Showing posts with label clothes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clothes. Show all posts

Friday, May 27, 2011

Packing

I pretend to be pragmatic.

I talk of minimalism and striving to live within my means. Currently my means are a mere 20 kilos (as stipulated by the airline) and I'm discovering I'm hardly minimalistic, in fact I'm meticulously materialistic. My backpack is wonderful rotund and joyously plump with excessive possessions - terrible euphemisms and excuses for my inability to cull my wardrobe.

Unfortunately I'm a sucker for prints and colour.




Tuesday, May 17, 2011

The other emily


La Défense, Puteauxcats & herbs

I've been following The Other Emily for a while now, I find it so reassuring that someone on the road can manage to concoct incredibly stylish ensembles.

But it also sets the bar high - I caved and bought a polar fleece jacket, despite declaring I would only clad myself in stylish clothes and fabrics. But I panicked at my luggage limit and grabbed the fleecy. The trademark of 'intrepid' travellers worldwide, not the uber chic. Perhaps I'm just too pragmatic? [insert: neurotic]

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Madcap Mavericks


I first heard about the Isabel Toledo when Michelle Obama wore one of her designs at the president's inauguration. I filed it away in the back of my brain, to let that titbit of info collect dust. But then came across a lovely post about the Toledo's here and felt compelled to find out more about them. They are incredibly incredible. They are madcap mavericks. They are completely compelling.

'He's visualizing my feelings'. Fashion Designer Isabel Toledo, on her collaborative relationship with her artist husband. [papermag 2003]






"If I make a dress that's totally ugly, I know that it is going to have babies." Isabel



The Toledos at home. The clothes are by Isabel; the art work is by Ruben. Photograph by Max Vadukul.




Papermag: How do you describe what you do?
Isabel: I don't. It's like describing my insides, and I've never looked at my insides.

In the interview, Isabel goes on to explain that she's not a 'visual person', Ruben is that part of the equation and 'he has no choice but to be a part of it (designing clothes)'. Isabel then gives an example of how their constant conversation goes:

IT: I might say, "I want to feel the line yanking underneath my arm," or "I want tension here. I want this to be a huge garment, but make sure it fits beautifully on the neck as well as on the bottom of the sleeve. I want to feel the air between that huge garment and me." And he'll draw it. I have a library of sketches, or what I call our constant conversation.

Isabel is completely quotable. She also uses hula hoops to exercise. If you are a snoop like me, Woody Allen used their amazing apartment in Melinda & Melinda. But I'll leave the final word about Isabel to Ruben:

It's her eyes: They're so mystical. They're like looking into some other world. There's so much soul in her eyes. It's like a poem that you can't quite understand, ever. It's all about mystery. And she always keeps it, you know. She breathes mystery. It's not about explaining everything; it is about letting it be a mystery. I love that.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Papercup

I want to become a school teacher!

Or a member of a typing pool!

Or a Librarian!

Basically I want an excuse to wear Papercup clothing. All. Day. Long.



Saturday, February 26, 2011

Squirrels unite

[image via: Point of Difference]

trickster pea coat
[Secret Squirrel: "I'm not like them" collection 2011]

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Svpply the answers

The effortlessly creative Diana of Miss Moss is guest blogging on A Cup of Jo this week and has posted about Svpply - heavens and stars oh my! It's addictive!




Bread Shoes






I now have ELO's "Evil Woman" playing in my head, me thinks svpply will be a rather dangerous influence on my bank balance.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Petrol pennies

I started a new job a few weeks ago which has been lovely, unfortunately the time it takes to drive there I can listen to:

Sufjan Steven's "Impossible Soul" (26 minutes) + Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" (5:55minutes) + Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Chile" (14:59) + The Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Maps" (4 minutes) = some wicked sing-a-longs and a rather hefty petrol bill by the of the end week.

While I do like driving out of suburbia with it's high density living to paddocks of horses and cows - it would also be nice to spend my petrol pennies on these goodies: