Style Icon #3:Mary Quant

We have a lot to thank Mary Quant for, most notably her popularization of the mini skirt in “swinging sixties” London. When you think of 1960’s style you think of Mary Quant. Bright colors, simple lines—slightly adolescent looking, futuristic PVC coats and dresses. She was the first to design all of these. And she was one of the first to sport the Vidal Sassoon asymmetric bob, which I’ve always wanted (but a mass of super curly hair won’t let me have) So kudos to you MQ, I don’t know where I would be without a closet full of minis! Read more about MQ and her style at http://www.maryquant.co.uk/.

Print & Pattern

Speaking of Patterns, you should look at the blog Print and Pattern. As the author says, it is a website that celebrates the world of surface pattern design. It is glorious, but overwhelming sometimes too! All of those patterns will definitely brighten your day!

Pattern!

Today I am enjoying looking at patterns in homes. It gets my mind racing on ways to make my own walls more interesting. E is working of redecorating her bedroom and is in a constant state of trying to find the right cane-like pattern and figure out where to put it. It's not as easy as it sounds! All of the "in-home" pics came from Designsponge.

Garden Party

For some reason, I am obsessed with this dress. It's only been around me for 3 days, but I can't stop looking at it. I don't normally even care for yellow in clothing form, but this cheery little dress has won my heart. I love how 1960's garden party it is, but updated with the crazy skirt wings and platforms.
Of course it is John Galliano for Christian Dior--I almost am starting to feel silly with how I am constantly fawning all over his work. Anyway, I just wanted to share my current love of this dress in hopes that talking about it would get it out of my head!

Tuesday Morning Book Review: Alabama Stitch Book

Alabama Stitch Book Or How to be Hip in LA:

When I visited LA in late May I was amused to see that from Reform School to Fred Segal the big news was the Alabama Stitch Book! We had just received our copies before I left and I hadn't had a chance to see what the excitement was about, but now I too am hip to the Stitch! I think the appeal is that besides being another beautiful, inspiring craft book it focuses on a small town and how one person is trying to revive the now defunct t-shirt capital by bringing back a focus on handmade items using mostly recycled materials.

Giving an overview of Florence, Alabama's past, present and future cotton industry gives a intimate feeling to globalization and what personal toll it can take. That this toll is being recognized and transformed by finding the skilled workers and celebrating their craft feels celebratory and cozy at the same time. I personally thought that using recycled cotton jersey (mostly t-shirts) for most of the projects was wonderful, what more common inexpensive resource is there? So get hip to the Stitch and begin your own t-shirt renaissance!

Magazine tip!

I stumbled upon a discovery today, which I thought other might be interested in (if they are magazine junkies like I am). I went to 1/2 price books today to sell some old books and while browsing around I found the magazine section. They have used magazines (but in good condition, of course) or about $1.00 a magazine! Obviously they have back issues, but I also got the current issue of Harpers Bazaar for $1.00. I thought that was nice, and it was cool because it was a subscription issue so it had a better cover than the newsstand issue (as they are wont to do). Anyway, since my magazine pile can get pretty expensive, I was excited. So go load up on magazines!

Basso & Brooke

I was playing around on the computer today and from a tip from Stylebubble I checked out the design team Basso & Brooke. Shazam! Hello prints! and tulle! and layering! I love seeing a collection that makes my fingers itch to get out the scissors and some fabric and go to town. It makes me jealous to see all of their lovely prints though, as one of my biggest complaints is that I can never find good prints. I know, we need to make our own--we just haven't gotten ourselves together yet. Anyway, the following pics are from Basso & Brooke's Spring Summer 06 show.

 Well, I mean how can you not like anything with a violin attached to it?

  I love this print--looks like houndstooth, but I think it's actually a crazy M.C. Escher-like kitty print! And the ankle/boot fluffs are fantastic. I often will tie ribbons around my ankles and do big bows, but maybe I need to be breaking out the tulle..

 This print makes me thing of Celia Birtwell for some reason. I think it's the combination of the chiffon,  art nouveau -ish print and the colors. It's romantic in rockin' way--if you know what I mean?