All That Glitters

New Year's Eve is fast approaching. Found this FANTASTIC dress on Pinterest by Atelier Versace. Personally, I think the model has had her waist nipped a little by our friends at Photoshop (I mean, come on...unless she has been tight lacing for 10 years....that is one tiny waist).

Either way, it's a stunning dress. Kind of a champagne gold colour. Great for them fancy New Year's Eve balls all the gals are going to. Imagine all the hours it must of taken to cut each petal detail, finish the edges, add beading detail and apply to the garment.

And check out the height on that leg slit....yowza!

The hair is something else altogether.

Beautiful Ballerinas

When I think of the word ballerina, a few images come to mind. Beauty. Poise. Grace. It is no wonder so many parents enroll their little girls (or boys for that matter) in ballet classes. For the child, it’s a chance to play dress-up and dance around the room to music. For the adult, it’s the opportunity to live vicariously through those moments. Go on, admit it.

My mom was a dancer until her late teens. There are several pictures of her en pointe, tulle tutu sticking stiffly out around her. I too was enrolled in ballet; mom took me to buy the shoes and she patiently worked with gauzy chiffon to sew me my first dance skirt. I remember wearing these to grandpa’s house because I was insistent in showing him my steps. He was so proud, but maybe some of that pride was remembering another little dancer – my mom – when she was young.

I ended my ballet early on though; I told my mom the change room was stuffy and stunk and I didn’t want to go back. So we focused on ice skating and swimming. But every once in a while I think about trying an adult ballet class to improve elements common in dancers of the genre: Poise and Grace.

Even the word Ballet contains a certain degree of beauty in the height and rhythm of the letters: up for b, down for a, then two stilts in the middle like dancer’s legs for the l’s, down again for e and finally up for the t. Up, down, up-up, down, up. Sort of like skipping along.

Now say it with me….”Ballet…I’m going to the ballet.” You drew out the second syllable and gave it a slight French air at the end, didn’t you? 

This week I found some lovely ballerina fabric in two colours: yellow and purple. It also comes in pink, but it wasn’t in stock (not surprised). And so I’m working on designing a dress that showcases both the fabric and those three hallmark elements: Beauty. Poise. Grace; while still being functional enough for every day wear.

Because if I were still a little girl, I’d want to feel like a ballerina as often as possible.

Design Inspiration - part 2

I won't lie . . .every time I see this picture in my "virtual closet", I lose control of the function in the lower half of my jaw. Extreme gorgeousness.There were no details with the original photo, so I can't even credit the designer. But whomever they are . . .so inspired !

Layers upon layers of fabric without creating bulk. And seemlingly light weight and a flutter. Stunning colour, like a summer rose in bloom. Simply stunning. Simply amazing.

This dress would not need much in the way of accessories . . but of course would need the perfect pair of shoes. Might I suggest these by Parisxox . . . .


le sigh . . off to Fashion Design class I go . . .

Pocketbook Posies

dalilah collection (lined in peacock teal)

It’s happened to best of us. We get all dressed up . . .hair, make-up, beautiful dress and shoes. We’re ready all ready to go. Just grab our purse . . oh wait . . .this purse is way wrong for this dress.

I’ve seen it. It’s tragic. A gal all dolled up trying to push her purse behind her in a vain attempt not to draw attention to the mini duffle bag slung on her shoulder.

I love clutches. I have about 20 of them. At first it took some getting used to holding the things up between my ribcage and underarm, but practice makes perfect. I am happy to report I can now balance an underarm clutch and a champagne glass while still having one hand free to chat (yes, I tend to talk with my hands). I lead a rough life . . . .

melanie collection (lined in green)

So in the spirit of garden parties and wedding season, here is a wonderful selection of pocketbook posies by FIAZCO. Based out of Asheville, North Carolina, the designer creates limited addition handbags from high quality fabrics and fine silks. Each clutch is lined in 100% Dupioni silk with a seamless bottom to provide extra strength. Each purchase arrives beautifully gift boxed and you can request a personal note or label to be included.



natalie collection (lined in moss green)




From the designer’s website: “I've been designing and sewing since Barbie and Ken first started dating(my two best clients back in the day) I have a serious passion for fashion, and love creating.”

Like many home based businesses, FIAZCO specializes in customer service, and will work with brides and bridal parties to design custom clutches that with coordinate perfectly for the special day. And they make wonderfull bridesmaid keepsakes.

And so to the relief of hubbies and gents, very rarely will you have to say “Here honey, hold my purse”.

a bit of bliss . . .

. . . .oh, if only these beauties could speak . . .

sweater weather

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the fresh days of spring and the lazy warm air of summer. But there is something about September and the approach of cooler weather that I enjoy.

For me there are essentially three things that sum up Autumn in Vancouver: walking through one of our city’s many parks and hearing the crunch of brightly painted leaves underneath, the harvesting and cooking of apples to make applesauce, and pulling the sweaters off the top shelf in my closet.

Oh, how comforting a favorite sweater can be. Admit it, we have all experienced the small pleasure of pulling on a cherished sweater, stretching the cuffs of the sleeves over our fingers, and raising them to the neck in a gesture of welcoming the warmth.

Putting on a sweater is also very economically-environmentally friendly. While growing up, if someone in our house complained of being cold, the rhetorical answer was always, “Then go put a sweater on!”, which was usually in my case followed by “ . . and some socks while you’re at it!”

I’m not one for knitting. Crochet I can handle; there is only one needle and it has a hook on one end. But two (or even sometimes four) needles are just too much for me to get a grasp on (yes, pun intended). So I appreciate the skill and effort it takes to make a hand knitted sweater.

Below are a few examples of some great hand knitted sweaters to give you warmth.

MIA hand knitted cardigan with pockets by ovejanegra shown left

RIONA hand knitted cardigan coat in cream by ovejanegra shown right

If you’re feeling chilly now and can’t wait for a custom ordered sweater, Victoria Secret offers (among other things) a wide selection to choose from. Shown left and right are two that I find rather, ah-hem . . . inviting.

If you’re looking for a sweater that goes for the extra wow and don’t mind dropping a couple grand on one piece of seasonal wear, then be sure to take a look at these beauties below designed by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel featured during Paris Fashion week 2010 (I mean, really . . . who doesn’t like Chanel??), as well as a nicely detailed article by theclotheswhisperer. The iceberg set design I like, the Wookie boots I can do without.

So go ahead . . . bundle up . . .it’s getting cold out there.