the subtle wardrobe

Tom Ford 1999, Tom Ford 2009 - so apropos with all this "what were you doing 10 years ago" hullabaloo

2010-01-11T11:08:00.007-05:00

Tuesday, December 28, 1999

Friday, December 11, 2009

I could only link to the recent Tom Ford (the director) interview. No embedding options there for some reason. I haven't yet watched A Single Man yet. It's playing at the NYC Clearview's which surprised me. I thought it would be more exclusive, distributed only to Angelika or something. I wonder if next new years I will watch it on Netflix and review it. I think I will watch this one in theatre's though.

Valentino, the last emperor on Netflix watch instantly

2010-01-10T10:52:00.005-05:00

Here's another movie I had time to see this past week. I posted the Charlie Rose interview last March and have finally been able to watch the movie. I think it was great because the movie focuses more on Giancarlo Giammetti, Valentino's long time partner and business partner too. I like seeing the back story.

I must admit, I didn't expect much. I heard it was all just gratuitous crap about the superficial fashion world. It was just that, but there was something beautiful about the long term relationship between Valentino and Giametti. It's not superficial and not showy.

These documentaries really make the patrons, the women who support these designers kind of look ridiculous. They're oohing and ahhing. They're there for the ride. The respect goes to the seamstresses who aren't oohing and ahhing - at least not in the open.

I got one take home message - apparently revealing ankles in an evening gown is tacky. Valentino has never done it. Never.

Seamless, Douglas Keeve movie

2010-01-09T10:22:00.004-05:00

Netflix currently has this movie on watch instantly. I hear they rotate these movies on and off the list so take a look! I've been home resting up from wisdom teeth pulled and am so happy I had the time to watch this film. It follows 3 out of 10 finalists for the first year of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund which was created to discover and recognize important new talent in clothing design. The finalists in 2004 were (the bold are the ones followed):

1. PROENZA SCHOULER – Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez
I learned so much about them. I always wondered if they were dating and they are.. I think.. yeah. They are not that profitable at the time. I'm not sure how they are now. They reveal their costs like how much their home/office costs a month which is interesting. The fact that they are surrounded by models and celebrities shows how hyped up they are and makes them seem less about clothes and more about hype. Don't get me wrong, they've got the talent to back it up, but ... there's just something hedonistic about it.

2. CLOAK – Alexandre Plokhov
In contrast, they only show Cloak with Sarah Jessica Parker and the visit isn't about her, it's about the clothes. He has a great clothing label and to know that he's not making profit, but cutting even really makes me appreciate the passion these designers have for their work. His patternmaker is this Japanese girl (I'm pretty sure). So great because I'm Japanese - I imagine I'm her.

3. HABITUAL – Michael and Nicole Colovos

4. BEHNAZ SARAFPOUR - Behnaz Sarafpour

5. DEAN HARRIS - Dean Harris

6. DEREK LAM - Derek Lam

7. DOO.RI - Doo-Ri Chung
I feel like I've heard/read about her without trying - she works in the basement of her parent's dry cleaning store in NJ which is awesome and I'm so jealous her mother helps her sew zippers! She commutes from Chelsea which is kind of funny. I'm not a fan of her clothes because they are too flowy, but I admire her perseverance. She's the one in the picture, behind the model.

8. LIBERTINE – Cindy Greene and Johnson Hartig
I'd heard of them, although they were not followed it was nice to see parts of their personality.

9. PETER SOM – Peter Som

10. EDMUNDO CASTILLO - Edmundo Castillo
He does shoes. I was not impressed.

The winner got $200,000 and a mentorship with Burberry no less. They have to be pretty established and have promise. They have to be business savvy and creative.

Sartorialist on Pedestrian.tv

2010-01-07T10:02:00.006-05:00

THE SARTORIALIST - BOOK LAUNCH - SYDNEY 2009 from PEDESTRIAN.TV on Vimeo.

The blogger at The Awl said that the interview tarnished their view of the Sartorialist, but really give it a chance. I think he sounds honest and tells you what makes him distinct from other street style photographers.

via Fimoculous --> The Awl

Sartorialist and his success theory

2009-12-02T21:50:00.008-05:00

Anna Dello Russo, vogue nippon - Sartorialist book signing @ Barney's

I'm just going to relax. It's true I have a stream of things to do. I think it's better to relax for now and think about things. Things like how the Sartorialist made his name.

At first I thought he captured the beauty in stylish people around the cities he's on assignment on. His images caught on and he became popular.

Then I realized that it was more than that. He was and still is mainly capturing stylish magazine editors. He makes celebrities out of them. I mean celebrities in the sense that a reality star, an unknown all of a sudden gets noticed. I imagine the editors liked this, being recognized even if it was between their circles and they propped the Sartorialist up. They made him famous perhaps even a celebrity in his own right. They advocated for a book. They went to his book openings. They propped each other up. That is what I attribute to his success. It's all about context baby.

And talent. They would have never looked at his photos in the first place if his photos weren't worth it. In the end I do adore the phenomenon that is the Sartorialist.

Repost from Lacquer

2009-11-18T12:35:00.003-05:00

If we greatly transform ourselves, those friends of ours who have not been transformed become ghosts of our past: their voice comes across to us like the voice of a shade--as though we were hearing ourself, only younger, more severe, less mature.

--Nietzsche, Human, All Too Human

I really like this quote posted by lacquer. I think that it says a lot to people who find themselves changed, which we all feel.

Katie Did Journal blog review

2009-11-17T00:33:00.005-05:00

I love this blog because of such stylish pieces sewn for her kids. I don't know if she's a children's clothing designer or not, but she is good. It inspires me.

pics link to source.

Vintage Pixie Cap project

2009-11-17T00:30:00.004-05:00

There are many kids related to me on the west coast that could rock this cap. I'm just wondering how I can alter the pattern since their ages range from 3 months to I think 13. I'm thinking of how to incorporate all the family on the east coast without having them knit because I don't think they'd want to do that. I think I will learn how to embroider. I will update with... updates.

The Sartorialist & Garance Dore are dating, Love it!

2009-10-20T13:46:00.008-04:00

So I guess these street style photographers hit it off and they are dating now. I guess that makes sense. How nice.

Lately, I've been noticing that the Sartorialist has so many pics up. Before I know it my google reader says (8) or (13). I know I'm busy, but I don't remember seeing so many post so often. I wonder how he does it. Does he save pics?

I'm just going to link these images to the link as though you're searching within his website because there's no way to have 1 page with just the post. Hmm. Luckily I have my reader to remember all of his images or else you've just got this week's posts.

Rachel Comey Shoes

2009-10-17T10:44:00.004-04:00

This number is on sale for $103. I wish I was a size 6 or 11!

When Women's Wear Daily says that Rachel Comey has the librarian look down, or the library-dweller, I knew that she was for me. I mean, I've been werking at a library for like eva.

She has beautiful shoes for women that look like they should be for men. I think we need more of that. I envy the selection of loafers and oxfords for men. Her pumps are also pretty.

She has had some beautiful pieces on Totokaelo that I have kept an eye on. It's funny how I think highly of totokaelo because they chose to have Rachel Comey. I think highly of them because they chose a brand I respect, but really what did they do really? I kind of think of them as just as great as the designers because they style so well. What's up with that.

Unsolicited Text Monday

2009-10-16T23:31:00.001-04:00

Oh no, sorry sorry sorry - where did August and September go?

Pattern

2009-10-10T21:08:00.008-04:00

A few years ago my old old grandfather who is still old told me that he takes ballroom dancing classes. Then he told me not to tell anyone. Perhaps it was out of character and he didn't want people to know. I have the same kind of feeling...

So the other day I was at a Daffy's which is the closest to a thrift shop experience I can have in NYC. Stores that are actual "thrift shops" in NYC are overpriced and most things are cute, while Daffy's has 98% crap 2% good stuff. My daffy's finds make me feel like I'm in high school all over again back at home.

Anyways, this time around I found a great Jil Sander jacket that fit me perfectly. Grey leather is usually not my thing, but the cut was enough for me to drop $40 on it. That's right. $40 for a leather jacket, kinda, blazer I guess.

The reason why I had an eye out for jacket's is b/c I was at a conference this weekend and realize that it's so hard to have a great suit that is affordable. I suddenly got motivated to take pattern making classes so that I can copy this Jil Sander Jacket. I'd make like 10 and be set for life. I think that people at school or at work would think I was crazy. They'd say, for what, what for, are you changing your life? so - in order to avoid all this... don't tell anyone ok.

Where is my Joanne's fabric

2009-07-08T09:25:00.004-04:00

So jealous that Assorted Notions was able to snag 10 patters for $10 at her local Joanne's

even though the patterns would probably sit in my room for months on end.

And Cynthia Rowley has patterns?
And project runway?
Where have I been?

2009-07-06T23:54:00.001-04:00

Something about the background with patterns makes me happy.

via Lark About.

A new accessory

2009-06-23T08:26:00.003-04:00

Well, they look similar to this pair.

So, I can't see things that are very far away. Therefore I went to the optometrist to take advantage of my eye care benefits. I went for glasses and got them!

ON A SIDE NOTE: the optometrist asked if I wanted contacts because I do have an astigmatism bad enough for contacts. I was a bit confused because I only need them for distance, so why would I need to wear contacts all day? I said this to him and he nodded his head. Was he just trying to make an extra buck? I think so. Moral of the story if I consider the rest of my life... dr's always try to make the money.

New glasses won't be ready 'til... I think Thursday.

Solicited text Mondays

2009-06-22T08:13:00.004-04:00

Solicited by me. Unsolicited by you.

Saw this girl with a sleeveless light cotton dress that had extra fabric at the sides. It was draped like the top of a curtain, like a bunch of U's. It was so pretty because the fabric was so light.

How I'm surviving the rain in NYC

2009-06-21T08:17:00.005-04:00

Jeffrey Campbell Vee shoes. But you can't do too much walking in them or they rip. I wonder where one can get galoshes fixed. I'll have to investigate that.

Text Mondays

2009-06-15T15:24:00.004-04:00

Here's one thing today that made me feel excited, the idea of living in another city that looked this pretty.

via Huffington Post which got it from the Daily Telegraph UK.

Unsolicited thought Mondays - text only

2009-06-08T07:12:00.002-04:00

Umm, so this text Mondays thing is an effort for me to keep writing something at least once a week and feel bad when it's the only thing posted on my blog for that week -- then to post a picture of something on some other day because really that's what we all want.

So, today. Monday. I say, I'm really busy and can't write anything.
bye.

Lacquer - Galoshes

2009-06-07T19:18:00.004-04:00

How awesome are these galoshes? Apparently they are vintage Nicole Miller.

via Lacquer.

Unsolicited thought Mondays - text only

2009-06-01T10:10:00.004-04:00

As I read more blogs I see what makes a good blog good
(is this how we get better at things? ah, the epiphany).

I like the ones where you know you've found someone who is interested in the things you are interested in.

I also like it when they tell you tidbits of their lives, but not too much because that's not the point. Really the point is how much you like something -- enough to write about it continuously.

la Boudoir does that for me.
wikstenmade too.
and a history of architecture.

I have no idea who they write for and I very well may not be their intended audience, but many a time they make my day. If only I could be as graceful as they are in they way they present their interest in fashion and their lives. Perhaps its their nuance. Like little things that make all the difference.

Oh blogging.

SloperMoper blog

2009-05-23T13:21:00.003-04:00

These days I have been looking at things, I just haven't had the time to post about them.

This summer I was thinking of taking a Jewelry Design class at the YMCA, but decided against it since I have many places I need to be everyday.

I've decided instead to do more sewing on my time off. I've dreamt about becoming proficient in pattern making... taking classes... the works, but I realize I've just got to CUT and SEW. For example, slopermoper is doing it. She has a great blog (so far it's super new) because she did this grey shirt project:

She turned this:

into this:

I found her via burdastyle.

Bendels stops selling clothes

2009-05-22T13:10:00.008-04:00

Wait, Bendels with no clothes.... wait, wait, what is going on? This makes me worry about the economy. What about all those movies that refer to Bendels for their clothes. It'll mess everybody up.

According to NyMag, they're giving their clothes to TJMaxx. That will be awesome.

via NyMag.

2009-05-20T10:12:00.004-04:00

Round Sunglasses that are $11.

wow.

at Fredflare, 131 Meserole Ave., at Leonard St., Greenpoint, Brooklyn; 718-349-1257.

via Nymag.com.

Fwd: tag

2009-04-30T22:19:00.005-04:00

Directions: 1. Respond and rework. Answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your own invention; add a question of your own. 2. Tag eight other un-tagged people.

//what is your current obsession// taking a jewelry class to make jewelry.

//good coffee place// 71 Irving place, it was near my old work. so cute and quaint.

//do you nap a lot// i wish.

//who was the last person you hugged// marc.

//what was the last thing you bought// a compost bin and worms.

//who is your favorite model// kate moss (i know, so generic, but she's not generic so...).

//what are you listening to right now// books being shuffled.

//what is your favorite weather// when you're outside, but it feels like it's inside.

//what's on your bedside table//books i need to read.

//say something to the person who tagged you// hi mitsue, now i don't have anyone to tag since i was going to tag kyle. no, seriously.

//if you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you want it be// nyc.

//favorite vacation spot// greece.

//what kind of shoes are you wearing// black flats.

//what would you like to have in your hands right now// newspapers with soy based ink so I can start my compost bin. i think i can't be that picky and have to settle for the free stuff.

//what is your favorite tea flavor//earl grey.

//what did you want to become as a child//a mom, i know, lame, but that's what the mom says... i'm suspicious too.

//what style trend is the hardest one for you to adopt// really really high heels.

//if you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour where would you go// home.

//what is your favorite scent; perfume// mango from the bodyshop. it reminds me of junior high.

seriously, kyle took all the people to tag. i don't got nothin. mitsue help.

i know! Steph, that is if you read this, from i think it'ill be fine.

Free Dress Pattern pdf

2009-04-30T10:28:00.003-04:00

Something like a free dress pattern.

via Whip Up, which leads you to the actual poster Heather Ross.

btw i'm working on the tag...

2009-04-25T04:17:00.002-04:00

You know, Tammy, the wife on Friday Night Lights is soooooooo stylish. They play her down because they're like "regular" people. Howeva, having well fitted suits are really hard to come by on a coach's wife/principal's budget. How do she do it?

Oh, I get it. Tammy Tailor! This show never ceases to amaze me. Loved the finale ... because you can love style, but if you don't have the character, clothes are nothing. They've all got character and even their crap clothes that they are supposedly supposed to be wearing because they're in rural Texas are so stylish (well only sometimes).

Japanese Fashion Paparazzi

2009-04-08T23:37:00.004-04:00

They toootally started street style. Like hello, FRUITS?

in case this video doesn't work... go here.
I especially like Natalie Massenet's hat

Christian Louboutin Video on Vogue Paris

2009-03-30T02:14:00.004-04:00

click the picture of Mr. Louboutin (I thought he'd be older and white). This is on my list to watch. Tell me how it is. My obsession with shoe makers goes on...

found via la boudoir

Rachel Comey's Long Island Studio

2009-03-28T13:13:00.002-04:00

Refinery 29 did a profile on her last August. Ok, so I'm a bit late to find it. Just think it's so great that she takes her crew to North Folk Long Island and drapes away. I heart Rachel Comey btw. Tobi.com describes her as librarian chic. That is soooo me.

Been obsessed with Barbour lately

2009-03-27T12:49:00.005-04:00

There's this ubiquitous lady who pulls off Barbour so well and gives it a good name.

Gloria Baume, fashion editor of Teen Vogue.

Pulling off the new contemporary collection.

Looking quite dapper.

Another Sartorialist Barbour find. Just google it, you'll get numbers of Sartorialist Barbour looks.

Surprisingly the Sierra Trading Post has great deals on Barbour. There is a scarcity of women wearing Barbour. That needs to change. I think this Barbour obsession has to do with my budding love for menswear and oxfords.

Like two worlds colliding: charlie rose and valentino

2009-03-20T14:08:00.006-04:00

Broadcast yesterday, 3/19/2009
It's an end of an era, for better or worse...
I think I may start wearing red dresses because he says the truth, he's not inventing anything...

Graphic Design

2009-03-12T10:28:00.005-04:00

This is why I think graphic designing is great.

Drew Heffron i think you're great.

via today and tomorrow

Jumbled letters

2009-03-11T22:20:00.004-04:00

All the letters up there, all jumbled up... I often feel that is what is in my head.

Bye for now.

via Design Dig

Fish Tail Parka from Totokaelo

2009-03-05T03:39:00.001-05:00

from the Jan. 2, 2009 post in totokaelo's blog

This is a great leather coat even though it's not the typical leather coat. Made in Japan apparently. Machine washable. This item is no longer available. I don't know how I would have felt with the faux fur part of it.

What brand are you? If we don't know, your design and distribution efforts will wash away into the abyss and your creation will go to nothing. That's why we need branding. To remember you.

Update on my shirt sewing project

2009-03-04T07:56:00.000-05:00

shirt project, (inside out)

It may take me the rest of the year to do the finishing for this shirt. Lately I don't seem to have the time to clear my table/mind and sew. Also, I'm a bit perplexed about how to finish the bottom that is cut on the bias. It will take some research and some test runs on pieces of fabric. I can't wait!

katie holmes 1920's hat

2009-03-03T15:05:00.004-05:00

Katie Holmes and her magnificent hat. Thank you jezebel for feeding me tabloid pictures and not making me feel so bad about it because of all your feminist talk.

shoe stretcher inspiration

2009-02-28T07:14:00.003-05:00

does anyone else get inspired by these?
all via ebay, and they link to source.
you're welcome.

like wow.

I bought a pair of shoes that need stretching. That's how great they are. They're kind of awesome, well, hopefully, once they're stretched. I thought of stretching it out myself and don't think it's worth it. some youtube videos look hard core. so... cobbler express for me!

Reference Library blog review

2009-02-09T07:48:00.001-05:00

Here's a concept:
You look at things on ebay and don't necessarily look at them to buy them. And you want to share because your finds are extraordinary.

Here's the blog:
reference library

Here's posts I adore:

I don't know why I like this. Maybe because I can't believe it was $.01 on ebay.

This idea is to remember.

I can't believe this was $192.50, but then again I can because it's gregory.

It was not the jacket so much that I liked about this post.
It was the mention about leather-reinforced buttons. It was kind of charming.

This was just... wtf. really? glee club? wtf.

all images link to source.

Tuleh Fall 2009 Preview

2009-02-07T07:42:00.004-05:00

Click on the image to take you to my source. It's a new thing I'm starting to do.

Tuleh 2009 Spring has jackets that match the dresses. They've done this before like in Spring 2008. I think it's so elegant. Like, you know if someone owns both, they care. And it's cool to care.

Mcqueen for target

2009-02-05T22:35:00.001-05:00

how exciting! everything is on NYMag.
found via Is Mental

Inspiration: Amelia Erhardt

2009-02-03T07:11:00.004-05:00

she's so beautiful. i got inspired as i looked for aviator hats. she's so stylish.

She's so pretty because she looks like Mia Farrow
and
Mia Farrow is so pretty because she looks like Amelia Erhardt.

sigerson morrison and shift dress

2009-02-01T07:58:00.001-05:00

So here are boots that I hope will go with my soon to be made shift dresses.
I got these shoes at Loehmann's the other day (ok, like a month ago).
They're sigerson Morrison.
And as I've been writing, short boots are awesome.
However, they are difficult to pull off and cannot work with every outfit.
Like these, I can't tuck them under my boot cut pants because of all the leather above the actual shoe part of the boot.

I've decided that you've got to have ankle hugging pants - like leggings.

So... I want to make some (like a million in a million different colors) that look like this (yeah, if I post the picture enough, maybe I will finally make one):

shift dress patterns

2009-01-29T06:25:00.003-05:00

Sometimes I wish I had a uniform.

These are days when I don't want to think about clothes and I just want to get on with my day.
I wish I had 5 colors of the same kind of outfit and I just wore them interchangeably.

In a way there are set outfits that I wear all the time that become somewhat like a uniform.
long cardigan, skinny jeans & flats or boots.

These days I want to introduce another type of uniform to my wardrobe:
Shift dress, tights and short boots.

I tried looking for simple shift dress patterns on burda, but I think that it's so simple that it's not there. Therefore, I bought some shift dress patterns that I like and will change the neckline for.
These are them:

Now all I have to do is post about the next step.... making them!

I got these at SelmaLee's store on etsy. I realized she has the best bang for the buck after searching for a pattern in my size. Some people charge $10 for when similar patterns go for $7 at other stores. I'm not gonna lie, it took me a while to find a pattern in my size that I liked.

they take shoe making classes in Japan too!

2009-01-26T06:01:00.000-05:00

Wiksten posted about a Japanese store called cotton which has a blog.

Me being Japanese and all I was excited to see there was a blog to the clothing store.

Me trying to learn Japanese and all I've decided to read the blog even though that takes me like forever.

One of the posts was about a shoe making class.

Me writing on this blog and all about wanting to learn how to make shoes, I thought it was fate that this blog posted about making shoes.

Me spending so much time translating it and all I thought I'd give you a bit about what the post is all about: taking a shoe making class... and working hard on it.

Something about the snugness

2009-01-20T06:27:00.000-05:00

Is he a girl or a boy?

I don't like the rest of his outfit, but the snug leather jacket is why I am posting this picture. There's something about how snug it is.

Found via The Sartorialist for men's fashion week. The link is a bit strange on my computer.

digital polaroid photos

2009-01-18T15:34:00.000-05:00

Polaroid film may be gone, but there is always capturing the style digitally.

When I saw polaroids on blogs I thought it was some kind of setting on photoshop. Sally Jane Vintage uses it a lot. I think it's kitschy if you can do it digitally and not as cool as, say, using polaroids 7 years ago. That's right 7, because those were the days.

What would be cool is if they make some kind of application that makes pictures look HOLGA-like.

Now, I know through the froginette makes things blog post that it's a free application that you can download here.

I love it when I find out the secrets!

more leather jacket goodness

2009-01-17T06:42:00.001-05:00

ALANIS leather jacket by Soia & Kyo, $390

Soia & Kyo has not exhorbantly priced leather jackets that are 100% leather.
not sure what eggplant looks like in real life.

why are they less than $400, I'm a little suspicious.

are they made well?

how will I ever know?

Found via door sixteen.

work in-progress

2009-01-16T07:57:00.004-05:00

I have been making some progress with my sewing project. I think that a shirt in-progress sometimes looks a lot nicer than the actual shirt. You've got contrasting basting stitches, the rough edges and the possibility of perfection in something not yet complete. It'll probably be a while before I finish this project because things will start to get busy for me. Perhaps if there is a cold weekend in the near future where I can't do anything but sew. Until then, above is my work in progress.

I cut the seam allowance 1/4" because that is how the shirt was sewn. It's the first time I'm working with such a small amount of wiggle room. I usually have 1/2" or even 1". The seams are raw so I put some finishing tape to hide my open seams. I hope it won't itch later. I guess we'll see.

The Choosy Beggar

2009-01-15T07:28:00.002-05:00

This guy (the choosy beggar) has good taste and goes to every sample sale imaginable. He has pictures to show for it. It makes me wish he was a girl with his impeccable taste in various brands. Or makes me wish I could wear menswear - or had a machine that made menswear fit me.

See, he actually goes to these things, which is so helpful.

Found via racked.com, another blog that follows sample sales. Racked quotes the choosy beggar all the time for updates about sales. I think Racked is a big machine while the choosy beggar is a solo operation.

Search for a leather jacket

2009-01-14T07:52:00.003-05:00

John Varvatos for Converse, $695 at 80spurple.com

I've never owned a leather jacket.
I'm really not a leather jacket kind of girl.

I've also never had that much $$ to drop on something non-essential (as opposed to a winter jacket, those are essential).

BUT... this being a blog and all about the subtle wardrobe, just because I can't buy it doesn't mean I can't post about it.

I am going to try to collect different leather jackets out there in the market.
Let the leather jacket image collection begin!

I feel like I know what I want, it's just a matter of finding it out there.
It's a bit frustrating that I have to just wait until the one I want is designed, manufactured, marketed, and sold. And if there is the off chance that the leather jacket I imagine has materialized, there's a slim chance that it's in my price range for non-essential goods.

Designers control what I wear. wtf.

I love John Varvatos' mens collection, and am happy to see that he's designing for women through converse.

Two posters for the hopeless romantic

2009-01-13T08:00:00.002-05:00

1. "We Are So Good Together" poster can be found at Reform School Rules.

It's kind of small, 11''x19''.

$36 is the inflated price (it used to be $30), for the reprints since so many people think this poster is so romantic.

Okay, okay, so let me describe to you the second poster.
It's HUGE, PINK, with NEON RED lettering.

well, then think about it framed and up on your wall and it's somewhat endearing...

awwwe, right? somewhat poetic.

You can buy these at Village for $60
(the inflated price as well according to
this June 2007 post that says it's $30! - it kind of makes me feel used).
It's 25''x38'' huge.

Found via apartment therapy and poppy talk.

le bouton

2009-01-12T10:54:00.010-05:00

I admire those who can make things by hand that can actually be sold.

Add a sick sense of style.

And you have Le bouton.

these are some of my favorites (yes, some include children's clothes):

<---- shows the power of textiles.

<----- if your kid wears this, she's more stylish than most adults

<------- back pleats

<------- nice use of stripes.

What a stylish family.

Found via les ani modernes, although I've seen the tape holding up clothes things before, so I think I've been to the le bouton site before.

Sew, you know?

2009-01-09T07:44:00.005-05:00

They say they are going to revamp burda style so that you can post your projects that are in progress. I think they want to mimic Ravelry, which is a site for knitting. The burda people didn't say it outright, but one courageous commenter did.

Knitting takes a lot longer and people finish projects after months, so I can see why posting projects in progress through ravelry was a no brainer.

On the other hand the actual sewing part of sewing projects can be done in a day.

We don't intuitively think about the planning, fabric selection, cutting when we think about sewing. There is so much to prepare for the 2 hours of actual sewing. It took some time for burda to change, but I can't wait until I can post projects that are in progress.

No really, I can't wait, so in the mean time I am going to post some in-progress projects that I project I will make soon enough. My first project is a shirt that I used to wear all the time in the summer. It started to fall apart and a co-worker who knows how to make clothes told me to take the shirt apart and iron the pieces on to a stiff fusible interfacing. voila! pattern for my favorite shirt.

It's true, I had to make a hard decision about killing the shirt I loved for the prospect of creating others just like it. It made me wonder what love really is. haha.

ANYWAYS,

<---------here is my in progress shirt.
And here is the shirt I killed. -------->
This is the best picture I could find considering I didn't have this blog when I tore it apart and didn't know I'd need a before picture and an after one.

It looks simple, but in it, I didn't feel simple and what more can you ask for from a shirt.

wait, what are we talking about now?

Copy of Animation

2009-01-04T07:07:00.002-05:00

Found a label that is inspiring.
Copy of Animation.

The concept tab on their website has drawings that show great fashion illustration.

I found this label from the blog Kingdom of Style.

Generic clothing brands

2009-01-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

I don't mind generic groceries, but when it comes to my pants or shirts i don't know if I can trust them. Are they cut right? Are they made well? What have these stores got to lose if they make their own shirts? If their shirts don't sell, the brand names will and they stay in business either way.

A STORY OF MY GENERIC SHOE THAT GOT KILLED
I got Barney's brand loafers at a barneys co-op sale and the first time I wore it the heel broke off. Since I don't wear things I buy until months later (not always) I couldn't return them so I took them to a cobbler near my home. I will never trust cobblers because of him.

First of all he didn't have the shoes ready. When I went to pick them up I saw, in front of my eyes, just how he butchered them. He smeared dark brown shoe polish all over the leather that was purposefully made to look worn (it was the type that shows the scratches beautifully). Then, instead of matching the heel with the original design, he added a plastic one. Since the two were disparately different, he smeared shoe polish all over both the ugly shiny plastic heel and the original wooden heel. He killed my shoes. I have since appreciate what it means to have a good cobbler.

GENERIC GLOVES THAT MAKE UP FOR IT
On the other hand, I have had a good experience with gloves. I misplaced my gloves from last year making me have to get new ones. My go to glove is the generic glove at either bloomingdale's (can't find them online) or Lord and Taylor (clicking will take you there). A picture does not do the simple glove justice.
My grandfather in Japan has a pair that are kazillion years old and he looks so awesome when he wears them. They are so worn out, so subtly sophisticated.

Who would have thought that these house labels could produce gloves that are so classic.

Here they are being worn.

That's all for my generic brand story.

dreams to be a cobbler

2009-01-02T10:20:00.007-05:00

SALES SALES SALES they say.

this time of year I find myself scouring for shoes on sale racks more than anything else.

For some reason I can't find what I want this year.
i have the image in my head, but i can't find it in the stores.
i know it exists. i've seen other people wear it around. where are you shoe?

this is when i wish i could just make my shoes. then i wouldn't waste all this time looking for "the ones".

it's so expensive to take classes though.

FOR EXAMPLE - PLACES TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE SHOES IN NEW YORK CITY

make workshop is something i found out from a friend.
they offer DIY classes for people who work and want to be crafty on their down time.
BUT
the class costs $575 +supplies.

and i don't see oxfords. i don't see closed toe shoes.

the examples of shoes link to magazine images.
what about what's really made at the workshop?

i'd rather buy my dream shoe for that price.

then... i wondered what FIT has to offer.
it's cheaper, but not by much.

as a resident it's $142 a credit x 3 credits = $426.
i imagine it's more serious than make workshop though.

but i think you have to be a student there because there are prerequisites.

here are the course descriptions to dream about.

i wish i could make mules & oxfords.
one day..... one day....

LD 133 — Footwear Design and Construction I
3 credits; 1 Lecture and 4 STUDIO hours per week
Co-requisite: LD 121
The basic concepts of footwear design are introduced and the history and types of footwear are discussed. Students develop skills for working with a last and learn patternmaking, sewing, construction, and finishing techniques for closed shoes.

LD 134 — Footwear Design and Construction II
3 credits; 1 Lecture and 4 STUDIO hours per week
Prerequisites: LD 111, LD 121 and LD 133
Students analyze last styles, leathers, and components in terms of functionality and design. They continue to develop patternmaking skills by designing and making mules and oxfords.

the twosome karl siegerson & miranda morrison of siegerson morrison graduated from FIT. I see their shoes everywhere.

there is only one store in NYC to buy the wooden form for the class. they have odd hours (like open only until 11am or somthing) and they are the only place to buy these molds that you NEED. they're mean and take advantage of their position. crazy right? a bird told me.

as for the dreamy part about being a cobbler......

when i think about being a cobbler i think of making shoes like these silver marc jacobs shoes from saks... that i'd make in black or navy.

yeah, i think i'd make most things in blue. we need more blue shoes in life.

Happy New Year and Happy Blogging

2009-01-01T11:00:00.006-05:00

write how blogging makes you happy.
how you read this interview between a website called chic intuition and this blogger.
how she wrote that she was not inspired at work.
how there wasn't that much creativity in her life and that's why she began to blog.
how it became an outlet to express the things that make her excited in life.
i think.
how you think this is the same for you and hope that this year of blogging will show for it.

and post it.
btw happy new year.

Everybody is Ugly --> Chictopia.com --> Maiden

2008-12-27T06:55:00.012-05:00

I used to read a style blog called "Everybody is Ugly" which is not there anymore. It starsLulu, as shown wearing seamed tights (it's the small things that count). Her new blog is Everybody Is Ugly on Chictopia and i just discovered her other blog lulu and your mom. In fact she started Chictopia.

It's kind of an awesome concept. It brings together people who photograph their outfits.

I peruse through on my down time.

You can even rss the people you want to be updated about on the rss.

WHICH LEADS ME TO one of its member:She also has a website: Maiden Threads

She's from Australia and has a brand that I think is subtle and beautiful.

<----------Here I post a classic silhouette. You can't see the detail in the pants, but I like it like that. This pic makes me want to wear heels.

Howeva, this pic down here is more like what her line is like. Nevertheless i like her style. Don't you think?

Hayden-Harnet for Target

2008-12-26T07:42:00.003-05:00

December 28, 2008 through March 15, 2009

Hayden-Harnet will come out with bags for target. That's what they're known for, but it is the umbrella that is gorgeous.

$22.99

click here for the press release.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T03:01:00.002-05:00

merry christmas!
well, actually i'm writing this waaaaaaaay in advance and scheduling this to post... right... now!

that's how i've been posting all along really so that you newsfeed people (i am one too).

don't get bored of me (ok, get bored of me).
i get sad when i don't get my weekly (sometimes daily) dosages of my favorite blogs.
and when months pass and blogs don't come back a part of my google reader dies and soon enough i delete the blog.
(well i never have actually done that because i like to think good things always come back)

anyways,
i looooooooove scheduled posts because I can plan ahead and have a deadline and keep editing until my deadline.
this guarantees a post for your reading/viewing pleasure.
(no really, it's my pleasure)

of course, this deadline means nothing and if i don't finish my post it's just me who's dug her own ditch as i wallow in embarassment for revealing my intentions in my post and not delivering.
(yeah, there's that)

but i need you to still keep coming.
and that is why i schedule.
you know, it's like that song that Amy Winehouse covers ...will you still love me tomorrow...
(you will right)

ADD THAT PHOTO HERE!

get it? yeah, whateva.

Searching for blogs

2008-12-23T07:50:00.000-05:00

is hard.
there's so much out there.
i don't know how strangers find mine.

what's even stranger (that was on purpose) is that somehow we do come together and find each other. i guess if you know what you're looking for, you find it (wait, what if we don't know what we're looking for).

story of my life.

recently, I decided to search under google's blog searching application for blogs that posted about the same brands as me.

I figured it would be fun to read a blog of someone who has similar tastes to mine.
it killed some time.
the last tights post came out of it.

I am liking the men's shoes

2008-12-21T07:30:00.004-05:00

i like mens shoes and don't know what to do about it.

walk around like a clown?
(no i don't)

Last week United Bamboo had a sample sale.
<---------$70 (i know.)
Racked.com covered it.

OR they just re-posted (join the club!) what the choosy beggar posted.

j.crew

2008-12-20T07:19:00.005-05:00

is j.crew going out of business?
they have had TOO many discount codes.
(there, i said it)
well, none right now.

their stock was at an all time low this December.
that's right.
i read the j.crew aficionada blog.
(there, i said it)

and look at this homepage------>
i mean, they're going right towards the glacier (ice wall, whateva)

is j.crew trying to tell us something?

like they're going to hit the ice and sink.
And it's not really cold in the arctic.
you will be fine with just a blazer?
don't you think?
i do.

Best search agent for finding boots

2008-12-19T18:15:00.013-05:00

on racked.com i stumbled upon modista.com.

it shows you shoes and as you choose the shoe it shows you similar ones like it so that you ultimately find your dream shoe.

great idea right... well, yeah, in theory.

as i tried it i kept clicking one shoe leading me to another shoe, leading me BACK to the first shoe.

it was the worst.

it got me thinking about how complex it must be to create algorithms (right?) that search the way you want them to search and reflect your style.
i mean, it's difficult enough to choose words to describe style, how do you do it with numbers?

THEN...
i kept searching the internet for "mid-calf boots" because, just when you thought you had the complete collection of boots, they come out with another type that works so much better, well at least for this year.

I found myself at shopstyle.com, a website that i underestimated.

compared to the fiasco that was modista, shopstyle.com is soooo much better. how do they do it.
no really, they must link to select stores.

what did I find you ask?

inspirational ------------->
(meaning not affordable)
D.CO COPENHAGEN booties/mid-calf boots/boots from a website called farfetch.com. The shop they are from is called OLGA in paris. ugh. shipping costs would apply here too.

<-----------------------More affordable are these ALDO SAMMIE boots, which are cheaper on amazon.com than on the ALDO website (or their actual store, that's right i went).

i'm not 100% sure if they're cute because... they're the first that I actually like. one should not make rash boot decisions.

James Perse

2008-12-18T07:00:00.005-05:00

you've always been so close yet so far away (like... i think my sister has your shirts and i never wore them and i am now questioning my self determination). my sister first told me how soft and wonderful his shirts are.

the picture doesn't do it justice.
it's like soft.

you are at loehmann's mr. Perse, and today is a good day because you are on 18th between 6th.

on Racked.com i saw his name pop up.
funny how life does that.

Label: James Perse
Deal: Up to 75% off soft cottons from the fall/winter collection
When/Where: Thursday, December 18 through Saturday, December 20. Thurs 1pm—8pm, Fri—Sat 10am—8pm. 145 West 18th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves (212-388-0339)

btw.
Racked.com is crazy, it blogs about the sample sales and gives you updates from other blogs so you know if they are worth going to.

it's like they read my mind.
because i don't always want to go.
i just want to know what i missed.

i might start wearing tights

2008-12-17T09:15:00.001-05:00

i stumbled upon a brand called sessun.
and i think the short boots and the opaque tights look beautiful.

so beautiful in fact that i am tempted to wear tights.

and buy short boots.
yeah, i might do that first.
I found this brand on Lindsay Covets.

last party ever in 2008

2008-12-16T18:55:00.004-05:00

i misread a post on stylebubble.
some club is moving city's so their new years eve party will actually be their LAST party in London.

i guess us non-londoners will attend the last party of 2008 at... wherever we are.
it's kind of catchy right?
last party like eva.
i'll be there.

a real non sequitur

2008-12-15T03:03:00.000-05:00

the point of my blog is to post items that make a subtle wardrobe.
i've been off topic lately it's true.

and my post today may at first appear as though it is a real non sequitur, however, i imagine this photographer has a great wardrobe.

how's that?

where found: oh elle
i was searching for blogs to put on my reader and found her blog on stylebubble

the photo's are a bit sexy, maybe too sexy for this blog and they're beautiful.
oh, her name is lina scheynius.
i know nothing about her.
i judge her by her werk (work).
and that's the way it should be.

i hope she's not... just kidding, i'd post about her no matter what. c'mon.

Sometimes i wish i lived in Euro land

2008-12-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

so i've found a website similar to the totokaelo website, but it's in EU land.

i found it at: the search for chic

i don't love everything there, like i love everything at totokaelo (i wouldn't wear everything at totokaelo, but i understand why someone would).

maybe it's unfair to compare because totokaelo is a compilation of a brands while THE KOOPLES is one brand. no, i don't think it's unfair.

but i'd wear these................

The Room Vote

2008-12-11T07:30:00.004-05:00

as featured on Apartment Therapy.
the room vote has a concept not unlike hot or not, but for the interior designer in all of us.

here is a selection of some of the rooms i care to comment on.

1. this is the apartment therapy choice. i can't wait to have a tall wall 'o' shelves just like it.

2. this "room" is from a child's dream, except in reality everyone who walks up it for the first time just falls.

3. wonder if they're alphabetized.

maybe i should rename this blog so that it can go beyond the wardrobe...

it's all about the wide placket

2008-12-10T01:12:00.007-05:00

i've been following this wiksten blog for some time now.

she is a fashion designer named jenny gordy who lives in kansas and has what i imagine to be a romantic (in that huckleberry finn sort of way) life.

think of it, be in the calming setting such as kansas and designing during the day, doing kansas things at night.

i can't imagine having a profession that most associate with a hectic fast pace life in such a non-fashion setting.

she has a shop and a website for her designs.
her looks are subtle.
if you wear one of her shirts its obvious you know what you are doing.

the shop isn't open now, but what i've seen her collection from the past tells me i'll like what i see.

Burdastyle for eva

2008-12-09T07:58:00.003-05:00

when i'm bored i search for people who make fashionable things for themselves.
one day i hope to be one of these people.

one place i love to go to is burdastyle.com
they have free patterns.
the catch?
the patterns are kind of hard and i haven't really gone past printing them.

the member that most inspires me is: maryy
(you might have to login/register to view her profile)

i think the double "y" is so that people who know her username make the extra effort by remembering the extra "y" -- i do that sometimes -- we are SO alike.
OR
she's finnish and that's how they spell it.
anyone finnish?

alright. i'm done. that's all.
c u. (get it?)

hide your face hat

2008-12-08T14:03:00.005-05:00

subtly say... don't talk to me
with this hat from the blog style du monde-------->

there is an etsy store with hats like this by terry graziano.
<-------here's a wool one.

maybe suede is better.

not sure.

not an earring person BUT

2008-12-07T02:00:00.003-05:00

<-----i saw these rings on even*cleveland
and like how rough they look.

turns out it's kateszabone who has an etsy store here.

i don't wear earrings much, but her shop has moderately priced real gold items...

check it outers.

FRYE

2008-12-06T07:51:00.006-05:00

So I have a pair of boots from a thrift store 3 years ago that look just like FRYE's paige short buckle boot -------->

now that i see MINE via digital image they look like crap.

(no wonder a lady at work asked me if they were from last year)

needless to say they did not cost me $237.95 like they are listed on amazon.

BUT mine look really used and I may need to replace sometime soon.

i think I remember seeing them in UrbanOutfitters last year for $175... should have got them then...

they look like a pair that should be barbour, or filson.com
you know, like one of those classic shoes... llbean maybe?

the rain boot

2008-12-05T06:00:00.006-05:00

a few days a month it rains ALL DAY in the big apple.
if you wear flats they get drenched and ruined.
if you wear sneakers it's the same.

the only way NOT to ruin your shoes on a rain filled day is to wear rain boots.
luckily they're gorgeous!

<------ so i have a pair of nice Lady N Hunter boots, BUT if you look at me walking down the street my legs are not swimming in the shoes. They're actually quite tight around my calf (sigh). therefore, i have come to the conclusion that i must find short ones for the lady on the go go.

here are my finalists:
<------------the ARGYLL short boot that I can only find in men's so I need to try it on some time at a store before I venture to buy. i'm even thinking of ordering them from the England. $69.26 at Zappos.com

today i found a pair that i think are the ones: TRETORN----------->

they are lined
and they look canadian (not sure though)
they're cheaper than the short trendy argyll

i'm convincing myself just writing this.

$60 at REI.com

not shiny ones at amazon for $54.99, oh amazon, so reliable...

$59.95 minus $20 using paypal = 39.95 if you buy at shoebuy.com

Sudden lust for oxfords.

2008-12-04T07:27:00.002-05:00

i really like this blog: a history of architecture
she has such subtle style.

if you click on that link it will take you to her post on finding the perfect oxfords.

SO that's what they're called.
well.
who doesn't have a quest for oxfords really?

it's like she read my mind (get out of my head)

i want blue ones like those---->
that image is from pikepine.com whose website doesn't seem to be up, but updates on my google reader still come up (strange).

UPDATE: the link it does work (perplexing)

Ode to J. Crew swimsuits

2008-12-03T09:15:00.004-05:00

i know i can trust the quality of these suckers.

jcrew bathing suits are the best.

once i ordered some bathing suits from victoria's secret and ... they sucked because the print was fuzzy and the fabric was flimsy.

it made me appreciate jcrew.

AND stylish one pieces are few and far between, but look!

this summer's jcrew one pieces are super glamorous.

(they're all on sale now!)

Untitled, with scarf

2008-12-02T01:43:00.003-05:00

My dream bomber jacket from Giorgio Brato:

leather bomber jackets can look too 80's. not this one by Giorgio Brato. it's on sale at totokaelo.com for like... $1,120. (gee golly)
it's quite beautiful don't you think?
(i think too)

even when the model is holding it, it looks beautiful.

what is great is that the face is cut off on the model so you can imagine anyone holding it.
(this is a joke)

surprisingly, you would never know how awesome it looks on someone by looking at it on a dress form.

maybe if you or i were to stand like a dress form it would look that awkward. hmmm. or maybe that's the way it looks zippered. crap. i'll like never know.

ahh.... and here, with scarf.

(that's what it should be called: Untitled, with scarf)

(get it, that's what i call the post)
(hi-larious)

the subtle wardrobe

Tom Ford 1999, Tom Ford 2009 - so apropos with all this "what were you doing 10 years ago" hullabaloo

Valentino, the last emperor on Netflix watch instantly

Seamless, Douglas Keeve movie

Sartorialist on Pedestrian.tv

Sartorialist and his success theory

Repost from Lacquer

Katie Did Journal blog review

Vintage Pixie Cap project

The Sartorialist & Garance Dore are dating, Love it!

Rachel Comey Shoes

Unsolicited Text Monday

Pattern

Where is my Joanne's fabric

A new accessory

Solicited text Mondays

How I'm surviving the rain in NYC

Text Mondays

Unsolicited thought Mondays - text only

Lacquer - Galoshes

Unsolicited thought Mondays - text only

SloperMoper blog

Bendels stops selling clothes

Fwd: tag

Free Dress Pattern pdf

Japanese Fashion Paparazzi

Christian Louboutin Video on Vogue Paris

Rachel Comey's Long Island Studio

Been obsessed with Barbour lately

More videos, this time Carine Roitfeld

Like two worlds colliding: charlie rose and valentino

Graphic Design

Jumbled letters

Fish Tail Parka from Totokaelo

Update on my shirt sewing project

katie holmes 1920's hat

shoe stretcher inspiration

Reference Library blog review

Tuleh Fall 2009 Preview

Mcqueen for target

Inspiration: Amelia Erhardt

sigerson morrison and shift dress

shift dress patterns

they take shoe making classes in Japan too!

Something about the snugness

digital polaroid photos

more leather jacket goodness

work in-progress

The Choosy Beggar

Search for a leather jacket

Two posters for the hopeless romantic

le bouton

Sew, you know?

Copy of Animation

Generic clothing brands

dreams to be a cobbler

Happy New Year and Happy Blogging

Everybody is Ugly --> Chictopia.com --> Maiden

Hayden-Harnet for Target

Merry Christmas!

Searching for blogs

I am liking the men's shoes

j.crew

Best search agent for finding boots

James Perse

i might start wearing tights

last party ever in 2008

a real non sequitur

Sometimes i wish i lived in Euro land

The Room Vote

it's all about the wide placket

Burdastyle for eva

hide your face hat

not an earring person BUT

FRYE

the rain boot

Sudden lust for oxfords.

Ode to J. Crew swimsuits

Untitled, with scarf