2 Tags / 1 Award / A Million Thanks!!!

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The lovely Dugout Daisy tagged me in a fun Q&A game, Here are the rules:

Step 1: respond and rework—answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own. Step 2: tag—eight other un-tagged people.

1) What are you wearing right now? Skinny jeans, black platform ankle boots, eggplant-colored long-sleeve tee from FCUK with weird ruffles across the back that make me look like I have tiny dinosaur spikes...

2) What's the last thing I read/ are currently
reading? Well, this is hard since I'm reading a lot for exams...probably Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh, 42nd Parallel by Dos Passos, or Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy Sayers (those are just from the past few weeks).

3) Do you nap a lot? I do on holidays, but not right now!! I love naps though.

4) Who was the last person you hugged? My boyfriend James and my pug Gidget.

5) What's your current obsession/addiction? Online shopping (though I've stopped for the time-being); my new bottle of Burberry perfume.

6) What was the last thing you said out loud? I just said "Ummm..." My boss asked a question that I didn't know the answer to. Figures.

7) What websites do you always visit when you go online? My gmail accounts, Facebook, school e-mail, my blog...and when I have time, about a hundred other blogs I love to read. Oh, I also check 20x200 for new art and Gilt Groupe and Net-a-porter for new sales.

8) What was the last item you bought? Red hair dye -- it's happening tonight!!!! I will post pics.

9) What is your most challenging goal? Finishing my Phd.

10) If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished- anywhere in the world, where would it be? Wherever I end up getting a teaching job in the near future...preferable somewhere with good restaurants and good shopping...and good friends. I'm not picky.

11) Favorite Vacation spot? Nearby, probably Dallas or Eureka Springs, AR. Otherwise, I've loved all the places I've visited and would love to return to any of them again: France, Italy, Greece, Mexico, Brazil, etc.

12) Say something to the person who tagged you: Hi Daisy! Thanks for the tag -- it feeds my narcissism. Just kidding. Maybe.

13) Name one thing you just can't resist no matter how bad it is for you: Where do I begin? Mexican food, loaded cheese fries, chocolate lava cake, chicken fried steak...need I go on?

14) You are on the Oregon Trail. How are things going? Not that good. I am feeling ravenous and my traveling companions are starting to look like chicken drumsticks.

15) If you woke up tomorrow and were a boy, what is the first thing you would do and why? Try and figure out how to sit with my legs crossed without crushing my family jewels; I have always found this puzzling.

16) Name one thing you can not live with out: I second Daisy on this one. Lip balm or lipstick.

17) Has a celebrity's haircut ever influence you on your own hairstyle? Yes, in fact, I have a page torn from People Style on my dresser right now with Anne Hathaway's long bob as inspiration [I'm trying to grow out my bangs, yikes!].

18) What is your favorite characteristic or quality about yourself [not appearance-related]: My incorrigible sense of curiosity.

19) What brought you to blogland? An urge to find a creative outlet; a desire to explore art and fashion more, and to find others who share similar interests; a desire to write more, but without the pressure and constraint of academia.

20) New Question: What attracts you most to another person? Sense of humor. Hands down.

I'm totally going to cheat, because I'm feeling lazy, and I'm only going to tag 4 people:
1. My neighbor Brigid at Grey Eye Designs.
2. My good friend and academic cohort Courtney at To Someone Likeminded
3. Friend and genius Michael at Laminated Fragments
4. Friend and knitting master Emma at Stitch'n'Sue
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Mothersvea tagged me with this interesting request:
Take the 6th folder on my computer and then the 6th photo of that folder and tell you something about that image. And tag another 6 people! The only problem is that there were only 3 photos in my 6th folder! So, I chose random photo...

This is a sofa designed by Doshi Levien. I don't know what else to say about it except that I thought it was amazing when I saw it, and it reminds me of The Jetsons! Actually, I think I like the pillows more than the actual sofa.

Here are my tag picks for this one (more cheating):
1. Airam at Lost in a Spotless Mind
2.Michiko at Things of Beauty

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Also, Fashion Moment, whose amazing blog is colorful, extravagant, and packed with inspiration, tagged me with a "Fabulous Blog" award!! I am so honored!

Here are the rules:
1.) Put logo on your blog or post;

2.) Nominate 10 blogs which you think are fabulous;

3.) Be sure to link to your nominees within your post;

4.) Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog;

5.) Share the love and link to the person from whom you received your award!

I'm also going to cheat here and only tag one person -- if I'm going to be bad, might as well be bad all around:

*I am tagging The Vintage Society whose style is always accessible, inspirational, and eclectic!!

Another round of thanks to all!!!!

His Dark Materials: Black Sheep and Prodigal Sons

My craving for delicate, yet slightly creepy objects is often hard to satisfy, so when I discovered this New York jewelry artist's website, I was mesmerized...

Black Sheep and Prodigal Sons bands modern and endangered technolgies to create alluringly dark objects with a timeless yet relevant aesthetic.

The alarming en masse disappearance of honeybees worldwide (Colony Collapse Disorder) is the inspiration for The Abandoned Comb Amulet.

For all things cherished and in need of protection --the Dark Miracle Jewelry Box.

Scrimshaw -- Every necklace consists of a hand-engraved 1 7/8" by 7/8" vintage salvaged ivory piano key (mammoth ivory for overseas orders) on an adjustable 24" sterling chain (gold by request).

Great Beast -- Stickpins add a subtle elegance to lapels, ties, hats, scarfs and the like. Each comes in a handcrafted linden wood "Book Box."

The Golden Jaw is a tray for ashes or small valuables.

"Black Bighorn" -- Oxidized Sterling Charm, Sterling Key, 24" Ball Chain with 13 Links, "Praying Hands" Charm

"The Golden Key" -- Solid Rose Gold Key and 18" Chain.

Golden Cottonmouth.

I Love Holidays, So What??

I think I have come to a realization about myself today: Ok, I'm a fairly intelligent person, and I consider myself to be a critical thinker -- I don't buy into every supposed social norm, I don't blindly follow trends or popular ideologies, and I often question the status quo. First of all, this is part of my job, and secondly, it is just an annoying habit I can't break. But, I realized [while pondering all the fun Valentine's Day posts I want to do on my blog], that I love holidays [consumer-driven as they are], and obviously I love to shop for myself and others...so, what gives? Are these things incompatible with being critical-minded? Next question: Do I care?

The way I see it , life is short and often tedious and painful. I like to have some fun now and again. I like to be creative. I like a little diversity and distraction. We all do. I think holidays can provide something very wonderful and necessary: they allow us to take a break from the norm; they remind us to think of others and be generous; and they give us an excuse to act a bit like children [play games, make things, decorate, send cards or special e-mails, or simply take the day off to relax with loved ones]. And yes, buying things can be part of it, too...if you want. I know some people might say that we should make time to do all of these things without a holiday to force us to, but let's just admit that everyday life, responsibilities, and stresses often take center-stage. I think if we didn't have the holidays to jolt us out of the ordinary and mundane, that we might just get sucked into a black-hole of work and chores.

I admit that I am lucky and that I have the ability to buy gifts [albeit small] for people I care about on holidays; I also admit that others might not be so lucky, and I'm not certain how to reconcile the unfairness of that. Perhaps I'm writing this post to resolve some sort of guilt I think I should feel for being so holiday-happy, but I really think I just want to let that go and allow myself to enjoy it all. Any excuse to have fun and enjoy life seems like a a damn good idea right now! I just hope that whether or not I have money to "buy into" the consumerism associated with holidays, that I will at least always be able to enjoy the lovely things that holidays allow us to partake in. So, I'm just going to milk Valentine's and every other corny holiday for all it's worth ;)

Now, on an entirely consumer-driven note, if anyone can find this Sonia Rykiel tee for me anywhere [even a cheap rip-off], I will send you a big box of chocolates and a great big kiss:

xoxoxox

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Love Me Tender...

I'm not really feeling bright pink or red for Valentine's this year. I'm going through a phase of loving muted peaches and nude-pinks (is that a color?). Add some black and 'voila' -- a soft & tough combination that is perfect for V-Day, if you ask me. I was also going to do a budget-friendly version of this extravagant ensemble (which, combined, would cost more than my car), but it is just so perfect that I can't bear to even try...

Love Me Tender - by Nothing Elegant on Polyvore.com

1. Marc by Marc Jacobs Zip watch pendant
$175.00 - net-a-porter.com

2. Yves Saint Laurent Suede platform shoe Browns Fashion
490.00 GBP - brownsfashion.com

3. D&G Dolce & Gabbana Floral organza dress
$745.00 - net-a-porter.com

4. Mary Preston Marcasite Silver Button Earrings, 18K at Erie Basin Jewelry
$720.00 - eriebasin.com

5. Doma Washed leather biker jacket
$620.00 - net-a-porter.com

6. Christian Louboutin Pliage satin clutch
$995.00 - net-a-porter.com

Recession-Proof Lingerie Just in Time for Valentine's Day ♥

I like drooling over the lusty and extravagent lingerie on the Agent Provocateur website just as much as the next girl [or guy], but when it comes to making a semi-practical decision about articles of clothing that few people see, I just can't justify spending $100 or more on one item right now. So, I was happy to see that Forever 21 has added some cute, inexpensive intimate apparel to their online shop -- just in time for Valentine's Day. They are also having a special on panties -- 3 for $10!

1. Paisley side-Tie Panty, $3.80

2. Silk Polka-Dot Bra, $8.80

3. Romantique Satin slip, $12.80

4. Divine full-length slip, $18.80

A Big Thanks...

[Update:] I just received another lovely award...from Michiko of Things of Beauty, a truly inspired, informative, beautiful blog out of Japan. It is such an honor -- thank you for thinking of me! Nice Blog Award Rules: 1.) Recipients of the award are asked to link to the nice person that gave them the award. 2.) Link to as many other blogs as they want to give the award to and write a motivation for the person. 3.) Must also make sure that they let the bloggers who won know about the award. Since I just tagged 1o for the previous award, I'm going to be lazy and tag just a few non-fashion related blogs...there are so many good ones, this is always hard!!

♥ Mad Vortex -- This blog features vintage advertisements and hilarious commentary. It makes me laugh out loud every time I read it!
♥ Peculiar Beauty -- The name says it all; everything from bizarre fashion and diet trends of bygone eras to strange vintage magazine images.
♥ Pre-Raphaelite Sisterhood -- This site celebrates the women immortalized on canvas by members of the Victorian Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and associated artists.
♥ Wicked Halo -- A collection of the odd and the beautiful, with an emphasis on art and photography.


Awwwwww...I think the universe (or at least the lovely Ana) could sense I was feeling a bit down and decided to perk me up by bestowing the "Your Blog is Fabulous" award onto me! What an honor...and she included me among some great company. Ana is one of the hardest working ladies in the blogosphere, and her passion really shows! If you don't already know her, check out her blog On Dressing Up. But, be warned, you will be jealous of her array of sundresses and sandals (she is located in warm, sunny New Zealand!). I am passing this award onto ten other deserving blogs that I have grown fond of as of late...Cheers!!

♥ Spokes'n'Daggers -- Spokes 'n' Daggers is a combined blog of two friends, Gaby & Jane, who love to share their creations, interesting finds and day to day life.

♥ Greetz from Tiz -- An Italo-belgian girl with the great passion for chocolate, shopping in Maastricht, staring at the sea from her balcony, and dancing jive to the music of the '40-'50's.

♥ Anmutig -- Nadine from Stuttgart, Germany; Anmutig is her little sketchbook for interesting fashion and design finds.

♥ Tea Time -- Her other blog, Art Deco, has been one of my favorites for ages. This one is specifically devoted to East Asian beauty.

♥ Lady Lavona's Cabinet of Curiosities -- Beautiful and macabre; the perfect combo, if you ask me!

♥ Nubby Twiglet -- Stunning design and graphics, great shoes, and excellent blogging tips...all in one place!

♥ Violet Voice -- An always dreamy, sensual, and eclectic mix of images.

♥ Dramatis Personae -- Ashe Mischief hopes to recognize her loves of fashion, the arts, and living, in a most theatrical way.

♥ Childhood Flames -- One of the most popular personal style blogs out there and for good reason: Camille has an avant-garde style few can rival.

♥ Couture Allure Vintage -- A blog for lovers of vintage clothing and fashion, where you can learn about vintage styles, designers, and design concepts through photos from the past.

A Link to Remember...

I was honored and practically speechless when I saw that the amazingly talented Betsy over at From Betsy with Love [truly one of my favorite blogs!] featured me, along with some other excellent bloggers, on her Weekend Links. This euphoria will definitely tide me over for a bit...

Notice how Betsy makes these incredible collages? Kinda makes my blog look insanely glamorous! Well, off to study Victorian literature...

McQueen Treats from Target...March, I Fear and Love You.

I will be taking my dreaded qualifying exams in March. Terror!! Fear!! Hysteria!!

But, March is not all wickedness. Alexander McQueen will be at Target to comfort and cheer me with a well-priced black jumpsuit and some black cropped pants. If I pass exams, they will be a reward. If I fail, they will help me look good, even though I am crying and wailing and gnashing my teeth. Oh yes, they will be mine.

Paul Poiret: The King of Modern Fashion

I am completely smitten by the exotic Belle Epoque designs of French fashion genius Paul Poiret. A recent article on the blog Comunidade de Moda re-inspired my passion, and I have translated bits of the article on Poiret by Mari Yaghi (with a bit of help from Babelfish) -- hope you enjoy!

[There was a retrospective at the MET in 2007 of Poiret's work, which I unfortunately missed! (click on the link to see more of his designs). Were any of you lucky enough to see it?]

"Half a century before the feminists of the 60's were burning their bras, the Frenchman Paul Poiret (1879-1944) had already set women free of another restraining undergarment --the corset. Poiret became a celebrity for liberating women from uncomfortable corsets and creating a looser and more untied silhouette based on art-deco forms. The strict silhouettes and pale colors of the 19th century gave way to a new silhouette of untied dresses and chemisiers, unsewn, draped fabrics, and dramatic, oriental-inspired colors.



Creator of bohemian-chic, at the height of his career [before the 1st World War] Poiret was the king of the fashion. It can be argued that, with his groundbreaking vision, Poiret was the first truly modern designer. Much of the inspiration for the coats, dresses, and accessories on runways today originated in Poiret's designs of almost 100 years ago. While Chanel takes credit for creating the standard of modern fashion, Poiret is, according to Harold Koda [head of the Custom Institute, the department of Fashion of the Metropolitan] the true source of modern shape and forms. With his marketing savvy, Poiret was also one of the first designers to put his brand name on perfumes, cosmetics and decorative objects -- a strategy that is today the financial pillar for many great designers.



Poiret started to draw dresses while working in an umbrella factory in the mid-1890's. In 1898, he was contracted as an apprentice of the designer Jacques Doucet, from whom he absorbed many of the strategies he used later. In 1901, he left Doucet's ateliêr and went to work with Charles Frederick Worth, the designer who dominated the French fashion industry at the end of the 19th century.

[The dress below is a typical dress by Charles Frederick Worth -- notice the pale colors and the strict, corseted bodice popular in late 18th century French fashion]



[The loose, draped styles and bright colors of Poiret contrast dramatically with Worth's designs:]



Poiret opened his own proper ateliêr in 1903. Poiret was not skilled at sewing, but it was his lack of technical training that facilitated the advancement of his famous draping technique. A passionate lover of painting, he was the first one to use modern art to represent his creations. Partnering with the artist Paul Iribe in 1908, he published "Les Robes de Paul Poiret" and, in 1991, he produced "Les Choses de Paul Poiret' with fashion illustrator Georges Lepape. The work of Poiret was inspired by the dominant artistic trends of the day, such as classicism, orientalism, symbolism, and primitivism. With inspiration in art nouveau, the east, and the exotic ballets of Sergei Diaghilev's Ballet Russe, he introduced to high fashion the lively colors of the fauvists, and created layered dresses, skirts, and turbans that earned the description, "Pasha Paris".



Poiret's success was also due in part to his wife Denise, a young lady from the provinces whom he married in 1905. She was his muse, creative director of the fashion house, and, above all, his favorite model. In an interview in a magazine in 1913, Poiret affirmed: `My wife is the inspiration for all my creations, she is the expression of all my ideals.' The thin figure of Denise was the basis for his feminine clothing sketches. He began eliminating the corset in his designs as early as 1906, after his first daughter Rosine was born. Perhaps also as reply to Denise's second pregnancy, in 1910 he designed an untied dress, similar to a chemise. On the couple's first trip to New York in 1913, Denise was famously photographed in the Hotel Square resting on cushions (above). Denise also had a designer's eye -- fashion magazines indicated that she was the first to wear silk shoes without a bow or buckle. She was a brilliant stylist in the way she combined accessories, and she was the inspiration for Poiret's introduction of “high, wrinkled morocco boots” into the world of modern fashion. Styled with a low heel and a square toe, she wore them “wrinkled on the legs, nearly to the knees”, paving the way for the myriad of boot-skirt combinations women wear today.



Between 1910 an 1913, Poiret's designs were inspired by the ostentatious costumes of the Ballet Russes in Paris and by exotic oriental tales such as 1001 Arabian Nights -- he is credited with the introduction of turbans, tunics, and harem pants into Western fashion. Poiret, however, lost his position as king of fashion when the sober shapes and colors of Coco Chanel entered the scene in the 1920's. As the famous, and perhaps apocryphal, story is told, of the 1920's chance encounter between the "King of Fashion" and young Coco Chanel: Poiret inquired of the black-clad Chanel, "For whom, madame, do you mourn?" to which Chanel replied, "For you, monsieur."In the 20's, reacting against the new fashion inspired by Chanel that turned, in his opinion, women into boys, Poiret seemed to have lost his innovative touch and in a last desperate effort, attempted to reintroduce the suffocating corset back into his clothing designs. In 1928, Poiret and Denise divorced, and many of his original designs were kept stored away until the retrospective exhibition at the MET in 2007."



Below are the photos from a gorgeous fashion spread in Vogue (2007) inspired by the designs of Poiret in correlation with the MET exhibit:

US Vogue May 2007
Fashioning the Century by Hamish Bowles
Natalia Vodianova
Styled by Grace Coddington
Photographed by Steven Meisel