One Popular Color for Spring '11

Watching t.v. in the past week, I noticed a lot of coral clothing on women, whether it be an infomercial, a reality show, or commercial.  The color seems to fit most, if not all, skin tones.  It's a pleasant color.  I don't generally like the color orange for clothing, but, for me,  this shade is soft, warm, acceptable.  It's one of the colors for spring 2011. 

Coral Kaftan Dress by Missoni, www.osoyou.com

Ribbed Tank, www.cgi.ebay.com.sg

by Monsoon, www.fashion-era.com

I adore the kaftan dress!  It's sooo 70's.  Till next blog!

A Few Designs That Caught My Eye...

Over the weeks I've seen clothing and accessories that caught my eye.  I didn't get a chance to post the pictures, so today I'm posting them.

by Isabel Toledo, http://au-fashionglam.com

by Atsuro Tayama, http://red-luxury.com

 by BCBG Max Azri, www.select2gether.com

North Sandal by Jimmy Choo, www.shoebunny.com

I adore the the avante garde look and the complicated construction of the red gown by Isabel Toledo.  The grey ensemble and the red and blue dress I would wear tomorrow.  The shoe, called the North Sandal (I love the name, and it does look like a northern shoe) looks very comfortable to me despite the thin heel.  I do not do heels, unless I'm being driven to where I have to go, but I'd walk a bit of a distance in this shoe. 

Till next blog!

Incredible Edible Dresses!

There is always something to make a person excited no matter what age you are.  There is always something new to surprise you no matter how long you've lived. I've seen clothes designing challenges on Project Runway where the contestants had to make a garment  using plants and gardening equipment, and in another season, the contestants used car parts for their designs.  The contestants made lovely designs overall.  Well, I've found a designer that's made beautiful dresses using vegetables and fruit. 

Sung Yeon Ju has a collection called Wearable Foods.  Just look at his incredible talent.  I'm very excited about clothing made from unconventional materials.

by Sung Yeon Ju, http://geniusbeauty.com

by Sung Yeon Ju, http://geniusbeauty.com

The blue dress was made using red cabbage and gum.  The white dress was made using radishes.  What a talent!  These "dresses" are absolutely beautiful!  You have to check the website above for more edible dresses from this designer.

Another incredible outfit  (it's made with conventional material):

by Toshikazu Iwaya, www.torontosun.com

This spectacular dress is colorful and detailed; the time to construct this dress must have taken many hours (like the edible dresses). This was a part of Toshikazu's fall/winter 2009/10 collection shown at Paris Fashion Week.  Toshikazu Iwaya is a Japanese designer whose collections I will be looking for in the future.

Till next blog!

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!