Sparkle this Fall:)

Soooo I haven't posted in a very very very very long time and as Fall is approaching and Fashion Week is in tow, I realize that I need to embrace the upcoming season.  

So the first item I want want want for my fall wardrobe is a SEQUIN SKIRT!  I think J. Crew nailed it with their sequin skirt.  I love how it is gathered at the waist and is overflowing with sparkling sequins. Unfortunately this one is sold out online, even at $275.00

The mixing and matching of a flashy sequin skirt with cotton cardigans, military flak jackets, belted flannel and oxford shirts, is a way to make a statement during the day but keep it casual....who though you could mix and match like this.

I definitely want to rock the sequin skirt out with a pair of moto boots:)  Bring on Fall.

Spring Quilting

So I have been begging my mother to send me pics of the quilts she has been making.  I have been so busy and haven't had time to even blog, let alone quilt.  So I am living vicariously through my mother wishing I could make something as beautiful as the quilts below.  Some day:)

I love all the colors and prints in the quilts, especially the floral quilt above.....hint hint Mom, make me one please or give me that one:)!!!   The colors and patterns reminded me of colors from Rachel Comey's Spring 2010 collection--and since the days are getting longer and brighter, I am ready for Spring!  Below are some pics I pulled from Style.com of her collection.  I love how easy and comfortable her clothes are to wear, using cottons and silks with beautiful drapes and mixing prints. 

Hearts!

So in anticipation for the movie release of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland on March 5th and this past Valentine's weekend, I am making this blog all about HEARTS and the color RED!

I can't wait to see Helena Bonham Carter as the Queen of Hearts and Johnny Depp is sure to add a twist to the Mad Hatter.  To my knowledge, this is not a re-make of Alice in Wonderland but a sequel, where she returns to Wonderland as a young adult ready to discover her true purpose to her double life in this other world.

I wonder what new adventures she will find in this Wonderland!

So in honor of the movie, I pulled a few items from my wardrobe that
were reminiscent of the Queen of Hearts! 

    This is one of my favorite cropped jackets I just got over my Christmas Holiday in London.  Thanks to my boyfriend Matt and his mom Clare, who surprised me with it after I drooled / fawned over it in a vintage shop.    It is black and white tweed wool with red trim and by Miss Feraud.  I am guessing it's from the 1960's.  I wore it with my black knit mini dress I have had forever from Zara's
and my favorite red wool hat that I literally wear everyday.

Here is another pic I did a little photoshop sketch effect to....

I could maybe be in a modern storybook...ummmmm well maybe not:)

This is my new heart necklace from my mom for Valentine's Day!  She sent it over a week ago and it finally came on Tuesday.... NYC mail, that happens.  The heart is made from glass, and the necklace is made from different kinds of red ribbon.  It is so colorful and fun, I had to have something fun to wear with it.  If only I had worn this on Valentine's day....

-L 

oh yes---a special thanks to Matt, my loving, considerate boyfriend who took the time to be my photographer despite all of my critiques!

Welcome to Planet Gaga

Ok so last night, I watched the 2010 Grammy's. The Grammy's is my favorite award show. Not only do I love, love love music....I love, love, love CRAZY fashion. Everyone was waiting in anticipation to see what Lady Gaga would wear.....and in my opinion she made an incredible statement as always. Created by Armani, she appeared at the Grammy's, beamed down from Planet Gaga. I am curious to know what these dresses are made out of, because they are definitely not from planet earth! I pulled these images from Celebrity-Gossip.net. Check out this site for more crazy Gaga and Grammy photos!

I will have to say, I felt sorry for the guy sitting behind her......his view was slightly obstructed:)

So in honor of Planet Gaga and the out-of-this world theme, I thought I would post a few costumes I made while in school.

Do you think this is Gaga-esque? It is made from white, black. and grey duct tape and screen material you use for windows. All purchased at Ace Hardware.

This I like to call my "Mushroom" dress. It is make from novelty fabrics, stuffed with poly-fill for shape.

Using Lady Gaga as a muse, you can go crazy!! Maybe I should break one of these looks out for Halloween next year!

Before, I end this post, I wanted to highlight a blog I have just discovered called, Clothes, Cameras, and Coffee. I not only love this blog for the title, Roz has very interesting posts, not only insightful when it comes to fashion and art, but life too. Visit her blog to see all of her DIY fashion projects. She definitely inspired me.

-Laura

Color to the Cold

So recently, I have been watching a lot of the 90's show "Northern Exposure," which I got off of Netflix. I use to watch this show a lot when I was little with my mom and still love it. It is set in Cicely, (sounds like Sicily), a small city in Alaska. For me, this series epitomizes what America is. I love how all the characters feel authentic, making you as a veiwer feel as if you know them and may even live in Cicely yourself. I especially love the argumentative yet flirty relationship between fish-out of water doctor from NYC Dr. Joel Fleischman and independent feminist local bush pilot, Maggie O'Connell.

I am half way thru season 2 now on my netflix dvds, always sympathizing with Ed and gushing over Chris (played by John Corbett), and I started to notice all the different colors in the landscapes of Alaska and the functional yet fashionable wardrobe of this small town. Originally airing in the 90's, it definitely inspires some of the fall/winter fashion trends of this season. I especially enjoyed a lot of the bright color trends of the early 90's mixed with the need for function in a cold, rural landscape. I pulled a few photos, which remind me of Northern Exposure and the Alaskan culture / way of life---bringing color to the cold...

These looks are from the Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall 09 Collection on style.com.

I love the bright tartan prints layered with the washed and indigo blues. The jackets have a fitted menswear look, reminding me of Maggie in a way. How can the heavy fur boots not scream Alaska!

The moss color "lift off" jacket from Daughters of the Liberation (left), cotton checkered tunic (center), beaded wooded clasp belt (right) can all be found at Anthropologie.

I would love this look layered with some black leggings, long grey wooly knee-high socks, and heavy black army boots. The pattern of the belt clashing with the checker print of the dress adds just a little bit of whimsy and fun.

These last looks are from Gina Michele on Etsy! The first two looks have the color pops of the early 90's. I loved the criss-cross pattern on the oversized sweater (left). It looks warm and happy. The rainbow wrap sweater cinched at the waist is my ode to Shelly on Northern Exposure, who is a young spunky waitress who always serves advice with a side of fries and a beer. Last, I love the navajo pattern on the handbag (right), I might just have to get this myself!

After reviewing these photos, can you tell I have a thing for red:) This makes me want to sew the buttons back on my vintage red and black buffalo plaid hunting jacket so I can wear it out:)

I hope you enjoy!

-Laura

What I'm Reading...

So before Christmas, I borrowed this really, really big biography from my friend Kelsi on Edna St. Vincent Millay called Savage Beauty by Nancy Milford. I would have to say I normally stick to fiction in the semi funny realm with a little bit of romantic suspense, girl getting guy, rediscovering what her real purpose is in the world---examples: Emily Giffin's Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Love the One Your With, or Cecil Ahern's P.S. I Love You which was made into a movie with Gerard Butler.....can you say YUMMY! Anyway, my sister Leah always says they are not REAL BOOKS. Well if a biography isn't a real book, I don't know what is...

Edna St. Vincent Millay was a poet/playwright in the 1920's who embraced the bohemian lifestyle, with many love affairs, breaking with conventions of the time. I am not that far into the book, but I am already addicted. I wish I could read quicker. I have made it to Vincent at the age of 20 when she wrote her poem "Renascence." I love the first and last verses...

First Verses: ALL I could see from where I stood
Was three long mountains and a wood;
I turned and looked the other way,
And saw three islands in a bay.
So with my eyes I traced the line	5
Of the horizon, thin and fine,
Straight around till I was come
Back to where I’d started from;
And all I saw from where I stood
Was three long mountains and a wood.	10
Over these things I could not see:
These were the things that bounded me;
And I could touch them with my hand,
Almost, I thought, from where I stand. Last Verses: The world stands out on either side No wider than the heart is wide; Above the world is stretched the sky,— 205 No higher than the soul is high. The heart can push the sea and land Farther away on either hand; The soul can split the sky in two, And let the face of God shine through. 210 But East and West will pinch the heart That can not keep them pushed apart; And he whose soul is flat—the sky Will cave in on him by and by. I pulled these verses from Millay's poem from bartleby.com For me, I don't know if I fully understand what she is saying, but... I get an overwhelming, lost feeling.....but this feeling is a good kind of scary. Like when you get lost on a road trip, but find new and exciting things and then realize being lost is kind of fun. I guess the main point for me is to always expect the unexpected but to always know that the sky is only as high as you make it....and maybe you can go higher than the sky..... I know it sounds corny, but after a rough week, it kind of helped me. Anyway enough blabbering. Check out a few of Millay's poems or if you are looking for something new to read, take a look at her biography. Have an awesome weekend!

A New Year.....A New ME????

Ok so it is mid- January now and I have finally tried to start on some of my New Year resolutions. It took a while to get up the motivation:) Hell it took over a week just to unpack my giant suitcase after getting back from Christmas in London and New Years in good ol' Wisconsin. Here it goes anyway...

Resolution #1

Eat Better---I have been cooking more---made scallops for the first time ever on Tuesday. Who knew they only take 10 Mins. I used Barefoot Contessa's recipe for Scallops Provencal. They were delicious even after I substituted margarine for butter. Which is better for you anyway anymore?? I can't remember now... Is margarine better than butter or not?...oh well.

Resolution #2

Work Out More--- This goes with Resolution #1. My sister recommended Jillian Micheals: 30 Day Shred. Well, the DVD was still in the Barnes and Noble Bag and in plastic wrap up until this Monday collecting dust. I bought the DVD mid-December in anticipation of my holiday eating habits. I am still on Level 1 for the 4th day but going strong:)

Resolution #3

Be a Little Less of a Mess---well being a mess could mean a lot of things. Pick up the apartment more, do the dishes, vacuum, maybe spend a little more time on my appearance, hair, make-up etc ummmm haven't quite gotten anywhere with this.

Resolution #4

Take Time to be a Little More Creative--- I need to explore the hobbies I love more often, like sewing, photography, graphic design/illustration etc. The whole point of me starting this blog was to have some type of outlet for all my "creativity". Well, that hasn't exactly made me say, "Let's not watch the Grey's Anatomy / Private Practice Crossover Event tonight and instead write some poetry!"

So to help with the 4th and last resolution, my first creative project of 2010 is to make a crazy vest to wear this spring... I have a general idea in mind, but I won't give away the whole design just yet.

This past fall the military trend was big, big, big and I think it will definitely carry over into spring, plus I am obsessed with pin stripes. Here are a few jackets/vests I love! And just if you didn't catch on...my vest design may be slightly military inspired with STRIPES:)

This asymmetric cowl neck leather jacket I saw when I was in London at AllSaints by the Spitalfields Market. The leather is mushy and the brass closures up the front make this basic a definite statement piece. If it were only a little less expensive and in my budget. Oh well....

I didn't get to see this in person, only online. But I love the white and taupe stripes, large studs and frayed/distressed edges on this wool blazer at Free People. Looks so comfy!

Here are some stripes again on this Bolero Jacket at Top Shop. It has a clean-cut, uniform feel, with a zipper pocket detail! I would totally rock this with some hi-waisted pleated pants or leggings.

The last photos are Madison Marcus, which I pulled from Shop Bop. These are a little less military and a little more rock and roll. But I had to include them. The faded canvas vest with studs is a perfect transition to spring. The grey silk blazer with the dropped neckline is a great new yet "vintage" take on a blazer. Love the added attention to the welt pocket detail.... and it is GREY! I wear grey all the time:)

So anyway, I hope these few fashion finds will inspire you as much as they did me. I will keep you posted on my military vest creation. By the time I am done, I may have a whole uniform for combat this Spring and ready to tackle my #3 resolution!

Best of luck on your resolutions too,

-Laura