Whose Shoes Wednesday…The Answer!

Manolo asked, whose shoes?

Manolo answers, it is the Kylie Minogue!

Congratulations to the Manolo's internet friend Illlhab who was the first to correctly identify today's celebrity.

Blog the Blogger: The President Wears Prada

Not really. I mean, not to my knowledge, he does. But it makes for a great blog name. The President Wears Prada is "to stripping away your khakis and striped pant suits (literally and figuratively) to reveal DC's true street style." The DCGF learned of this blog when TPWP sent me pics of this boy's blazer from Goodwill (right) worn in a smashingly chic outfit. Gotta love that.

And she has a penchant for picking out the odd and even ugly in fashion and somehow figuring out a way for it to make sense in real life. That's a true talent. Forthwith, her responses to the DCGF's soon-to-be Famous Five (plus One) questions...

1. What is the first article of clothing you remember that you loved to wear? A purple velvet dress with ruffled cap sleeves and a little white apron that was sewn and hand painted by my aunt. She's the sweetest thing in the world, and still tailors a very large percentage of my wardrobe (like the XXL pink polka-dot dress from Goodwill that she just turned into a mini dress today :) )

2. Where is your favorite place - besides Goodwill, of course! - to shop for a fashion bargain in the DC area? The flea market at Eastern Market, specially during really cold winter months really early in the morning when no reasonable person except for me wants to be there.

3. Where is your favorite place to shop for a fashion bargain outside of DC? Beacon's Closet, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I could spend an entire day in there, I probably already have...

4. Who is your current favorite designer? Phillip Lim for his impeccable details.

5. If you could own any single item from fashion past or present - money is no object! - what would it be? A 1960s YSL "Smoking" suit (like the one in Helmut Newton's 1975 photo of Yves St. Laurent's "Le Smoking", left), because it represents the birth of androgyny and because I'm in love with Yves.

Bonus Question: How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? Well... I am a scientist in my other life, so I have to give you an equation. The diameter of an average Tootsie Pop lets say is 3cm so the volume is 23cm^3 and the volume of the tootsie center is 2cm^3, so that's 21cm^3 of just candy. I would say that a layer of candy is 1/4 a millimeter and that you can lick a layer off with 3 licks, so 21cm^3 / ((0.025cm^3) * 3) = 280 licks to the center :)

Wow. A plausibly realistic answer to the bonus question. I'm not sure what to say, other than that I'm totally impressed, TPWP! A fashionista and a scientist. Perhaps you can explain, then, the chemical reaction that occurs in my brain every time I see a great pair of shoes on sale that I just can't resist buying? It's not me, it's science.




Any purchase made at a Goodwill Retail Store or on eBay funds Goodwill's mission of training and employment programs for people with disadvantages or disabilities.

Goodwill’s fashion blog provides detailed knowledge and insight on vintage and contemporary clothing and accessories that are valuable to fashion shoppers. The facts and opinions shared present readers with entertaining, exciting and value based information on vintage and contemporary fashion and shopping trends.

Bruxelles Revisited

I'm rather entranced by this floral A1 sized invitation to this year's student show of the La Cambre school in Brussels, Belgium which I attended last year. Except this year, my role will be a little different as I'm going as part of the jury to assess the 4th and 5th year's work, which should be interesting and make me feel awkward in all sorts of ways. If you're anywhere near Brussels on the 6th or 7th, show tickets are now up for sale.

Anyhow, must take note of the flowers and sleek hair.... why will my goddamn barnet not stay sleek like this....? An indepth question that I must keep pondering as well as asking myself exactly what to intelligently say about the students' work in the presence of worldly fashion people...

Names and songs

Do you ever hear a name, and have a song pop into your mind? Or am I just a dork?
Last week I shipped out a package to 'Hey, Hey, Paula' Today I have a package going out to 'Sweet Loretta Martin' and on Monday I shipped a package to 'There's Jan, calling from the rooftops'



Wow. Watching that video, it's 1983, I'm 16 and totally in love with Michael Hutchence. I thought he was the most beautiful thing on the planet back then.

Asch Grossbardt Jewelry

Fine Gold Inlay Jewelry

For over two centuries, the Asch and Grossbardt families have been a meaningful presence in the fine jewelry industry. Today, the Asch Grossbardt company is world renowned as the premier manufacturer of fine gold inlay jewelry. Based on the ancient jewelry-making tradition of mosaics, which was developed and perfected by Florentine craftsmen during the Renaissance, this exquisitely-executed jewelry resembles the stained glass windows of a glorious European cathedral.





Yellow Gold and Sterling Silver Inlay Bracelet

18k Yellow gold and sterling silver rubber cord bracelet with mixed mother of pearl inlay.



Examining the creations of Asch Grossbardt is very much like admiring a celebrated private art collection. Each piece is a remarkably precise execution of an artistic vision. Tiny pieces of spectacular gemstones - Mother-of-Pearl, Black Onyx, Lapis, Sugilite, Coral, Turquoise, Malachite, and Australian Opal - are transformed into seamless, beautiful patterns, in the nearly forgotten art of inlay.



Unlike enamel, which is applied on top of the metal, inlay jewelry involves hand-cutting and hand-setting small pieces of semi-precious stones to create an intricate, predetermined mosaic pattern. Highly skilled artisans follow the designer's illustrations with painstaking precision. Each piece of Asch Grossbardt inlay jewelry is a study in superb craftsmanship.





Inlay Necklace and Earrings



Once every stone is set, the piece is lapped on a wheel until it is so smooth that if you close your eyes and run your finger over the surface, it is impossible to tell where one stone ends and another begins. Although they are works of art, these pieces are also extremely durable and are guaranteed to withstand ordinary everyday wear.



Striking color combinations are a signature design element of the collection. These unique combinations include the sophistication of jet black Onyx paired with white Mother-of-Pearl, the majestic look of marine blue Lapis side-by-side with purple Sugilite, and the bright exotic hues of Coral, Turquoise, Malachite, and Australian Opal.





Mother of Pearl Inlay Ring

Sterling Silver and 18k Gold



Often referred to as collectors' jewelry, each Asch Grossbardt piece is not only a distinctive adornment, but also a wonderful representation of a lost art, featuring breath-taking color and meticulous craftsmanship. These unique qualities have placed Asch Grossbardt on the short list of the most-coveted collections by true connoisseurs of fine jewelry. Like any other art form, the fine inlay jewelry created by Asch Grossbardt has meaning far beyond its intrinsic value.

See full article.





Related Entries:

Jewelry Career Resources - 08 August 2006

Dawn Vertrees Jewelry Designer - 14 March 2008

Alexis Bittar Jewelry Designer - 14 April 2008

Lori Bonn Jewelry Designer - 17 April 2008

Dana David Jewelry Collection - 14 May 2008

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Snob Worthy Links

Bag Snob gets their cheap thrills with the Beirn Jenna in Sex and the City!
Tot Snob thinks the Little Raggio Monogramed Moccasins are adorable!
Purse Blog debates on How Much is Too Much?!
Bella Sugar gives you the inside to poolside beauty!
The Thoughtful Dresser discusses the raise in designers cruise collection!

twenty one

...is better than twenty. It's only been a few hours, but I can sense that already. Casanova and Hans Christian Andersen were also born on this date. I wonder if they felt the same way?

Happy birthday to all you Aprilites x

evintage blog tag - Swimsuits!

Its time for Wednesday blog tag again! The temps are on the rise and its time to think about swimwear….what better way to stand out on the beach than in a vintage swimsuit?

Lets hit the beach!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SWIMSUIT OR BEACH WEAR OFFERED IN YOUR INVENTORY?
I got nothin', na-da, zippo. But I do have this cool vintage grass skirt with rayon bandau from the 1940-50s. Complete with leis and the original box. And I have a bunch of shorts and a few Summer dresses in my Summer Department


For the best vintage swimwear, you have to check out Glamoursurf - for great swimsuits like this one -



WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ERA IN SWIMWEAR, TO SELL OR WEAR?
I love 1930s and 1940s swimwear. I super-love 40s swimwear because it's just so glamorous.


FAVORITE DESIGNER OR LINE?
Rose Marie Reid

FAVORITE BEACH RESORT?
Strathmere.

FAVORITE POOLSIDE, TROPICAL COCKTAIL (WITH OR WITHOUT ALCOHOL)?
I don't sit poolside, I don't drink cocktails. Come on, you know I'm a hermit.

FOR YOU, BIKINI OR ONE PIECE?
Neither. I haven't worn a swimsuit in over 10 years. See a few posts below 'I don't have a swimsuit'


Check out the eVintage Blog Tag every Wednesday. Follow the links to read the posts from all of the participating blogs. I was tagged by Vintage Joy and now I'm tagging Diary of a Mad Vintage Addict

Garnet: The January Birthstone

Although garnet is the January birthstone, it is a favorite with many, many people. It was a classic gemstone for Victorian and Edwardian jewelry and is still popular today. Perhaps it's because its colour makes it extremely versatile. What, red? Yes, although garnet is a red gemstone, most garnet is a very dark and deep red, almost a maroon or a bugundy. At night especially, it can look almost black. Because of its deep colour, it looks great with black clothing as well as all the neutrals - khaki, navy, white, cream, camel. Garnet necklaces and bracelets look fantastic when worn with light coloured summer clothing; the contrast between the darkness of the garnets and the pale clothing can be very dramatic.

But garnet is an ancient gemstone, mentioned several times in the Bible, usually by the name of carbuncle. Carbuncle, often used for any cabochon red stone in ancient times, particularly referred however to garnets. Supposedly there were carbuncles in Eden, and God even promises his followers that He will "...make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles...." The garnet also comes in almost every colour imaginable except blue. Grossular garnets come in grey, pink, shades of yellow and green although green is probably the best known. Uvarovite is a dark green; spessartine garnet is usally an orange or reddish-orange; pyrope garnet ranges from a dark red to a pinkish-red.Above are green (grossular) garnet earrings. Garnet bracelets, garnet earrings, and garnet necklaces can all be found on the Cluny Grey Jewelry website.

jewellery accessories jewelry fashion shopping braceletsbeads handmade beaded jewelry beading helmi gioielli smykker tak? juvelen lampwork beads The Jewelry Blog jewelry trends accessories garnet birthstone

Eurovision Chiki Chiki

Manolo says, ayyyyyy! The destruction of the Spanish cultural patrimony is now complete.

Reduce, Reuse, Let's Party

Green fashion can mean a lot of things.

It could mean the luxury eco fashions of Linda Loudermilk, like the lyocell blouse at right, which is derived from wood pulp and fully biodegradable.

It could mean the 100% organic cotton t-shirts from Edun, a company that supports sustainable farming methods as well as fair trade.

It could mean buying a satchel from Matt & Nat, a company whose line of vegan wallets and handbags are as fashionable as they are functional.

Or, it could mean going to an 80s-themed party in NYC and wearing either clothing purchased from Goodwill or redesigned from items already in your closet. Meet Laticia and Dwight.

Usually, an invitation to a party, especially one with old friends in a great city like New York, woulc be cause for shopping at a major retailer. Shopping for a new outfit at a major retailer, that is. Laticia and Dwight had another (and might I add better) idea, though. They emailed yours truly, the DC Goodwill Fashionista, and asked if I'd meet them at our Glebe Road store in Arlington, VA, to help them pick out the perfect 80s ensembles for their special night. And the resulsts? Well, I think they're amazing, but you can judge for yourself...

Dwight, at left, is wearing a button-down shirt, tie, and sport coat from Goodwill. Since we couldn't find the right jeans for him (they were all too in style - ha!), I suggest he bleach an old pair of lightwash denim.

Throw on the leather coat for protection against the elements and voila! The perfect Miami Vice-meets-Breakfast Club look. Oh, and those old skool Vans? Inspired! That was his idea, not mine. Good job, Dwight.

Laticia's look was harder to put together. Not because we couldn't find anything, but because we found too many great looks. Did she want to be Pat Benatar or Punky Brewster? Studio 54 or 21 Jump Street?

She decided on something in between all of those, with an amazing oversized fuschia blazer, replete with giant shoulder pads; a lace camisole; a denim skirt, to which she added even more lace at the hem; tights; legwarmers (yes!); and those little granny boots that were so very popular (why? WHY?) in the 80s.

With a little hair spray and a headband, plus some plastic jewelry just 'cause, Laticia nailed the decade's iconic look. Note how she's posing on the subway to show off every detail of her outfit. Perfection!

Oh, and did I mention they spent less than $30 on clothes between the two of them. I know, right? I think that's about the cost of a pretzel from a street vendor in NYC. Kidding. I know it's closer to $25...

Goodwill’s fashion blog provides detailed knowledge and insight on vintage and contemporary clothing and accessories that are valuable to fashion shoppers. The facts and opinions shared present readers with entertaining, exciting and value based information on vintage and contemporary fashion and shopping trends.

Rogan For Target T-shirt dress - 3 Ways

Although today is a bit gloomy and cool for the end of May, there was a ray of sunshine at my doorstep. It came in the form of two Rogan for Target items that I ordered online - the yellow leopard burnout tank top and the gray T-shirt dress. I played around with the t-shirt dress and found out that with some creative layering, it's quite versatile and I expect to be wearing it a lot this summer. It layers well with many other pieces in the Rogan for Target line, as many of them are transparent and lightweight.

In the photo above I paired the tank on top of the dress and the leopard print looks nice against the gray. Then I added my favorite accessories to give the outfit my personal touch - a fringed scarf and a metallic belt.

In the second photo I experimented with the slightly transparent and flimsy leopard print dress, which ended up working well over the T-shirt dress. The sleeves and rounded hem of the T-shirt dress peek out from the leopard dress in a flirty way and the vest makes the outfit more polished.

Since I was already wearing my Erin Fetherston for Target bunny print thermal pants with gray boots, I put the T-shirt dress on over it, added my new corset belt, and finished the look off with my rainbow necklace from John Cook in Argentina.

I'm curious as to my readers' opinions on the Rogan line? What did you like/dislike? What did you buy?

Prescriptives Daily Pop Quiz May 19, 2008

"Anywhere but Here" tells the story of a mother and daughter with very different ideas of what happiness is. To spite their differences, they still love each over enough to make some big sacrifices. What is the loving nickname Adele (Susan Sarandon) uses for her daughter, Ann?



Leave your answer in the comments section, please!

Game Rules Here.

Sponsored by Prescriptives!

Cleaning Out My Closet, Part 1

I spent a few hours yesterday moving the winter clothes OUT and the summer clothes IN. This involves a great deal of dusting, both mental and physical. (For instance, why did I let another year pass without wearing my turquoise shantung hostess coat?)

Every time I make this switch I *vow* that I will finally pare down my closet to essentials. Just a few well-chosen pieces, blah blah blah. The truth is that I am not a "few well-chosen pieces" kinda gal. I am the kind of gal that has fifty cotton summer dresses and wears a different one every day, if she can.

However, I *am* getting rid of a few things, such as this brown-and-gold wool crepe wiggle dress. I made it several years ago (maybe even five or six?) and wore it, I dunno, once. I was having a wiggle-dress moment, back then; I don't know why. (Perhaps it was the joy of no longer looking mildly pregnant?) Anyway, I spent a lot of time on it and figured I should now set it free to live a full life with someone who will love it the way it ought to be loved.

Here's a closer view of the bodice:



The points on the tabs are a little lumpy, I have to say. Luckily the buttons are so nice (vintage!) that it draws the eye away.

This dress measures B 36-38, W 32, H 46, and the skirt is 28 inches waistline to hem. From the front neckline to the waist is 13.5 inches; from the back neckline to the waist is 14 inches.

So here's the plan: I'm going to put it up on eBay, at a very very low starting bid. If it sells for that, fine. But if it sells for anything upwards of $25, anything over that will go to charity -- I'm thinking helping victims of rape in the Congo. How does that sound?

Here's the link: Brown Crepe Wiggle Dress.

backless baroness

From French-Spanish label BaronBaronne. The rest is over here.

Well, I Guess It's Time To Wrap This Up, Then

Yes, I did see the NYT article about the "demise of the dress". (I was actually surprised that the story didn't make the NYT's most-forwarded list, since so many people sent it to me!)

The main point of the article seemed to be that those in the fashion industry are tired of dresses, and are looking towards pushing "the pant" for fall. Yes, even though the article touts dresses as "glamorous", "easy", "slimming", "efficient", "flattering", and "attractive", (not to mention the obligatory nod to the patriarchy with "guys like [them]") their time is UP.

In fact, Anne Slowey, of Elle, was quoted saying that the "expiration date" for the dress “is end of August.”

Which gives me, what, 124 days, more or less? Is "PantADay.com" already taken?

No, no, no, don't worry -- I've made it this far without taking the pronouncements of the fashion editors seriously, and I think I can struggle through an autumn where "the full-legged, pleated high- and low-waisted legions will be out in the urban jungle" (as Ms. Slowey put it).

But if, like me, you are going to continue wearing dresses past 31 August, there are some strategies for getting through this difficult time of dress shortages and rationing. The most obvious work-around is to learn to sew, so that you simply don't care what's in the stores (aside from the fabric stores). If you don't think you can swing that by the end of August, you should start looking to buy vintage. Don't wait until October when the shortages will be most acute; start searching now -- especially if you're an odd size. If you are shopping for velvet in July you won't have many competing bidders, and you can ward off the tragedy of having to wear pants to all your holiday parties.

Don't forget the downturn in accessories availability that accompanies a dress shortage, as well: tights may be in short supply, along with slips of all kinds and full-skirted coats. It's a little trickier to predict what will happen with shoes, but if you want taller boots, they tend to be harder to find in an environment where dresses are scarce.

With some careful planning you should be able to continue dress-wearing activities well past the expiration date forecast by Ms. Slowey and her ilk. And, while they're waiting in line at the tailor to get things taken in and let out and taken up and let down (pants are notoriously NOT one-size-fits-all), you can swan by in your easy, nicely-fitting dress. Don't forget to thumb your nose as you pass.

eVintage Blog Tag - Prints!

It's time for Wednesday blog tag again! The fashion magazines are predicting that prints will be hot for summer…large florals, bold brushstrokes, graphic designs.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PRINT OFFERED IN YOUR INVENTORY?



I have this really cool Nelly Don Hieroglyphic print dress - blue and white on black cotton.


WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF NOVELTY PRINT?
Something other than the normal flowers, plaid or checks. Something fun with a little whimsy.

MOST AMAZING NOVELTY PRINT YOU’VE EVER SEEN?
There was a Dorothy O'Hara 1940s Buddha print dress that was awesome and a 1950s dress that had crows in the shapes of letters.

SIZE MATTERS….WHEN WEARING PRINTS, DO YOU PREFER BIG OR SMALL?
I like them both. Something tiny to make people really look or something big to make people go Wow!

COLOR OR BLACK AND WHITE?
For novelty prints I like color, for more fun.

WHAT DESIGNER DOES YOUR FAVORITE PRINTS? (think Shaheen, Pucci, etc)
I love Vested Gentress novelty print - frogs playing golf, horses with tails, dogs with fire hydrants.


Check out the eVintage Blog Tag every Wednesday. Follow the links to read the posts from all of the participating blogs. I was tagged by Vintage Joy and now I'm tagging Diary of a Mad Vintage Addict