TiLT - Fashion inspring me

I feel slightly obligated to post something more "fashion" oriented considering this is amidst New York Fashion Week and right before the Oscars. Let me tell you what you won't find here, trends. I don't really follow them the way the masses typically does.  I do fashion to the beat of my own drummer and go for inspiring and original rather then that new hot color or shape to wear.  Sure I follow the trends but I pick and choose what I like and what I think is really appropriate for me.  Doesn't mean it is appropriate for you, just me unless otherwise stated.  Having said that let's move on with my Things I Love Thursday for fashion inspirations!

 1. Pastels and Peekaboo maxi skirts.
 I love mint I always have and there is something about pastels that just screams for spring to start.  I could never personally pull off the Pink but I think with a contrast of Electric blue or black I could rock it.  That peekaboo maxi skirt I am in love with. It's not a leg baring slit, it's not a skort, simply a combination of long and short hems that give a little show as you walk or sit cross legged looking over all sophisticated when matched with the right fluid fabric.

 2. Sheer Oversized Sleeves
 If you know me and my design work you know I love an over sized sleeve. This one of course instantly struck me as amazing.  It makes me wish I had endless yardage of silk organza to play with.

3. Givenchy Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2012
 Firstly, yes! true Haute Couture not the pret a porter that most people assume is Haute Couture.  You can read my rant here.
Moving on, the attention to all the details, the elegant draping, this has got it all.  There wasn't a single piece in the collection I wasn't floored by. I am also reminded by a quote from Valentino "I have never made a dress where the hem shows the ankle as you walk that is disgusting". If you haven't done so already you should take a closer look at each individual piece here.

4. Making Lace
Although I am not so keen on this design it has sparked a wonderful DIY lace idea in my head.  I want to use satin stitch and free form sew some of my own patterns to an OOAK (one of a kind) lace for applique on my own pieces in the collection I am forming around Neurons. 

5. Sketch applique mixed with heavy beading
I am in love with this contrast.  The very sketch like light embroidery and applique matched with super heavy beading in coordinating colors.  It looks light and airy but the feel is weighted.  It reminds me of the Japanese squiggle coloring books turned adult

6. Striking Ombre
Yes Ombre has been around the block more then a few times but what struck me about these pieces is how potent the color is and stark.  Not to mention the careful selection of which part to dye.  Both of these pieces would of been just find on their own plain because there is enough detail going on with them to make them unique.  Adding in the ombre was a gamble, it could of been viewed as overworked and trend following but the above two pieces hit the perfect pitch in my book.  The first shows how ombre doesn't have to be just from one side to the other.  The bow was the basis for the garment and letting it bleed out organically into the rest of the jacket is poetic.  The dress/skirt on the right is a prim example of how you don't have to let the ombre take over the entire garment.  It is super saturated and then quickly disperses to the stark white of the rest of the garment.  This is just another example of how editing embellishments to any garment is key.




All the photos in this post were taken from various sources which I unfortunately didn't keep a great track of when I plopped them into Pinterest and Evernote (sorry)
Style Bubble, Park and Cube, Givenchy Facebook, Style.com

OTD January 3rd, 2011

Okay! So I am trying really hard to start this year off right with my new spiffy camera and take some OTD photos but I am in constant learning and transition.  Like where is a good place to take the photos (IE Not in the low ceiling basement)  There will be one more small set in the basement because I didn't learn my lesson the first time.  I got my wondorous cord in the mail and I don't know what posessed me to think 1 meter (3 feet) would be long enough for me to take photos of myself from head to toe in one shot.  Unfortunately that is currently the only remote shutter on the market for my camera that isn't professional grade costing more then $500 bones.

Fair isle Sweater with Feather & Fan stitch: Tulle from TigerTree

White Undershirt : Express

Jeans: Dark Denim Zelda Ultra Skinny Express

Boots: Miss Sixty from Victoria Secret Catalog

 

A Closer less sexy look at the Boots. 

They were my huge splurge this winter and completely worth it.  Super Comfortable and looked great with my skinny jeans.  Rubber soles that are long wearing and flexible.  Best part is that they are over the knee and do not make you look like a hooker!

So the lessons learned from these photos are:
1. Pay attention to your background
2. Don't be afraid to be cheesy in the photos
3. Run Fast to get maximum pose time from timer
4. Make sure there is nothing to trip you and don't trip on your tripod
5. Keep your legs mostly together
6. Don't shoot photos in the basement if you want them to look nice

I remember when Style Bubble did this post about how cheesy she felt taking OTD's and how there were only so many poses she felt comfortable in but I can't find the specific post.  I think Keiko Lynn talked about it also once upon a time.  I swear more recently (like in the past 3 months) I read something from Park & Cube on how uncomfortable it was to pose for OTD's.

2011 Inspirations

As I slowly trudge into this new year kicking and screaming to get out of my holiday slump I snatched up some pictures to put me back in mood to sew and create. Once again I am at a lose to tell you where they all came from but I'll try!

Wonderful Tentacles Knitted into a wreath, I'm love the idea of this into a collar of a sweater or jacket

I believe I got this off of Craft:

 Gorgeous texture and shape on this knitted Pineapple bag that I randomly found on the net.

Delicate spidery effect on this crocheted Hanger makes me want to do unpatterned lace panels into strech knit garments.

I just love the way this looks.

(Found on Stylebubble)

This shape just calls to me and the craftmanship of the wood is divine

This was an entry from Etsy for the contest of sending a craft to the Moon.

Her unconventional freehand embroidery on this gives me so much mojo for hand emboidery goodness.

By Average Jane Crafter

I want so badly to create a little hanging plush city like I keep seeing all around. 

 I feel like this came from the same place as the Pineapple

Speaking of that Devilish Pineapple here he is again with closer look at those sublime knitted stitches

Something a little more class in Embroidery

No yearly inspriation can be complete without a look back at some Alexander McQueen

I think I saved this because of the Orgnaza Collar on the chick on the left side.  It made me want to do some more work with Organza while I am working on my wedding dress.

Goergeous ruffles in layers and layers and layers. 

This came from once again Style Bubble

Gold Paillettes Dress also from Style Bubble

The layers of these discs just looks like luscious scales from a dragon

These Images are from Park & Cube

I just love the knit wear inspriations of doing something a little bit different to something so simple and the gauzy layers with the open knit work.

Lastly no year for me can be without a little octo friend.  This image was taken from National Geographic site about strange new animals found in the year 2010.  This is a purple breed of Ocotpus.