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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

FASHION

Shopping With... Maayan Zilberman

Maayan Zilberman is a fashion designing-baking-blogging triple threat. Along with designer Nikki Dekker, she’s one half of lingerie brand Lake and the Stars (named after a Victorian euphemism for a lady’s skill in the bedroom). Their flirty underthings are a favorite of Gwyneth Paltrow and Lady Gaga. And recently Giselle Bundchen picked up Lake and the Stars at Barneys. “That was post-baby body,” says Zilberman on the phone. “If she’s putting her boobs in our bras, we’re thrilled!” 

Yet with a high-profile fashion label Zilberman says, “Most of my income is from cake making.” She documents her avant-garde baking on her Wave Cake tumblr. “Most of the cakes I make end up being pretty tame. I post on the blog the most interesting cakes. It’s almost like designers put their wacky stuff on the runway and then they make t-shirts.”

Her third pursuit (“I don’t sleep a lot,” she says, in case you’re wondering how she finds the time) is documenting elder fashion at Advanced Style, where she interviews seniors about their sartorial history and habits.

Zilberman’s worlds often overlap. Right now she’s coordinating a photo shoot for Lake and the Stars with older women she met while scouting for Advanced Style. And of course, she’s always searching eBay for baking supplies.

The online marketplace plays a part in Zilberman’s hyper-creativity. “I liken it to when I’m in a library and when I look at things on either side of a book. Say I’m looking for a melamine pitcher on eBay; I’ll end up finding things that are in materials that I wasn’t even aware of. It’s not about finding a specific thing; it’s more about research and meandering. I’ll usually just use broad searches like vintage military hardware—that references closures, fasteners, eyelets and lacing you find on old military equipment and it makes its way onto our clothes.”

The first time Zilberman used eBay, she bought a vintage lot of shoes. “I didn’t understand what a vintage lot was. I thought I was buying a pair of shoes. I ended up with a massive collection!” Zilberman has since found her way around eBay and its jargon. “I really like getting to know the sellers,” she says. Her favorite vendors are in France and Poland. “I sometimes think I should tally it all up and go there and pick it up.”

As for the best thing she ever bought on eBay, Zilberman mentions a reproduction of a cancelled check from Greta Garbo. “Because she never gave out her autograph I found her signature on a cancelled check. I did this mural of Greta Garbo’s signature in my living room. It’s right on my wall. I’m staring at it now.”

** Images provided by Maayan Zilberman. **

Find out what else Maayan Zilberman spies on eBay.

Roll over items for details
Masonic Aprons and Medals
“I want to base the uniform [for my baking business] on these (see references on my cake blog).”
(buy it now price $105)
Hostess Cake Breaker with Bakelite Handle
“For slicing cakes. I want to have my own made, but based on this design.”
(winning bid, $1.99)
Yaacov Agam Signed Print
"The artist Agam makes sculptures that really influence the way I design cakes.”
(starting bid, $2,000)
New Civil War-style Crochet Gloves
“I’d like to have these remade with oven-safe silicon yarn to use as oven mitts.
(buy it now price, $9.99)
Russian Navy Diving Watch
“I would want to make the face much larger and have this as a large clock. Also the enlarged knob – I would love to cast that as hardware for bra closures.”
(buy it now price, $199.99)
Antique 30” Field Drum
“This drum turned on its side would be a great cake stand, polished or coated in black enamel: I also love the rope.”
(buy it now price, $595)
Russian Cosmonaut Cooling Suit
“Spacesuit from Russia! Look at that amazing detailing. Perfect for lingerie.”
(buy it now price, $1,390)
Antique Men’s Suspenders
“Love the elastic and hardware on these. Great for garters!”
(buy it now price, $24)
Shopping With... Maayan Zilberman

 

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