first roztayger order when you sign up for emails!

What brands do you currently carry?

Meli Melo, Frrry, Samuji, Clare Vivier, Bonastre, Sandqvist, Bellroy, kika ny, jpanther luggage, porter, ro, Archival, Il Bussetto, 49 Square miles, Lola and many more.

What brands you would like to carry moving forward?  

Travelteq, Mismo, and Stephane Verdino.

What you look for when merchandising or selecting the brands?

I look for quality, timeless design with a bit of edge,  minimal hardware,  clean design, lack of aggressive logos, and intriguing details that are understated but set the design apart.  I look for brands that are not over-exposed and that are smaller and more unique—that you cannot find on bigger corporate sites ideally.

By: Justin Bridges

By: Justin Bridges

Who is your customer?  

My customer is often a professional in a creative industry or with a creative bent that might not necessarily be expressed in their work. Often he or she is also a parent at the same time so they don’t have time to shop for hours on end.  They come to roztayger because they like that I have edited down the collections to the most useful pieces from each line. My clients are not interested in a bag that conveys the message “look at me, I spent  x-amount on this item” yet at the same time  they want something unique without sacrificing design and quality for their own enjoyment.

By: Justin Bridges

By: Justin Bridges

Any advice for new designers to stand out to store buyers/owners?  

Be focused. Don’t try to be everything to everyone.  Design what you love—look at trends but don’t be subjected to them.  Try to incorporate your design vision into the world but hold onto the essence of what excites you.  That will be apparent through your designs and you will find your audience.

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1. K20 pieces on the albulm cover and music video “Lose to Win” by American Idol singer, Fantasia!  http://www.k2obykarenko.com/

2. Launched the new Rites of Spring look book featuring the new collection by Brooklyn textile master Ilana Kohn, jewelry from RISD graduate Kellie Riggs, colorful huge jewelry by Jade Mellor and bone jewelry from Kria. Here: http://www.craftandculture.com/rites-of-spring

3. First collaborative piece with artist Marlena Dougherty in Seattle. It is a huge leather and canvas tote for shopping or the office. Here: http://www.craftandculture.com/whatsnew/craft-culture-marlena-dougherty-leather-bag.html

4. Great Gatsby inspired feature from Santa Barbara Dining and Destinations with the ladies of Golden White Decor!

5. Golden White Decor does two DIYs  for The Zoe Report and  Rue Magazine!

6. Twisted Sisters are headed to Singapore for the Blueprint tradeshow!

7. “I’m not looking to go anywhere, just right here,” says the creatively inclined—and somewhat mysterious—Taylor Edward Freeman when we asked him where he’s headed these days.

Josh Scholl

two+seven: Why the name change? Where did Skim Milk come from?

Josh Scholl: I had to change the name from Designerdrugs because some “re-mixers” thought it was too close to their name and threatened to sue.  So, I thought a creative way of finding a new name would be to conduct a contest where fans suggested a new name for the brand dubbed the “Name Calling Contest”.  I would choose the winner and they would receive 10 t-shirts and a crazy/delightfully tacky limo escorted pizza party with garage rock band, Tandoori Knights (King Khan’s side project).  Sasha Samochina submitted Skim Milk and here is some documentation from Vice photographer Todd Diederich who shot the out-of-control night.

2+7: Who is the “we” team that started Skim Milk?

JS: We is actually just me, Josh Scholl (owner, designer, creative director, PR, accounting, packaging and every other ing).

2+7: Tell us a bit about the Life Collection.

JS: The collection uncontrollably just fell into place.  Normally I lose a lot of sleep and obsess over the designs but this line naturally came together and the images just fused cohesively.  Perhaps because I just let go and allowed it to happen.  I entitled it the Life Collection because I felt the images and overall feel were (for the most part) more complex which allows the observer to pull their own interpretation.  This is actually my goal for most of my t-shirts.  I take greater pleasure from igniting thought and emotions (positive or negative) vs. educating an audience to think in a certain way.

Honestly, I get a real kick when squares don’t “get” my t-shirts.  It’s further affirmation that I need to stay my course–not only for myself, but I owe it to my incredibly loyal customers.  The themes of the Life Collection ultimately focus on the unpredictability of life–and by that, I mean the range of life’s gracious highs to its unexpected and sometimes nonsensical lows.  I do however feel the collection still has the approach that’s congruent with the cavalier and sarcastic outlook on culture that you’ve come to expect from my previous collections.  This collection also features our first ever pair of Skim Milk Perfect Charmeuse Shorts.  The photos for the look book and website were taken by Caleb Condit and this collection also features a collab with Nancy Reyes of Con Leche.  If you like life’s music, beauty, sexuality and odd art–then there will be something in this collection for you.

2+7: What’s your favorite piece? Your go-to tee?

JS: My favorite t-shirt constantly changes but at the moment, my favorite is Suicide.  I have always loved sociology and thought that it would make an interesting image to have someone reading Emile Durkheim’s masterpiece, Suicide.  If you aren’t familiar with the book, you would think that it’s a “how to” manuscript for ending your life.  Like I mentioned earlier, I’m really into irony and art that can be interpreted in multiple ways.

2+7: What inspires your work?

JS: My work is inspired by life, people, music, odd photography and my satirized outlook on all of it.  Often times I’ll get bored with fashion so I turn to a love of mine which is walking by myself around the city and people watch.  My fascination with observing human beings and the perceptions of what is old/young, beautiful/ugly, cool/uncool, etc. is something that I never grow tired of (and probably why people are the subject of most the my shirts).  That being said, my favorite subjects are people that are real and innovative.

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Classic denim + iconic fit. That’s the motto behind ultra-cool LA-based jean brand, Articles of Society. Founded in 2012, AOS branded itself as the first line to offer consumers superior jeans at an affordable price after recognizing this missing element in the denim market and refusing to compromise quality for value. two+seven talked to the AOS team, the jeanius’ behind the brand in an exclusive interview.

Mya Skinny in Optic White (Summer)

two+seven: Give us some background. How did AOS get its start?

AOS: The premium denim market has been oversaturated with brands popping up left and right, all offering the same thing for $200. We noticed a missing element in the marketplace – premium jeans at an affordable price – so we set out to make affordable jeans without comprising quality fit and design.

Mya Cargo in Military (Fall)

2+7: What’s the design process like, from start to finish, for designing the perfect pair of jeans?

AOS:  All good design starts with the fabric. We believe that denim should be soft to the touch, have great recovery (not bag out) and feel great on. From there, we develop dozens of washes and select the best of the best. Special attention is paid to the details often left unnoticed, including threads, hardware and back pocket placement.  Each wash is then custom-fitted to confirm that the fit is spot-on.  And there you have a perfect jean!

Articles of Society Spring13 from Articles of Society on Vimeo.

2+7: The denim market is a competitive one with tons of brands and history. What’s the secret to standing out?

AOS: What we offer has never been done before. Coming from a premium denim background, we know what makes premium premium. We just figured out the right formula to create it for $50.

Mya Zip in Moto (Fall)

2+7: You also craft shorts and the quintessential denim jacket—what other staples can we look forward to?

AOS: With a classic and iconic design aesthetic, we remain focused on creating quality, on-trend items. We just launched a new relaxed crop, the Cindy, made from a super-soft rayon/cotton denim.  This fall, we are excited to launch a few novelty items based off our top selling Mya Skinny – the Mya Cargo and the Mya Zip.  For Spring ’14, we are looking into offering a few sportswear pieces, which would include shirting, jackets and dresses.  We are also excited to launch our men’s division of AOS for Spring ’14, which will include premium jeans in Slim, Straight and Relaxed-Straight styles starting at $70.

2+7: Where can we buy AOS jeans?

AOS:  AOS jeans are available nationwide at Nordstrom, Dillard’s, Von Maur and select boutiques. We’re excited to be offering our jeans at Lord & Taylor and The Buckle this fall.

JOIN THE CONTEST: Win a pair of AOS by submitting a shot on instagram! More details below!

Want more? 

www.articlesofsociety.com

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Denimology

“Hello! My name is Jess! I am a fashion designer, my line is called Mint. And I’m also a fashion blogger, my blog is called Mint. Basically, I am obsessed with all things Minty and fresh!” – Jess

1. RetroSuperFuture Gals Sunnies - I never ever leave the house without sunglasses! Ever. These “Gals” by ReptroSuperFuture have been my faves for a while now, I love the classic vibe. They definitely add the cherry on top of any outfit.

2. Gold Incase iPhone Case - I obviously can’t live without my iPhone! Therefore, I need to have a stylish case. I have an obsession with gold so I love love love this one from Incase:

3. A Mint Tee - This might be cheating! Haha! No… I am such a tee shirt girl! I love being able to just throw one on with jeans, shorts or over my bathing suit!! I went to great lengths to make sure these were as comfy as possible!!

4. Sam Edelman Wedge Sneakers - I am still totally feelin’ the wedge sneaker trend. I am 5’1″ and I love to be comfortable so they just appeal to me on every level! These ones from Sam Edelman are super comfy and I love the navy color!

5. Baby Lips Lip Balm “Quenched” – Newly addicted to this stuff!! I need to try out every shade!

6. Fedora - I love a good hat! My Zayde (Grandpa) used to always wear fedoras, and I have a fedora collection going now myself. They help block the sun, instantly add style to an outfit and are great for bad hair days!

7.Boys and Arrows Bikini - Such an awesome brand. The cuts are so sassy and fun. I have one in Canary Yellow- I will be wearing mine all summer!

8.KMS Hairplay Makeover Spray – I swear by this stuff!! It saves me ton’s of time not washing my hair haha. It’s a dry shampoo, and it smells amazing! I get a lot of hair questions, I’d say this stuff is my secret but I tell everyone!! I love it!

Want more?

www.mintclothingcompany.com

www.minttheblog.com

INSTAGRAM: @mintclothingcompany

TWITTER: @minttheblog

Facebook.com/minttheblog

pinterest.com/minttheblog

mintclothingcompany.tumblr.com

Photo by Kyle MacLennon

two+seven: From surfer to stylist (and more) you’ve worn a lot of hats! How did you make the transition to designing t-shirts?

Jessica Snyder: It’s funny how they say “the love of your life might be right under your nose…” and that’s kind of what happened with fashion! I’ve always loved it, since I was practically a toddler in pink Converses! It just never even occurred to me to think of it as a career. My cousin was in fashion and I started off interning for her just for fun, then interning for a stylist, then got a job assisting a stylist…which I loved! But then I started thinking it might be cool to see how clothes are made and wanted to see the process of a concept to actually creating something tangible. I went a little extreme on the last one haha. Curiosity Kitten!

Mint Spring 13′ from Mint Clothing Company on Vimeo.

2+7: What came first – the t-shirt line or the blog?

JS: The line came first, I was doing samples and developing the line behind the scenes which takes a while as I manufacture everything and also I wanted it to be perfect!! But I was anxious to get going and get Mint out there and that’s how the blog came about! I still love styling and creating looks so it worked out perfectly that I am able to still be creative in that way as well as designing.

Paradise Tee

2+7: You are obviously inspired by Cali and the seaside lifestyle. What else inspires you?

JS: I recently spoke at an event for fashion students and this is going to sound so cheesy but I realized talking to these kids and answering their questions that I just love what I am doing so much. That in itself is obviously a constant inspiration to keep moving forward and continue to work hard and hopefully inspire other people to follow their dreams and do their best, all that good stuff!!

Photo by Ian Zamora 

2+7: What do you with your free time when you’re not designing/styling/blogging?

JS: Go to the beach!! I love to play hooky and just go for a surf, lay out with a book or magazine, just relax! I’ve been going to the same beach since I was a kid so it’s always nice to stop by, see who’s hanging out, say hey. It keeps me grounded…all the boys I grew up with usually make fun of what I’m wearing! Oh silly boys!

Photo by Kyle MacLennon

2+7: What’s next?

JS: With the line I started out really small but I am proud to announce we are expanding! We are adding some really awesome new pieces. More then just tees- hint hint!! I am working really hard, having so much fun doing it and I am super super excited to share it! So stay tuned!

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We’re caught up in the roaring twenties with the glamorous fashion, thanks to a certain cinematic adaption of the Great Gatsby. The Art Deco period was all about opulence, incorporating ornate detailing with architectural lines and fresh new attitudes. We compiled a few of our favorites, inspired by Leo’s latest—and the classic literature.

1. Jigsaw Sequin Flapper Dress, £325.00

2. Judith Lieber Clutch

3. Elizabeth Arden – Red Door Red, $22.50

4. Tiffany’s – Pearl Earrings, $450

5. Manolo Blahnik – Leather Sling-backs, $295

Model, photographer, entrepreneur: no matter what you call him, Brent Chua is an artist at heart. We tracked down our talented (albeit elusive) friend to see what he’s been up to.

two + seven: After our last interview with you at Table 12, your photography seemed to take precedent over your modeling career. What projects have you been working on since the last time we saw you?

Brent Chua: I’ve been shooting photographs like a madman and it makes me incredibly happy, what can I say? It keeps me moving, like a fire begging to burn out but never burning out. Not yet. 

2+7: What drove you to the other side of the camera?

BC: The need to see things. Isn’t it great to be able to see things? After a while you get the feeling you just want to create your own stuff. And modeling, I mean, it is what it is. So I suppose what drove me was a strong desire to see things in a different way.

 2+7: With a background in modeling, do you feel like more you are more forgiving and patient than other photographers?

BC:  I would hope so! No, but, yes it does seem that way. At least that’s what I’ve been told. I fancy myself someone quite easy to work with but surely there must be one or two who would not think so. But in general, I really do find the chemistry. Chemistry is something really important. Of course it doesn’t have to exist, for most people, but for me, it makes the time spent worth it.

2+7:  What do you look for in your models?

 BC:   I like when someone can be present yet also when someone can have an imagination. Patience is always great. A virtue, they say. Usually if we are both patient actually it seems to go by much faster. Though I can’t stand when someone isn’t willing to work. I hate laziness. Unless I ask you to be.

2+7: If there was something about the fashion industry that you could change, what would it be?

BC: It is difficult when everything, in anything- from fashion to art to cinema, all seems to reflect our generation now. It all moves a bit too fast, especially fashion, and it would be nice if some things could just be absorbed. 

2+7: Why are you always MIA?

BC:  Because of the fire [passion]! I can’t help it really.

2+7: Finally, have you taken a shower yet?

BC:  Actually, no. But that’s because the model I shot today arrived only ten minutes after I woke up. But I will shower now, don’t worry.

Credits: All photos were taken by Brent Chua. Special thanks to Dmitry Brylev & VNY Model Management, Taylor Edward Freeman and Elena.

Fashion maven Tamara of Glam and Glitter gives us her must-haves for the season—and boy, are they glamorous!

“Glam and Glitter is a fashion diary of a life lover. I am a huge hedonist and someone who sees beauty everywhere, so I decided to start a fashion blog three years ago in order to share my passion with everyone else. All of sudden this little diary exploded into something more, and now I am a full time fashion blogger. My readers are fashionable, modern women who care about their appearance, but want more than good looks. Glam and Glitter has a goal to inspire people, to help them chose which trends they like, what fits look good, and all of that trough my outfit posts.” -Tamara, theglamandglitter.com

The Essentials:

1. Printed lightweight jacket

2. Dungaries

3. Pointy White Pumps

4. Pencil skirt with a cool pattern

5. Printed trousers

6. A skirt with a split

7. Pastel colored satchel

8. Printed Short Suit

9. Cropped Boyfriend Jeans

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