As I’ve written before I’m a fan of all things Steampunk… like this and this.

Suzanne Lazear is an author and a blogger at Age of Steam. I came across her detailed post(s) about Steampunking this dress for a Dickens Ball. Follow her progress with part 1 and part 2 of How to Steampunk a Dress Without Really Trying.   I hope we get to see the finished product with the third installment, Suzanne. Hint. Hint.

*Update* Part 3 in which Suzanne goes to the Dickens Ball, complete with photos of the finished dress.

Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame has joined forces with People Tree to launch her own line of fair-trade and ethical fashion due out later this month.  According to this article in the Daily Mail

The aim was to create a range for teenagers that appealed to their consciences as well as their sense of cool. ‘We’re not asking for the sympathy vote,’ says Safia. ‘Our designs need to hold up against the high street but also have that level of quality and integrity that you just don’t get from fast fashion.

When asked where she gets her inspiration Watson said

I went through my summer wardrobe and thought, ‘If I filtered this so that it was just the very basics, what would I want to keep?’ The answer was cotton vests, easy T-shirt dresses, nice scarves to accessorise with and some lovely linen pieces. For the boys’ range I’ve done hoodies, which I know they’ll love. The clothes are very British, which is why we shot them in an English country garden – it’s all very strawberries and cream and tennis.

Read the rest of the article here.

LeMuse

After dropping by laimikis this morning I was inspired to use Etsy’s “shop local” search to hunt down new designers from Vilnius. Lucky for me I found LeMuse, the work of designer Lina. Here’s how she describes her work:

It all started with the fabric… I bought a wonderful cloth. It was so cozy and beautiful, that I didn’t need to do much with it. I started to drape it in different ways and I’ve noticed that it falls in wonderful waves. Every time I moved, it changed and curved adapting to the lines of my steps and gestures. I kept on wondering how could I catch those curves and flux of the fabric… Well, I believe I did it. And that’s how LeMuse was born.

Every time a woman would dress in LeMuse, I would notice how differently it looked. It adapts to individual body and moves with that person in its own unique and beautiful way.

Each Muse has a name:  SandMuse, LoveMuse, PassionMuse. And every Muse creates a different mood when you wear it.

Take time out to visit LeMuse.

GwynHug has designed a handy reference card keychain thingy to help you estimate how much fabric you’ll need for just about any sewing project.  The perfect stocking stuffer for your sewing friends. Order here….

meeganp :: buckle and button bracelet

As an NEPA resident and a fan of “The Office”, of course I was interested to read about Meegan Possemato, Manager of Business Development  at our local office supply company, One Point, which happens to be errily similar to the fictional Dunder Mifflin.  But what caught my eye was Meegan’s sideline business of making bags “crafted from vintage, recycled and agonized-over materials” to sell at crafts fairs and online at her Etsy shop.

In addition to her bags, Meegan has a line of one of a kind “buckle and button” bracelets. Pictured above is my favorite made with mother of pearl and rhinestone. The buttons and buckles are sewn onto a piece of elastic which is wrapped in vintage linen so it would be soft against the skin.

In my piano teaching I see many styles of bracelets and rings on the students – along with nail polish and fingerless gloves – but this unique bracelet is a beauty.  Someone will be lucky to get it for Christmas!

All Chic :: Jonathan Logan Vintage Sheath

I just added this classic 60s (or early 70s) Jonathan Logan sheath dress to my Etsy shop. It comes with the colorful paisley scarf. Add some black boots and a Twiggy style hair cut and you’d look like you just stepped out of Carnaby Street!

Winifred Grace :: Cocktail Bracelet

I’m usually not that big on jewelry… necklaces are annoying to me and since I play piano I don’t usually like wearing rings, watches or bracelets… but for the occasional dressy affair I sometimes wear a bracelet. However, this lovely rhinestone fringe bracelet from Winifred Grace caught my eye!  Unfortunately I have to replace both of my son’s retainers (upper and lower) which accidentally went out with the trash recently so I’m going to have to pass on this gift to myself. Take some time about browse the Winifred Grace blog to see where she gets her inspiration.

Annie Briggs :: Retro Hand Crocheted Jacket

Whenever I need a shot-in-the-arm of creative inspiration I can be sure to find it at the AnnieBriggs Etsy Shop.  This two-toned pistachio retro jacket is a mixture of velvet, polyester chiffon, ribbed cotton and Annie Briggs’ trademark – crocheted trim. What’s most unusual about this jacket? Besides being on ‘clearance’ it’s listed as a size XL.

Piano Heels! Piano blogging! (Thanks Ina!)

Grass Flip Flops

just because…..found over at lost in e minor…..

Coco Before Chanel

Last night I was lucky to attend the East Coast premier of Coco Before Chanel. The film follows Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel (Audrey Tautou) from the day she was dropped off by her father at an orphanage to the opening of her first shop in Paris and centers on her relationship with French millionaire, Etienne Balsan (Benoît Poelvoorde), through whom she meets the love of her life, Arthur “Boy” Capel (Alessandro Nivola). Although the setting and costumes were fabulous – from the French fishermen in the beach scene to the high society racetrack crowd – it would be a treat to see Audrey Tautou in a sequel about Chanel’s life after 1920 — her relationship with Stravinsky (and later with Hans Gunther von Dincklage, the Nazi spy), her arrest for war crimes, her move to Switzerland and her return to Paris in 1954.

Lesley M. M. Blume interviews Tautou about her role. When asked why Chanel should matter to women today, she says -

Because she’s a real woman, the woman every woman would still like to be: talented, elegant, clever, smart, funny, free. She was not impressed by anything or anybody, and I think that this is a real way to feel powerful, to feel that you have the key to your life.

Katwise :: Crazyquilt Traveling Coat

Maya Frost, in her book The New Global Student: Skip the SAT, Save Thousands on Tuition, and Get a Truly International Education, inspires students to step off the college-prep treadmill and take a different path, one that opens the mind to endless possiblities around the world. Kat O’Sullivan took that leap when she finished high school after two years and set out on a hitchhiking adventure that seems like it never ended. She sews the most amazing one-of-a-kind reconstructed sweaters using recycled materials and found fabrics. Most of the items for sale at her Etsy shop are special orders, but she says there will be new items posted Saturday night. Keep an eye out!

Coco Before Chanel :: Audrey Tautou

Audrey Tautou stars in Coco Before Chanel coming to LA and NYC on September 25th. Lucky me, I get to see it at the Dietrich Theater Fall Film Festival for the East Coast premier!

Audrey Tautou stars as legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel in this engrossing, romantic drama which focuses on a young creative woman seeking her place in life and French society in the early 1920’s. It is beautifully photographed in the region around Paris and in Normandy. This is the story of Gabrielle Chanel who begins her life as an orphan and through an extraordinary journey become world famous. She embodied the modern woman and became the timeless symbol of success, freedom and style.

(Interested in the music of Yann Tierson?  The connection is Audrey Tautou, star of the French rom-com Amelie. Listen to some Tierson piano improv/accordian music over at AllChic’s sister site, AllPiano.)

Trash Fashion :: stasha-pistachio

I find the most interesting items over at Lost at e minor. This “trashy” dress is over at Deviant Art and is a creation of stasha-pistachio, and is -

Made from newspaper, plastic bags and bin liners (also some old curtains for lining the corset and some old fake fur). The corsets pretty wearable, but the skirts a bit fragile.

Who’d've thunk?

Victoria Beckham :: Fashion Designer

Of course I love Victoria Beckham’s new fashion line! And even though I’ll miss Paula on American Idol, I’ll be looking forward to seeing this each week. I see Elle Macpherson loves VB’s line, too. This trend towards 50’s fashion has been around a while. It’s always been my favorite era. Even more than the 60’s style of Mad Men which is so fashionable today.

In addition to Thomasina, two of my favorite Celebrity Cats are Basil Yuen Farrow and Nora The Piano Cat™.

Basil Yuen Farrow is the very photogenic Scottish Fold cat who lives with designer and author La Carmina. Nora is the talented puss who recently became a smash hit when she performed a chamber work by Lithuanian conductor/composer Mindaugas Pie?aitis. Nora resides with Betsy and Burnell of Raven’s Wing Studio.

Both felines live in creative artistic households with marketing geniuses!

Peta Pledger :: Lucky Diamonds

Australian Peta Pledger creates lovely one offs and single runs based on patterns from the 50’s. I love this black floral strapless “Lucky Diamonds Dress” (and those sandals!) You can find Peta’s stylings here or over at her Etsy shop.

Banglore students and techies are finding fashion in the street.

Be it Bangalore’s very own flea market, popular Commercial Street, Brigade Road or M.G. Road, shopping streets across the city are filled with shoppers. Right from clothes, chunky jewellery, bags to shoes, buyers are lapping up everything.

“Till a few months back, I was a loyal customer of brands like Lee Cooper, Mango and Fab India, as far as buying clothes was concerned. But, due to the economic slowdown and my father being a businessman, my pocket money was cut. So, these days I am hunting and buying clothes from the streets of Bangalore,” college student Monica Singh told IANS.

“These days I can hardly save money to spend on brands to buy my clothes and accessories. My pocket money has been drastically chopped, as both my parents are employed in the IT industry and they too have endured cuts in their pay packages. Thus, I am settling for affordable clothes from the city’s streets,” said Nandita Mohan, another college-goer.

But changing their preferences from shopping in swanky malls to the city’s streets does not mean that the young are compromising on their “style quotient”.

“We have some of the funkiest clothes for youngsters. Be it tops, T-shirts or jeans, we have everything to offer. In fact, we have the best of fashion available at affordable prices. That is why we are inundated by shoppers every day,” smiled Yousuf Khan, a shopkeeper in Brigade Road. (read more)

Just came across this photo at the Collaborative Piano Blog via werekanga at flickr. I love how the line has blurred between art-music-design. For more painted pianos check out Luke Jerram’s interactive art-music installation, Street Pianos, that took place all over London a couple of weeks ago. Here’s a painted piano and a performance on Carnaby Street that I posted over at AllPiano.

Heelarious :: Ava

I just don’t know what to think! High heels for infants? (no kidding, sizes 0-6)

idea2lifestyle :: Jungle Flowers

I’ve had my eye on idea2lifestyle for quite a while now. This amazing skirt is made with 26 feet of floral print chiffon and accented with two REAL peacock feathers on the end of drawing strings. Plus, it is fully lined! It was so hard to choose just one of these skirts to post here – they have so many amazing pieces in their Etsy Shop.  Dresses with names like “be beautiful like summer flowers” and “I am a spoiled child” together with the beautiful photography and very reasonable prices make this shop a “must see!”

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.”

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?

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….

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.