Idea: flannel skirt as skirt, layering belts, layering cardigans, costume jewelry embellished with her parents’ hippie buttons

What can I say, Mirabelle Blech is my muse. This isn’t my first time working with this darling Lithuanian face; she’s fallen victim to my infamous use of hairspray and caked on eye makeup before:



Thanks for enduring the frigid front, Mirabelle!

I’d like to start by saying I’m not bitter or anything (I am actually rather bitter).

This weekend marks the belated start of my History Day research marathon *ick*. At least my topic is Coco Chanel, so that’ll be fun! Also, (this is where the bitterness begins) due to the fact that I don’t understand anything that’s going on in math right now, I’ll be attempting to decipher cryptic math bullhonky all weekend. JOY TO THE WORLD. And on that rather bitterly sarcastic note, I’m taking a vacation for a couple of days…

Pray for my braincells. They’ll need it.

While studying Africa last year I researched the Tuareg tribe for an African art project. They are a nomadic group of the Sahara Desert who wander the vasts of sand like forgotten ghosts  renown for their indigo dyes . I was more than ecstatic to see that Missoni referenced the Tuareg tribe in their latest collection which uttered the protective veils of the Tuareg.

Recently horror films have been a well of inspiration for designers, particularly the Japanese films. For fall/winter 08, Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodartewere inspired by such films; the Mulleavy sisters wanted their girls looking like “drowned rag dolls”. I was particularly inspired by the gowns which were steam dyed. The result: volcanic inkblots so enchanting yet so completely bewitching. Rodarte, mission accomplished.

PS, I recently attempted steam dying a sample piece of fabric and the results were less than enchanting.. Pout. Rodarte is a truly innovative team. Here’s my supporting evidence: a teenage boy with his mother’s vegetable steamer, a clothing iron, and three packages of fabric dye could match up with them…

PPS, scrubbing the dye off of a vegetable steamer for thirty minutes is nightmare.

PPPS photo by Marcio Madeira

Christopher Raebuen is a British fashion designer that creates upcycled (it's like recycled only you're taking materials and turning them into something else) using military parachutes. Utilitarian, resourceful, beautiful: genius!

These are simply screenshots taken from the northern most parts of the Canada and Russia. Amazin’. Wouldn’t they make stellar prints? I think so! Et aussi, Google Earth = endless hours of fun; I like to look at street views of Paris and oogle at the shops. Yeah, I have no life.

Woolen scarves are flouncing about and the dainty clothes of a balmier time have been tucked aside in the back of our closets. It’s winter, whether you like it or not. So let’s face this wasteland, so to speak, and take a look at the trends that will do more than just keep you warm this winter. (Feel free to click on the itty bitty pictorials beside the trends to view them in full size)

80’s DEJA VU
First up: the 80’s! The 80’s have been crawling back as sequins and outlandishly campy garments infiltrate the stores. Designers like Gucci, Balmain, and Marc Jacobs piled up on the sequinsand sheen for this more than optimistic take on recession dressing. All in all, take a note from Lady GaGa, the lady knows what she’s doing..