Sure, she’s a little dark, but she has a soft spot for furry things.

Walking into Mandy Coon’s Lower East Side studio, you’d probably notice the skulls first—a hodgepodge of tough relics that the designer says she’s collected only accidentally. But there are a lot of other influences to be found scattered throughout, too. Here, a visual tour of the designer’s current inspirations, one of which involves both a bunny and Frank Sinatra.

ANATOMY 

 Clockwise from top left / model Jamie Bochert in the Irm Cage top—a ribcage-like harness that’s part of Mandy’s fall collection; the human shoulder; a skeleton moonlighting as a business-card holder; intricate Leonardo di Vinci drawings; the Night Flight to Venus jacket, inspired by the human form; x-rays hung from the ceiling in a dimly lit section of Mandy’s studio.

 

SHIRLEY MACLAINE’S STUFFED BUNNY PURSE IN SOME CAME RUNNING

 

Clockwise from top left / sketches of Mandy’s bunny bags (complete with ear dimensions); Shirley MacLaine freshening up while clutching her ratty bag in the 1958 movie, which also stars Frank Sinatra; Mandy’s design for Of a Kind; the original black leather version from the designer’s fall collection, splayed across her desk with her keys and sketches.

That little tweed guy above? Mandy made 30 of them just for us, and you can buy one here.

THE WORK OF PAMELA SUNDAY

Clockwise from top left / Blastoid sculpture; the Future Ghosts coat from Fall, an avant-garde but cozy piece with contrasting textures; more amazing ceramic pieces by the Brooklyn artist, whose forms are all inspired by nature.

JELLYFISH

Clockwise from top left / an image by Portland-based photographer Camille Solyagua (one of Mandy’s favorites); Technicolor pictures tacked up in the designer’s offices; the gauzy white Calling Out of Context dress from the spring collection, with plenty of filmy layers; another high-impact photo by Solyagua; the Every Man Has a Woman dress for spring with tentacle-like accents.

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