Etsy Week, Day 3: Cold Weather Wearables

I HATE cold weather. Hate it. The only thing good about it, in my opinion, is being inside, curled up with my dog, my significant other, and a glass of wine (or cocoa with liquor in it...hehe...). I have no shame when it comes to bundling myself up like the stay-puff marshmallow just to feel comfortable when I'm out in the elements. I already have plenty of coats, so I try to find winter accessories that have a semblance of personality...Etsy definitely has some great options that fill my heart, and hopefully my head and neck, with warmth.

You may already know her...and love her...but I just can't say enough about the wonderfully eccentric and talented Yokoo. Her super-chunky scarves and hats have been all over the blog world lately, and for good reason. Oh, and her hair cut and glasses are pretty rad too.


Citron Warmer, $70.


The Circumpolar Hat, $55.


Radcliffe Toasties, $35.

Ellita's Flying Snail creates glamorous, gypsy-like knits that feel like a surreal combo of fortuneteller meets evil European countess.

Pixiebell Elfinwear specializes in unique hand knit pixie hats and headwear. They use a variety of wool blend and natural eco-friendly fibers, including soy silk, organic cotton, alpaca, and even recycled yarn. So cozy...


Chunky Cabled Cloche, $36.


Earthly Fae Hood in Cranberry, $52.


Chunky Urchin Tam in Sage, $49.

These are definitely cuter than your grandma's house shoes! Crocheted lace-up socks by Ilusoria add a bit of quirky sex appeal to cold weather wear.


Striped blue lace-up knee socks, $54.


Denmark lace-up ankle socks, $30.

Felted specializes in soft, knitted items such as cowls, fingerless gloves, and one-of-a-kind items like felted wool bowls and rings.


Merlot colored cowl and winter rose broach, $68.


Fingerless gloves with scalloped edges, $26.

Bloglovin'...Finally!

Ok, I have finally taken the time to sign up with Bloglovin'...am I now officially the last?? Like the link says: Follow my blog with bloglovin´ ...
Why? It just makes sense according to the wisdom of the After School Special: Because everyone's doin it!

Blog Award!?!? Premio Dardos...

I am feeling so honored today! The lovely Gracinha from Stylish Bug has given me my first blog award! Thank you so very much for thinking of me! Beijos Gracinha e muito brigada!!
This award is being passed around amongst some great Spanish and Portuguese-language blogs, and I feel honored to receive it. I will try to translate, with my very rusty Portuguese, the award details, and then I will pass it on to 15 other people...




This award is given for recognition of cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values transmitted in the form of creative and original writing...that's the general idea. Here it is, more eloquently, in Portuguese:

O conceito deste prémio passa por reconhecer valores culturais, éticos, literários e pessoais, transmitidos de forma criativa e original nos pedacinhos rabiscados por cada blogueiro que o receba.

The rules of this award are as follows: show the image of the award on your blog, link back to the blog that gave the award, and nominate 15 other blogs that you consider deserving the same.

It is hard to pick, but here are my nominations (some fashion-related, some not):
Progress on the Prairie
Art Deco Blog (Gatochy)
Behind the Curtain
Child of the Moon
Planet Fabulon
Scandalous Women
Sub-Studio Design
Victorian Peeper
All This Happiness
Chloe Van Paris
Frolic
Sharon Rose Vintage
I'm Not Antisocial
Square Old Soul
Refashionist

Etsy Week, Day 2: Lingerie

Where do you like to buy your bras, panties, and other unmentionables?
It's Day 2 of Etsy Week, and today I've scoped out some gorgeous lingerie offerings by several talented Etsy sellers. I really love lingerie, but find it difficult to score that perfect item that is comfortable, flattering...and not too sleazy (!) Hope you love these as much as I do:

Birds and Bees is based out of Italy and makes original handmade LOUNGERIE that combines the sensuality of LINGERIE with the comfort of LOUNGEWEAR.

Fiore Bianco Silk Jersey Slip Dress by Birds and Bees, $65.


CaffeLatte Top and Knickers Set by Birds and Bees, $65.

Why high-rise panties? It's better than bending over and having a thong hanging out... and with all the high-rise pants and skirts out there, it just makes sense.

Orange and Blue Stripe High-Rise Panty by Twin Syndrome Design Works, $20.


Purple High-Rise Panties by Twin Syndrome Design Works, $20.


It's really hard to find new lingerie that is as cute and classy as vintage, so why not go retro?

Hand-Dyed Jewel Toned Slip by Lola Loves You, $48.


blue Moon Babydoll Set by Lola Loves You, $32.

The lacy, girly bras and panties from this UK lingerie company are all made from found or cast-off materials. Eco friendly and beautiful!

Sapphires and Ribbons Silk Bow Print Knickers by G&P Lingerie, $42.


Pure silk bow briefs by G&P Lingerie, $55.

I want everything from this North Carolina lingerie maker. The items are sexy AND comfortable -- a coveted combination!

Summersweet Bra by On the Inside, $33


Organic Cotton Star Jasmine Camisole by On the Inside, $37.

Etsy Week, Day 1: Doggie Goods

I hope everyone had a great weekend and productive start to the week...

It's Etsy Week here on Nothing Elegant. I will bring you several days worth of themed Etsy goods. My goal is to explore products that shoppers might tend to overlook or forget about (at least I do) when it comes to independent designers and small-business based goods. I often find myself feeling resigned to buying things like pet products, lingerie, or home decor at chain stores that are overpriced and often unimpressive, so I thought it would be fun to see what alternatives Etsy has to offer that can't be found at your local department store. And if you're like me, and trying to get Christmas shopping done early (if I don't, I will spend all my money), then this might also get your gift-giving ideas flowing!

In honor of the new love of my life, Gidget the pug (who I recently rescued from Homeward Bound Pug Rescue), here is a wish-list of unique, adorable pet items from various Etsy sellers that she and I would both like to get our paws on... If you are a dog lover like myself, you might also enjoy this blog that features daily dog art, new and old, from around the world: Dog Art Today.




Handmade Beaded Dog Necklaces by Fifi Me, $18, and $25.


Underwear Dog Toys by Casbah Kitten, $9.


Plum Pet Scarf by Behave Littles, $18.


Retro Modern Pet Bed, 70's Floral by Like Kittysville, $59.


Hand-Knit Dog Neck Warmer by Lucky Dog Knits, $18.


Kimono for Doggie by Kreative Kimono, $33.



Eco Friendly Fleece Bed, $50 and Smart Scarf, $8, by Annie's Sweatshop.


Peony Seersucker custom dog collar by Pecan Pie Puppies, $20.

Literary Loves

This post is not really about fashion--maybe "style" would be a better word. I have been thinking a lot about a different kind of style lately...that is, writing style. In the midst of studying for my exams, I am feeling both a sense of gratefulness for the work I have chosen to do as well as a sense of being overwhelmed and inundated by words. When things start getting tedious, or the words start running together, or I feel like I am suffocating under an avalanche of library books, I have to figure out ways to put things into perspective. For some reason, it always helps me to look at pictures of the authors I am reading (and since most of my favorite authors are women, I get to admire their ensembles as well). I like to picture them leaning over their writing desk, sitting at their typewriters, or jotting notes on a napkin in a cafe. It is interesting to try and decipher some kind of connection between their pictures and their writing...or to see if the personality of their works comes out in their pose, the tilt of their hat, or their facial expression. By seeing them as I read, I form some kind of sympathy with them -- a mutual understanding of their work. I like to imagine meeting these women, having a conversation with them about what drove them, what inspired them, and what challenges they were able to overcome (or not to overcome, and why). I suppose this is a form of procrastination, like many of the things I find myself doing during the day when I should be studying, but somehow it feels more productive, and it helps me understand and discern the torrent of words swirling around in my brain. So, I thought I would just share a few photos of some of the most intriguing, talented, provocative modernist women -- women who pushed the envelope of style and subject when it came to the written word, and who each, correspondingly, seem to have had an equally strong grasp on unique personal style...


Zora Neale Hurston



H.D. (Hilda Doolittle)


Katherine Mansfield


Margaret Anderson



Jean Rhys


Nella Larsen


Djuna Barnes


Anais Nin