Rag & Bone Fall 2011

It's difficult to think about Fall when Spring has barely sprung, isn't it? But, I'm going to try!

Rag & Bone's Fall 2011 collection reminds me a bit of 60s Balenciaga mixed with Narciso Rodriguez Spring 2009, which is not a bad thing!

I can't help but love the nerd factor in this look:

There seems to be a futuristic tartan thing going on, which would look ridiculous on the average person, but as a concept I am simultaneously repulsed and in love with:

The perfect day?

When it's raining outside, staying in with a pot of tea and a sewing project is a pretty nice option. In fact, some might even say it's the perfect day, when that's what you're in the mood for. Today I was catching up on some runway shows while ripping seams out of a silk top that will hopefully be transformed into something else. Here are some of my favorites:

Cushnie et Ochs - NYFW Spring/Summer 2011

Ok, so the first dress looks like a trash bag, and regular people like me would look ridiculously un-sexy in those button-up shirts, but some of the details were quite nice. I like the strange cowl on this dress:

You have to sort of look closely to see it. I also love the beading on this sweater:

You really have to see the garments moving to understand how nice the collection is, I think.

Angelo Marani - MIFW Spring/Summer 2011

Ok, now this collection is just fun. I loved the female rock star inspiration:



There are others I'd like to post, but I want to keep sewing, so I will have to post them later!

Boxing Kitten

My own personal style tends to be a bit on the drab side, mostly due to laziness. This year, I am hoping to be more creative and also to create more, including making clothes for myself! With that aim, I will keep looking for inspiration in the hopes that I can find that balance between minimal (my usual choice) and adventurous.

Brooklyn-based label Boxing Kitten is definitely way too loud for my personal style, but on other people I think their clothes look fun and vibrant. Here are some looks from their Spring/Summer 2011 and Resort 2010 collections. What do you think?

According to family lore, my great great grandmother, Marie Viola Lanteigne, from Canada, was Micmac, which is an Algonquian tribe. It may be for that reason that I have always enjoyed Native American motifs. When I was a kid growing up in Northeastern United States, we used to love going to the Trading Post to buy moccasins and other accessories with beads and fringe on them. In fact, I wish I still fit into my moccasins, because they are in fashion!

Today I watched a profile on the etsy video podcast about a 91-year-old woman named Mabel Pike, who makes beaded moccasins in her tribe's traditions, my heart melted. I think yours will too!

I love everything about this Diane von Furstenberg dress

A friend of mine gave me a few yards of heavy grey wool. I wasn't really sure what to make with it because the only real outerwear I've made was a men's jacket. Also, my current wool coat is grey and I just got it last year, so I still like it. So I decided to do two things: first, to dye the wool green. Second, to make a cape with it! Well, strictly speaking, not a cape, but a cape-like garment with sleeves, because for practicality I need to be able to wear my backpack with it. Basically, if it were a regular cape, I'd barely ever wear it. My goal was to make something free and easy, comfortable and effortless. But then as I got to looking at other cape designs and drawing, I kind of got off the path. Because I also like designs with a structured element. So now I'm not sure what the heck I'm going to do! I started draping, but then I stopped and am stuck in indecision.


My first pass dying the wool came out too light, so as soon as I have a couple extra euro to get more dye, I will try a second take. In the meantime hopefully this weekend I can decide where I'm going with it and get the pattern finished!

So I read more fashion blogs than is probably good for me. This post caught my eye because Geren Ford designs clothes I wish I owned, and that I wish I felt I could wear. I am of below-average height and average weight, and so oftentimes I convince myself that oversized or slouchy clothes won't work on me because it'll make me look like I'm hiding something under those swathes of fabric. So I tend to wear more fitted and/or tailored clothes (not too tailored, since I don't find that flattering either). I'd like to see some of these pieces on a non-model's figure: