Jul 03 2009
Stuck on Prom :: Duck Tape Finalist
These kids are so creative! Here is one of the finalists from the 2009 Stuck on Prom Duck Brand Duct Tape Scholarship Contest with her peacock gown and her beau’s fancy top hat tux. Take a look at the other finalists here. Just look at the detail in the “feathers.”
Jul 02 2009
Burda :: Anna Boho Bag
I love finding new patterns for bags and this one is now over at Burda. The tassels remind me of my Target hobo bag. You can download the PDF for $3 and here are the details:
With a compartment large enough for a towel, swimsuit & a book you’ll be all set for a day at the beach. It even has side pockets for your house keys and cell phone. Not enough pleasure? We even show you how to make your very own tasseled straps!
- Amount of Fabric:
- 1 1/2 yards (1.2 m.) self, 1 1/2 yards (1.2 m.) lining, 1/2 yard (0.4 m.) fusible interfacing, 20″ x 20″ (0.5 x 0.5 m.) leather or like fabric, 10 1/2″ x 15″ (0.3 x 0.5 m.) plastic for base, 1/2 yard (0.5 m.) 3/4″ elastic, 1 yard (0.9 m.) cord
It all sounds pretty straightforward, but I’ve never sewn with leather, or used plastic for the base. Hmmm, do I challenge myself, or just keep an eye out for something similar at Target?
Jun 26 2009
eBay :: Cotton Floral Mini
Ahh, the good old 70’s. The Jackson 5 and avacado kitchens. (I’m still living with an avacado colored wall oven and dishwasher!) This floral mini dress is so cool and retro. Available here from bestofrb for only $18. See many more here….
Jun 23 2009
DuckTapeMania :: Tiger Stripe Wallet
Beetnik Aesthetics :: Wallet
Two new wallets made from unexpected materials. The top wallet is available on Etsy from DuckTapeMania and is made entirely of duct tape. Click on the image to see the inside pockets. Very clever!
The wallet shown below is from Beetnik Aesthetics (a lifestyle clothing company) and is constructed of full-color cardstock sandwiched between durable transparent vinyl and inscribed with Earth-friendly messages.
Jun 22 2009
Philadelphia Designer's Market
The Philadelphia Designer’s Market is coming up soon!
When: Saturday, July 18th, 2009, 11am-6pm
Where: The Broad Street Ministry (across from the Kimmel Ctr). 315 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
The Market will feature 30+ designers and is geared towards Wearable Art (clothing, jewelry, and accessories). Registration is $100 and includes a 7×5 sq ft space, a 6′ table and a chair. Garment Racks are also available for a $5 rental fee (must be specified at time of registration). Each participant will also receive 10 event postcards plus web graphics. Space assignment is on a first come first serve basis.
Admission is FREE to the public. I’ve already put this on my calendar!
Jun 18 2009
Yesterday was Ladies hat day at Royal Ascot and the traditional hats were all on display. The Daily Mail has a great photo spread which includes two of my favorites above. On the left, Jasmine Guiness wears a Stephen Jones hat which was apparently inspired by Disneyland Paris, and hat designer Tracy Rose shows off her own creation on the right. And remember the big to-do over SJP’s fascinator at the “Sex in the City” London premier?
Jun 04 2009
Ruche :: tie dyed gypsy child lace dress
Ruche is a modern boutique with a vintage touch located only online. Rather than paw through racks of clothing, you can browse the Lookbook for inspiration. Best of all, everything seems to be very reasonably priced with dresses priced between $20 and $50. I also love their patch skirts and peasant blouses. (Oh, and yes, I saw two fringed leather bags there.)
**Use Coupon Code ALLCHIC at checkout and receive 10% off your purchase. Coupon is valid until the end of July!**
May 31 2009
Di Wu :: Van Cliburn Competition 2009
May 23 2009
Absolute Vintage
Located right off of Brick Lane on Hanbury is Absolute Vintage, voted one of the “top 100 stores you must visit in the world” by Retail Week and The Evening Standard (July 06). Take the e-tour and see how spacious the place is inside! Check out all those vintage boots!
May 16 2009
BurdaStyle :: Design Submissions
Every time I check into BurdaStyle I find something new and inspiring. Now I see they are accepting new designs.
You can email the following to submissions(at)BurdaStyle(dot)com: Sketch from the front and back,-Technical drawing, Short explanation of design’s value to the community, Category and recommended fabrics
If the folks at Burda find that your design is valuable to the catalog and the community here’s what happens.
BurdaStyle will will produce the pattern and you will get a grant of $160 dollars. A sample of your design will be made up and shot in a professional photo shoot. You will receive pictures in high resolution that you can use to for your portfolio. You will also be proudly presented as the Designer of the pattern and eternal gratitude of the community is yours.
A tip I found on the site: Start sending in stuff soon! They’re gearing up to design their Spring Collection 2010!
May 09 2009
Richard Nicoll :: stripe ruffle
This striped ruffled shirt is made of my favorite colored pin-striped cotton material. (Second only to the horizontal stripes in the style of the French Sailor tee).
The striped ruffle shirt is by Richard Nicoll for People Tree and is made by Artisan Hut in Bangladesh.
Here’s how People Tree explains their Fair Trade business model:
When you look at business like this – as a tool to support people – great things can be achieved. We actively support 50 Fair Trade producer groups, in 15 developing countries.
For example, we provide training to artisans and their organisations so they can improve their skills, and strengthen their businesses and social impact. And we regularly make 50% advance payments on orders, to help farmers and producer groups to finance Fair Trade. We often put money into local communities too, like in Kumbeshwar Technical School, Kathmandu, where we help fund education for children who would not otherwise have access to education.
We also allow enough time for production by hand, which is very rare in this world dominated by fast fashion.
Each group that we work with is unique. Many are founded specifically to deal with a crisis or social issues in a particular area or community.
So, one group promotes livelihoods, agricultural development and seed banks for indigenous Peruvians, another empowers physically disabled people in Kenya, and yet another provides vital income to hand-weavers in rural Bangladesh. Incomes are doubled on average, key changes put place help develop these communities – and their pride. And after all, we all like to be treated with respect.
Inspirational groups like these are transforming lives through Fair Trade partnerships. The fact that they provide us with beautiful alpaca knits, intricately-crafted jewellery, and delicate silks is incidental. (Well, almost! It’s what makes it sustainable and not just an intellectual pursuit.)
May 07 2009
From WWJ.90 Newsradio Detroit:
Mr. Song Millinery on Woodward Avenue in Detroit has struck a sour note with Aretha Franklin. It was her inaugural hat that caused a flood of orders from around the world. And now, the Queen of Soul wants royal treatment from store owner Luke Song for wearing it.
“I think that I should be getting big time royalties from him. That’s what I think,” said Franklin in an interview with WWJ’s Vickie Thomas at Sunday’s NAACP Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner.
I happen to agree with her. At least she should be getting free hats from Mr. Song. What do you think? Read the article here.
Apr 21 2009
I just found this Fringe Forever purse over at ModCloth. for all of you who love fringe like I do. I also love that ModCloth was started by Susan Gregg-Koger when she was only 17 and now only seven years later ModCloth has over 300,000 customers a month. Susan spends her days traveling all over the world, looking for new designers and shopping for the business. Her husband, who has his MBA in entrepreneurship. holds down the business/web end of ModCloth. As someone who’s always thinking about starting an online vintage store, I think ModCloth is the model store. Check it out!
Apr 20 2009
Prim Vintage Fashion is a vintage boutique based Norwich, UK which opened in September of ‘08. I just took a little virtual tour of St. Benedict’s Street in Norwich on Google Maps. Wish I could hop over and spend the day. I’d make Prim Vintage my first stop.
Whether you wanna take inspiration from Blondie, Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, Jackie O, Cyndi Lauper, Bardot, or the effortless Miss Moss then Prim will have a delight for you, a stylish gal always deserves a treat! From prim femininity through trashy kitsch to new wave punk, Prim is a place all gals will adore with bundles of vintage goodies galore!
Apr 13 2009
I just can’t stop watching this video - listening to her beautiful voice and watching Simon’s face. Can’t help but think of Paul Potts. Paul spent part of his prize money on a new smile. I wonder what sort of transformation we’ll see as Susan Boyle appears in future shows…the hair and eyebrows? a new dress?
*as an update to this post, here’s a little background on Susan Boyle from The Herald - The Beauty That Matters Is Always Within
*for those of you who want to hear more Susan Boyle, here’s a recording of “Cry Like A River” from a charity CD she made in 1999 — an exclusive from the Daily Record.
Apr 12 2009
AllChic :: Spring Jeans Bag
A few months ago I was all enthused about making bags from old blue jeans. Then I got sidetracked and put the bag project on the back burner. But then the other day I actually saw someone wearing a jeans bag at Sheetz and it did look very cool. The bag she had had a diagonal flap and a very long strap so it hung below her waist. With all the upcycle, recycle, and green hoopla…I’d think there would be a market for jeans bags. I’ve got the denim, the remnants for linings and oodles of trim. I guess now it’s just a matter of putting the time and effort into it. Thoughts?
Apr 08 2009
LA CARMINA :: Seasonless coats for modern Marie Antoinettes
Fashion blogger, Goth-Lolita designer, author, and Japanese Goth Cooking (?)…she does it all.
A lifelong apprenticeship (her family is a 30-year veteran of the Hong Kong garment industry), along with degrees from Columbia and Yale, and a passion for Japanese fashion and subcultures have combined to make LA CARMINA the “Martha Stewart” of the Goth-Lolita world.
La Carmina is now taking pre-orders for her new line of seasonless coats. With names like the Josephine Coat, the Antoinette Coat, and the DuBarry Coat - and the steampunk influence of features such as chain-linked silver buttons and lace-up corset backs — these coats are sure to make you feel like a modern day aristocrat. And these days, wouldn’t that feel great?
Keep on reading…
Apr 04 2009
Apr 02 2009
Venice
Oh, to be multi-lingual! I just discovered, and quickly signed up for, free languange classes at Livemocha. I’m afraid this is going to be a major distraction to me. Or maybe it will force me to finally learn how to budget my time. In any case, I already have a whole set of language partners waiting there for me to help them with their English and to coach me in Italian, (or Czech, or French…) This internet thing is great, isn’t it?
Mar 31 2009
Ozone Socks
Here in Northeast PA, March is going out like a lion. My new socks from Ozone have brightened up an unseasonably cold, damp week. (Global warming - hurry up and get here!)
Ozone :: Over the Knee Socks
Both pairs of socks are stretchy and comfy. Best of all, they fit perfectly. They don’t sag or bunch at the ankles or heels. Just knowing I’m wearing cool socks under my jeans adds a little spring to my step!
A little bit about Ozone….
Laurie Mallet founded Ozone Design in 2000.
“Ozone Design is devoted entirely to putting fashion and fun into socks and tights. Amazingly, they were still looked upon as undergarments.” Laurie’s goal was to bring spirit and passion to one of the most intimate and neglected parts of our wardrobe. “For too long the sock has been ignored by the world of fashion and we’re going to change that.”
During the past seven years Ozone has set the benchmarks for what’s cool and hip in footwear. “There have been more innovative and new design concepts that have come out of Ozone than any other sock company in history.” The list is impressive: shoe socks, safe sox, hemp socks, radionic socks, tattoo socks, motorcycle socks, the replacement sock, etc. (read more)
Interested in sock design? Ozone is holding its third annual My Socks are Your Socks Design Contest. Simply download the sock template, draw your design, and send it in before December 1st. Even if you don’t plan on entering you’ve got to check out the winners from previous years.
…or if you prefer wearing socks to designing socks, you can join Ozone’s Sock of the Month Club.
…and you can even do this!
Mar 24 2009
AllChic :: Fringed Hippie Bag
I’m finally giving up my big old hippie bag to my shop at Etsy. If you like lots of fringe, you’ll love this bag. Well-worn suede, drawstring pouch - this long (36″ top to bottom) bag is sure to get attention. Shown above is the bag flat out, and below is a shot of the top with the drawstring. More photos and info here.
AllChic :: Fringed Hippie Bag
Mar 20 2009
zelaya :: cafe bag
Gosh, it’s been ages since I posted! What a treat to trip over to Etsy tonight and see the beautiful handpicked items. Particularly the work of Zelaya from San Salvador.
Zelaya is dedicated to creating a line of clothes, handbags, and accessories that embraces fair trade values and transcends ephemeral trends through traditional and classic design with a contemporary sensibility. Our items are meant to last for generations and embody the innate intelligence and beauty of nature, tradition, and simplicity.
I love that the thread of this bag has been dyed with coffee to create a beautiful warm brown color to go with the wooden handle.
Mmm…mmm.
Mar 10 2009
New ‘09 Spring collection is in! Check out fresh new gear on Karmaloop.com!
For the month of March, you will receive free shipping with your order of $25 or more when you use code CLEAN at checkout.
Plus, it gets better! Get free shipping AND a free $20 gift code, when you spend $100 or more with code VITAL at checkout!
Both offers are valid March 1st through the 31st.
And to sweeten the deal 15% OFF ENTIRE ORDER! Use code: TASH09.
Mar 08 2009
HippieShop.com :: Jimi Hendrix Hat
After much anticipation, the hat arrived in the mail last week. HD ordered this reproduction of the wide-brimmed black Jimi Hendrix hat shown below from HippieShop.com. Of all her hats, I’m sure this one is a “keeper.”
The folks at HippieShop.com have everything from flowy flowery dresses to long-haired wigs to tie-dyed everything. They have a bricks-and-mortar location in Fairfield, NJ but most of their business comes from their website. Here’s a bit from their “about us” page:
Building a successful business that started out on the road traveling the country while following the Grateful Dead, Phish and other Jam Bands didn’t come overnight. When they first started out they had to do every thing from scratch with no experience and no money, it wasn’t easy.
Then in 1995 when their business started to take off the world lost one of its greatest musical inspirations, Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead. It was the end of an era. Business started to slow down and this could have also been the end of their dream. Instead it was just the beginning. In 1997 they took grasp of a new way of doing business when they ventured online and registered the name HippieShop.com.
Over the last decade HippieShop.com has delivered unique products to over a 100,000 satisfied customers all over the world. They recently relocated their Headquarters to an 11,000 sqf. location that houses their offices, warehouse and brand new Retail Store. We are sure they will be in business for a long time to come spreading good vibes and making hippies happy everywhere.
Mar 01 2009
goop.com
Gwyneth Paltrow’s new lifestyle website, Goop.com, has been in the news recently. Not all reviews have been favorable but I must admit, I spent some time reading the newsletters and “nourishing my inner aspect.” I especially liked the styles in the “My Uniform” newsletter under Get, particularly the sweaters and sweater dresses from Uniqlo.
Goop reminds me of Real Simple magazine with it’s tips and hints about things we already know but like to be reminded about. According to Paltrow, she already has 150,000 subscribers to her newsletter. Could a book, magazine or TV show be in the works?
And in case you’re wondering, I’ve figured out the meaning of Goop. G for Gwyneth, P for Paltrow and the Os … well it worked for Oprah, didn’t it?
