Ten Minutes with Caycee Black

Already a Lucky magazine favorite, Caycee Black has turned her passion for painting, ballet, and old movies into a luxe line that works as well in the boardroom as it does center stage. The collection—a tour-de-force of sophisticated whimsy —features dramatic but elegant prints and striking but never heavy-handed details such as flounced hemlines and draped necklines. Keep reading to learn more about Caycee’s conversion from canvas to couture.

Oligoville: In five words or less, Caycee Black  is. . .

Caycee: The mix of the three loves of my life: art, film, and ballet.

Oligoville: How would you describe your ideal customer?

Caycee: My ideal customer is an individual who sees my pieces and knows just how she wants to add them to her wardrobe.  I love that so many different types of women have been attracted to the same pieces.  They see it in their own way and know just how they want it to look on them.  My pieces are worn on stage by rock musicians and by women that work in offices.

Oligoville: How’d you end up as a designer?

Caycee: I grew up always painting and in and out of art classes during my summers and anytime I could fit them in.  I also had a weird obsession for old films when I was very young, mainly for how the women transformed themselves in each scene by what they had on.  I also remember my mom letting me dress myself as a child, which turned out quite interesting. I still remember the details of those outfits.  My favorite outfit was pink pegged-leg suspender pants with a purple puff sleeve leotard and a teal beaded necklace with purse to match!  In high school I was working on my art portfolio. When Parsons [the New School for Design] came to talk to my art class, I had this moment where I realized it was what I had always wanted to do.  Now my paintings become prints that come to life when worn.

Oligoville: What fashion trend do you hope we’ve seen the last of in 2010?

Caycee: I hope we have seen the last of the harem pant. I feel like a few designers started showing them, and then every designer, no matter who their customer was. started adding them to their repertoire.

Oligoville: Who and/or what inspires you?

Caycee: I can be inspired by so many different aspects.  For prints it can be a shadow in the park or something that has spilled on a window.  For mood I am always watching old films so I usually become engrossed by a character or film’s story line.  For Fall 09 it was the Thin Man series in which I fell in love with Myrna Loy.  Her character was so witty and equal to her husband for the time period of the late 30′s.  For Spring 2010 it was Agnes Varda’s film the dark fairy tale Le Bonheur.  The juxtaposition between the happy palette and the dark storyline intrigued me. It led me to my palette for spring 2010 and to playing with unexpected detailing such as cut-outs and asymmetry.  For Fall 2010 it is a mix of Murder on the Orient Express and the idea of a garden at night …. dreamlike.

Oligoville: Sadly, we just lost Alexander McQueen who was just so marvelously inventive. What do you think his lasting impact on fashion will be?

Caycee: Wow,  this is a question. I just hope that the hype around his death will die down, and people will remember what he did and who he was more than how and when he died.

Oligoville: What’s 24 hours like in your life?

Caycee: Usually waking up much earlier than I would like as I am a night person.  Running to my factory, which is in midtown and going over things.  Then I am usually running around midtown grabbing buttons and fabric or meeting with a vendor.  I then come home and answer a lot of emails. After I take care of my day-to-day tasks I allow myself to start working on the design aspect of  the next collection, shoot, or film ideas.  Creating is why I do this.

Oligoville: What’s in your closet? What are you wearing right now?

Caycee: My closet is a mix of pieces I have designed and vintage.  Right now I am wearing my denim knit bodysuit from the spring 10 line with a vintage 80′s high-waisted pale denim skirt and black perforated, patent, strappy shoes. Oh, and hot pink lip gloss!

Oligoville: What’s in your bag right now?

Caycee: A Bazaar magazine, colored pencils, a sketch book, tons of pencils and markers, a camera, and my I-phone.  I can’t leave home without a sketchbook or camera. You never know when you feel the need.

Oligoville: Tell us about some unexpected setbacks you have faced since starting your business and what you learned.

Caycee:  Well, I decided to launch my collection right when the economy was going through its toughest time.  Stores in general were very wary of working with a new designer.  I think this has been to my benefit since I focus on pursuing the right stores for my collection and not a general grouping.

Oligoville: What has been the most rewarding part of your career?

Caycee: When I am wearing a piece of my collection and someone comes up to me asking where it is from.

Oligoville: Tell us where you expect to see your business in the next five years.

Caycee: I would love to have my collection in stores that support me and really understand the message of my line.

Oligoville: Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Caycee: Be very careful with doing anything with friends. If you do, make sure you meet with a lawyer and draw up paperwork before you start anything.

Oligoville: What’s on your playlist right now?

Caycee: Cocteau Twins, Petshop Boys, Pale Saints, Chris and Cosey, Chairlift, ZAZA, The Depreciation Guild (my boyfriend’s band), and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (also my boyfriend’s band he plays drums in)

Oligoville: Any last words?

Caycee: I am going to see some Koala Bears right now!  Maybe I will get to hold one!

Ravishing Ruffles

{Image courtesy of www.buydefinition.com.}

Nothing makes me feel more put together and girly than a brand new beautiful blouse. This ravishing ruffled design by Nuj Novakhett is perfect for work, drinks, and even dancing.

It’s whimsical and romantic. It’s elegant and practical. It’s simply and completely fabulous.

I personally am a fan of it as it’s perfect for a well-endowed on-toppers like myself. At $279, this blouse is an investment worth making.

Best and Worst Trends of 2008

Time flies when your having fun and this year was no exception. Despite daily reminders of our failing economy, there was no shortage of brilliant fashion must haves, or fashion mishaps, for that matter. Below is the official Oligoville recap of the Best and Worst Trends 2008 had to offer. So lets get to it!

Who could not feel pretty with girlie details of lace and ruffles? We saw them both on everything from dresses to gloves from spring to fall. This is a trend I foresee going well into next year and for good reason. Its very versatile as it can take a day look effortlessly into evening.

Lace and ruffles also flawlessly softened one of our personal favorite trends of the year, menswear. The combination of frilly and pretty with the more structured pieces made for a nice combination of silhouettes and textures.

When it came to accessories our favorite two had to have been chains and layered bangles. They both added instant glam and in the case of the bangles, they added a punch of color for the more fearless gals out there.

Color and sophistication was also added with our much talked about scarves. A variety of shapes, prints and colors spruced up boring or unadventurous ensembles faster than your can say ITS A WRAP.

As a shoe addict, I have many to call favorites but when it comes down to the shoe I wore the most this summer, it was undoubtedly my beloved gladiator sandals. I love these so much, I plan on wearing them next year as well! This trend doesn’t end with ’08. These puppies were seen in all colors, including metallics, textures and heights. Who can forget the Balenciaga woven knee length sandals that started it all?

What was great about the gladiator sandal is that it paired beautifully with my skinny jeans. I dont think I can ever go back to a boot leg now! Those jeans just hug every curve perfectly and look great with my other favorite shoe that is worth mentioning…the bootie.

As I’m writing this, I am wearing a pair of plum colored tights. My otherwise all black outfit would have been to dull and one always needs a touch of color. Anyone who puts this trend on the worst list just has to be crazy….at least that is what I think right now. This leads me into the worst trends of 2008.

In hindsight a lot of things were NOT a good idea. Like the time I was an accomplice in a night of egging houses while in high school, but that’s a story for another day. Lets fast forward a bit to early 2008 when Art nouveau details seemed pretty, fashion forward and the new IT thing. Wow…what a difference a few months can make!

The Prada shoes shown above pretty much sums it up now. They are pretty ugly, a fashion disaster and made your feet look like they were encased in a contraption of sorts.

Hammer pants anyone? I didnt go for these in the 90′s and I did’nt go for them this go round either. Lets put these to rest people.

Designers went crazy for sculptural and architectural details in both clothing and shoes. In an effort to show something avant guard they ended up with clothing that were down right dangerous. Even surfaces to walk on were essential at all times…no exceptions!

Yves Saint Laurent was responsible for the short lived (thank god!) craze for anything with stars. We saw them as prints, details on shoes and especially in resin jewelry. Forever 21 jumped on that bandwagon in a fashion nano second furthering the proliferation of star spangled ugliness.

I was kinda feeling the goth look this year but quickly realized that ripped jeans and skulls had a place and time in fashion for me. Mid thirties and a job involving cubicles were not it. Besides…… skulls? When will this trend ever die?!?!?! Pun totally intended.

The Australian classic boot company put the ugg in fugly. Dont get me wrong. I’m all for keeping your footsies toasty warm in the dead of winter but when its a 100 degree day in Texas and the rest of your outfit involves minimal coverage, you know your going to regreat that fashion decision at some point.

Last but certainly not least are the 80′s style glasses seen on hipsters everywhere. These dont need an explination. Just look at them and try looking OUT from them.

So there you have it ladies. Our official 2008 trend recap with the best and worst fashion had to offer. Perhaps the lesson learned here is, if it seems a little odd at first, odds are its going to be ALOT odd a few months down. I’m just sayin’.

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