Pattern Blindness

Yeah, I know this is kind of a funny combination - funny little abstract floral with snake skin.  But the colours work so well together I couldn't resist.  

I'm pretty petrified of snakes, actually, but I've been trying to work on my tolerance.  It's really not the big crazy exotic snakes that I find the worst, it's the little garter snakes and water snakes that horrify my the most.  I recently made a dress that incorporated real snake skins, and I got over my initial disgust of them, so I'm certainly not going to let a little squeamishness get in the way of enjoying some yellow snake print pants!

November Rain

It was just another thrilling Saturday night this weekend, flipping through the channels, when I came across something on Much Music - I think it was the Top 100 videos of the 1990's.  I was about to change the channel when I noticed that Guns 'n' Roses November Rain was starting and I realized that I probably haven't watched the entire video since a junior high dance.  It's pretty awesome, of course, and when it came to the wedding scene I was struck by the thought "I can't believe I haven't had a customer ask me for this dress!"  I've done similar dresses, but nothing literally based on this picture, and it seems pretty chic and current in a way.

Today I had a consultation with a girl I've made three dresses for in the last year.  She's getting married this summer and she bought her dress in LA (Elie Saab), and we are making dresses for her sister and bridesmaids, and she wanted to talk about a dress for her engagement photo shoot.  And what does she pull out of her folder?  THIS DRESS!  This actual screen cap.  I just started laughing.  It was so perfect.  OK, she wants it in red, and with no sleeves (good call).  But how's that for timing?  I told her my story and she thought it was great, so we are both pretty excited about the dress!

Islands - A Sleep And A Forgetting

Island are playing next week in Vancouver and I'm so excited!  I've been listening to the new album, A Sleep And A Forgetting, all night, and it's amazing.  My favorite so far!  I remember when Nick was just the little kid brother that most of my friends thought was a dork.  I knew he'd prove them wrong!

You can listen to the whole album here.  I'm going to buy the CD and the record at the concert, as it seems that there really are no record stores any more.  I'd have to drive all the way across town, and with the price of gas, I think I'll wait a couple of days until the show.

Oh, the more I listen to this song, below, the closer it comes to making my cry!

Roaring Twenties

From The Artist to Boardwalk Empire to the next season of Downton Abbey and the new Baz Luhrmann version of The Great Gatsby later this year, it feels like this 1920's moment isn't going away for a while.  I've been seeing so many editorials with a twenties theme, I thought I'd go back to the source for some inspiration.  And while the sparkly beaded evening numbers steal the show, there's something about the graphic daywear like the example below right that I wish would show up in the H&M knockoffs - if not real vintage at the thrift store.  Wouldn't that be a dream come true?

Which reminds me, I think the Museum of Vancouver has an exhibit on Art Deco design opening this month.  I might even be able to get Karl to come with me to that.

Spring Seersucker

At work last week we made a couple of seeksucker pieces for a customer, and it got me thinking about what a fantastic fabric it can be - the ultimate spring and summer cotton.  A few quick facts via Wikipedia: the name comes from the Persian "shir o shakkir", meaning "milk and sugar" which refers to the alternating smooth and nubby texture of the stripes.  It was used in the hot climates of the British colonies, and then by poor workers in the American South, until college students started wearing it in the 1920's in the tradition of appropriating a look from the working classes - those rebels!  Now the preppy associations continue every summer.  Did you know that the US Senate hold a Seersucker Thursday every June?  See it to believe it!

So I might be expanding my seersucker wardrobe this summer.  I have one blouse, but a skirt, a pair of shorts?  Pedalpushers?  We'll see...

Fashion Pioneers

 Aren't these old photographs of pioneer women amazing?  When you think about how hard they worked, physically, and the rough conditions, and the exposure to the elements, isn't it wild to think that they did all that in heavy cotton or wool dresses with full skirts.  We are so used to specialized garments with stretch, wicking, padding, protection; tailor made for each and every activity.  Not to mention the shoes!  No ergonomic insoles or Thinsulate.  And these women worked harder every day from dawn till dusk than I do in a month!  Look like they took pride in their style too, doesn't it?

In the Details

 A close up of the embroidery from the cardigan from the last post, cameo ring, fave nail polish.

Two necklaces that share colours and look best worn together, interestingly.

Vintage Cardigan : Short Form

Everything about this cardigan gave me the tingles when I saw it at the thrift store yesterday.  Soft soft cashmere, lovely teal colour, tiny hooks down the front and at the side slits, white satin piping, detailed embroidery, made in Hong Kong, the cropped silhouette.  Oh, and the $2 price tag.  It's my most special find in a long time, and it's in perfect condition, which makes me want to make up a story about its history.  It's what, late 50's - early 60's?  How did you make it to Vancouver unsullied, to a little charity thrift store on the east side, sweet little sweater?  I'm happy that it will be appreciated now, for many years to come.  I mean, could there be a more perfect spring sweater?

The Book Surgeon

Have you seen this?  Artist Brian Dettmer creates amazing works of art using old books, meticulously glued together and carved away to expose hidden world within. Some pieces feature several books joined together, but feature only original pages with nothing added or moved around.  It's a whole different way of looking at a book, isn't it?  I'd never really thought about what you might see if you applied selective X-ray vision to a book.  It's worth a click to see the rest of the series here.

Goodness Gowns

Percentage of photos I save that feature gowns: 87

Percentage of days of my life that I wear gowns: 0.0039

Why?

Gotye

I stopped watching music video channels on TV with any regularity circa 2005; I guess that's when I officially got old.  I'm not very up on the popular music, but I heard an interview with this guy Gotye (pronounced like Gaultier) on the radio today.  Then I read about him in the paper an hour later, and the description of this video sounded kind of intriguing, so I looked it up.  Turns out I have heard the song, don't know where, but it's really catchy, and the video is right up my alley: simple, painted.  Apparently the artwork is based on pieces by his father who is a painter.  I think I'll check out the rest of his album - lately the only new music I get is workout music!

Abstract Beauty - Rossy de Palma

Spanish actress Rossy de Palma might just have the best profile ever.  I remember seeing her years ago in a Gypsy-inspired editorial, you know when they have a couple of models and then a cast of "characters" to add some interest and authenticity?  I thought she looked way cooler than any of the models and totally stole every shot.  I've never seen any of her movies, but now that's on my list. 

 

What an extraordinary face!  I read somewhere that she's like a Picasso portrait come to life, and there's some truth to that.  In design class we learned about how the human eye naturally find symmetry beautiful which is why most models have amazingly symmetrical faces.  But when you look at Rossy de Palma's decidedly uneven face, it's so interesting and striking.

Terracotta

I got this nail-polish, Terracotta by Sally Hansen, the other day, and it's such a weird colour.  Sometimes I think it's ugly, but when I realized that what it really resembles is foundation that is too dark for me, I liked it better.  I borrowed this photo from another website because I couldn't take a picture of my own nail that showed the colour accurately, and she has much prettier nails!

Below is the nail colour I was inspired by, but I couldn't find anything like it, and I guess I kind of forgot what I was looking for.  Next time I see nail-polish deeply on sale, I'll look for this greyer shade.  I did enjoy the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure product though - perfect viscosity, cool angled brush, and it seems to last well.