While Cathy is taking a well deserved break from blogging, here to keep All Chic active and in tip-top shape is her (much talked about) Hippie Daughter.

A trip to Georgetown last weekend brought us to this great clothing store called Annie Creamcheese. This store has vintage clothing and accessories in psychedelic, retro, and modern styles. They buy and sell designer vintage clothing for 30% in cash or 50% in store credit. Annie Lee and Garrett Bauman, the owners of Annie Creamcheese, also have a location in Las Vegas.

Definitely one of the most unique, exciting, and colorful stores I’ve been in! I knew I would love it when, walking in, I saw a “Janis Joplin Ave.” street sign, Jimi Hendrix portrait, and Jim Morrison photograph on the walls. Groovy!

Check it out at anniecreamcheese.com.

My hippie daughter was watching Festival Express on NetFlix “Watch Instantly” this afternoon and I had her grab this shot of Janis Joplin wearing a puffy shirt. I don’t care what anyone says… I LIKE the puffy shirt. Ever since the Seinfeld episode it’s gotten a bad rap like the time Oprah was caught wearing one.

Check out this one from Holly Stalder, a designer from Portland, who has a shop over at Etsy. For more of Holly’s beautiful stylings visit hollystalder.com.

I love my new shoes from Solestruck.com.  I’m wearing The Jester from Irregular Choice. The black/white/gray argyle satin print is perfect for brightening up the long black skirts that are the uniform for piano accompanists, but I doubt I’ll be able to save these for special occasions. They’re too much fun to keep in the closet.

Check out the design on the sole and the wiry ribbon with the curling ends at the toe!

Solestruck.com has many Irregular Choice shoes to choose from and from what I could tell they pretty much run true to size which is nice to know when you order online.

Here’s a bit about The Jester’s designer - Danny Sullivan.

Danny Sullivan, founder and designer, is the creative energy behind Irregular Choice. It will surprise most to learn that he has no formal training yet solely designs all aspects of the collections. His innovative approach to design is thanks in part to his footwear industry pedigree – Danny’s parents were at the forefront of the fashion scene in and around London’s Kings Road at its heyday in the ’70s and ’80s with their infamous Transport store.

I just relisted a bag that I sold at Etsy - YIPPEE!.  (I happen to have two of a kind.) Of course I had to spend at least another hour there drooling over all the Etsian creativity. I love chunky scarves and I found this one by Yokoo. It’s 8 feet long and 8 inches wide! Makes me sort of look forward to winter. Check out all of her scarves and wraps in colors like oatmeal, sweet-pea, and midnight blue.

Tokidoki’s founder and designer Simone Legno welcomed KarmaloopTV into Tokidoki’s studio for an exclusive glimpse into  his methods and imagination. This just might inspire you to pick up some colored pens and start doodling again.

Click here to view the video.

I just discovered Camper’s Twins collection at Solestruck.com.

Each pair is asymmetrical but complimentary. Like all twins, each shoe has its own personality, yet together the pair harmonizes to create a whole new work of art.

I’ve fallen in love with the pair above with the removable clips.  Too pretty to wear!

I find myself attracted to the same shops (usually bags) each time I visit Etsy SWANclothing has been a favorite of mine since I joined. Tara Bethune-Leamen is the creator of a line of big totes (cell-phone pockets attached). Each SWAN purse (made from overstock and low-impact material) is embroidered, quilted or stenciled and comes with its very own machine embroidered secret swan. I’m not usually a fan of gray but the Rose Quilted Louche Tote  (shown above) caught my eye.

• SwanDiamondRose - the blog
• SWANClothing - the shop

I know that oversized clutches are popular now, but I’m not a Carrie Bradshaw fan. If I absolutely had to choose a designer handbag, I’d prefer the Isabella Fiore ‘Baby Love’ bag, the black and white Betsy Johnson ‘Lady Jungle’ bag, the Prada print shopping bag or even the blue Aida Pouchette from Bulgari to the plain red oversized vintage clutch from Prada. You can find all these bags at Bag Borrow or Steal - and speaking of “Sex in the City” - they’re having a special “One Week Complimentary” to celebrate their role in the movie!

Borrow any designer handbag, jewelry or sunglasses today and you’ll be entitled to:

1. One week free with any monthly rental. You’ll enjoy 4 weeks for the price of 3! Simply enter Promo Code 1WEEKFREE at check out to receive your special offer.
2. No-Regrets Satisfaction Guarantee. if you’re not immediately thrilled with your accessory you can send it right back for a full refund of your borrowing fee.

 Offer good for the first rental term of one item only. One discount per customer. Offer expires August 31, 2008.

Visit Bag Borrow or Steal to learn about this terrific offer.

Some people play computer games, others visit forums. Mycomputer time-waster is surfing Street Fashion sites from around the world. Most are set up so you have to scroll down but Oslostil has a great layout. No scrolling. No waiting for pages to load. You just click on the calendar and the photo and description appears. The site was originally founded by photographer Hilde Holta Groven. I’m particularly amazed at how crisp and clean Oslo, the capital of Norway, appears in all these photos. 

(Thea’s outfit (above) from July 4th caught my eye -  purchased from the Gothic/Lolita site, Fanplusfriend,)  

My young hippie daughter just started a new job as photographer/web correspondent at our local newspaper.  I must remember to tell her most recent subject about Gloomth, a designer devoted to ‘the cult of melancholy.’

According to Taeden Hall, the Toronto-area writer/illustrator who is designer and driving force behind Gloomth -

Horace Walpole was first to coin the term Gloomth, when referring to the members of the Victorian subculture that revelled in the morbid, embraced the strict mourning garb eternally, and frequented the elaborate cemeteries of the era. (read more)

(Reminds me of one of my all-time favorite movies, Harold and Maude.)

The skirt shown above is called “Wilting Tulip” and Ms. Hall writes a terrific description.  She starts off with :

Spring is here, time to plant your tidy rows of belladonna and black fringed tulips!…An ideal skirt year round, it’s comfortable and drop dead Gothic sexy. Made of luscious violet fabric with a sturdy weight like suiting fabric. It has a touch of stretch through the width to make the skirt ultra comfortable. (read more)

How can you resist?

Sites to Bookmark:

• Gloomth Online Shop
• Gloomth at Etsy

I had a chance to visit the Scranhatton Festival over the weekend for a taste of music, art, and film in Northeast PA. One of the vendors was from the locally owned DressMe Up Boutique. On display were hand-painted vintage bags from Lea Philips and bags made from recycled materials. A quick check on their website and I found this very original license-plate bag - the new FenderFlair Purse from Little Earth.

Two license plates and unique chrome teardrop shaped ends, crystallized twist-knob closure, hundreds of Swarovski Crystals, a 21″ recycled rubber strap, fully-lined velvet interior with velvet pocket, and a signed and numbered Certificate of Authenticity, 12.5″ x 6″ x 3″ (L x H x W) - Little Earth Retail Price: $280.00+Shipping - order online here.

Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine, authors of style books What Not to Wear, What You Wear Can Change Your Life, What Your Clothes Say About You and their latest, The Survival Guide have all the answers.

Using themselves as guinea pigs, Trinny and Susannah have evolved a foolproof formula for making the most of what you’ve got to look great in any situation.

They expound a simple philosophy: “Looking stylish is not about following fashion, losing weight, being rich or succumbing to the knife. It’s about dressing to show off what you love and hiding what you loathe about your body”

You’ve got to check out “The Rules.” It will only take a minute, and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

I still enjoy celebrating my birthday. A trip to the thrift store, Starbucks iced coffee, a Pepperidge Farm 3-layer cake (coconut and the new key lime), and a long set of Led Zeppelin - this is how I celebrated. When my daughter saw the pants I picked up from thrift store, she warned me that I would have to speak louder while teaching piano… to be heard above my (rather loud) pants.

I found this terrific vintage 60’s mod double-breasted top from The Vintage Wardrobe  shop on Fashionspace.com. The Vintage Wardrobe is based in Hampshire, England and describes this item as:

…a genuine 60s garment which is perfect for the MOD/RETRO fashion. It is double breasted with pearly white buttons and a gorgeous large white satin-feel collar. The collar and neck line of the top really is beautiful. The black body of the top feels like gorgeous soft velvet. The top is labelled as a size 12 but would fit a size 10 better. The top looks so amazing with a vintage pencil skirt/drainpipes and heels/pointy shoes. This top is so striking and unusual so snap it up whilst you can. (only £10.00)

• The Vintage Wardrobe
• The Vintage Wardrobe Shop
• Fashionspace.com

I don’t care for those with across-the-chest straps, nor do I like clunky hand-bags that you have to carry like a suitcase. I’m not crazy about back-pack purses and I hate those pouches you strap around your waist. I’m a shoulder bag gal and I suspect I always will be one. The only problem I have (and it’s a recent problem, perhaps brought on by aging, rounded shoulders) is slippage. You know, that heavy weight of your bag landing in the crook of your arm when you’re carrying an armful of groceries and trying to open the car door at the same time.

Well from the shape of this Baggallini bag from Careerbags.com, it looks like it just might stay up on the shoulder, tucked neatly under the arm. It features a cell phone pocket, and a front gusset pocket for quick access to a key fob, a detachable ID/Coin holder with its own mirror, and lipstick and pen holders too. It has a 52 inch adjustable strap and is made from lightweight water resistant fabric. At 9″ H x 11.5″ W and weighing only .85 lbs it sounds very comfortable.

Ellen Hart, President of  Careerbags.com, writes about the latest styles in laptop bags, messenger bags, carry-ons, and business travel on her blog LaptopbagLifeline.com. Check out both of her websites! 

Threadless is sponsoring a design contest - Threadless Loves. This sounds like one to really make you flex those creativity muscles.

Community-centric tee shirt company Threadless.com is asking designers to turn the true stories of their lives into works of art in its latest “Loves” campaign. To help lead the way, Threadless has partnered up with original, personal storytelling site Fray.com, self-publishing site Blurb.com, and the film Stephen Tobolowsky’s Birthday Party, written by and starring famous character actor Tobolowsky (Groundhog Day, Deadwood, Heroes) as he tells fascinating stories from his life on-screen and off. Find out more about the contest theme, prizes, deadline and all those details here.

In addition to the Loves contest, Threadless has an ongoing open call for tee shirt design submissions.  Anyone can sign up, download a tee template and submit ideas, which are then evaluated by the Threadless community for seven days.   Tee shirt designs are selected by Threadless from the pool of the most popular designs as scored by the community.  If a design is selected for print by Threadless, the designer currently receives a payment $2000 in cash and a $500 Threadless gift certificate.

• Threadless.com
• Threadless Love’s True Stories Contest
• Threadless Retail

Just got my newsletter from the Bustline and read about another great contest. This one from Dr. Martens.

This is your chance to show the world your talent. Choose your canvas: the 8-hole or the 14-hole boot. Use pens, use paint, use whatever. Use your imagination. Dr. Martens provided some tools on their site. Or if you want, you can use your own. They will have two winners! One voted for by the people. The other chosen by a panel of industry insiders. You enter it. Dr. Martens will make them. You’ll see them in shops. Worldwide.

• Dr. Martens Site
• Dr. Martens Boot Design Contest
• Bust.com

I found the RetroMe through Fashionspace yesterday and had to post this great summer dress with the wrap around collar. This is called Holiday in St. Tropez and is available to order here. I think I love these big collars as much as I like peblums. Come to think of it, they’re very similar.

RetroMe is based in Poland and

updates a timeless look. Referring to the very best trends of past decades transfers in modern way leading motives of retro clothes. The latest collection is a fresh look at the 60s. In every dress you can find refined simplicity and precise cut to bring back 60’s-full silhouette. (from RetroMe)

I’ve been inspired by by visit to the Woodstock Museum this past weekend. I’m going to sell my fringed leather drawstring shoulder bag. If you’re interested in purchasing this piece of sixties nostalgia, please leave a comment for me here or email me at cath (at) allchic.com. and I’ll be happy to send you details. Otherwise look for it soon on my All Chic Shop. I just have to get busy with some more photos.

Much disappointment that the Ringo Starr Concert was cancelled last night at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts (the site of Woodstock). Apparently a truck carrying equipment for the band broke down at the Canadian border. We visited the museum (which was just okay) but the surrounding countryside was beautiful.

In anticipation of the Ringo Starr concert tomorrow night at Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center, I was looking for information about the Apple Boutique in London. I found this great post at Nicola’s Vintage Boutique’s Blog. She talks about “The Fool” and the rise and fall of the Apple Boutique.

On July 30th 1968 the Apple staff were told to open the doors the next day and give the stock away. John and Yoko were the first to go through the store, they walked away with arms full of merchandise that they piled into John’s Rolls Royce. Paul found one jacket and Ringo said he couldn’t find anything that fit. The giveaway was publicised in the newspaper and the next morning there was a line up outside the store three blocks long. There was no limit to how much stock people could take. It was so busy that they opened the basement so that customers could go right out the other side. (read more)

Sounds like fun!

Nicola has a terrific vintage shop at Etsy. Check out her 60’s Vintage Gauze Bohemian Balloon Sleeve Mini-Dress by margaret godfrey for Bagatelle.

tokidoki Dress $57

tokidoki is the Japanese-inspired lifestyle brand created in 2005 by Italian artist Simone Legno and his business partners Pooneh Mohajer and Ivan Arnold. tokidoki produces apparel and other products using art and iconic characters designed by Simone Legno.

Harajuku Lovers Plaid Dress $54.95 (Sale)

Harajuku (”meadow lodging”) is the common name for the area around Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan. The area is known internationally for its youth style and fashion. Harajuku street style is promoted in Japanese and international publications such as Kera, Tune, Gothic & Lolita Bible and Fruits.

The Coveted Shoppe has a wonderful pair of Pierre Cardin vintage gladiator-style sandals for sale.  These have a snake-embossed leather upper and a leather sole. Size 38 EUR and 7.5 US.

The thing I like about The Coveted Shoppe is that I always see something posted there that inspires me to resuscitate something that may be hidden in the back of my closet. Like this Disco Diva Satin Blouse which reminds me of a cranberry silk puffy sleeved blouse I have hanging in there somewhere.

Other reasons to love The Coveted:

1. You can spend hours getting lost in the The Coveted Blog.
2. The Coveted’s Ms. Jennie Tamm is also the founder of the fashion bloggers’ hub -  Independent Fashion Bloggers.

I saw this picture in the DailyMail yesterday and couldn’t stop thinking about it today as I dragged myself around town trying to run a few errands. The photo may be digitally enhanced but it’s still amazing that she’s 59 years old!

• Meryl Streep (IMDB)
• Mamma Mia (the movie)

In addition to her quirky line-drawing on T’s and hoodies, Myra Stuart from Tea and Oranges has a new collection - Tea and Oranges Sustain. This collection features exclusive one off pieces made from recycled materials. Handmade from start to finish, Myra creates fresh takes on classic garment shapes, prints, applique and embroidery constructed every garment and accessory using 100% recycled quality fabrics. Even the packaging is bio-degradable. 

If you’re lucky enough to live in London you can find Tea and Oranges Sustain at the Sunday UpMarket at The Old Truman Brewery.

• Interview with Myra Stuart, creator of Tea and Oranges 
• Tea and Oranges - Online Shop at FashionSpace.com - check out Sulky Susie T - my favorite!
• Tea and Oranges - Online Shop at TheHiddenWardrobe.com