Daisy for The Tatler August 08

My favorite Brit girl working it for the August Tatler in some outfits that have already begun making their magazine rounds. I have no possible idea where I could wear a head to toe lace bodysuit but I reeeeeealy want it..... and it would be great with some Doc Martins....





Photographed by Guy Aroch.

(via Bunny Bisous)

Too Late For These 201 Levis But...

There are 3 unbelievable (maybe even more) things about these Levis.

1. They are 120 years old.

2. "They were found in a mine in the Rand Mining District, on the Mojave Desert,. California. They are covered in candle wax from the candle's the miner was using to light the tunnel he was working in. They were found with and old paper bag with the name of a mercantile store which operated between 1895 and 1898 in the town or Randsburg. Their was also a gunny sack with the initials A.P.K. and Randsburg marked on it. A.P.K. is through to be Adam P. Kuffel who was a partner in the mercantile store."

3. They just sold on eBay for $36,099.00!!

Congrats VintBoy1....

They haven't really changed the recipe much since then...



(via NYMag)

Magda Berliner and a Mini Tutorial: Piping

I am so in love with pretty much every piece in Magda Berliner's fall collection. The lace inlays and wooly dresses are absolute perfection....



Here we have a perfect illustration of why you should always make your own piping. It allows you to have piping made from any fabric you choose, particularly, the fabric that may already part of your design so you never have to be limited to what the notions shop has to offer. Buying ready made piping happens to be the biggest waste of money in the world. This is how to make it:

The players:

Fabric of your choice &....
Cording (made of natural fibers or that can at least withstand the heat of an iron)
Cutting Mat
Ruler (a dress makers ruler is always the best but any ruler will do)
Marking Pen or Pencil
Rotary Cutter or Scissors
A Zipper Foot or a Cording Foot for your sewing machine


Step 1: The first thing you need to do is to determine the width and length of the finished piping. If you have a 1/2" seam allowance then you need multiply you seam allowance by two (1") and add the circumference of the string (For a rather thin kind like the one I am using I added 3/8" but if you're really not sure you can measure it with a tape measure.) In my case my bias strips will have to be 1 3/8".

Step 2: Now you're ready to mark and cut your fabric. Cut bias strips of fabric using the markings on your cutting mat as an aid when marking.


Step 3: Now cut your cord slightly longer than your bias strips.



Step 4: Fold your bias strips in half lengthwise and press. Place your cord right in the center of the fold and pin into place (the pinning is optional :)


Step 5: Now you are ready to sew. If you are using a cording foot (which I prefer but only works for thin piping) the string should pass right through the center. If you feel it slipping away from the center fold just pull on the end to straighten it. Keep in mind that bias strips s t r e t c h quite a bit so you should try to keep the fabric from stretching as best you can, otherwise your seam allowance will be shorter than your desired width. Sew right along but not through the cord.

(Cording Foot)

Same thing goes if you are using a zipper foot except that your zipper foot will be just to the right of the cord.

(Zipper Foot)

Step 6: Now you're done with your piping. Yay. Just sew it into place along the same stitching line. It should fit perfectly along the seam line.


Tada.... Now you are 1 step closer to being as awesome as Magda Berliner... the end...

Shop Update: The Fontaine Dress

I have been working on The Fontaine Dress week and had finally finished yesterday it just in time to go see the Obama speech (yay!). It will go on sale in my shop today, 6pm NYC time.

The details:

Fabric: 100% Linen.

Sizes:
1 Small (Bust 32.5"-33.5")
1 Medium (Bust 34"-35")
1 Size of your choosing (XS,S,M,L)

Color: Medium Blue

Sofia Costas

Very beautiful and very eco conscious..... love her work.





(via: Bored & Beautiful)

A Peek Inside The Haute Couture Ateliers

The New York Times has an amazing and very inspiring photo essay that goes behind the scenes at the couture house in Paris just before the start of the HC fashion week. I am always so thrilled to get a look into other people's sewing studios and workshops and this I guess is the holy grail of all workshops, Chanel, Dior, Lacroix. I love seeing the dresses in different states of completion. The rest of the story here...




The perks of working at Chanel?

Sonia Rykiel Fall 08 Campaign

Here is the first look of the Sonia Rykiel fall campaign. It's way to early to start thinking about fall or winter but her lovely French quirkiness is just irresistible... plus, Iekeliene is one of my favorites....

The making of:


(via: Fashion Indie)

Vivienne Westwood F/W09 Campaign by Jurgen Teller

It's just impossible not to absolutely love her, isn't it?





(pics via Stylefizz)

Lifestyles of the Vain & Vapid: Cecilia Lisbon Dress

After an entire month of making custom orders, I've finally got a chance to actually restock my shop. Here we have the Cecilia Lisbon Dress which I will upload today at 6pm NY time. I have taken a break from custom orders to finish making my summer collection, so shop updates will be more frequent from this point on.




The details:

Fabric: 100% Silk
Sizes: 1 Small (Bust 32.5" Waist 26.5")
1 Medium (Bust 34" Waist 28")
Color: Grey (sort of a grey mixed with a bit of seafoam green) & Cream.


...and in perfect time, my Thank You tags from AmonetteN have arrived this morning...

Delicious Jewelry

I am starting to enjoy the pastry jewelry genre a great deal.... you're not supposed to go shopping on an empty stomach, right?


Stack-o-Pancakes Ring, Chocolate Glazed Donut Ring, Banana cream cake charm All from Pancake Meow.



Macaron Rings by The French Factory


Cupcake Necklace by Insane Jellyfish

.... or if you really want to make the healthy choice....


Apple Necklace, Fred Flare.

Pigalle My Love

I recently came across this editorial from Another Magazine from back in December called Pigalle My Love. I am always drawn to anything with even a hint of 20's but in this case, it also rang another bell. It had such a strong high dandy by way of 1970's feel that I couldn't help but think of Jacques Bescher. For anyone who hasn't read A Beautiful Fall (you really should, it's such a good read) it was exactly they style which he had adopted when he first rose to the height of Paris fashion world as Karl's kept man.... and the resemblance between him and this editorial is quite striking.




(pics: Another Magazine, A Beautiful Fall)

Current Elliot

This new denim line is like a breath of fresh air...

Bingo!

OMG, this is going to be hours and hours of fun for me....

(via: Fashion Indie)

Who Done It...

I try to refrain from gossiping too much but this time I couldn't help it....

WHICH autocratic fashion designer dropped out of sight for several months last year after a face-lift went wrong? The surgeon cut a nerve in his neck, and he needed rehabilitation to move his face properly.


I have no idea... autocratic is a hint and makes me think of Karl but he's been in, on and around the spotlight lately. Any guesses?

(Via: Page Six)

Daisy's Outfit, Yay or Nay...

I kind of love what she's doing here but it's taken a few hours to grow on me. It's one of those outfits that needs to sit there a while to be appreciated. I voted yay. Maybe things look better when placed near Mark Ronson?

Eternal Child

Despite being one of those people that cannot let go of summer and summer clothing until I am absolutely forced to do so for just 1 second. Eternal Child is a knitwear label that quite possibly has the most beautiful knits since Louise Goldin. Seriously, this woman is like my knitwear soul mate. The fall line is called "Tea Party" and the labels designer Gul Gurdamar describes the fall line as "If summer was a lighthearted St. Tropez lovechild, the winter woman is a brooding Victorian problem child." Loves it!
Ok, now back to the beach.... well, ok not for me cause I live in Berlin.... and it's landlocked and dark and grey.... and gives you Seasonal Effective Disorder.... in July. (Why yes, I am a bit homesick, thank you.)





(Via: Refinery29)

This and That From Here and There

David Hamilton Photography via Scout Holiday.



Project Runway is casting for season 6. Apply or just snoop the application here.



If it wasn't already painfully obvious, not even Carrie or Samantha's characters could ever afford to live like either Carrie or Samantha but E! really breaks it down for us:

• Carrie and Big's luxury Fifth Avenue apartment: $25 million

• Louise's Louis Vuitton Monogram Motard Firebird bag (a gift from Carrie): $5,400

• Carrie's 18-karat gold H.Stern Love keychain (a gift from Louise): $6,800

• Renting a room for five hours at the New York Public Library with a 375-person capacity: $30,000

• Carrie's "vintage" white silk crepe suit from Christian Dior 2008 Cruise Collection: jacket, $3,785; skirt, $2,215

• Carrie's made-to-order Vivienne Westwood wedding gown: $22,760

The rest of the article here.




Paul & Joe's diffusion line Paul & Joe Sister Rendez-Vous Collection is already online at Urban Outfitters with a really awesome jumpsuit to take particular notice of.

Mid Summer Wish List

Mayle "Anna Claudia" Dress, mayle.com
Delia's "Abby" Safari Romper (only $34.50!), delia's.com
Yoko Devereaux "Pomona" Necklace, Supermarket
Daniel Palillo Rabbit Sweater, welcomehunterla.com
A.P.C. Buttoned Tunic & Leather Sandals, A.P.C.
Just4Fun Leggings 0016, justforfun.


Just some of the things that I am currently yearning for. A.P.C. is having one of their awesome 50% off sales that we all love and adore.

As for my Etsy shop, I will be adding a few more things over the next few days. I have taken a few days off from custom orders which have taken up most of my time over the past few weeks. I am also working on 2 tutorials on making your own piping and drafting a sailor collar. Have a great July 4th weekend!!!!

Fafi for Vogue Nippon

French graffiti girl Fafi collaborates with Nippon Vogue. Her "Fafinettes" are depicted in this issue by children whose graffiti counterparts are usually a bit on the saucy side. Cuuuuuute.....







(via LifeLounge)