Brave New World(e)—Feral Childe at the U.C. Berkeley Botanical Garden

Alice Wu of Feral Childe, at U.C. Berkeley Botanical Garden looking for inspiration in the New World Desert for an upcoming fashion show at the garden. Feral Childe has a special fondness for cacti, but come to think of it, we're not sure we've ever seen any blatantly showing up in their work. 

The garden also features a house of flesh-eating plants. Hmm...

The Bauble Has Landed—Feral Childe Swallow Necklace

Here's how our Swallow Necklace arrived today, snuggled in its own little nest. The fabric is the same used for the Turbine Jeans from Feral Childe Spring/Summer 2011 Collection 'Tarquinia'. This version, however, has been dyed using only the Oxalis blossoms running rampant in the field behind Alice Wu's studio in Oakland, California.

Feral Childe, along with other designers, has been asked to present two looks for an upcoming fashion show at U.C. Berkeley's Botanical Garden, inspired by plants from the garden's extensive collection. In preparation, Feral Childe has been looking into the lastingness of locally foraged botanical dyes. Up  next, blackberries.

Chalet, Sashay—Black and White Looks from Two Recent Feral Childe Collections

Today, dressed for work in the Snowflake Turtleneck from Feral Childe Fall/Winter 2009 Collection 'School Play' (still available at Nancy's Gone Green!) and the Lisle Skirt from Feral Childe Spring/Summer 2010 Collection 'The Hills Are Alive'. Aside from being super-cute, there's something very cool about this skirt that we'll show you in a later post.

The scarf, by the way, is sustainably made in the USA, though we're still meat-eaters, we're wearing vegan Franco Sarto shoe boots.

The stretch silk Snowflake Turtleneck is soft and smooth, has a great, springy quality and pairs well with pretty much everything. After you've worn its chalet 'bibs' peeking out from a jacket or sweater or under a dress, you'll never want to return to the same boring old turtleneck again. BUY IT NOW! for only $110 $62.99!

Feral Child Matterhorn Tee

By the way, also over at Juno and Jove, the sexiest wearing we've seen yet (sorry, Vera!) of the Matterhorn Tee from Feral Childe Spring/Summer 2010 Collection 'The Hills Are Alive'. BUY IT NOW! for only $95 $48.

Pleats, Please! Feral Childe Drawstring Pleated Dress

A great wearing of the Drawstring Pleated Dress from Feral Childe Spring/Summer 2011 Collection 'Tarquinia' over at Juno and Jove. Makes us sort of wish we'd purchased it, but one can't buy each entire Feral Childe collection, can one? Can even two?

The fabric, of course, is their own Tarquinia print in silk crepe.

We'll have to ask about the pleats. We vaguely remember Moriah Carlson telling us something about a Master of Pleating she and Alice Wu discovered in Brooklyn. It's a skill not many ply anymore, evidently. We'll learn more and get back to you on this.

  

Feral Childe Drawstring Pleated Dress BUY IT NOW!

The Swallow Necklace from Feral Childe

This is the Swallow Necklace we ordered from Feral Childe Spring/Summer 2011 Collection 'Tarquinia'. It's arriving Thursday and we can't wait to wear it.

Each Swallow Necklace is handmade and completely unique. We hate the word 'unique' (everything's frickin' unique), but this time that's exactly what it is. Though 'completely' is probably redundant. 

Anyway, we LOVE it! Our particular bird looks like it's in a bad mood and that's why we chose it. The Swallow Necklace below looks like it's in a better mood (if it had a face). Maybe it's 'happy' (cheerful blue) because it sees the Feral Childe medallion on the end of its chain.

Feral Childe in Zink Magazine

Feral Childe is featured in the April issue of Zink Magazine. Unfortunately, this is the only image we have since we haven't gotten our copy yet. We're eager to see the photos. We know that one of the featured designs is the ultra-fabulous Bird Vest that Vera wore in a photo shoot (below) for Feral Childe Spring/Summer 2010 Collection 'The Hills Are Alive'. We can't wait to see how they styled it!

This Just In: A Feral Childe Worlde Exclusive!

In answer to our previous post, Alice Wu just sent us this photo from the Feral Childe Archives of the original Mushroom Coat that the Woolfitts Coat we're obsessed with was based on. Wowza! Just another reminder of how far Feral Childe has come. 

We remember and love those wilder days, but it's the coat below that we covet, from Feral Childe Fall/Winter 2007 'Canadian Alphabet' (we already own the Trapper Dress the model is wearing). 

Please bring it back!* Maybe if enough people comment, they will! Hint, hint?

*dreaming of the luxe black version and the palest-pink version of the previous post...

Please Bring It Back!

The Woolfitts Coat from Feral Childe Fall/Winter 2007 Collection 'Canadian Alphabet'. We saw Alice Wu wearing the black and grey version of this a couple of weeks ago and instantly coveted it. She said a lot of people have been commenting on it lately and she mused whether they should bring it back. Please do! And in this gorgeous grey on pale pink color combo too (we are not sure this is an accurate coloration of the original, but we like it)!

We Go Loopy Over Feral Childe's New Collection

We stepped out to the farmer's market today wearing the Loopy Dress from Feral Childe Spring/Summer 2011 Collection 'Tarquinia', with the Somethin' Else Again Slip from Feral Childe Spring/Summer 2010 Collection 'The Hills Are Alive'--can you see the subtle pattern underneath?--and the Knit Chain Necklace by PickUp Stitch for Feral Childe from the Spring/Summer 2011 Collection 'Tarquinia'. Throw on a cotton cardi, add Keds and a boat bag and we're ready to shop for sustainably-grown produce!

Feral Childe Queen Street Jean As Worn In Qatar

Today, the Qatar-based fashion blog Nomad features a stylish gal wearing the Queen Street Jean in Somethin' Else Again print from Feral Childe Spring/Summer 2010 Collection 'The Hills Are Alive'.

Feral Childe in Qatar and in the Home

This flyer has nothing to do with Feral Childe, but read on:

We still can't quite believe that Feral Childe is in Qatar. We're excited for Alice and Moriah to return and tell us all about it. We wonder how their next collection will be influenced by everything they see there...

Meanwhile, in Oakland, the locals are preparing for Creative Growth's HOME show tomorrow evening as part of April's Art Murmur (Vera's walking the runway in the fashion show). Today, checking out the preparations, we were newly amazed by some of the clothing, accessories and furniture crafted by the folks at Creative Growth. Some of it, we couldn't help but notice, bursts forth with a similar sense of true originality, exuberance and unblemished childlike enthusiasm as do the creations of Feral Childe. 

It's a quality we cherish in today's very self-conscious world. It continues to intrigue us that Feral Childe seems freely able to dream in this childlike realm and then go forward and place these unrestrained ideas into the context of very adult, well-thought-out and evolved clothing.

We'll try to snag some photos of the kinds of things we're talking about at Creative Growth. There's an armchair covered in strange and beautiful, colorful bumpy knitted 'tumors' that Veronica has her eye on, while Vera's liking the glazed pottery. Just seeing these things makes us yearn once again for Feral Childe to start making home furnishings. It's the reason we titled this blog 'Feral Childe Worlde', in hopes that when they are ready, Alice and Moriah will make things for the worlde we want to live in.

Building the runway at Creative Growth

Feral Childe in Qatar

Today, the Qatar-based fashion blog Nomad posted a pic from Feral Childe's visit to Qatar. Here, Moriah Carlson and Alice Wu embrace Melanie, a Feral Childe afficionado. Love the hanger clutch, Moriah!

Moriah Carlson wears ?? the Meadow Suit from Feral Childe ?? with her own cardigan and Melissa shoes for a look she calls 'Ultra Girl'. 

Melanie wears ?? a one-of-a-kind Feral Childe Stretchy Shirt circa 2007 (in a print that Alice Wu calls 'very R. Crumb') and the Kaiser Skirt in stripey lamé from Feral Childe Spring/Summer 2007 Collection 'Trans-Siberia Express', finished with a Husky Belt.

Alice Wu wears the Crater Dress in Lite Brite Print Silk from Feral Childe Fall/Winter 2010 Collection 'The Lightening Fields'. 

The Feral Childe 'It' Bags

Why oh why doesn't Feral Childe make more bags and why oh why don't we own one yet? Every fashion designer tries to make an 'It' Bag, but these are unlike any we've seen, with their flat detailing referencing cartoon drawings, a jokey quality at wonderful odds with the sumptuousness of the materials.

Our friend Eleanor wishes they'd make a chic diaper bag--she can't find anything she likes on the market. Get in line, Eleanor, we were here first!

Chain Reaction

Speaking of chains, here's the Chain Belt from the Feral Childe Archives.

The Chain Gang: Feral Childe Links In

Wearing a Knit Chain Necklace by PickUp Stitch for Feral Childe from Spring/Summer 2011 Collection 'Tarquinia' and a top from Feral Childe Collection ??*, one of our all-time Feral Favorites. Why? It's white and fresh with a great drape and cut like a simple tank T, but with chic details like the placket front with sewn-on self-fabric 'buttons' and a white leather neck closure that fastens with Velcro.

*Alice Wu says: 'The top Katie says is her favorite is the Cardiovestula in boiled wool jersey from the Fall 2006 Homunculii Collection - our first seasonal collection!' 

The Knit Chain Necklace with unique hand-painted charm. In the background, the fabric of the beautifully sculpted Turbine Jeans completes the chain-link theme.

Eco-Chick Craves Feral Childe

Eco-Chick Starre Vartan of eco-chick.com is featured in the April 2011 issue of Martha Stewart's Whole Living discussing her approach to sustainable dressing. One of the five key pieces she has her eye on for this Spring? The Crater Top from Feral Childe Collection Spring/Summer 2011 'Tarquinia'.

It's All in the Details

The Rustle of Tissue

There's nothing quite like receiving the package of a new season's Feral Childe pieces pre-ordered months prior. Inside, the Loopy Dress and Turbine Jeans from Feral Childe Spring/Summer 2011 Collection 'Tarquinia'. More to come!

Feral Fascination--Party Pics from The Year of the Rabbit

Artist and Feral Aficionado Anne Walsh sports the Pleated T2 Dress from Feral Childe Fall/Winter 2009 Collection 'School Play'.

Performance Artist and provacateur Barbara wears the much-coveted Snakeskin Lamé Leggings from Feral Childe Spring/Summer 2009 Collection 'Yosemite'. Hello, Pépin!