It's that time of year again . . .

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!

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

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

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

Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you'd like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds - at - creative-weblogging.com.

It finally caught up

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!

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?

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

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!

© 2008 Fashion Trend Guide

Bring Back Bohemian

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

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 braceletsbeads 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!

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...

Goodwill’s fashion blog provides detailed knowledge and insight on vintage and contemporary clothing and accessories that are valuable to fashion shoppers. The facts and opinions shared present readers with entertaining, exciting and value based information on vintage and contemporary fashion and shopping trends.

eVintage Blog Tag - Animal Prints

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)

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!!