Edited by Debutante Clothing

I’m always complaining about going out to fashion events by myself – I just don’t have many friends that are into fashion. While some people think fashion is frivolous and contributes nothing to the world, others are curating museum exhibits featuring 20th century clothing. This week’s links made me think about the love/hate camps in fashion. Starting with Grit and Glamour’s post on bloggers getting backlash from fashion insiders, Houndstooth + Tortoiseshell’s refreshingly funny admission of Tavi envy, or Fab Lab’s hate of people who hate. But there is some love in sight – British Style Bloggers reminds us to look in the mirror and love ourselves. Enjoy!

Links à la Mode: February 4th

• A Dress & A Bike – Why breaking the love of one particular brand has been good for my personal style
• British Style Bloggers – Some gems to remember
• Debutante Clothing – Going to a Vintage Show? Insider Tips & Interview
• dirty hems – lacroix by lacroix
• Fab Blab – Why I Hate People Who Ostracize Fashion
• fête à fête – Review of Guerlain’s Spring 2010 Cherry Blossom makeup & the new Rouge G Le Brillant lipstick
• Friend in Fashion – Luxe Vintage
• grit and glamour – Fashion’s Knickers are in a Twist
• hello beauty! – Benefit Stay Don’t Stray: An innovative new primer to lock down shadows AND concealer
• Houndstooth + Tortoiseshell – Young fashion blogger incites curiousity, envy
• Independent Fashion Bloggers – Get Out There : How To Cover Events Without Feeling Like an Idiot
• Lillys Roses – How to DIY your own Chanel Jade nail polish
• Mariel’s Castle – Haute Couture 101
• Model Max – MAT GORDON: The ModelWatch Interview
• Oranges and Apples – Top websites for ethical shopping
• Retro Chick – Ethical Design Spotlight – Junky Styling
• Styletastic – To fur or not to fur?
• Stylist Diva – : Are Fashion Bloggers taking over the world?
• Tatiana Supports the Arts – Etsy Window Shopping: Queen Elizabeth I Roundup
• the brooklyn posh blog – He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, red hot
• THE COVETED – Pretty Dresses at the VioletvilleVintage.com launch
• White Rabbit – The inspiration behind my Merlixa Designs millinery collection
• [the3st] – Interview with Amy Smilovic of Tibi

I watched this documentary last night called Notebook on Cities and Clothes. It’s a film about Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto directed and filmed by Wim Wenders.

Notebook on Cities and Clothes is a slow paced, relaxed look at an industry that often moves at a mile a minute. Filmed in 35mm, Wenders helps audiences see through the window of this man’s world. We get a lot of one on one time with Yamamoto. We see what inspires him, and are privy to his idea of what he does. He is not a fashion designer. That is not his goal. His inspiration comes from photos from the 19th century working class and the garments they had to wear to live their lives. He is the opposite of what his native Tokyo seems to promote: excessive consumption. He explains that Tokyo encourages over-consumption. Buy everything, be more fulfilled. He shares that his worst nightmare would be to design clothing that people cannot wear and function in on a day to day basis. Yamamoto is a quiet, yet mesmerizing man.

A few pieces from his A/W 09/10 collection. (Photo Credit)

The film as a whole was not as exciting as some of the other fashion documentaries I have seen. At times it was quite boring. But I think that is what makes it stand out from other depictions of the “fashion” world. In a way, Wenders was able to tell the story of an artist and philosopher than that of a fashion designer.

I know, I know. It’s been a while. But I’m back with my sewing machine, scissors and mind grapes to bring you upcycled thrift finds. Today, we are going to turn a men’s long sleeved button up shirt into a cute pencil skirt.

This week I found this really great quality men’s long sleeve button up plaid shirt at Community Thrift Store for $6.50. A little pricey compared to the thrift store bargains I’m used to finding, but I can’t walk away from a great yellow plaid, and the shirt was in perfect condition. So, purchase I did.

The first step of this project is to remove the sleeves. I cut outside of the sleeve seam. Put the sleeves aside, you will be using them later.

Next, go ahead and cut across the top of the shirt. I cut right above the shirt pocket. Next, turn the shirt inside out and put it on as if it were a skirt. Place it where you would like it to sit on your hips. I placed mine at my natural waist. Go ahead and pin it to fit your sides. Since this a pencil skirt, you’ll want it to fit snugly around your hips. Next, remove the piece and sew up the sides where you’ve pinned. Trim and iron.

Now take each sleeve and cut out a rectangle.

Then cut the fold so you have two rectangular strips from each.

Then take the 4 strips, pin them and sew them into one long piece. Then, take the long piece, fold it in half, pin and sew. With the help of a safety pin, turn the band right side out and iron.

Take your waistband and pin the seamed edge to the right side of the skirt. Sew, and iron.

Now, since the pencil skirt I am making sits at the natural waist, I thought it would be nice to wear it with a belt. To make belt loops, you’ll want to measure the width of your belt and add a half inch allowance to each side.

Take your length measurement and cut out a strip that is that measurement long and at least one inch wide. Then fold each strip in half, sew, turn right side out and iron. Fold in each end and press, then pin and sew onto your skirt. I placed two belt loops in front and two in back.

And there you have it, folks. Your new upcycled pencil skirt. I changed out the buttons because the original buttons were a weird brown/goldish color. No bueno. I replaced them with some nice black ones. There are lots of possible variations for this skirt. Instead of making a waistband, you can simply use a thick piece of elastic, sew it on, and make the skirt less fitted to create more of a puffy skirt look. You can also sew in some pockets. I hope you all enjoyed this week’s Upcycle Sunday project!

]]> http://artsblog.tatianajimenez.com/fashion/upcycle-sunday-back-in-action/feed/ 7 http://artsblog.tatianajimenez.com/fashion/thrifting-in-sf/ http://artsblog.tatianajimenez.com/fashion/thrifting-in-sf/#comments Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:57:43 +0000 tatiana http://artsblog.tatianajimenez.com/?p=831 Today my roommate and I are off to Goodwill in the Mission to scope out the furniture scene. Hopefully we’ll find something cute and comfy for our living room… but secretly I have another, more exciting quest. Faux. Fur. Coat.

I’m looking for a faux fur coat that is perhaps a little more 1970s inspired but not obnoxious. Something subtle, and something WARM. Man oh man, it is getting cold. There’s nothing I want more than to buy a snuggie and wear it outdoors… but, luckily my conscience stops me from doing that… or even from buying one.

Here is an example of what I don’t want. A little too much fur. But I really love this photo.

I feel like with a faux fur coat, one can easily look either overdressed, look like a crazy lady, or look like a high class hooker. I don’t want to look like any of those. I feel like Rachel Zoe may be slightly responsible for my sudden obsession with the fur coat. She makes it look so good (most of the time). She’s the queen of high class bohemian, and that is precisely what I’m going for.

This is more of a bolero, but I’m sure you know what I mean. So, I’m off! We’ll see what I can find… and hopefully we will find a couch as well. Have a nice Sunday, kittens!

]]> http://artsblog.tatianajimenez.com/fashion/thrifting-in-sf/feed/ 0 http://artsblog.tatianajimenez.com/fashion/indie-designer-spotlight-uk-edition/ http://artsblog.tatianajimenez.com/fashion/indie-designer-spotlight-uk-edition/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:18:05 +0000 tatiana http://artsblog.tatianajimenez.com/?p=681

Indie Designer Spotlight: Wholly Cow Clothing

In the vast world of fashion, The United Kingdom has always been viewed as being a front runner by constantly bringing a plethora of goodies to the table (or, the runways) by way of designers such as Vivienne Westwood and her no-rules legacy, to the amazing Irregular Choice shoes (which I was addicted to for a while). From Victorian elegance to the arrival of the miniskirt on Carnaby Street, the UK has always served as a capital for the new and timeless and an inspiration for those of us looking to bring elegance back in new and interesting ways.

left: 1777 English Satire on tight lacing (found here) right: Irregular Choice

Now that we’ve had a look into the past, let’s venture into the future! Today’s spotlight is Wholly Cow Clothing.

Their first collection launched 3 seasons ago.  All of their pieces are designed and hand crafted in the North East of England. They most recently launched the Green label, which is an ethical line that was just introduced last season and uses completely recycled fabrics (e.g. curtains, blankets, clothes, etc).

The Pink label is Wholly Cow’s main ready to wear line. Although the Pink label isn’t made from recycled material, Wholly Cow still sources their fabrics from as close to home as possible and the items are made nearby by women who work flexibly from their own homes. They strive to make the process as ethical as possible.

Gingham Dress with underskirt in gingham and tulle.
This is my favorite piece. I think gingham will always be in style. I love how effortless this garment looks paired with the red ribbon. It can easily be worn to a birthday party or for a day at the park.

I asked Lisa Germaney of Wholly Cow where she finds inspiration for her designs, and how she came up with the name for her label.  “I’d been struggling to find [a name] that smacks you, is unforgettable and reflects the feel of the label then it just came to me. I asked for feedback from girlie friends over a few glasses of fine vino one night and it was all good so that reaffirmed it.  I’m very passionate about music, especially live music, the louder the better, it stirs something inside and inspires me as does art so I hope this is reflected in the design of my clothes.”

I feel like Wholly Cow Clothing provides a unique perspective when it comes to the party dress (although they don’t solely make dresses). I appreciate their use of recycled materials and hope that more designers embrace similarly available resources and continue trying to make the process of design more sustainable and eco-friendly. I’m excited to see what Wholly Cow has in store for us in the future!

If you like what you see, you’re in luck, kiddies! Wholly Cow is currently holding a 40% off sale on their website. Their upcoming Autumn/Winter Collection, which they are currently hard at work on, will be available in September. The Spring/Summer 2009 Collection, including the Green label, is currently available on their website and in select boutiques.

First of all, I watched this yesterday, and am such a sucker for these types of “how I got here” stories, this totally made me shed a tear or five:

Definitely worth a watch. Oh man. I can’t wait for Season Six to start (on Wednesday, August 20, at 10pm)! In addition to these previews, and the designer bios on their website, they have some free downloads for fans that include wallpapers and buddy icons. Check it out.

The designers’ portfolios are up as well. Let’s start making predictions!

It’s funny. As I am writing this, I just discovered that my dad is watching Lifetime. I believe it is a Lifetime Original Movie. Haha. Oh dad.

In addition to the Entourage marathon I’ve been having, I’ve been working on upcycling projects! The one I will share with you today is a neat scarf I made using fabric from a maxi dress that I made shorter a while back. As you may remember, this project was inspired by this photo I saw on The Sartorialist blog.

Isn’t my sister the best model? I pay her with Frappuccinos.

The jersey fabric paired with the gingham makes for a nice comfy scarf. I believe this Upcycle Sunday was another experiment gone good. (Pats self on back).

Back to my Entourage boys! My coworker was right, the show does get better after the first season.

I stumbled upon that Lucy Liu quote online today and couldn’t stop laughing. Well, maybe I’m exaggerating. It was more of a snicker, and it was quite short.

Anyway! Happy Friday guys and dolls. As I sit here sipping my Ice Blended White Mocha beverage, I can’t help but be thankful to be indoors today. It has been around 100 degrees everyday this week. Too hot to handle, fo sho.

My lovely Aunt who lives in the beautiful city of Pasadena emailed me with this neat blog to check out today:

They have two etsy shops: one that sells vintage fabric (pintucksew), and one that sells apparel (pintuckstyle). I was already planning a thrifting adventure tomorrow, so looking through their shop is definitely inspiring my wish list.

Pintuckstyle 1940s-Inspired 1980s Vintage Dress

I absolutely love the fabric that you see at the beginning of this entry. I wish they had more than half a yard. Wouldn’t that be adorable as a short, elastic banded skirt? I wonder if you’re getting the same visual as I am, and if you are, isn’t it cute!? Haha. Also, this dress is great, but would look ridiculous on me, as I have broader shoulders. But I love it anyway.  I would probably remove the sleeves.

That’s all for now. Keep cool out there, kittens!

Happy Thursday my dearies! It seems the weeks keep zooming by faster and faster. Before we know it, I’ll be writing about sweater upcycling projects to keep my skinny-self warm (and stylish)! But, fortunately, we are still in the beginning of July and have a good 2 months of spicy summer weather to embrace. So here, thanks to the Independent Fashion Bloggers Network, are the Links à la Mode for this week. Enjoy!

Summer Staples

Edited by Jennine

In the midst of Summer many of us take refuge by the fan and some of us miraculously make do with the heat in all but the best ways. In this roundup we’ve got Summer Festival tips on Unfunded, Hong Kong Fashion Geeks Resort Redux, Krislyn’s chic summer essentials, Fashion Cent’s essential white jackets. And on the indie front Dramatis Personae finds eco friendly clothing for people of all sizes, and Oh Canada…Tatiana’s showcases Canadian Indie Designers. And last but not least… Twins… mode.ulation wonders if are they the modelings industries next new thing?

FashionCan currently hosts boutiques for 10 independent designers, my favorites being: House of Spy, Valerie Dumaine, and Elroy Apparel. Their garments are a bit on the pricey side, but that comes with purchasing and supporting independent designers. Aside from the pricey aspect, the pieces from these three previously mentioned designers are incredibly inspiring. These three have very unique points of view when it comes to silhouettes and the girl they are aiming to dress. Here are my favorite pieces:

The Zoe Dress by House of Spy

I usually am not a big fan of white.I am super clumsy, and am ambivalent about wearing white for I fear the inevitable ketchup or coffee stain. But this dress looks so comfortable, and effortless, that I just might put my fears aside. Livin on the edge! That’s right. I love the unfinished look on the sleeves and bottom of this dress. It’s the perfect summer dress for frolicking in a field of poppies, and then falling asleep, sleep. Poppies will make you sleeeep.

The Agnes Dress by Valerie Dumaine

First of all, this model is gorgeous. Perfect styling, so kudos to Miss Dumaine! This dress is a great, great example of a modern take on vintage style. The 1940′s top, with the modern just-above-the-knee length of the bottom. Great color, great shapes, which hint at the always classic and chic, nautical look.

The Nepeta Dress by Elroy Apparel

I want this dress. I am OBSESSED with pockets right now, as I think many gals are. This is the perfect “little black dress” for us non-conventional types. The sleeves are great for those of us who have broad shoulders, and the length is perfect with a pair of opaque colored tights (or netted, or patterned tights). The possibilities are endless with this dress. It can be styled so many different ways. Definitely classic. This piece will be able to be worn throughout the coming decades. You can take my word for it.

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