I Chose Two Men of Style This Week...

It's men of style week, for me anyway!  I had fun looking for Blair Underwood in his stylish duds and it's been a while since I posted that blog.

I have two men of style this week.  They're both actors.  The challenge for me in the future is to find men of style in other sectors of society.  Television and magazines really do influence us; we mostly see and hear quite a bit on the entertainment industry.

Who doesn't know Denzel Washington?  A husband of a lovely lady, Pauletta, a father of four children, an accomplished actor, and, I must say, a man of style!

 

www.seejackshop.com

 From my research, Denzel seems not to be a fussy dresser, but he dresses in contemporary easy pieces which are suitable and fashionable for a mature man.  I enjoyed watching him act in the movies Glory and The Book of Eli, both excellent movies.  These are only two of many Denzel's been in.

The second man of style this week is Anthony Mackie.  I recognized his face, but didn't know his name until yesterday.  He's acted in many movies, a few of which I've seen and enjoyed.  Anthony has acted in Eagle Eye (I saw it - very good!), Freedomland (I want to see it!), and We are Marshall (a football movie- it's also good!).

Photo by James Edstrom, www.timessquaregossip.com

http://sandrarose.com

Anthony has a modern and fun urban sophisticate  sense of fashion.  I like how he puts the seperates together.  Looks like he likes to experiment, and he does it successfully.

Two thumbs up for two well-dressed men.  Till next blog!

Long Skirts are Back!

I am so happy to say that long skirts are back in fashion.  Spring 2011 and fall 2011 include this clothing style among the others for both seasons.  I read that it was in vogue from fall 2010, but I just found out today.  Am I ever glad.  I find the skirts one inch below the knee or longer much more comfortable to wear.  No need to worry about too much leg showing when sitting.

Now I'll have to buy some inexpensive fabrics and make a couple flowing a-line skirts for myself.  Right now I have a few business look straight calf-length skirts.  My fun side has to come out.  Here are a few of the long skirt styles I find fashionable:

www.chadwicks.com

http://shopping.aol.com

by Dries Van Nortan, www.handbagsfile.com

www.tipjunkie.com

www.globaltextiles.com

Till next blog!

Simple Designs with a Twist

It's March break and almost spring.  Is it me, or did this winter go by much faster than last year?  I honestly can't believe my teens have completed half of the school year already! 

It's apparent that people, overall, prefer clothes with clean lines, clothes with no fuss (example, the t-shirt, the denim jean, the slim skirt).  I may not understand why some people don't want to experiment with different silhouettes, but I guess it makes life a lot more simple; streamlined clothes are easier to mix and match (especially solid colored clothes), and many people have other things to think about besides clothes.

This past week I focused on simplicity.  I like to make unusual and unique clothes, but I'm trying to reign myself in, for a few months anyway.  I'm finally sewing for myself as well.  I don't usually sew for me, I prefer to serve others, but this year I decided to remember myself as well.  Here are a couple of samples of tops and a hat. 

 

 

 

                             by SK Clothes   www.wix.com/skclothes/SK

The printed top was a much wider and long sleeved top.  I took off 6 inches from the sides in total and cut the sleeves, but before this was done, I placed a print design made by my son on it.  He said it looked like an antique print.  I think he liked the result, but he'd like it on regular t-shirts.  I like the sleeveless top.  My twist on it, of course, was trimming the armhole and neckline with a brown and tan print polyester fabric.  I decided to make the belt last minute to add interest.  I love my ruffle hat design as well, and I will be wearing this alot. I serged the flower applique with brown thread.  There's a black and brown theme going on with all 3 designs, isn't there?  This happened naturally...


Till next blog!

Wow, I'd Like One - Sweet Blouses

I was doing research to see what was selling and what wasn't.  As people aren't buying as much as they used to, I was curious to find out what was selling the most as opposed to the least.  I'm not finished as yet, but while I was on eBay.com, I saw some beautiful ladies blouses.

Colorful, innovative, very feminine.  Eye-candy.

Silk Geometer Tunic Blouse, Anthropologie, www.ebay.ca

 

Lil Surprise Soiree Top, Anthropologie, www.ebay.ca

 

 

 

 

Grey Cone Twist Tank, Anthropologie, www.ebay.ca

C. Keer It's a Cinch Top, Anthropologie, www.ebay.ca

These blouses are Anthropologie blouses, but you can purchase them for a lower price on eBay.  Anthropologie's website is  www.anthropologie.com.  Those of you with an eye for original women's tops, dresses and skirts and can afford the price, enjoy.  The rest of us can check out eBay for sale prices on Anthropologie items.

Till next blog!

A Visit to the 1940's - Fashion

This week I'm focusing on the fashion of the early 1900's, specifically the 1940's.  This is the time that my grandparents would have been around the ages of 20 to maybe 35 years of age.  I've decided to take a "visit" to one of the decades of their youth.

Let's take a brief fashion photo tour of the 1940's.  These clothes were what  people were wearing about 60 years ago...

www.boerner.net

 

http://thisrecording.com

 

Taffeta holiday dress, http://cgi.ebay.com

 

www.bakati.com

 

www.eiu.edu

www.vintageswank.com

Time sure does fly.  One 82 year old woman told me that it didn't seem that long ago when she was a young woman, and she's surprised at how quickly the decades have passed.  I'm starting to understand...

Till next blog.

Sophisticated Black Clothing for Any Occasion

"A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance;"  (Eccl.  3:4)

Black is a sophisticated color.  It must be one of the most popular colors next to "denim jean" blue.  Black can be worn for many occasions whether joyful, sad, or business related.  I chose to look at black clothing  in honor of an older generation relative that passed this week.  This is also in remembrance of those in my family born in the early 1900's who passed in previous years. 

by Limi Feu, 2009, http://forums.thefashionspot.com

 

http://woment.fashionbeans.com

Ladies suit, www.aliepress.com

I suppose I'll focus on early 1900's clothing next week in continued remembrance.  Here's to all the seasons of life.  Till next blog...

A Popular African American Designer: Tracy Reese

African American female fashion designers that are recognized are few.  But then I mean "recognized" in terms of nationally.  There are many talented African American fashion designers that haven't made the "big time" as yet, but are very popular among their circles.  My research for recognized designers thus far has brought me to Tracy Reese, one of the top Black designers as well as one of the top American designers.

Tracy Reese was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1964.  She grew up in a family of women who loved to sew.  Tracy studied fashion at Parsons, and upon graduating, worked for Sitbon, Perry Ellis and Magaschoni.  In 1995 she had the opportunity to start her own clothing line, and in 2006 Tracy opened her first flagship store.  Tracy is still creating fantastic designs today. Tracy's website is www.tracyreese.com.

by Tracy Reese (2007)  http://the-ghett-fashionista.onsugar.com

by Tracy Reese (2009) http://fashion.about.com

 

Till next blog!