Patti Smith: Dream of Life

Patti Smith is an all time music legend and fashion icon. She has inspired collections from Jovovich-Hawk to Badgley Mischka. A documentary about her life came out on the 6th of this month and only played here in New York for a few weeks and I missed it! I don’t know when I can rent or buy it but I am anxious to see it because I’m sure it is inspirational to say the least!

Rubie Green

Last night I attended an official launch party for Rubie Green, an organic textile company that my good friend Michelle Adams started less than a year ago. She designs beautiful upholstery prints which are printed on 100% certified organic cotton right here in the U.S. They print with water-based, non-toxic inks that minimize water consumption. She only prints to order so there is minimal waste. Her prints are not only eco-friendly but they are colorful and fabulous!! The prints could work in any space from a park avenue apartment to a trendy showroom. Here are some of my favorite prints and photos from the party.    

In honor of Rubie Green I designed this dress made of 100% organic cotton jersey and wore it to the party!

 

 

Fairwell Beloved Mayle

Last week I was enjoying other fashion blogs when I came across the devastating news that Mayle is closing down in February of next year. The next shipment to stores this winter will be the last of what we all know and love as Mayle. In honor of the beautiful designs, creative silhouettes and fabulous back details I have put together my favorite looks from Spring 2008 and Fall 2008.

FALL 2008 

 

SPRING 2008 

Please shop http://shop.mayleonline.com/cart.php or stop into the store at 242 Elizabeth Street in New York.

Booties!

Fall Shoes are always fun to shop for and I am always excited to update my shoe collection with a few pairs of wearable shoes.

Here are some that are on my wishlist, all with the same kind of feeling…. listed with favorite on top!

Happy fall shoe hunting!!

Candela Tassle Bootie $198

Kitie Buckle Heel $58

Frye Vickie Buckle Boot $248

Minnetonka Shell Fringe Bootie $58 

NOA NOA

 

I love the brand Noa Noa and I thought I would share some of my favorite looks from their fall collection.

The name in itself is enough to make you want to look at the clothes!

I love the color palette of this collection as well as the undone hair styles on the models.

Simple details and beautiful fabrics, I want it all!

Denise Grunstein

A good friend of mine sent me this photo shoot by Swedish photographer Denise Grunstein. It makes me want to play dress up! The colors are so feminine and delicate. The background is just as beautiful as the clothing itself. Enjoy the eye candy and have a wonderful weekend!

Daughters?

As I was flipping through The New York Times Fall Style Magazine I came across this fabulous fashion spread “Pickup Pix” where I fell in love with many of the fall pieces. The pants that I want are by “Daughters” (as seen below) but I cannot find anyone who carries them. If anyone has any information on this brand please help! The high waisted super skinny silhouette is so cute!

 

 

 The way they can be cuffed or slipped into a skinny lil’ bootie makes them perfect for fall. I have to have them! Although I cannot afford them at $390 so perhaps I will make my own. Either way I want to find out more about the brand and what other great creations they come up with. Perhaps it is a more moderately priced line spun off of a higher designer? I don’t know! Here is the rest of the spread…

 

 

 

Purchased at the Cape

When I wasn’t hiding behind my camera this weekend I was going to the local thrift shops, antique stores and I stumbled upon an estate sale and a local church fair.

I bought these adorable antique salt and pepper shakers at a little store that also carried antique laces and vintage fabrics. I most likely will just set these next to my perfume bottles in my room instead of using them for dining.

 

 

You can never have too many hooks! I bought this tulip iron hook at a small eclectic boutique that was filled with handmade greeting cards and quirky gifts. I love the flower shape in the rugged material, can’t wait to hang it!

 

I found this beautiful necklace at the church fair and had to have it! The small white flowers make up this kind of bow-tie shape necklace. It could be worn with a strapless dress for evening or around a collared shirt for the office.

 

The estate sale was filled with great deals! Too bad it was too far of a commute to buy the very reasonable $100 dishwasher! Instead I purchased silk scarves for $1 each and this vintage clutch for $5. I dug through the scarves in search of relevant prints for the fall season and I chose the clutch based on the ethnic inspired gold pattern.

 

 

 

Cape Cod

I had the most relaxing and wonderful weekend in Cape Cod! My weekend consisted of sun bathing and thrift shopping… two elements that make up the best summer weekends! When we walked up to the Bed and Breakfast on Friday, the front yard was overflowing with Hydrangea (my absolute favorite flowers in the world) that is when I knew it was going to be a great weekend! I took over 250 photos this weekend, but I won’t bore you with them all… Here are some of my favorites!

Armani Drama

 

I would love to spend my fall gallivanting through Venice wearing Giorgio Armani… Unfortunately I don’t have any European trips planned so I will live vicariously through this amazing photo shoot from Elle’s September issue. I am off to Cape Cod for a long weekend of much needed relaxation. I shall return with too many photos and hopefully a nice tan! Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Madewell Made By You

Beginning in October the SoHo Madewell store will hold classes on how to decorate your Madewell Jeans. Some of the artists that will be teaching classes include Jill Serra, Elisabeth Timpone and Jemme Aldridge. I was looking for some of their work online and I was only able to find Jill and Elisabeth. They have distinct styles of their own, Jill being very whimsical and Elisabeth one with nature. Here are some of their artwork. To see them in action stop by the Madewell store in Soho any Saturday afternoon in October.

Jill Serra

 

Elisabeth Timpone

TOPSHOP MY LOVE!

As some of my very good friends know, at one time Topshop clothing made up 90% of my wardrobe.

I lived in Central London for a while and couldn’t help but stop at Topshop on my way to/from class everyday. Finally, my long lost love returns to me… and very close to my apartment might I add! Opening Ceremony in SoHo carried a small portion of the Kate Moss for Topshop line, but it was so overpriced that I couldn’t bring myself to spend that kind of money. The SoHo New York store is scheduled to open in October and I can barely wait! I can only hope that they do a better job translating the Topshop to America then they did translating the Mango to America. Mango’s clothing is not as well made at the store in Soho as it was in Europe, I was very disappointed. Here are some images from the Topshop website and also a collection of my favorites, that I am hoping will be sold in the New York store. I look forward to rekindling my love affair with Topshop, and I hope that you can find a place for it in your heart.

Keep Your Eye On: Georgette, NYC

Caycee Black, the young designer of Georgette takes her inspiration from Hitchcock movies.

Her pieces are tailored, feminine and most flattering. Here are some of my favorite looks from her Fall collection.

 

 

 

 

 

Want It: Fall Gear

Fall is just around the corner, so I have gathered images of my fall must-haves.

Some things I haven’t included, such as my coveted blazer only because I haven’t found the exact one that I want.

These are just the things that I want at the moment, the list gets longer and longer as the season progresses.

Also, yesterday I received the over-sized Fall Elle issue and haven’t had a chance to really comb through the pages…

which means my list will grow and change upon reading all of the Fall Issues.

Happy Fall Shopping!

  

 BECKERMAN PLAID DRESS

A.P.C. SWEATER VEST

VINCE DIP DYED CASHMERE FINGERLESS GLOVES

ELLIOTT LUCCA HANDBAG

MARC BY MARC JACOBS ANKLE BOOTS

MISCHEN WHITE DRESS

DIGBY & IONA KEYHOLE PENDANT

SUBVERSIVE CRYSTAL CUFF

SUREVOLUTION BEADED BANGLE

ETSY MEXICAN BELT

MOCIUN BUTTON DOWN SHIRT

VENA CAVA SCARF

FREE PEOPLE SLOUCHY SWEATER

BAN DO FEATHER HEADPIECE

MISCHEN ASYMETRICAL TIERED DRESS

MAYLE LONG COAT

MAYLE SHORT JACKET

REBECCA TAYLOR PANTS

DOLCE VITA CARINA BROWN FLAT

MOCIUN SKIRT

 

 

Playing Dress Up

        So I was trying to figure out what to wear the other day and I came up with some very fun, frilly combinations! Summer is almost over and I feel like my summer wardrobe hasn’t been utilized enough…  I love mixing different prints and textures to create beautiful ensembles!

Prim and Pocket

Pocketed Vest Made by Me

Rebecca Taylor Dress and Slip

Topshop Shoes

 

 All a Frill! 

    

Bitten Striped Rib Tank

Urban Jersey Ruffle Top

Rebecca Taylor Silk Skirt

Betsey Johnson Bow Shoes

Here Comes The Sun

  

 

  

   

 

Along with my Teen Vogue this month came a Fashion Rocks magazine featuring Justin Timberlake on the cover. I would give my right arm to go to the Fashion Rocks concert… The season’s best fashion and best music in one venue, what more could a girl want?? Since I can’t make it to the super expensive concert, I just fawned over the pages of Fashion Rocks. I fell instantly in love with the “Here Comes The Son” photo shoot featuring Dhani Harrison (son of George Harrison) and Sasha Pivovarova. It was wonderful to see the bohemian trend translate to fall fashions without looking too hippie flower child. It actually looked quite sophisticated and elegant. I would rock these looks!

Tea Dye – Tea Dee

Recently I have been exploring the idea of organic fabric and organic dying. I spend hours and hours in the dye room at work using RIT dye which is non-toxic… thank goodness! But our kitchen is full of different kinds of tea so I decided to do a little tea dying which I know for sure is non-toxic! Here are some pointers about tea dying:

-The more tea bags you put in, the stronger the color will come out

-The longer you leave your fabric in, the darker the color will be (as with all dyes)

-To dye an entire garment would probably take a whole box of tea bags or the alternative would be to leave it sit in the tea bath for days and days

-The smell is quite delightful

I used Orange and Spice, Peppermint, Earl Grey and English Breakfast teas. The most beautiful berry color came out of the Orange and Spice tea, I think I may attempt to dye more than a swatch with it next time. The nice thing about these colors is that they are so delicate and natural…very organic!

Look around your house and see what tea colors you can come up with!

La La La

My weekend was spent working and sunbathing at the beach. As I browsed through my photos on my camera, I noticed that I had a ton of pictures that I took in and around Manhattan and I would like to share them with you…

Beachy Keen

So my week has been crazy busy at work… working late every night for our unreasonable Monday deadline and we just found out we have to work Saturday as well…. agh! I haven’t been to the beach once this summer, so on Sunday, weather permitting… i will be bikini clad with out a care in the world! Here is a collection of some of my favorite beacy things. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!