After graduating from Parsons, Vanessa Arizaga worked as a designer at Tuleh, Carolina Herrera and mostly recently at Zac Posen. Her inspiration comes from everything, but her travels play the most important part. Her Spring/Summer 2012 collection includes gummy bears, rhinestones, smiley faces, oreos, fluorescent crochet, donuts, crutches, peace signs, and tiny silver arms and legs. Entitled "The Far Side," the collection, which ranges from knitted collars to gunmetal charm bracelets, explores the magical power of charms. And the designer leaves no cultural reference unturned, combining nu-rave knickknacks with shamanic medicine pouches and Mexican milagros—the little limb-shaped tokens left at altars and carried for good luck. You can see the entire collection from here. Her collection is also available at Net-a-porter and Opening Ceremony.
I really like a mix of crochet and chains. I recently made a woven chain necklace by inspiring from another designer. However, Vanessa Arizaga's woven jewelry line includes not only chain and crochet but the other materials as well. Therefore, I found it more inspiring. I think some of the pieces are very DIYable, especially that neon necklace (8th picture above). It's gonna be my new DIY challenge! :)
