Crystal Ball x Patricia Field Collaboration coming soon!

Finally, the news we've all been waiting for - Crystal Ball and Patricia Field have agreed to collaborate on a line of bags and accessories, due in stores this spring/summer! We couldn't be happier to be working with Patricia - her style is ubiquitous and we think her aesthetic is a great match for Crystal Ball. Pat will be designing exclusive, limited-edition prints which will then grace Crystal Ball products, and we can't wait to see what she comes up with.

Patricia gave us a few minutes of her time out of her incredibly busy schedule in Tokyo last month, and we were able to ask her a few questions for a video interview. We're editing the content now, but it should be ready to post soon, so keep an eye out!

Happy New Year!

After a long break for the New Year's holiday, we're back and ready for 2009! We have lots of great things cooking for 2009 and we'll be sharing all the juicy details with you soon. Until then, take a look at this video of our Omotesando flagship shop on the first day it opened its doors this year!

American Express Premiere Night with Patricia Field

Last night a few hundred lucky people in Tokyo had the privilege to attend the American Express Premiere Night - an event that included a fashion show styled by Patricia Field, a live performance by Japanese popstar Ai, and an afterparty with open bar and yummy French food at Joel Robuchon.

By far the highlight of the evening was the fashion show. Much more interesting than your typical one-brand show, it was basically a showcase of Pat Field's extravagant and sexy style, using a mix of clothes from labels both high and low. The show started with a few male models strutting down the runway (which was made up of square tiles that lit up in different colors) wearing tailored black suits and funny, ethnic-style hats. But it was the women (naturally) who really got the audience excited. Everything from see-through mesh skirts to metallic jersey jumpsuits to hooded fur vests had a showing, and there was no shortage of raw, feminine sex appeal (as can only be expected from the stylist made famous by Sex and the City). During the Q&A session after the show, Patricia described the event as the first of its kind in the world, saying "tonight we used the runway just to show style."

We had a chance to chat with Patricia in her private room before the show, and she said that she thinks of Tokyo as her second home (she's been coming here since 1985 and says she never leaves without making a visit to the iconic Shibuya 109). We can't give any more news just yet, but stay tuned to learn more about upcoming plans between Pat and Crystal Ball!

The runway and hall where the show took place

The afterparty at Joel Robuchon

Crystal Ball's got bling

Yep, you heard us right, Crystal Ball now has a full line of chunky, sparkly jewelry. Made from sterling silver with real gold plating and Swarovski crystals, items include necklaces, rings, earrings and bracelets. Take a look at the video above for a behind-the-scenes peek at our jewelry photo shoot, and then make your way to our Tokyo flagship this weekend to check out the real thing!

We love Interview!

(Photos: http://www.interviewmagazine.com/)

We at Crystal Ball have always been huge fans of Andy Warhol (hey, who isn't?). We even did a collection inspired by his pop art a few seasons ago. We are also big fans of Interview, the magazine Warhol founded in 1969. A few years ago a boxed collection of the best of the magazine's first decade was released (almost a thousand pages and so big that it has its own wheeled crate), and this has taken up permanent residence in our office, providing a constant source of inspiration. The current Interview is a much more mainstream, commercial publication than the original, but it still provides interesting insights into the lives of celebrities, as well as some beautifully styled and executed photo spreads.

Interviewmagazine.com relaunched at the beginning of December and now includes 40% original content not in the magazine, making it well worth a browse every now and then. Check out the gorgeous photos of Cate Blanchett (as well as behind the scenes footage of the shoot) and Gus Van Sant's interview with James Franco.

Crystal Ball Spring Preview!

For the past two days the Crystal Ball showroom/studio has been bustling with a photographer, model, stylist, hair & makeup artist, and an army of assistants. Why, you ask, have all of these people descended upon our office? For the Spring Summer 2009 photo shoot, of course! The lovely Sophia, lead singer of the chill-out music group Safarii, is modeling the collection, which will be in stores starting from early February.

The theme for next season is "Love Forever," a phrase meant to instill the carefree spirit of hippies in the 1960s. More Jane Birkin than Janis Joplin, the collection is infused with modern, elegant details and as always, includes several new and exclusive Crystal Ball prints. Take a look and let us know what you think!

40 Years of The North Face

The North Face is holding a 40th Anniversary exhibition at the Spiral Building in Aoyama through December 3, so we stopped by the press preview the other night to take a look.

The North Face (along with Patagonia) is one of those rare brands that really inspires people and compels them to think about the world around them. The theme for the brand's 40th anniversary year is "Do More With Less," a quote by architect, designer, visionary and former Mensa president Richard Buckminster Fuller. Buckminster Fuller was an early environmentalist who believed, far before the rest of the scientific world did, that humans would soon rely on renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. He is best known for his huge geodesic domes, which resemble the small scale one at the North Face exhibition (above). The exhibition also includes photos, videos, advertisements and products from the past 40 years, but it was Buckminster Fuller's catchphrase that has stuck in my head. I'm going out tonight to buy some energy-saving light bulbs.