Tuesday, June 28, 2011

IFB Project: haiku to my red coat

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IFB PROJECT #2: LET’S GET POETIC
A Haiku is a Japanese short poem made up of 3 phrases with 17 syllables in it divided into 5, 7, 5.
Example:
We come together
As independent bloggers
To share our knowledge

We want you to pick something out of your closet you love and write a haiku about it. Whether it be a pair of shoes or a dress, get creative!
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Wondrous red coat
Hidden silk taffeta swish
Waiting for cold nights
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I designed, draped, and sewed this coat my senior year at OTIS. It was for a project mentored by David Hayes.
Here is my illustration from then:

Check out the other entries on IFB.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Style Guide: Portland - Laurie Herrick at the Museum of Contemporary Craft

There is an amazing exhibition of weaver Laurie Herrick's work at the Museum of Contemporary Craft.
My favorite piece is this Shawl Coat from 1970:
It consists of two rectangles, each 54 x 25" that are folded crossways at shoulder and joined in center back for approximately 75" (this causes the cocoon effect).

I can't wait to try this out with some of my own fabric! 
I see it also working in silk, for a super drapey effect.

If you're in Portland, the show is up until July 30. 
Online, selected weaving drafts by Herrick will be available at the exhibition link for artists worldwide to interpret and share via Flickr. It will be interesting to see the results.

Greetings from Portland Oregon!

While online at my pal Lisa's desk at the HQ of Pendleton, I discovered that I made the IFB Project Roundup list with the post about my grandmother's dress.

[the next day]

Here is what Nubia wrote:
[dead linked photo removed]
"The amazing thing for me about wearing something with sentimental value is the feeling I get while wearing it. It brings back a specific memory of when it was given to me and it’s a beautiful thing. Perhaps everyone doesn’t feel the same way I do, but I believe it’s essential to cherish the smaller things in life. I’d pick something with a lot of value to me over something designer with no problem."

IFB PROJECT ROUND UP:

  1. Lost in Translation: Check out the story behind this charm bracelet Linda’s mother gave her for her birthday.
  2. Mon article préféré: An elegant YSL perfume bottle gifted from a loving mother.
  3. A Hidden Treasure: A lovely rhinestone bracelet gifted by a great grandmother.
  4. IFB Project: Heirlooms and Matchy-Matchy: A classic nova check Burberry blouse.
  5. Jewelry Box Tattoos: An adorable jewelry box with many lovely pieces inside including a meaningful bracelet.
  6. A Treasure Story: A gorgeous brooch gifted by a grandmother.
  7. IFB Project: A Sentimental Value Item: A ruffled silk blazer handed down by a mother.
  8. Never Out of Fashion: Doc Marten’s handed down by a father.
  9. Old Hats: How to Have had a grandfather as a hat collector, check it out.
  10. Something from my Closet: Why I love Vintage: A gold sequined purse from a Dutch mother in law.
  11. IFB Project: Heirloom Tomato: A hand tailored dress from British Hong Kong
  12. The IFB Project: Whiskey Dogs: A classic whiskey dog brooch.
Thanks to those who participated and I hope to see more next week. To see all the entries from this weeks project you can check here. Check back Friday for our next project.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Monday, June 20, 2011

IFB Project: Heirloom Tomato

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text:

My grandmother's hand tailored dress from British Hong Kong

The First IFB Project Task:


Find a prized possession a family member gave you. Something you hold near and dear to your heart. Whether it be a necklace, a blouse or even a piece of furniture. What makes it’s special to you?
My Aunt Ricky gave me this when I moved to Manhattan in 1977. It was her mother's (my paternal grandmother) and I think Aunt Ricky got it in the 60s. I'm not sure when my grandmother had this made. I would guess the 50s. It fits like a glove.
the detail on the neckline is beautiful
cool label
When I see this dress in the closet I think of my grandmother and how exotic she appeared to me. She passed away when I was very young (five or six) but I remember her distinctive regal air.
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See all the responses here on IFB

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Friend Friday: Summer Greens

Friend Friday. This is an opportunity for fashion and beauty bloggers to share their thoughts on a specific topic and read what others have to say on it. This week's subject is "share the recipe to your favorite seasonal dish.. the one you love to 
make and love to eat this time of the year."

Are you ready for...
the awesome sandwich 
one slice toasted whole wheat sour dough (I use Trader Joe's) cut in half

on left side:
goat cheese
slice of onion
grilled NM pepper (how to roast chiles on a grill) skin removed
cherry tomatoes

on right side:
pesto
garden greens (mustard, mizuna + cilantro)

I've been packing this sandwich for lunch at work for the past couple of weeks. YUM!

It's still too early for garden tomatoes, but my greens are at the perfect young and tender baby stage:

I have a whole other blog devoted to food and travel adventures. (In fact I have 6 blogs going right now! You can see the entire listing here on my website.)

And since this is my FASHION blog, here is SpyGirl with an Awesome Greens print:
I created the print by scanning some greens and then putting them in repeat
Click here on Modly Chic to read all the responses. You might want to read them AFTER you've eaten!

In 10 Minutes: 6-16

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new skirt with old apron
sewed the skirt up this morning. yeah, late for work

vintage cotton percale from ?
this was aching to be friends with the rose fabric

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

30 for 30: June/July

Kendi of Kendi Everyday came up with this great challenge:
1. Take 30 items in your closet. 2. Make 30 outfits.
She dubbed it 30 for 30.
My favorite Closet Community, Go Chic or Go Home is hosting a version of this, and I'm going to give it a whirl. At this point, I'm pulling items from my virtual closet onto my 30x30 page.
as you can see, I've got a brown/green/black/white color story developing
Scarves don't count in the tally of garments - at this point, I've got them there as reminders of what'll go with what. I'm thinking I'll take a more relaxed approach of: determining the 30 garments and tracking the 30 outfits BUT not trying to do it in 30 days. (Might not even post the outfits here until after I've finished.) I still need to upload pix of my leggings and such.
Will report back when I've finalized my 30!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Bloggers Do It Better: Neon + Neutrals

At first, I was going to pass on this challenge. The neutrals being shown with neon seem to be primarily beige tones. And I don't do beige. (Even though SpyGirl can wear whatever she wants, she doesn't do beige either.)
But then I got to thinking about my pink and ochre
Pinterest Board:

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And then it dawned upon me that BROWN is a neutral (duh).
You've seen me with brown and neon lime. How about neon peach?
Let the rummaging in my closet begin!

mens thrifted jacket, 80s
brown Magnolia Bakery tee
neon peach nylon/spandex bubble knit tube, F&S Fabrics, 80s
stripe knit tights, TJ Max, Seekonk, MA
crazy "western" Italian clogs from Hong Kong, 04
white shoes with brown + peach? why not?
bracelets that I got in the 80s, Jone Pasha's, Providence
they're African (Burkina Faso?) plastic woven + wrapped around straw
This is part of the Bloggers Do It Better series, hosted by Kristina at Pretty, Shiny, Sparkly.
Here is the neon link, where you'll see other responses on Friday, 6/17.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Style Report: Rhino Records Pop-up Store, Westwood, LA, CA

I went to the Rhino Pop-up store four nights this year.
Good times!
Not only is there great shopping and great deals:
ah! at last! the cure for my insomnia!
And great performances:
part of Kristian Hoffman's Paisley Pop Cavalcade
But there are some very stylish folks:
Anny Celsi - buy her CD!
Timur browses for bargains with a gal in groovy paisley
Kool Kid
Bold Hair
Kristian Hoffman's Paisley Pop Cavalcade - style incarnate
cute Tee detail
ageless style
If you live in LA, you can still catch some deals and gigs through this Sunday:
Danny Benair Record Club 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 11, 2011
Baked Spaghetti Brothers 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 11, 2011
Iron Tom 8:00 p.m. Saturday, June 11, 2011
Alain Johannes 9:00 p.m. Saturday, June 11, 2011
Postwar Quartet 1:30 p.m. Sunday, June 12, 2011
The Rave Ups 2:15 p.m. Sunday, June 12, 2011
Trotsky Icepick 3:00 p.m. Sunday, June 12, 2011
Everpresent Fullness 4:00 p.m. Sunday, June 12, 2011
Wayne Kramer 5:00 p.m. Sunday, June 12, 2011
The Chlorox Girls 5:30 p.m. Sunday, June 12, 2011
He's My Brother She's My Sister 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 12, 2011
The Fling 7:45 p.m. Sunday, June 12, 2011


It's all in support for MusiCares, an organization that provides musicians with services and resources that cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies.
Go shop for a good cause!
noon-10pm

In 10 Minutes: 6-10

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This outfit came together accidentally.
3 events for the day: hospital appt, work + Motels gig @ Rhino Popup Store

I started with the skirt + black leggings + cmyk socks, thinking I was going to don the "clown" look While looking for the clown tee, I came across this Paul Frank flying V tank top. Better than the clown -- a guitar theme for gig!
The head thing is a fluffy red + lurex scarf that I tied onto my head 80s style. (With my short hair, my head gets cold at work when the AC kicks in). Originally I was going to use a Barbie Pink silk scarf, but found this first. 
top half of outfit, shot using Mac Photobooth with oh so attractive blue computer glow. you can read the work-inappropriate verbiage on the top
Nobody seemed to notice what my Tee said (probably a good thing). It gave me strength dealing with a very mean nurse @ hospital.
@ hospital. what's up with the foot graphic? watch this
the whole look at the No Tomatoes food truck outside of Rhino
And how was the gig? The Motels ROCK!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

In 10 Minutes: 6-6

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It was a case of what pair of leggings was still clean that caused this combination. I usually pair this dress with a black tee and leggings, but all I had were the burgundy. The brown tee was "close enough"

mexican neon yellow scarf
magnolia bakery (NYC) tee
Fred Segal skirt (circa 1998) repurposed into dress
burgundy leggings - free sample from work
wool stripe sox - TJ Max, Seekonk, MA
Sanitas brown mary jane clogs, NYC
too bad this graphic is on the back of the tee --
it coordinates so well with dress print!

so true, don't you think?
I'll be wearing this tee again on Sunday when I'm hosting a "Private Cupcake Tasting Event" in conjunction with my current art exhibition at TAG Gallery.
If you live Los Angeles - adjacent, consider attending! All you need to do is show up at the gallery bearing 2-4 gourmet cupcakes per guest. It will be an afternoon of pure gluttony, beginning at 2pm, Sunday, June 12.
Bergamot Station Art Complex, D3, 2525 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA.
free parking (a rare thing in Santa Monica)

If you're on FB, there is an event page here

Full Time Fabulous: My Take on Spring/Summer 2011 Trends

the mission: use as inspiration one (or more) of the Spring/Summer 2011 trends and create a visual post using that inspiration.

the result:
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the sources:
this image has stuck in my mind ever since I saw it on
Wrinkle in Time's blog 
click here to see more beautiful shots of the outfit
I must make that skirt
found this recently on Pinterest.
Dreamy. Source: Creature Comforts
I love this look. I recolored the tee. Source: Bri Emery
for a pop of red, I added my latest clog lust

See other results from this blog event here
Full Time Fabulous created by Kristy