Fashion Jones

The Fruits of the Baekeland family...

2008-07-16T23:07:00.001-07:00

To say that the Tom Kalin film Savage Grace (based on the book by Natalie Robbins and Steven M.L. Aronson) is harrowing would be an understatement. Not exactly sure what compelled me to see a film about mother-son incest and timeless decadence last night but the one good thing that came out of this film about the true story of Barbara Daly Baekeland and her social climbing ways is that I got into a bit of a Bakelite searching frenzy. This material created by Leo Baekeland made his family rich but this fortune ultimately ruined the third generation Baekelands (Barbara was the wife of Brooks Baekeland, grandson of Leo...). I think I'll ignore the incest, murder, depression, adultery and suicide and concentrate on the shiny plastic accessories unearthed on eBay and Etsy...

Still, Savage Grace is a superb film even if it does at times make you feel so uneasy you need to look away. Everything is visually lush and it goes without saying that there's some fine clothes in it too, though probably more interesting from a menswear perspective...

Plaid Jumper From TopShop

2008-07-16T11:06:00.001-07:00

Plaid, plaid, plaid. I love plaid. Through out my trip in Europe I have picked up no less than four items covered in plaid.

In Belfast I wandered into thrift shops and cheap trendy stores and found a plaid dress with a voluminous skirt, a thick plaid fitted button-down and a plaid vintage corset soon to be worn with jeans. I also purchased an overpriced plaid romper from TopShop in London.

To veer away from plaid for the moment, I was not impressed with TopShop. Quality is lacking in 80% of the merchandised but priced retarded high. $300 for a thin hounds tooth coat with buttons hanging off it? I think not.

Also, the Kate Moss section of the shop had very little to offer and the price point averaged 130 pounds ($260). Obscene I tell you. Mostly because it is supposed to be an inexpensive store. The only thing I saw there that was cheap were the seams.

On a positive note, there were a few cute pieces for sure and some of the leather jackets were quite lovely.

Back to plaid, I love it! The only warning I would say is no short girly plaid skirts: too outdated. If you want a plaid skirt, veer towards a high-waist pencil skirt. Chic!

High Drama!

2008-07-15T23:06:00.001-07:00

A look from Bill Blass’ Fall 2008 ready-to-wear collection

Chanel Iman (in 3.1 Philip Lim), Eve (in Emanuel Ungaro) and Eva Longoria (in Marchesa) stop traffic in their dramatic outfits.

It’s not enough to just walk into a room looking fabulous. Nowadays your outfit has to shout it from the rooftops! The classic black dress is all good and well but when you really want to make a show, opt for something theatrical. Many of the Fall/Winter 2008 collections during New York Fashion Week were filled with high-neck collars, fanciful frills and dreamy chiffon ruffles. Bill Blass’ collection, for example, is the epitome of dramatic flair though if you’re not too sure you can get away with such an exuberant entrance look to Victoria Beckham and Charlize Theron who took this look to the streets. Try this Sheer Ruffle top by Wetseal.com. For those of you who love the attention, take a leaf out of Chanel Iman, Eva Longoria and Eve’s style books. They definitely know how to put on a show.

Sarah Mann Jewelry

2008-07-15T11:06:00.001-07:00

Jewelry Designer and Metalsmith

Sarah Mann is fascinated by the creative and technical challenges of transforming sterling silver into objects of adornment. She is proud to carry on a family tradition in the crafts, and pleased that this enables her to exercise her talent no matter where she lives. She creates clean straightforward designs that often incorporate kinetics.

'Astral' Sterling Silver Ring

A dreamy band of brushed sterling silver punctuated with otherworldly designs.

$130

Sarah was introduced to metalsmithing at the University of Wisconsin in her hometown of Milwaukee. She furthered her interest under the expert guidance of Heikki Seppa at Washington University in St. Louis, and the craftspeople at Fuji Studio in Florence.

Collapsible Ring

Brushed sterling silver ring with unique design. Movement and flexibility makes for a comfortable fit. Narrow ring has one bar instead of two.

$150

Sarah then lived in New Orleans, where she worked amid its thriving community of metalsmiths and honed her skills in preparation for a transition to New York City. The dynamic nature of the city inspired the strong form and kinetic design of her pieces.

Jester Cuff Links

Sterling silver cuff links with a patina enhanced surface texture.

$105

Sarah Mann has recently returned to her roots in the Midwest and continues her silversmithing there, creating bold yet elegant jewelry with unique surface treatments. The jewelry that she designs and handcrafts skillfully merges geometric and organic elements to create a style that is recognizably her own.

Mann realizes fully the broad potential of sterling silver. She crafts her jewelry with torch and tools - saws, files, pliers, nippers, drills, hammers, dapping blocks, and a rolling mill - then gives it with a range of hues through delicately controlled oxidation. The combined effect of patina on texture is a signature characteristic of all Sarah Mann jewelry.

Sarah introduces a new jewelry collection - earrings, necklaces, pins, bracelets, and rings - about every ten months. She carefully crafts each piece, and presents it as one of a limited edition. "Raw sterling silver cries out to me, begs me to convert it into bold jewelry with subtle finishes. Of course, I must obey."

See full article.

Related Entries:

Jewelry Career Resources - 08 August 2006

Native American Inlay Jewelry - 14 January 2008

Caroline Ballou Jewelry - 26 May 2008

Stephen LeBlanc Art Jewelry - 27 May 2008

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Baltimore Gets Beautified!

2008-07-14T23:06:00.001-07:00

Beauty Night Out (BNO) is an exclusive beauty event hosted by SinPR that offers savvy women an evening of spectacular shopping, out pampering, cocktails, and product samples. Indulge and splurge on spa treatments, massages, mini-manicures, boutique shopping - all in a fun, upscale and carefree atmosphere. This is only the second BNO event in Baltimore so be on of the first to join the movement. See the details below or click here to visit the official site.

When: Saturday, July 19th 2008
Time: 6pm -9pm
Where: Maserati of Baltimore, 1628 York Road Townson, MD
Cost: $15 in advance/$25 at the door

Dear Daddy Likey: Don't Make Me Pull A Kim Kardashian

2008-07-14T11:06:00.001-07:00

Dear Daddy Likey,

I'm so happy that you've found a swimsuit that you love, and that flatters a part of your body you're not thrilled with. But I have a different problem altogether. My waist measurement is a 26 but my hips are a 42, meaning that I don't mind wearing bikinis because my stomach is okay, but my hips and thighs are all wobbly and squishy and dimply. (Cute, I know.) And there is NO swimsuit for that problem! I hate having to wear a sarong until the second I get into the water, and I don't want to go all Kim Kardashian and actually TAKE A TOWEL INTO THE WATER WITH ME, but I don't know what else to do!

Please help me! Are there any creative solutions? I can't think of ANYTHING!

Signed,
Stacy Sa-Wrong

Dear Stacy,

I'll be honest. My response to your query started out along the lines of, "Own it, girlfriend! Don't let anyone make you feel bad about your squishyness! Woo! Girl Power!" But then I realized that if I asked someone for advice about swimwear that camouflaged my stomach, and they said, "Wear a bikini! Own it, girlfriend! Don't let anyone make you feel bad about your Jack Black-sized gut! Woo! Girl Power!" I would have to track them down and strangle them with a conservative one piece.

So, with that in mind, I came up with a couple more realistic, less annoying suggestions for you.

Swim Skirts and Swim Dresses

For many of us, the term "swim skirt" triggers traumatizing visions of frumpy grandma suits, but a couple weeks ago, my friend Jess bought this swimsuit and showed me the light:

It's even cuter in real life, seriously. The gold details around the bust and the ruching at the waist really stand out.
Black Gold Stud Halter Swimsuit, ON SALE for $39, torrid.com

When she came over to show me and take a dip in the pool (which, because it's located in a condo complex with a large retiree population, has seen its share of scary swim skirts), I was blown away: it was glamorous, flattering, unique, sexy, and SKIRTED. And here's the thing, it wasn't glamorous, flattering, unique and sexy in spite of the skirt, but the skirt actually contributed to all of those things. Paradigm. Shifted.

My beautiful plus size readers can enjoy Jess' lovely swimsuit above and the equally chic skirted suit below:

Hot-Pink Star Print Halter Swimsuit, also ON SALE for $39, torrid.com

This one is so cute I want to wear it everyday, not just to cover up a little extra junk in the trunk:

How cute would it be with a simple black bikini top?
Coral Floral Flirt Skirt, $28, venus.com

Adjustable Gottex Skirted Bikini Bottoms, $74, nordstrom.com

If you like the look of the skirt above, but prefer not to spend so much, this two piece set is only $18:

Going Dotty Swimwear, Target.com

How freakin' amazing is this swimdress? You could wear it to the Oscars, and then go for a dip in the pool, and then wear it to the Grammys. SO chic.
Anne Cole Swimwear Shirred One Piece, $112, nordstrom.com

Also check out this amazing DKNY swimdress, which is kind of cuter than any of the regular dresses I own, on sale at Macy's.

Board Shorts

These can be a little tougher to work into your swim wardrobe unless you already prefer a more athletic look, but with a million different cool prints and varied lengths, you're sure to find one that fits your style.

Board shorts are a much better option than wearing a towel into the water, if just for the simple fact that you won't be clinging to a giant waterlogged piece of cotton while sinking to your death and shrieking "Don't look at my thighs!!" Pair them with a bikini top or slip them over a one-piece, and you've got yourself a hip-covering and functional swim ensemble.

Here are two bright and crazy options (my personal favorite), but just google "boardshorts" for about seven billion different options, including solid colors, designer, and knee-length styles.

Billabong Flower Child Board Short, $38, swell.com

Roxy Polka Party Boardshort, $37, amazon.com

Feel free to share your suggestions for Stacy in the comments!

Fight the Powder? Not Anymore.

2008-07-13T23:06:00.001-07:00

I don't know why I bought Clinique's Almost Powder Makeup. Well, that's a huge lie. I do know why: I bought it because the salesgirl was wearing a lab coat which made me believe anything she said, and she said that buying this powder would change my life. She also waved a free gift in front of my face and said it could be mine if I pre-ordered the powder (it has been documented here before that I have the willpower of a particularly impulsive Jack Russell Terrier).

And so, despite the fact that I have never bought or liked powder makeup, I became the owner of an allegedly life-changing compact full of it.

This poor impulse purchase languished in my makeup drawer for quite sometime until a couple weeks ago I realized that my usual tinted moisturizer was not doing so well in the summer heat.
The color didn't match my darker skin tone and the liquid formula was routinely transforming into a sweaty sludge.

Panicked at the prospect of choosing between no skin protection in the searing heat and spending another $30 on makeup, my mind flashed to the lonely green compact. It wasn't liquid, and it was already paid for. Perfect.

I brushed some on over my sunscreen and while it didn't save the polar bears, it kind of did change my life: it was light and flattering and evened my skin tone beautifully. It didn't turn into sweaty sludge on contact. It didn't clog my pores. It didn't make me look like Sean Patrick Flanery in Powder, which was a huge plus. (In other news, I just realized that Sean Patrick Flanery's initials are SPF--coincidence? no. way.)

Perhaps it's only so great because it's Almost Powder Makeup rather than Powder Makeup, but whatever the reason, I've been wearing it almost every day (heh, heh, see what I did there?). I'm pretty sure I'll go back to tinted moisturizer in the winter (the idea of scraping powder onto my ashen January skin is enough to give me nightmares), but for now, I'm quite happy with my excellent, impulse-purchased complexion.

Patently totable

2008-07-13T11:06:00.001-07:00

I know many people have a knee jerk reaction to Coach, and consider them to be the epitome of bourgeois, but this is just such a versatile and likable tote, that it really requires thinking outside preconceptions.
The Bleeker Tote in patent leather, shinier in person than in the photo is one of those bags that happily reminds me that I am capable of keeping an open mind.

It reminds me of a vintage bag you might find at a weekend flea market, with simple lines, and brass rivets. There really is nothing truly modern here, save the patent leather, and the bag is quietly understated, with simple lines, and those big brass rivets that look as if they really do hold the handle in place. Even the embossed logo doesn't bother me, as it is small and unobtrusive.
A side view of the bag reveals it is a bit more bucket than tote, with a squared bottom that Coach does very well.

A bag like this is perfect for taking to work during the week, as there is room for everything...a sweater for chilly offices, a book for commuting, a change of shoes, and even a laptop. It's a great weekend tote for similar reasons...minus the laptop, of course, you can easily fit all the necessities for a day into evening trip.
It's always great to see a company harking back to it's roots, which is really what i think this bag is an attempt at on the part of Coach.
That said, signs that they are not giving up on what has become their core customer is obvious in a second, larger, version of the same tote.

A glaring example of how a lovely simple tote can be made into what amounts to a shiny walking billboard.
The Bleeker Tote, in patent leather is $398 (it is also available in plain leather for $358 or metallic leather for $498). The larger size is $498, with a giant logo free leather version for $458...the Large Bleeker in tan is especially nice.
All are from Coach directly.

HOWTO: Packing

2008-07-12T23:06:00.001-07:00

Whoa. Hi there! Nice to see you again. Sorry I missed a couple days ... I've been traveling a LOT, like, three-cities-in-three-days-lot, which accounts for my recent absence. (And for this post, a packing how-to.)

First off, a disclaimer. There is, of course, more than one way to pack for a trip, and more than one kind of trip. These instructions will be of no use to you if you are planning a six-month scientific expedition to the Arctic or the Amazon, have to attend four black-tie balls in five days, or have a lady's maid or valet. (if you have a lady's maid and are packing your own suitcase/valise/trunk ... why do you have a lady's maid?). These instructions are really only good for fairly boring businessy-type trips, or short vacationy-type trips. But, that said:

1. The first rule of packing is to know your own strength. If you are planning to carry on a bag and cannot lift it above your head, you should not be carrying on that particular bag. (Obviously, if you are disabled and know you will have help in any case, this doesn't apply to you.) But packing more than you can lift is a recipe for disaster and will cause irritation to all your fellow travelers. In a similar vein, if you cannot drag your suitcase without it toppling over, you might want to rethink that eighth pair of shoes. Not only will your transit to the check-in line be wobbly and fairly ridiculous, the airline WILL charge you for the overweight.

2. The second rule of packing is to know your own style. This, of course, is something you should know for your whole life, not just for traveling, but you should especially know it for traveling. I hate and despise those traveling clothes that strip every last ounce of your personality from you in the service of being "easy to pack". (That dress in the link doesn't even have pockets! How is that travel-friendly?) When you travel, you should look like a concentrated version of yourself, in that your clothes are the ones in which you feel most like you. You'll be out of your natural element, so you can't rely on environmental clues to give folks an idea of what you're like.

For me, this means I usually pack a lot of dresses (duh), bright cardigans to wear over them, and, for the airport, A-line skirts with pockets.

Wearing the same thing every day (and/or washing things in hotel bathrooms) is not worth it. If you wash something, it never dries (and who wants to spend their time doing laundry on a trip?), and if you plan to wear something every day someone spills something sticky or stinky on you. Better to just pack an extra dress.

3. In my opinion, jeans are overrated. Unless this conflicts with Rule 2 for you (in that jeans are the clothing in which you feel most like yourself), ditch the jeans. First off, jeans are boring. I don't care how designery they are, or what unique combo of leg width-wash-waist level you've chosen, they are, in the end (and on your end), just a pair of jeans. My other beef with jeans is that they often act as an (overused) safety net. How often do people pack a week's worth of clothes but then end up wearing jeans every day? Travel should be broadening! (And, I hate to say this, but if you're going to a major metropolitan area, wearing something OTHER than jeans and sneakers will help you not look like a tourist, if that is a goal for you.)

4. Check the weather. Seriously. You'd be surprised how many people just assume the weather where they are going is just like the weather where they are. (You can't assume, for instance, that San Francisco in June is going to be warm.) There's this thing called the Internet, and a large part of it is just weather forecasts. I also understand there is an entire cable television channel devoted to the weather. Don't just check the forecast -- check the average highs and average lows, too. And, on top of that, bring a sweater. Just in case.

5. Make a list. In fact, make several lists. I like to print out a calendar page (you can do this from Google Calendar pretty easily) and write down, for each day, what I'm planning to do, which then guides what I'm going to wear. A day spent in meetings will have a different wardrobe than a day spent traveling, sightseeing, or working in a hotel room. Pack the list! If you're traveling for more than a few days it's easy to forget what you were planning to wear when. Make the list very detailed, right down to your underwear. If the dress needs a slip, write "slip" on the list.

Make another list of things that you need that aren't clothes. I like to bring my vitamins (in an old-lady case), Emergen-C, a stretchy exercise band (to help me counteract bad office chairs), a little sewing kit, etc. If you travel a lot save your "extras" list and print out a new copy for every trip. Why remember more than you have to?

Do the same thing for toiletries -- there's no percentage in taking up mental space remembering whether you packed a toothbrush or not. Make a list and check "toothbrush" off it. If you travel more than once a month, keep a toiletry set all packed and ready to go. (When you come home from a trip, replenish it right away.) I like to keep two sets packed: one in a quart ziplock bag for carry-ons, and a larger one for when I check baggage.

If it's a work trip, you should also have a work checklist: laptop power supply, charger for phone, ethernet cable, etc., etc.

6. Use packing cubes. I know they seem gimmicky, but they are so useful. First of all, they make life easier for the TSA, and you really don't want to piss them off. Which would you rather have a stranger do: pick up your nicely-packed cube and peer under it, or rummage through a suitcase full of loose clothes, possibly dumping them on the floor? I've seen that happen, and it's ugly.

7. Shoes. Here's my rule for shoes: For any trip longer than three days, you need two pairs of shoes, but no more than three. (Four, maybe, if you have to bring a pair of fancy shoes for a party.) Two pairs is so that if your shoes get wet, or cause a blister (which they shouldn't because you have also packed an anti-blister stick to use on your feet), you have a pair to switch off to.

Also, if you bring the bare minimum of shoes and develop a sudden need for another pair, you now have an excuse to go shoe-shopping.

I don't have to say again that you shouldn't be wearing flip-flops in the airport, right?

You should not be bringing more handbags than you bring pairs of shoes, unless you are Judith Leiber.

8. Miscellaneous suggestions:

-- if you haven't worn the thing you are going to pack in more than a month, try it on before it goes in the suitcase.

-- always bring one more pair of underwear and socks than you think you will need.

-- don't stress about wrinkles. Most hotels have fairly decent irons and ironing boards, and it takes less time to press something than it does to worry about what's going to wrinkle and what's not. I can usually iron everything I've packed in less than half an hour, while watching the hotel television (and there's always an episode of Law and Order playing in every hotel room, everywhere, at every hour of the day or night).

-- shoe bags are nice. I'm just saying.

-- special travel pillows, special travel alarm clocks, special travel hair dryers -- all overrated. Unless you have a serious princess-and-the-pea sensitivity, you'll get along just fine with whatever's at your destination. (I don't get travel candles at all. Raise your hand if you think it's a good idea to light small smelly fires in a hotel room.)

-- think: what would be the most inconvenient and irritating thing to have find in the city where you're going, on the trip you're planning? ("sanitary" supplies? A spare power supply for your laptop? Your special moisturizer? ) Bring extra of that.

-- if there's any chance that you will be getting in late, make sure your toothbrush, face wash, and pajamas are the easiest things to find in your suitcase.

My suitcase from trip before last:

I know I haven't said anything about rolling vs. folding, or how to cram your socks into your shoes to save space, compression bags, etc. I find I rarely need to do any of that stuff. I put the clothes in the cubes, put the cubes in the bag, take one last look at my lists, and go to sleep early enough that I can wake up in time to make my flight in the morning.

Have a good trip! Send me a postcard.

evintage blog tag - Swingtown

2008-07-12T11:06:00.001-07:00

Its Blog Tag Wednesday at the eVintage Society!. Fans of the 70s, rejoice!! Last week CBS premiered a new series called SWING TOWN. Set in 1976, the show features 3 couples and their families…..a childless couple with loads of money, toys and an open marriage….a young couple with a teenage boy trying to define their relationship….and a more conservative couple facing a changing world. It also features some fab 70s clothes and music! Lets talk 70s!

1) Show us your favorite 70s piece in your inventory, mens, womens, dress, lingerie…..whatever you LOVE!

Well, I don't exactly Love it, but I think it's a pretty cool print. Maxi Jersey Gown by La Mendola -

2) Define disco wear as YOU see it.

When I was a kid, I was in the 'Disco Sucks' crowd. Now I have a better appreciation of the music, but not so much with the clothing. When I think of Disco, I think of desperate people trying to get into Studio 54, bra-less girls in halter tops, men in platform shoes and polyester pants, blue eyeshadow, cocaine, Liza Minelli, Bianca Jagger etc.

3) What was your favorite look of the 70s? The maxi dress? Bell bottoms? Culottes? Do tell.

Well, I was wearing culottes in the 1970s, but only because I was about 10, and didn't know any better. My aunt had a ton of super tight pants with bell bottoms. She had to put them on when they were still damp and lay on the bed and use a hook to pull up the zipper. She also had a great collection of super high platforms - Mary Janes and a pair of really cool carved wooden ones still stand out in my mind. She drove a Camaro too. I thought she was very cool. If I were an adult in the 70s, I'd probably be wearing gauzey, clingy jersey dresses, with a scarf ties around my head and big sunglasses.

4) Your neighbors invite you to a wild party where there may be disco music. Do you go?

I don't go to any parties, and I call the police if the music is too loud (unless it's something that I really like)

5) Grant Show. Sexy then? Sexy now? No idea?

No idea who he is. Was he the guy who played Miles on Murphy Brown?

6) Romantic Gunne Sax Prairie/Renn Queen or Disco Diva? Whats your style?

Choose or die? I guess I would go with the Romantic look because disco is a little too skin-flashy polyester-sweaty for me.

Check out the eVintage Blog Tag every Wednesday. Follow the links to read the posts from all of the participating blogs. I was tagged by Vintage Joy and now I'm tagging Diary of a Mad Vintage Addict

Michele Watches

2008-07-10T23:05:00.001-07:00

Maurice Barouh taught his son Jack the essentials of watch making - patience and a dedication to quality. It was an education in both the business and the craft of the industry, a lesson that Jack combined with his own interest in design. Jack's knowledge of the mechanics involved in watch production gave him the tools to focus on both construction and style.

Garden Party Collection

Inspired by the beauty and simplicity of nature, a unique series of three different enamel dials capture the scenes of an enchanted garden. This whimsical interpretation is further adorned with diamonds amongst the brightly colored enamel, as well as larger diamonds around the case.

Bumble Bee Royal Blue Alligator

Stainless Steel.

White lacquer dial.

White diamonds.

Sapphire crystal.

$1325

Jack and his wife Rita, who grew up in Geneva, Switzerland, moved to Panama in the 1970s to help run the family business as well as to begin their own family. While there, Jack's watches garnered great attention from the Latin American market because of their innovative designs.

After several years in Panama, Jack and Rita moved their two young children, Jeremy and Michele, to Miami, where they started Michele Watches, named for their daughter. The very first Michele Watch, the CSX Diamond, was just the beginning of many more collections to come.

CSX Collection

Michele succeeded in revolutionizing the industry with its first designer timepiece known as the CSX. A globe-shaped case illustrates its universal appeal. Pioneering a trend of luxury without limitation, CSX performance timepieces are specially designed for those devoted to living increasingly stylish lives.

Stainless Steel Gold Patent Leather

White Mother-of-Pearl dial.

Sapphire crystal.

$445

The lessons of the past have not been lost on the third generation of watchmakers in the Barouh family. Both Michele and Jeremy credit the brand's success to their parents' enthusiasm and perseverance. Michele believes that the company must stay up-to-date in terms of fashion, so they can maintain the competitive edge that sets them apart from other brands in the industry.

Deco Collection

A brilliant celebration of the history of Art Deco design. Modern mechanics and aesthetics are brilliantly fused together to capture the magnetism and wonderment of an unforgotten era. The distinguished rectangular case reflects the geometric shapes identified with Art Deco architecture.

Deco Dark Purple Alligator

White Diamonds.

Mother-of-Pearl dial.

$1875

Michele's eye for trends has been one of the assets that differentiates Michele Watches. She is largely responsible for moving the brand's design aesthetic forward, and also for capitalizing on the trends of the moment with the interchangeable watch bands she designs that are made in several skins, from crocodile to stingray, lizard to leather.

One of the Barouh Family's biggest sources of inspiration comes from their yearly travels to exotic locales. "We were always fortunate enough to travel to see different cultures," said Jeremy, who, like the rest of his family, speaks French, Spanish, and English.

According to Jack Barouh, the best part about working with his children is seeing how each brings a different experience to the table. "After watching them grow up, go through college, declare their independence, and travel, they've returned as complete individuals who have a great deal to offer the company," he said.

Michele Watches' third generation has mixed a love of fashion with a love of travel and design to create a truly unique product. Michele and Jeremy understand that, unlike a great shoe or bag, a watch is a living device, one that encompasses both a history of craftsmanship and the potential for becoming a family heirloom.

Today, Michele Watches is a $50 million business that has become part of Fossil, a global leader in the fashion watch market with a proven track record of attracting and expanding brands. Jack Barouh made the decision in 2004 to merge his company with Fossil in order to give Michele Watches an even greater position of strength in the global watch industry. But Michele Watches still operates as a family business, with the design and business decisions made by the Barouh family in partnership with Fossil.

Pretty pricey, but we girls have to have something to dream about.

See full article.

Related Entries:

Time for Watches to Be Big Business - 08 March 2006

Anne Koplik Jewelry & Watches - 25 August 2006

Too Hot Jewelry - 08 February 2007

Talking Japanese Watches - 12 April 2008

It's Getting Haute In Here

2008-07-10T11:05:00.001-07:00

What? You weren't at the Paris Couture shows last week? Well, of course, neither was the DCGF. You see, haute couture is really only for a tiny portion of the population who are themselves quite tiny, from what I can tell of the clothes. Sure, the tailoring is impeccable, the fabrics to die for, but it's so very unapproachable for the average human being, I almost find myself turned off by the whole thing. Almost.

What's amazing is that new designers are dropping their hats into the ring of this rarefied world. Alexis Mabille, previously known best for his bowties (including those gorgeous little sequined ditties at right) has now shown his second collection during couture week. What I find appealing about his collection for Fall 2008 is the amount of men's clothing, something one usually doesn't see much of in couture.

Now certainly there was a spectrum of wearability in the looks for men. For example, I love the suit on the left, below. The narrow cut of the jacket is perfectly offset by the fullness of the trousers. And the navy and white tuxedo stripe down the side is just fantastic. The yellow look on the right, however, leaves...um...er...something to be desired. I mean, it's the exact same model wearing both outfits, be he seems a bit broken in the second one, don't you think? I'll say this much: I like his gold shoes.

Speaking of shoes, there were some great ones on the runways. Chanel's signature tweed was transformed into a chic pump with a Lucite degrade heel by Karl Lagerfeld, Jean Paul Gaultier made the most of the monochromatic pairing of patent leather shoes and opaque hosiery, Christian Lacroix showed sumptuous satin shoes with an exaggeratedly wide heel, Givenchy had some seriously fierce striped boots that flared toward the ankle as they reached up to the knee. They're hard to describe, I guess, but probably even much harder to wear.

My favorite footwear by far, though, was at the Christian Dior show. Check out those magenta chain-mail platform beauties at right! Probably I won't be snagging a pair in a size 42 any time soon, but a girl can dream, right?

All of the shoes shown in John Galliano's collection for Dior were kind of like Dyeables on steroids: they matched perfectly the dresses on display and were aggressively high with lots of metal hardware. If I ever have to be a bridesmaid, I want to wear a pair of these.

But I don't want to wear any of the headgear on display at any of the shows. Tweed exoskeletons, leather trigonometry, and Seussian curlicues adorned the noggins of otherwise beautiful women. One's bangs should frame the face...not an actual frame. At least that's the opinion of this fashionista.

One designer left the head alone for the most part, opting for a disheveled Gibson Girl look that altogether complimented his gorgeous gowns. Elie Saab's collection was nothing short of breathtaking in the best way possible. I could barely choose just one gown to show you, dear readers. I settled on the strapless one at left for a couple of reasons.

First, the color and ombre pattern still seem very fresh to me, although the trend has been around for a minute now. Eggplant is not a color one sees much on the couture runways, but there was a lot of color in this show, which was really exciting. Second, I love the length. Most of Saab's gowns in this collection are very long - which is great and they're beautiful - but this length is for a modern woman who doesn't have the time or ability to run around in a floor-grazing gown. Yeah, this dress costs more than my annual rent, but at least there's the perception that it might have a practical application to my life.

And maybe that's what haute couture is about. The vast majority of us will never even see this clothing, let alone wear or own it. But maybe, just maybe one day we'll by chance stumble upon a piece at a resale or consignment store. Then it won't be so unattainable after all...

Manolo for the Men in the Guardian

2008-07-07T23:05:00.001-07:00

Manolo says, our own Isidore Gallant is praised mightily in the Guardian for his amusing work at the Manolo for the Men Blog.

On the catwalk, designers have tended to show several clashing patterns on one model, a look that has the same disconcerting effect on the eyeballs as glueing your face to a Bridget Riley painting. In the unlikely event that you feel bound to copy this serving suggestion, may I direct you towards Manolo For The Men, a splendid American fashion blog that appears to be written by Niles off Frasier. It bandies the word flâneur about with impunity, disdains American Apparel as “a smutty Gap” and spontaneously combusts when it spots John Travolta wearing a pre-tied bow tie. “Are you a child?” it squawks. “Why not just wear sweatpants?”

Many thanks to the Manolo's internet friend Linda Grant for alerting the Manolo to this.

Bargain Hunting at its Best!

2008-07-07T11:05:00.001-07:00

I’ll be the first to admit that I hate outlet shopping. Sales at my favorite chain store are exciting. Vintage shopping exhilarating. But outlet shopping I just find exhausting and I rarely get rewarded for my efforts. This all changed Memorial weekend however as my mom dragged me into our local Marshalls. Typically, I avoid this particular store like the plague because the clothes are literally thrown anywhere and the checkout lines are RIDICULOUS! So you can imagine my glee when I found dresses by DKNY, Laundry by Shelli Segal/Design and London Times all priced at a quarter or less of their original prices. I spent close to $200 but I walked out of the store with 4 designer dresses! I have a new found respect for women who spend hours trawling through rails of disorganized clothing in the search for that one precious jewel (be warned that it can become addictive). I encourage all of you still in doubt to try and outlet store at least once. Need more encouragement? The dress pictured is still selling for $395 at Bloomingdales. I bought it for $60 this weekend. I am such a believer!

Elle MacPherson Intimates Evoke Thong

2008-07-06T23:05:00.001-07:00

We often talk about the imagery that a certain piece of lingerie evokes when we feature a product here at the Intimate Guide. For instance, last week's DKNY Classic Curves thong evoked imagery of the “chalice” symbol - which is good because the chalice symbol represents femininity.

So, we're not exactly sure why they call this thong the “evoke” thong (our calls to Elle MacPherson Intimates were not returned), but it does have an initial appearance of academia. The black and gold - sorry, “jet” and “biscotti” - color scheme coupled with tassels on the front brings to mind the pomp and circumstance of graduation. Since most academic regalia comes from medieval times when those who wore it were considered wizards, we can only assume that the designers use the word “evoke” here to refer to some type of conjuring. Indeed, we can envision Harry Potter's Hermione Granger wearing this thong underneath her dress robes to the Hogwart's Prom.

The thong is styled with a semi-sheer spot design featuring lace embellishments that curve to form the appearance of a Peter Pan collar. This faux collar is neatly tied with a delicate ribbon capped with golden tassels. The spot pattern continues to the rear where coverage is, of course, minimal. Everything comes together for a sophisticated, elegant look in the end - pun intended.

DKNY Classic Curves Thong

2008-07-06T11:05:00.001-07:00

If you've ever read (or seen) The Davinci Code, you'll probably remember some basic symbology. The blade (a triangle pointing upward) represents the penis and the chalice (a triangle pointing downward) represents the vagina. In the book, the chalice points the way to the Holy Grail. That seems to be true in the case of the DKNY Classic Curves thong as well.

The official DKNY literature will tell you that this thong has a “sensual, feminine vibe” because of its lace side panels and tiny ribbons. Those of us who read into things a little too much know, however, that its true femininity lies in the well framed chalice symbol centered on the front panel. The thong is made from comfortable stretch fabric and like any thong offers minimal coverage in the rear. It comes in nude and black. It's feminine on so many different levels. How can you resist?

The results are in . . . .

2008-07-05T23:05:00.001-07:00

Lulu asked her blog readers to vote for their favorite vintage websites. And the winners are...

Dorothea's Closet Vintage
Sweet Cherry Vintage
Dandelion Vintage
Vintage-a-Peel
Denisebrain
Daisy Fairbanks
Damn Good Vintage
Vintage Secret
Fast Eddie's Retro Rags
Sydneys Vintage Clothing

'Old School' vintage rocks!
Thank you to everyone who voted for Dandelion Vintage. There are some great sites on the list.

Names and songs

2008-07-05T11:05:00.001-07:00

Do you ever hear a name, and have a song pop into your mind? Or am I just a dork?
Last week I shipped out a package to 'Hey, Hey, Paula' Today I have a package going out to 'Sweet Loretta Martin' and on Monday I shipped a package to 'There's Jan, calling from the rooftops'

Wow. Watching that video, it's 1983, I'm 16 and totally in love with Michael Hutchence. I thought he was the most beautiful thing on the planet back then.

Two birds with one stone.

2008-07-03T23:05:00.001-07:00

Today's post incorporates both of my current projects. Project one: the three R's.

Voila, one man's pants is another gal's purse. This handy little tote was a pair of Dean's vintage corduroys in it's past life, now it's been reconstructed into my new favorite bag. It's the perfect size for all the odds and ends I need to carry and it's wide strap is super-comfy on my shoulder. My favorite aspect is the two perfect pockets for my cell phone and keys and such. I added a lining from some vintage scrap fabric that I believe used to be a blanket, and one of my antique buttons.

Here's said satchel in a daily ensemble, which takes care of project numero dos, my W.E.I.O. post for today:

vintage floral sundress: thrifted
vintage cowboy boots: thrifted
crocheted slouchy beret: Wal-Mart
reconstructed corduroy bag: handmade by moi
vintage wayfarers: Spence's Bazaar

Woot for efficiency. :]

walk this way

2008-07-03T11:05:00.001-07:00

Desperately needing a historical fashion hit before work, I stopped by Sonia Bata's shoe museum to see a few treasures from her archives. Here are the highlights...

The first time I saw a pair of chopines was on Catherine McCormack in her portrayal of 16th century courtesan Veronica Franco (a film which, along with La Reine Margot, occupied pretty much all of my 11th year) . Well preserved fashions from before the 1700s are so rare that I had never hoped to see a pair of chopines with original embellishments intact, but I lucked into this silk and velvet pair from 1580-1620. I particularly like the studs decorating the base.

Chopines were very popular in Venice and Spain during the Renaissance, but it is difficult to get a glimpse of them in paintings because legs and feet were forbidden from sight. The women wearing them simply look very tall - for example, this Genoese Noblewoman is wearing chopines. A “scandalous” engraving with moveable skirt from a 16th century fashion book gives a better idea of what chopines looked like in a regular ensemble:

Some chopines were highly impractical, reaching heights of over twenty inches (at which point, similar to Chinese women who underwent footbinding, an attendant was required to help them move), but others were lower, and patrician women (as well as the “cortigiana onesta”, or intellectual courtesans) spent hours learning to walk and dance in them gracefully.

Next, slap-soled shoes belonging to Frances Walsingham, lady in waiting to Elizabeth I, and daughter of her spymaster, Francis Walsingham. Though the shoes belong to a Canadian collector, they are considered so important to British history that they have to be returned to England soon.

In 17th century Europe, tulips were an exotic, luxury item that indicated high status. Variegated tulips (the kind embroidered here) were the most valuable, with a single bulb costing more than the average person made in 5 years. These mules would have been worn by a young, very rich fashionista.

Silk, embroidered shoes from the mid 1700s - England and France.

Printed leather was all the rage for women's footwear at the end of the 18th century. This pair was made in London in the 1790s- without seeing the label, I would never have guessed that they were so old! I like the polka dots and ribbon detail.

Ornate kilm silk flats with silk tassels. England, c. 1860.

Black satin boots with a "Louis heel", embroidered with typically fashionable Victorian subjects – botanicals and peacocks. Designed by Meliès, c. 1880-1885.

Pink silk shoes with straight soles owned by the first wife of Count Walewski (Napoleon's son). They were made by famed French cordonnier Melnotte in 1830.

Shoes with ribbon appliqué worn by Queen Victoria in 1840.

I love Adelaides. As a devout bootist, I like to imagine that my name is derived from this grandmother of the go-go. Adelaides were brought into fashion to preserve the modesty of ladies whose crinolines were jostled and swayed up to reveal a bit of leg. This beautifully embellished pair, however, was meant to attract attention. France, c. 1855.

More photos can be found on my flickr.

evintage blog tag - Halters

2008-07-02T11:05:00.001-07:00

Its Blog Tag Wednesday at the eVintage Society!.
Temperatures are rising and its time to show some skin! The halter neckline is a great way to leave a little to the imagination while exposing enough to stay cool and stylish. Lets talk halters!

1) Show us your favorite halter dress or top in your inventory
For an evening out on the town, I have this Black Velvet Halter Dress with Rhinestones

2)Marilyn rocked the halter bodice back in the 50s, but it came back big in the 70s…..which is your favorite era for the halter?
Def the 1950s, glamorous and sexy! The 70s make me think of hippies with saggy titties and hairy underarms! (just kidding hippie girls) Although 1970s Disco halters were pretty hot.

3)Bare backs are vulnerable, what’s your suggestion for protecting skin from the sun?
A little shawl that you could let slip off your shoulder now and then. A pretty parasol if you are outside most of the day. Or yummy coconut smelling sun tan lotion.

4)Halter as top or dress, whats your preference?
I like the look of both. I've always had a hard time wearing a halter though. One because I refuse to go without a bra and also because I have a big squishy mole on my back.

5)A bra can be a challenge…..best suggestion for support?
A challenge indeed. I never go out without a bra, so this has always been hard for me. Strapless bras uusally leave me pulling them up all day. I bought one of those bras with clear plastic straps from Victoria's Secret a few years ago. But the plastic is shiny and very obvious looking, so I never wore the bra. I need a halter that has built in support that doesn't move around. I bought a halter bathing suit top from Old Navy that does have cup support and I actually wore that out in the yard this weekend, leaving me with a halter strap tanline!

Check out the eVintage Blog Tag every Wednesday. Follow the links to read the posts from all of the participating blogs. I was tagged by Vintage Joy and now I'm tagging Diary of a Mad Vintage Addict

Summer Stones, Winter Jewels

2008-07-01T23:05:00.001-07:00

When I mix gemstones for bracelets, I mix because of a paradigm that I've adhered to for quite a while. I see many gemstones in terms of season. That may sound stupid, but I simply can't help it, and if you look at many of the jewelry pieces that I design, you can see this particular mind-set of mine at work. First, let me say that I wear all gemstones at almost any time of the year - this is something that happens when I'm creating. And, let me add that the precious gemstones that I use: ruby, sapphire, and emerald seem to me to be seasonless - that is, they can be for the hottest day of summer or the coldest of winter, but with certain other coloured stones, I have a definite prejudice!
Above you see one example: a citrine bracelet with two strands of citrine and silver; now, that is definitely a summer bracelet as is the aquamarine bracelet that you see below:Of course, the link is easy, you think: sea and sun! But if you look at the rainbow moonstone bracelet below because of the white (beneath the blue flash) most people would think of summer. Not I! Rainbow moonstone is a winter stone; I have the same idea about labradorite jewelry. I attribute it to the blue flashes that they have that always remind me of the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights and conjure up visions of snow, reindeer in Lapland, the icy lands of Norway and Finland.
Sunstone is one of those stones that reminds me of hot summers - and also, hot days of Autumn, before that first chill sets in. It truly is a warm stone. And as one might think, when I mix pastel colours largely for one of my unique bracelets, it usually turns out to be a summer bracelet.
So what season is the peacock blue apatite and sunstone bracelet? The addition of the dark peacock blue makes it seasonless, adding the cool tones of winter to that hot summer sun. I've also de-seasoned a bracelet with labradorite as well - adding some aquamarine for summer and balancing the two stones with amethyst (which I think of as Fall and Spring)and a couple of dichroic beads for extra sparkle. To make the top citrine bracelet Fall-worthy, I would probably add some ocean jasper to it.
I know that some designers prefer to consult a colour wheel, but we all design in our own way - and sometimes in a way that perhaps makes sense only to one person.

Above is a "seasonless" emerald bracelet.

jewellery accessories jewelry fashion shopping bracelets beads handmade beaded jewelry beading helmi gioielli smykker tak? juvelen lampwork beads The Jewelry Blog jewelry trends accessories jewelry handmade bracelet unusual jewelry

Look Book - Carl

2008-07-01T11:05:00.001-07:00

Thanks to SJ+Hat we were introduced to Melbourne-based fashion designer Carl , whose clothing line recently has been snapped up by American Neiman Marcus. In Sydney, his items are stocked at Duck Egg Blue.

His spring/summer 07/08 collection presents clean lines in silk and satin, and complements his super minimalistic website.

Check out the complete look book in pdf-file here.

It's that time of year again . . .

2008-06-30T23:05:00.001-07:00

Time for the rhododendruns to bloom. And time to drag Boris out there and try to get him to pose in front of them for a photo. There he is, Little Doggie, feeling perfectly fine now, no breathing trouble at all. Super engergetic and rarin' to go! My Dad had to sit next to him to keep him still long enough for a photo.

Dust Ho!

2008-06-30T11:05:00.001-07:00

Whenever I need a good shot of righteous indignation, I like to search through Google Books on keywords like 'ridiculous dress' or 'ludicrous gown', because I'm never disappointed. I can always find some man who has decided that the only thing wrong with the world is women's dress, and that of course he, being far above the vagaries of fashion (and who is, of course, wearing that completely rational item of dress, the necktie) is ideally suited to pass criticism upon it.

This example is wonderful -- it's not that the streets of London are filthy, or that men should perhaps not throw their cigar butts in the gutter -- no, women's dresses are too long. (Why can't both things be true, I wonder?)

SOCIAL CATECHISM.
Q. WHAT is the dirtiest creature you know?
A. The English fine lady.
Q. What are your reasons for saying this ?
A. Her habits.
Q. Explain yourself more fully.
A. When she walks she drags behind her a receptacle for dust and dirt of every kind.
Q. What is this called?
A. A long dress, or train.
Q. What is its action?
A. It sweeps the ground, collects mud, dust, cigar-stumps, straws, leaves, and every other impurity.
Q. What happens next?
A. This accumulation rubs off to a certain extent upon other portions of her dress, or upon the legs of any person who may walk beside her, and when she gets into her carriage, the objectionable matter spoils the lining ; besides that, the dust is most offensive.
Q. Why does she wear such a ridiculous dress?
A. For one of two reasons. Either because she aims at a servile imitation of certain great folks, or because she owes money to her milliner, and dares not order any kind of dress except that which this tyrant sends home to her.
Q. Why does she not raise, or loop up her dress to keep it from the ground?
A. Because, being a lazy person, she has thick ancles [sic], or being a scraggy person, she has skinny ones, which her vanity forbids her to exhibit.
Q. Is there any other reason?
A. Yes; she has probably ugly feet, disfigured by corns or bunions caused by wearing tight boots.
Q. Is there any cure for such habits?
There is none, until her husband has been nearly ruined by her extravagance, when she is compelled by economical reasons to dress like a rational being, and at once becomes clean and charming as the British female was intended to be.
Q. What sensation is caused to man by the sight of these dresses ?
A. Contemptuous pity for the woman, and pity, without contempt, for her unfortunate husband.
Q. Does she know this ?
A. Yes, but as she dresses less to please men than to vex women, the knowledge has no effect upon her dirty habits.
Q. Where can the animal be seen?
A. At the Zoological Gardens on Sunday afternoons, in the Park and Kensington Gardens, and in most places where fine clothes can be successfully exhibited.
Q. What lesson should you deduce from this ?
A. That of thankfulness to Providence that, (if married at all) you are married to a sensible woman and not to a fine lady.
Q. What will you take to drink ?
A. Anything you like to put a name to.

Bring on the Bally

2008-06-29T23:05:00.001-07:00

The key to breathing new life into a known but might as well be forgotten brand is to hire the right creative director.
Gucci had Tom Ford. Vuitton, Marc Jacobs. Coach, perhaps at one time the biggest turn-around of them all had Reed Krakoff, and now staid old Bally has Brian Atwood, who came with a built in following from his eponymous shoe collection.
The partnership paid off, as Bally bags have turned up on celebrity arms, and have sold out at sites like Net-A-Porter.
The biggest hit has been the Jana tote, a lovely beige no-nonsense yet still chic tote. Now, Jana has a sister, no, maybe a brother bag, known as Joe.

A bit smaller than the Jana, the Joe Shoulder Bag has all the elements that made the Jana style a hit. Clean lines, a downtown aesthetic, with an uptown feel, it is a bag which is at once stylish and conservative. The shiny hardware gives a cool touch but the tortoise links on the strap add some warmth. I also love the tortoise against the black...such a chic combination. Other small style touches abound, like the stitching at the top and corners of the bag.
It's a slim bag, but wide enough to carry a small laptop, or any other work items, making it a perfect office bag for every day.
The Bally Joe is $1199 from Zappos.

Susan Barth Jewelry

2008-06-28T23:04:00.001-07:00

Susan Barth's fascination with three dimensional art and ornament was always there as a child, but her formal exploration began after being accepted into New York City's High School of Art and Design, where she studied sculpture for two years. Later on, she decided to take an intensive six-month course in jewelry making, where she first learned about lost wax casting.

'Earth Elements with Peridot' Ring Set

Silver, Gold & Gemstone Rings

Textural ring set in 18k yellow gold and oxidized silver.

Bezel set 4x6mm cabochon cushion shaped Peridot.

Sold as set; available in half sizes.

$910

Lost Wax Casting

A casting technique in which a carved wax model is placed in a container that is then filled with investment plaster. After the plaster hardens, the container is fired to melt or evaporate (lose) the wax. The result is a plaster mold suitable for casting metal or molten plastic.

'Sea Grass' Earrings

18k Gold post earrings.

Black 9mm x 10mm freshwater pearls.

$890

Considering Susan's background in sculpture, lost wax casting turned out to be her ideal medium. She then apprenticed for five years at a jewelry firm in New York City, after which she worked for Barry Kieselstein-Cord, a well known New York jewelry designer, for six years. working on the creation of his collections.

'Earth Elements' Ring Set

An earthy interplay of color and texture.

Bezel-set 5-pt. diamond in largest ring.

18k white and yellow Gold

Sold as set.

$1845

After that, Susan switched back to freelancing once again, which allowed her the time and flexibility to begin the development of her own work. A few years later, she launched her collection at the ACC Baltimore Craft Show, and was awarded the 1998 Award of Excellence for Jewelry by the American Craft Council.

Barth is adept at combining contrasting metals and textures. A piece is never complete until she's found the perfect combination and composition.

Inspiration

"In art and in nature, it is always the simplest of forms that inspire me," Susan says, "be it the subtlety of an architectural detail, or the perfect symmetry and beauty found in the arrangement of petals before a flower blooms. It's in this simplicity that sparks a deep emotional response in me."

Philosophy

Susan's work has been described as subtle, understated, and elegant - which was always her intention. "My pieces are designed to be just one element in the visual story a person tells about themselves, as they present their individuality and uniqueness."

See full article.

Related Entries:

Jewelry Career Resources - 08 August 2006

Native American Inlay Jewelry - 14 January 2008

Caroline Ballou Jewelry - 26 May 2008

Stephen LeBlanc Art Jewelry - 27 May 2008

It finally caught up

2008-06-28T11:04:00.001-07:00

Shorts over leggings? Nothing new for girls albeit it has been somewhat abused with the footless tights and denim shorts combos. It is a useful tool when tights under shorts feel too much and you do want to purposely stump your body with some Japanese-streetstyle layering techniques such as wearing ruched leggings under baggy shorts... ok, just a few then who don't mind stumping their body.

In the slew of menswear SS09 shows in Paris, this layering trick has been adopted by a few designers... Givenchy, Number (N)ine (a looser shorts over trousers way of layering...) and Kiminori Morishita. The boyf said no in an instant. What say you, 5% of Style Bubble readers who are men (or has that percentage increased...)? Or just any two cents on shorts over leggings... come on, it's a Saturday... don't be shy... I'm off to battle the sales like a warrior and I want relief reading when I get back...

It's Inadvertently Ask Daddy Likey!

2008-06-27T11:04:00.001-07:00

Well, it's finally time for another installment of Inadvertently Ask Daddy Likey, the popular feature in which I thoughtfully respond to the google searches that led lost souls to my blog (if you're a new reader, click here for a better explanation).

I'm just gonna jump right in. Longtime readers, say it with me now--google searches in bold italics, my responses below!

Inadvertently Ask Daddy Likey!

i love computers!

Me too! I also love exclamation points! Want to be friends?!

can hobbits wear flip flops

Excellent question. I suppose they could, if they wanted to, although they might need to have a pair specially made. And it might be prudent to wear closed toed shoes while fighting orcs.

show youre vajina

Show me your GED

how to tell if your shirt is too small

Not to worry, I've created a simple self-diagnosis quiz to help you out! If you answer "yes" to three or more of the following questions, your shirt is probably too small:

1. Is your shirt uncomfortably tight?

2. Does your stomach hang out of your shirt?

3. Does your shirt mash your breasts into the shape of lumpy flapjacks?

4. When you bend or twist, does your shirt rip open?

5. When you walk down the street, do people yell from their cars, "Get a bigger shirt!"?

how to disguise cankles

You could try one (or two) of these:

And if that doesn't work, here are some tips.

"fred meyer" "sex toys"

You are so barking up the wrong tree.

Does Robert Downey Jr. need glasses?

I'm not really sure, but my brother, who is possibly RDJ's illegitimate child, doesn't need glasses, if that helps.

dennis hopper speed quote

Dennis Hopper as villain Howard Payne in Speed is perhaps the greatest performance in history. I'm constantly trying to convince people of this, but they insist on saying boneheaded things about Laurence Olivier and Marlon Brando, at which point I cut them out of my life (I only have two friends left). In short, I'm glad to see someone paying homage to the Hopper. There's a number of fantastic quotes you could be searching for, but let me run down the top possibilities:

--"Popquiz, hotshot"

--"What do you do? What do you do?"

--"Are you ready to die, friend?"

daddylikey needs to do another podcast!

Eek! I'm sorry! I'm working on it! In the meantime, listen the first/last one again.

accidental emasculation

Are we talking the kind of accidental emasculation like the time you let it slip that your boyfriend likes Sex and the City more than you do, or the kind that involves pruning shears? Because there's a big difference.

faking a bulge in tights

Speaking of emasculation...

kristen cavalari--kristin cavallari--cavaleri--cavalleri

Oh! You must mean Kristen Cavalari...Kristin Cavallari....Cavaleri...Cavalleri...damnit!

How to talk dirty in bed using the phrase "daddy"

Wow. Uuuhhh, wow. Do you always google your sex tips so...formally?

most rhymable countries

Excuse me while I lay down some freestyle limericks to answer this query:

In a beautiful boutique in France

I spent way too much money on pants

Now I am poor

But they're Christian Dior!

I might as well wear them and dance

Nowhere is more perfect than Spain

If you go there, please do not complain

Land of beaches and booze

and Penelope Cruz

To disagree would be insane

Spent the summer in Uzbekistan

Fell and got a bruisebekistan

This limerick is dead

I should quit while ahead

But I'm gonna push throughzbekistan

Future Classic?

2008-06-26T23:04:00.001-07:00

Discovering the multiple facets of a Future Classics garments is part and parcel with the brand and though their interesting use of grey, navy and a whole lot of deconstruction is what I'd usually opt for, it was a challenge to see if I could work this Future Classicsx tie dye double frill adapted T dress from Standard Deviation from the SS08 collection. Whilst the garment is completely hand dyed to achieve the blues, greens, purples all merging into each other, it's still a whole lot of tie dye and whilst it doesn't look like yer' average 'boho/bobo' affair, with the ruffles and the oversized-ness, it could easily fall into that category.

So to get it as far away as possible and to also play around with it as per the ritual with all Future Classics clothing... (and yes, I'm wearing glasses not as a fashion statement but as an 'eyes-need-break-from-contact-lenses' thing...)...

...with the stompin' Pierre Hardy x Louise Goldin ankle boots...

...with the black lame leggings and a bit of Ann Sofie Back fishnet...

...with a lot of mixed printing/signals going on courtesy of Jonathan Saunders and KTZ...

...with a Topshop cropped metallic pink biker jacket and some Finsk grey tie up sandals...

Pursuing My Dream - Fashion Forecasting

2008-06-25T11:04:00.001-07:00

My passion for fashion forecasting began years ago when I was a Fashion Merchandising student and a guest speaker came to visit my Trend Forecasting class. Upon enrolling in the 8-week class, I knew it would be my favorite. As an avid shopper, stylewatcher, and reader of fashion magazines, I was always fascinated by the trendspotting/forecasting/reporting aspect of the fashion industry. During the brief trend forecasting presentation, it was as if a light bulb turned on and illuminated the path to my dream job. The chance to travel around the world to photograph inspirational people, cities, and objects (and put trend reports together) seemed very exciting to me. At the time, I had not traveled much internationally, and it sparked in me an intense desire to see more of the world. I was persistent in pursuing work in the field, and landed an internship with the guest speaker who came to my class. Although I'm no longer working as a trend forecaster, I graduated with a degree in Fashion Merchandising and valuable experience working in my dream job. Since then, I've shopped, photographed store windows, visited museums, and photographed street style in cities such as London, Buenos Aires, Vancouver, San Francisco, and Austin, Texas. I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel, and I'm excited about visiting new cities and countries in the future.

Fashion Trend Guide was born out of my desire to share my passion for fashion, my shopping experiences, travel photos, and my love of photography with readers around the world. I recently read this article which reminded me not to lose sight of my dream of working as a fashion forecaster, and that is why I'm going to pursue it once again. Life is too short to not be doing what you love! So that's why I'm enlisting the help of anyone who reads this...

If you know of any fashion forecasting/trendspotting/reporting positions or companies in the Western United States, I'd love to hear about them. I'm perfect for the job and I have a resume ready to go!

Bring Back Bohemian

2008-06-24T23:04:00.001-07:00

A dress from Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring 2008 Couture Collection

Nicole Richie, Chanel Iman and Angela Simmons bring Boho-chic back!

The 70's were a liberating time. We just don't see that kind of freedom of expression anymore. That is until this summer! Jean Paul Gaultier, ever the free thinker, was ahead of the game on the runway. His Spring 2008 Couture collection was filled with tributes to the decade of debauchery. Think flowing chiffon, busy prints and oversized clothing. Even Victoria's Secret is getting in on the act. Check out this Printed Caftan Dress on sale for $79 available at www.victoriassecret.com. If this trend is feeling far too retro for you, at least consider wrapping a scarf around your forehead like Ms. Simmons above. Paired with this summer's must-have long dress, the look is both deliciously modern and delightfully vintage.

In the Merry Month of May

2008-06-23T23:03:00.001-07:00

I love May, and not just because it's my birthday month. May is the month when Spring turns into Summer (at least here in Arkansas), the privet blooms and our backyard becomes perfumed like a night in Brazil, and my mood improves wonderfully (perhaps because my fibromyalgia does). I have been so busy with shipping and paperwork, not to mention trying to get my office/studio reorganized that I haven't had much time for making jewelry. Of course, I haven't had that drive lately that causes me to stay at the studio so late that I see the policemen change shifts in front of city hall across the way. I've been having ideas, but the ideas are such that I require hours of time to play with colour schemes, gemstones and manipulate wire without interruptions of any kind.
However, I did do the apatite bracelet above, 2 strands of sea-coloured apatite with lampwork beads by Lynn Nurge, while dreaming of crashing into waves with a kayak.The bracelet above is unusual for me - a combination of brown and blue is not one I am known for. But the fantastic beads were my starting point, and I loved them so much I had to go with the two colours. So of course I chose pietersite for the brown: wonderful browns with great subtle patterns and sometimes glints of gold and blue. The Swarovski crystals keep the bracelet from becoming too earthy.

I adore lapis! The lapis earrings that you see here are made with some of my favorite pieces of lapis. The ones above feature good blue lapis with great ripples of sparkling gold pyrite-very nicely sparkling pyrite in chunky faceted nuggets. The earrings below feature some fantastic faceted diamond squares and rondelles of gorgeous blue that hang from sterling posts with spirals around a lapis cabachon.
Here's hoping for some time, totally free time, so that I can play, because play so often results in wonderful things!
Tell me, are the flowers blooming in Finland yet?

jewellery accessories jewelry fashion shopping bracelets beads handmade beaded jewelry beading helmi gioielli smykker tak? juvelen lampwork beads The Jewelry Blog jewelry trends accessories jewelry handmade bracelet unusual jewelry lapis jewelry

Au Revoir, Yves!

2008-06-23T11:03:00.001-07:00

The fashion world laid to rest one of its 20th century icons on June 5th at the Église Saint-Roch. Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent catapulted to fame in 1957, upon the surprise death of his mentor and employer, Christian Dior. Thrust to the head of the House of Dior, Saint Laurent thrilled the fashion world in 1958 with his "Trapeze" collection, which was an unmitigated sensation.

What's so striking to this fashionista, though, is the persistence of that silhouette in modern fashion, even at Yves Saint Laurent today, under the helm of Stefano Pilati. At far right is Saint Laurent himself, preparing for that 1958 collection. At near right is a coat designed for the 2008 Fall RTW YSL collection. Notice anything similar?

Sure, the modern version is cinched with a wide belt and features an au currant turn-down funnel collar, but the resemblance is still quite striking. Note how both ensembles feature only a single color. Such monochromatic dressing was always a signal feature of YSL sophistication. A full skirt and flattering one-color dressing? This look might be a girl-with-hips' best friend!

For Saint Laurent to present such a seminal show his first time out was truly phenomenal, and a testament to his ability to understand a woman's body. After all, his mentor had created the "New Look" in 1947, perhaps the fashion moment in all of the 20th century. To create his own identity out of that tradition, Saint Laurent had to be constantly innovative and forward thinking.

His collections based on artists' work - Mondrian, Picasso, and Matisse to name a few - created a symbiosis between the art and fashion world that had previously gone unexplored. These artistic concepts persist even today in the form of the Yves Saint Laurent website, where a series of black and white squares filled in with primary colors evoke no less than "Composition A."

And his 1968 collections featuring pants - pants! - for women were considered scandalous at the time. He even designed a tuxedo collection for women, replete with a smoking jacket, allowing them to look as calculatedly insouciant as a man while dragging on a cigarette, a favorite pastime of Saint Laurent himself.

Eventually the brand spread - like all good lifestyle ones do - into handbags, accessories, even make-up and jewelry. But Saint Laurent's vision maintains a constant presence. His 1976 "Rich Peasant" (ah, the days before political correctness) collection set of shockwaves through the fashion industry yet again, so much so that his Paris show was re-stages in New York!

Pilati channels this looks with the Fall 2008 RTW velvet coat layered over a chocolate brown dress (notice how the sleeves hook over ones thumbs) and opaque hosiery. Sure, times have changed - the fur hat is gone, as it the dirndl skirt - but the luxurious simplicity of the original is still there. As is, I'm sure, the concomitant price tag!

The DCGF has not yet been fortunate to purchase anything from YSL, although I see several blazers and suits from the 80s in Goodwill stores. They might be a bit dated now - big shoulder pads, double-breasted front - but the elegance and striking color of the original Saint Laurent is still there. Who knows what the future of the brand holds: household wares? more women's tuxedos? another new silhouette? I can't wait to see. And I'm sure a bit of Saint Laurent will be there in all of it...

eVintage Blog Tag - Animal Prints

2008-06-22T23:03:00.001-07:00

Its Blog Tag Wednesday at the eVintage Society!.

Animals…..we love ‘em, we love to wear ‘em! Prints, that is (fur is another and much more sensitive topic for another blog). Show us your animal prints!

1) Show us your favorite piece of animal print apparel in your inventory!

Vanity Fair Leopard Print Nightie sz34

2) What is your favorite animal print to wear & why?
I don't wear animal prints very much anymore. I used to have a faux leopard fur bolero that I loved to wear.

3) Favorite to sell?
I love that Classic Vanity Fair leopard print! Nightgowns, slips, bras, panties, girdles. They leopardized everything, and each piece was fun. To me, leopard print is very 1950s Bad Girl.

4) Favorite pet and best pet story?
Well, I have to say Boris! He's such a goober there are so many stories to tell. Favorite past stores are about our Sweet ole gal Ms. Fatty. She loved to visit my grandparents, who lived right behind us. You could say 'mom-mom pop-pop' and Ms. Fatty would get all excite, she knew exactly where we were going! She used to run across the yard to their house. And then walk home super-super slow

5) Scared of animals? Which one scares you the most & why?
Rats - sneeky, destructive little bastards.

6) Favorite animal to visit at the zoo or to collect images of?
I haven't been to the zoo since I was in scholl. But I love watching shows about elephants. They have such a strong society and they are so sensitive and sweet to each other.
http://www.elephants.com/

Check out the eVintage Blog Tag every Wednesday.

Follow the links to read the posts from all of the participating blogs. I was tagged by Vintage Joy and now I'm tagging Diary of a Mad Vintage Addict

Plan ahead - Dive into swimwear (part 1)

2008-06-22T11:03:00.001-07:00

Swimsuits - just the word makes me shudder a little. I am not a big fan of showing off my pasty white thighs at the beach, but I love going on vacation and this year's a big one - I'm going on my honeymoon to a resort in the Maldives!! Here are a few suits I've got my eye on at AlwaysForMe.com, one of the best sources for plus size swimwear:

From L-R:

Carol Wior Twist Front Swimdress, $98
Aphrodite Wrap Halter Suit, $79
Twist Front 1 Piece Swimsuit, $69

all available at AlwaysForMe.com

More swimsuit options and cover ups from other stores will be featured in this blog as the weather heats up, but these are just a few to get you started!!

Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige & Alicia Keys cover Essence...

2008-06-21T23:03:00.001-07:00

Essence magazine's annual music issue is on stands and you can choose between three phenomenal covers featuring Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige & Alicia Keys - 3 of my favorite singers! The songstresses talk about their artistry, pressure from record label execs and keeping their sound relevant. Oh, and also be sure to check out my tiny feature on page 92 in the 'Work & Wealth' section. (Shout out to Jennifer for letting me know and Piper for hooking me up with the Essence writer :) I haven't even seen a copy yet but I'm super excited!

An Open Letter to Amy Smart

2008-06-21T11:03:00.001-07:00

Dear Amy:

Oh, imagine my excitement when I was perusing the latest issue of Life & Style (which, after The New Yorker, is pretty much compulsory weekly reading...of course) and flipped the page to find your smiling visage looking oh-so-fresh in a white tank top, perfect-fitting jeans and - what is that?! Is that the Goodwill "Smiling G" gracing the space between your chic little sandals? It is!!

-squeal of delight-

Wow, Amy. I mean, it's probably completely totally random that you chose to pose so strategically in front of the logo of Goodwill Industries International (wink). I mean, I'm sure out of all the other signs you could have chosen to stand in front of, there's no way you stood in that specific place at that specific moment just for that specific photo op (wink). I think we both know this totally awesome coincidence was completely left to fate.

So, anyway, I just wanted to say that I loved your work in Starsky & Hutch (Carmen who?) and my boss seems to really like your work in Road Trip, and, well, I know you have several movies coming out later this year and early next year, and I have this idea...

Let me dress you in something from Goodwill for your next red carpet appearance.

How cool would that be? You know how everybody's showing up in Prius's these days and eschewing those gift suites in favor of philanthropic work, right? Dressing in an outfit from Goodwill fits in perfectly with that "New Hollywood" attitude. And it sets a good example for the young women who look up to you. You know, like, maybe the next time they see you in a magazine, they'll be able to afford what they see you wearing. Now how great is that?

So, you know, have your people call my people and such. Or just email me at fashion@dcgoodwill.org. I'll be waiting, Amy...

Let Me Introduce Hilary Clinton to Clinton Kelly!

2008-06-20T23:03:00.001-07:00

You know the problem well, you can't block it from your mind. The low-long-hemmed unbuttoned jacket swinging away from the widest point of ample thighs/hips... Hilary Clinton and her “pantsuits” (more on that ridiculousness later)...

But it never happened, she never got a lifelong-style makeover from the gurus at What Not to Wear. What a picture, the secret footage, exactly like what I described above, the Clinton puns (there must be puns, I say) and... the bra fitting.

And now it's over. Not only might Hilary's political career be over, but she now has no hope of dressing her womanly body as it should. First legitimate female candidate for president of the United States?? Come on, she's not that female. (Her lack of humanity she increasingly displayed not withstanding, itself.)

What NOT to Wear: Old-Lady Pants Suits

What TO Wear: A nice pin-striped menswear suit. Hem cut at the actual hips (think where a baby rests against a woman's side, on occasion).

Clinton - forget flag pins, try on the stripes!

Living Lightly

2008-06-19T11:01:00.001-07:00

I'm living up to my title for today's post.

I was greatly inspired and intrigued by some statements that were made by Midoritsuru (a lovely gal I came into acquaintance with through wardrobe_remix) on bits and bobbins' blog in a "remix(ers)_revealed" post. You can read the whole post here, but here's just a snippet:

"Currently my greatest passion and obsession is reducing my material impact on the Earth. For the past few years I’ve been making an effort to move towards a lifestyle which is simpler, more sustainable and more harmonious. I find myself thinking throughout the day, what more can I do to make less waste? What more can I do to live lightly on the Earth? This is what I’m most preoccupied with lately."

In addition to Midoritsuru's awe-inspiring attitude, I was also offered some constructive criticism recently by a friend. He suggested that I base a little more focus on reducing, reusing, and recycling.

Dean also gave me some helpful advice, suggesting that I "beef up" my blog a bit, which I agree with. While I still enjoy my fashion-based blog, I'd like to keep things fun and interesting, and I think incorporating a focus on RRR power, I can achieve that. I'm hoping to include posts about different ways one can "live lightly," including some fun DIY refashioning projects, and I'd especially love to show off some of the blogs out there that focus solely on recycling and sustainable fashion.

For starters, I'd like to talk about (what else?) the joys of thrifting! One man's trash is another man's treasure, it's so damn true. I personally do about 99% of my shopping in thrift stores. Thrifting provides you with the opportunity to:

• Reuse! (the second "r", people!)
• Find things you wouldn't be able to find in a store, especially vintage items, if that's your thang.
• Be original! You rarely run the risk of someone else having the same outfit as you.
• Live lightly not only on the planet, but on your wallet! You can't beat the prices you'll find in your local thrift shop.

Often, when a person compliments a certain item I'm wearing, and I tell them I got it at Goodwill, they'll look at me in disbelief, and sometimes in disgust! I've had more than one person comment, "I would never get caught shopping there." When I was growing up, my mom refused to set foot in the Salvation Army or Goodwill, because she was under the impression that thrifting was only for the needy or destitute. Wrong! Here are some examples of some truly fabulous ladies in their thrift shop finds, via the "100% Thrifted" flickr group:

1. johnnycutcorners
2. irene_adler
3. nemrešpobje?odnedjel je
4. sjwhidden
(Click the fine ladies' picture or name to view their flickr page.)

In closing, have a gander at some of these fantastic eco-friendly links rep'n the RRR.

• Humane Recipe
• Painfully Hip's thrift stars
• Wardrobe Refashion
• "100% Thrifted" (flickr group)
• "TRASHIONISTA - Sustainable style and recycled fashion" (flickr group)

Marvel-ous!

2008-06-18T23:01:00.001-07:00

Eco is the new "it", and companies touting their bags as eco-friendly, vegan, earth friendly, etc fill my e-mail box. But really, I'm all for leaving a better earth for my kids, but I'm also about the shallow stuff, like carrying a cute bag, (and fun shoes, if you must know), so when the 2 meet....eco or vegan-friendly AND cute...you know I'm interested!
Jane Marvel is that company. And while the bags are not something I would give up my Koobas, and Marc Jacobs for, they are great bags for those times you need something sturdy but still good looking.
Made from laminated canvas, the bags are strong and lightweight. They are also available in any of 12 fabric choices...all lovely, and none garish or ick.

The Jitney is one of my favorites. A great tote on a shoulder strap with a wide opening, this is a perfect travel bag. The covered corners add extra durability, and will prevent additional wear. It's $96, a great price for a bag that will last for many day trips.

The wide shopping bag is similar to the Jitney, but has that dainty tote look popularized by Goyard (a coated canvas bag that sells for more than 10 times the Jane Marvel) and subsequently borrowed by Vuitton. There are 2 side slot pockets for change or keys...perfect for a bottle for any moms looking for an un-diaper bag. At $57, this bag could not be any more perfect! (take a look at the Computer Messenger, it has real diaper bag potential!)

The Duffel Weekender in the larger size is the perfect weekend bag. While it might not collapse as easily as say a LeSportsac, it is a bit sturdier and more substantial. Like most other Jane Marvel bags it's virtually waterproof and stain resistant perfect for those unexpected toiletry spills! At $118, the price is extremely reasonable.
To complete all your travel needs, there are zip pouches, as well as a hanging cosmetic bag.
All Jane Marvel bags come with a little surprise gift inside. These range from coordinated compacts, to CD cases, mouse pads, or even a sleep mask all in an FAA approved see through bag. To find out which gift each bag comes with visit the Jane Marvel Shop and click on the bag you like...for those who like surprises (not me, I'm a "need to know now") you don't have to peek.

Answered Prayers

2008-06-18T11:00:00.001-07:00

I know this isn't a dress, but regular readers will know of my preoccupation -- really, obsession -- with short-sleeved cardigan sweaters. I *love* them. There is no better A/C-fighter/shoulder-coverup in the summer than a short-sleeved cardigan. A cardigan, a nice tee, and a pretty skirt is perfect for nearly any occasion ... but it's been so hard to find decent short-sleeved cardigans! (Searches tend to turn up these horrors.)

And now, in answer to unarticulated prayers, it seems that J. Crew -- yes, that J. Crew -- has them. In TWELVE colors, including orange, kelly green, and TWO different yellows.

They're not cheap, unfortunately ($65) but they're not insanely unreasonable, and I've been satisfied with J. Crew quality in the past. But here's the most important part: I called to get the neck-hem measurement, and it's 21.5 inches in the medium. Yep -- if you're shortwaisted, as I am, that should hit you perfectly at the top of the hip, which is where sweaters should fall. (Honestly. They've done all sorts of calculations, and invoked the golden ratio, and everything. That's where they should be.)

Sadly, about half the colors (including the green, the orange, and one of the yellows) won't ship until 6/16. (I really want ALL OF THEM, but I'm going to limit myself to one or two and see how they work out. I'm even tempted by the bright purple, and I hate purple.)

Now if I could only find mesh polo shirts that measured 21 inches or less, shoulder to hem, in nice colors, WITHOUT some big honking logo, my (sartorial) life would be nearly perfect.

mascarpone millinery

2008-06-17T10:59:00.001-07:00

This is not a food blog (though I enjoy my meals as much as my boots), but I wished to share with you my little egg of tiramisu.

I think it would make a good hat (of the fantastic, sculptural variety that upper class Brits wear to special events). A lady could cheer for her racing horse and snack on mascarpone cream at the same time.

The Bigger the Better!

2008-06-16T10:59:00.001-07:00

For those people who prefer "bigger," "chunkier" jewelry, the aquamarine bracelet above is perfect! Large, hunky transparent aquamarine nuggets and large lampwork beads (from James Derrick Reeves) will make quite a statement on your wrist. Or, if you like bigger, but not necessarily chunky, the chrysoprase bracelet below packs a wallop with three strands of chrysoprase beads in varying shades of green and great borosilicate beads with those shades deep within the encased beads. Both bracelets are accented with sterling silver.
Great news! I have been nominated for the JUNE Collector’s Edition by the Best of Artists website. The two monthly winners will be determined by a combination of the number of viewer comments, types of positive comments, Image views and by BOAA. (so dont forget to comment!) Please stop by their site and see the many works by different artists, including painting and sculpture as well as jewelry.
My fibromyalgia has happily been on the wane the last two weeks or so, allowing me to enjoy the summer weather - and I really am! Even indoors, the air just feels different when its summer - and I believe that my latest creations are reflecting this happy state of affairs. Above is a beaded necklace made of rhodochrosite and amethyst nuggets. I love the large rhodochrosite nuggets - many of them have a subtle banding that makes them even more interesting.
Blue Peruvian Opal Bracelet (above.
Coral Earrings (above) and (below)Amazonite Earrings.Enjoy summer everyone!

jewellery accessories jewelry fashion shopping bracelets beads handmade beaded jewelry beading helmi gioielli smykker tak? juvelen lampwork beads The Jewelry Blog jewelry trends accessories jewelry handmade bracelet unusual jewelry

Paris’ Mom Wants it Too

2008-06-15T22:59:00.001-07:00

Paris Hilton's mother Kathy stars as Tom Cruise's on-screen wife in new movie Tropic Thunder.

The 49-year-old beauty - who is mother to socialites Paris and Nicky as well as sons Barron and Conrad - kept her appearance in the Ben Stiller movie a secret from her family, but "raved" about her new co-star when her cameo was finally revealed.

A source said: "She filmed last winter and didn't even tell her kids because she wanted to surprise them. She raved about Tom, saying he was so warm and friendly and made her very comfortable."

This is not Kathy's first acting role. She has also starred in numerous episodes of hit US TV show The Young and the Restless.

Paris is also hoping her acting career will soon take off, after her appearances in horror movie House of Wax and comedy The Hottie and the Nottie were panned by critics worldwide.

Tropic Thunder, which sees white actor Robert Downey Jr. play an African-American man, will be released later this year.

Rating: 2

This is the problem when you grow up in a mansion, you think the everywhere is an extension of your bedroom. The world isn't your buddoir, Paris. Now, take off that darn night gown and put on something decent, will you? ;

[Source]

Props.

2008-06-15T10:58:00.001-07:00

Only Ambika could use Thandie Newton's fashion sense as a perfect jumping off point to discuss racial identity, media representation, and the criminally bad miscasting of Mark Wahlberg in Charade. A seriously great post. Go read it.

All About Celebritites Blog Carnival: Volume 5

2008-06-14T22:58:00.001-07:00

Hello and welcome to the 5th volume of the all about celebrities blog carnival. Thanks to everyone who submitted we got a lot of great things going for this edition. So without further adieu I give to you the 5th Volume of the All About Celebrities Blog Carnival.

Naomi Stevens presents SEX & THE CITY STARS WOW CROWDS AT WORLD PREMIERE posted at Diary From England.

BB presents Keira Knightley posted at BB Desktops.

Ashley Cain presents Nick and Mariah Cannon posted at London Speaks.

Don presents David Archuleta's Dad Banned From American Idol Rehearsals posted at David Archuleta.

Talulazoeapple presents D'Angelo and Lauryn Hill posted at TalulaZoeApple.

Jason presents The Right Stuff posted at Zola Jones Designs by Jason Loper.

Howard Ditkoff presents Josiah Leming: Brilliant, Haunting Music & Web 2.0 Drive American Idol Castoff’s Prototypical Success Story posted at SystemsThinker.com Blog.

kevin chan presents Conman Sets Fake Wedding Registry for Ellen Degeneres posted at blurbberry.

Chris presents Chuck Norris Google Facts posted at Martial Development.

Neel presents Top 10 Beautiful Celebrity Couples posted at Nerds Do It Better.

The Daily Minder presents What Britney Spears Can Teach You About Career Moves posted at The Daily Mind - Making the Daily Grind Meaningful.

Sally Thompson presents Top 10 Ugly & Hilarious Celebrity Break-ups of All Time posted at Nerds Do It Better.

Matt DiChiara presents The Hills Sends MyNewPlace Traffic Skyward posted at MyNewPlace Blog.

tony clements presents i just got gooned! posted at tuesdays.

Sagar presents 10 Most Beautiful, Unique and Amazing Celebrity Homes posted at International Listings Blog.

Michael presents Donald Trump Files Lawsuit Against Law Firm Over Legal Fees posted at International Law News

Fiona King presents 10 Surprising Celebrity Romances You Never Heard About posted at Nerds Do It Better.

twenty one

2008-06-13T22:58:00.001-07:00

...is better than twenty. It's only been a few hours, but I can sense that already. Casanova and Hans Christian Andersen were also born on this date. I wonder if they felt the same way?

Happy birthday to all you Aprilites x

Fear of the Fear of Failure

2008-06-13T10:57:00.001-07:00

The Liberty fabric above costs roughly $45/yard, slightly less if you're a lucky eBay bidder (click on the image if you feel lucky, punk). And though I often recommend that if you possibly can, you should sew with Liberty prints, many people tell me that they couldn't possibly cut into such expensive fabric -- even people who have been sewing for many more years than I have, even people who have made tailored jackets, for pete's sake. They're too afraid they'll screw it up.

So I was wondering about this, and decided (very uncharacteristically for me) to do the math. So let's say you buy fabric for four Liberty-print dresses: that's ($45*4 yds)*4, which would be $720.00.

And let's say that you ruin, beyond hope of recovery, ALL FOUR of your Liberty-print projects. That's a lot of money wasted, right? That's a month's rent for some people. Two or three car payments, maybe. Months of groceries, depending on how many teenage boys are in your household.

It's also 5.76 $125 dresses bought at a department store. (I'm taking $125 NOT as the median department-store dress price, but because it's the absolute maximum price I think I could bring myself to pay for a new dress off the rack.) Have you bought more than 6 dresses in your life that you didn't like? That you wore once, maybe? That hung in your closet until you pushed them into the forgiving arms of the Salvation Army? (Replace "$125 dress" with "$45 sweater" and "6" with "more than I want to recall" and you have MY experience.) What did you learn from buying those dresses? A lot less than you would have learned from trying to sew them, I wager.

Here I'm assuming (highly unlikely) that you would be unable to salvage anything that you had sewn ... but I'm also assuming (highly likely) that you would learn a GREAT DEAL from four sewing projects, even if they were all sobbing failures. So much so that with the *next* project, you would most likely make something wearable.

That's just what failure is, or what it ought to be: failure is just figuring stuff out the hard way.

Almost every Saturday morning my little boy and I go roller-skating together. And every Saturday I tell my son (who HATES to fall down) that if he doesn't fall down, he won't learn anything. If you don't fall, you won't ever know how fast is too fast, how tight is too tight to take a turn, how soon (after a mega-blast blue-raspberry Slurpee) is too soon to head back to the floor. And if you don't screw up something -- anything -- in your life, you won't ever know how good you could have been.

So I *hate* it when someone tells me they don't want to try something because they might screw it up. So what? Unless what you're trying to do involves tightrope walking 5000 feet up, you probably won't DIE. And short of death, almost everything is fixable. Don't ask me for advice if that's not what you want to hear, because I'm the person who is going to tell you to take the new job, to ask the guy (or girl) out already, to move to the new city, to wear orange. I'll tell you to stop focusing on what you might lose, and start thinking about what you might LEARN.

Sometimes when people say they're afraid of failure, what they really mean is that they are afraid of humiliation. Which is completely understandable. But, speaking as someone who has felt humiliated more times than she'd like to remember, humiliation passes. (It passes like a kidney stone passes, but that's another story.) Not to mention that humiliation passes differently for each person: you remember it for months; the witnesses remember it for seconds (they have their own humiliations to obsess over, and don't have time for yours). You wake up the next morning, same as always. You head back into work, you run into that guy again ("Uh, hi!"), you get a new haircut to fix the one that wasn't such a good idea, after all. But at least you tried, and now you know something you didn't know before.

Or ... you try, and it works! It works beyond your wildest dreams. (Insert wildest dreams here.) Even if it works a little bit short of your wildest dreams, that's still further along than you were yesterday. And there's no rule that you can't try again.

So, that thing? That thing you've been scared to try, because you think there's NO POSSIBLE WAY you could do it? That everyone would point and laugh when you fell? Today looks like an EXCELLENT day to give it a shot. Take it from me. (Everyone's looking the other way, anyway.) Go for it!

And if you're going to do it, you might as well wear something orange while you do. (I'm just saying.)

Gemstones and Hearts!

2008-06-12T10:57:00.001-07:00

Valentine's Day is creeping up on us, and I'm still listing jewelry pieces with hearts. I have gemstone hearts I should use, but I've lately been involved with the lampwork hearts that you see here. My favorite necklace with a heart is probably the one (close-up is above) I made with lampwork beads from Lynn Nurge, genuine rubies, and goldfilled beads and charms. The rubies are a generous size, nice and chunky, and the goldfilled components match the flecks of gold in these dichroic beads. Instead of graduating rubies until they were smaller and smaller, or keeping them all large (and thus making a very expensive necklace), I decided to make the ruby part of the necklace like a "collar" and join it to large-linked goldfilled chain.This ruby necklace will be a great Valentine's Day present for someone.
I bought several of these silvery pink Venetian hearts because I was so taken by the colour, the light pink laced with such a clear silvery shimmer. I liked the heart so much that I decided to keep it the star by hanging it from pink suede and adding only a touch of silver and a little faceted amethyst rondelle to the bottom. This lampwork pendant necklace can be found on the same page as the lampwork pendant necklace seen below, another heart pendant, this time from Annie Divelbiss. It, too, is laced with silver; the colours are different tones of blue-purple, and it hangs from a pretty imprinted sterling silver chain from the Karen Hill Tribes of Thailand. I've left most of the chain so that the buyer can wear it about 27 inches or have it shortened to wear as a choker.

Today we had the first snow of the year - or I should say the season, since we had no snow either in December or November. It was a wet, sleety snow, just enough to make driving difficult for drivers who aren't used to driving on slick roads and give shivers to the rest of us. How wonderful it would be to have about 6 inches of soft, powdery snow to look beautiful for a day or so, then melt away. How can it be winter without any snow?

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Sunny Sunday

2008-06-11T10:57:00.001-07:00

A pretty day calls for a pretty and feminine outfit. Pictured above: floral tank top, dELiA*s, stretch corset belt, Wet Seal, floral mesh skirt, Forever 21, lace-up boot/sandals, GoJane.

Marraccini Jewelry

2008-06-10T10:56:00.001-07:00

Lapidary and Metalsmith

In 1972, 25-year-old Lee Angelo Marraccini accompanied his wife Pam to the art studio in Washington, DC, where she was taking pottery classes. On a whim, he enrolled in a jewelry-making workshop. Within a year, he and Pam had left their jobs as high school teachers, outfitted their GMC van with a bed and camp stove, and set out on a road trip through the United States and Mexico, during which Lee met jewelers around the country and refined his technique.

From the Inlay Collection:

18k Gold & Gemstone Link Bracelet

Rectangular links inlaid with all natural black Jade, Costa Rican yellow Jasper, Lapis, Maw Sit-Sit, Sugilite, and Sleeping Beauty Turquoise.

Moldavite Earrings & Pendant

18k rectangular inlay earrings with Moldavite inlay

18k rectangular inlay pendant with Moldavite inlay

Necklace: 20 strand 14k cable necklace with crocodile clasp 16 in.

Gold & Gemstone Pendants

Clockwise left to right:

18k textured round pendant with flush set .03ct TW diamond

18k round pendant with natural Lapis and .03ct TW diamond

18k textured round pendant

18k round pendant with natural Maw Sit-Sit - a beautiful gemstone

18k dome pendant with .11 ct TW flush set diamonds

18k round pendant with natural garnet and .03ct TW diamond

Necklace: thin black, blue, or green silicon 16 in. necklace with 18k clasp

In the summer of 1973, Lee and Pam landed at the Belles Artes San Miguel de Allende School of Art, where for $32 a month, they enrolled in a bohemian course of study that included drawing, ballet, guitar, and jewelry design. What artistic little vagabonds they were!

By 1974, they were back on the East coast. In the Allegheny Mountains in Paw Paw, West Virginia, they eked out a living farming organic vegetables, while Lee put all his energy into making jewelry. He started Moondance Silver that year, and peddled rings and bracelets at craft shows around the country.

From the Gemstone Collection:

Diamond Surprise Rings

Left to right:

14k ring with squared off back and 10x8mm emerald cut Amethyst, and .015 ct flush set diamond on back side of shank

14k ring with squared off back and 10x8mm emerald cut Citrine and .015 ct flush set diamond on back side of shank

Commercial success proved elusive, but Lee honed his inlay technique, and became exceedingly skilled at shaping stones on the wheel. He sought out and studied under some of the country's top jewelers, including Heiki Seepe, Robert Ebendorf, Ivy Ross, James Meyer, and Ronald Hayes Pearson. His pieces became warmer, cleaner, and more linear - the foundation of a style that would eventually become synonymous with the Marraccini name. He was designing jewelry he loved, and that he believed people would buy.

Armed with new creations, Lee hit the craft shows more frequently over the next several years. Business grew. So did his relationships with other jewelers. Gabriel Ofiesh and a group from Charlottesville, Virginia, were especially encouraging. At the same time, Wild, Wonderful West Virginia was becoming a little too wild. When floods, isolation, and harsh weather sent Lee and Pam searching for a new place to settle, Pam suggested Charlottesville. They moved in 1984.

Lee continued to develop new designs. He studied intermediate and advanced stone setting at the Revere Academy in 1986. His pieces became stronger, yet retained a sense of playfulness. They reflected his theory that jewelry should be "serious fun" for the wearer.

In 1998, Lee opened Angelo, a jewelry store in the Old Michie Building off Charlottesville's Downtown Mall. Angelo is a show house for Lee's strong, geometric designs - like his signature series of stacking rings - as well as new pieces and jewelry from other top artists.

Lee's jewelry is meticulously handcrafted at his studio several blocks from the store. They incorporate platinum, yellow and white gold, colored stones, and diamonds in warm playful designs. Lee prides himself in working with customers to create unique pieces that reflect his clients' individual tastes.

This man knows how to make some jewelry!

See full article.

Related Entries:

Jewelry Career Resources - 08 August 2006

Native American Inlay Jewelry - 14 January 2008

Caroline Ballou Jewelry - 26 May 2008

Stephen LeBlanc Art Jewelry - 27 May 2008

Faith in the Youth of Today

2008-06-09T22:56:00.001-07:00

Last week I got this wonderful email from Clarissa, who wanted to tell me about her first major project: her junior prom dress.

Not just any junior prom dress: Clarissa, as so many of us are, is infatuated with Audrey Hepburn, and she wanted to recreate (on a scale appropriate for a junior prom) this iconic dress from "Sabrina":

With some help from her mom (a former home-ec teacher -- thanks mom!), Clarissa modified a Vogue pattern to get this:

Isn't it lovely? The overskirt attaches by a waistband, so it can be removed for less-formal occasions. I love that Clarissa didn't try to completely recreate the Audrey dress (that way lies tears, I tell you -- it probably took a team of people three months to make that dress) but concentrated on the essential elements: the sheath and overskirt, the colors, and the embroidery. (Clarissa had the front embroidery done professionally, as she doesn't have an embroidery sewing machine.)

And she was so smart to turn it into a sheath with straps; I wore a strapless dress to a prom once and spent the whole night tugging it UPWARDS. Not what you want to be doing at prom!

In short, well done! I'm especially impressed by any young lady who chooses to look so elegant, when there are so many options to look ... not-elegant.

Also: those are really cute shoes.

Blog Break

2008-06-08T22:56:00.001-07:00

Due to some personal issues I'm working through right now, I'm taking a break from the blog. When stress and depression are present, inspiration is not.

I'm going through a pretty rough time currently and I need to focus on getting better and attempting to enjoy the holidays and my family.

Peace, love, and bulletproof marshmallows,
The not-so-Happy Hippie.

Fashion Jewelry Bargains at Overstock.com

2008-06-08T10:56:00.001-07:00

In the Spring of 1999, Dr. Patrick Byrne recognized the potential of liquidating excess inventory through the Internet. While there will always be traditional shoppers walking through retail doors, a significant number of consumers also desire good quality merchandise, but abhor the mall experience. That is where Overstock.com comes in. The Salt Lake City-based company brought the outlet mall to the consumer via the Internet, providing the same brand-name products found in traditional retail stores at deep discounts.

Gunmetal Cuff Bracelet

• Cuff bangle with a textured gunmetal finish

• Fashion jewelry with a wave cutout design

$15

Carolee Multi-heart Charm Bracelet

• Gold-tone fashion charm bracelet features four heart shaped charms

• Bracelet is secured by a toggle clasp

$20

Silvertone Antique Inspired Cuff Bracelet

• Silvertone base metal

• Bracelet sparkles with cubic zirconia

$25

M. Haskell Multi Shape Charm Necklace

• Multi shape charm necklace

• Features butterfly and leaf charms

• Necklace secures with a lobster claw clasp

$12

Sterling Silver Vintage Replica CZ Ring

• Vintage replica ring features clear sparkling cubic zirconia

• A lovely leaf design

• Rhodium plated

$27

R.J. Graziano Metallic Lucite Bronze Bangle

• Metallic faceted Lucite resin

$20

Elsa M 18k Gold over Silver Link Ring

• Chain-style link ring

• 18k gold over sterling silver

$43

Adrienne Vittadini Foil Print Green Bangle

Green bangle with foil design.

$25

Elsa M 18k Rose Gold-tone Chartreuse Ring

• 18-karat rose gold plated brass ring

• Chartreuse colored Swarovski crystal

$110

Kenneth Jay Lane Ivory Carved Bangle

Fashion Bracelet with carved design

$20

Carolee Floral Link Necklace

• Collar necklace with floral charms

• Lobster claw clasp

$33

Tri-tone Trinity Ring with CZ

Trinity ring with three interlocking bands

Yellow gold-tone, pink gold-tone, and silvertone bands

Round Cubic Zirconia flush-set on the bands

Polished finish

$15

Have a great week!

Maggie

See full article.

Related Entries:

Fur Fashion and Jewelry Controversies - 14 June 2006

Jewelry and Fashion Blogosphere 03/05/07 - 05 March 2007

Jewelry and Fashion Blogosphere 07/29/07 - 29 July 2007

Jewelry and Fashion Blogosphere 09/16/07 - 16 September 2007

Living Your Life Like It's Goldyn...

2008-06-07T22:56:00.001-07:00

Above: Porridge Two Button Dress, $92.50, www.shopgoldyn.com

Left to right: Generra Belted Shift in rivear blue, $165; Development Fluttered Sleeved Shirred Blouse, $284; Rachel Mara Sliver Linen Dress, $253 all available at www.shopgoldyn.com

Say goodbye to those tattered jeans and coffee stained sweatshirts - you finally graduated!! Now you can join the big leagues with your ~~high~~ modest paying job and slightly upgraded shared apartment. In celebration of your new found financial freedom, why not update your wardrobe with some classic but quirky summer items. Your first stop should undoubtedly be www.shopgoldyn.com. It's not often that I visit a site and fall in love with everything I see. That electric blue Generra Belted Shift is on my hit list. It'll look great with those gorgeous Manolo Blahnik's that were featured in the Sex and the City movie - you know which pumps I'm talking about ;) If those student loan repayments are kicking your butt head straight to their Sales section with anything from 20% - 70% knocked off. The dress above by Porridge is only $92.50 and with the extra 20% off with the coupon code "GOLDYN20", you'll be laughing all the way to your new job!

Take a Leaf Out of Her Style Book: Halle Berry

2008-06-07T10:56:00.001-07:00

Halle Berry is the undisputed queen of summer time chic. Her easy breezy style is simple yet elegant and her accessories understated yet necessary. If you're anything like me you avoid wearing heels (I love them but as I get older I appreciate comfort more), so Halle is one of my ultimate style icons. In keeping with the crisp white theme in the Toni Braxton post below, I decided to highlight Halle's cutest flowy white dresses. Remember, this look was made for lazy summer days so grab a pair of stylish flip flops, designer sunglassess, a slouchy hobo bag and you're good to go!

What the Manolo Is…

2008-06-06T22:56:00.001-07:00

Manolo says, it is Tuesday, time to see what the Manolo is...

Reading...

Listening to...

Watching...

This new Harrison Ford movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Improbable Geriatric Hijinks, which the Manolo saw this past weekend, was almost exactly what the Manolo expected; Harrison Ford stumbling his way through the series of contrived over-the-top action sequences.

Yes, the movie was entertaining in places, and the Manolo occasionally chuckled, but it was nothing when compared to either the first or the third installment in the Indiana Jones catalog.

Query: Is there any actor who plays heroic befuddlement better than Harrison Ford?

Indeed, his range as the actor is seemingly limited to heroic befuddlement, wooden heroic befuddlement, angry heroic befuddlement, and his acting masterpiece, wryly humorous heroic befuddlement.

Only the great Gary Cooper has ever been more wooden or more heroically befuddled than Harrison Ford.

Query: Can someone explain to the Manolo the success of Shia LaBeouf? Yes, he is generally likable, but he is otherwise the uninspiring actor with not much to recommend him beyond that.

On different matters, the Manolo, who has long been the modified practical Epicurean, has been finding great and much needed solace in the works of the Stoics, in particular the writings of Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius.

Prescriptives Daily Pop Quiz May 30, 2008

2008-06-04T10:55:00.001-07:00

Congrats to Candice and Nikki for knowing that Noah wrote 365 letters to Ali!

In “The Notebook” how many letters does a young Noah write young Ali during their separation?

Game Rules Here.
Sponsored by Prescriptives!

Yes, you too can have that Unshaven Legs look!

2008-06-03T22:54:00.001-07:00

It's a sandal! It's a boot! It's .. sasquatch? How these shoes by Etro don't get less praise and more jabs than Uggs is beyond me. I didn't pay them much mind until I read recent reports saying these ... yes, these hair-like fringy tall shoes, are the IT shoe of Spring 2008.

Ummmm at least they conceal those missed patches??

Trying Too Hard

2008-06-02T22:54:00.001-07:00

After a week or so of watching my back in what I wear to work in my new working environment and adjusting to a creative, relaxed and fashionable atmosphere, the Susie skin is finally emerging and I'm feeling more at ease. By 'watching my back', I've been very subdued in my style (so much so that Style Bubble Daily Wear has been suffering a bit...sorry!), keen to concentrate on the job at hand and not let any 'loudness' in what I'm wearing detract from my role affirmation.

Well, it's the weekend and Disneyrollergirl has started the 'Trying too Hard' campaign which I'm fully onboard for after a week of feeling small and feeble. I've always had problems with the negative connontations associated with the term 'trying too hard' and also have had my suspicions about that oh-so-popular style chant...'effortless'. They're problematic for reasons that I won't go on about AGAIN because repetition is tiresome.

Disneyrollergirl touched upon the tough economic climate that Western Europe and North America are cruising into and in these times of fearing, worrying and second-guessing, it's probably the best time to nurture a 'trying too hard' attitude. I'm supposed to be seriously delving into why high fashion is thriving despite the economic downturn for an article but my own initial action had to be looking to my own wardrobe and 'trying too hard' in my own way and having oodles of fun whilst doing so because fun is still fundamentally the key thing that will survive monetary crashes. Whatever happens, fun will defeat all... and I guess that goes some way to answering why people will still spend millions on fashion, to pretend that the shit isn't going on around them.

The critics and nay-sayers will always exist and fight for 'effortless', but this is my reverse reaction to the tough times ahead...

'Black, white, black, white, if I veer off course, it would be mighty tragic...' - Anthony Vaccarello headpiece, Ulrika Sandstrom blouse, vintage elastic harlequin skirt, Sock Dreams black and white striped stockings, Moschino Cheap is Chic black ankle boots

'Think Pink! Think Scarlet! Think Fuschia! Think Berry!' - American Apparel pink headband, vintage Versace pink, red and orange dress, Topshop Unique pink pinafore, Bebaroque fringed pink tights, Miu Miu pink platforms

'Granny throws a fit and throws on some Balenciaga and paint on her dress....' - Vintage Hermes headscarf and vintage scarf as belt, oversized blue chain necklace worn as belt, paint splattered Vivienne Westwood corset dress, Balenciaga biker jacket, Falke scarlet tights, Rupert Sanderson sandals

'I don't want to see how many floral patterns I've put on...' - Vintage rose-print bed jacket, tiered floral print chiffon dress from Hong Kong, vintage floral strapless dress worn as skirt, Celeste Stein floral tights, Pierre Hardy x Louise Goldin ankle boots

'The crow just landed on my head and there was nothing to do but to let it stay...' - Beddug black crow headband, Label velvet printed caped dress, vintage Calvin Klein long chiffon dress, white felt ruffle worn around waist, tied with vintage black leather plaited belt, Bronx black cut-out ankle boots

'Texture upon texture! Look, touch it all! Isn't it marv?' - Vintage black fringe jacket, vintage tea stained lace collar, vintage square print skirt worn as top, vintage zig-zag print skirt, vintage black sequin skirt, American Apparel cracked black lame leggings, Topshop black patent strappy platforms, vintage fur-trimmed leather gloves, raw silk necklace worn around head

Calvin Klein Allure

2008-06-01T22:54:00.001-07:00

Quite some time ago, I reviewed the Calvin Klein Steel collection for men. At the time, I was first turned off, then grew to eventually love the bold waistband that emphatically declares “Calvin Klein” to anyone and everyone who might be inclined to view it. I'll admit that I find the allure collection quite sexy. I'm particularly turned on by the hipster panty.

It seems paradoxical.

Why be attracted to something a woman is wearing when it's got some other guy's name plastered across the waistband?

I don't know, but it works.

It's alluring.

I'm sold.

In addition to the hipster panty, the Calvin Klein Allure collection consists of a plunge bra, a wire free contour bra, a thong and a chemise. The feather patterns are mesmerizing and supposedly trendy. The plunge bra is foam lined for a natural shape...although one has to wonder how a “natural shape” is defined these days I guess. The straps are fully adjustable and the bust is lined with lace. The very cool hipster features the wide logo waistband and lace at the thigh. The chemise is a little busy for my taste. It shares the same pattern as the plunge bra and hipster, but it's overwhelming on the larger garment. The thong and contour bra are white with patterned trim.

My favorite part of the Calvin Klein Allure collection is the plunge bra and hipster panty set. These two pieces truly are alluring. They're frilly, fun and sexy.

A New Skirt!

2008-06-01T10:54:00.001-07:00

I made a new skirt over the weekend, surprisingly. There were about fifty gazillion other things I should have been doing (and I came down to the office this morning to find that a deadline which I thought was next Tuesday, was, in fact, this PAST SATURDAY, oops), but when the sewing machine calls, one must listen.

This is some Liberty twill I bought from my old friend Julie at Little Shop of Treasures, on eBay.co.uk. It's called "Enchanted Garden," and here's a closeup:

And yes, it has all my favorite (bright, cheerful) colors.

And I used orange rickrack to edge the pockets:

And an invisible zipper (which I am only lately a convert to):

And of course a bright blue facing for the waistband:

And for the pocket, too:

I used New Look 6410, which I modified to add front scoop pockets. Doing that wasn't hard -- I think it worked on the first try, which was nice. I've probably made this skirt two or three times, although never with fabric that I love as much as I love this fabric.

The whole skirt probably took about two and a half hours to make, with about twenty minutes of that time spent looking for a pattern piece that had fallen behind a piece of furniture. (I had the pattern pinned to a corkboard instead of put neatly away, for some reason -- probably laziness.) The invisible zipper went in very cooperatively. Once you resign yourself to the necessity of basting (and, in my case, of digging out the screwdriver to change the presser foot shank), invisible zippers aren't really any more trouble than visible ones, and they look so much nicer!

I plan on wearing this skirt with brightly-colored polo shirts with differently-brightly-colored tees under them, and my orange Jack Purcells. At which time it will be really, truly summer.

Blog the Blogger: Fashion, Evolved.

2008-05-31T10:54:00.001-07:00

Yeah, she's a new kid on the block, but Amanda of Fashion, Evolved is tellin' it like it is with some of the chicest eco fashion out there. Plus some pretty hilarious youtube finds, too. Her blog will introduce you to amazing designers you've never heard of and she's all about sharin' the blog love with other fashion bloggers. Awesome! The DCGF has hit her up for my soon-to-be Famous Five (plus One) questions. Oh, and the picture to the right will make sense once you read question 5. Forthwith, her responses...

1. What is the first article of clothing you remember that you loved to wear? When I was a little girl I had this yellow satin pajama top with puffy sleeves. I loved that thing, and I would wear it constantly...to bed or outside with my jeans or shorts. I wore it with almost anything regardless of whether it matched or not. I don't know if it was the color or the texture or what, but I felt like I princess in it.

2. Where is your favorite place - besides Goodwill, of course! - to shop for a fashion bargain in the DC area? Well, I don't live in DC, so I can't really say. I am all about online shopping though, and I love to shop Etsy because of their huge selection of unique recyclable, vintage, and sustainable clothes. [We all (heart) Etsy! Oh, and consider this your official invite to come shop with me in DC! -the DCGF]

3. Where is your favorite place to shop for a fashion bargain outside of DC? Garage Sales! 4. Who is your current favorite designer? Anna Mkhitarian of Annatarian. She's a designer from L.A. who does custom couture out of reconstructed vintage pieces. [Like the gorgeous dress above. -the DCGF] She specializes in wedding gowns, but she has also done other types of dresses. I love the idea of getting something totally unique and gorgeous made just for me out of beautiful old fabrics that have a story and history to them.

5. If you could own any single item from fashion past or present - money is no object! - what would it be? Hmmm. Right now I'm lusting after a pair of Mohop sandals [left]. Before the season is finished, I'll buy some. I would also love to have an exquisite vintage kimono.

Bonus Question: How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? One. Plus one big bite.

Oh, those sandals are tres chic! And sorry I had to put the kimono at the top of the post, but, well, that's the place it fit best. But it builds suspense, no? Thanks, Amanda, for introducing me to Annatarian. Wasn't familiar before, but now I'm becoming slightly obsessed with their Peace Love Earth necklaces. Would look perfect with all those summer dresses I'm planning on getting out this weekend...

Serge Lutens Mascara

2008-05-30T10:54:00.001-07:00

I never gave the cosmetics line much thought when it first came out 2 years ago because frankly, I think people should just stick to their strengths and for Serge Lutens, it is of course fragrance. I was at Barneys with 2 of my girlfriends and we were heavily persuaded by the sale associate to try the "best mascara in the world". Come on, how many times have you heard that? I know my beauty stuff, I don't fall for claims by make up counter girls. Being the big skeptic, I passed and just wanted to get upstairs to shop for my dress that I need for the Sex and the City premier in NYC(which is tonight!), but my friends wanted to try the mascara so I had to hang around.

As soon as I saw them with this mascara on, I was like, "Where the heck did those lashes suddenly come from?". I really could not believe what I was seeing and of course had to try it myself. The applicator is one of those comb deals, which I normally do not like, but with this formula it works best. The mascara needs to be combed through your lashes and it binds to every part of the lash from the root up, the amazing thing is that it curls them instantly - you can see that happening as you are applying. It not just builds up and thickens, it articulates and defines, and of course lengthens like nothing you've ever used. I looked like I was wearing falsies because my lashes became so pronounced. It has won numerous awards as well as editor's choice in countless magazines so I guess I should have taken notice much sooner but like I said, I was like, what does a scent maker know about making my non-existent lashes luscious and thick? Apparently, a lot! Before you run out and get this, I have to give fair warning. You don't need to use a lot of this, I was instructed as such but did I listen? No, I went home and tried to glop it on and made a total mess. It goes a long way, dip it in only once for both eyes and slowly comb and brush with much diligence. $60 at Barneys New York and believe me, it is worth the extra few bucks.

Stephen LeBlanc Art Jewelry

2008-05-29T22:54:00.001-07:00

What exactly is art jewelry? Some jewelry is just too beautiful and too unique to be called anything but art jewelry. Some of it is too precious and/or fragile to wear. And, to me at least, it also means that the piece is designed and handmade by the artist. To me, anyone who can take a sheet of precious metal, and or wire, and create a piece of jewelry from scratch, is a jewelry artist.

Stephen LeBlanc draws his inspiration from the natural world with his line of hand forged jewelry. By concentrating on the transitions within each form, edges become expanding planes and surfaces respond to one another. Each piece is created from one piece of material, which LeBlanc stretches and forms to its extreme limit of plasticity. All of his designs are offered in different metals, hence the different prices.

Ginkgo Necklace & Earrings

Hand forged from one piece of silver, this stunning anticlastic sterling neckpiece has a high-polished and matte finish, and lays gracefully around the neck and culminates into a perfect ginkgo leaf. Matching earrings have integrated ear wire.

$245 - $275

Stephen began working in metal in 1994, during his second semester at Skidmore College. After three semesters of metals classes, he left Skidmore after two years to move on to a more direct method of learning and studying with masters of the craft at Deer Isle and the Haystack Mountain School of Craft in Maine. He enrolled in a session of glassblowing, yet even in his glasswork he was incorporating metal. Following a month of glassblowing, he set up a metal shop - he needed to refine his work and understand why he was so drawn to metalwork.

Unfurling Silver Neckpiece & Earrings

A single hand-forged arc of silver gracefully unfurls through the artist's use of anticlastic raising. Contrasting matte and high-polished surfaces highlight this neckpiece and earring set's beautiful curves. Matching earrings have integrated ear wires.

$255 - $390

Anticlastic Raising is the process of forging a piece of metal so that it has opposite curvature at a given point. The metal is worked in a way that stretches the outside areas of the metal and creates a concave curve, while the center section of the metal is compressed and forced into a convex curve.

Mokume Gane & Anticlastic Twist Earrings

Using the ancient Japanese mokume-gane technique, LeBlanc forges palladium and 18K gold together into these exquisitely patterned earrings. Each earring is given its subtle twist through anticlastic raising. Also available in sterling silver with matte or polished finish.

$180 - $1625

Mokume Gane is Japanese for wood-grained metal - an ancient technique originally used to forge katana blades. Soft metals like copper and silver are pressed together, heated, and rolled to create the distinctive wood grain like pattern.

Artist Statement

Following a series of commissions and working in mediums including metals and wood, I was ready to try another avenue to expand my skills. This quest brought me to southern Maine, where I commenced classes at the Maine College of Art. It was there that my metals instructor suggested an apprenticeship at the Ronald Hayes Pearson Studio, and insisted that I apply. Soon after, I was off again to Deer Isle.

During my two years of apprenticeship at the Pearson studio I continued to expand my learning experiences in a variety of media. I explored blacksmithing at Haystack once as a student and the following year as a teaching assistant for master blacksmith Doug Wilson. Haystack Mountain School of Craft has become a foundation for both my art and my life, drawing me back to expand my horizons year after year.

Following my work with Doug Wilson, I was requested as a teaching assistant for master metalsmith Heikki Seppa; the Finnish creator of synclastic and anticlastic raising techniques with metals. I have been blessed with opportunities during my lifetime to learn from true masters of craft who have assisted me in refining my skills, while nurturing my passion for metals and fanning my creative flame.

My work incorporates the forms and essences of the natural world. In observing the interplay of form and function, my goal is to create work that draws people to explore this dynamic interplay. I do not strive to duplicate, but to integrate elements of these organic forms into each one of my pieces.

The medium of metal lends itself to developing these naturalistic forms with the durability and integrity afforded by hand wrought metal. I intend to grab the viewers' interest, to intrigue and coax them into taking a closer look to understand and explore the form.

See full article.

Related Entries:

Jewelry Career Resources - 08 August 2006

Stephen Dweck Jewelry - 08 November 2006

Native American Inlay Jewelry - 14 January 2008

Caroline Ballou Jewelry - 26 May 2008

Michael Kors & Calvin Klein PLUS lines at Macys!

2008-05-28T10:54:00.001-07:00

Ok, SHOCKING! Michael Kors and Calvin Klein have both started plus size lines that are being sold at Macy's, Bloomingdales and Lord & Taylor. I have to admit that I learned this fact from my fabulous friend Kathryn's blog TheBudgetFashionista.com. The Bloomingales website does not feature the lines right now, but I did see a few pieces at Macy's online. I am not impressed with Calvin so far, but check out these Michael Kors pieces:

L: Mosaic Print Dress, $169.95

R: Cap Sleeve Lace Shirt, $69.50

There is also a somewhat cute Tiger Print sweater, but I have issues with designers thinking that all plus size women want to wear animal print. Even though sometimes we do....but I digress. Go to Macys or Bloomies and support Michael Kors and Calvin Klein! When straight size designers start designing for us, we need to show them that we'll buy their stuff (especially if its actually good!).

L.A. Event - UCE Magazine - Asia Issue Release Party

2008-05-27T10:53:00.001-07:00

ASIA ISSUE RELEASE PARTY

Wednesday, May 21st

Red carpet at 10pm

Hosted by Jazmin Whitley

Midnight performance by Monét Monico

Location - OPERA

1650 Schrader Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90028

RSVP@worldcoastmanagement.com for Guest List and Bottle Service

http://www.ucemag.com/

Please click on the flyer to enlarge.

Baroni Designs Jewelry

2008-05-25T10:52:00.001-07:00

Sarah Baroni has been creating her collection of handcrafted sterling silver jewelry in Arcata, California, since 1991. She is inspired by the natural beauty of her home town on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, as well as the North Coast of California where she now lives. It is the organic artistry that resonates in the jewelry Sarah designs - striking pieces that are refined, unique, and timeless. Her designs are classic and elegant, and know no season. They gracefully accentuate the individuality of the wearer.

Sterling Silver Lavender Resin Rectangle Ring

$50

The Baroni Collection offers an inviting variety of sterling silver jewelry for women, men, and children that is sold in popular catalogs like Red Envelope and in chain stores such as Eddie Bauer. They also create specialty corporate items for companies such as Coca-Cola and Mercedes.

Sterling Silver & Ocean Resin Pendant

Freeform Open Circle on Snake Chain Necklace

$55

How was Baroni Designs born?

Sarah Baroni and Cathy Witkos were living in San Francisco. They both had backgrounds in jewelry, and were both always looking for nice sterling silver pieces at reasonable prices. Ultimately they began to make their own jewelry, and that slowly evolved into Baroni Designs. The designs reflect an appreciation for understated but beautiful jewelry. It has moved rapidly into new areas (such as yoga jewelry), and maintains a diverse customer base. The company is now in its 16th year of business.

Matte & Polished Sterling Silver Double Disc Earring

$45

Artist Statement

As we begin our 17th year for Baroni Designs, our hearts are filled with gratitude for so many things. We enjoy a safe, harmonious (most of the time) workplace with an amazing group of people who truly care about what they do, and a loyal, fun and very diverse group of customers that help make our jobs worthwhile and enjoyable.

After many years of building the business, we have reached a point where we are able to give back to the community. Each year we design and sell a breast cancer collection. The 2007 collection exceeded sales from the previous year by over 200%. We were thrilled to donate a portion of those proceeds to the Humboldt Community Breast Health Project, a wonderful cause on behalf of all of our staff and customers.

In addition to the breast cancer collection, which we will again update in fall of 2008. Throughout the year, we will be choosing charities that benefit women, children, and the environment. A portion of all sales will benefit these charities. As the charities are chosen our web page will be updated.

And now we invite you to peruse the all new 2008 Baroni catalog. We are thrilled to offer a full array of looks this season. It is our favorite season yet, with new looks and lower prices on many of the styles. Again, whether you have long been acquainted with Baroni Designs or are new to us, we welcome you, and thank you.

Sarah Baroni & Cathy Witkos

See full article.

Related Entries:

EK Designs - Jewelry for Us All - 19 June 2007

Jewelry That Rocks - 28 July 2007

Emily Armenta Inspiring Jewelry Designs - 08 September 2007

DiSpagna Jewelry Gets Creative with Cold Fusion Jewelry! - 18 December 2007

Cuff Daddy Jewelry

2008-05-24T10:52:00.001-07:00

Cuff Daddy is an online cufflink store based in metro Washington D.C. Cuff Daddy specializes in unique, high quality cufflinks not found elsewhere in the United States. They source the best discount cufflinks for men, and also carry a large selection of ladies cufflinks at affordable prices, with or without semi-precious stones.

Their cufflinks are adorable, but it's their large selection of unusual pendants that I found interesting:

Interlocking Love Stainless Steel Pendant

Black and Silver stainless steel is interlocked to form a rectangular shape with laser-engraved gender signs on each. Give one half of the pendant to your significant other so they can always keep you in their heart. Black color on half of pendant is coated by PVD, aka physical vapor disposition, which is the innovative process of providing a hard black coating onto metal. Once the process is complete, the black coating is extremely durable.

$25

Carbon Fiber Jewelry

Carbon fiber is the next big thing in the jewelry industry. Super-light - lighter than titanium - with rings weighing only a gram or two, and bracelets at only six grams, carbon fiber is a slick alternative to heavy metals. It offers something that gold, silver, or platinum simply cannot offer - it's strong, it's rugged, and you don't have to worry about where you store it.

Polished Stainless Steel Pendant with Carbon Fiber Cross

Made of stainless steel so it never needs polishing.

$25

Carbon fiber is renowned for its use in Formula One Racing, space exploration, and aeronautical applications where high strength and light weight are critical - and it makes some very unique jewelry.

Round Pink Glass Pendant with Stainless Steel

Gorgeous pendant made from poured glass into a stainless steel cage.

Made with stainless steel so it is both durable and easily cleaned with water.

$40

Company Info

Our design team creates gold cufflinks that will make your sleeves look simply dazzling. Our inventory of sterling silver cufflinks will transform your entire wardrobe into a posh ensemble. If you want to get creative with your French cuff shirt, check out our cat-eye cufflinks, novelty links, and fiber optic designs.

We are the only seller of our Italian-inspired designs. In addition to cufflinks, you can also find men's ties (that can actually match your new set of links), multifunctional pens, and leather money clips on our site.

Cufflinks come in these materials:

• Silk

• Gold

• Silver

• Wood

• Crystal

• Enamel

• Catseye

• Fiber Optic

• Carbon Fiber

• Stainless Steel

See full article.

Related Entries:

Jewelry Career Resources - 08 August 2006

Couture Jewelry Awards - 04 March 2007

Jewelry Designer for Princesses - 08 March 2007

Cuff Links and Jewelry for Dad - 22 May 2007

Snob Worthy Links May 20th 2008

2008-05-23T22:52:00.001-07:00

Jewel Snob glitters with Louis Vuitton Clous Bracelets!

Huge Net a porter sale at Bag Snob!

Tot Snob has a mom snob-worthy bag from Le Sports Sac!

The Thoughtful Dresser with a case study in thoughtful dressing.

Purse Blog ponders Balenciaga Giant City Bag.

Bella Sugar Tour of Beauty in LA!

My Picks!

2008-05-22T22:52:00.001-07:00

Left to right: Disc Trim Pleat Dress, $22.50, www.wetseal.com; Rosegarden Lace Dress, $22.80, www.forever21.com; Karen Kane Eyelet Dress, $44.50, www.delias.com; Sackrace Dress, $44.50, www.alloy.com

Left to right: Linen-like Pinafore Dresses by Zuccaro, $106, www.edressme.com; Babydoll Sundress in Solids, $55, www.victoriassecret.com; Puella Gathered Smock Dress, $167, www.pinkmascara.com; Karen Kane Eyelet Dress, $118, www.shop.nordstrom.com

Though jewelry like pendants and earrings would really complete this look, don't ruin the shape of these dresses with belts or scarves. Also think about going makeup less if you can. This look is meant to be fresh from head-to-toe. ;)

Moonstones & More Garnets

2008-05-22T10:52:00.001-07:00

Ive been trying to look over my website the last few days and in doing so I realized that I had only one moonstone bracelet that hadn't been sold. It was time to make more. I have a Rainbow Moonstone Jewelry page, but it was the regular Moonstone Bracelets page that was so depleted. I have some moonstone that I hadn't made anything with for a while that I am very fond of: these are faceted white moonstones in a nugget form that fascinate me for some reason. They have a strange gleam or glow at angles and I just like their faceted nugget shape. Ifound what I think is the perfect match with some of Robin Weber's magical translucent, silver-laced lampwork beads and with some pretty blue aquamarine faceted nuggets. I used all bright silver to match the sterling silver Robin had worked into the beads and added a Karen Hill Tribes thick white silver chain. To top it off, a pretty white silver toggle that has a flower on the edge of the ring. This bracelet just made me feel good!
But I also had these moonstone nuggets that were the same faceted shape and were odd colours - a greenish colour and a greenish grey. Again, I really liked these but hadn't used them before. Once again, Robin Weber's beads to the rescue! With their green touched with a grey, cream, charcoal and silver, they were perfect for the bracelet I had in mind. Sterling silver and some more moonstone beads with their eerie glow and I had a bracelet I thought seriously about taking home (one of the problems of this trade). But I dutifully put it on the website. With its spiral sterling Hill Tribes charms and rings, it's a real eye-catcher! The third moonstone bracelet contains a mauvey-peach-beige moonstone that has little flecks of glitter as well as a glow in it. The addition of leopardskin jasper with deep peach tones was great for a different look. Leopard in the Moonlight is also on the Moonstone Bracelets page. Don't forget that Garnet is the January birthstone. The garnet bracelet above mixes garnets with porcelain jasper and faceted rose quartz accented by the great lampwork of James Derrick Reeves. Little bezel set garnet charms hang at intervals on the bracelet.
I'm trying to stick to those New Year's Resolutions, and unfortunately, find myself adding more all the time! It seems I have a lot to work on! But I am working on them, little by little, getting organized, being more thoughtful of others, neater at home; I even bought an organization book for artists and artisans about how to organize a studio/office. Here's hoping it helps!

jewellery accessories jewelry fashion shopping bracelets beads handmade beaded jewelry beading helmi gioielli smykker tak? juvelen lampwork beads The Jewelry Blog jewelry trends accessories garnet birthstone moonstone bracelet moonstone

Whose Shoes Wednesday…The Answer!

2008-05-21T22:52:00.001-07:00

Manolo asked, whose shoes?

Manolo answers, it is the Kylie Minogue!

Congratulations to the Manolo's internet friend Illlhab who was the first to correctly identify today's celebrity.

Cleaning Out My Closet, Part 1

2008-05-21T10:52:00.001-07:00

I spent a few hours yesterday moving the winter clothes OUT and the summer clothes IN. This involves a great deal of dusting, both mental and physical. (For instance, why did I let another year pass without wearing my turquoise shantung hostess coat?)

Every time I make this switch I *vow* that I will finally pare down my closet to essentials. Just a few well-chosen pieces, blah blah blah. The truth is that I am not a "few well-chosen pieces" kinda gal. I am the kind of gal that has fifty cotton summer dresses and wears a different one every day, if she can.

However, I *am* getting rid of a few things, such as this brown-and-gold wool crepe wiggle dress. I made it several years ago (maybe even five or six?) and wore it, I dunno, once. I was having a wiggle-dress moment, back then; I don't know why. (Perhaps it was the joy of no longer looking mildly pregnant?) Anyway, I spent a lot of time on it and figured I should now set it free to live a full life with someone who will love it the way it ought to be loved.

Here's a closer view of the bodice:

The points on the tabs are a little lumpy, I have to say. Luckily the buttons are so nice (vintage!) that it draws the eye away.

This dress measures B 36-38, W 32, H 46, and the skirt is 28 inches waistline to hem. From the front neckline to the waist is 13.5 inches; from the back neckline to the waist is 14 inches.

So here's the plan: I'm going to put it up on eBay, at a very very low starting bid. If it sells for that, fine. But if it sells for anything upwards of $25, anything over that will go to charity -- I'm thinking helping victims of rape in the Congo. How does that sound?

Here's the link: Brown Crepe Wiggle Dress.

Are your feet ready for summer?

2008-05-20T22:52:00.001-07:00

Stop hiding your feet in those pumps – get pedicured up!

Top: Casting, $79.95, www.stevemadden.com; Lansing, $30, www.aldoshoes.com; Sirprise, $89.95, www.stevemadden.com
Middle: Trinangle Sandal, $34, www.urbanoutfitters.com; Croww, $79.95, www.stevemadden.com; Le Petit Sperone, $60, www.piperlime.com
Bottom: Hendrix, $90, www.dune.co.uk; Volatile Cassie Thong Sandal, $38.95, www.endless.com; Belle by Sigerson Morrison, $225, www.piperlime.com

Shoe shopping is one of life’s little pleasures, but I delightful day in the shoe department of Saks can quickly turn into a nightmare if your feet aren’t perfectly polished when the sales clerk tries to help you slip on those Louboutins. Avoid the potential embarrassment and get your toes Manolo ready today. You don’t have to spend a fortune at spa, in fact I prefer creating my own pedicure at home - I’m too ticklish for someone else to handle my toes! Try Tweezerman’s deluxe pedicure set available at Sephora or their more modest version for just $14.99 at Target. After you’ve spoiled yourself, pick the perfect color* to match your sandals and away you go!

*All nail colors by Nars Cosmetics. Click here for their regular selection and here for their vintage line.

Pandas don't live in DC...

2008-05-20T10:51:00.001-07:00

Yup, 'fraid to say it but the title is true. However a certain Morgan Hungerford who goes by the name of Panda Head and has been documenting Washington, DC style since 2006 has now branched out to become Panda Head Magazine and has just launched its first issue online. I'm adding links to these new e-zines everyday and though for the time being, I'm putting my whimsical dreams of magazine-dom on the back burner (for reasons some of you might already know but I'll reveal to all later on...), it is comforting to know that more and more bloggers are taking matters into their own hands and getting all flash and awesome with flicky-clickety-click online magazines.

In some ways, there's nothing flashy (the description as opposed to the technology which is frankly beyond me...) about what Panda Head feature. Bands they like but a lot might not have heard of, simple yet effective photography that strikes their fancy, fashion that isn't haute but earthy and attainable. The key thing about the magazine is is that it's a DC-collective of talent putting together something out there. It's funny that in the process of globalisation and fashion exploding out of the confines of the four fash capitals and more and more people being aware of the 'scenes' going on all over the place that it has actually become easier to then focus on the immediate locality. Or to put it bluntly, I'm more likely to read an online e-zine about DC style despite not living in DC but somehow, the internet has made me more intrigued.

So we have some beautiful images by Liz Gorman to set the scene...

Nautical fashion that doesn't look tired and trite photographed by Shervin Lainez

It's apparently very hard to be a saint in the city...especially when you have stripey tees and faux Chanel bags onboard (photographed by Ryan Wakeman)

The Multi-V's (will listen to as soon as I get out of office-banned MySpace environment as they're supposed to be a little Fiery Furnaces-esque...) in a lot of patchwork photographed by Chloe Marratta

I'm thinking an East Finchley-focused magazine probs would not really have the same effect...?

It’s time for the UNDIE AWARDS

2008-05-19T22:51:00.001-07:00

Ed Hardy Geisha Panty

How often do you get to vote for your favorite undies and fight cancer at the same time?

Check out HerRoom.com's annual Undie Awards at theundies.com.

Taking place this month in conjunction with Cancer Awareness Month, this annual contest lets you cast your vote for your favorite underwear brand.?Who do we have to thank for this amusing way to kill 5 minutes of a boring workday? HerRoom.com, AND this year they pledge to donate 25 cents for each voter to The National Cervical Cancer Public Education Campaign (up to a maximum of 100,000 voters).?

Last year 12,500 people participated in the “Undie Awards.” ?This year, Tomima Edmark, Founder of HerRoom.com, wanted to make this fun event something that could also contribute to health and wellness. Men and Women can vote. The process takes you through different styles (breif, thong, etc.) and women also vote on their favorite bra. Men, be forewarned that you need to know your suit size.

After you vote,?you can opt for an?electronic coupon worth 10% off your next purchase at HerRoom OR you can choose to contribute $.25 to research preventing cervical cancer. Forward this blog post to your friends during April 2008, and help us get votes so that together we can raise $25,000 for The National Cervical Cancer Public Education Campaign.??

Compartmentalization

2008-05-19T10:51:00.001-07:00

Love the idea of a place for everything and everything in it's place? Then the Round Turnlock Hobo from Olivia Harris is for you!

It's a classic hobo style, with extra style to spare. Twin front pockets and a larger zippered pocket on the outside of the bag make for lots of places to keep your things...and of course there is the amply sized interior with it's own set of pockets. The shoulder strap is adjustable to suit everyone's comfort length, and is in a contrasting darker leather, which is continued as a stripe down the sides of the bag. Piping detail all around gives the bag a very finished look making it one of those casual, timeless bags that crosses the generation gap.
The color, a beautiful cognac is the sort of shade that mellows and gets better with age.
The Olivia Harris Round Turnlock Hobo also comes in black and is $495 from Luna Boston.

Daily Ensemble for 09.06.2007

2008-05-17T10:47:00.001-07:00

Since I currently have nothing interesting to blog about, and I haven't done a daily ensemble in coon's age, that's all I'm submitting for today.

Everything is vintage except for the shoes, they were on clearance at Wal-Mart (shudder). I'm pretty sure this dress was made for me, it fits gloriously. The waistband and the stripes around the bottom have little white polka dots on them, neat-o burrito. :] I thrifted this beaut for a piddly $2 because there was a tiny stain on the white part, which came right out in the wash! Yes, the thrift gods are good to me.

The bag is vintage Nine West from the flea market and was a mere $2, it seemed to beckon to me from beneath a pile of hideous and highly tacky bags.

I wore this to the mall and my friend's house, and I've discovered that I have to re-learn to walk in heels, apparently you can forget how to do so.

I think this outfit was inspired by June Carter Cash. I've been watching Walk the Line too much.

Style at Silhouettes! Part 1

2008-05-15T22:45:00.001-07:00

Silhouttes is a catalog and website catering exclusively to plus size women, and it's a brand that until recently I hadn't paid much attention to. Someone showed me their stuff recently and I was SO impressed. They are working on a more fashion forward look for their brand, bringing in some younger trends, using plus size models now in their photos, and making clothes that young, fashionable plus women would want to wear. I decided to snatch up a few of the pieces and I am thrilled with what I got. Here are a few of my scores:

Leather Jacket

This leather jacket comes in both black and bronze, but I of course snatched it up in the bronze. The bronze makes a real statement - the jacket would be perfect over a dressy outift for a night on the town. The leather is really soft, and the fit is tailored but not tight - more like outerwear than a blazer. It sells for $149 and comes in sizes 12-26.

Velvet Dress With Brooch

I don't this picture can truly do justice to how gorgeous this dress is. First of all, it fis PERFECTLY. The velvet is not clingy, it just slides down your curves fabulously and shows them up. Second, the ruching detail is super flattering, and the brooch is gorgeous. My only comment would be that girls with large chests may want to take the brooch to get re-inforced (sewn on a little more securely) just to make sure it doesn't come off. Oh and the best part - you can even wear the dress with a regular bra!

My Silhouettes scores were more than just these 2 pieces, but I wanted to start you off with a sampler, and will post more later this week. Coming up: a hot belt, and a delicious pair of sexy wide calf boots!

Choosing slipcovers

2008-05-15T10:45:00.001-07:00

Fixing up day at the cottage. Things got moved around and messed up when we dropped off the wicker and the kitchen set during the winter. I just got in there today to sort things out, put things back in their proper places etc. Opened the windows to air the place out and picked up all the moths balls. I think. I hope.
I have to take the wicker outside and scrub it and paint it. But I was too focused on deciding what I was going to cover the old cushion with first. I had 3 choices - a bedspread, some fabric and this 1940s barkcloth daybed set that I bought on ebay from froufrou several years ago. This was the winner. It's actually too big and half of it is folded under the cushion, but I think I can pin it to stay in place. I have regular bed pillows inside of the cushion covers on the back of the couch, I think two pillows in each will make them nice and firm.

But now I have the chair and rocker with no matching cushions. This pink pillow is too busy on the couch, isn't it? It's just that I have more of the pink fabric and I could easily make pretty cushions from it for the two chairs. I like the way the pink looks on the white wicker. But I'm not sure yet how it would look with the black sofa. The daybed, which is between the couch and rocker, is covered with a green and ivory Bates-like spread, so that's another pattern to deal with.

Check out this gal, I lover her. The table is glass top wraught iron. 1970s patio furniture. I wrapped the embroidery around cardboard and put it under the glass. The embroidery was bought on ebay many years ago. It's one of those printed Voguart types.

I took a walk up on the beach and it was beautiful. People were out in shorts. It's hard to believe that it's April.

Caution: Dangerous Curves Ahead

2008-05-14T22:45:00.001-07:00

As you know, dear readers, Levi's is currently conducting a denim drive in select markets. Drop off your pants, get a discount at the Levi's Store, and Goodwill is the recipient of all donated denim. Love it! And in D.C. there are two locations: Georgetown and Tyson's Corner, the former of which hosted some Goodwill staff as part of a special event for they were holding a couple of weeks ago. While there yours truly, the DC Goodwill Fashionista, was allowed to select two outfits to be this week's Goodwill Good Buy of the Week. Like the cowgirl painted on the store wall to the right says, "Yee-Ha!"

It was a tough choice, I have to tell you, to decide upon the pieces. Usually I'm going for a unique item or two among a store comprised almost entirely of one-offs, a task for which I find myself well suited. This time I had a wide range of sizes, colors, and styles laid out before me. The selection was huge. My choices were piling up before me. And then I hit upon these...

Levi's new Curvy Boot Eco Jeans. Um, perfection? Maybe. Let me explain. The Curvy Boot Jeans are a new fit that Levi's is introducing and it's specifically designed to flatter girls with a smaller waist and - ahem - a bit of a rear end. Think J-Lo. But, like, Selena-era J-Lo.

You won't find these jeans in any store, however. Oh no, dear readers. The pair I have is one of only 51 styled as part of a Limited Edition Collection of Levi's "Designer for a Day" auction. Catherine Pino won the opportunity to design that pocket you see to the left (along with the rest of the jeans, of course), and these are the only pair left anywhere that you can buy with that signature pattern!

They're a size 12R (the inseam's about 32") and let me tell you, I saw women from a size 0 to a size 20 wearing them and it was like Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants or something. The jeans magically fit every body. They're in a medium dark rinse and have a wide hem at the bottom of the leg, which I think makes them both flattering and just a bit dressier than your average pair of denim.

But wait, there's more! It's not like I totally slacked off on the rest of the outfits. The men's jeans are also Eco, the Eco Vintage Straight 539 Jeans, to be exact. What does that mean? Well, like the women's jeans, that means they're made out of 98% organic cotton and 2% Lycra. And yes, they use a lower case "e" for Eco, but it just looks weird to me. So there.

Both pairs of jeans are complemented by great summery shirts: a white cotton spaghetti-strap camisole with macramé detail on the front for the gals; and a blue plaid short-sleeved cotton snap-front (pearlized snaps, no less!) short for the guys. Both are in a size large and all of the clothing items in todays Good Buy are brand new with tags.

The bag, however, is classic Goodwill: a vintage woven leather satchel from Banana Republic Safari & Travel Company. What? Huh? Yes, dear readers, this bag pre-dates the buyout by the Gap in 1983 of the original Banana Republic. It's a vestige of another era - probably the late 70s - when Banana Republic's shopper were headed to the plains of Africa or the outback of Australia. Who knows where this bag has been? It's in great shape, though. Very chic.

So here's the thing: this week we're switching it up a bit. All of these items will be available not on the DC Goodwill eBay store, but on shopgoodwill.com, another great online site bringing you merchandise from Goodwill stores in D.C. and all over the country. They'll be posted later this afternoon, so you better get ready.

Oh, and don't forget...to Show Us Your Denim! There's still a few days left to enter the competition and submit pics of jeans or other denim clothing you've found at Goodwill and made your own. Entries can be sent to me, the DCGF, at fashion@dcgoodwill.org. And the prize might be right in front of you, in the picture above. Like, underneath the plaid shirt...that hint of blue... Hmm....

Poshie Oxfam...

2008-05-14T10:44:00.001-07:00

It was already apparent to me that a real bargainous charity shop where you're fighting with penny pinching biddies is becoming something obselete in London but when Westbourne Grove, where yummy mummies are aplenty and boho trustafarians 'slum' it in their 'poky inherited' little flat in Notting Hill, opened up Oxfam's first new 'boutique' on 10th May (World Fair Trade Day) well, I'm sort of flummoxed and all for it, all at the same time.

Jane Shepherdson who exited Topshop with a lot of trumpets and fanfare has now decided to lend Oxfam a hand and give them a makeover and we now have a shiny black exteriored store that is as far as away from my local Oxfam as can be and inside, there's more and more shininess. To up the surreality factor, this is an Oxfam store whose opening was celebrated by an after party at Bungalow 8. Curious stuff.

Just to recap, Oxfam is a type of thrift store in the UK and whilst they have dabbled in the high-fashion stakes before by having the Traid off-shoot stores, this chain of boutiques (they hope to have 250 in the UK...) is an entirely different kettle of fish altogether. Whilst it still sells donated goods, we're talking designer threads that are have been £££ racked up (Miu Miu skirt at £50, Stella McCartney Jacket at £90...). In addition, you have Fair Trade labels like People Tree and Kazuri, and labels that specialise in fabric recycling like Junky Styling and Kitty Cooper Shoes. Continuing, the recyling theme, London School of Fashion students and other up and coming designers have been asked to use unsold Oxfam stock to make some unique one-off pieces for sale in the boutique and even the volunteers at Oxfam are getting stuck in and making clothes too for sale. So all in all, not your average charity shop and naturally those prices reflect that.

Here's where I get flummoxed I guess. I get it. It's a chi-chi area where the money is rolling around, and better for an organisation like Oxfam to make a buck or two than someone else. If these people can easily afford a £260 dress from a charity shop then so be it. I'm also all for up and coming designers and fashion students getting their hands on unused Oxfam stock and making amazing clothes. It's like being able to buy the products of a Project Runway/Catwalk challenge.... nothing wrong with that and as modelled by Alexa Chung (Overexposed, much? Bored by her? I am...), this Gabrielle Miller patchwork dress is lovely and probably worth the pretty penny they have tacked onto it...

BUT... and I guess it's the old biddy in me emerging as I have just returned from a weekend of South East coast charity shop browsing where the prices are still low low low (no finds for me though...) and therefore, I'm still in the frame of mind whereby I want to walk into an Oxfam and find a pair of Miu Miu shoes for £10 and feel very chuffed with myself coming out of there with my charity shop steal. Designer names aside, I like my £2 skirts and £3 cashmere cardis. Perhaps the value of fashion and what it SHOULD be worth is all out in the open now and those sort of bargains just aren't possible anymore in the savvy chi-chi parts of London but I know they still exist elsewhere. So in a non-conclusive ending, the concept of the store itself is fine by me but the Oxfam name attached to it is somewhat confusing for simple folk like me...

It does make it worse that I do like what some of the designers, who were roped into help launch the boutique by making garms made out of stuff they found at Oxfam (you might have seen it in the Grazia spread last week), have done... it's all up on eBay now save for a crystal-encrusted black flapper dress that Christopher Kane has done. I'm thinking that's their star piece that will go sky-high in bids...

Giles Deacon took some floral curtains and reworked it into a dress shape taken from his SS08 collection...this is getting a lot of bids at the mo even though I think similar dresses can be found for a lot less..

Henry Holland used an old bridesmaid dress as the base sillhouette for some Spongebob action and some 70's curtains to make this reversible puffball dress... I'll sit out on the Spongebob but I do like the triangular geo print...

Richard Sorger's dotty dress got a 'hand' with a dusting of Swarovski pearls and a hand print from his AW08 collection... love the way it messed up the primness of polka dots....

I'm going to have a go at bidding for this but purely because of the amazing print on the skirto f this dress....not so keen on the dots and ruffle blouse at the top though...

This is so recognisable as Jonathan Saunders that this is actually a pretty good steal for anyone who gets it for under £100...

I want to know how Stephen Jones found a A-Z map pillowcase but in any case, he has made it into a madhatter hat...

Birthday Wishlist

2008-05-13T22:44:00.001-07:00

Now that Halloween is over and (almost) out of mind, it has occurred to me that my birthday is only a week away. While I frequently (more like constantly) say aloud "I want that," I'm currently drawing a blank when asked the question "What do you want for your birthday?". So it's time to narrow down the mighty and vast list of what I'm lusting after.

1. A low-key birthday party with my closest friends, thrown by someone other than myself. I've always wanted someone to throw me a party and nobody ever has. It would be so glorious to just be able to kick back and have fun on my birthday without the stress of planning a party for myself.

2. A Flickr pro account.

3. Vintage dresses in fall tones.

4. A subscription to NYLON magazine.

5. A manicure.

6. Slouchy berets and beanies.

7. A gift card to Best Buy.

8. An ice cream cake.

9. A bottle of Yago Sant'gria.

10. As long as I'm being completely unrealistic, I'll take one of these too.