Today in New York: Nicole Deponte

Nicole Deponte is a Boston based artist who had no idea what she was getting into when she was given two trash bags full of neckties.

Four years later with the help of her B.F.A. in sculpture and 15 years of retail experience, Deponte’s Lilian Asterfield label is redefining the fashion world’s perception of the necktie, offering innovative alternatives for both men and women. Her designs have found their way into the hearts of MTV’s Switch Blog, ABC LA’s Must Haves, Living Green, to name a few, as well as bloggers around the world. Recently Lilian asterfield was spotted with Alision Moorer on David Letterman. Her designs are currently available nationally in high-end boutiques.

:: Why and when did you started Lilian Asterfield? My Lilian Asterfield label is almost 2 years old. I started working with vintage neckties when designing accessories for a trunk show along with my twin brother’s collection: Crisiswear. I started out with a very one-of-a-kind misfit collection that was, I felt, more of a fun side project. With the support of my friends and family, I kept plugging along, designing the pieces to the point where I could start taking myself seriously.

:: Where do you get your inspiration from? I am a trained artist with a B.F.A in Sculpture. I feel like this helped a lot in terms of problem solving. I am like a mad scientist at times. I like to collect materials and then start playing with them until something starts making sense. I  love to garden, I feel like that is the source of a lot of inspiration for me. The ties, themselves speak to me. They have huge history, from the person who picked them out to the person who wore them. I am fascinated by history and stories.

:: Who is your ideal buyer? I do not market my work to anyone in particular. I want the pieces to reach everyone and at present it does. I want my customer to feel confident in their own style and therefore rock lilian asterfield in their own way. I love to see my pieces at fancy events as well as bumping into someone on the street wearing one.

:: What is your favorite NYC place? I like Brooklyn a lot. I know, totally cliche, but I live in Boston and am a bit of a country mouse so it is the one spot that feels more like home to me. I can get the green I need as well as the culture.

:: Do you think New York can still be considered the place-to-be for young creatives? I think it is a huge pond and is always moving forward. It is the easiest place to bump into someone who may be able to help you as long as you willing to put yourself in the mix. With this said, I feel the real challenge and success is finding your way outside of NYC. There are so many place turning out amazing work and success stories. A lot of people cannot afford NY while also starting their own projects. It is great to see smaller cities starting to make name for themselves. With the internet, bloggers, and shipping, I feel it is easy to keep up with NYC. I do feel that it is important to travel the world, keep up with the creative news coming out of NY and also spend time in NYC at some point in one’s life. It is a piece of art all it’s own.

:: Where do you shop in NYC? Alter, Oak, Renegade Craft Fair, Smith and Butler, Muji, to name a few. I try to focus on innovative design, independent designers and owner operated boutiques.

::  If I say Italy, you say…? Family, food, football. My Dad came to the States when he was eight. He has handed me an enormous love of food, creativity, dedication and is by far my biggest fan and support. My Nonna is an amazing cook and I have had the pleasure of learning her trade secrets in the kitchen, she is a whiz with a needle and thread as well as having a natural green thumb. My Nonno, had a huge hand in my sense of humor, was a skilled craftsmen, and brilliant at football.

Francesca Masoero
Francesca Masoero non è la campionessa di canottaggio che appare se digitate il suo nome su Google. È l’altra, la multitasker. Ha un (in)utile dottorato in cinema e marketing; racconta in modo non convenzionale e creativo New York, Torino e Bologna su NUOK e scrive di eventi, lifestyle e cultura per Lookout Magazine; si occupa di marketing, comunicazione, pr e web 2.0 tra Torino (la sua città natale) e New York (la sua città ideale). In più, a volte fa la stylist e a volte la cool hunter. È creativa, ma pignolissima. Sembra zen, ma è perennemente sull’orlo di una crisi di nervi. La salvano le piccole cose della (sua) vita: il rock’n’roll, la pasta al pesto, internet e il suo nuovo bellissimo frigorifero da 300 litri, pieno di quello che il suo fidanzato chiama “cibo da conigli”.