River Island Denim/Cotton Jacket

Brown Cotton Pinstripe Jacket
with Inner Denim Jacket Panel.

New with tags.

STUDIO PRICE: €25.00

10 things you want:

1. To win the lottery
2. To buy a house and do it up
3. To stop feeling like an 80 year old lady….
4. To marry James – or at least set a date man!
5. A holiday – possibly NEW YORK please
6. Summer would be a nice change
7. I DESPERATELY want my blonde hair back
8. Caviar Chanel GST with gold hardware
9. To visit my sister in Edinburgh
10. To lose one whole stone

9 musicians/bands you love:

1. Girls Aloud
2. The Libertines
3. Babyshambles/Peter
4. SOULWAX/Remixes are amazing
5. Blondie
6. Florence and The Machine
7. Ladyhawke
8. Passion Pit
9. Temper Trap
10. Animal Collective

8 things you do everyday:

1. Put make up on
2. Poached eggs on brown toast for brekkie
3. Cycle to and from work
4. Drink water – LOTS of it
5. Lust over things I cannot afford
6. Grumble and groan
7. Tweet, faceboom and blog
8. Worry. Worry about anything and everything

7 things you enjoy:

1. James
2. Eating – going for meals and making them
3. The snooze button
4. Dancing to Girls Aloud
5. Strongbow/Koppaberg/GIN
6. Living in Central London
7. Shopping

6 things that will always win your heart:

1. FLOWERS (or any surprise really….)
2. Laughter
3. Shoes/Bags/Jewellery
4. Pot of tea and a toasted teacake
5. Cuddles all cosied up in bed
6. Listening to my rants (heh)

5 favorites:

Movie: Eternal Sunshine Of A Spotless Mind
Song: For Lovers – Peter

Book: The Time Travellers Wife – Audrey Niffenegger

Food: Sausage, chips and lashings of gravy: ROSSI style (RIP)

Season: Spring

4 smells or scents you enjoy:

1. Boudoir – Vivienne Westwood
2. Freshly cut grass
3. Matches
4. Johnsons baby lotion

3 places you want to go:

1. American road trip: NYC, San Fran, Vegas, LA
2. New Zealand
3. St Ives

2 Favorite Holidays

1. New York
2. Paris

1 person you’d marry on the spot:

1. James

I bet we won’t get mail today, but that’s okay, because the past week has been VERY good to me.  It started with a sock club kit last week, and goes through the three parcels I had to open yesterday, and you just have to see them.  The photos aren’t great because the snow clouds had already moved in, and I wasn’t dressed to stand out in what natural light there was and snap photo after photo, but you’ll get the idea.

Those cuties are MY alpacas, made by Anita.   She’s started making her signature clay animals as spinning wheel orifice hooks.  (Last link will take you to her Etsy shop.) 

I love the detail Anita puts into her creations.  Isn’t that the cutest little clay alpaca?  I’m not sure I can leave it hanging on my wheel, given Sissy’s latest path of destruction.  Both girls recognize Auntie ‘Nita’s scent and go ape when she sends even a note, much less something she’s crafted with her own hands.   Still, I have my own alpaca – two of ‘em! 

I’m so blessed to have talented friends.  Do slip over to Episode 55 of Manic Purl’s podcast.   Dear Jessi got a much-deserved rave review of her SpringValley Yarns.   She’s famous!!  I’m glad I have an inside track, because I almost always have something on the needles with one of her yarns. 

On Tuesday, Amanda of NH Knitting Mama had a shop update.   I scored a “seconds” version of Franconia for a steal.  I MEAN A STEAL!!!!!  Amanda offered it as a second because one ply of the base didn’t take dye the same way the others did, but I *LOVE* it.  I also have a custom alpaca laceweight she dyed for me at the start of her dyeing career on the needles right now.

In keeping with the friends who dye theme, the most recent sock club kit from Dianne of Creatively Dyed Yarn.   Each of my indie dyer friends has her own style and base yarns, and I really think I could tell them apart with my eyes closed even!  I’ve never knitted socks with beads, but I’m going to have to with this kit.  Check out the pattern page on Ravelry for Sivia Harding’s Emerald Forest Socks!

I know this is a painfully long post, but go grab a cuppa’ and a bite to eat because there’s still more!

A few days ago, Grace’s Master Blocker challenged her readers, and because he must think like the Knight, I won!   I received the beautiful yarn above, and the extra goodies below.   I can’t wait to wind it up and knit with it.  I think it wants to be a shawl for me.  What do you think?

Grace must keep notebooks on what her friends like, because she always sends the most thoughtful packages.  I’m sipping the Mighty Leaf Chamomile Citrus now, and I think I’m in love.  I’d never tried Mighty Leaf  teas before, but I think another parcel will be on my porch about the time the mail carrier can get to us again.  I’m also ridiculously fond of those highlighters with the built-in sticky flags and notebooks.  The red dotted thing almost hidden is a little notebook, in case you didn’t put that together from my almost random comments.

I’ll just briefly note another Embrace the Lace package floated in this week too.  I think there’s only one more to go, but I’m honestly not sure.  Justice is grey, and that’s a shawl in the pattern.   There are better photos in the Ravelry group, of course. 

Last, but HARDLY least is a sneak peek at the Namaste Monroe that wandered to my house.  I couldn’t help myself Monday evening.  I love it, not that I’ll be using it for a few days, what with over a foot of snow on the ground and no signs of it stopping…   It’s roughly the same size as my beloved Newport (same color too), with that coveted outside pocket, firm sides…  I think my dream bag might have landed.  (Disclaimer:  My bad back and I do not strut around with these monster bags I carry.  The bags go from the vehicle inside work, office, home.  For shopping and other ambling experiences, I just carry a small bag with the Blackberry, wallet and keys.) 

My fingers were too cold to peel off all the protective wraps, or to get all around photos, but after I load that baby up and tote it around for a few days, I’ll do better and tell you what I really think.

So, what are you doing this weekend?  Evidently, I’ll be snowed in, knitting, spinning, reading, decluttering, baking…

Last year I was poor and consumed with wedding planning, new job, new school, and new place. This year life’s little stressors have waned I have more time for things I enjoy – like faaaasshhhiiiooonnnn!

Yeah, no. Not that kind of fashion. The kind that is artistic and practical (and yes I realize those two are paradoxical) but I think you can have both.

A few weeks ago I went on a mini-shopping spree to American Eagle’s website. There was a clearance sale and let’s just say I devoured it. I deflowered it. Literally, I porked it [stella reference]. Remember the times when you would go to a store, scour their racks, try on hundreds of items, but only left with one or two things because nothing fit right? Those days are over for me because I am an official convert to Web-shopping. Or Webopping. Yes, webopping.

Webopping is simple, you just need to know two things:

1. Know your measurements!

Measure you hips, chest, waist, length from crotch to bottom of leg, and length from crotch up to top of hip (the last two seem strange but if you want a perfect fitting pair of pants, measure these areas.) Every store’s website will have a measuring chart. Find the size that fits YOUR measurements best.

2. Know your style.

You should already have an idea of what you want to purchase even if it’s just “Jeans, dark wash”. This will lead to better search results and probably less impulse buys.

My first buy was this AE sergeant jacket. I love it!

Moving along with winter wear I also bought this knitted beret – mine’s in white though. It’s also from AE. I’m falling in love with knitted berets – I want to have one in every color!

I wanted a new pair of jeans so I got these AE Favorite Boyfriend in Deep Indigo. Since the last pair of jeans I bought were too big I made sure to measure hips and leg length.

Sudden realizations I had before purchasing these jeans:

1. I like low-rise. For me, this is how all my pants are suppose to fit.

2. I most always have to buy “short” length jeans (even though I’m 5′5” – which is average height.)

Lastly, I bought a scarf to match the beret. Again it is white. I haven’t worn the scarf out yet because the jacket has a high collar and keeps my neck warm.

The other day I went thrifting. I completely forgot how many good (and cheap) things you can find at a thrift store. I’ll have to post the two skirts I bought there.

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been frequenting some fashion blogs.

stylecaster.com

shine.yahoo.com - this one may seem lame, but they have some good fashion/beauty articles.

Style Rookie - Definitely check this website out.  13 year old writer, goes to fashion shows, has written articles for Harper’s Bazaar.  This kid is cooler than me.

What do you think? Leave your fashion-related comments below!

M elissa

The Coach Poppy collection is giving me serious spring fever.  I want the days of sunshine and flowers and girly dresses.  Sigh, it can’t get here soon enough and with Chicago’s erratic weather track record, spring probably won’t grace us until May.

Back to the collection, I ADORE the cutesy charm that they’ve utilized for the bags, clothing, and jewelry, with hearts and flowers and afro puff girlies looking ever so cute on all of the products.  A couple of must haves that caught my are:

the glam metallic leather poppy tote

I have a million totes, so really that wouldn’t be something that i NEED, but this one would certainly top all of my totes!  It looks to be a good size and it’s frigging LEATHER, so luxe and pretty with my favorite colors.  I give the tote an A+ for style and functionality, because it looks like I’d be able to carry my laptop and nintendo ds along with a book in there if I ever get a frigging JOB, so that when I have to ride the train I can look tres stylish doing so

The Poppy Pinky swing pack is the winner for me of the poppy afro puff girls collections, simply because it’s not a tote (i ADORE the other characters tote bags, but really, how many totes does one girl need?  And I’d pick the leather one out of the collection if i were to get a tote)

It features a poppy pinky afro puff girl, who I find completely and utterly adorable!  I want all of the girls so that I may build a collection, but alas, I am not made of money.  Okay okay, I know that the hair is supposed to be poppy’s on the sides of their heads, but can anyone tell me that those don’t look like afro puffs?  Whatever they are, they are all CUTE!!  Here’s Pinky’s sisters:

Pepper

Cherry

Lemon

and Pinky in Tote form

I wonder why they only made pinky into wristlet and swingpack form?  Curious, curious.  Anyway, all of them can be found here: http://www.coach.com/poppy-us/bags.html

I would so rock the t-shirt full of pretty afro puff cuties!

5:15 am the clock ring! First thought, I hope I booked the cab for 6:00AM not

7:00 am! @? Well I ‘ll see soon enough! Cup of tea, a banana, shower, shave.

5:35 am what shall I wear?Need to be comfortable, it is going to be a long day and a lot of walking.

6:00 am Cab is outside and notice that the driver is really grumpy! I guess no chatty chatty!

7:30 am in the train, busy with teams of buyers from London’s big stores, going to enjoy a day out of their offices and spend their budget on autumn winter 2010 collections .

I am going to visit WHO’SNEXT,  one of the oldest Fashion trade show in France,  but also PRET A PORTER for the women wear, and PREMIER CLASS for accessories.  I am very excited, still am after all those years in the business and running around Trade shows!

11:00 am Jump in the Metro Parisian and take line 4 and 12, which take me to the Porte de Versailles where all the shows are gathered.

11:30AM here I am at the reception and present my VIP invites sent to me by one of my favourite brand LOREAK MENDIAN from Spain. I rush to their stand and say hello to Yannick and the team. First protocol chat for five minutes and start going through the collection, which looks fantastic.  They have their own personal style, concept, ideology, art direction, which make the brand very special! For me they are the new SILAS & MARIA. They are a down to earth brand that believes in their designs. Cult brand in progress!

1:00pm I sign the order and leave my Spanish Basques friends and start combing the show to look for my next appointment, Hackney based knitted company MANIYAK.Go through the order fast with Matt, the owner. I knew what I wanted for next winter.

1:45pm After a Paul’s sandwich and a juice, I decide to see what is happening in the new creators section FRESH. I love talking to new brands and see how up and coming designers see the future in the fashion Industry. They are usually very excited to see a boutique like BREAD&HONEY coming on their stand. I am always surprised to see how known we are abroad, London always will be a fashion dream destination!

Met a lovely young Scottish designer, which showed me a vibrant 80’s/90’s inspired collection, including knitted tee shirt dresses and extraordinary asymmetric skirts and dresses AP by ALICE PALMER. She has already created an up market prêt a porter collection and wanted to open up her market by creating a diffusion line.

3:15PM I say hello to Aurelyen, the designer and creator of this Ethical French/Peruvian brand MISERICORDIA. We stocked it before and at the time they were  making tracksuit jackets and tees.  This time, I looked the rails and was blown up by their  change of direction : still working closely with their small community factory in Peru, MISERICORDIA turn their collections directional and focused on the attention for details. Influenced by work wear, military, sportswear and smart casual.

Bravo Aurelyen!

4:30pm Doing my last tour around the Show and going to PREMIER CLASS where you can see the last trends in footwear, bags, jewls  etc…

5:30pm feeling very tired and getting to la Gare du Nord in the Metro. Feel weird to share a day work with another city ‘s commuters, Paris-london, samo samo thoughtful, serious and stressed  faces. I worked briefly in cities like Tokyo, New York, Coppenhagen, Berlin and everyone looked the same in the Metro! Strange universal look !

6:30pm Jumped in the Eurostar, put my IPOD and fell asleep.

8:00pm woke up! we are no moving anymore!? The manager tells us that we have a technical problem and we will stay stuck at the entrance of the euro tunnel for 1 hour!! I want to go home!!!

Eurostar is not having a great year!

11:00pm Finally at home after a eventful  journey back but with the feeling of job done!! Autumn Winter 2010/11 looks like another exciting season !!

i’ve been making do with two tote bags, which gets pretty awkward when you’re hustling to the train in the morning.  plus it doesn’t look very good for client meetings.

exhibit a: the basic shoulder bag.  it sewed up well, though a little snug at the top just in terms of stitching, it was tight getting those seam allowances turned down.  plus the o rings were a pain.  i’ve instinctively avoided such hardware until now and while it wasn’t terrible, it was pretty annoying.  but i think this time it was worth it.

the outer fabric i got at thrifttown but i think it’s from ikea originally.  it has that look.  the pattern was based on j.caroline’s hobo bag.  i put in plastic needlepoint canvas at the bottom for support.  it worked well.

the lining i got from piedmont fabric before the office christmas party of 2008? 2007? one of those.  i think it was ‘08.  i showed it to coworker s who later gave me the five boxes of her fleece and felt stash.  karma.

the zipper probably came from that basket on the floor of good better best.  the pocket . . . ahhh.  that pocket fabric is from my very first foray into joann’s, when i first thought to buy fabric as opposed to just getting armfuls of sheets from the san francisco thrift stores and ooohing and aaahing over the retro patterns.

now i just need a snap, which i bought and will sew in by hand this weekend.  i had thought i could get away with no snap but it’s too floppy up top, i can’t have it bagging open that much when i’m riding BART.  and the next project will be liesl’s day in the park tote/backpack, for those days when i have a lot of proofs to lug back and forth.  something neutral and dark for that i think.  it’s nice to sew bags for yourself! i had nearly forgotten.

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