the c word

This collection is perfect. Absolute perfection. Agree or disagree with that statement all you want. To me it is perfect. It's the perfect amount of grit and grunginess mixed in with the classic Chanel look. Totally Grungey Grandma which is my favorite! Can that be a thing? It is a thing.

I just completed a 4,000 word final paper for my History of Fashion class about female gender roles & progression in the 1920'a and how it was reflected in fashion. It's impossible to leave out Coco Chanel when it comes to discussing 1920's fashion. This was a time of social change for everyone, especially women. The styles were radically changing and women started to embrace a more boyish, shapeless and comfortable look (also known as the 'garconne look'). Coco Chanel took this idea and ran with it and obviously the brand has remained at the top since then. Her main design theory was to create 'fashion without shackles'. The Chanel brand was built on the idea of giving women designs that are feminine and beautiful but convenient and comfortable that will allow them to live their lives and not be held back like the generations before them (with corsets and other restrictive garments).

Today in class, we got to look at various pieces (both vintage and contemporary) up close (but no touching or else all fashion hell would break loose) from Ralph Rucci, Vera Wang, Bill Blass, Max Mara, Michael Kors, John Galliano and Chanel. The Chanel piece was from a time when Lagerfeld embraced extremely clinched waists, corsets and 'restrictive' styles. He was straying away from what Coco Chanel built her design house on. The more I learn about the origins of Chanel, the more I appreciate it when I see designs like this collection. It's a throwback to the original Chanel garconne look of the 1920's mixed in with where women's fashion is going in 2011. It's rough around the edges but still classic. This collection is absolutely fashion without shackles. I can almost feel a bit of a Lanvin, Alexander Wang and Rick Owens' inspiration. I love you Lagerfeld, you crazy bastard.

i love her.

etsy

This weekend, I got into a conversation with someone about Etsy. It reminded me how obviously great of a website it is for independent designers, artists and small business owners, but it also reminded me how fun it was. I wish I had the time and motivation to get back into it. I used to have a shop called Eighty 8 Designs and it got me through my last semester in a depressing college in PA, through the entire summer and throughout my first year at SCAD. It was a great way of creating different products, finding my own vision and being able to dip my feet in the pool of marketing/PR. Even though it was all clearly very DIY, photographing/promoting/marketing my little shop was my favorite part.

Since I was little, the idea of having my own business has been my dream and one day I will do it. What it will be? I have a couple of ideas but won't know for sure until a couple of years in the industry are completed. When people ask me what I want to do, i know one thing: the idea of building a brand/company gives me goosebumps and has since I was six years old selling beaded bracelets at my beach club.

So anyway, i'm going to start browsing etsy more & featuring designers/shops on here. And one day, when things calm down (i don't know when that's happening anytime soon) I'm going to start my shop again.

all items above can be found here.

i have a crush on jim james

fuck yeah rachel comey

With each new day of my life, I realize more and more that I need to step my shoe game up. Seriously. It's lacking, always has been and i'm finally coming to terms with it head on. Shoes cost money, though. They are one of those things that I always see and want (and need) but think "oh. it's okay. i'll just buy something else". Girl, no. You need new shoes. Two steps away from hobo status over here. I need to invest in a pair or two of Rachel Comey shoes because they are what dreams are made of. $200+ dreams. Fuck you, world!

But really, when I say 'shoes' i mean shoes. A pair that will give me height, a bit of "oh okay i notice them, I get it. Cool." without "what is she trying to do, though?". I need a middle ground between those two reactions and I feel Rachel Comey does this with ease. Her shoes look comfortable, interesting but subtle and dare I say a bit frumpy? Which is what I want when i'm buying wedges or chunky heels. My wedges/high heel criteria is whatever a librarian (who takes Nyquil when she's bored) would want to wear while trying to look hot. That sums up Rachel Comey and I mean that in the best way.

want.

source.

suze rotolo

rest in peace. read more here.