The Blues

B H L D N

I am blue because sadly these lovelies are all out of my budget :(

Time Traveling : 1960s

Some days I like to time travel with my outfits. I love the 1960s fashion scene! I found a really fun video about it and had to share it. Now everyone can time travel with me! :)

D a c e

"Light,
Airy,
Natural,
Free"

If I had to choose, these would be the words I would use to describe the mood I am trying to incorperate in my personal style and in my spring fashion designs this year. So naturally when I stumbled upon the work of Dace Moore I instantly fell in love. Not only with her fashion, which convey a sense of classic femininity, but with her marketing. Perhaps it is terrible that the image and video I have chosen to showcase of Dace are a year (and a few seasons) old, but I was enraptured by them. When I have time to do a little heavier browsing I will post some things from the 2011 collection. If you have a minute be sure and watch the video!

A Break from Midterms.

It has been awhile since I have harnessed my creative energy into a sewing/craftsey project. Well actually, with this semester's emphasis on GE's, political sciences, and international relations, it has been a while since I have harnessed my creative energy at all in the field of art. (Part of the reason I needed to look through images to get my creative juices flowing. (If you don't know what I am talking about, read the post directly below this one.))

To help let off some steam in between my studies, I decided to start sewing a dress I have wanted to make for quite sometime now. However, because it is the season of midterms (Yay...) it will probably be a while before it is complete.

It Was Made For Me.

I love it when life hands you an unexpected gift, no matter how small or simple it may be. I find that often the small and simple ones are the best. :) I hope that I am never so occupied with something or so caught up in a self absorbed trap that I lose the ability to notice when life gives me these simple but sweet presents.

This gift was presented to me last week, when my schedule consisted of tests, projects, studying for more tests, and, surprise, taking more tests. (Maybe it was a token for not committing suicide on the spot...who knows?) I was in the library studying for these tedious life suckers known as tests (I say "life suckers" with full certainty...I gave up an MC Hammer/Vanilla Ice concert after party to study and get a good night's rest!) when I decided to take a break and walk around. Somehow, I ended up in the "Fashion Photography" isles, an area of the library I was unaware even existed until I stumbled upon it. While briefly skimming over the vast tomes (a.k.a really big books) my eyes locked on one particular book. It was the name that was what caught my attention. Stamped across the top in big bold letters were the words "GRACE," my last name! The book contained land marks of vogue, beautiful illustrations, advertisements, dresses and everything else fashion that was worth remembering in the magazine's history. Did I mention that my last name was the title of this treasure?! In the end I couldn't part with it just then and ended up carrying all 500 pounds of it home with me.

Dior and Pretty Have Always Gone Hand in Hand.

I discovered this video a little while ago and am just now getting around to doing a post on it. Sofia Coppola and Christian Dior partnered up to direct an add for the latest Miss Dior Cherie fragrance. To say the least...I love it!!!! I hope to see Dior (and possibly other designers) work more with Sophia! I feel that she brought a youthful, fun, fresh perspective into an iconic brand. Well done!

P.S. Warning, the song from this video will get stuck in your head!

Get Off Michelle's Back!

(Sorry this topic is a couple of days old I know, when I wrote it it was current, I have been so busy lately that I haven't had time to post things. However, seeing as I am still pretty fired up about this I am choosing to post it regardless.)

There is always something that people are whining about isn't there? Michelle Obama has been greatly criticized for not including African-American designers in her inaugural wardrobe by the BAA. (Even though she has already displayed many different and often overlooked American talents...I guess it doesn't count?....) Maybe this is fashion blasphemy for me to say, but should what the First Lady wears really be such a political obligation? Fashion is an extension of our personalities; it is a way of expression, why should she be forced to wear what she may not like simply because the designers are African Americans? As designer B. Michael said, fashion is subjective and a matter of personal choice.

It really does seem silly that many are making such a big deal out of this. Do you see Barack's suites making headlines?! No! Because we are more concerned with how he can help our country. Why should this be any different for Michelle? I for one do not want someone in her position just to be a "wall flower." She is a woman who has received a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law, served as the Assistant to the Mayor in Chicago, and as an Executive Director for the Chicago office of Public Allies. Before I would ever have the nerve to ask her to change her style to something I felt was better, I would ask that she offer something great to this country. I would ask that she be the Eleanore Roosevelt of our day, it's obvious we need one!

In all honesty I am getting sick of the color thing. The inauguration was a historic moment that was cherished by nearly everyone regardless of color or politics. The Black Artist Association (BAA) needs to find something more justifiable to complain about. Isabel Toledo and Jason Wu (two of the lucky designers who designed Michelle's inaugural attire) are also minorities hoping to give their careers and passions wings. Should Cuban and Asian designers be less favored to African American ones? Really, isn't making a point to select a designer based on skin color, black or not, considered discrimination?! Our political correctness has become a double standard, and it is both tragic and frustrating.

Today I have my eyes on...

Okay well actually I have had my eyes on this for awhile it just so happened that today I found my antique victorian moon and star locket for under 200 dollars on eBay. Though it was a good deal for an antique gold filled necklace with real stones it was still a little pricey for me today:(

More Random Ramblings: Something About Dresses That Twirl

Ever since I was little girl (even when I was going through my long lived tom-boy phase where dresses were the last thing I wanted to deal with) I have always loved dresses and skirts that full on whirl and twirl when you spin in them. I am not sure why, maybe it is because you can never not feel pretty while wearing them (not just pretty, but also sexy Marilyn Monroe proves this in "The Seven Year Itch!"), they can be both fun and glamorous (many times they combine the two) and being that I am a fan of twirling I believe this is a big reason behind my love of this style of dress; They embellish the already fun action of "twirling!"

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Three things:

1. Corinne, after all she did help me wrap my wrist up tonight, with a "whatever it is called band aid" that unlike its boring comrades that are a dull tan color, is purple!

2. Stars

3. The Moon.

30 Years of Painting the Town Pink---Happy 30th Betsey!

As I mentioned earlier I am a Betsey Johnson fanatic! It is her 30th year in the fashion business! 30 years and she is just as dynamite now as she was when she first started! If you go to this site there is an amazing article on her life and her works:

http://www.betseyjohnson.com/images/wwd_milestones.pdf

I really, really, really want her Layla B-day shoes, from her anniversary collection!
Anyone want to lend me 225 dollars? :(

Little Somethings Catching My Eye Today

When it comes to designers I try not to worship names. However I have long loved Betsey Johnson. She has a corkey crazy character that often reflects in her designs. I love almost every thing Betsey puts on the market.

My Sentiments Exactly

This pretty much sums me up in the morning....

Hambone and Jennicakes, $24

Classic things that never die...

Pearls:
Be they gathered, single stranded,

in a ring, or broach these babies are timeless!

Pumps

The Little Black Dress


Scarves


Red Lipstick