So, it’s been forever since my last blog…and I even deleted some posts that I didn’t care too much for in between. To be honest, everything seems to change daily. Everything. Starting with the mini love-of-my-life, my daughter. Now on her way to 10 months, she is full of new surprises everyday. Like how she doesn’t like to sit anymore, any where. She walks around all the furniture, stands in the cart at the store, stands in her high chair, tries to stand in the tub. She is a trip! Next is the whole idea of career. I love to stay home, don’t get me wrong… but the weight of knowing I don’t bring home ANY of the bacon is hard to bare sometimes. I went to school for fashion but this city I’m in isn’t exactly the metropolis of haute couture… or really, anything. So where to I go from here? Do I try and make my way by selling a couple handmade items here and there or do I give up due to geographics, little time and utter selflessness? Or do I find a job that has nothing to do with any skills that I paid a load of money to obtain at college and leave my darling Sofi to make a buck to pay a sitter? Woe is me, right? This has been a constant mind battle for months now and I am done. Done. Instead of worrying about all of this stuff, I am just going to pray a lot. And keep the dream alive by continuing to sell my things (on a recently redesigned website at indiefiredesigns.com). And be the best mom and wife I can be. I am only one person. And if anyone is actually reading this, you are only one person too and this life is short. Chill out. And if you pray, keep praying.

New(er) items on indiefiredesigns.com:

p.s. shipping is now FREE on all orders!

Meeeoow Crafty Diva Apron

Hot Skulls Wallet

Black & White Belted Bag

the following statements are going to get backlash from some, but anyone who reads this even fairly regularly knows i could care less.

i believe there’s a special place in hell for knockoffs. And i don’t mean this as some elitist snob, either - i’m a writer - i am what one would call “broke by choice.” And if i see something i can’t afford, well, i don’t buy it. And not only will i not buy it, i will not buy something that looks exactly like it, either. Because the shit ain’t real and, call me spoiled, but it’ll just remind me of what i settled for in place of what i really wanted.

one can generally get away with a likeness in style - as in, if you can’t afford that gucci bucket bag, it’s okay to get that h&m bucket bag - but a monogram? a bag with the exact same design, theme, and cut? no.

delete yourself.

did jay-z approve this? it’s hard to believe he’d put up with his wife wearing it. i guess i’m sounding like a total snob…but that shit is ugly. I hate lazy imitation.

Today I got lots of positive comments on two things I was wearing; one was a £5 satchel, the other a pair of £10 boots, both from a military surplus store. All whilst wearing the priciest jacket I own on the top.

It reminded me of that shot in the current FANTASTIC MAN I wrote about below. A picture of the stylist Elgar Johnson looking mighty damn fine in nothing but a cheap boiler suit, UNIQLO tee and battered REEBOK shoots.

In THE CRUNCH, re-appropriating clothes like this is a clever way of getting dressed and buying quality on the cheap. Instead of automatically reaching for the high street as I usually do, I’ve found a wealth of excellent ‘classics’ (or what I think are modern classics, useful in any gentleman’s wardrobe) on the cheap from unexpected sources. Labels like DICKIES, producers of excellent value functional clothing with an intrinsic stylishness, sold on badly-designed but bargainous websites. It’s time for a revival of these refreshing labels and under-explored avenues in what I’m tentatively calling ‘MENSWEAR’S guide to the basics’, part one in an occasional series.

AN ALL-IN-ONE?

Perhaps it’s not on everyone’s ‘classics’ list, but MENSWEAR urges you to stop, consider, re-asses. A jumpsuit is a practical, versatile and flattering option for men, and DICKIES versions come in at under twenty quid. UNDER TWENTY QUID! Check the functional details and choice of colourways:

A BAG.

Left: an unbranded polyester bag with excellent BONDAGE-STYLE STRAPS. ‘Maximum safe loading capacity 20kg.’ £7.15, including VAT from Screwfix.com.

Right: an even cheaper canvas option for those who prefer natural fibres (very military surplus), coming in at £2.49 from 1st-Harrison

An excellent, if unglamorous website I am now addicted to for buying all this is the lovely SURPLUS AND OUTDOORS. They sell military surplus online, plus every colour and style of all-in-one you could hope for. Better still, checking out your local military surplus store… something I’ll be doing tomorrow on nearby Walworth Road.

A DESERT BOOT.

Intrinsically a cheap type of shoe, they’ve become hugely popular again and I’m desperate for a pair. Clarks Originals are an eye-watering £70; but let me introduce you to a little friend called ROAMERS. Priced around £15-£25 depending where you go; a solid-looking sole, nice colours and you could always put white/contrast laces on if you wanted them to look really luxey.

Generally, shopping out of London and avoiding buying these ‘classics’ from the big stores is the best idea; a bit like buying your Kellog’s-branded cornflakes from Lidl instead of Fortnum’s. Whilst Loake etc might produce fashion ranges sold in Selfridges, they also do big business in everyday shoes that are made in the same way; it’s worth catching up, choosing the economy tin, as it were, and using the money to buy highly expensive designer blazers that nobody notices (though I’m happy having Lanvin on my inside jacket pocket).

Part of the Uniqlo ‘Designers Invitation’ project is the Opening Ceremony collection. The prices are brilliant and the designs are excellent. Check the collection HERE.

Jacket by Opening Ceremony For Uniqlo £39.99

Hot on the heels for the woman’s trend of Parkas, this spring, get yourself a battered khaki parka and layer with a hoodie underneath, and you have a quality outfit for when it’s still a bit nippy.

Jacket by AllSaints £180

 
I’m going crazy nosing out this incredible bag.. but apparently i think its sold out everywhere:(
can someone pleasee help.. i’m desperate truly truly desperate..
Its more than a bagg! its glamour or should i saw ‘GLAM-MU-RER’ <3

if nyone knows where to find this bag pls let me knowwww xx

Images: 1.Patti Smith, Horses/ 2.Erin Wasson x Rvca single button black blazer with white silk back printed with lightening bolts, at Oak/ 3,4,5,6 ccw. Rag and Bone 2009/ 7. LJ long grey blazer with peter pan collar and single button front at Pixiemarket/

When you play the cello you have to practice…but ahem….as you can see, occasionally I hit a flat note.   But my cello is beautiful and best of all it comes with its own melodies that do actually always sound perfect. I also play the flute so I should (^^) spend a lot more time practicing. Both my cello and flute are from poco a poco where you can find some beautifully made musical instruments including harps, pianos, violas and violins. They all come with melodies and you can even buy extra ones just in case you feel like giving a concert for your friends. While playing I am wearing one of my favorite shorts outfits from Michami. It is jazzed up with python-printed tights (freebies!) and some amazingly bright jewelry from Fabulous and Icon. The leather jacket is from Muism. None of the items seen here are really new but I love them all, especially my Dejavu hair! Okies, got to run….shopping to do, enough practice!

<3 Elisabeth

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