Recycling to make "new" clothing for kids

Proof that with a pile of nothing, cast-off fur, sweaters, lace and net, everything gathered in this case from the "Les Petits Riens" ...but it could have just as easily fallen out of the closet -- a wonderful designer has created whimsical fantasy outfits that capture a child's delight! A strong push to recycle imaginatively.

Dragonfly and diamonds in Paris

Translucent, glowing, fragile, mesmerizing, overtly precious, imaginative and simply beautiful!

Jewerly as pens ... or notebooks

I fell upon a a chest of my brother's "bridge" and "dance card" pens last summer. They are like jewelry, and, especially the pens for the ladies's dance cards, to record who was promised which dance, had to be super chic and charming, to hang around the neck, the wrist, off a bag, or the dance card ... they are colorful, whimsical and lovely to hold. And I remembered these photos when I saw the tongue and check versions of notebooks as necklaces on Junk Jewelry...

Little Dorrit

BBC is showing a most sumptuous Charles Dickens's series - "Little Dorrit". The costumes, the settings, every detail in the hair and accessories (we're on a fashion blog so I will not start on the superb acting), all of it delightfully inspiring. It is worth staying in to catch the episodes.

My blog's almost one year old

... January 2009 will be one year, but the mood to celebrate is already in the air - and a new masthead was in order - it's a collection of fashion thoughts, impressions, sketches and inspirations of colors, textures and moods.

It's all about Michelle O

Fashion is going to get a big lift from MO. Who can resist her feminine fashion play of dresses, oversized accessories and color - it's all so contagious in a big way. Watch her pop the status quo in the USA!

A little Mom and Pop sewing shop

Found these buckles from a little mom and pop "sewing and notions" shop. They cross many decades and are sincere in their design, and, though in a different hemisphere, are not less intriguing than these jewels I spotted from the window of a Paris antique shop.

Black and white on white

I love these lush white wool flannel 60s pants sunk into hollywood art deco furntiure.

Black, red, white and silver. The classic color palette is the most appealing, it's fresh, bold and beautiful - from the retro-window display to the romantically designed, here are some more images along the ModoBruxelles fashion walk.

More button and plastic glamour

I fell in love with this corsage, the interesting colors, simplicity of the plastic, the over sized proportions and the desire to make one myself ... once I find an appropriate plastic material - maybe re-cycle a shopping bag... . Anyway, it was the inspiration for my November calendar sketch, the artificial beauty of plastic flowers and deco-colors contrasting the natural, worn denim blues.

And I loved the big black buttons on this black beret - they're shiny and bold against the classic felted cap - creating stylish proportions that make black fresh and fun.

Structured knits at Modo Bruxelles 08

I love the modern strong quality of these knits discovered along the modo bruxelles '08 route. I don't know the designer's name, so if anyone does, I would love to post it, so please pass it along.

... and another, fabulous knit designer (again - want to give credits), with this endless length of meaningful black and white. It makes you want to get out your needles.

Pom P'on

The shops on and around the hip area of rue Antoine Dansaert in Brussels were turned into a showcase for fresh and emerging designers last weekend, with clothing stores to galleries, filling their windows with ideas to sell or just to inspire. There were lots of witty ideas, like the girl above, making pom-poms while dressed in a knitted pom-poms dress by Laura Van Neygen.

More exquisite and colorful button style...

Further on the button mania of my recent postings -- I'm crazy for these necklaces I found today in a shop window. They had several, each unique, a delightful play on pattern and shape.

I am off to make my own version!

Cosy embroidered vests

Traveling in central Romania I discovered wonderfully colorful ways to bundle up as winter descends upon us. They make these snugly fitted vests out of shearling with elaborate embroideries or from down with inventivly trimmed patterns - all with a fresh naivity, creating a warm and cosy protection from the darkest cold winter days.The patterns don't stop with the vests, they are as cheery and delightful on the ceramics, building facades, and even the bathhouses...

I ended up with a pile of inspiration! The people were warm and friendly and I look forward to a return visit.

Denim by Première Vision

Denim by Première Vision for Fall/Winter 09/10; Les Docks, in Paris, June 4/5

DPV jumped from their "first ever" exhibit last December into a MUST event for anyone who is a serious contender in the denim world. Gathered in three halls were the global market leaders – the weavers, finishers and denim accessory manufacturers - not just showing their wares, but mixing, meeting and collaborating with the designers and manufacturers. There was this terrific will to be inventive and creative utilizing their fine quality, skills and innovation, all in the manner demanded by the denim culture. Within the hip set-up that the organizers created, a happening and buzz of synergy built and I walked away with a bundle of thoughts and materials. What I loved the MOST - the hand woven organic selvage denim in indigo shot with brown and the sincerely washed, patched and hard-worn denim. When these two opposites, the unwashed and washed denim are mixed together into one look, like a washed jacket casually worn with indigo jeans, it becomes more interesting, because of how if reflects change, our heritage and realities. Last year the crowd was dressed in one mold - unwashed indigo, this year it all changed, and there was a parade of feminine or tough, washed and worn or dark indigo and unwashed, tight, loose, cropped or baggy – denim clothing has evolved into individuals making sincere, personal statements. It’s accidental, its perfect, it’s fashion blossoming in Paris.
Here is a glimpse on video of what was happening. Displays by Pierre-Louis Mascia – past – present and future; samples from A.N.G.E.L.O. Vintage Place; video from Albig by the artist Jean-Marie Albet; music -I don’t know the DJs, and the photo of the display with overalls is by Stéphane Kossmann/© Première Vision SA.
... the focus on organic and re-cycling appeared even in unexpected ways, like sunflower seeds handed out by the Italian woven tape resource, http://www.victor.it/flashindex.html

"Sweet Pea" and shopping off Shenkin Street

Off Shenkin Street, (one of the hip, Bauhaus areas in central Tel Aviv), I found the baby doll smocked top photographed in the “Sweet Pea” chapter of my book, Denim Revolution. In the carefree style of the young fashion scene in the neighborhood, designer Keren Gross, opened a roof top boutique one summer weekend. When I arrived at the top of the stairs, I was greeted by her sisters, music and a pitcher of iced tea and fresh fruit cheerfully spread out on a table draped with colorful vintage fabrics. She defined the boutique by an awning, rug and a breezy cloth tent for the “changing room”. It was a perfectly delightful way to shop and enjoy friends and a sunny afternoon.

DIY re-cycled denim

another sketch of Denim Revolution diy projects

Parisian pouf miniskirt-Tarzan loves Jane carryall bag-lacy Victorian cuffs

Denim Revolution and the parisian pouf mini

... the Parisian Pouf miniskirt was the second project I made for the book and I spent some time, sketching and browsing through my trims and thoughts until the design fell together. Inspired by the sumptuous macaroons (violette, rose, pistachio) at Ladurée near the Place de la Madeleine in Paris and Kristin Dunst done up as Marie Antoinette - my wish was - to bring those influences into the 21c with a terribly feminine twist in denim. Therefore, the tucks, pleats, lace, taffeta, velvet, trims, the covered buttons, gussets and hand stitching, and the hidden details that feel like lingerie. It is about dressing up for a soft late spring or summer evening. In Denim Revolution it's been photographed in a cafe in the Galerie de la Reine in Brussels and sketched for dinner in St. Tropez.

P.S. In the video, the "D" is for Denim, for Duffy (it's her song, "Warwick Avenue"), and for Dinah, my Russian grandmother, who hand embroidered this sampler, many decades ago, when she was a young teenager.

Parisian pouf sketch

a sketch from the Denim Revolution video

Portland street fashions

Above is a page out of my sketchbook of impressions from hanging out on Hawthorne Blvd. in Portland - Hawthorne's a grass roots parade of street fashion where men, women, teens, babies - everyone is part of the scene and making it happen. Generated by vintage clothing and off beat furniture shops that line the street, enhanced with hip book, shoe (Halo Shoes), kitchen, scent ... stores, whatever your taste, there's no snobbery here - from sweet 50's aprons (Presents of Mind) to skate boarder's hangouts, or inspired toys and illustrated books (Missing Link), to locally handmade products, it's a sincere fashion happening proliferating that's clearly a Portland scene, a cool laid back, bikers, knitters and coffee house happening in real time.

Young and hip designer style

I'm always bumping into wonderfully imaginative designers. I love how they are freely expressing themselves and their lifestyles through their clothes, illustrations and thoughts. Here are five, very young, hardly launched designers:

Carly is a knitter, artist and writer and her sketchbooks (of enormous dimensions) are diaries filled and patched with delightful girlish fantasies layered with her own politically correct thoughts and dreams. After we met I realized that I saw her socks on BBC on Sienna and Savannah Miller.
carly.juneau@alumni.rca.ac.uk

Helen's humor is reflected in her bag designs that are covered with images that fall into her funky, fifties-retro style. It's pink, sweet, sugary, and every bag has a tale, of friends, objects or chocolates. With their silver trim they really suit up for valentines. Her husband is so far only designing for himself, with collars up to there, and zoot suits and I can imagine how they dress-up their two year old as they buzz around London.
http://ww.helenrochfort.com/

Only 17 - Camille and Luna are two friends who have formed "MILK". Camille designs while Luna photographs and invents their site. The clothes, which seem to have tumbled out of their closets, are made from discarded fabrics and re-cycled clothes, all re-styled with their signature bows, baby doll, Courreges look, or whatever they feel, at that moment-look. It has a sincerity and sense that works in a refreshingly, crazy and uncommerical way.
http://www.myspace.com/milkcreation

Jean Michel, his must-have shoes - are neon-bright, wild, free-spirited and original -- his whole crew and style is a wanna-be look, full of positive energy, artistry and action that makes you want to hang out to not miss what's going to happen next.
http://www.myspace.com/espezial

When you meet someone like Laura, painted top to toe in her own wonderfully creative look - even her business card is brilliantly all hers – it's beauty, the Italian hip way, spun with lots of charm and personality.
laurapastrello@hotmail.com